U.S. patent application number 12/244237 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-23 for luggage case.
This patent application is currently assigned to ANTLER LIMITED. Invention is credited to Philip Raymond Hopwood, Christopher Andrew Justham.
Application Number | 20090101460 12/244237 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38814172 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090101460 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Justham; Christopher Andrew ;
et al. |
April 23, 2009 |
Luggage Case
Abstract
A luggage case is disclosed including a plurality of walls
connected together to define an internal space for receipt of items
to be retained in the luggage case. The luggage case including an
elongate support structure connected to at least one of the walls.
The support structure extending adjacent to at least two edges of
the at least one wall. The elongate support structure comprising at
least one elongate element and at least one fixation member to
fixedly connect the at least one elongate element to said at least
one wall.
Inventors: |
Justham; Christopher Andrew;
(Manchester, GB) ; Hopwood; Philip Raymond;
(Lancashire, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER & DANIELS LLP
300 NORTH MERIDIAN STREET, SUITE 2700
INDIANAPOLIS
IN
46204
US
|
Assignee: |
ANTLER LIMITED
Bury
GB
|
Family ID: |
38814172 |
Appl. No.: |
12/244237 |
Filed: |
October 2, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60982283 |
Oct 24, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
190/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 13/04 20130101;
A45C 5/03 20130101; A45C 5/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
190/16 |
International
Class: |
A45C 13/00 20060101
A45C013/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 19, 2007 |
GB |
0720533.9 |
Claims
1. A luggage case comprising a plurality of walls connected
together to define an internal space for receipt of items to be
retained in said case, wherein the case comprises an elongate
support structure connected to at least one of said walls, said
support structure extending adjacent to at least two edges of said
at least one wall, said elongate support structure comprising at
least one elongate element and at least one fixation member to
fixedly connect the at least one elongate element to said at least
one wall.
2. A case according to claim 1, wherein said at least one elongate
element is mounted internally of said case.
3. A case according to claim 2, wherein said support structure
extends adjacent to at least three edges of said at least one
wall.
4. A case according to claim 1, wherein said at least one wall to
which the elongate support structure is connected is a side wall of
the luggage case.
5. A case according to claim 4, wherein said elongate support
structure extends adjacent to front, rear and top edges of said at
least one side wall.
6. A case according to claim 3, wherein said elongate support
structure extends along at least around 50% of a length of at least
one of said at least three edges.
7. A case according to claim 1, wherein said elongate support
structure comprises a plurality of elongate elements.
8. A case according to claim 7, wherein a single elongate element
extends adjacent one of said edges.
9. A case according to claim 7, wherein said elongate support
structure comprises a plurality of fixation members.
10. A case according to claim 9, wherein at least a first fixation
member fixedly connects two elongate elements to said at least one
wall.
11. A case according to claim 9, wherein at least a first fixation
member defines a slot for receipt of a portion of one of the at
least one elongate elements.
12. A case according to claim 9, wherein at least a first fixation
member is provided adjacent to a corner of the case interconnecting
at least two walls of the case.
13. A case according to claim 12, wherein said corner interconnects
three walls of the case.
14. A case according to claim 9, wherein at least a first fixation
member is mounted internally of the case and the at least a first
fixation member is connected to a corresponding outer fixation part
mounted externally of the case.
15. A case according to claim 14, wherein the at least a first
fixation member is fixedly connected to the corresponding outer
fixation part by a fixation member provided through said at least a
first fixation member and the outer fixation part.
16. A case according to claim 9, wherein the at least a first
fixation member comprises a plastics material.
17. A case according to claim 9, wherein the at least a first
fixation member comprises a material selected from the group
consisting of polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene,
polycarbonate, nylon, glass filled polymer, metal, and combinations
thereof.
18. A case according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elongate
element comprises a plastics material.
19. A case according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elongate
element comprises a material selected from the group consisting of
polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, carbon fibre,
polyester, fibre reinforced polymer, and combinations thereof.
20. A case according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elongate
element is manufactured by a pultrusion process.
21. A case according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elongate
element possesses an outer cross-sectional diameter of around 3 to
9 mm.
22. A case according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elongate
element possesses an outer cross-sectional diameter of around 6
mm.
23. A case according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elongate
element possesses a unit weight of around 30 to 60 g/m.
24. A case according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elongate
element possesses a unit weight of around 44.5 g/m.
25. A case according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elongate
element defines a hollow section.
26. A case according to claim 25, wherein said hollow section
possesses a cross-sectional diameter that is around 20 to 60% of
the outer cross-sectional diameter of the at least one elongate
element.
27. A case according to claim 25, wherein said hollow section
possesses a cross-sectional diameter that is around 30% of the
outer cross-sectional diameter of the at least one elongate
element.
28. A luggage case comprising a plurality of walls connected
together to define an internal space for receipt of items to be
retained in said case, wherein the case comprises a support
structure, said support structure comprising at least one corner
bracket provided at a corner interconnecting at least two of said
walls of the case, said bracket comprising a first part mounted
internally of said case and a second part mounted externally of
said case.
29. A case according to claim 28, wherein said first and second
parts are fixedly connected to one another by a fixation member
provided through said first and second parts.
30. A case according to claim 28, wherein at least one of said
first and second parts comprises a plastics material.
31. A case according to claim 28, wherein at least one of said
first and second parts comprises a material selected from the group
consisting of polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene,
polycarbonate, nylon, glass filled polymer, metal, and combinations
thereof.
32. A case according to claim 28, wherein at least one of said
first and second parts is manufactured by moulding.
33. A case according to claim 28, wherein a first corner bracket of
the at least one corner bracket is provided at the corner
interconnecting a bottom wall and a side wall of the case, and the
first corner bracket comprises a ground contacting element.
34. A case according to claim 33, wherein the ground contacting
element is a foot stud.
35. A case according to claim 33, wherein the ground contacting
element is a wheel.
36. A case according to claim 28, wherein said support structure
additionally comprises at least one elongate element.
37. A case according to claim 36, wherein said at least one
elongate element is mounted internally of said case.
38. A case according to claim 37, wherein a first corner bracket
defines a slot for receipt of a portion of one of the at least one
elongate elements.
39. A case according to claim 38, wherein the support structure is
connected to at least one side wall of the case.
40. A case according to claim 39, wherein the first part of the
first corner bracket fixedly connects a first elongate element to
said at least one side wall.
41. A case according to claim 40, wherein the support structure
extends adjacent to at least three of front, back, top and bottom
edges of said at least one side wall.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/982,283, filed Oct. 24, 2007, titled
LUGGAGE CASE, and claims priority to United Kingdom Patent
Application Serial No. 0720533.9, filed Oct. 19, 2007, the
disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference
herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a luggage case,
particularly but not exclusively, to a lightweight luggage
case.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Luggage cases are employed to transport items safely and
securely from one location to another. It is desirable that they
are sufficiently robust as to protect the items being transported
but must also be sufficiently lightweight to enable a user to
safely carry and/or pull the case between locations. As weight
restrictions on commercial aircraft become increasingly stringent,
it is also desirable that a passenger's luggage case contributes as
little weight as possible towards the passenger's luggage
entitlement.
[0004] Relatively robust luggage cases having a rigid body are
known, although such cases are typically rather heavy. Lightweight
cases having a fabric body and lightweight support structures are
also known, but such cases often do not afford the level of desired
protection to the items transported inside them.
[0005] A conventional method of providing a case with a degree of
structural support, and protecting the corners and edges of the
case, is to provide exterior piping around the periphery of each
side wall of the case. Such piping typically comprises a length of
thin steel wire encapsulated in a tube of flexible plastic, which
is connected in any desirable manner to the exterior of the case.
Such piping is, however, undesirable since it adds to the weight of
the case but provides only a very limited amount of structural
support.
SUMMARY
[0006] An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate
one or more problems associated with conventional luggage cases. A
further object is to provide a robust, lightweight luggage
case.
[0007] A first aspect of the present invention provides a luggage
case comprising a plurality of walls connected together to define
an internal space for receipt of items to be retained in said case,
wherein the case comprises an elongate support structure connected
to at least one of said walls, said support structure extending
adjacent to at least two edges of said at least one wall, said
elongate support structure comprising at least one elongate element
and at least one fixation member to fixedly connect the or each
elongate element to said at least one wall.
[0008] In this way, the elongate support structure provides a
simple and convenient means of affording a sufficient level of
structural support to the case whilst not adding an undesirable
amount of weight to the overall weight of the case.
[0009] A second aspect of the present invention provides a luggage
case comprising a plurality of walls connected together to define
an internal space for receipt of items to be retained in said case,
wherein the case comprises a support structure, said support
structure comprising at least one corner bracket provided at a
corner interconnecting at least two of said walls of the case, said
bracket comprising a first part mounted internally of said case and
a second part mounted externally of said case.
[0010] In a preferred embodiment said at least one elongate element
is mounted internally of said case. That is, the at least one
elongate element is preferably mounted inside an exterior surface
of said at least one side wall of the case. An additional layer of
material may be provided inside the at least one elongate element
so that at least some or all of said elongate element(s) is/are not
exposed to the internal space of the case. In this way, a user's
items retained in the case are protected from contacting the at
least one elongate element. It may be desirable in certain
embodiments to leave uncovered at least a portion of one or more of
the at least one elongate element and/or fixation member so that
said portion(s) can be view from the internal space of the
case.
[0011] The elongate support structure may extend adjacent to three
or more edges of said at least one wall to which the structure is
fixedly connected. It is preferred that the structure is connected
to a side wall of the case. The side wall may represent any
appropriate wall of the case which may be considered a `side wall,`
but it is envisaged that in many preferred embodiments of the
present invention the luggage case will comprise top and bottom
walls interconnected by front, rear and at least one side wall.
Preferably the elongate support structure extends adjacent to
front, back and top edges of said at least one side wall. It may be
desirable for the elongate support structure to extend adjacent to
four edges of the at least one side wall to which it is connected.
In this case, the structure may extend adjacent to front, back, top
and bottom edges of said at least one side wall.
[0012] In a further preferred embodiment, the elongate support
structure may be connected to a bottom wall of the case. The case
may incorporate one or more elongate support structures which may
or may not be interconnected, for example a first support structure
may be connected to a side wall of the case and a second support
structure may be connected to a bottom wall of the case. In this
case, the first and second support structures may be interconnected
by at least one of the fixation members forming part of one or more
of the support structures. As a further preferred embodiment, the
case may incorporate a pair of support structures connected to
opposite side walls of the case and a third support structure may
be connected to the bottom wall of the case, said bottom wall
interconnecting the pair of side walls. In this case it may be
desirable for the third support structure to incorporate a pair of
elongate elements, one element extended adjacent to each of front
and rear edges of the bottom wall, and each element being connected
to a fixation member provided at a corner interconnecting the
bottom wall with each of the two side walls.
[0013] Alternatively, or additionally, the elongate support
structure may be connected to at least one planar member extending
across at least one wall of the case. For example, the elongate
support structure may extend adjacent to front, back and top edges
of said at least one side wall and the structure further connected
to a board of material which extends across the bottom wall of the
case. Optionally, the case may incorporate a board of material
extending across the top wall of the case. Preferably the board is
mounted internally of the case so that it is protected from damage
from outside the case by the bottom and/or top wall of the
case.
[0014] As a further option, the case may be provided with one or
more handles and the elongate support structure may be connected to
at least one of said handles. This may provide the case with a
stronger and more robust construction in which stresses between the
handle and the case may be more widely and evenly distributed
throughout the support structure and thereby the case. The handle
may be connected directly to one or more of the elongate elements
forming part of the support structure and/or connected directly to
one or more of the fixation members of the support structure. If
the luggage case incorporates a planar board member as mentioned
above in a preferred embodiment, at least one of the handles may be
connected directly
[0015] The elongate support structure preferably extends along the
majority of a length of at least one of the edges of the wall of
the case to which it is connected. Preferably said elongate support
structure extends along at least around 50% of a length of at least
one of said edges, more preferably along at least around 75% of
said length, and most preferably along at least around 90% of said
length. It is particularly preferred that the elongate support
structure extends along substantially the full length of at least
one of the edges of the side wall of the case to which the
structure is connected.
[0016] It is preferred that said elongate support structure
comprises a plurality of elongate elements. Any number of elongate
elements may be provided adjacent to each edge of the wall of the
case to which the elongate elements are connected. A single
elongate element may extend adjacent one of said edges of the wall
of the case. The support structure extends adjacent to at least
three of the front, back, top and bottom edges of said at least one
side wall of the case. It is preferred a single elongate element
extends adjacent to each of said at least three edges. That is,
where the support structure extends adjacent to three of said
edges, it is preferred that the structure incorporates three
elongate elements, one of said three elements extending adjacent to
each of said three edges.
[0017] Preferably the or each elongate element extends
substantially parallel to the edge along which it extends adjacent
to.
[0018] The support structure is preferably located within a
distance of up to around 5 cm from each edge of said at least one
side wall along which the structure extends. More preferably the
structure is located within a distance of up to around 2 cm from
each of said edges. Most preferably the structure extends
substantially along each of said edges.
[0019] Preferably said elongate support structure comprises a
plurality of fixation members. The or each fixation member may
fixedly connect any desirable number of elongate elements.
Preferably the or each fixation member fixedly connects two
elongate elements to said at least one wall of the case. In order
to connect the or each elongate element to one or more of the
fixation members, it is preferred that the or each fixation member
defines a slot for receipt of a portion of one of the at least one
elongate elements. The or each slot is preferably provided with
some form of fixing means, e.g. a screw, to help retain the portion
of the elongate element received in said slot.
[0020] The or each fixation member may be provided at any desirable
location adjacent to one of the edges of the wall of the case. For
example, at least one of the fixation members may be provided near
the middle of an edge of said wall or near a corner of the wall
interconnecting at least two wall of the case. Preferably the or
each fixation member is provided adjacent to a corner of the case
interconnecting at least two walls of the case. More preferably
said corner interconnects three walls of the case. For example, one
of the fixation members may be provides adjacent a lower front
corner of the case at which point the front, bottom and one side
wall of the case intersect. Alternatively or additionally, one of
the fixation members may be provided adjacent an upper rear corner
of the case at which point the rear, top and one side wall of the
case meet.
[0021] It is preferred that the or each fixation member is mounted
internally of the case, that is, inside an exterior surface of the
wall to which the support structure is connected, and the or each
fixation member is connected to a corresponding outer fixation part
mounted externally of the case, that is, mounted on said exterior
surface of said wall.
[0022] The or each fixation member may be fixedly connected to the
corresponding outer fixation part by any appropriate means, such as
screwing, gluing and/or riveting. It is preferred that a fixation
member, such as a screw, is provided through said fixation member
and outer fixation part so as to connect the fixation member and
outer fixation part.
[0023] The or each fixation member may be formed from or comprise
any desirable material. For example, the or each fixation member
may comprise a material selected from the group consisting of
polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate,
nylon, glass filled polymer, metal, and combinations thereof.
Preferably the or each fixation member comprises a plastics
material, such as but not limited to polypropylene.
[0024] The or each elongate element may be manufactured using any
convenient process employing any desirable material, and possess
any appropriate size, shape and weight. In order to bestow the
luggage case with an adequate level of support yet not contribute
too greatly to the overall weight of the case, it is preferred the
or each elongate element is a relatively thin, lightweight rod
which exhibits a relatively high compressive strength in response
to a force applied to the end of the rod, that is, parallel to a
longitudinal axis of the rod.
[0025] In a preferred embodiment the or each elongate element
comprises a plastics material. The or each elongate element may
comprise a material selected from the group consisting of
polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, carbon fibre,
polyester, fibre reinforced polymer, and combinations thereof.
[0026] The or each elongate element is preferably manufactured by a
pultrusion process. The or each elongate element is preferably
manufactured from pultruded polypropylene. The or each elongate
element may be in the form of a rod of substantially circular
cross-section, substantially square cross-section or any other
desirable shape. Regardless of the cross-sectional shape of the or
each elongate element, it is preferred that the or each element
possesses an outer (i.e. maximum) cross-sectional diameter of
around 3 to 9 mm. More preferably the outer cross-sectional
diameter of the or each element is around 4 to 8 mm, and most
preferably around 6 mm.
[0027] As mentioned above, it is preferred that the or each
elongate element is relatively lightweight. It is preferred that
the or each element possesses a unit weight of around 30 to 60 g/m,
more preferably around 40 to 50 g/m, and most preferably a unit
weight of around 44.5 g/m.
[0028] In order to keep the weight of the or each element as low as
possible whilst maintaining the compressive strength of the or each
element it is preferred that the or each elongate element defines a
hollow section. More preferably the or each element is hollow along
substantially its entire length. Said hollow section preferably
possesses a cross-sectional diameter that is around 20 to 60% of
the outer cross-sectional diameter of the or each elongate element,
more preferably a cross-sectional diameter that is around 30% of
the outer cross-sectional diameter of the or each elongate element.
By way of example, a preferred embodiment of the elongate element
is a tubular element possessing a circular cross-section of
approximately 6 mm outer diameter and which defines a central
circular hollow section of diameter around 2 mm.
[0029] Preferably the luggage case of the first aspect of the
present invention comprises at least two side walls, more
preferably two opposite side walls, interconnecting front and rear
walls of the case and the top and bottom walls of the case. It is
preferred that one of the elongate support structures is fixedly
connected to a first one of said side walls, and a second one of
said elongate support structures is fixedly connected to a second
one of said side walls. Where such an arrangement is employed, it
is preferred that the first and second elongate support structures
are interconnected by at least one planar member (e.g. a
lightweight material board) extending across at least one of the
front, rear, top and bottom walls of the case. It is particularly
preferred that a planar member is provided which extends across the
bottom wall of the case. Two planar members may be employed, a
first planar member extending across the top wall and a second
planar member extending across the bottom wall of the case.
[0030] In the second aspect of the present invention which provides
a luggage case comprising a support structure incorporating at
least one corner bracket that comprises a first part mounted
internally of said case and a second part mounted externally of
said case, the first and second parts may be connected together in
any desirable way. It is preferred that the first and second parts
are fixedly connected to one another by a fixation member, such as
a screw or rivet, provided through said first and second parts, but
glue may also be used instead of or in addition to the fixation
member.
[0031] With regard to the at least one corner bracket of the second
aspect of the present invention the first and/or second parts may
be formed of any appropriate material. For example, at least one of
said first and second parts may comprise a material selected from
the group consisting of polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene
styrene, polycarbonate, nylon, glass filled polymer, metal, and
combinations thereof. Preferably at least one of said first and
second parts comprises a plastics material, such as polypropylene.
At least one of said first and second parts may be manufactured by
any convenient means, a preferred method is moulding.
[0032] One of the at least one corner brackets according to the
second aspect of the present invention may be provided at the
corner of the case interconnecting a bottom wall and a side wall,
in which case said corner bracket comprises a ground contacting
element. The ground contacting element may be a foot stud, which
may be formed integrally with the second outer part of the corner
bracket, or may be an element which is configured to facilitate
movement of the case across a surface, such as a wheel, rolling
track or low friction surface.
[0033] The support structure preferably extends adjacent to at
least two edges, more preferably at least three edges, of said at
least one wall. Most preferably the support structure is connected
to a side wall of the case, and still more preferably extends
adjacent to of front, back, top and bottom edges of said one side
wall. In a preferred embodiment of the second aspect of the present
invention the support structure additionally comprises at least one
elongate element, which is preferably mounted internally of the
case. The size, shape, weight etc of the or each elongate element
may be as set out above in respect of the first aspect of the
present invention. Thus, the or each elongate element may be a
relatively thin, lightweight tubular rod, preferably circular in
cross-section and being hollow along substantially its entire
length.
[0034] Preferably the or each corner bracket defines a slot for
receipt of a portion of one of the at least one elongate elements.
It is preferred that the support structure is connected to at least
one side wall of the case. Most preferably the first part of the
corner bracket fixedly connects the or each elongate element to
said at least one side wall.
[0035] With regard to both the first and second aspects of the
present invention, it will be appreciated that reference to top,
bottom, front, rear, and side walls is not intended to be limiting
and that these terms are used merely for convenience and clarity
only. Many suitcases are designed to be rested on more than one
wall of the case and many incorporate more than one handle to
facilitate easy and convenient carrying of the suitcase. Thus, in a
luggage case design of the kind described below with reference to
FIG. 1, the case incorporates a handle mounted on the `top` wall of
the case when viewed as in FIG. 1 and so the `bottom` wall of the
case may be considered as the wall opposite the `top` wall, which,
in FIG. 1, is the wall at the bottom of the Figure. However, it
will be appreciated the case may additionally incorporate a second
handle mounted to a wall other than the `top` wall, in which case a
different wall opposite to the wall to which the second handle is
mounted may be considered the `bottom` wall. The aspects of the
present invention set out above are therefore eminently suitable to
be employed with any desirable design of luggage case, regardless
of which walls of the case in question may be considered as the
`top`, `bottom`, `front`, `back` and `side` walls. All that is
required by the present invention is that the case incorporates
first and second walls (e.g. top and bottom) which are
interconnected by at least three further walls (e.g. front, back
and side walls). It will be appreciated that in most luggage case
designs, the case will incorporate size walls, that is, top and
bottom walls interconnected by front, back and two side walls.
Where more than one `side` wall is present in the luggage case of
the invention, it is preferred that an elongate support structure
of the kind described above with reference to the first and/or
second aspect of the present invention is fixedly connected to at
least two of said side walls, preferably at least two opposite side
walls, as described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] An embodiment of the present invention will now be
described, by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0037] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a side view of a
luggage case with a portion broken away to illustrate the interior
of the luggage in accordance with an aspect of the present
invention;
[0038] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a support structure of
a luggage case in accordance with an aspect of the present
invention;
[0039] FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic illustration of an upper
portion of the support structure of FIG. 2;
[0040] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a corner bracket in
accordance with an aspect of the present invention; and
[0041] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a lower portion of a
support structure in accordance with an aspect of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0042] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a luggage case 1 in accordance
with an aspect of the present invention. The luggage case 1
comprises a front wall 2, side walls 3 (one side wall shown), a
rear wall 4, a base wall 5, and a top wall 6, defining a main
luggage compartment 7 inside the luggage case 1. The case is
provided with a handle 8 and a pair of wheels 9 (only one of which
is visible in FIG. 1) to aid a user in moving the case.
[0043] The luggage case 1 is constructed of a plurality of
lightweight fabric panels supported by a lightweight support
structure, described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 to
5. The front wall 2 is constructed from a lightweight fabric
supported by a conventional wire frame 10. The front wall 2 is
connected to the side walls 3 by means of a fabric hinge 11, which
incorporates a zip 12 and is provided with a fabric hinge cover 13.
Hinge 11 is constructed of a length of lightweight fabric, affixed
along a first edge 14 to a front edge 15 of each side wall 3 and
along a second edge 16 to a side edge 17 of the front wall 2. The
zip 12 may be opened such that the front wall 2 may pivot about the
hinge 11 in order to provide access to the main luggage compartment
7.
[0044] Each side wall 3 is composed of a lightweight fabric panel
18 supported by a unitary elongate lightweight support structure
19, comprising three elongate lightweight rods 20a, 20b, 20c
mounted internally of the case (not visible in FIG. 1) which are
interconnected to form said unitary structure by a plurality of
lightweight 2-piece corner brackets, each of which comprises an
inner part 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d (not visible in FIG. 1) connected to
an outer part 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d by an Allen key screw 23a, 23b,
23c, 23d (a representation of the last screw 23d being shown in
FIG. 1). It will be appreciated that any appropriate type of
fixation means may be used in place of the Allen key screw
depicted. The three rods 20a, 20b, 20c extend adjacent to front,
back and top edges of each side wall 3. The inner and outer corner
bracket parts are moulded from polypropylene, but may alternatively
or additionally comprise acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS),
polycarbonate, nylon, glass filled polymer and/or metal or any
combination thereof.
[0045] FIG. 2 shows an upper section of the lightweight support
structure 19. The lightweight support structure 19 is comprised of
three rods 20a, 20b, 20c connected by inner corner bracket parts
21a, 21b, 21c, 21d. The rods 20a, 20b, 20c are manufactured from
pultruded fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) but may be comprised of
any appropriate, lightweight material such as carbon fibre, ABS,
polyester, polypropylene, aluminium or any combination thereof.
Each rod 20a, 20b, 20c is cylindrical and has a constant 6 mm
diameter. Each rod 20a, 20b, 20c is tubular in that it defines a
central hollow section of 2 mm diameter running the full length of
the rod 20a, 20b, 20c. Rods of any appropriate cross-sectional size
and shape may be used, for example the rods may be of any suitable
cross-sectional dimensions between 3 mm and 9 mm at their thinnest
point, and they may be solid, have hollow sections or be tubular.
The central hollow section of each rod 20a, 20b, 20c has a diameter
that is around one third of the outer diameter of the rod 20a, 20b,
20c. The diameter of the hollow section of each rod 20a, 20b, 20c
may be any size between 20% and 60% of the outer diameter of the
rod 20a, 20b, 20c. The unit weight of each rod 20a, 20b, 20c is
44.5 grams per metre (g/m). This provides a satisfactory balance
between strength, stiffness and weight.
[0046] FIG. 3 shows an enlargement of the inner corner bracket
parts 21a, 21b and rods 20a, 20b, 20c shown in FIG. 2. Inner corner
bracket part 21a defines two slots 24a, 24b for receipt of an end
portion of rods 20a and 20b. Inner corner bracket part 21b defines
two further slots 25a, 25b for receipt of an end portion of rods
20b and 20c. The end portions of the rods 20a, 20b, 20c are fixed
in the slots 24a, 24b, 25a, 25b by fixing screws 26a, 26b, 27a,
27b.
[0047] In addition to screws 23a, 23b, inner corner bracket part
21a is provided with two additional screws 28a, 28b to connect the
inner bracket part 21a to the corresponding outer corner bracket
part 22a, and inner corner bracket part 21b is provided with two
additional screws 29a, 29b to connect the inner bracket part 21b to
the corresponding outer corner bracket part 22b. Each inner corner
bracket part 21a, 21b defines a relative angle between the two rods
20a, 20b and 20b, 20c inserted into the bracket part 21a, 21b.
While the inner corner bracket parts 21a, 21b shown in FIGS. 2 and
3 define approximately 90.degree. angles between the rods 20a, 20b
and 20b, 20c, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that
the angle defined may be any appropriate angle.
[0048] FIG. 4 shows the outer 22a and inner 21a corner bracket
parts fixed together. Only one of the screws 23a used to fix the
inner corner bracket part 21a to the outer corner bracket part 22a
is visible in FIG. 4. The fabric panel 18 forming the side wall 3
of the case is pressed between the inner corner bracket part 21a
and the outer corner bracket part 22a so as to grip the fabric
panel 18, which helps to maintain the fabric panel 18 under tension
and provide structure to the case 1. Inner corner bracket part 21a
has inserted into it the rod 20a, which extends adjacent to the
fabric panel 18 of the side wall 3.
[0049] FIG. 5 shows a lower portion of the support structure 19.
The lower rear inner corner bracket part 21d comprises a slot 28 in
which is located an end portion of rod 20c, which is held in place
by a fixing screw 29. Screw 23d is provided in combination with two
further screws 30a, 30b and fixes the inner corner bracket part 21d
to the corresponding outer corner bracket part 22d. The inner
corner bracket part 21d incorporates two baseboard screws 31a, 31b,
which fix the bracket 21d to a baseboard 32 which is described
below. The inner corner bracket part 21d incorporates a mounting
for the wheel 9. The wheel 9 may be attached to the inner corner
bracket part 21d in any appropriate fashion.
[0050] The lower front inner corner bracket part 21c comprises a
slot 33 (not shown). The inner corner bracket part 21c is fixed to
the outer bracket part 22c by three screws 35, 36a, 36b in addition
to the screw 23c shown in FIG. 1. Screw 36a also functions to
connect the corner bracket 21c, 22c to the baseboard 32. The outer
corner bracket part 22c incorporates a foot stud 37 upon which the
case 1 can be supported when not being carried by the user.
[0051] The inner corner bracket parts 21c, 21d are fixed to the
baseboard 32 by screws 31a, 31b, 36a such that the baseboard 32
provides added structural support to the support structure 19. The
baseboard 32 may be comprised of any appropriate lightweight
material such as in the present specific embodiment ABS, and may
define a plurality of apertures 38 to further lower the weight of
the board 32 and thereby the case 1.
[0052] The baseboard 32 also provides a point of attachment for
other common elements of luggage cases, such as a trolley handle
(not shown). The trolley handle is attached to the baseboard 32 via
a trolley bezel 39, which is screwed into the baseboard 32. A
trolley tube 40 is screwed into the trolley bezel via a trolley
tube mount 41. The trolley handle may then be inserted into the
trolley tube 40, ready for use.
[0053] It should be appreciated that the internal support structure
19, when mounted within the luggage case, will be covered by an
inner fabric layer (not shown for clarity) so as not to expose the
support structure 19 to the main luggage compartment 7.
[0054] A preferred embodiment of a luggage case in accordance with
the present invention has been described above. It will be
appreciated that there are other embodiments of luggage cases also
in accordance with the present invention. In other embodiments of
the support structure, two more inner corner bracket parts and a
further rod may be provided to form an enclosed quadrilateral
shaped frame extending all around the side wall of the case. It
will be clear that yet further embodiments of the present invention
may incorporate greater or fewer inner corner bracket parts and
rods. In the above described specific embodiment the front wall of
the case is constructed from a lightweight fabric panel of material
supported by a conventional wire frame 10, but will be appreciated
that any appropriate alternative frame may be used, such as one or
more pultruded rods fixedly connected using moulded corner brackets
similar to the rods and brackets which are connected to the side
walls of the case described above. Moreover, although the lower
corner brackets described above incorporate foot studs and wheel
housings, it is envisaged that one or more of the lower corner
brackets could be similar to the upper corner brackets and the foot
studs and/or wheel housings provided separately.
* * * * *