Item for convertible luggage

Abstract

An item of luggage such as a brief case, comprising a main carrying component having a top opening which is closeable by a flap extending from the top of one side which can be secured by a fastener to the other side and further comprising at least two straps linked by adjustable linkages at each end of each of them so as to permit adjustment of the total lengths of the straps, the straps being mounted in such manner that in a short configuration it provides a handle and when in a long configuration it may act as a pair of shoulder straps enabling a user's arms to be inserted between the strap and the carrying component.

1 . An item of luggage comprising a main carrying component of generally hexahedral shape having the two surfaces having larger areas than the others, which larger surfaces are generally parallel with each other, said carrying component having a top opening which is closeable by a flap extending from the top of one of the larger surfaces and which can be secured by a fastener to the other of the two larger surfaces, said item of luggage further comprising at least two straps linked by adjustable linkages at each end of each of them so as to permit adjustment of the total lengths of the straps, said straps being secured to said carrying component on the surface bearing said fastener, said surface further bearing at least two collinear slider members located toward the top of the surface and spaced apart sufficiently that in use they may be located with one on each side of a users shoulders and thorough which said strap passes, said strap being mounted in such manner that in its short configuration it provides a handle protruding above the top of the carrying component and when in its long configuration it may act as a pair of shoulder straps enabling a user's arms to be inserted between the strap and the carrying component. 
     
     
         2 . A luggage item as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a further handle is provided on the opposite surface of the luggage item. 
     
     
         3 . A luggage item as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said straps are mounted on said item by use of at least four pairs of slider members each member of a pair being collinear with the other member of the pair, at least two pairs of such slider members being located at the bottom of the luggage item and at least one pair being mounted close to the top of each of the two largest surfaces of said carrying component. 
     
     
         4 . A luggage item as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said carrying component has the dimensions of a brief case. 
     
     
         5 . A luggage item as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the end of the flap and the fastener will when the luggage item is being used as a backpack be located on the body-facing side of the luggage item.