Luggage system

This application claims all rights of priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/966,121, filed Aug. 24, 2007.

This application generally relates to a luggage system.

Once considered a pleasurable convenience, today\'s travel has shifted to become a stressful but necessary nuisance. Numerous TSA regulations and new airlines\' policies have increased the inconveniences associated with travel, including luggage size and weight limits, enforced laptop removal and scanning as well as carry-on and toiletry restrictions. Therefore, the demand for smart, time-saving, and efficient travel solutions has never been greater.

Wheeled luggage cases are in widespread use today and greatly ease the traveler\'s movement in airports, railroad stations, etc. Many wheeled luggage items have retractable handles that permit the traveler to pull or push the luggage item as he walks and have one hand free. A common type of such a handle comprises a pair of spaced, parallel tubes that telescope into the luggage case when not needed and can be readily withdrawn into an extended position when needed.

A common practice among travelers is to carry a secondary piece of luggage, such as a laptop case, a cosmetic case or a backpack, on the wheeled luggage case by seating it on top of the case and strapping it to the extended handle. With the double tube type of handle, some stability for the secondary bag is provided by the spaced tubes. However, even with that arrangement, especially when the tubes are closely spaced, rapid movement and turning of the wheeled luggage case can cause the secondary piece of luggage to slide or twist away from its desired position on the luggage case.

An arrangement for improving the stability of a secondary bag on a wheeled luggage item, applicable to luggage cases having closely spaced double tubes or single tube retractable handles is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,938,741. That arrangement comprises a bar member mounted on the top of the luggage case and moveable between a collapsed position in which the bar member rests on the case and an extended position in which the bar member extends outwardly from the case just in front of the pull handle. The bar has considerable extent in the widthwise direction of the case, significantly more than the pull handle, and thereby provides stability to a secondary bag resting atop the case.

Another solution for attaching a secondary piece of luggage to the main wheeled luggage case includes U.S. Pat. No. 6,817,623 disclosing a case system having two equipment cases, such as for storing and transporting musical electronic equipment. The cases are connected together in an over/under relationship for the purpose of wheeling the connected cases as a single unit. The bottom case has two wheels along one edge and an extendable handle, which when extended exposes two handle shafts. The top case has two grooves which accept the two handle shafts. Latches on the top case lock the handles shafts in place within the two grooves, thereby attaching the top case to the bottom case.

With dramatic increase in the amount and frequency of business and leisure travel, there is a substantial need in the art for a luggage system enabling customization to specific lifestyle/travel needs and secure engagement and quick release of additional luggage pieces.

In general, in a first aspect, the invention features a modular luggage system, including a core bag module and an additional bag module. The core module includes a housing, at least one internal compartment and a docking frame positioned on the surface of the housing. The additional bag module has its internal compartment and a rim located on the surface of the additional bag module. The rim of the additional bag module is engageable with the docking frame of the core bag module so as to removably secure the additional bag module on the core bag module.

In general, in a second aspect, the invention features a luggage case, including at least one internal compartment, an internal inflation system and a pumping mechanism located on an outside of the luggage case. The pumping mechanism is connected to the internal inflation system so as to pump air into the internal inflation system, which is located inside the luggage case and which expands when air is pumped into the internal inflation system compressing the inner volume of the internal compartment.

It is one of the objects to provide a luggage system optimizing use of internal and external space.

It is another of the objects to provide a luggage system with an internal/external modularity for maximum organization.

It is a further of the objects to provide a luggage system with an easy and quick external access to travel accessories.

It is still a further of the objects to provide a luggage system with a separation of work items and personal items

It is still a further of the objects to provide a luggage system allowing for a secure and quick consolidation and for ease of handling and portability during transit.

It is still a further of the objects to provide a luggage system where a module detachability enables overhead storage of dock with continued access to secondary module

The above aspects, advantages and features are of representative embodiments only. It should be understood that they are not to be considered limitations on the invention as defined by the claims. Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description, from the drawings, and from the claims.