US5031734A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Flexible luggage case and frame panel therefor
Assignee: Samsonite IP Holdings SARL
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Filing: 1990-02-08
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Granted: 1991-07-16
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Expires: 2010-02-08
Abstract
Abstract Some softsided cases (luggage cases with cloth panel bodies) include the frame structures to hold them erect and give them some structural rigidity. The ability of such frame members to withstand crushing forces without damage varies considerably. Also, the weight of such frame members can work against the inherent lightness of softsided luggage. Disclosed is a luggage case and a frame member for the luggage case which includes a panel. The panel comprises a pair of cloth laminae attached to one another at a peripheral seam structure. Between the laminae are positioned flexible elongated members preferably along the diagonals of the laminae if the laminae has a rectangular or trapezoid shape. These elongated members are engaged at the corners by holding means which have sockets to receive the elongated members, and specially shaped outer edges which engage a substantial portion of the peripheral seam at the corners. The elongated members cross one another in the middle of the panel. These loosely held flexible elongated members are capable of extreme flexural distortion. The elongated members are sized and positioned to provide a pretensioning force on the laminae and the case to provide stiff resiliency and to hold the case erect in normal travel yet to give and move flexibly to permit the case to be crushed repeatedly and completely without preceptible permanent damage to the panel.
Inventors
- 👤 William L. King
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:21
CPC Classifications
A; A45; A45C; A45C5/00; A45C5/14; A45C3/00; A45C3/001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A luggage case having a body of fabric panels supported over a frame means, the frame means including at least one panel which includes a flexible elongated member having a flexural modulus of at least about 1.0×10 6 psi, and means for loosely attaching the elongated member to the frame means whereby the elongated member is capable of repeated flexural strain such that the ends thereof can be brought together repeatedly, as when the luggage case is crushed, said elongated member positioned in said panel to provide a restoring force to said panel when the panel is flexed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A luggage case having a body of fabric panels supported over a frame means, the frame means including at least one panel which includes a flexible elongated member having a flexural modulus of at least about 1.0×10 6 psi, and means for loosely attaching the elongated member to the frame means whereby the elongated member is capable of repeated flexural strain such that the ends thereof can be brought together repeatedly, as when the luggage case is crushed, said elongated member positioned in said panel to provide a restoring force to said panel when the panel is flexed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A luggage case as set forth in claim 1 wherein the panel includes two of said elongated members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A luggage case as set forth in claim 2 wherein said panel includes a pair of flexible laminae with the elongated members sandwiched between them.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A luggage case as set forth in claim 3 wherein said panel further includes seam means connecting said laminae to each other at their peripheries.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A luggage case as set forth in claim 4 wherein said panel further includes means for holding an end of each said elongated member and for engaging a substantial portion of said seam means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A luggage case as set forth in claim 5 wherein said panel has four corners, with said holding means engaging said seam means at one of said corners.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A luggage case as set forth in claim 6 wherein said holding means includes a socket for receiving an end of said elongated means and a seam engaging edge opposite said socket, said edge having a contour which substantially corresponds to the contour of the seam means at the corners.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
A luggage case as set forth in claim 6 wherein said panel has at least one diagonal defined between a pair of said corners, each said elongated member extends along said diagonal of said panel from one corner to the other of said pair of corners with the pair of the elongated members crossing one another at the middle of the panel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A luggage case as set forth in claim 7 wherein said holding means includes at least two sockets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A luggage case as set forth in claim 8 wherein said panel includes at least four elongated members arranged in pairs along each said diagonal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A luggage case as set forth in any one of claims 2-5 wherein any of said elongated members has a flexural strength of about 120,000 psi, and a flexural yield stress approximately equal to its ultimate stress.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
A luggage case as set forth in any one of claims 2-5 wherein one of said elongated members has a cross sectional area which is generally uniform along its length and is so dimensioned such that a ratio of its effective length to said total cross sectional area of said elongated member is between 84 and 260.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A luggage case as set forth in any one of claims 2-5 wherein said flexural modulus is about 6×10 6 psi and said flexural strength is about 120,000 psi.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A luggage case as set forth in any one of claims 2-5 wherein any of said elongated members is made of unidirectional fiber reinforced, pultruded thermosetting plastic.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
121 words
A structural panel for a flexible luggage case comprising a generally planar lamina having a predetermined peripheral shape and being formed of a material which resists stretching but is capable of folding or crushing without damage, said peripheral shape including at least four corners, a first elongated member attached to said lamina at least at two of said corners, a second elongated member attached to said lamina and at least at another two of said four corners, such that the elongated members cross one another inward of the said four corners, said elongated members having resiliency characteristics such that ends of the panel can be brought in contact with each other without appreciable damage to the panel or the elongated members.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
121 words
A structural panel for a flexible luggage case comprising a generally planar lamina having a predetermined peripheral shape and being formed of a material which resists stretching but is capable of folding or crushing without damage, said peripheral shape including at least four corners, a first elongated member attached to said lamina at least at two of said corners, a second elongated member attached to said lamina and at least at another two of said four corners, such that the elongated members cross one another inward of the said four corners, said elongated members having resiliency characteristics such that ends of the panel can be brought in contact with each other without appreciable damage to the panel or the elongated members.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
A structural panel as set forth in claim 15 further comprising a second lamina of a material capable of folding or crushing without damage, the first and second laminae attached at their peripheries to form a seam means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
A structural panel as set forth in claim 16 further comprising seam engaging means engaging said seam means at said corners, said seam engaging means having at least one socket for receiving an end of one of the elongated members, and including a seam engaging edge which has a contour which corresponds to the seam means at said corners.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
A structural panel as set forth in claim 16 wherein said elongated members are positioned between said first lamina and said second lamina, one of said laminae includes a zipper closure for selective access to the elongated members between the two laminae.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
55 words
A structural panel as set forth in any of claims 15, 16, 17, or 18 wherein said elongated members comprise a material having a flexural modulus of at least about 1.0×10 6 psi, at a flexural strength of at least 60,000 psi, and with an elastic yield stress approximately equal to its ultimate flexural stress.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
A structural panel as set forth in claim 19 wherein said flexural modulus is about 6×10 6 psi, and said flexural strength is about 120,000 psi.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
55 words
A structural panel as set forth in claim 15 wherein each said elongated members has a cross sectional area which is generally uniform along its length and is so dimensioned such that a ratio of its effective length to the said generally uniform cross sectional area of said elongated member is between 84 and 260.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
A structural panel as set forth in claim 15 wherein each said elongated members is so dimensioned such that a ratio of its effective length to its narrowest cross sectional dimension is between at least about 183 to at least about 260.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
64 words
A structural panel as set forth in claim 15 including groups of parallel elongated members, wherein each said groups of elongated members has a total cross sectional area which is generally uniform along the length of said group of elongated members and is so dimensioned such that a ratio of its effective length to the said cross sectional area is between 84 and 260.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-07-15 | 1995-01-14 | 1995-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-15 | 1999-01-14 | 1999-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-15 | 2003-01-14 | 2003-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |