HARD-SHELLED LUGGAGE WITH SOFT-SIDE POCKET
An article of luggage with a main storage volume and an outer compartment is provided. The main storage volume is enclosed by a rigid shell. The outer surface of the rigid shell is recessed to accommodate the outer compartment. A panel is attached to the recess and is nested inside the recess. The outer compartment is enclosed with a non-rigid covering that is attached to the panel.
1 . An article of luggage comprising:
a rigid shell comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a main storage volume, a portion of the outer surface defining a recess to accommodate an outer compartment, the outer compartment comprising:
a panel attached to the portion of the outer surface defining a recess, wherein the panel is nested inside the recess; and
a non-rigid covering for enclosing the outer compartment, wherein the non-rigid covering is attached to the panel.
2 . The article of luggage of claim 1 , the portion of the outer surface defining a recess further comprising a weight-reducing aperture.
3 . The article of luggage of claim 1 wherein the panel is attached to the portion of the outer surface defining a recess with at least one fastener.
4 . The article of luggage of claim 3 wherein the at least one fastener is one or both of a rivet and a binding post.
5 . The article of luggage of claim 1 wherein the non-rigid covering is sewn to the panel.
6 . The article of luggage of claim 1 , the panel further including a fabric binding for covering an edge of the panel, wherein the non-rigid covering is sewn to the binding.
7 . The article of luggage of claim 1 wherein the non-rigid covering is flush with an exterior surface of the rigid shell.
8 . The article of luggage of claim 1 further comprising a top side adjacent to a front side;
wherein the portion of the outer surface defining a recess is disposed on the top side and the front side of the rigid shell.
9 . The article of luggage of claim 8 further comprising a curved surface joining the top side and the front side.
10 . The article of luggage of claim 7 wherein the non-rigid covering is openable from the top side to allow vertical insertion of an article into the outer compartment.
11 . The article of luggage of claim 10 wherein the outer compartment is shaped and sized to fit a portable computer.
12 . The article of luggage of claim 10 wherein the non-rigid covering is flush with the exterior surface of the rigid shell on the front side, and wherein the non-rigid covering is raised above the exterior surface of the rigid shell on the top side.
13 . The article of luggage of claim 1 , the non-rigid covering including a fastener to open and close the outer compartment.
14 . The article of luggage of claim 13 wherein the fastener comprises a magnet.
15 . The article of luggage of claim 13 wherein the fastener comprises a zipper.
16 . An article of luggage comprising:
a rigid shell comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a main storage volume, a portion of the outer surface defining a recess to accommodate an outer compartment, the outer compartment comprising:
a panel attached to the portion of the outer surface defining a recess, wherein the panel is nested inside the recess; and
a non-rigid covering for enclosing the outer compartment, the non-rigid covering attached to the panel,
wherein the non-rigid covering is flush with an exterior surface of the rigid shell;
wherein the portion of the outer surface is disposed on a top side and a front side of the rigid shell; and
wherein the non-rigid covering is openable from the top side to allow vertical insertion of an article into the outer compartment.
17 . The article of luggage of claim 15 wherein the outer compartment is shaped and sized to fit a portable computer and the non-rigid covering including a zipper to open and close the outer compartment.