This invention relates to an article of luggage.

Articles (or pieces) of luggage are used to transport objects between locations. The objects are safely stowed and protected from damage in an internal packing volume provided by a compartment or sub-compartment of the article of luggage. The objects to be stowed can be, for example, personal possessions, clothing, electronic equipment, tools, cosmetics, foodstuffs, medicines, liquid containers, solids.

Pieces of luggage are designed to be portable (in that they can be carried by a capable person) and/or rolled (so that they can be rolled along a floor surface by a capable person). The size of the luggage depends on what it is intended to carry and may range from a small handbag, a vanity case, a lunchbox, a laptop case, a satchel, a briefcase, a cabin bag, a backpack, a rucksack, a child's wheelie case, a pilot case, a hold bag, a small suitcase, a large suitcase, a trunk and a cargo container.

Usually, luggage pieces have a framework or skeleton structure which maintains, if necessary, the shape of the luggage piece. A shell of the luggage piece fits around, or may be integrally formed with, the framework. The shell may define the luggage compartment or sub-compartment and/or there may be further skins which define a compartment or sub-compartment. The framework may comprise reinforced portions of the shell or may be a skeleton which is separate and distinct from the shell. Luggage may have a hard shell, a soft shell or a hybrid shell composed of hard and soft shells. The external shape of luggage pieces is generally a rectangular cuboid with rounded or smoothed edges and vertices.

The luggage may include one or more handles for carrying the luggage piece. The handles may be extendable handles.

Luggage pieces may be provided with wheels or rollers to roll the luggage piece along a surface.

It is advantageous for luggage pieces to have a solid construction, to lessen the risk of the luggage piece being damaged during transit, while also being as light as possible. The task of lifting and/or carrying a piece of luggage is simpler if the piece of luggage has a light weight. Therefore, there is a tradeoff between the weight of a piece of luggage, and how structurally solid the luggage is.

According to an aspect of the invention, we provide an article of luggage comprising:

a frame having a first end and a second end, a first pair of rods and a second pair of rods, each end being generally rectangular, and each corner of the first end being connected by a respective rod to a corresponding corner of the second end so that the rod defines an edge of the frame,

a handle that extends out of and collapses into a portion of the frame, and

a shell formed around at least a portion of the frame so as to form a packing compartment, the first pair of rods being connected to respective diagonally opposite corners of the first end and the second pair of rods being connected to the other diagonally opposite corners of the first end, and the first pair of rods have a higher flexural strength than the second pair of rods.

Further features of this aspect of the invention are set out in the claims appended to the description.

In order that the present invention can be more readily understood,

embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a piece of luggage according to embodiments of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top-down plan view of a piece of luggage according to embodiments of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the piece of luggage of Figure 1 , having two lids each shown in an Open' configuration;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a frame of an article of luggage according to embodiments of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the frame of FIGURE 4;

and FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a piece of luggage according to embodiments of the invention, shown with a lid in an Open' configuration.

With reference to the Figures, an article of luggage 10 is described. In broad terms the article of luggage 10 has a body 12 and a handle 13, the body 12 providing a packing compartment 34 for storing items (such as clothes, for example). In embodiments of the invention, the body 12 is generally cuboid, and has a first end 20 and a second end, each being generally rectangular. Although a cuboid shape is standard, it is possible that the body may have a different shape and that the first and second ends may be a shape other than rectangular. Rollers 24, which are typically castors or wheels, are provided at a base of the body (and, potentially, further rollers may be provided elsewhere) to enable to the luggage to be moved easily by a user. In embodiments, and as shown, a roller 24 is provided at or adjacent each corner of the base of the luggage (i.e. at the second end).

The body 12 of the luggage comprises a frame 15 that defines the volume of the packing compartment 34 within the body 12, and to some extent defines the shape of the body 12. A shell 16 is formed around at least a portion of the frame 15, defining a surface of the body 12 around the frame 15, within which the packing compartment is provided. In embodiments the shell 16 is formed of a flexible and durable material, such as nylons (including 'ballistic nylon' and Cordura), Polyester, canvas, leather, PVC, or polypropelene-based materials including Tegris. In other embodiments, the shell 16 may be formed of a lightweight but relatively harder material such as aluminium, polycarbonate, or ABS.

The article of luggage 10 comprises a frame 15 having a first end 17 and a second end 19, each end being generally rectangular. In embodiments, and as shown in the Figures, the shell 16 is formed around frame 15 so as to form a packing compartment 34 within the frame 15. The shell provides a wall structure defining a compartment into which items can be placed. In embodiments, the shell extends around the first and second ends of the frame 15, and the shell 16 provides wall structures 18 defining the sides of the article of luggage 10. One or more of the wall structures may provide a closure mechanism (i.e. a lid), as described in greater detail below.

The handle 13, as shown in Figure 2, extends out of and collapses into a portion of the frame 15. The handle 13 provides a portion 14 that extends diagonally across the first end 20 of the luggage, between a pair of arms 48 located at opposite corners of the first end 20. The handle 13 provides a portion 26 graspable by a user so that the user can pull, push, lift and steer the article of luggage. In embodiments the handle 13 provides a locking and release mechanism 28 operable by a user to lock the handle in a retracted or an extended configuration relative to the body 12 of the luggage. The mechanism 28 may provide a manually triggered member (such as a push button) to allow a user to release the handle from retracted or an extended configuration, so that the handle may be moved to another configuration. In embodiments, the body 12 provides a reinforced portion 22 surrounding the point at which the arms 48 meet the body 12, to prevent damage to the shell 16 of the body 12 as the handle moves between its stowed and deployed positions. It is envisaged that the article of luggage 10 may include one or more further handles or straps positioned on and secured to the outside of body 12. Those handles may provide grippable portions to allow a user to lift and manoeuvre the article of luggage 10. The shell 16 of the body provides at least a first access opening 31 with a first closure mechanism 30 (referred to as a lid) at a first side of shell 16. In embodiments, the first lid 30 is a cover or flap that moves between a closed configuration in which the closure mechanism 30 obstructs access via the first access opening 31 to the packing compartment 34 within the shell, and an open configuration in which the packing compartment 34 is accessible via the first opening 31 .

At least one of the first lid 30 and the other parts of the shell 16 surrounding the first access opening 31 may provide a fastener (such as a zip, fastening poppers, and/or a buckle mechanism, for example) to fasten the first lid 30 in its closed configuration. When unfastened, the first lid 30 is moveable to its open configuration, thus providing access to the packing compartment 34.

In embodiments, and as shown in Figure 3, the shell 16 provides a second access opening 33 with a second closure mechanism 32 (a second lid) at a second side of the shell. In embodiments, the second side of the shell 16 is opposite the first side.

In the embodiments illustrated, the first and second sides of the shell 16 form the front and back of the shell 16, and therefore form the front and back of the article of luggage 10.

In embodiments, the or each closure mechanism provides a zip track formation 58 that corresponds with a zip track formation 60 formed on a portion of the shell disposed along an edge of its respective access opening. In embodiments, the access openings 31 , 33 and lids 30, 32 are substantially rectangular. The or each lid 30, 32 is secured to the remainder of the shell substantially along a first edge of the rectangle, and corresponding zip track formations are provided along the remaining three edges of the or each lid 30, 32 and around the remaining three edges of the rectangle (i.e. other than the first).

In embodiments, pockets 70 are provided on an inner-facing surface of the or each lid 30, 32. The pockets 70 may be formed of a fabric layer that is stitched or otherwise attached to the inside surface of the or each lid 30, 32, providing openings 72 into which objects may be placed for storage.

In embodiments, compartments may be provided on the outside of the shell 16 of the luggage 10. Such compartments may, for example, be zipped pockets for storing items in a manner that makes them easily accessible when the lid(s) of the packing compartment 34 is fastened closed. In embodiments, and with reference to Figure 6, the interior of the body 12 may be provided with one or more dividing walls. For example, a dividing wall 66 may be secured between opposing walls of the shell 16, to divide the packing compartment into two separated compartments.

Figure 6 shows a wall 66 secured between diagonally opposite edges of the body 12, dividing the internal volume into two compartments each having a triangular top-down cross-section. In other embodiments, a wall 66 may divide the internal volume into two compartments each having a top-down rectangular cross-section. Where more than one compartment is provided, each compartment may be accessible via a different one of the access openings 31 , 33. Describing the frame 15 now in more detail, and with reference to Figure 4 in particular, the frame 15 includes a first pair of rods 36 and a second pair of rods 38. Each corner 37, 39 of the first end 17 is connected by a respective rod to a corresponding corner 41 , 43 of the second end 19, so that each rod 36, 38 defines an edge of the frame 15. The rods 36, 38 extend generally parallel to one another along the length of the frame 15. The length of the frame in this sense is intended to mean the axial direction in which the first end and second end of the frame are spaced from one another, and is not intended to reflect any relationship between the dimensions of the frame. The first pair of rods 36 are each connected to respective diagonally opposite corners 37 of the first end 17 of the frame. The second pair of rods 38 are connected to the other diagonally opposite corners 39 of the first end 17 of the frame. In a similar manner, the first pair of rods 36 are each connected to respective diagonally opposite corners 41 of the second end 19 of the frame, and the second pair of rods 38 are connected between the other respective pairs of corners 39, 43. In other words, the frame 15 is formed by four rods 36, 38 extending between its two rectangular ends 15, 17, to form a cuboid shape around which the shell 16 extends. The first pair of rods 36 are located at corners diagonally opposite one another, on either side of the frame 15.

The first pair of rods 36 has a higher flexural strength than the second pair of rods 38. Flexural strength is the stress in a material just before it yields in a flexure test, and indicates the strength of the rod in bending and therefore its resistance to fracture. The first pair of rods 36 are therefore stronger, in the sense that they provide a more rigid edge to the frame than the rods 38 of the second pair.

Rods forming the frame may be made of materials such as metal (preferably lightweight metals such as aluminium), plastic, reinforced plastics (such as fibreglass), or any other suitable material as is known in the art. A frame having a maximum strength can be formed by ensuring that all of the rods are made equally strong and resistant to bending and breaking. However, in order to limit the weight of the frame 15, and thereby limit the weight of the article of luggage 10, a compromise is required.

In embodiments, to achieve a higher flexural strength, the first rods 36 are made of a material that is different and flexurally stronger than that of the second rods 38.

In embodiments, the first rods 36 may have a larger cross-sectional perimeter than the second set of rods 38 (i.e. the rods are wider). The first rods 36 may have an increased diameter relative to the second rods 38. The rods 36 may be formed with a different cross-sectional profile (i.e. in a different shape) than the second rods 38 - for example, one rod may have a square cross-sectional profile, and one rod may have a round cross-sectional profile. In embodiments, the first rods 36 may be hollow and/or formed of a thicker material than the second rods 38. In embodiments, the first rods 36 may embody combinations of the above enhancements to flexural strength.

In embodiments as shown, the first pair of rods 36 are hollow along at least a portion of their respective lengths. The handle 13 comprises a pair of arms 48, and each arm 48 extends out of and collapses into a respective one of the first pair of rods 36 of the frame 15. In this way, the handle 13 slides telescopically from within the frame 15 of the article of luggage 10, so that it can be moved to a stowed position in which the arms are substantially within the frame 15. In its stowed position, the portion 14 of the handle extending between the two arms 48 lies adjacent the first end 20 of the body 12 of the luggage 10. The handle 13 is moveable from the stowed position to a deployed position in which the portion 14 extending between the two arms 48 is spaced from the body 12 to facilitate a user pulling the luggage via the handle 13. In embodiments, and as shown in the Figures, the graspable portion 26, 14 of the handle (i.e. the portion disposed between the pair of arms 48), is disposed diagonally across the first end 17 of the frame 15 (and the first end 20 of the body 12). The configuration of the article of luggage 10 described herein provides significant advantages in lowering the weight of the frame 15 while maintaining rigidity in the frame structure. By providing relatively flexurally strong rods 36 on diagonally opposite sides of the frame, the frame is provided with a relatively strong support along two diagonally opposite edges. Providing a handle 13 that extends within the rods 36 of the frame 15 of the luggage reduces the weight of the luggage, compared to cases in which the handle is provided with a separate compartment in which to retract. Providing a handle 13 that extends diagonally across the frame 15 of the luggage allows the two rods receiving the handle to be located diagonally opposite one another. Since the rods 36 receiving the arms 48 of the handle must provide sufficient internal space to receiving the arms 48 as the handle is stowed, those hollow rods provide a relatively rigid (and flexurally strong) structure. Viewing the frame in terms that the rods extend lengthwise, this means that a relatively strong rod is provided on either side of the width of the frame, and on either side of the depth of the frame. This results in a frame that maintains its rigid structure (to a greater extent that a frame in which two stronger rods are located on the same side of the case as one another). The remaining edges are provided with rods that are less flexurally strong, but of relatively lighter weight (which are also typically less expensive to manufacture). The resulting frame has a lighter weight than a corresponding frame constructed of four rods having the higher flexural strength. In embodiments, the frame 15 includes a first end plate 42 disposed at the first end 17 of the frame 15 and a second end plate 40 disposed at the second end 19 of the frame 15, each end plate 40, 42 being connected to each of the first and second pairs of rods 36, 38. Each end plate 40, 42 provides a rigid structure delimiting an end of the packing compartment 34 at a respective end of the frame 15. In this way, the body 12 is protected against the force of impacts and collisions, and thereby the content of the packing compartment 34 is protected.

Each of the first and second end plates 40, 42 provides four sockets 50, 52, each socket 50, 52 being configured to receive an end of a rod 36, 38. In this way, the frame 15 is provided with a secure structure, having upper and lower plates (i.e. the first and second plates) with which the four rods are connected, forming a volume around which the shell 16 is deployed.

In embodiments, each end plate 40, 42 includes a front panel 44, 46 providing a first socket 50 for receiving a first one of the first pair of rods 36 and a second socket 52 for receiving a first one of the second pair of rods 38. Each end plate 40, 42 further includes a corresponding rear panel 45, 47 providing a first socket 51 for receiving the second one of the first pair of rods 36 and a second socket 53 for receiving a second one of the second pair of rods 38. An end panel is secured (by fixing screws or any other suitable securing mechanism) to the respective front 44, 46 and rear 45, 47 panels of each end plate 40,42 to provide a rigid structure for delimiting the end of the packing compartment at the respective ends of the frame 15. A portion of the second end plate 40 is illustrated in Figure 5. In embodiments, and as shown in Figure 5, the front panel 44, 46 and rear panel 45, 47 of each of the first and second end plates 40, 42 defines one or more apertures or recesses 54 spaced along the plate. Providing recesses and/or apertures 54 reduces the weight of material used in producing the end plates 40, 42, thereby reducing the weight of the article of luggage 10.

In embodiments, the end panels of the first and second end plates 40, 42 provide a lip 56 that extends towards the other respective end of the frame 15. The front panels 44, 46 and rear panels 45, 47 may also provide respective lips that extend towards the other end of the frame 15. The lips 56 act to support the shell 16 in the region of the end plates 40, 42, so as to maintain the shape of the shell 16, and reduce the risk of dents or damage occurring to the body 12. The lips 56 may be curved, to provide a curved contour to the edges of the body 12. It is intended that, unless otherwise specified, features of the embodiments described may be readily combined with those of other embodiments.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.