Luggage item with water bottle pocket

Abstract

A luggage item of tote or briefcase size includes at one end thereof an integral pocket for receipt of a water bottle. The pocket is releasably enclosed along the top and both side edges thereof by a zipper. One or more pairs of elastic bands connect the outer wall of the pocket to the end of the luggage item for resiliently securing a water bottle therebetween.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a luggage item having a body with external wall surfaces, the improvement comprising a pocket mounted on an external surface of the body for receipt of a water bottle, said pocket comprising an upwardly-extending outer wall member secured at its lower end to said external surface of the body and terminating in an upper free end and having side edges extending between said lower end and said upper free end, the outer wall member being connected to said external surface of the body by an elastic structure connected between each side edge of the outer wall member and said external surface of the body, said elastic structures permitting the outer wall member to move away from said external surface of the body to permit a water bottle to be received therebetween and between said elastic structures, and a closure mechanism for releasably connecting the side and top edges of the outer wall member to said external surface of the body.  
     
     
         2 . The luggage item of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one accordion-type pleat in the outer wall member to permit widthwise expansion of the outer wall member.  
     
     
         3 . The luggage item of  claim 2 , wherein the outer wall member comprises a tongue-shaped member connected at its base to said external surface of the body.  
     
     
         4 . The luggage item of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic structures comprise at least one pair of elastic bands connected between the side edges of the outer wall member and said external surface of the body adjacent the upper end of the outer wall member.  
     
     
         5 . The luggage item of  claim 4 , further comprising a second pair of elastic bands connected between the side edges of the outer wall member and said outer surface of the body, said first and second pairs of elastic bands being spaced apart vertically of the outer wall member.  
     
     
         6 . The luggage item of  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism is a zipper.