Luggage transportation system

Abstract

Provided is a luggage piece and luggage system with a luggage piece that can be coupled to a second luggage piece to be transported with the second luggage piece as a joined unit. The luggage piece includes a housing defining an interior compartment that stores items to be transported within the luggage piece. A coupling system includes a plurality of tethers that cooperate with one or more receivers provided to the second luggage piece to couple the second luggage piece to the luggage piece to form a joined unit. An alignment structure is provided to a surface of the housing that is to be arranged opposite a housing surface of the second luggage piece. The alignment structure cooperates with a compatible alignment structure provided to the housing surface of the second luggage piece to interfere with lateral displacement of the luggage piece relative to the second luggage piece.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A luggage piece that can be coupled to a second luggage piece to be transported with the second luggage piece as a joined unit, the second luggage piece comprising a plurality of adjustable rollers having a variable rolling direction, the luggage piece comprising:
 a housing defining an interior compartment that stores items to be transported within the luggage piece;   a retractable handle that is adjustable between a recessed position where a handgrip provided to the handle is disposed proximate to the housing and a deployed position where the handgrip is extended distally away from the housing;   a plurality of adjustable rollers coupled to the housing on which the luggage piece is to be rolled, the plurality of adjustable rollers being pivotal to establish a variable rolling direction;   a coupling system comprising a plurality of tethers that cooperate with one or more receivers provided to the second luggage piece to couple the second luggage piece to the luggage piece at a position that allows the joined unit to roll on the adjustable rollers; and   an alignment structure provided to a surface of the housing that is to be arranged opposite a housing surface of the second luggage piece, wherein the alignment structure cooperates with a compatible alignment structure provided to the housing surface of the second luggage piece to interfere with lateral displacement of the luggage piece relative to the second luggage piece.   
     
     
         2 . The luggage piece of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of a front surface and a proximate surface of the housing is formed from a rigid material, and the alignment structure is a male alignment structure that protrudes from the at least one of the front surface and a proximate surface. 
     
     
         3 . The luggage piece of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of a front surface and a proximate surface of the housing is formed from a rigid material, and the alignment structure is a female alignment structure that includes a recess formed in the at least one of the front surface and a proximate surface. 
     
     
         4 . The luggage piece of  claim 1  further comprising a second alignment structure, wherein the alignment structure and the second alignment structure are arranged at different vertical elevations on at least one of a front side and a proximate side of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The luggage piece of  claim 1  further comprising a second alignment structure, wherein the alignment structure and the second alignment structure are arranged such that at least a portion of the alignment structure and a portion of the second alignment structure are arranged at a common vertical elevation on at least one of a front side and a proximate side of the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The luggage piece of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment structure comprises a magnet that magnetically attracts a portion of a compatible alignment structure provided to the second luggage piece. 
     
     
         7 . The luggage piece of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment structure comprises a first portion of a hook-and-loop fastener that engages a second portion of the hook-and-loop fastener provided to a compatible alignment structure provided to the second luggage piece. 
     
     
         8 . The luggage piece of  claim 1  further comprising a leash that is to cooperate with a receiver arranged adjacent to a lower region of the luggage piece. 
     
     
         9 . The luggage piece of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment structure is configured to cooperate with a compatible alignment structure provided to each of a plurality of different luggage pieces, wherein the plurality of different luggage pieces comprise housings of different sizes. 
     
     
         10 . A luggage system comprising:
 (i) a first luggage piece comprising:
 a rigid housing defining an interior compartment that stores items to be transported within the first luggage piece, 
 a retractable handle that is adjustable between a recessed position where a handgrip provided to the handle is disposed proximate to the housing and a deployed position where the handgrip is extended distally away from the housing, 
 a plurality of adjustable rollers coupled to the housing on which the first luggage piece is to be rolled, the plurality of adjustable rollers establishing a variable rolling direction, and 
 a male alignment structure that protrudes from a surface of the housing; 
   (ii) a second luggage piece comprising:
 a rigid housing defining an interior compartment that stores items to be transported within the second luggage piece, 
 a retractable handle that is adjustable between a recessed position where a handgrip provided to the handle is disposed proximate to the housing and a deployed position where the handgrip is extended distally away from the housing, 
 a plurality of adjustable rollers coupled to the housing on which the second luggage piece is to be rolled, the plurality of adjustable rollers establishing a variable rolling direction, and 
 a female alignment structure provided to a surface of the rigid housing of the second luggage piece, wherein the female alignment structure cooperates with the male alignment structure while the first luggage piece and the second luggage piece are coupled together; and 
   (iii) a coupling system comprising a plurality of tethers that couple the first luggage piece and the second luggage piece together, to be collectively rolled as a joined unit, wherein the cooperation between the male alignment structure and the female alignment structure interferes with lateral displacement of the first luggage piece relative to the second luggage piece as the joined unit is rolled.   
     
     
         11 . The luggage system of  claim 10 , wherein the male alignment structure protrudes from a front side of the housing of the first luggage piece, and the female alignment structure is formed in a proximate side of the housing of the second luggage piece. 
     
     
         12 . The luggage system of  claim 10 , wherein the first luggage piece further comprises a second alignment structure, wherein the male alignment structure and the second alignment structure are arranged at different vertical elevations on a front side of the housing of the first luggage piece. 
     
     
         13 . The luggage system of  claim 10 , wherein the first luggage piece further comprises a second alignment structure, wherein the male alignment structure and the second alignment structure are arranged such that at least a portion of the male alignment structure and a portion of the second alignment structure are arranged at a common vertical elevation on a front side of the housing of the first luggage piece. 
     
     
         14 . The luggage system of  claim 10 , wherein the male alignment structure comprises a magnet that magnetically attracts a portion of the female alignment structure provided to the second luggage piece. 
     
     
         15 . The luggage system of  claim 10 , wherein the female alignment structure comprises a magnet that magnetically attracts a portion of the male alignment structure provided to the first luggage piece. 
     
     
         16 . The luggage system of  claim 10 , wherein the male alignment structure comprises a first portion of a hook-and-loop fastener, and the female alignment structure comprises a second portion of the hook-and-loop fastener that engages the first portion of the hook-and-loop fastener. 
     
     
         17 . The luggage system of  claim 10 , wherein the housing of the first luggage piece is a different size than the housing of the second luggage piece. 
     
     
         18 . The luggage system of  claim 10  further comprising a leash that is to cooperate with a receiver arranged adjacent to a lower region of at least one of the first luggage piece and the second luggage piece.