GB2184939A

GB2184939A - Luggage case and method of manufacture

Info

Publication number: GB2184939A
Application number: GB08631057A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth William Jenks
Original assignee: SPARTAN LUGGAGE CO Ltd
Current assignee: SPARTAN LUGGAGE CO Ltd
Priority date: 1986-01-03
Filing date: 1986-12-31
Publication date: 1987-07-08
Also published as: GB2184939B; EP0228304A3; EP0228304A2; GB8631057D0; GB8600077D0

Abstract

The body of a luggage case is formed from a tubular ring (3) of self-supporting sheet material, for example an adhesively bonded paper composition material, having a decorative covering 12 applied to it, to which a closing panel (7) of sheet material having one or more peripheral flanges (25) is fitted and secured to its one end at the flange or flanges so that a continuous circumferential wall and one side wall are provided. A trim strip (15) applied to the edge of that end of the tubular ring (3) has an internal step (20) which locates the panel (7). Fittings of the luggage case are secured to the tubular ring (3) and to the peripheral flange or flanges (25). A lining is attached inside the tubular ring and panel. <IMAGE>

Description

GB 2 184 939 A 1

SPECIFICATION lid of the luggage case.

The panel may be of a stiff material although it is Improvements relating to luggage cases possible for itto be of a soft material, textile fabric or plastics for example, because the tubular ring itself This invention relates to luggage cases, including 70 may afford substantial firmness to the body. Stiff attache cases, which are of substantially, but not materials which may be used arefibre-board, suitable necessarily entirely,firm construction. plastics and metal. As with thetubular ring, a It is known to fabricate the bodies and lids of such decorative covering may be applied to the external luggage casesfrom panels of stiff sheet-materials, for surface of the panel, or, if appropriate,the surface of example fibre-boa rd, which are secured, usually 75 the material of the panel itself may providethe stitched, together. It is also known to form the bodies finished surface of the side wall which the panel and lids respectively as unitary shells of stiff materials, forms. When the panel is of a stiff material theflange for example as mouldings of plastics materials. orflanges may serve also as reinforcement for The present invention provides an alternative man- portions of thetubular ring to which a handle, ner of construction which aims to facilitate manufacfastenings and otherfittings of the luggage case are ture. attached.

According to one aspect of the present invention Securing of the panel to thetubular ring may be by there is provided a method of manufacturing a body of means of stitching andlor adhesive or riveting.

a luggage casewhich includes the steps of forming a A lining will usually be attached insidethe tubular tubular ring of self-supporting sheet material, forming 85 ring and panel.

a panel of sheet material of a sizeto close one end of Straps or other retaining means may be anchored to the tubular ring and having one or more peripheral the tubular ring inside the body for holding in position flanges, fitting the panel to said one end of thetubular in the body clothing or other contents of the luggage ring and secu ring the panel to the r ing at the case when it is in use. The, or some of the retaining peripheral flange orflanges, the arrangement being 90 means may be anchored to the tubular ring by the such thatthe tubular ring provides a continuous means by which the panel is secured to thetubular circumferential wall of the assembled body and the ring.

panel provides a side wall thereof. The lid of the luggage case may be constructed According to a second aspect of the present similarlyto the body and similarly have retaining invention a luggage case is provided at least the body 95 means anchored to its tubular ring. It may be of a of which comprises a tubular ring of self-supporting capacity similarto or lessthan that of the body.

sheet material which provides a continuous circum- An embodiment of the invention will now be ferential wall of the body, and a panel of sheet material described byway of example only with reference to having a peripheral flange orflanges atwhich it is the accompanying drawings in which, secured to and closes one end of the tubular ring to 100 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a luggage case in provide a side wall of the body. accordance with the invention, and When the luggage case is to be of the usual Figures2 and3 are enlargedfragmentary sections rectangular shape the tubular ring formsthe front, through the luggage case on lines 2-2 and 3-3 rear and two end walls of the body. respectively of Figure 1.

Thetubular ring may beformed of various self- 105 In this embodimentthe luggage case, which is of supporting materials. It may, for example, beformed rectangular boxshape, has a body 1 and a lid 2 which of an adhesively bonded paper composition material, are similarly constructed.

such asthat available underthe trade mark LAFFRA- The body 1 comprises a tubular ring 3 which MAT, or a plastics material, such as polyvinyl chloride, provides a front- wall 4, a rearwall, not shown, and two being formed as a moulding or extrusion, orit may be 110 ends walls 5,6 of the body, and a panel 7 which of metal. A decorative covering may be applied to the provides a sidewall 8 of the body. Similarlythe lid 2 external surface of the ring if the material of the ring comprises a tubular ring 9 which provides corres does not itself have an attractive surface finish. Such a ponding walls of the lid, and a panel which provides a covering is preferably applied to the ring before the side wall oppositethe sidewall 8 of the body. In each panel is secured to the ring and may be secured at 115 case thetubular ring 3,9 is a stiff continuous, jointless, least partially by the securing of the panel to the ring. band of the paper composition material LAFFRAMAT.

Textilefabric, plastics sheet or leather, for example, For production purposes it is convenient for the may be used as the covering. LAFFRAMAT material to beformed as a tube of the Atrim strip may be applied to the edge of that end of required cross- section of the tubular ringsfrom which the ring to which the panel is secured. Thistrim strip 120 sections are cutoff of the required lengthsforthe may be solelyfor decoration but it may also serveto tubular rings. A decorative covering 12,12'of sheet reinforce the edge of the ring. The panel may be polyvinyl chloride is applied to and bonded to the secured to the ring atthe trim strip. Conveniently the external surface of each tubular ring 3,9. At one end trim strip is a plastics extrusion of generally U-section 13,13'of the tubular ring the covering 12,12'is folded which fits closely around the edge of the ring. The trim 125 around the edge of the ring and againstthe inside strip may be of other material, if desired. su rface of the ring adjacent that end edge, as indicated Afurthertrim strip may be applied to the edge of the at 14,14'in Figure 3. Fitted around the opposite end of opposite end of the ring, andlor a strip of stiff material, each tubular ring is a trim strip 15, 15'of extruded for example plastics or metal, may be applied to that polyvinyl chloride. Thetrim strip 15,15'is of a edge to provide a lip or flange for co-operation with a 130 generally U- shaped cross-section, Figure 2, having 2 GB 2 184 939 A 2 opposed inner and outer parallel limbs 16,17 which the covering 14'of thetubular ring 9 of the lid,thereby respectivelylie closely againstthe inside surface of to interlock and reinforcethe body and lid attheir thetubular ring and againstthe covering 12,12'on the mouths.

external surface ofthetubular ring, and an integral If desired thetrim strips 15,15'may be omitted. The web 18 extending across the end edge of thetubular 70 covering 12, 12'maythen be extended around the ring.There are decorative ribformations 19 on the ends of thetubular rings 3,9 and secured, sandwiched external surfaces of the outer limb 17 and theweb 18. between the internal surfaces of the rings and the Adjacenttothe root of the inner limb 15 each trim strip flanges 25 of the panels, bythe stitching 26 applied 15,15'has an external step 20facing towardsthefree through the rings and flanges. The strip 22 and the end of the limb. 75 cranked strip 23 may be incorporated in sections Around all foursides of the inside of the tubular ring which are fitted around andsecured to the edges 13, 3 of the body 1 atthe end 13 is secured by stitching 21 a 13'of the tubular rings. Although described as being flatstrip 22, Figure 3, which projectsfrom thetubular made of plastics, they may be made of metal, as ring parallel to its inside surface. A cranked strip 23 is extrusions orformed strips. The cranked strip 23 may secured by stitching 24 around three sides of the 80 possibly be omitted from the lid 2.

inside of the tubular ring 9 of the lid 2 adjacentto the itwill be appreciated from the foregoing that end 13'of the ring, thethree sides being those which assembly of the luggage case involves a series of providethefront and two end walls of the lid. The operations which are relatively easyto carry out. From cranked strip 23 is contained within the tubular ring trial assemblies carried out it seems likelythat a and an outer portion 24 extending towards the edge of 85 luggage case in accordance with the embodiment the end 13'is spaced from the covering 14'inside the described may be assembled with a significant saving tubular ring bya distance slightly greaterthan the in time and cost overthe known luggage construc thickness of theflatstrip 22on the body. Both strips tions in which walls of the bodies and lids are made up may be extrusions of polyvinyl chloride. of fibre-board panels stitched together.

Claims

The panels of the bodyand lid are each madefrom a 90 CLAIMS sheet of

fibre-board of complementary rectangular 1. A method of manufacturing a body or lid of a shape to the interior of the respective tubular ring 3,9 luggage case which indicates the steps of forming a and having integral, upturned, peripheral flanges 25, tubular ring of a self-supporting sheet material, Figure 2, along itsfoursides. Each panel properis forming a panel of sheet material of a sizeto close one smallerthan the internal cross-sectional dimensions 95 end of thetubular ring and having one or more of the respective tubular ring bythe extentof the peripheral flanges, fitting the panel to said one end of thickness of the inner limb 16 of thetrim strip 15,15'. thetubular ring and securing the panel to the ring at In the manufacture of the luggage case, each tubular the peripheral flange or flanges, the arrangement ring 3,9 has the covering 12,12', trim strip 15,15'and being such thatthe tubular ring provides a continuous theflat strip 22 orthe cranked strip 23, as thecase may 100 circumferential wall of the assembled body or lid and be, applied to it before the panel is fitted to thetubular the panel provides a side wall thereof.

ring. The panel is offered to the tubular ring from the
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein a end remote from the trim strip and is pushed into the decorative covering is applied to the tubular ring tubular ring, the flanges 25 trailing, until it abuts before the panel is fitted to the tubular ring.

againstthe step 20 of the trim strip, which locates the 105
3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 panel correctly with respect to the tubular ring. wherein a trim strip is applied to the edge of said one Stitching 26 is then applied through the flanges 25, end of thetubu lar ring before the panel is fitted to the inner and outer limbs 16,17 of the trim strip 15,15'and tubular ring.

tubular ring, including its covering 12,12', to secure
4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the trim the panel to the tubular ring and simultaneously to 110 strip has a step internally of the tubular ring which is secure the trim strip to these two components. The directed towards the opposite end of the tubular ring, ends 13,13'of the tubular rings respectively define the and in the fitting of the panel the panel is inserted into mouths of the assembled body and lid. the tubular ring from said opposite end and pushed Linings, not shown, of suitable soft material, for into the tubular ring, with the peripheral flange or example nylon fabric, are subsequently attached 115 flanges trailing, until the panel abuts againstthe step insidethe body and the lid. The body and lid are which then locates the panel relative to the tubular hinged together attheir rearwalls in a known manner. ring.

A handle 27 is mounted in known manner on the
5. A method according to claim 3 or claim 4 front-wall 4 of the body, and the co-operating parts of wherein the panel is secured to the tubular ring atthe catches 28 are anchoredto the frontwalls of the body 120 trim strip.

and the lidfor loading thecase. The fixings of the
6. A method according to claim 4 and claim 5 handle 27 and catches 28 may be engaged with those wherein the trim strip is of generally U-section which flanges 25 of the panels which lie against the inside f its around the edge of said one end of the tubular ring, surfaces of the front wal Is. Otherfittings may be the step is formed adjacent to the roof of an inner one applied to the body andlor lid as required. 125 of the two lim bs of the U-section, and the panel, When the luggage case is closedthe ends 13,13'of tubular ring and trim strip are all secured together by the tubular rings of the body and lid abut against one stitching applied through the peripheral flange or another and the flat strip 22 and cranked strip 23 flanges, the two limbs of the trim strip and the tubular interengage, theflat strip entering into the space ring.

between the outer portion 24 of the cranked strip and 130
7.A method according to any preceding claim as 3 GB 2 184 939 A 3 applied to the manufacture of a body of a luggage case panel.

wherein a strip of stiff material is applied and secured 25. A luggage case according to any of claims 13 to to the edge of the opposite end of thetubular ring to 24 wherein alining is attached inside the tubular ring provide a lip orflange atthat end of the body for and panel.

co-operation with a lid of the luggage case. 70 26. A luggage case according to any of claims 13to
8. A method according to anyof claims 1 to 6as 15 having a lid constructed similarly to the body.

applied to the manufacture of a lid of a luggage case 27. A method of manufacturing a body or lid of a wherein a strip of stiff material is applied and secured luggage case substantially as described herein with to the edge of the opposite end of the tubular ring to referenceto the accompanying drawings.

provide a lip orflange atthat end of the lid for 75 28. A luggage case substantially as described co-operation with a body of the luggage case. herein with referenceto the accompanying drawings.
9. A method according to any preceding claim Printed in the United Kingdom for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the wherein a jointless tube is formed of the required Tweeddale Press Group, 8991685, 7187 18996. Published at the Patent Office, material and cross-sectional shape of the tubular ring, 25 Southampton Buildings, London WC2A lAY, from which copies may be and thetubular ring is a section cut from thattube of obtained.

the length required of the tubular ring.
10. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the tubular ring is made of an adhesively bonded paper composition material.
11. A method according to any preceding claim wherein fittings of the luggage case are secured to the tubular ring and to the peripheral flange orflanges of the panel.
12. A method according to any preceding claim wherein a lining is attached inside the tubular ring and panel.
13. A luggage case at least the body of which comprises a tubular ring of self-supporting sheet material which provides a continuous circumferential wall of the body, and a panel of sheet material having a peripheral flange orflanges atwhich it is secured to, so that it closes, one end of the tubular ring to provide a side wall of the body.
14. A luggage case according to claim 13 wherein the tubular ring is formed of an adhesively bonded paper composition material.
15. A luggage case according to claim 15 wherein the material is LAFFRAMAT.
16. A luggage case according to any of claims 13to 15 wherein a decorative covering is applied to the external surface of the tubular ring.
17. A luggage case according to any of claims 13 to 16wherein a trim strip is applied to said one end of the tubular ring.
18. A luggage case according to claim 17 wherein the panel is secured to the tubular ring atthe trim strip.
19. A luggage case according to claim 17 or claim 19 wherein the trim strip is a plastics extrusion of generally U-section which fits around the edge of said one end of the tubular ring.
20. A luggage case according to any of claims 17, 18 and 19 wherein the trim strip has a step internally of the tubular ring against which the panel abuts.
21. A luggage case according to any of claims 13to 20 wherein a trim strip is secured to the edge of the end of the tubular ring opposite to said one end.
22. A luggage case according to any of claim 13to 21 wherein a strip of stiff material is secured to the edge of the end of the tubular ring opposite tosaid one end to provide a lip or flange for co-operation with a lid of the luggage case.
23. A luggage case according to any of claims 13to 22 wherein the panel is of a stiff material.
24. A luggage case according to any of claims 13to 23 wherein a decorative covering is applied to the