Luggage

Abstract

This invention relates to luggage, and in particular to suitcases incorporating a smaller removable case. A piece of luggage comprises a suitcase having a hinged base portion and lid portion, together defining an interior space of the suitcase, a recess formed in the lid portion, the recess having sidewalls, a base and an opening, and an insert case securable within and removable from the recess, the insert case having a base, side walls and a lid, wherein the opening of the recess is in an exterior surface of the lid portion of the suitcase and the side walls and base of the recess extend into the interior space of the suitcase, and wherein the heights of the sidewalls of the insert case are not greater than 120% of the heights of respective sidewalls of the recess.

1 . A piece of luggage comprising:
 a suitcase having a hinged base portion and lid portion, together defining an interior space of the suitcase;   a recess formed in the lid portion, the recess having a sidewall, a base and an opening, the opening being in an exterior surface of the lid portion of the suitcase and the sidewall and base of the recess extending into the interior space of the suitcase; and   an insert case securable within and removable from the recess, the insert case having a base, sidewall and a lid, and the insert case further comprises fastening means providing access to an interior space of the insert case,   wherein the height of the sidewall of the insert case is not greater than 120% of the height of the respective sidewall of the recess, the dimensions of the recess are such that a peripheral region of the lid portion is defined around the full periphery of the recess, and when the insert case is secured within the recess. the fastening means of the insert case are concealed so that the interior space of the insert case cannot be accessed without removing the insert case from the recess.   
     
     
         2 . A piece of luggage as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the height of the sidewall of the insert case is between 80% and 120% of the height of a respective sidewall of the recess. 
     
     
         3 . A piece of luggage as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the height of the sidewall of the insert case is equal to the height of the respective sidewall of the recess. 
     
     
         4 . A piece of luggage as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein a front face of the insert case is flush with the external surface of a front face of the lid portion when the insert case is secured within the recess. 
     
     
         5 . A piece of luggage as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the recess and the insert case have a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         6 . A piece of luggage as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein securing means are provided around a peripheral edge of the opening of the recess and a peripheral edge of a front face of the insert case to secure the insert case within the recess. 
     
     
         7 . A piece of luggage as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the securing means comprises a zip. 
     
     
         8 . A piece of luggage as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a first part of a securing means is provided on the base of the insert case and a second part of a securing means is provided on the base of the recess, engagement of the first and second parts of the securing means securing the insert case within the recess. 
     
     
         9 . A piece of luggage as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the securing means comprises a region of hook and loop material. 
     
     
         10 . A piece of luggage as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the first part of the securing means comprises an indentation and the second part of the securing means comprises a projection. 
     
     
         11 . A piece of luggage as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the indentation comprises a circular recess centrally located in the base of the insert case and the projection comprises a raised region having a circular periphery centrally located in the base of the recess. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A piece of luggage as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the insert case comprises a hinged base section and lid section. 
     
     
         14 . A piece of luggage as claimed in  13 , wherein the insert case comprises at least one strap extending between the base section and the lid section, the length of the at least one strap limiting the opening of the insert case. 
     
     
         15 - 16 . (canceled)