Hard-shelled luggage with soft-side pocket

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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.