GB2184940A - Improvements relating to luggage cases - Google Patents

Improvements relating to luggage cases Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2184940A
GB2184940A GB08631058A GB8631058A GB2184940A GB 2184940 A GB2184940 A GB 2184940A GB 08631058 A GB08631058 A GB 08631058A GB 8631058 A GB8631058 A GB 8631058A GB 2184940 A GB2184940 A GB 2184940A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
circumferential wall
ofthe
luggage case
stiffening
lid
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08631058A
Other versions
GB8631058D0 (en
Inventor
Kenneth William Jenks
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SPARTAN LUGGAGE CO Ltd
Original Assignee
SPARTAN LUGGAGE CO Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SPARTAN LUGGAGE CO Ltd filed Critical SPARTAN LUGGAGE CO Ltd
Publication of GB8631058D0 publication Critical patent/GB8631058D0/en
Publication of GB2184940A publication Critical patent/GB2184940A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45CPURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
    • A45C7/00Collapsible or extensible purses, luggage, bags or the like
    • A45C7/0018Rigid or semi-rigid luggage
    • A45C7/0036Rigid or semi-rigid luggage collapsible to a minimal configuration, e.g. for storage purposes

Abstract

A collapsible luggage case of rectangular box form has a lid (2) and a body (1) having top and bottom wall panels (19 and 3) of soft sheet material. The body also has a circumferential wall (4) of sheet material. Stiffening means applied to the body comprises a rectangular stiffening frame around the mouth (5) of the body, a parallel stiffening frame (8) peripherally of the bottom panel, corner stiffeners (14) removably located in pockets (13) provided around the front two corners of the circumferential wall, and a back stiffener (15) releasably located along the back portion of the circumferential wall. The case may be collapsed to bring the top and bottom panels close together by removing the corner stiffeners from their pockets and releasing the back stiffener from its operative position. The lid may also have a stiffening frame. Preferably the frames are of wire and are contained in piping (6, 9). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to luggage cases This invention relates to luggage cases ofthe kind made largely from soft materials.
Luggage cases are known which have their bodies and lids fabricated out of softsheet materials, such as textile fabrics and sheet plastics materials, to which stiffening means is applied which is intended to support the bodies and lids in the required shapesfor use. However, there is a need for a luggage case which has a body and lid fabricated out of soft sheet materials supported by stiffening means which give appreciable stability to the shapes of the body and lid for use, and yet enables the case to be collapsed into a substantiallyflat state for ease of storage when it is not in use.
The present invention seeks to meettheaforesaid need.
According to one aspect ofthe present invention a luggage case of generally rectangular box shape comprises a body and lid which present bottom and top wall panels respectively ofthe box shape and at leastthe body having a circumferential wall extending from the bottom wall panel and defining a mouth of the body with which the lid co-operates, the bottom and top wall panels and circumferential wall being of soft sheet materials, there being a first stiffening rectangular frame retained to the body peripherally of the bottom wall panel and a second parallel stiffening rectangular frame retained to the case at a position spaced from the first frame, corner stiffeners which are removably located around two front corners ofthe circumferential wall and back stiffening means releasably or removably located at a back portion ofthe circumferential wall, the arrangement being such that the frames, cornerstiffeners and back stiffening means in combination hold the body erectfor use and when the cornerstiffeners are removed from the front corners and the back stiffening means released or removed the body can be collapsed to a substantially flat state in which the frames are close together.
According to another aspect of the present invention a luggage case of generally rectangular box shape comprises a body and lid which present bottom and top wall panels respectively ofthe box shape and at least the body having a circumferential wall extending from the bottom wall panel and defining a mouth of the body with which the lid co-operates, the bottom and top wall panels and circumferential wall being of soft sheet materials, there being a first stiffening rectangularframe retained peripherally of the bottom wall panel and second parallel stiffening rectangular frame retained to the case at a position spaced from the firstframe, corner stiffeners which are removably located in pockets of soft material around two front corners ofthe circumferential wall and back stiffening means releasably or removably located at a back portion ofthe circumferential wall, the arrangement being such that the frames, corner stiffeners and back stiffening means in combination hold the body erect for use and when the corner stiffeners are removed from their pockets and the back stiffening means released or removed the body can be collapsed to a substantially flat state in whicb the frames are close together.
The back stiffening means may comprise a back stiffener releasably located along a substantial part of the length of the back portion ofthe circumferential wall. The back stiffening means may additionally or alternatively comprise further corner stiffeners lo cated at the rear corners ofthe circumferential wall.
The corner stiffeners-are preferably located in pockets of soft material provided on the circumferen- tial wall.
Thetopwall panel presented by the lid may fasten directly overthe mouth of the body or it may have a peripheral skirt at which the lid co-operates with and fastens over the mouth ofthe body. In either arrangement the top wall panel may lie close to the bottom wall panel when the body is collapsed, so that the case is then substantially flat and compact for stowing away, or transporting, when it is not required to be used. Preferably the second stiffening frame is retained around the mouth of the body. Additionally, or alternatively, a stiffening frame may be retained to the lid which is in the closed postion of the case is disposed parallel to the frame or frames ofthe body, and which can also lie parallel to those frames when the body is collapsed.The body may be collapsed by removing the corner stiffeners and, ifthe case is provided with a back stiffener, releasing the back stiffener.
Preferably the stiffening frames are made of wire.
They may be made of other materials, however, which will give the necessary support to the soft materials of the case, including plastics moulded to form the frames. Conveniently the frames are held in pockets of soft material. In the preferred form in which the frames are made ofwirethey are located inside piping applied to the body, and to the lid if the latter has such a frame.
The corner stiffeners may be made of stiff board, metal or plastics material shaped to follow the contours ofthefront corners ofthe circumferential wall. Strips of soft sheet material may be secured around the corners of the circumferential wall against its inner surface to define the pockets for the corner stiffeners. Openings into the pockets are preferably directed longitudinally of the circumferential wall.
The back stiffener may be made of similar material to the corner stiffeners. In the preferred form it is flat and occupies substantially the whole area ofthe back portion between the two back corners of the circumferential wall and the two stiffening frames of the body. When released the back stiffener may be completely separable from the circumferential wall, suitable fastenings, for example press fastenings, being provided on the stiffener and circumferential wall for the purpose. Alternatively the back stiffener may be hingedly connected to the circumferential wall, ortho the bottom wall panel, so that it can be swung from an operative postion in which it is flat against the back portion ofthe circumferential wall to a released position to be parallel to, and preferably substantially flat against, the bottomwall panel.A fastening orfastenings, for example one or more press fastenings, may be provided for securing the back stiffener in the operative position.
A luggage case embodying the invention will now be described byway of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, Figure 1 is a perspective view ofthe luggage case shown in an erected closed position, Figure 2 is a perspective view ofthe luggage case in an open position, Figure3is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 3-3 of Figure 2, and Figure4is an enlarged section on 4-4 of Figure 3 but with the luggage case closed and collapsed.
In this embodiment the luggage case is in a form particularly suitable fortravellers and sports people for carrying their clothes and kit in.
As can be seen in Figure 1 the luggage case is of a generally rectangularboxshape with well-rounded corners. The case comprises a body 1 and a lid 2 both ofwhich are made largelyofsoftfabric materials.
The body 1 has a bottom wall panel 3 and a circumferential wall 4 ofthe soft material 3. The circumferential waIl 4, which defines the mouth 5 of the body, is secured to the periphery of the bottom wall panel 3by stitching which also secures piping 6 between them which extends around the periphery of the panel externally of the body. A rectangular frame of stiff steel wire is contained in the piping 6 as stiffening forthe body.Further stiffening is afforded by a parallel rectangularframe 8, similarly ofstiff steel wire, which is contained in piping 9 secured around the inside ofthe circumferential wall4 near to but spaced from the mouth 5 ofthe body. Afirststringer 10 of a zip fastener 11 is secured by stitching to the circumferential wall around the exteriorofthe mouth.
Securedbystiching againsttheinsideofthe circumferential wall 4 around its two front corners are strips 12, Figures 2 and 3, of softfabric material, for example woven nylon, which define pockets 13 at the corners. The strips 12 extend almostforthe depth of the circumferential wall and are stitched only longitudinally ofthe circumferential wall, by the same stitching which securesthe bottom wall panel and associated piping 6to the circumferential wall and the other piping 9to the circumferential wall near the mouth ofthe body. Thus the pockets so defined are open-ended with the openings into them facing longitudinally ofthe circumferential wall, as can be seen in Figure 2.In each pocket 13 a corner stiffener 14 is removably located, being made of stiff plastics material of strip form shaped to follow the contour of the corner ofthe circumferential wall.
A back stiffener 15, Figure 2, which is flat and made offibre-board is releasably located against the inside surface of a back portion 16 ofthe circumferential wall.
The back stiffener 15 occupies substantially the whole ofthe area ofthe back portion 16 between the two back corners ofthe circumferential wall, the bottom wall panel and the frame 8 nearthe mouth ofthe body.
An upper edge of the back stiffener 15 is hingedly attached to the back portion 16 atthe piping 9 containing the frame 8, and the back stiffener is releasably held in position flat againstthe back portion by means of a press fastening 17 one component of which is on the backstiffener near its lower edge centrally of its length, and the mating component of which is on aflexibletab 18 anchored to the piping 6 between the circumferential wall and the bottom wail panel 3.
The corner stiffeners 14 and the back stiffeners 15 hold the material ofthe circumferential wall taut at the front and back ofthe body, and the combined affect of the stiffeners and the stiffening frames 7,8 is to give the erected body a substantial degree of rigidity.
The lid 2 has a top wall panel 19to which is stitched, with piping 20 externally ofthe lid,a shallow peripheral skirt 21 which is arranged to fit around the outside ofthe mouth ofthe body and has stitched to it the second stringer 22 ofthe zip fastener 11. The lid is permanently attached, as by stitching, by its skirt 21 to the back portion 16 ofthecircumferential wall ofthe body.
A pouch 23 is provided on the outside ofthe lid by a piece of soft material which secured by stitching over part ofthe top wall panel. There may be a similar pouch on the bottom wall panel ofthe body. One or more pouches may also be provided inside the case on one or both ofthe top and bottom panels.
Flexible handles 24 are secured to the bottom and top wall panels which are connected overthe front of the case by a detachable grip 25. For optional use for carrying the case there is a shoulder strap 26 of adjustable length which is detachablyfastenedto a webbing support 27 stitched around the exterior of the circumferential wall.
When the case is not in use the corner stiffeners can be readily slid out of the pockets, the press fastening 17 released and the back stiffener 15 swung awayfrom the back portion of the circumferential wall to a position parallel to the frames 7,8 so as to enable the body, and thus the case as a whole, to be collapsed into a substantiallyflat state in which the frames and the top and bottom wall panels, and back stiffener, lie close together, as shown in Figure 4,for ease of stowing the case away. It is a simple matterto insert the cornerstiffeners back into the pockets and re-fasten the back stiffener against the circumferential wall to erect the body again when the case is to be used.

Claims (19)

1. a luggage case of generlly rectangular box shape comprising a body and lid which present bottom and top wall panels respectively of the box shape and at least the body having a circumferential wall extending from the bottom wall panel and defining a mouth of the body with which the lid co-operates,the bottom and top wall panels and circumferential wall being of soft sheet materials, there being a first stiffening rectangular frame retained to the body peripherally of the bottom wall panel and a second parallel stiffening rectangular frame retainedto the case art a position spacedfrom the firstframe, corner stiffeners which are removably located aroundtwo front corners ofthe circumferen- tial wall and back stiffening means releasablyor removably located at a back portion of the circumferential wall,the arrangement being such thatthe frames, cornerstiffeners and back stiffening means in combination hold the body erectfor use and when the corner stiffeners are removed from thefront corners and the back stiffening means released or removed the body can be collapsed to a substantiallyflat state in which the frames are close together.
2. A luggage case of generally rectangular box shape comprising a body and lid which present bottom and top wall panels respectively ofthe box shape and at leastthe body having a circumferential wall extending from the bottom wall panel and defining a mouth of the body with which the lid co-operates, the bottom and top wall panels and circumferential wall being of soft sheet materials, there being a first stiffening rectangularframe retained peripherally ofthe bottom wall panel and second parallel stiffening rectangularframe retained to the case at a position spaced from the first frame, cornerstiffenerswhich are removably located in pockets of soft material around two front corners of the circumferential wall and back stiffening means releasably or removably located at a back portion of the circumferential wall, the arrangement being such thatthe frames, corner stiffeners and back stiffening means in combination hold the body erect for use and when the corner stiffeners are removed from their pockets and the back stiffening means released or removed the body can be collapsed to a substantially flat state in which the frames are close together.
3. A luggage case according to claim 2 in which strips ofsoftsheet material are secured around the corners ofthe circumferential wall against its inner surface to define the pocketsforthe cornerstiffeners.
4. Aluggage case accordingto claim 2 orclaim 3 in which openings into the pockets are provided directed longitudinally of the circumferential wall.
5. A luggage case according to any preceding claim in which the lid fastens directly over the mouth ofthe body.
6. A luggage case according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the lid is provided with a peripheral skirt at which the lid co-operates with and fastens overthe mouth ofthebody.
7. Aluggagecaseaccording to any preceding claim in which the second stiffening rectangularframe is retainedtothe bodyaround the mouth.
8. A luggage case according to any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the second stiffening rectangularframe is retained to the lid.
9. A luggage case according to claim 7 in which a further stiffening frame is provided retained to the lid, thefurtherframe being disposed parallel to the frames ofthe body when the case is assembled for use in its closed position and lying parallel to those frames when the body is collapsed.
10. A luggage case according to any preceding claim in which the back stiffening means comprises a back stiffener releasably located along a substantial part ofthe length ofthe back portion ofthe circumferential wall and is released from extending along said back portion when the case is to be collapsed.
11. A luggage case according to claim 10 in which the back stiffener is flat and occupies substantially the whole area of the back portion between the two back corners ofthe circumferential wall.
12. A luggage case according to claim 10 or 11 in which the back stiffener is completely separable from the circumferential wall.
13. A luggage case according to claim lOor 11 in which the back stiffener is hingedly connected to the circumferential wail, orto the bottom wail panel, so that it can be swung from an operative position in which it is flat against the back portion ofthe circumferential wall to a released position in which it is hinged away from the back portion to be parallel to the bottom wall panel.
14. A luggage case according to any one of claims 10 to 13 in which releasablefastenings are provided to secure the back stiffener to the back portion ofthe circumferential wall.
15. A luggage case according to any preceding claim in which the back stiffening means comprises further cornerstiffeners removably located at each of the rear two corners ofthe circumferential wall.
16. A luggage case according to any preceding claim in which the frames are made of wire.
17. A luggage case according to claim 16 in which the wire frames are located inside piping.
18. A luggage case according to any preceding claim in which the corner stiffeners are made of stiff sheet material and are shaped to follow the corners of the circumferential wall.
19. A luggage case substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB08631058A 1986-01-03 1986-12-31 Improvements relating to luggage cases Withdrawn GB2184940A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB868600074A GB8600074D0 (en) 1986-01-03 1986-01-03 Luggage cases

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8631058D0 GB8631058D0 (en) 1987-02-04
GB2184940A true GB2184940A (en) 1987-07-08

Family

ID=10590882

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB868600074A Pending GB8600074D0 (en) 1986-01-03 1986-01-03 Luggage cases
GB08631058A Withdrawn GB2184940A (en) 1986-01-03 1986-12-31 Improvements relating to luggage cases

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB868600074A Pending GB8600074D0 (en) 1986-01-03 1986-01-03 Luggage cases

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB8600074D0 (en)

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0409090A1 (en) * 1989-07-17 1991-01-23 Emilio Anbasz Expandable luggage
US5103945A (en) * 1990-01-25 1992-04-14 Maruwa Echo Co., Ltd. Collapsible luggage
US5197580A (en) * 1991-01-07 1993-03-30 Berman Joseph J Collapsible structured luggage
WO1999055190A1 (en) * 1998-04-24 1999-11-04 Mainland Marketing, Inc. Expandable bag with stiffening member
US6059078A (en) * 1998-04-24 2000-05-09 Mainland Marketing, Inc. Expandable bag with stiffening member
US7090399B2 (en) * 2003-06-19 2006-08-15 Travel Caddy, Inc. D/B/A Travelon Bag with wire frame construction
US7210426B2 (en) * 2002-01-10 2007-05-01 Style Living Corporation Compressible pet carrier
US7451861B2 (en) * 2004-04-07 2008-11-18 Sun Coast Merchandise Corporation Collapsible utility bag and advertising vehicle
US20110168506A1 (en) * 2009-12-18 2011-07-14 Samsonite IP Holdings S.a.r.I. Assembly structure for a luggage case
FR2968172A1 (en) * 2010-12-02 2012-06-08 Cyl Wood Collapsible luggage, has releasable rigid reinforcement forming gap between upper and lower rigid frames in fixation position at corners of external envelope, where foldable walls form envelope of luggage with three corners
WO2013072312A1 (en) 2011-11-14 2013-05-23 Samsonite Ip Holdings S. À R. L. Protective system for luggage
US20140116829A1 (en) * 2012-11-01 2014-05-01 Eagle Creek Luggage items with expandability
EP3015018A1 (en) 2014-10-28 2016-05-04 Samsonite IP Holdings S.a.r.l. Luggage case having surface features providing enhanced corner strength
EP3469945A1 (en) 2017-10-13 2019-04-17 Samsonite IP Holdings S.ÀR.L. Panel frame structure for a luggage article
US10292470B2 (en) 2014-11-12 2019-05-21 Samsonite Ip Holdings S.A.R.L. Luggage case having surface features providing enhanced strength
US11786021B2 (en) 2010-10-29 2023-10-17 Samsonite Ip Holdings S.A R.L. Luggage with a recessed zipper

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB580515A (en) * 1944-10-05 1946-09-10 William Edward Paul Rose Improvements in collapsable cases, trunks, packing cases and the like
US4210230A (en) * 1979-04-26 1980-07-01 Airway Industries, Inc. Flat-pack luggage case

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB580515A (en) * 1944-10-05 1946-09-10 William Edward Paul Rose Improvements in collapsable cases, trunks, packing cases and the like
US4210230A (en) * 1979-04-26 1980-07-01 Airway Industries, Inc. Flat-pack luggage case

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0409090A1 (en) * 1989-07-17 1991-01-23 Emilio Anbasz Expandable luggage
US5103945A (en) * 1990-01-25 1992-04-14 Maruwa Echo Co., Ltd. Collapsible luggage
US5197580A (en) * 1991-01-07 1993-03-30 Berman Joseph J Collapsible structured luggage
WO1999055190A1 (en) * 1998-04-24 1999-11-04 Mainland Marketing, Inc. Expandable bag with stiffening member
US6021874A (en) * 1998-04-24 2000-02-08 Mainland Marketing, Inc. Expandable bag with hinged stiffening member
US6059078A (en) * 1998-04-24 2000-05-09 Mainland Marketing, Inc. Expandable bag with stiffening member
US7210426B2 (en) * 2002-01-10 2007-05-01 Style Living Corporation Compressible pet carrier
US7090399B2 (en) * 2003-06-19 2006-08-15 Travel Caddy, Inc. D/B/A Travelon Bag with wire frame construction
US7451861B2 (en) * 2004-04-07 2008-11-18 Sun Coast Merchandise Corporation Collapsible utility bag and advertising vehicle
US20110168506A1 (en) * 2009-12-18 2011-07-14 Samsonite IP Holdings S.a.r.I. Assembly structure for a luggage case
US8668064B2 (en) * 2009-12-18 2014-03-11 Samsonite IP Holdings S.a. r.l. Assembly structure for a luggage case
JP2013514110A (en) * 2009-12-18 2013-04-25 サムソナイト アイピー ホールディングス エス.エー.アール.エル. Baggage case assembly structure
US11786021B2 (en) 2010-10-29 2023-10-17 Samsonite Ip Holdings S.A R.L. Luggage with a recessed zipper
FR2968172A1 (en) * 2010-12-02 2012-06-08 Cyl Wood Collapsible luggage, has releasable rigid reinforcement forming gap between upper and lower rigid frames in fixation position at corners of external envelope, where foldable walls form envelope of luggage with three corners
US9961974B2 (en) 2011-11-14 2018-05-08 Samsonite Ip Holdings S.A R.L. Protective system for luggage
WO2013072312A1 (en) 2011-11-14 2013-05-23 Samsonite Ip Holdings S. À R. L. Protective system for luggage
US20140116829A1 (en) * 2012-11-01 2014-05-01 Eagle Creek Luggage items with expandability
US9894972B2 (en) * 2012-11-01 2018-02-20 Eagle Creek Luggage items with expandability
EP3015018A1 (en) 2014-10-28 2016-05-04 Samsonite IP Holdings S.a.r.l. Luggage case having surface features providing enhanced corner strength
US10292469B2 (en) 2014-10-28 2019-05-21 Samasonite IP Holdings S.a r.l. Luggage case having surface features providing enhanced corner strength
US10292470B2 (en) 2014-11-12 2019-05-21 Samsonite Ip Holdings S.A.R.L. Luggage case having surface features providing enhanced strength
EP3469945A1 (en) 2017-10-13 2019-04-17 Samsonite IP Holdings S.ÀR.L. Panel frame structure for a luggage article

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8631058D0 (en) 1987-02-04
GB8600074D0 (en) 1986-02-12

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