Suitcase with hard base and soft cover

Abstract

A suitcase or luggage piece having a rigid lower compartment that retains the intended shape and a soft flexible lid or top that is releasably attached to the lower compartment. In an alternate embodiment there is an expansion piece mounted between the lower rigid compartment and the lid. The expansion piece can be either rigid or soft and is stored in the lower compartment until needed.

1 . A luggage piece comprising:
 a lower compartment and an upper lid,   the lower compartment made of a rigid material such that it retains its intended shape, the lower compartment, having a rigid bottom, rigid sides, and an open top, the rigid sides having opposite top and bottom edges, the bottom edge connected to the rigid bottom,   the upper lid made of a soft flexible material such that it flexes when subjected to an external force, the upper lid having an outer perimeter,   at least a portion of the outer perimeter flexibly connected to the top edge of the rigid side, and   zipper means disposed between a second portion of the outer perimeter of the upper lid and the top edge of the rigid side for releasably fastening the upper lid to the lower compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The luggage piece of  claim 1  and further comprising storage compartments on the upper lid. 
     
     
         3 . The luggage piece of  claim 1  and further comprising wheels attached to the lower compartment for rolling the luggage piece. 
     
     
         4 . The luggage piece of  claim 3  and further comprising a telescopic handle mounted to the lower compartment. 
     
     
         5 . The luggage piece of  claim 1  wherein the rigid bottom and rigid sides are integrally molded as one piece. 
     
     
         6 . A luggage piece comprising:
 a lower compartment and an upper lid,   the lower compartment made of a rigid material such that it retains its intended shape, the lower compartment, having a rigid bottom, rigid sides, and an open top, the rigid sides having opposite top and bottom edges, the bottom edge connected to the rigid bottom,   the upper lid made of a soft flexible material such that it flexes when subjected to an external force, the upper lid having an outer perimeter,   an expansion piece disposed between the lower compartment and the upper lid for increasing the size of the lower compartment, the expansion piece having an expansion piece top edge and an expansion piece bottom edge,   at least a portion of the outer perimeter of the upper lid flexibly connected to the expansion piece top edge, and at least a portion of the expansion piece bottom edge flexibly connected to the top edge of the rigid side,   fastener means disposed between the upper lid and the expansion piece top edge for releasably fastening the upper lid to the top edge of the expansion piece, and   second fastener means disposed between the expansion piece bottom edge and the top edge of the lower compartment for releasably fastening the expansion piece to the top edge of the lower compartment.   
     
     
         7 . The luggage piece of  claim 6  wherein the expansion piece is made of rigid material. 
     
     
         8 . The luggage piece of  claim 6  wherein the expansion piece is made of soft material. 
     
     
         9 . The luggage piece of  claim 6  wherein the fastener means is a zipper closure. 
     
     
         10 . The luggage piece of  claim 9  wherein the second fastener means is a zipper closure. 
     
     
         11 . The luggage piece of  claim 6  and further comprising storage compartments on the upper lid. 
     
     
         12 . The luggage piece of  claim 6  and further comprising wheels attached to the lower compartment for rolling the luggage piece. 
     
     
         13 . The luggage piece of  claim 12  and further comprising a telescopic handle mounted to the lower compartment. 
     
     
         14 . The luggage piece of  claim 6  wherein the rigid bottom and rigid sides are integrally molded as one piece.