Luggage case

Claim 2

A luggage case comprising a substantially rectangular frame made of multi-ply veneered wood molded to the desired contour, a covering material disposed in peripheral surrounding relation and attached to said frame and having a substantial overhang with respect to the side edges of said frame, side walls of covering material one of which has a separable flap closing an area thereof and providing access to the interior of the case, and means attaching the periphery of each side wall to the overhanging portion of the covering material in spaced relation to the edge of the said frame.

Claim 3

A luggage case according to claim 1, wherein said covering material surrounding said frame comprises flexible molded plastic sheet, the portions of said covering material overhanging the side edges of said frame being bendable inwardly to provide elongation of the periphery of the side walls when the side walls are subject to laterally applied loads.

Claim 4

A luggage case according to claim 1, wherein a reinforcing strap of metal peripherally surrounds and is attached to said frame midway between the side edges of said frame, said material peripherally surrounding said frame comprising two strips disposed respectively on opposite sides respectively of said metal strap in abutting relation thereto, the inner edge of said strips being attached to said frame by stitching through the covering material, the side portions of said strap and said frame.

Claim 5

A luggage case according to claim 1, wherein a reinforcing strap of metal peripherally surrounds and is attached to said frame midway between the side edges of said frame, said reinforcing strap of metal having relative thin webs at each side, a relatively thick central portion, and longitudinally extending ribs at each side of the relatively thick central portion, said material peripherally surrounding said frame comprising two strips disposed respectively on opposite sides of said metal strap and having the inner edges thereof abutting said longitudinally extending ribs, and a separate strip of covering material disposed between the said longitudinally extending ribs of the said metal strap in surrounding relation and adhesively attached to the outer surface of the central thick portion of said metal strip, the inner edges of said two strips of covering material being attached to said frame by stitching through the covering material, the relatively thin webs on the metal strap and the said frame.

Claim 6

A luggage case according to claim 1, wherein the said one of said side walls and said flap are made of a covering material comprising a relatively thin vinyl impregnated fabric, and the other of said side walls is made of covering material comprising a relatively thick molded plastic sheet, the inside of which has a fabric layer and the outside of which has a vinyl layer.

Claim 7

A luggage case according to claim 1, wherein a bead is provided for each of the overhanging edges of the covering material, each of said beads having a substantially cylindrical body portion, a web portion laterally projecting from the body portion, and a longitudinal groove in the body portion, the outer overhanging edge of the covering material fitting in said groove, and wherein the respective side walls are attached to the overhanging portions of the covering material by stitching through the covering material, the web of the bead, and the peripheral area of the side wall.

Claim 8

A luggage case according to claim 3, wherein a carrying handle is attached to said strap of metal and said frame.

Claim 9

A luggage case according to claim 6, wherein said beads are first attacheD to the periphery of the side walls by stitching through the web of the bead and the covering material comprising the side wall.

Claim 10

A luggage case according to claim 7, wherein said handle comprises a member attached to said metal strap and said frame, said member having coaxially aligned holes in opposite ends thereof, and a C-shaped member having coaxially aligned pins extending inwardly from the ends thereof, said pins extending into the holes at the opposite ends of said member to provide a hinged connection therebetween.

Claim 11

A luggage case according to claim 8, wherein a reinforcing strip of fibrous material is disposed coextensively with and inside the periphery of the said one side wall, the several stitchings for securing said bead to the periphery of said one side wall and for securing said one side wall to the overhanging portions of the covering material also extending through said reinforcing strip of fibrous material.