Hard-shell luggage system having a front accessible recessed pouch

• US 10,624,431 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2017
• Issued: 04/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JRSK, Inc.
• Original Assignee: JRSK, Inc.
• Inventors: Korey, Stephanie, Rubio, Jennifer, Recor, Bret, Murray, Seth, Weber, Charles, Park, Ahyoung
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Brian
• Application Number:
  US15/647,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20180000213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 190103, 190107, 190115, 190109, 190111
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/02 Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/03 Means for holding garments
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/103 Arrangement of zip-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/18 Devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/262 for wheeled luggage
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 15/00 Purses, bags, luggage or other receptacles covered by groups A45C1/00 - A45C11/00, combined with other objects or articles A45C1/08, A45C3/14, A45C11/321, A45C13/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2005/037 with a hard shell, i.e. rigid shell as volume creating element
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2013/025 for holding portable computers or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2013/267 the handle being slidable, extractable and lockable in one or more positions
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/03 Suitcases
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/06 with outside compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/14 with built-in rolling means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence

Abstract

Luggage systems that better address the ways in which many people like to travel, in a style they feel most comfortable, while enjoying an unprecedented level of convenience which they will naturally welcome. Such improvement include a hinged front panel supporting storage pouches recessed within the front hard-shell housing portion, for storing a mobile computing device and other articles, that can be simply accessed while traveling.

Claims

1. A hard-shell luggage system, comprising:

a front hard-shell housing portion defining an edge surface that is recessed inwardly from a front surface of the front hard-shell housing portion, the edge surface defining a storage region recessed within the front hard-shell housing portion;

a front panel attached along a length of a bottom edge of the front panel to a bottom region of the front hard-shell housing portion in a manner permitting the front panel to move between;

i) an open configuration in which the storage region is accessible, and ii) a closed configuration in which an inner surface of the front panel is at least partially disposed within the storage region, wherein an outer perimeter of the front panel is pliant;

a rear hard-shell housing portion hingedly connected to the front hard-shell housing portion, and having a telescoping handle assembly;

a set of indented wheel-wells formed in the corners of the bottom portion of the front and rear hard-shell housing portions, for mounting a set of wheels; and

a closure structure configured to hold the front panel to the front hard-shell housing portion in the closed configuration.

2. The hard-shell luggage system of claim 1, wherein the front panel comprises a mesh pouch along the inner surface.

3. The hard-shell luggage system of claim 1, wherein the closure structure comprises a zipper structure.

4. The hard-shell luggage system of claim 1, wherein the front panel comprises one or more retention elements to limit a distance from which the front panel can pivot from the front hard-shell housing portion.

5. The hard-shell luggage system of claim 1, wherein the retention element comprises a strap.

6. The hard-shell luggage system of claim 1, wherein the front hard-shell housing portion defines a front access opening to provide access to a front interior storage volume within the front hard-shell housing portion.

7. The hard-shell luggage system of claim 1, wherein the front panel is flexible.

8. A hard-shell luggage system, comprising:

front and rear hard-shell housing portions hinged together to form a hard-shell housing assembly and sealed using an integrated zipper mechanism, the front hard-shell housing portion defining an edge surface that is recessed inwardly from a front surface of the front hard-shell housing portion, the edge surface defining a storage region recessed within said first hard-shell housing portion;

wherein the rear hard-shell housing portion defines an interior storage volume supported within the rear hard-shell housing portion;

a set of four spinner wheels mounted in four corners of said hard-shell housing assembly;

a telescopic-handle assembly formed in the rear hard-shell housing portion;

a front panel structure providing a front panel attached along a length of a bottom edge of the front panel to a bottom region of the front hard-shell housing portion in a manner permitting the front panel to move between;

i) an open configuration in which the storage region is accessible, and ii) a closed configuration in which an inner surface of the front panel is at least partially disposed within the storage region; and

a zipper structure for securing the front panel structure to the front hard-shell housing portion;

wherein an inside surface of the front panel structure supports a storage pouch for holding a mobile pad computer during travel.

9. The hard-shell luggage system of claim 8, wherein an interior panel is mounted in the interior storage volume to support one or more of (i) a shallow zippered pouch for storing accessories and other objects, and (ii) a mesh pouch for holding items that need to be quickly grabbed during travel.

10. The hard-shell luggage system of claim 8, further comprising:

a set of top and side handles for carrying the hard-shell luggage system in one of two possible configurations, including in an upright carrying configuration or in a side carrying configuration.

11. The hard-shell luggage system of claim 8, wherein the rear hard-shell housing portion comprises a molded port for mounting a base housing component associated with said telescoping handle assembly.

13. The hard-shell luggage system of claim 8, wherein the front panel comprises one or more retention elements to limit a distance from which the front panel can pivot from the front hard-shell housing portion.

12. A hard-shell luggage system, comprising:

a front hard-shell housing portion having a front storage recess, the front hard-shell housing portion defining an edge surface that is recessed inwardly from a front surface of the front hard-shell housing portion within the front storage recess;

a rear hard-shell housing portion hinged together with the front hard-shell housing portion to form a hard-shell housing assembly,

a set of four spinner wheels mounted in four corners of the hard-shell luggage assembly;

a compression pad subsystem installed in the rear hard-shell housing portion and including a compression-pad structure fastened and strapped down to the interior volume of the rear hard-shell housing portion using a set of compression straps,

wherein the set of compression straps compress items against the bottom surface of the rear hard-shell housing portion when the compression straps are tightened to generate compression forces between the compression-pad structure and the bottom surface of the rear hard-shell housing portion;

wherein the front and rear hard-shell housing portions are sealed using a zipper subsystem;

a front panel attached to the front hard-shell housing portion along a length of a bottom edge of the front panel to a bottom region of the hard-shell housing portion in a manner permitting the front panel to move between;

i) an open configuration providing access to the front storage recess, and ii) a closed configuration in which an inner surface of the front panel is at least partially disposed within the front storage recess; and

wherein one of (i) the inside surface of the front panel or, (ii) the inside of the front storage recess includes a pouch capable of storing an electronic device.

14. The hard-shell luggage system of claim 12, wherein the front storage recess comprises a front interior storage volume.

15. The hard-shell luggage system of claim 12, wherein the front hard-shell portion has side portions and a bottom portion, and wherein the front panel is hinged to the bottom portion of the front hard-shell housing portion for covering the front access opening providing access to the front storage recess.

16. The hard-shell luggage system of claim 12, wherein the front panel comprises a flexible panel structure that forms a hinge structure for the front panel.

17. The hard-shell luggage system of claim 12, wherein the front panel comprises one or more retention elements to limit a distance from which the front panel can pivot from the front hard-shell housing portion.

18. A luggage system comprising:

a front hard-shell housing portion defining an edge surface that is recessed inwardly from a front surface of the front hard-shell housing portion, the edge surface defining a storage region recessed within the front hard-shell housing portion;

a front panel attached to the front hard-shell housing along a length of a bottom edge of the front panel in a manner permitting the front panel to move between;

i) an open configuration in which the storage region is accessible, and ii) a closed configuration in which an inner surface of the front panel is at least partially disposed within the storage region, wherein an outer perimeter of the front panel is pliant;

a rear hard-shell housing portion hingedly connected to the front hard-shell housing portion, and having a telescoping handle assembly;

a set of indented wheel-wells formed in the corners of the bottom portion of the front and rear hard-shell housing portions, for mounting a set of wheels; and

a closure structure configured to hold the front panel to the front hard-shell housing portion in the closed configuration.

19. The luggage system of claim 18, wherein the front panel comprises one or more retention elements to limit a distance from which the front panel can pivot from the front hard-shell housing portion.