Luggage With Rechargeable Power Supply and Storage Shelves

Abstract

An article of luggage that incorporates a rechargeable battery that may be used to recharge personal electronic devices with multiple electrical interconnects for interfacing with various types of plugs. The invention is defined by luggage that includes an integral tray for holding liquids, aerosols and gels. The tray is easily slid out of the luggage when the luggage is placed on the x-ray conveyer so that the bag holding the liquids, aerosols and gels is appropriately exposed for proper security screening at airports. The luggage further includes an integral tray for holding a laptop computer. The tray is easily slid out of the luggage when the luggage is placed on the x-ray conveyer so that computer is appropriately exposed for proper security screening. The laptop and liquid trays may be longitudinally slid out of, and into the main body of the luggage, and may be alternately pivoted to provide access to contents held on the trays.

1 . An article of luggage, comprising:
 a luggage main body defining a frame;   a laptop computer tray adapted for receiving a laptop computer, said laptop computer tray attached to and reciprocally slidable into and out of the frame between a retracted position in which the laptop computer tray is entirely within said main body and an extended position in which the laptop computer tray is exposed, and wherein when said article of luggage is laid with its rear panel on a surface and said laptop computer tray is in the extended position, apart from said laptop computer tray there are no structural components of said article of luggage either above or below a laptop computer received on said laptop computer tray.   
     
     
         2 . The article of luggage according to  claim 1  further comprising a liquids tray reciprocally slidable into and out of the frame between a retracted position in which the liquids tray is entirely within said main body and an extended position in which the liquids tray is exposed. 
     
     
         3 . The article of luggage according to  claim 2  wherein when said article of luggage is laid with its rear panel on a surface and said liquids tray is in the extended position, apart from said liquids tray there are no structural components of said article of luggage either above or below said liquids tray. 
     
     
         4 . The article of luggage according to  claim 1  wherein said laptop computer tray has a first end and a second end and said first end is connected to said frame with a hinge so that said laptop computer tray is pivotally movable about said hinge between a stowed position and an access position. 
     
     
         5 . The article of luggage according to  claim 4  wherein said laptop computer tray is pivotally movable between the stowed position and the access position when the laptop computer tray is in either the retracted or extended position. 
     
     
         6 . The article of luggage according to  claim 2  wherein said liquids tray has a first end and a second end and said first end is connected to said frame with a hinge so that said liquids tray is pivotally movable about said hinge between a stowed position and an access position. 
     
     
         7 . The article of luggage according to  claim 6  wherein said liquids tray is pivotally movable between the stowed position and the access position when the liquids tray is in either the retracted or extended position. 
     
     
         8 . The article of luggage according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a rechargeable battery in the main body; 
 an electrical interface panel electrically connected to the rechargeable battery and having plural electrical interconnects for charging personal electronic devices. 
 
     
     
         9 . The article of luggage according to  claim 1  wherein the frame is defined by front and rear panels, opposed side panels and top and bottom panels. 
     
     
         10 . The article of luggage according to  claim 9  wherein the rear panel of the frame is defined by a molded structure. 
     
     
         11 . The article of luggage according to  claim 1  wherein the distance between the distance between a laptop computer held in the laptop computer tray when the laptop computer tray is in the extended position and the surface is no greater than about 1¼ inches. 
     
     
         12 . An article of luggage, comprising:
 a luggage main body having front and rear panels, opposed side panels and top and bottom panels;   a laptop tray reciprocally slidable into and out of one of either the top or bottom panel between a retracted position in which the laptop tray is entirely within said main body and an extended position in which the laptop tray is exposed; and   a liquids tray reciprocally slidable into and out of the opposite of either the top or bottom panel from the laptop tray and between a retracted position in which the liquids tray is entirely within said main body and an extended position in which the liquids tray is exposed; and   a rechargeable battery.   
     
     
         13 . The article of luggage according to  claim 12  wherein the laptop tray is adapted for receiving a laptop computer and wherein when said article of luggage is laid with its rear panel on a surface and said laptop tray is in the extended position, apart from said laptop computer tray there are no structural components of said article of luggage either above or below a laptop computer received on said laptop tray. 
     
     
         14 . The article of luggage according to  claim 13  wherein the liquids tray is adapted for receiving a container of liquid and wherein when said article of luggage is laid with its rear panel on a surface and said liquids tray is in the extended position, apart from said liquids tray there are no structural components of said article of luggage either above or below a container of liquid received on said liquids tray. 
     
     
         15 . The article of luggage according to  claim 14  further comprising an electrical interface panel electrically connected to the rechargeable battery and having plural electrical interconnects for charging personal electronic devices. 
     
     
         16 . The article of luggage according to  claim 15  wherein said electrical interface panel is movable with said laptop tray when said laptop tray is moved from the retracted to the extended position. 
     
     
         17 . An article of luggage, comprising:
 a main body defining a frame for front and rear panels, and opposed top and bottom panels and opposed side panels;   a first tray attached to and reciprocally slidable into and out of the frame between a retracted position in which first tray is entirely within a perimeter of said main body and an extended position in which the first tray is exposed, wherein when said article of luggage is laid with the rear panel on a surface and said first tray is in the extended position, there are no additional structural components of said article of luggage either above or below the first tray, said first tray further pivotally attached to said frame for pivotal movement between a stowed position and an access position in which an item retained on said first tray may be removed therefrom;   a second tray attached to and reciprocally slidable into and out of the frame between a retracted position in which second tray is entirely within a perimeter of said main body and an extended position in which the second tray is exposed, wherein when said article of luggage is laid with the rear panel on a surface and said second tray is in the extended position, there are no additional structural components of said article of luggage either above or below the second tray, said second tray further pivotally attached to said frame for pivotal movement between a stowed position and an access position in which an item retained on said second tray may be removed therefrom; and   a battery in the main body and an electrical interface panel electrically connected to the battery and having plural electrical interconnects for recharging electronic devices.   
     
     
         18 . The article of luggage according to  claim 17  wherein the first and second trays may be moved between their stowed and their access positions when said trays are in both their retracted and their extended positions. 
     
     
         19 . The article of luggage according to  claim 18  including a handle attached to the frame and reciprocally movable from a retracted position to an extended position. 
     
     
         20 . The article of luggage according to  claim 19  wherein said battery and electrical interface panel move with said first tray as it is moved between its retracted and its extended position, but said battery and electrical interface panel do not move with said first tray as it is moved between its stowed position and its access position.