Hybrid luggage bag

Abstract

A hybrid luggage bag includes first and second shell portions. The first shell portion defines a first side of the bag, and includes a first forward edge. The second shell portion is spaced apart from the first shell portion in a width direction, defines a second side of the bag, and includes a second forward edge. A fabric lid defines a front side of the bag. The fabric lid is releasably fastened to at least one of the first and second forward edges for permitting access to a storage compartment of the bag.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A hybrid luggage bag, comprising:
 a first shell portion defining a first side of the bag, the first shell portion comprising a first forward edge;   a second shell portion spaced apart from the first shell portion in a width direction and defining a second side of the bag, the second shell portion comprising a second forward edge; and   a fabric lid defining a front side of the bag, the fabric lid releasably fastened to at least one of the first and second forward edges for permitting access to a storage compartment of the bag.   
     
     
         2 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric lid comprises at least one pocket that is accessible from an exterior of the bag. 
     
     
         3 . The bag of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one fabric portion extending in the width direction and coupling the first and second shell portions. 
     
     
         4 . The bag of  claim 3 , wherein each of the shell portions comprises a bottom flange, and the at least one fabric portion comprises a bottom panel that is joined between the bottom flanges, the bottom flanges and the bottom panel together defining a bottom side of the bag. 
     
     
         5 . The bag of  claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of wheels mounted to the bottom flanges. 
     
     
         6 . The bag of  claim 5 , wherein each of the shell portions comprises a rear flange, and the at least one fabric portion comprises a rear panel that is joined between the rear flanges, the rear flanges and the rear panel together defining a rear side of the bag. 
     
     
         7 . The bag of  claim 6 , wherein each of the shell portions comprises a top flange, and the at least one fabric portion comprises a top panel that is joined between the top flanges, the top flanges and the top panel together defining a top side of the bag. 
     
     
         8 . The bag of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one of a trolley handle and a top handle mounted to the top panel. 
     
     
         9 . The bag of  claim 3 , wherein each of the shell portions comprises a bottom flange, a rear flange and a top flange, and the at least one fabric portion comprises a bottom panel, a rear panel and a top panel that are joined between the bottom flanges, the rear flanges and the top flanges, respectively, of the shell portions. 
     
     
         10 . The bag of  claim 9 , wherein the bottom panel comprises a third forward edge, the top panel comprise a fourth forward edge, and the fabric lid is releasably fastened to at least two of the first, second, third and fourth forward edges by a closure mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . The bag of  claim 10 , wherein the fabric lid is releasably fastened to three of the forward edges by the closure mechanism, and hingedly connected to the remaining one of the forward edges. 
     
     
         12 . The bag of  claim 11 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a zipper. 
     
     
         13 . The bag of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one fabric portion extending in the width direction and coupling the first and second shell portions, and wherein each of the shell portions comprises a bottom flange, a rear flange and a top flange, and the at least one fabric portion comprises a bottom panel, a rear panel and a top panel that are joined between the bottom flanges, the rear flanges and the top flanges, respectively, of the shell portions. 
     
     
         14 . The bag of  claim 13 , wherein the bottom panel comprises a third forward edge, the top panel comprise a fourth forward edge, and the fabric lid is releasably fastened to at least two of the first, second, third and fourth forward edges by a closure mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The bag of  claim 14 , wherein the fabric lid is releasably fastened to three of the forward edges by the closure mechanism, and hingedly connected to the remaining one of the forward edges. 
     
     
         16 . The bag of  claim 15 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a zipper. 
     
     
         17 . A hybrid luggage bag, comprising:
 a first shell portion defining a first side of the bag, the first shell portion comprising a first forward edge, a first bottom flange, a first rear flange and a first top flange;   a second shell portion spaced apart from the first shell portion in a width direction and defining a second side of the bag, the second shell portion comprising a second forward edge, a second bottom flange, a second rear flange and a second top flange;   at least one fabric portion extending in the width direction between the first and second shell portions, the at least one fabric portion comprising a bottom panel that is joined between the bottom flanges that together define a bottom side of the bag, a rear panel that is joined between the rear flanges that together define a rear side of the bag, and a top panel that is joined between the top flanges that together define a top side of the bag, the bottom panel comprising a third forward edge, and the top panel comprising a fourth forward edge; and   a fabric lid defining a front side of the bag, the fabric lid releasably fastened to the forward edges for permitting access to a storage compartment of the bag.   
     
     
         18 . The bag of  claim 17 , wherein the fabric lid comprises at least one pocket that is accessible from an exterior of the bag. 
     
     
         19 . The bag of  claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of wheels mounted to the bottom flanges, and at least one of a trolley handle and a top handle mounted to the top panel. 
     
     
         20 . A hybrid luggage bag, comprising:
 a first shell portion defining a first side of the bag, the first shell portion comprising a first forward edge and a first bottom flange;   a second shell portion spaced apart from the first shell portion in a width direction and defining a second side of the bag, the second shell portion comprising a second forward edge and a second bottom flange;   at least one fabric portion extending in the width direction between the first and second shell portions, the at least one fabric portion comprising a bottom panel that is joined between the bottom flanges that together define a bottom side of the bag, the bottom panel comprising a third forward edge; and   a fabric lid defining a front side of the bag, the fabric lid releasably fastened to the forward edges for permitting access to a storage compartment of the bag, the fabric lid comprising at least one pocket that is accessible from an exterior of the bag.