Customizable luggage devices and related methods

Abstract

A luggage device including a frame and at least one container releasably secured to the frame.

1 . A luggage device comprising: 
 a base portion;    a plurality of rotatable wheels secured to one end of the base portion;    a handle extending from another end of the base portion; and    a shell engaging the base portion to enclose an interior space defined by the shell and the base portion, the shell being releasably secured to the base portion for replacement with any of a number of interchangeable shells of differing size, shape, or texture.    
   
   
       2 . The luggage device of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion comprises a frame and a drive mechanism device.  
   
   
       3 . The luggage device of  claim 2 , wherein the handle and the wheels are attached to the drive mechanism device.  
   
   
       4 . The luggage device of  claim 2 , wherein the handle is retractable within the drive mechanism device.  
   
   
       5 . The luggage device of  claim 2 , wherein the drive mechanism device is releasably secured to the frame for replacement with any of a number of interchangeable members of differing size, shape, or texture.  
   
   
       6 . The luggage device of  claim 5 , wherein the frame comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the shell being releasably secured to one of the first and second sides, and the drive mechanism device being releasably secured to the other of the first and second sides.  
   
   
       7 . The luggage device of  claim 2 , wherein the base portion comprises a rim, the shell engaging the rim of the base portion.  
   
   
       8 . The luggage device of  claim 7 , wherein the frame comprises the rim.  
   
   
       9 . The luggage device of  claim 7 , wherein the shell comprises a lip configured to engage the rim.  
   
   
       10 . A luggage device comprising: 
 a frame comprising a first side and a second side; and    a first container releasably secured to at least one of the first and second sides of the frame for replacement with any of a number of interchangeable containers of differing size, shape, or texture, the first container cooperating with the frame to at least partially define an enclosed compartment configured to contain goods.    
   
   
       11 . The luggage device of  claim 10 , wherein the interchangeable containers are constructed to be attached to either of the first and second sides of the frame.  
   
   
       12 . The luggage device of  claim 10 , further comprising a second container releasably attached to the luggage device.  
   
   
       13 . The luggage device of  claim 12 , wherein the first container is configured to be releasably attached to the first side of the frame and the second container is configured to be releasably attached to the second side of the frame.  
   
   
       14 . The luggage device of  claim 12 , wherein the second container is releasably attached to the first container.  
   
   
       15 . The luggage device of  claim 14 , wherein the first container and the second container cooperate to at least partially define the enclosed compartment therebetween.  
   
   
       16 . The luggage device of  claim 10 , wherein the first container comprises an outer shell and a garment bag adapted to be stored within the outer shell.  
   
   
       17 . The luggage device of  claim 16 , wherein the garment bag comprises a one-way valve configured to release air from the garment bag.  
   
   
       18 . The luggage device of  claim 16 , wherein the outer shell has a hardness that is greater than a hardness of the garment bag.  
   
   
       19 . The luggage device of  claim 16 , wherein the garment bag comprises a slidable bar and a vent hole, the slidable bar being configured to slide along an outer surface of the garment bag to expel air through the vent hole.  
   
   
       20 . The luggage device of  claim 10 , further comprising a drive mechanism device attached to at least one of the first and second sides of the frame, the drive mechanism device comprising a handle extending from one end of the drive mechanism device and at least two wheels disposed on another end of the drive mechanism device.  
   
   
       21 . The luggage device of  claim 20 , wherein the handle is retractable within the drive mechanism device.  
   
   
       22 . The luggage device of  claim 20 , wherein the drive mechanism device is releasably attached to the frame for replacement with any of a number of the interchangeable containers.  
   
   
       23 . The luggage device of  claim 10 , wherein the frame defines slots therethrough, into which tabs of the first container are releasably secured.  
   
   
       24 . The luggage device of  claim 23 , wherein the container tabs define apertures therethrough, the apertures sized to accept respective fastening clips disposed on a side of the frame opposite the container.  
   
   
       25 . The luggage device of  claim 24 , wherein the fastening clips comprise springs compressed between an inner surface of the frame and an opposing surface of their respective tabs.  
   
   
       26 . The luggage device of  claim 25 , wherein each spring defines a recess sized to receive a feature of the tab therein when the clip is fully engaged.  
   
   
       27 . The luggage device of  claim 10 , wherein the first container has projections extending from an inner side thereof, and wherein the frame defines respective holes arranged to receive the container projections.  
   
   
       28 . The luggage device of  claim 27 , further comprising removable clips releasably engaging the container projections with the container projections extending through the frame holes, to secure the first container to the frame.  
   
   
       29 . The luggage device of  claim 27 , wherein each projection includes an outer lip extending radially from an outer surface of the projection, and wherein the projection defines a slot along one side thereof, enabling resilient collapse of the projection.  
   
   
       30 . The luggage device of  claim 29 , wherein the frame holes are sized to require temporary collapse of the container projections during attachment of the container to the frame.  
   
   
       31 . The luggage device of  claim 10 , wherein the container is releasably secured to the frame by fasteners accessible from inside the luggage device.  
   
   
       32 . A luggage system comprising: 
 a frame;    a member constructed to be releasably secured to the frame, the member comprising a handle and at least two wheels; and    a plurality of interchangeable members constructed to releasably attach to the frame, the interchangeable members being of differing size, shape, or texture.    
   
   
       33 . A method of customizing luggage, comprising: 
 removing a first member from a frame of a piece of luggage; and    securing a second member to the frame from which the first member was removed, effectively replacing the first member with the second member, each of the first and second members at least partially defining a compartment for storing goods;    wherein the second member is of a different size, shape, or texture than the first container.