Luggage article

Abstract

A luggage article includes a main body including a first wall, a flap, and a first gusset attached to the main body and to the flap, with the flap being moveable from a closed position in which the flap is partially attached to the main bag body to an open position in which the flap is at least partially attached from the main bag body to form a storage compartment defined by the first wall and the flap that can receive an item therein. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A luggage article comprising: 
 a main bag body including a first wall;    a flap; and    a first gusset attached to the main body and to the flap;    the flap being movable from a closed position in which the flap is partially attached to the main bag body to an open position in which the flap is at least partially detached from the main bag body to form a storage compartment that is defined by the first wall and the flap and that can receive an item therein.    
     
     
         2 . The luggage article as set forth in  claim 1 , in which the first wall includes a first side edge portion and the flap includes a second side edge portion, the first gusset being attached to the first and second side edge portions.  
     
     
         3 . The luggage article as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a second gusset, and in which the interior wall includes a pair of opposed first side edges, a first top edge, and a first bottom edge, and in which the flap includes a pair of opposed second side edges, a second top edge, and a second bottom edge, the first gusset being attached to one of the first side edges and to one of the second side edges, the second gusset being attached to the other of the first side edges and to the other of the second side edges.  
     
     
         4 . The luggage article as set forth in  claim 3 , in which the storage compartment is defined by the first wall, the flap, and the first and second gussets, when the flap is in the open position.  
     
     
         5 . The luggage article as set forth in  claim 4 , in which a zipper extends between at least a portion of the main bag body and the flap.  
     
     
         6 . The luggage article as set forth in  claim 5 , in which the second bottom edge is fixedly attached to the main bag body.  
     
     
         7 . The luggage article as set forth in  claim 1 , in which the first wall has a first inner surface, the flap has a second inner surface, and in which the first and second inner surfaces are substantially moisture-resistant.  
     
     
         8 . The luggage article as set forth in  claim 7 , in which the first wall and the flap are lined with a moisture-resistant material to form the first and second inner surfaces.  
     
     
         9 . The luggage article as set forth in  claim 8 , in which the moisture-resistant material is polyvinyl chloride.  
     
     
         10 . The luggage article as set forth in  claim 8 , in which the first gusset is lined with a moisture-resistant material.  
     
     
         11 . The luggage article as set forth in  claim 10 , further comprising a second gusset, and in which the interior wall includes a pair of opposed first side edges, a first top edge, and a first bottom edge, and in which the flap includes a pair of opposed second side edges, a second top edge, and a second bottom edge, the first gusset being attached to one of the first side edges and to one of the second side edges, the second gusset being attached to the other of the first side edges and to the other of the second side edges, and in which the second gusset is lined with a moisture-resistant material.  
     
     
         12 . The luggage article as set forth in  claim 1 , in which the flap is manufactured at least partially out of a resilient material such that the storage compartment is structured to be expandable to hold the item therein when the flap is in the closed position.  
     
     
         13 . The luggage article as set forth in  claim 1 , in which the first gusset is a strap.  
     
     
         14 . The luggage article as set forth in  claim 13 , in which the first gusset includes a first portion attached to the main bag body and a second portion attached to the flap, the first and second portions being releasably connected with one another.  
     
     
         15 . The luggage article as set forth in  claim 14 , in which the first gusset includes a buckle releasably extending between the first and second portions.  
     
     
         16 . The luggage article as set forth in  claim 15 , in which the flap includes an interior zippered compartment.  
     
     
         17 . The luggage article as set forth in  claim 1 , in which the flap includes an interior zippered compartment.  
     
     
         18 . A luggage article comprising: 
 a main bag body including a first wall;    a flap structured to be cantilevered from the main bag body such that the first wall and the flap form a storage compartment.    
     
     
         19 . The luggage article as set forth in  claim 18 , in which the flap can be cantilevered between a closed position and an open position, and further comprising a first gusset extending between the main bag body and the flap, in which the flap in the open position is supported in the open position by the first gusset.  
     
     
         20 . A method of storing an item in a storage compartment of a luggage article, the method comprising the steps of: 
 detaching at least a portion of a flap of the luggage article from a main bag body of the luggage article;    moving the detached portion of the flap away from the main bag body to form the storage compartment between the flap and a first wall of the main bag body; and    receiving the item into the storage compartment.    
     
     
         21 . The method as set forth in  claim 20 , in which the step of moving the detached portion of the flap includes the step of supporting the flap in an open position with a first gusset.  
     
     
         22 . The method as set forth in  claim 21 , in which the step of supporting the flap includes the step of holding the flap in equipoise with the first gusset and with gravity.