US20070215427A1 - Luggage side panel - Google Patents
Luggage side panel Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20070215427A1 US20070215427A1 US11/377,994 US37799406A US2007215427A1 US 20070215427 A1 US20070215427 A1 US 20070215427A1 US 37799406 A US37799406 A US 37799406A US 2007215427 A1 US2007215427 A1 US 2007215427A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- suitcase
- panel
- ridges
- side panels
- rods
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 239000011152 fibreglass Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- -1 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 7
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000003365 glass fiber Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000010009 beating Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920000271 Kevlar® Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004952 Polyamide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004761 kevlar Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002991 molded plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920002647 polyamide Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002635 polyurethane Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004814 polyurethane Substances 0.000 description 1
- QQONPFPTGQHPMA-UHFFFAOYSA-N propylene Natural products CC=C QQONPFPTGQHPMA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 125000004805 propylene group Chemical group [H]C([H])([H])C([H])([*:1])C([H])([H])[*:2] 0.000 description 1
- 230000002787 reinforcement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003014 reinforcing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004753 textile Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001169 thermoplastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920001187 thermosetting polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004416 thermosoftening plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- A45C5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage
- A45C5/02—Materials therefor
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
- A45C13/36—Reinforcements for edges, corners, or other parts
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a piece of luggage. More particularly this invention concerns a side panel for a wheeled suitcase.
- a typical suitcase has a plurality of side walls, one of which can be opened, and that together define a closable space adapted to hold the personal effects of the user.
- So-called hard luggage normally has at least two opposite walls formed of a rigid material so as to better protect the contents, and rigid side panels are essential on a wheeled suitcase to provide enough stability to roll it.
- a wheeled suitcase typically has two rigid side panels at the bottom of each of which in one corner there is a wheel on a fixed axle. At the top of such a suitcase there is a handle that is also typically connected by rigid structure to the two side panels so that the user can roll the suitcase behind him or herself.
- Another object is the provision of such an improved piece of luggage that overcomes the above-given disadvantages, in particular that is particularly strong and durable, but still inexpensive to manufacture.
- a further object is to provide an improved wheeled suitcase.
- a suitcase has according to the invention a plurality of walls at least one of which is rigid.
- the walls defining a storage space.
- the one wall is formed of a side panel of relatively soft moldable plastic and a plurality of fiber-glass rods imbedded in the panel and rigidifying it.
- Such a system is normally used where the suitcase has two such similar side panels extending parallel to and spaced from each other.
- the side panels which take a severe beating as the suitcase is dropped on its lower end, are very strong, but still of fairly inexpensive construction.
- the panels are formed of an inexpensive and relative soft plastic like polypropylene or polyethylene, while the reinforcing rods are made of a much harder normally thermosetting resin, e.g. a polyamide, reinforced with very strong glass fibers.
- this reinforcement system has the considerable advantage that it also offers significant protection against damage from the side to the suitcase.
- the panel will not simply cave in. This is particularly important in a rolling suitcase having a telescoping handle arrangement, as it is fairly common for a side impact to damage the handle guides and make it impossible to extend the handle.
- the suitcase according to the invention also has a rigid top panel bridging upper ends of the side panels and a rigid bottom panel bridging lower ends of the side panels. Wheels are secured at the lower ends of the side panels.
- the side panels according to the invention are formed with integral ridges.
- the fiber-glass rods are imbedded in the ridges. This can be done by molding the ridges around the rods, or by molding the ridges with throughgoing passages into which the rods are fitted after curing of the side-panel resin.
- the rods can be of rectangular section with the long dimension oriented perpendicular to the plane of the panel so the panel is more resistant to bending in the critical direction perpendicular to its plane. This feature, as mentioned, above, offers particular protection for the suitcase's handle guides.
- FIGS. 1 and 2 are front and back perspective views of the principal parts of a wheeled suitcase according to the invention
- FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a side panel for the suitcase
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the side panel
- FIG. 5 is a side view of the panel
- FIGS. 6 and 7 are sections taken along respective lines VI-VI and VII-VII of FIG. 5 ;
- FIG. 8 is a large-scale view of the detail indicated at VIII in FIG. 7 ;
- FIG. 9 is a large-scale view of the detail indicated at IX in FIG. 6 .
- a rolling suitcase 10 has a generally parallelepipedal body comprised of a pair of normally upright side panels 12 , an L-section top panel 14 , and a profiled bottom panel 16 formed with cutouts 18 adapted to hold wheels 17 . These parts 12 , 14 , 16 are covered with a textile having a slide fastener so that one side can be opened.
- a handle assembly 20 is connected between the top panel 14 and bottom panel 16 and can telescope upward as is well known in the art.
- the side panels 12 are spectrally identical, one of them being shown in FIGS. 3 through 9 .
- the side panel 12 is formed primarily of a relatively cheap and soft plastic, for example polypropylene or polyethylene. It has a basically planar sheet 22 formed with longitudinally extending integral ribs or ridges 24 and transversely extending integral ridges 26 that cross the ridges 24 .
- At least some of the ridges 24 and some of the ridges 26 are fitted with or molded around rectangular- or square-section fiber glass rods 28 or 30 .
- these rods can be molded into the thermoplastic of the respective ridges 24 or 26 .
- these ridges 24 and 26 can be formed with throughgoing passages into which the rods 28 and 30 are fitted after molding and curing of the sheet 22 with the integral ridges 24 and 26 .
- each side panel 12 which take a considerable beating in use of the suitcase 10 , are solidly reinforced but can be made at very low cost.
- Most of each side panel is formed by a very inexpensive resin while the rods 28 and 30 can also be made separately at relatively low cost even though they are very strong. The result is an assembly having considerable strength and a low construction cost.
Abstract
A suitcase has a plurality of walls at least one of which is rigid. The walls defining a storage space. The one wall is formed of a side panel of relatively soft moldable plastic and a plurality of fiber-glass rods imbedded in the panel and rigidifying it. Such a system is normally used where the suitcase has two such similar side panels extending parallel to and spaced from each other.
Description
- The present invention relates to a piece of luggage. More particularly this invention concerns a side panel for a wheeled suitcase.
- A typical suitcase has a plurality of side walls, one of which can be opened, and that together define a closable space adapted to hold the personal effects of the user. So-called hard luggage normally has at least two opposite walls formed of a rigid material so as to better protect the contents, and rigid side panels are essential on a wheeled suitcase to provide enough stability to roll it.
- Thus a wheeled suitcase typically has two rigid side panels at the bottom of each of which in one corner there is a wheel on a fixed axle. At the top of such a suitcase there is a handle that is also typically connected by rigid structure to the two side panels so that the user can roll the suitcase behind him or herself.
- In designing the side panels there is a tradeoff between strength and rigidity on the one hand and manufacturing cost and weight on the other. The normal solution is therefore to compromise and provide a side panel formed as a single piece of molded plastic, typically formed with rigidifying ribs. The plastic is normally something easy to mold and relatively inexpensive, like polyethylene or propylene. Such a side panel is moderately strong and does not excessively add to the fabrication costs for the suitcase. Use of stronger resins, e.g. polyurethane or Kevlar would make the suitcase unmarketably expensive.
- It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved piece of luggage.
- Another object is the provision of such an improved piece of luggage that overcomes the above-given disadvantages, in particular that is particularly strong and durable, but still inexpensive to manufacture.
- A further object is to provide an improved wheeled suitcase.
- A suitcase has according to the invention a plurality of walls at least one of which is rigid. The walls defining a storage space. The one wall is formed of a side panel of relatively soft moldable plastic and a plurality of fiber-glass rods imbedded in the panel and rigidifying it. Such a system is normally used where the suitcase has two such similar side panels extending parallel to and spaced from each other.
- With this arrangement the side panels, which take a severe beating as the suitcase is dropped on its lower end, are very strong, but still of fairly inexpensive construction. The panels are formed of an inexpensive and relative soft plastic like polypropylene or polyethylene, while the reinforcing rods are made of a much harder normally thermosetting resin, e.g. a polyamide, reinforced with very strong glass fibers.
- In addition this reinforcement system has the considerable advantage that it also offers significant protection against damage from the side to the suitcase. Thus if something impacts the suitcase from the side, the panel will not simply cave in. This is particularly important in a rolling suitcase having a telescoping handle arrangement, as it is fairly common for a side impact to damage the handle guides and make it impossible to extend the handle.
- The suitcase according to the invention also has a rigid top panel bridging upper ends of the side panels and a rigid bottom panel bridging lower ends of the side panels. Wheels are secured at the lower ends of the side panels.
- The side panels according to the invention are formed with integral ridges. The fiber-glass rods are imbedded in the ridges. This can be done by molding the ridges around the rods, or by molding the ridges with throughgoing passages into which the rods are fitted after curing of the side-panel resin.
- The rods can be of rectangular section with the long dimension oriented perpendicular to the plane of the panel so the panel is more resistant to bending in the critical direction perpendicular to its plane. This feature, as mentioned, above, offers particular protection for the suitcase's handle guides.
- The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:
-
FIGS. 1 and 2 are front and back perspective views of the principal parts of a wheeled suitcase according to the invention; -
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a side panel for the suitcase; -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the side panel; -
FIG. 5 is a side view of the panel; -
FIGS. 6 and 7 are sections taken along respective lines VI-VI and VII-VII ofFIG. 5 ; -
FIG. 8 is a large-scale view of the detail indicated at VIII inFIG. 7 ; and -
FIG. 9 is a large-scale view of the detail indicated at IX inFIG. 6 . - A
rolling suitcase 10 according to the invention has a generally parallelepipedal body comprised of a pair of normallyupright side panels 12, an L-section top panel 14, and a profiledbottom panel 16 formed withcutouts 18 adapted to holdwheels 17. Theseparts handle assembly 20 is connected between thetop panel 14 andbottom panel 16 and can telescope upward as is well known in the art. - The
side panels 12 are spectrally identical, one of them being shown inFIGS. 3 through 9 . Theside panel 12 is formed primarily of a relatively cheap and soft plastic, for example polypropylene or polyethylene. It has a basicallyplanar sheet 22 formed with longitudinally extending integral ribs orridges 24 and transversely extendingintegral ridges 26 that cross theridges 24. - According to the invention at least some of the
ridges 24 and some of theridges 26 are fitted with or molded around rectangular- or square-sectionfiber glass rods respective ridges ridges rods sheet 22 with theintegral ridges - Thus these
side panels 12, which take a considerable beating in use of thesuitcase 10, are solidly reinforced but can be made at very low cost. Most of each side panel is formed by a very inexpensive resin while therods
Claims (9)
1. A suitcase comprising:
a plurality of walls at least one of which is rigid, the walls defining a storage space, the one wall being formed of a side panel of relatively soft moldable plastic and a plurality of fiber-glass rods imbedded in the panel and rigidifying it.
2. The suitcase defined in claim 1 wherein the suitcase has two such similar side panels extending parallel to and spaced from each other.
3. The suitcase defined in claim 2 wherein the suitcase has a rigid top panel bridging upper ends of the side panels and a rigid bottom panel bridging lower ends of the side panels.
4. The suitcase defined in claim 3 , further comprising wheels secured at the lower ends of the side panels.
5. The suitcase defined in claim 1 wherein the side panel is formed with integral ridges, the fiber-glass rods being imbedded in the ridges.
6. The suitcase defined in claim 5 wherein the ridges including longitudinal ridges and transverse ridges.
7. The suitcase defined in claim 5 wherein the rods are of rectangular section.
8. The suitcase defined in claim 1 wherein the panel is made of polypropylene or polyethylene, the rods being of a harder and stronger resin reinforced with glass fibers.
9. The suitcase defined in claim 1 , further comprising
guides extending parallel to but offset from the side panel; and
a telescoping handle fitted to the guides and slidable therealong between extended and retracted positions.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/377,994 US20070215427A1 (en) | 2006-03-17 | 2006-03-17 | Luggage side panel |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/377,994 US20070215427A1 (en) | 2006-03-17 | 2006-03-17 | Luggage side panel |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070215427A1 true US20070215427A1 (en) | 2007-09-20 |
Family
ID=38516617
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/377,994 Abandoned US20070215427A1 (en) | 2006-03-17 | 2006-03-17 | Luggage side panel |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20070215427A1 (en) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7984797B1 (en) * | 2010-10-08 | 2011-07-26 | Delsey Luggage, Inc. | Soft sided luggage case with independent wheel hub |
WO2012056035A3 (en) * | 2010-10-29 | 2012-06-21 | Samsonite Ip Holdings S.A.R.L. | Multi-material structure and forming of a luggage case |
US20130008753A1 (en) * | 2011-07-08 | 2013-01-10 | FTI Group (Holding) Company Limited | Luggage case |
CN110141027A (en) * | 2019-03-14 | 2019-08-20 | 瑞安市卡瑞奇箱包配件有限公司 | A kind of luggage processing technology and products thereof |
GB2571363A (en) * | 2018-02-23 | 2019-08-28 | Antler Ltd | Suitcase |
EP3574796A1 (en) * | 2018-05-31 | 2019-12-04 | Quest Composite Technology Corporation | Luggage shell fabrication method |
Citations (17)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3684645A (en) * | 1969-03-25 | 1972-08-15 | Ppg Industries Inc | Glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic article |
US3885701A (en) * | 1973-10-23 | 1975-05-27 | Environmental Container System | Valance molding for equipment cases |
US3980162A (en) * | 1975-09-04 | 1976-09-14 | Dvorak Sidney T | Flame and heat-resistant luggage case |
US4061817A (en) * | 1974-06-27 | 1977-12-06 | Armco Steel Corporation | Luggage shells and process for the manufacture thereof |
US4834126A (en) * | 1987-12-11 | 1989-05-30 | Sweet Jr Raymond G | Fiber glass umbrella construction |
US5031734A (en) * | 1990-02-08 | 1991-07-16 | Samsonite Corporation | Flexible luggage case and frame panel therefor |
US5252161A (en) * | 1991-05-05 | 1993-10-12 | Chang S J | Soft gusset, hard-paneled luggage and method of manufacture |
US5394913A (en) * | 1991-10-10 | 1995-03-07 | Samsonite Corporation | Hinge for personal leather goods |
US5529156A (en) * | 1994-03-11 | 1996-06-25 | Yang; Fu-Hsiung | Frame work for soft-sided luggage |
US6170687B1 (en) * | 2000-06-06 | 2001-01-09 | The Esab Group, Inc. | Apparatus packaging enclosure |
US6220412B1 (en) * | 1998-07-27 | 2001-04-24 | Paragon Luggage, Inc. | Travel bag construction |
US20020010739A1 (en) * | 1997-03-31 | 2002-01-24 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Method and apparatus for updating and synchronizing information between a client and a server |
US20030057046A1 (en) * | 2001-09-21 | 2003-03-27 | Ruey-Yang Chang | Lightweight luggage shell |
US20030122870A1 (en) * | 2002-01-03 | 2003-07-03 | International Business Machines Corporation | Dynamically rendering a button in a hypermedia content browser |
US20040205185A1 (en) * | 2003-03-18 | 2004-10-14 | Leonik Thomas E. | Method and apparatus for dynamically displaying real world data in a browser setting |
US20060005114A1 (en) * | 2004-06-25 | 2006-01-05 | Richard Williamson | Procedurally expressing graphic objects for web pages |
US20060201081A1 (en) * | 2004-12-15 | 2006-09-14 | Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. | Modular composite panel with covers |
-
2006
- 2006-03-17 US US11/377,994 patent/US20070215427A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (17)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3684645A (en) * | 1969-03-25 | 1972-08-15 | Ppg Industries Inc | Glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic article |
US3885701A (en) * | 1973-10-23 | 1975-05-27 | Environmental Container System | Valance molding for equipment cases |
US4061817A (en) * | 1974-06-27 | 1977-12-06 | Armco Steel Corporation | Luggage shells and process for the manufacture thereof |
US3980162A (en) * | 1975-09-04 | 1976-09-14 | Dvorak Sidney T | Flame and heat-resistant luggage case |
US4834126A (en) * | 1987-12-11 | 1989-05-30 | Sweet Jr Raymond G | Fiber glass umbrella construction |
US5031734A (en) * | 1990-02-08 | 1991-07-16 | Samsonite Corporation | Flexible luggage case and frame panel therefor |
US5252161A (en) * | 1991-05-05 | 1993-10-12 | Chang S J | Soft gusset, hard-paneled luggage and method of manufacture |
US5394913A (en) * | 1991-10-10 | 1995-03-07 | Samsonite Corporation | Hinge for personal leather goods |
US5529156A (en) * | 1994-03-11 | 1996-06-25 | Yang; Fu-Hsiung | Frame work for soft-sided luggage |
US20020010739A1 (en) * | 1997-03-31 | 2002-01-24 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Method and apparatus for updating and synchronizing information between a client and a server |
US6220412B1 (en) * | 1998-07-27 | 2001-04-24 | Paragon Luggage, Inc. | Travel bag construction |
US6170687B1 (en) * | 2000-06-06 | 2001-01-09 | The Esab Group, Inc. | Apparatus packaging enclosure |
US20030057046A1 (en) * | 2001-09-21 | 2003-03-27 | Ruey-Yang Chang | Lightweight luggage shell |
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US20040205185A1 (en) * | 2003-03-18 | 2004-10-14 | Leonik Thomas E. | Method and apparatus for dynamically displaying real world data in a browser setting |
US20060005114A1 (en) * | 2004-06-25 | 2006-01-05 | Richard Williamson | Procedurally expressing graphic objects for web pages |
US20060201081A1 (en) * | 2004-12-15 | 2006-09-14 | Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. | Modular composite panel with covers |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7984797B1 (en) * | 2010-10-08 | 2011-07-26 | Delsey Luggage, Inc. | Soft sided luggage case with independent wheel hub |
WO2012056035A3 (en) * | 2010-10-29 | 2012-06-21 | Samsonite Ip Holdings S.A.R.L. | Multi-material structure and forming of a luggage case |
CN103237647A (en) * | 2010-10-29 | 2013-08-07 | 新秀丽Ip控股有限责任公司 | Multi-material structure and forming of a luggage case |
US10201217B2 (en) | 2010-10-29 | 2019-02-12 | Samsonite Ip Holdings S.A.R.L. | Multi-material structure and forming of a luggage case |
US20130008753A1 (en) * | 2011-07-08 | 2013-01-10 | FTI Group (Holding) Company Limited | Luggage case |
GB2571363A (en) * | 2018-02-23 | 2019-08-28 | Antler Ltd | Suitcase |
EP3574796A1 (en) * | 2018-05-31 | 2019-12-04 | Quest Composite Technology Corporation | Luggage shell fabrication method |
CN110549636A (en) * | 2018-05-31 | 2019-12-10 | 东莞永湖复合材料有限公司 | Method for manufacturing luggage case shell |
CN110141027A (en) * | 2019-03-14 | 2019-08-20 | 瑞安市卡瑞奇箱包配件有限公司 | A kind of luggage processing technology and products thereof |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: TUMI LUGGAGE COMPANY, NEW JERSEY Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:REKUC, RICHARD J.;KONRAD, KARL;REEL/FRAME:017697/0399 Effective date: 20060316 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |