2-IN-1 LUGGAGE

Abstract

A luggage container includes a first compartment and a second compartment detachably coupled to the first compartment, and each of the first compartment and the second compartment includes an outer shell, a pair of wheels, a telescopic pull handle, at least one carrying handle, at least one foot stand, and an inner shell. The inner shell is: sized to cover a first storage space formed by an inner layer covering an inner surface of the outer shell; concealed when the luggage container is closed in a single container configuration in which the first compartment and the second compartment are coupled via a fastener; and exposed in a dual container configuration in which the first compartment and the second compartment are completely detached from each other when the fastener is open, the inner shell serving as another outer shell for the first or second compartment in the dual container configuration.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field

The present invention relates generally to luggage containers. More specifically, the present invention relates to luggage that can be transformed into two separate pieces such that each piece can be used as individual luggage on its own.

Background

A challenge to traveling has always been carrying one's belongings in the most efficient and easy manner. To meet this challenge, expandable luggage designs have appeared in the prior art to allow carrying additional items when expanded. However, prior art designs merely allow expansion of a limited portion of the luggage to a certain degree such that the storage space of the expanded luggage may not be sufficient to accommodate extra contents that require a larger storage space. Further, even if luggage may be expanded sufficiently to accommodate a large amount of contents, such expanded luggage may not satisfy size and/or weight limitations required for checking in baggage for air travel.

Moreover, recently, airlines started charging checked baggage fees even for a first checked bag. Therefore, whenever a bag is checked, the checked baggage fee may be burdensome to some travelers. For that reason, now many travelers try to reduce the size of their luggage so that they can carry on their luggage without paying the checked baggage fees. However, if the size of a luggage container surpasses the size limitation, such luggage container must be checked at an airport regardless of the amount of actual contents in the luggage container. Therefore, a solution is necessary to avoid such inconvenience and burden arising due to the size of luggage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention are directed to an improved luggage apparatus that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a luggage container includes a first compartment and a second compartment detachably coupled to the first compartment, and each of the first compartment and the second compartment includes an outer shell, a pair of wheels, a telescopic pull handle that is retractable and extendable, at least one carrying handle, at least one foot stand, and an inner shell that is: sized to cover a first storage space formed by an inner layer covering an inner surface of the outer shell; concealed when the luggage container is closed in a single container configuration in which the first compartment and the second compartment are coupled via a fastener; and exposed in a dual container configuration in which the first compartment and the second compartment are completely detached from each other when the fastener is open, the inner shell serving as another outer shell for the first or second compartment in the dual container configuration.

In one aspect of the present invention, the inner shell includes: an outer portion having an opening formed at a substantially central area of the outer portion, wherein each of four outer sides of the outer portion is coupled to a top portion of a corresponding side of the inner layer; and an inner portion sized to fit the opening of the outer portion, wherein one of four sides of the inner portion is coupled to one of four inner sides of the outer portion, and a first row of zipper is formed along remaining three sides of the inner portion, the first row of zipper teeth corresponding to a second row of zipper teeth formed along remaining three inner sides of the outer portion such that at least one slider moves along a track formed by the first and second rows of zipper teeth.

In one aspect of the present invention, the outer shell includes a hard shell made of a rigid material. In one aspect of the present invention, the inner shell includes a soft shell made of a flexible soft material. In one aspect of the present invention, the inner shell is further sized to form a second storage space in addition to the first storage space. In one aspect of the present invention, a size of the second storage space is substantially equal to or greater than a size of the first storage space.

In one aspect of the present invention, the luggage container further includes a container or box that is sized to fit into the first and second storage space such that contents can be put into the container or box to be placed in the first or second compartment. In one aspect of the present invention, the container or box has a lid that can be open to receive the contents. In one aspect of the present invention, the container or box is foldable such that the container or box can be stored in the luggage container in a folded form. In one aspect of the present invention, the container or box is made of a material that is resistant to breakage. In one aspect of the present invention, the material includes a hard material including plastic.

In one aspect of the present invention, each of the first compartment and the second compartment further includes a fastener strap; one end of the fastener strap is coupled to a top portion of a first side of the inner layer and the other end of the fastener strap is coupled to a top portion of a second side of the inner layer that faces the first side; and the fastener strap includes a first locking structure and a second locking structure configured to be inserted into the first locking structure. In one aspect of the present invention, the fastener strap is configured to be adjusted to fasten over the inner shell in the dual container configuration; and the fastener strap is exposed in the dual container configuration.

In one aspect of the present invention, the luggage container is not sized to be carry-on luggage in the single container configuration, and each of the first and second compartments is sized to be carry-on luggage in the dual container configuration. In one aspect of the present invention, the fastener includes a zipper. In one aspect of the present invention, the zipper includes a third row of zipper teeth formed on the first compartment; a fourth row of zipper teeth formed on the second compartment; a first slider coupled to the third row of zipper; and a second slider coupled to the fourth row of zipper. In one aspect of the present invention, a first end portion of the third row of zipper and a second end portion of the third row of zipper overlap such that double rows are formed on the first compartment for a section that is less than 20 cm and greater than 10 cm. In one aspect of the present invention, the first slider remains coupled to the third row of zipper when the first compartment is in an independent form in the double container configuration; and the second slider remains coupled to the fourth row of zipper when the second compartment is in an independent form in the double container configuration.

In one aspect of the present invention, the luggage container further includes a zip lock formed on one of the first compartment or the second compartment, wherein the first slider and the second slider are inserted into the zip lock to secure the sliders when the zipper is closed in the single container configuration. In one aspect of the present invention, the first storage spaces of the first and second compartments are accessible when the zipper is at least partially open in the single container configuration. In one aspect of the present invention, the one of the four sides of the inner portion is stitched to the one of the four inner sides of the outer portion.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide a further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a 2-in-1 luggage container that is in a single container configuration and in a closed configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B shows a 2-in-1 luggage container that is in a single container configuration and in an open configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A shows a 2-in-1 luggage container that is in a dual container configuration and in a closed configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B shows a 2-in-1 luggage container that is in a dual container configuration and in an open configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with respect to the embodiment(s) illustrated in the annexed drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1A-2B, a luggage container 100 includes a first compartment 101 and a second compartment 102 detachably coupled to the first compartment. The first compartment 101 and the second compartment 102 form a single luggage container when they are coupled together or in a single container configuration. Further, each of the first compartment 101 and the second compartment 102 is configured to be used as a single luggage container without requiring the other compartment when they are completely detached from one another or in a dual container configuration.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, each of the first compartment 101 and the second compartment 102 includes an outer shell 141 or 142, a pair of wheels 121 or 122, a telescopic pull handle 111 or 112 that is retractable and extendable, at least one carrying handle 131 or 132, at least one foot stand, and an inner shell 151 or 152. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the inner shell 151 or 152 is sized to cover a first storage space formed by an inner layer covering an inner surface of the outer shell 141 or 142. Further, the inner shell 151 or 152 is concealed when the luggage container 100 is closed in a single container configuration in which the first compartment 101 and the second compartment 102 are coupled via a fastener 103. Furthermore, the inner shell 151 or 152 is exposed in a dual container configuration in which the first compartment 101 and the second compartment 102 are completely detached from each other when the fastener 103 is open, the inner shell serving as another outer shell for the first or second compartment in the dual container configuration.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the fastener 103 may be a zipper. For example, the zipper includes a third row of zipper teeth formed on the first compartment, a fourth row of zipper teeth formed on the second compartment, a first slider coupled to the third row of zipper, and a second slider coupled to the fourth row of zipper. In one aspect of the present invention, a first end portion of the third row of zipper and a second end portion of the third row of zipper overlap such that double rows are formed on the first compartment for a section that is less than 20 cm and greater than 10 cm.

Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first slider remains coupled to the third row of zipper when the first compartment is in an independent form in the double container configuration, and the second slider remains coupled to the fourth row of zipper when the second compartment is in an independent form in the double container configuration. The luggage container 100 may also include a zip lock 105 formed on one of the first compartment or the second compartment 101 or 102, wherein the first slider and the second slider are inserted into the zip lock to secure the sliders when the zipper is closed in the single container configuration. The first storage spaces of the first and second compartments 101, 102 are accessible when the zipper is at least partially open in the single container configuration.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the inner shell 151 or 152 includes an outer portion 151-1 or 152-1 having an opening formed at a substantially central area of the outer portion, wherein each of four outer sides of the outer portion is coupled to a top portion of a corresponding side of the inner layer and an inner portion 151-2 or 152-2 sized to fit the opening of the outer portion. According to an embodiment of the present invention, one of four sides of the inner portion 151-1 or 152-2 is coupled to one of four inner sides of the outer portion 151-1 or 152-1, and a first row of zipper is formed along remaining three sides of the inner portion, the first row of zipper teeth corresponding to a second row of zipper teeth formed along remaining three inner sides of the outer portion such that at least one slider moves along a track 151-3 or 152-3 formed by the first and second rows of zipper teeth. For example, the one of the four sides of the inner portion 151-2 or 152-2 may be stitched to the one of the four inner sides of the outer portion 151-1 or 152-1. In FIG. 2B, the opening of the outer portion 151-1 is open because the track 151-3 is not zipped by a slider, and the opening of the outer portion 152-1 is closed by the inner portion 152-2 because the track 152-3 is zipped by the at least one slider.

In one aspect of the present invention, the outer shell 141 or 142 includes a hard shell made of a rigid material. In one aspect of the present invention, the inner shell 151 or 152 includes a soft shell made of a flexible soft material. Therefore, when the luggage container 100 is in the dual luggage configuration, at least one of the first or second compartment 101 or 102 may be made of two different materials, i.e., a hard outer shell 141 or 142 and a soft inner shell 151 or 152. In another aspect of the present invention, the inner shell 151 or 152 is further sized to form a second storage space in addition to the first storage space. A size of the second storage space is variable based on how much the inner shell 151 or 152 is expanded according to a size of content stored in the second storage space. For example, the size of the second storage space may be substantially equal to or greater than a size of the first storage space based on a size of the inner shell 151 or 152.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the luggage container 100 may also include a container or box that is sized to fit into the first and second storage space such that contents can be put into the container or box to be placed in the first or second compartment 101 or 102. When the inner shell 151 or 152 is made of soft material such as cloth or other fabric, the included container or box provides a defined shape for the second storage space regardless of an amount of actual contents to be put in the first or second compartment 101 or 102 that is in the dual container configuration such that the shape of the first or second compartment 101 or 102 is consistently maintained by the container or box placed therein. For example, the container or box has a lid that can be open to receive the contents and the container or box with the lid closed may be put into the first or second compartment 101 or 102 via the opening of the outer portion 151-1 or 152-1, the inner portion 151-2 or 152-2 closing the opening. The container or box may be foldable such that the container or box may be stored in the luggage container 100 in a folded form or the container or box may be made of a material that is resistant to breakage such as a hard material including plastic.

In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the first compartment 101 and the second compartment 102 may further include a fastener strap 104 such that one end of the fastener strap is coupled to a top portion of a first side of the inner layer and the other end of the fastener strap is coupled to a top portion of a second side of the inner layer that faces the first side, the fastener strap including a first locking structure and a second locking structure configured to be inserted into the first locking structure. Based on the size of the inner shell 151 or 152 that is made of soft material, the second storage space may have an empty or remaining space when the second storage space is not fully filled with contents. Therefore, the fastener strap 104 is configured to be adjusted to fasten over the inner shell 151 or 152 in the dual container configuration, the fastener strap exposed externally in the dual container configuration. The fastener strap 104 may also be used even when the luggage container 100 is in the single container configuration, the fastener strap remaining within the luggage container when the luggage container is in the closed configuration.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the luggage container 100 is not sized to be carry-on luggage in the single container configuration. That is, the size of the luggage container 100 in the single container configuration may be larger than the size permitted for carry on.

However, each of the first and second compartments 101 and 102 is individually sized to be carry-on luggage in the dual container configuration. As shown in FIG. 2B, the telescopic pull handles 111 and 112 may be pulled out to be extended so that each of the first and second compartments 101 and 102 can be pulled using the extended handle 111 or 112 and the wheels 121 or 122.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that alternative embodiments exist from the above description of the embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, luggage may be made with any material that is suitable. The luggage described herein may be of any sizes and for example, the luggage includes wheeled or non-wheeled luggage, soft or hard side luggage, a trunk, a suitcase, a garment bag, a tote, a duffle back, a backpack, and any types of bags.

Therefore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto. The above specification and examples provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

Claims

1. A luggage container comprising:

a first compartment; and

a second compartment detachably coupled to the first compartment,

wherein at least one of the first compartment and the second compartment comprises: an outer shell; a pair of wheels; a telescopic pull handle that is retractable and extendable; at least one foot stand; and an inner shell that is: sized to cover a first storage space formed by an inner layer covering an inner surface of the outer shell; concealed when the luggage container is closed in a single container configuration in which the first compartment and the second compartment are coupled via a fastener; and exposed in a dual container configuration in which the first compartment and the second compartment are completely detached from each other when the fastener is open, the inner shell serving as another outer shell for the first or second compartment in the dual container configuration, and

wherein the inner shell comprises: an outer portion having an opening formed at a substantially central area of the outer portion, wherein each of four outer sides of the outer portion is coupled to a top portion of a corresponding side of the inner layer; and an inner portion sized to fit the opening of the outer portion, wherein one of four sides of the inner portion is coupled to one of four inner sides of the outer portion, and a first row of zipper is formed along remaining three sides of the inner portion, the first row of zipper teeth corresponding to a second row of zipper teeth formed along remaining three inner sides of the outer portion such that at least one slider moves along a track formed by the first and second rows of zipper teeth.

2. The luggage container of claim 1, wherein:

the outer shell comprises a hard shell made of a rigid material; and

the inner shell comprises a soft shell made of a flexible soft material.

3. The luggage container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first compartment and the second compartment further comprises at least one carrying handle.

4. The luggage container of claim 1, wherein the inner shell is further sized to form a second storage space in addition to the first storage space.

5. The luggage container of claim 4, wherein a size of the second storage space is substantially equal to or greater than a size of the first storage space.

6. The luggage container of claim 4, wherein the luggage container further comprises a container or box that is sized to fit into the first and second storage space such that contents can be put into the container or box to be placed in the first or second compartment.

7. The luggage container of claim 6, wherein the container or box has a lid that can be open to receive the contents.

8. The luggage container of claim 6, wherein the container or box is foldable such that the container or box can be stored in the luggage container in a folded form.

9. The luggage container of claim 6, wherein the container or box is made of a material that is pliable in response to an applied force.

10. The luggage container of claim 9, wherein the material comprises a hard material including plastic.

11. The luggage container of claim 1, wherein:

each of the first compartment and the second compartment further comprises a fastener strap;

one end of the fastener strap is coupled to a top portion of a first side of the inner layer and the other end of the fastener strap is coupled to a top portion of a second side of the inner layer that faces the first side; and

the fastener strap comprises a first locking structure and a second locking structure configured to be inserted into the first locking structure.

12. The luggage container of claim 11, wherein:

the fastener strap is configured to be adjusted to fasten over the inner shell in the dual container configuration; and

the fastener strap is exposed in the dual container configuration.

13. The luggage container of claim 1, wherein:

the luggage container is not sized to be carry-on luggage in the single container configuration; and

each of the first and second compartments is sized to be carry-on luggage in the dual container configuration.

14. The luggage container of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a zipper.

15. The luggage container of claim 14, wherein the zipper comprises:

a third row of zipper teeth formed on the first compartment;

a fourth row of zipper teeth formed on the second compartment;

a first slider coupled to the third row of zipper; and

a second slider coupled to the fourth row of zipper.

16. The luggage container of claim 15, wherein a first end portion of the third row of zipper and a second end portion of the third row of zipper overlap such that double rows are formed on the first compartment for a section that is less than 20 cm and greater than 10 cm.

17. The luggage container of claim 15, wherein:

the first slider remains coupled to the third row of zipper when the first compartment is in an independent form in the double container configuration; and

the second slider remains coupled to the fourth row of zipper when the second compartment is in an independent form in the double container configuration.

18. The luggage container of claim 15, further comprising a zip lock formed on one of the first compartment or the second compartment, wherein the first slider and the second slider are inserted into the zip lock to secure the sliders when the zipper is closed in the single container configuration.

19. The luggage container of claim 14, wherein the first storage spaces of the first and second compartments are accessible when the zipper is at least partially open in the single container configuration.

20. The luggage container of claim 1, wherein the one of the four sides of the inner portion is stitched to the one of the four inner sides of the outer portion.