Hard-Sided Suitcase Featuring Hard-Sided Pockets

Abstract

A hard-sided suitcase may include a plurality of polycarbonate shells for forming storage compartments of the hard-sided suitcase, wherein at least one of the plurality of polycarbonate shells is utilized for forming a hard-sided zipper pocket. The hard-sided suitcase may include a zipper mechanism for connecting a pair of polycarbonate shells to form a main storage compartment and for providing access to the main storage compartment. The hard-sided suitcase may include a second zipper mechanism for connecting the hard-sided zipper pocket to one of the polycarbonate shells forming the main storage compartment. When the second zipper mechanism is opened, the hard-sided zipper pocket may be in an open position, and when the second zipper mechanism is closed, the hard-sided zipper pocket may be in a closed position. The hard-sided zipper pocket may be held open and at angle with respect to the suitcase via a flexible, pocket lining.

1 . A hard-sided suitcase, the hard-sided suitcase comprising:
 a plurality of polycarbonate shells for forming storage compartments of the hard-sided suitcase, wherein at least one of the plurality of polycarbonate shells is utilized for forming a hard-sided zipper pocket;   a zipper mechanism for connecting at least one pair of the plurality of polycarbonate shells to form a storage compartment of the storage compartments and for providing access to at least one storage compartment of the storage compartments; and   a second zipper mechanism for connecting the hard-sided zipper pocket to at least one of the plurality of polycarbonate shells, wherein the second zipper mechanism, upon being opened, causes the hard-sided zipper pocket to be opened, and wherein the second zipper mechanism, upon being closed, causes the hard-sided zipper pocket to be closed.   
     
     
         2 . The hard-sided suitcase of  claim 1 , wherein the hard-sided zipper pocket comprises an expansion gusset and the second zipper mechanism, upon being opened, causes the hard-sided zipper pocket to be opened at an angle with respect to the at least one pair of the plurality of polycarbonate shells that form the storage compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The hard-sided suitcase of  claim 1 , wherein the hard-sided zipper pocket comprises an open pocket. 
     
     
         4 . The hard-sided suitcase of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of polycarbonate shells utilized for forming the hard-sided zipper pocket is attached to one of the at least one pair of the plurality of polycarbonate shells that form the storage compartment via a bottom hinged portion that facilitates opening and closing the hard-sided zipper pocket. 
     
     
         5 . The hard-sided suitcase of  claim 1 , wherein the second zipper mechanism is interconnected with the at least one of the plurality of polycarbonate shells utilized for forming the hard-sided zipper pocket via a rim, and the second zipper mechanism is interconnected with one of the at least one pair of the plurality of polycarbonate shells that form the storage compartment via a length of flexible fabric, the length of flexible fabric being approximately equal to or greater than half an inch. 
     
     
         6 . The hard-sided suitcase of  claim 5 , wherein the length of flexible fabric interconnecting the second mechanism with one of the at least one pair of the plurality of polycarbonate shells that form the storage compartment is attached to a secondary interior mesh pocket located within the hard-sided zipper pocket, the secondary interior mesh pocket being opened and closed by an interior zipper mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . A hard-sided suitcase having a hard-sided zipper pocket, the hard-sided suitcase comprising:
 a left shell and a right shell configured to form a main storage compartment of the hard-sided suitcase;   a zipper mechanism configured to connect the left and right shells to form the main storage compartment and provide access to the main storage compartment;   a small shell configured to be smaller than the left and right shells, the small shell being interconnected with an adjacent shell via an expandable gusset, the adjacent shell being one of the left and right shells; and   a second zipper mechanism configured to openly interconnect the small shell with the adjacent shell, wherein the second zipper mechanism, upon being opened, allows the small shell to be opened with respect to the adjacent shell at an angle, the small shell being held in place and at an angle with respect to the adjacent shell via the expandable gusset, such that the small shell forms an outer side of the hard-sided zipper pocket and the adjacent shell forms an inner side of the hard-sided zipper pocket.   
     
     
         8 . The hard-sided suitcase having a hard-sided zipper pocket of  claim 7 , wherein the expandable gusset forms a front and back side of the hard-sided zipper pocket, the hard-sided zipper pocket being a four sided, open pocket. 
     
     
         9 . The hard-sided suitcase having a hard-sided zipper pocket of  claim 7 , wherein the left, right, and small shells are manufactured from polycarbonate or a mixture thereof such that they retain there shape during use. 
     
     
         10 . The hard-sided suitcase having a hard-sided zipper pocket of  claim 7 , wherein the small and adjacent shells are interconnected with a bottom hinged portion that facilitates the small shell opening at an angle with respect to the adjacent shell. 
     
     
         11 . The hard-sided suitcase having a hard-sided zipper pocket of  claim 7 , wherein the second zipper mechanism is interconnected with the small shell via a support frame, and the second zipper mechanism is interconnected with the adjacent shell via a length of flexible fabric stitched to the adjacent shell, the length of flexible fabric extending approximately equal to or greater than half an inch from an exterior of the adjacent shell. 
     
     
         12 . The hard-sided suitcase having a hard-sided zipper pocket of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible fabric interconnecting the adjacent shell is attached to a secondary interior pocket within the hard-sided zipper pocket, the secondary interior pocket being opened and closed by an interior zipper mechanism within or in the vicinity of the hard-sided zipper pocket. 
     
     
         13 . The hard-sided suitcase having a hard-sided zipper pocket of  claim 7 , wherein a height of the small shell is less than a second height of the adjacent shell, and a width of the small shell is less than a second width of the adjacent shell. 
     
     
         14 . A hard-sided suitcase having a hard-sided zipper pocket, the hard-sided suitcase comprising:
 a left shell and a right shell configured to form a main storage compartment of the hard-sided suitcase, the left and right shell being manufactured from polycarbonate or other thermoplastic based material;   a zipper mechanism configured to openly interconnect the left and right shells with respect to each other and provide access to the main storage compartment;   a small shell configured to be smaller than the left and right shells, the small shell being interconnected with an adjacent shell via a flexible zipper pocket lining, the adjacent shell being one of the left and right shells; and   a second zipper mechanism configured to openly interconnect the small shell with the adjacent shell, wherein the second zipper mechanism, upon being opened, allows the small shell to be opened with respect to the adjacent shell at an angle, the small shell being held open and at an angle with respect to the adjacent shell via the flexible zipper pocket lining, such that the small shell forms an outer side of the hard-sided zipper pocket and a portion of the adjacent shell forms an inner side of the hard-sided zipper pocket.   
     
     
         15 . The hard-sided suitcase having a hard-sided zipper pocket of  claim 14 , wherein the flexible zipper pocket lining forms a front and back side of the hard-sided zipper pocket, the hard-sided zipper pocket being a four sided, open pocket. 
     
     
         16 . The hard-sided suitcase having a hard-sided zipper pocket of  claim 14 , wherein the small and adjacent shells are interconnected with a bottom hinged portion that facilitates the small shell opening at an angle with respect to the adjacent shell. 
     
     
         17 . The hard-sided suitcase having a hard-sided zipper pocket of  claim 14 , wherein the second zipper mechanism is interconnected with the small shell via a rim, and the second zipper mechanism is interconnected with the adjacent shell via a length of flexible fabric stitched to a surface of the adjacent shell. 
     
     
         18 . The hard-sided suitcase having a hard-sided zipper pocket of  claim 17 , wherein the length of flexible fabric interconnecting the adjacent shell with the second zipper mechanism is attached to a secondary pocket located on an interior side of the hard-sided zipper pocket, the secondary pocket being opened and closed by an interior zipper mechanism within or in the vicinity of the hard-sided zipper pocket. 
     
     
         19 . The hard-sided suitcase having a hard-sided zipper pocket of  claim 18 , wherein the secondary pocket is manufactured from netting or see through material. 
     
     
         20 . The hard-sided suitcase having a hard-sided zipper pocket of  claim 14 , wherein a height of the small shell is less than a second height of the adjacent shell, and a width of the small shell is less than a second width of the adjacent shell.