Luggage with movable partition

Abstract

A luggage system having a first compartment, a second compartment attached to the first compartment in a hinged manner to define a first opening, a cover panel attached to the second compartment in a hinged manner to define a second opening; and an internal partition attached within and to the second compartment to define, on opposite sides of the internal partition from each other, a first volume and a second volume. Items (e.g., clothing) can be inserted within the first volume through the first opening and within the second volume through the second opening. The internal partition can be a substantially impermeable barrier to the items contained in the luggage system, such that items cannot move through the internal partition between the first and second volumes. The internal partition can automatically adjust to change the respective sizes of the first and second volumes.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A luggage system comprising:
 a first compartment;   a second compartment pivotably attached to the first compartment to define a first opening;   a cover panel pivotably attached to the second compartment to define a second opening; and   an internal partition attached within and to the second compartment to define, on opposite sides of the internal partition from each other, a first volume and a second volume;   wherein items can be inserted within the first volume through the first opening;   wherein items can be inserted within the second volume through the second opening;   wherein the internal partition is configured as a substantially impermeable barrier to the items, such that items cannot move between the first and second volumes through or past the internal partition; and   wherein the internal partition is configured to automatically adjust a size of the first volume and a size of the second volume based on a volume occupied by the items within the first and second volumes, respectively.   
     
     
         2 . The luggage system of  claim 1 , wherein the first volume and the second volume together define a total internal volume of the luggage system. 
     
     
         3 . The luggage system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the internal partition is configured to automatically adjust such that the first volume is 80% or more of the total internal volume or the second volume is 80% or more of the total internal volume; or   the internal partition is configured to automatically adjust such that the first volume is 90% or more of the total internal volume or the second volume is 90% or more of the total internal volume; or   the internal partition is configured to automatically adjust such that the first volume is 95% or more of the total internal volume or the second volume is 95% or more of the total internal volume.   
     
     
         4 . The luggage system of any of  claim 1 , wherein the internal partition is made of a deformable elastic material that conforms to and/or takes on a shape and/or size of the items in the first volume and/or conforms to and/or takes on a shape and/or size of the items in the second volume. 
     
     
         5 . The luggage system of  claim 4 , wherein the internal partition is attached within the second compartment by a partition zipper. 
     
     
         6 . The luggage system of any of  claim 1 , wherein the internal partition is made of a flexible material that has a surface area that is greater than a cross-sectional area of the second compartment in a plane where the internal partition is attached to internal surfaces of the second compartment. 
     
     
         7 . The luggage system of  claim 6 , wherein the internal partition is attached within the second compartment by a partition zipper. 
     
     
         8 . The luggage system of any of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second compartment comprises, at each internal corner thereof, a pair of guide rails that define a longitudinally-extending slot therebetween;   the internal partition comprises, at least at respective corners thereof, a follower that is configured to engage within a corresponding one of the slots; and   the follower is configured to move along a length of the slot with which such follower is engaged to automatically adjust the size of the first volume and the size of the second volume.   
     
     
         9 . The luggage system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the second compartment comprises, along inner surfaces thereof, a plurality of guide channels that extend substantially parallel to the slots;   the plurality of guide channels each comprise a plurality of pockets; and   the internal partition comprises a plurality of tabs, each of which is configured to engage within any of the plurality of pockets of a corresponding one of the guide channels.   
     
     
         10 . The luggage system of  claim 8 , wherein the internal partition comprises an adjuster configured, when a twisting force is applied to the adjuster by a user of the luggage system, to deform outer edges of the internal partition and, thus, disengage each of the tabs from the corresponding one of the guide channel pockets. 
     
     
         11 . A method of adjusting an internal partition within luggage, the method comprising:
 pivotably attaching a first compartment to a second compartment to define a first opening;   pivotably attaching a cover panel to the second compartment to define a second opening;   attaching an internal partition within the second compartment to define, on opposite sides of the internal partition from each other, a first volume and a second volume; and   automatically adjusting a size of the first volume and a size of the second volume based on a volume occupied by items within the first and second volumes, respectively;   wherein the internal partition is a substantially impermeable barrier to the items, such that items cannot move between the first and second volumes through or past the internal partition.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first volume and the second volume together define a total internal volume of the luggage system. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the internal partition automatically adjusts such that the first volume is 80% or more of the total internal volume or the second volume is 80% or more of the total internal volume; or   the internal partition automatically adjusts such that the first volume is 90% or more of the total internal volume or the second volume is 90% or more of the total internal volume; or   the internal partition automatically adjusts such that the first volume is 95% or more of the total internal volume or the second volume is 95% or more of the total internal volume.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the internal partition is made of a deformable elastic material that conforms to and/or takes on a shape and/or size of the items in the first volume and/or conforms to and/or takes on a shape and/or size of the items in the second volume. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the internal partition is attached within the second compartment by a partition zipper. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the internal partition is made of a flexible material that has a surface area that is greater than a cross-sectional area of the second compartment in a plane where the internal partition is attached to internal surfaces of the second compartment. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the internal partition is attached within the second compartment by a partition zipper. 
     
     
         18 . The method of any of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the second compartment comprises, at each internal corner thereof, a pair of guide rails that define a longitudinally-extending slot therebetween; and   the internal partition comprises, at least at respective corners thereof, a follower that engages within a corresponding one of the slots;   
       the method comprising:
 automatically moving the follower along a length of the slot with which such follower is engaged to adjust the size of the first volume and the size of the second volume. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the second compartment comprises, along inner surfaces thereof, a plurality of guide channels that extend substantially parallel to the slots;   the plurality of guide channels each comprise a plurality of pockets; and   the internal partition comprises, a plurality of tabs;   
       the method comprising:
 engaging each tab of the plurality of tabs within any pocket of the plurality of pockets of a corresponding one of the guide channels. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the internal partition comprises an adjuster that, when a twisting force is applied to the adjuster by a user of the luggage system, deforms outer edges of the internal partition and disengages the tabs from the respective guide channel pockets.