Item of luggage with a fold-out tray

Abstract

An item of luggage includes a first handle rod, the first handle rod having a proximal end and a distal end, a grip coupled to the distal end of the first handle rod, a fold-out tray including a main panel, the main panel having a distal end, a proximal end, and a work surface, and a connector coupled to the proximal end of the main panel, the connector permitting the fold-out tray to be rotated between a first position in which the work surface is substantially parallel to the first handle rod and a second position in which the work surface is substantially perpendicular to the first handle rod.

1 . An item of luggage, comprising:
 a first handle rod, the first handle rod having a proximal end and a distal end;   a second handle rod, wherein the second handle rod is substantially parallel to the first handle rod;   a grip coupled to the distal end of the first handle rod and to the second handle rod;   a fold-out tray coupled to the first and second handle rods, the fold-out tray comprising a main panel, the main panel having a distal end, a proximal end, and a work surface;   a connector coupled to the proximal end of the main panel, the connector permitting the fold-out tray to be rotated between a first position in which the work surface is substantially parallel to the first and second handle rods and a second position in which the work surface is substantially perpendicular to the first and second handle rods; and   a pocket coupled to and disposed between the first and second handle rods, the pocket having at least one flap and at least one fastener enabling the pocket to be closed,   wherein, when the fold-out tray is in the first position and the at least one flap is closed, the fold-out tray is stowed within the pocket.   
     
     
         2 . The item of luggage of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is a first connector, and wherein the fold-out tray further comprises a leaf coupled to the main panel by a second connector configured to permit the leaf to rotate between a folded position in which a first surface of the leaf is resting on the work surface of the main panel and a deployed position in which the first surface of the leaf is substantially adjacent and parallel to the work surface of the main panel. 
     
     
         3 . The item of luggage of  claim 2 , wherein the second connector comprises a hinge. 
     
     
         4 . The item of luggage of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the main panel includes a lip. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The item of luggage of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is slidably coupled to the first and second handle rods. 
     
     
         7 . The item of luggage of  claim 6 , wherein the connector is slidably coupled to the first and second handle rods using a sleeve fixed to the connector, the sleeve coupled to the first and second handle rods so that a weight of the fold-out tray fixes a position of the connector relative to the first and second handle rods through static friction when the fold-out tray is in the second position. 
     
     
         8 . The item of luggage of  claim 6 , wherein the first or second handle rod comprises a support feature having an upward-facing surface, and wherein the connector further comprises a member having a protrusion configured to rest on the upward-facing surface to fix a position of the fold-out tray relative to the first or second handle rod when the fold-out tray is rotated into the second position. 
     
     
         9 . The item of luggage of  claim 8 , wherein the support feature comprises a notch, and the protrusion has a shape to fit within the notch. 
     
     
         10 . The item of luggage of  claim 8 , wherein the support feature comprises a groove, and the protrusion has shape to fit within the groove. 
     
     
         11 . The item of luggage of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is slidably coupled to the first handle rod. 
     
     
         12 . The item of luggage of  claim 11 , wherein the connector is slidably coupled to the first handle rod using a sleeve fixed to the connector, the sleeve fitting snugly around the first handle rod so that a weight of the fold-out tray fixes a position of the connector relative to the first handle rod through static friction when the fold-out tray is in the second position. 
     
     
         13 . The item of luggage of  claim 11 , wherein the first handle rod comprises a support feature having an upward-facing surface, and wherein the connector further comprises a member having a protrusion configured to rest on the upward-facing surface to fix a position of the fold-out tray relative to the first handle rod when the fold-out tray is rotated into the second position. 
     
     
         14 . The item of luggage of  claim 13 , wherein the support feature comprises a notch, and the protrusion has a shape to fit within the notch. 
     
     
         15 . The item of luggage of  claim 13 , wherein the support feature comprises a groove, and the protrusion has shape to fit within the groove. 
     
     
         16 . The item of luggage of  claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises or is coupled to a slide member, and wherein the connector is attached to the proximal end of the main panel by slidably engaging the main panel with the slide member. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The item of luggage of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is coupled to the first or second handle rod. 
     
     
         19 . The item of luggage of  claim 1 , further comprising a chamber having an opening, and wherein the first handle rod is inserted within the chamber so that the first handle rod is capable of being slid out of the opening into an extended position with the distal end of the first handle rod extending out of the chamber and the proximal end of the first handle rod remaining within the chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The item of luggage of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 an engagement latch configured to keep the proximal end of the first handle rod within the chamber when the first handle rod is in the extended position.   
     
     
         21 . The item of luggage of  claim 20 , wherein the first handle rod includes a slot, and further comprising:
 a first interior rod in the chamber, wherein the slot of the first handle rod slidably admits the first interior rod, and wherein the engagement latch couples the first handle rod to the first interior rod.   
     
     
         22 . The item of luggage of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the first handle rod is affixed to the item of luggage. 
     
     
         23 . The item of luggage of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is a first connector, and wherein the proximal end of the first handle rod is coupled to the item of luggage by a second connector. 
     
     
         24 . The item of luggage of  claim 23 , wherein the second connector is a hinge. 
     
     
         25 . The item of luggage of  claim 1 , further comprising a wheel and a compartment, and wherein the proximal end of the first handle rod is coupled to the wheel, and the compartment is disposed between the distal end of the first handle rod and the proximal end of the first handle rod. 
     
     
         26 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The item of luggage of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is slidably coupled to the first or second handle rod. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The item of luggage of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener comprises a hook-and-loop fastener, a zipper, a button, or a snap. 
     
     
         32 . The item of luggage of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flap comprises a first flap and a second flap, and wherein the at least one fastener enables the first flap to be secured to the second flap. 
     
     
         33 . The item of luggage of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flap comprises a flexible material.