Articles of luggage

Abstract

The present invention addresses the problem of towing multiple articles of luggage which are unstable and awkward when being towed and, in particular, relates to an article of luggage, wherein the article of luggage comprises a base portion; a lid portion hingedly attached to the base portion and wherein the base and lid portions are arranged to open and close; a trolley handle arrangement located at a first end of the article of luggage; a set of wheels located at or about an opposed end of the article of luggage to the trolley handle arrangement; a first complementary portion of a first two-part connector means; and in an opposed orientation, a first complementary portion of a second two-part connector means; and wherein in use the first complementary portion of the first two-part connector means is operable to connect to a second complementary portion of the first two-part connector means located on a second article of luggage, and wherein the first complementary portion of the second two-part connector means is operable to connect to a second complementary portion of the second two-part connector means located on a third article of luggage, wherein at least one of the second or third articles of luggage comprises wheels and can be secured to the first article of luggage whilst both art ides of luggage are standing on their wheels on the ground.

1 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . An article of luggage, wherein the article of luggage comprises:
 a base portion;   a lid portion hingedly attached to the base portion and wherein the base and lid portions are arranged to open and close;   a trolley handle arrangement located at a first end of the article of luggage;   a set of wheels located at or about an opposed end of the article of luggage to the trolley handle arrangement;   a first complimentary portion of a first two-part connector means; and in an opposed orientation, a first complimentary portion of a second two-part connector means; and   wherein in use the first complimentary portion of the first two-part connector means is operable to connect to a second complimentary portion of the first two-part connector means located on a second article of luggage, and wherein the first complimentary portion of the second two-part connector means is operable to connect to a second complimentary portion of the second two-part connector means located on a third article of luggage, wherein at least one of the second or third articles of luggage comprises wheels and can be secured to the first article of luggage whilst both articles of luggage are standing on the ground.   
     
     
         27 . A set of two articles of luggage, wherein both the articles of luggage comprise:
 a base portion;   a lid portion hingedly attached to the base portion and wherein the base and lid portions are arranged to open and close;   a trolley handle arrangement located at a first end of each of the articles of luggage;   a set of wheels located at or about an opposed end of each of the articles of luggage to the trolley handle arrangement; and   wherein the first article of luggage further comprises a first complimentary portion of a first two-part connector means, and the second article of luggage comprises a second complimentary portion of the first two-part connector means, wherein the first and second complimentary portions of the first two-part connector means are located on each article of luggage such that the first complimentary portion of the first two-part connector can be secured to the second complimentary portion of the first two-part connector whilst both articles of luggage are standing on their wheels on the ground, and wherein the first or second articles of luggage further comprise a first complimentary portion of a second two-part connector, such that in use, the first or second article of luggage can be secured to a second complimentary portion of a second two-part connector of a third article of wheeled luggage, whilst the third article of luggage is standing on its wheels on the ground.   
     
     
         28 . Articles of luggage according to  claim 27 , wherein the first complimentary portions of the first and second two-part connector means are located in opposed orientations. 
     
     
         29 . Articles of luggage according to  claim 27 , wherein all articles of luggage are orientated in the same direction. 
     
     
         30 . Articles of luggage according to  claim 27 , wherein the first article of luggage further comprises a first complimentary portion of a third two-part connector means and a first complimentary portion of a fourth two-part connector means. 
     
     
         31 . Articles of luggage according to  claim 30 , wherein the second article of luggage comprises a second complimentary portion of the third two-part connector means. 
     
     
         32 . Articles of luggage according to  claim 30 , wherein the third article of luggage comprises a second complimentary portion of the fourth two-part connector means. 
     
     
         33 . Articles of luggage according to  claim 31 , wherein the third article of luggage comprises a second complimentary portion of the fourth two-part connector means. 
     
     
         34 . Articles of luggage according to  claim 27  wherein the two-part connector means are located at or about the sides of the respective articles of luggage. 
     
     
         35 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the first complimentary portion of each two-part connector means comprises a fabric strap coupled to a male connector portion and the second complementary portion of each two-part connector means is a fabric strap coupled to a female connector. 
     
     
         36 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 35 , wherein the male and female connector portions are plastic. 
     
     
         37 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the length of the complimentary portions are adjustable. 
     
     
         38 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the base portion is formed as a tray-like portion and comprises, a major panel portion and four minor side panel portions. 
     
     
         39 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the lid portion is formed as a tray-like portion and comprises, a major panel portion and four minor side panel portions. 
     
     
         40 . Articles of luggage according to  claim 27 , wherein both the lid and tray portion are formed each as single shell-like portions. 
     
     
         41 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein both the articles of luggage comprise a second set of wheels, located at or about an opposed end of the article of luggage to the trolley handle arrangement. 
     
     
         42 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the articles of luggage comprise connector pockets, wherein at least one part of the two-part connectors is retained within the connector pocket when fully closed. 
     
     
         43 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 42 , wherein the connector pockets comprise a closure mechanism located around their periphery. 
     
     
         44 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 42 , wherein the closure mechanism is a zip-mechanism. 
     
     
         45 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 43 , wherein the closure mechanism is a zip-mechanism. 
     
     
         46 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the first and second complimentary portions of the first two-part connector means are co-located at the same height when the first and second articles of luggage are adjacent each other. 
     
     
         47 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the first and second complimentary portions of the second two-part connector means are co-located at the same height when the first and third articles of luggage are adjacent each other. 
     
     
         48 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the first and second complimentary portions of the third two-part connector means are co-located at the same height when the first and second articles of luggage are adjacent each other. 
     
     
         49 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the first and second complimentary portions of the fourth two-part connector means are co-located at the same height when the first and third articles of luggage are adjacent each other. 
     
     
         50 . Articles of luggage according to  claim 26 , wherein the first complimentary portions of the first and second two-part connector means are located in opposed orientations. 
     
     
         51 . Articles of luggage according to  claim 26 , wherein all articles of luggage are orientated in the same direction. 
     
     
         52 . Articles of luggage according to  claim 26 , wherein the first article of luggage further comprises a first complimentary portion of a third two-part connector means and a first complimentary portion of a fourth two-part connector means. 
     
     
         53 . Articles of luggage according to  claim 52 , wherein the second article of luggage comprises a second complimentary portion of the third two-part connector means. 
     
     
         54 . Articles of luggage according to  claim 42 , wherein the third article of luggage comprises a second complimentary portion of the fourth two-part connector means. 
     
     
         55 . Articles of luggage according to  claim 53 , wherein the third article of luggage comprises a second complimentary portion of the fourth two-part connector means. 
     
     
         56 . Articles of luggage according to  claim 26 , wherein the two-part connector means are located at or about the sides of the respective articles of luggage. 
     
     
         57 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the first complimentary portion of each two-part connector means comprises a fabric strap coupled to a male connector portion and the second complementary portion of each two-part connector means is a fabric strap coupled to a female connector. 
     
     
         58 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein the male and female connector portions are plastic. 
     
     
         59 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the length of the complimentary portions are adjustable. 
     
     
         60 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the base portion is formed as a tray-like portion and comprises, a major panel portion and four minor side panel portions. 
     
     
         61 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the lid portion is formed as a tray-like portion and comprises, a major panel portion and four minor side panel portions. 
     
     
         62 . Articles of luggage according to  claim 26 , wherein both the lid and tray portion are formed each as single shell-like portions. 
     
     
         63 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein both the articles of luggage comprise a second set of wheels, located at or about an opposed end of the article of luggage to the trolley handle arrangement. 
     
     
         64 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the articles of luggage comprise connector pockets, wherein at least one part of the two-part connectors is retained within the connector pocket when fully closed. 
     
     
         65 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 64 , wherein the connector pockets comprise a closure mechanism located around their periphery. 
     
     
         66 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 64 , wherein the closure mechanism is a zip-mechanism. 
     
     
         67 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 65 , wherein the closure mechanism is a zip-mechanism. 
     
     
         68 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the first and second complimentary portions of the first two-part connector means are co-located at the same height when the first and second articles of luggage are adjacent each other. 
     
     
         69 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the first and second complimentary portions of the second two-part connector means are co-located at the same height when the first and third articles of luggage are adjacent each other. 
     
     
         70 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the first and second complimentary portions of the third two-part connector means are co-located at the same height when the first and second articles of luggage are adjacent each other. 
     
     
         71 . Articles of luggage in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the first and second complimentary portions of the fourth two-part connector means are co-located at the same height when the first and third articles of luggage are adjacent each other.