Luggage article with an external compartment

Abstract

A luggage case ( 10, 200, 500 ) including a housing ( 12 ) defining a primary internal compartment ( 15 ), and having a bottom portion ( 70, 80 ) including wheels ( 80 ) and a top wall ( 20, 212 ) positioned opposite the bottom portion. The top wall includes a recessed compartment ( 100, 218 ) having an internal volume ( 105 ) that may be separated from the primary internal storage compartment.

1 . A luggage case comprising:
 a housing defining a major internal storage compartment, and including:
 a bottom portion having a bottom wall and wheels; 
 a plurality of side walls; and 
 a top wall, having a perimeter, opposite the bottom wall and including an aperture ( 120 ,  220 ) defined by at least one edge; 
 and 
   a recessed compartment coupled to the top wall and generally aligned with said aperture, the recessed compartment being at least partially collapsible within the major internal storage compartment;   a cover panel selectively covering said aperture to selectively allow access through the aperture into said compartment, wherein the recessed compartment is at least partially divided from the major internal storage compartment.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The luggage case of  claim 1 , wherein the top wall is formed at least partially of a rigid frame portion. 
     
     
         4 . The luggage case of  claim 3 , wherein the rigid frame portion includes a rim extending at least partially around the perimeter of the top wall. 
     
     
         5 . The luggage case of  claim 4 , wherein the top wall includes a front edge, a rear edge, and opposing side edges, and the rim extends along at least portions of the three edges of the top wall. 
     
     
         6 . The luggage case of  claim 4 , wherein the top wall includes a front edge, a rear edge, and opposing side edges, and the rim extends along at least portions of the opposing side edges. 
     
     
         7 . The luggage case of  claim 4 , wherein the rim frames the recessed compartment on at least two sides. 
     
     
         8 . The luggage case of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed compartment extends into the major internal storage compartment from the top wall of the luggage case. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The luggage case of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of side panels forming the recessed compartment are attached to the top wall at the at least one edge of the aperture. 
     
     
         11 . The luggage case of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one edge includes a plurality of edges, and each of said plurality of edges defining the aperture are parallel with a respective portion of the perimeter of the top wall. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The luggage case of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed compartment includes a bracing panel which couples the bottom panel and a selected one of the side walls of the luggage case such that the bracing panel biases the recessed compartment so that the recessed compartment collapses towards the selected one of the side walls. 
     
     
         17 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The luggage case of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a handle assembly is positioned at least partially in a recessed region formed at least partially in said top wall, said handle assembly including a carry handle and an extendable pull handle;   the carry handle at least pivotally mounted within the recessed region to move between a retracted position and an operative position.   
     
     
         22 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The luggage case as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the recessed region is formed in a bezel structure positioned adjacent a rear edge of the top wall. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The luggage case of claim  23 , wherein the carry handle includes a grip portion and at least one arm portion extends from the grip portion;
 the at least one arm portion is pivotally coupled in the recessed region; and   wherein the grip portion is movable between at least a first position proximal to the top wall and a second position distal to the top wall and accessible by a user.   
     
     
         27 . The luggage case as defined in  claim 26  wherein the at least one arm portion is angled relative to the top wall in at least one position. 
     
     
         28 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A luggage case comprising:
 a housing defining a major internal storage compartment, and including:
 a bottom portion having a bottom wall and wheels; 
 a plurality of side walls; and 
 a top wall, having a perimeter, opposite the bottom wall and including an aperture defined by at least one edge; 
 and 
   a recessed compartment coupled to the top wall and generally aligned with said aperture, the recessed compartment being at least partially divided from the major internal storage compartment and extending at least partially into the major internal storage compartment;   a cover panel selectively covering said aperture to selectively allow access through the aperture into said compartment; and   a carry handle pivotally coupled in a recessed region positioned at least partially on the top wall.   
     
     
         35 . The luggage case of  claim 34 , wherein the top wall is formed at least partially of a rigid frame portion and includes a rim-extending at least partially around the perimeter of the top wall. 
     
     
         36 . The luggage case of  claim 35 , wherein the top wall includes a front edge, a rear edge, and opposing side edges, and the rim extends along at least portions of the three edges of the top wall. 
     
     
         37 . The luggage case of  claim 34 , wherein:
 a handle assembly is positioned at least partially in a recessed region formed at least partially in said top wall, said handle assembly including said carry handle and an extendable pull handle;   the carry handle at least pivotally mounted within the recessed region to move between a retracted position and an operative position.   
     
     
         38 . The luggage case of  claim 37 , wherein the recessed region is formed in a bezel structure positioned adjacent a rear edge of the top wall. 
     
     
         39 . The luggage case of  claim 34 , wherein the carry handle includes a grip portion and at least one arm portion extends from the grip portion;
 the at least one arm portion is pivotally coupled in the recessed region; and   wherein the grip portion is movable between at least a first position proximal to the top wall and a second position distal to the top wall and accessible by a user.