Luggage system

Abstract

A luggage system comprising an outer skin having a plurality of skin panels, a load transfer arrangement, a handle attached to the load transfer arrangement for lifting the luggage system, and a load carrier. The load carrier is attached to the load transfer arrangement. The outer skin is reconfigurable between a first configuration in which the skin panels are releasably connected to one another to wrap around the load carrier, and a second configuration in which the skin panels are unfurled to expose the load carrier.

1 . A luggage system comprising:
 an outer skin having a plurality of skin panels;   a load transfer arrangement;   a handle attached to the load transfer arrangement for lifting the luggage system; and   a load carrier;   wherein the load carrier is attached to the load transfer arrangement; and   wherein the outer skin is reconfigurable between a first configuration in which the skin panels are releasably connected to one another to wrap around the load carrier, and a second configuration in which the skin panels are unfurled to expose the load carrier.   
     
     
         2 . The luggage system of  claim 1 , wherein the load carrier is releasably attached to the load transfer arrangement. 
     
     
         3 . The luggage system of  claim 1 , wherein the load carrier comprises a front panel configured for attachment to the load transfer arrangement such that a storage volume is defined between the front panel and the load transfer arrangement when the load carrier is attached to the load transfer arrangement. 
     
     
         4 . The luggage system of  claim 1 , wherein the load carrier comprises a front panel configured for attachment to the load transfer arrangement such that a storage volume is defined between the front panel and the load transfer arrangement when the load carrier is attached to the load transfer arrangement, and wherein the storage volume is divided into a plurality of separate compartments for storing separate items in the storage volume. 
     
     
         5 . The luggage system of  claim 1 , wherein the load carrier comprises a front panel configured for attachment to the load transfer arrangement such that a storage volume is defined between the front panel and the load transfer arrangement when the load carrier is attached to the load transfer arrangement, and wherein the load carrier comprises an adjustable compression system configured to compress the storage volume between the front panel of the load carrier and the load transfer arrangement. 
     
     
         6 . The luggage system of  claim 1 , wherein the load carrier comprises a front panel configured for attachment to the load transfer arrangement such that a storage volume is defined between the front panel and the load transfer arrangement when the load carrier is attached to the load transfer arrangement, and wherein the load carrier additionally comprises a back panel opposite to the front panel, the storage volume being defined between the front and back panels. 
     
     
         7 . The luggage system of  claim 6 , wherein the load carrier comprises a front panel configured for attachment to the load transfer arrangement such that a storage volume is defined between the front panel and the load transfer arrangement when the load carrier is attached to the load transfer arrangement, wherein the load carrier additionally comprises a back panel opposite to the front panel, the storage volume being defined between the front and back panels, and wherein the front panel of the load carrier is connected to the back panel of the load carrier such that the load carrier forms a cradle around the storage volume. 
     
     
         8 . A luggage system comprising:
 an outer skin having a plurality of skin panels;   a load transfer arrangement;   a handle attached to the load transfer arrangement for lifting the luggage system; and   a load carrier;   wherein the load carrier is attached to the load transfer arrangement;   wherein the outer skin is reconfigurable between a first configuration in which the skin panels are releasably connected to one another to wrap around the load carrier, and a second configuration in which the skin panels are unfurled to expose the load carrier; and   wherein the load transfer arrangement comprises a bracing structure connected to one or more tension elements via a plurality of bracing points, wherein the or each tension element constrains a maximum separation between at least two bracing points.   
     
     
         9 . The luggage system of  claim 8 , wherein the load carrier comprises a back panel and wherein the bracing structure extends through the back panel to restrain the load carrier relative to the load transfer arrangement. 
     
     
         10 . The luggage system of  claim 8 , wherein the or each tension element is substantially flexible. 
     
     
         11 . The luggage system of  claim 8 , wherein the or each tension element comprises a substantially inextensible fabric material. 
     
     
         12 . The luggage system of  claim 8 , wherein the bracing structure is braced between at least two upper bracing points and at least two lower bracing points. 
     
     
         13 . The luggage system of  claim 8 , wherein the bracing structure is braced between at least two upper bracing points and at least two lower bracing points, wherein the upper bracing points are connected to an upper tension element and wherein the lower bracing points are connected to a separate lower tension element. 
     
     
         14 . The luggage system of  claim 8 , wherein the bracing structure comprises two elongate reinforcing members. 
     
     
         15 . The luggage system of  claim 8 , wherein the bracing structure comprises two elongate reinforcing members, and wherein the elongate reinforcing members extend transverse to one another. 
     
     
         16 . The luggage system of  claim 8 , wherein the bracing structure is substantially X-shaped and braced between diagonally opposed bracing points. 
     
     
         17 . The luggage system of  claim 8 , wherein the or each tension element constrains a maximum lateral separation between a pair of upper bracing points and between a pair of lower bracing points. 
     
     
         18 . The luggage system of  claim 8 , wherein the or each tension element constrains a maximum lateral separation between a pair of upper bracing points and between a pair of lower bracing points, and wherein the load transfer arrangement comprises an upper crossbar extending between two or more upper bracing points, and wherein the handle is connected to the upper crossbar. 
     
     
         19 . The luggage system of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the load transfer arrangement is integrated with the outer skin. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The luggage system of  claim 1 , wherein in the first configuration the outer skin comprises an upper portion defining an opening facilitating access to the load carrier, and wherein in the first configuration the upper portion of the outer skin defines an open-ended tubular structure through which access to the load carrier is facilitated. 
     
     
         23 . A luggage system, comprising:
 an outer skin having a plurality of skin panels;   a load transfer arrangement;   a handle attached to the load transfer arrangement for lifting the luggage system; and   a load carrier;   wherein the load carrier is attached to the load transfer arrangement;   wherein the outer skin is reconfigurable between a first configuration in which the skin panels are releasably connected to one another to wrap around the load carrier, and a second configuration in which the skin panels are unfurled to expose the load carrier;   wherein in the first configuration the outer skin comprises an upper portion defining an opening facilitating access to the load carrier, and   wherein the upper portion of the outer skin is configured with closing means to form roll-top closure   
     
     
         24 . The luggage system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer skin comprises a main skin panel having a back portion, a first side skin panel attached to a first edge of the back portion, and a second side skin panel attached to a second edge of the back portion. 
     
     
         25 . The luggage system of claim  241 , wherein the outer skin comprises a main skin panel having a back portion, a first side skin panel attached to a first edge of the back portion, and a second side skin panel attached to a second edge of the back portion, and wherein the main skin panel further comprises a wrap-around portion attached to the back portion, the wrap-around portion being releasably connectable to the first side skin panel, and the wrap-around portion being releasably connectable to the second side skin panel. 
     
     
         26 . The luggage system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer skin comprises a closure system comprising a sliding fastener, for releasably connecting edges of two or more adjacent skin panels in the first configuration. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The luggage system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer skin is provided with a secondary handle and wherein the load carrier is configured for attachment to the secondary handle. 
     
     
         29 . The luggage system of claim  281 , wherein the outer skin is provided with a secondary handle, wherein the load carrier is configured for attachment to the secondary handle, and wherein the secondary handle is connected to a reinforced patch of the outer skin, and wherein the load carrier is configured for attachment to the secondary handle via the reinforced patch. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled)