Samsonite IP Holdings S.a.r.l.

Samsonite Corporation

Dirk Santy

Bart Proot

Clemens Van Himbeeck

Joris Smeuninx

Reinhard Meersschaert

George A Teixeira

Kenzo Yoneno

William L King

Maxime Szyf

Sofie Deboes

Luc K F Huyghe

Donald John Wilson

Luc Huyghe

Dirk Janssens

A piece of luggage may include a front side, a rear side, a top side, a bottom side, a right side and a left side that define an enclosed space. The enclosed space may be divided into one or more compartments. The luggage may further include at least one zipper to access the enclosed space. The at least one zipper may include a zipper track, at least one zipper slider, and at least on zipper tab. At least a portion of the zipper track may be positioned within one or more recessed areas defined by at least some of the sides of the luggage. In some embodiments, the zipper track may be positioned within the one or more recessed areas along substantially the entire length of the zipper track.

Luggage with a recessed zipper

Luggage cases of the soft-side construction are perceived to be lighter than hard-side cases. However, many rigidifying elements in soft-side cases tend to add to the weight of a soft-side luggage case. This reduces its weight advantage over molded shell luggage cases. Using a textile body in the luggage case to form both the grip of a carry handle and a portion of the outer surface of the luggage helps reduce the weight of the luggage. The textile body may be attached to a thin resilient wire hoop to resist distortion of the luggage case when is it lifted by the handle. This construction saves weight in comparison to conventional luggage case constructions.

Luggage panel with integrated carry handle for soft-side type luggage cases

A luggage article may include first and second opposing panels each forming a major face panel, first and second opposing side panels each forming a minor face panel and first and second end panels. The panels together may form an article defining an enclosed space. At least one panel of the major face panels the minor face panels, or the end panels may define a groove adjacent to the periphery thereof. The luggage article may further include a first frame structure having a first frame member. The first frame member may define a ring structure positioned about the periphery of the at least one panel. The first frame member, the at least one panel, and at least one adjacent luggage panel may be joined together by a fastener positioned through the first frame member.

Frame structure for a luggage article

A wheel housing () for a luggage case may include first and second pieces () pivotally joined together. At least one of the first and second pieces () supports an axle () that supports a wheel (). The first piece () includes a surface that conforms to a first surface portion of the luggage case (), and the second piece () includes a surface that conforms to a second surface portion of the luggage case (). The wheel housing () may advantageously be coupled to a luggage case (). The first piece of () the wheel housing () may be operatively coupled to a first support portion of the luggage case (), and the second piece () of the wheel housing () may be coupled to a second support portion of the luggage case (). The first and second support portions of the luggage case () may be defined by a single sheet of material in some examples.

Foldable luggage

A luggage item may include a first and second outer portions defining an inner compartment of the luggage item and a closing mechanism. At least one of the first outer portion or the second outer portion may include a frame structure and a relatively flexible cover member. The closing mechanism may be configured to operably engage a peripheral edge of each of the outer portions and configured to selectively open and close the luggage item. The frame structure may include a first frame member. The first frame member may form at least a portion of the peripheral edge of the at least one of the first outer portion or the second outer portion. The first frame member may define a width dimension extending in a direction away from the peripheral edge. The relatively flexible cover member and the closing mechanism may be joined to the first frame member by a common sewn attachment.

Frame structure for a luggage item

Generally, embodiments discussed herein may include an article of softside luggage including flexible portions formed from flexible material and a rigid or semi-rigid reinforcing member. One embodiment may take the form of a wheeled duffel including a base wall, a top wall opposite the base wall, a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly from the base wall to the top wall, a top end wall, and a bottom end wall opposite the top end wall. The wheeled duffel may further include a reinforcing member forming the top and bottom end walls and extending along the base wall from the top end wall to the bottom end wall. The reinforcing member may have an hourglass shape.

Luggage having bottom frame member

One example may be directed to a luggage case including a first wire frame element forming at least a partial shape of a main body, an inner material attached at least in part to the first wire frame element, an outer material positioned over the first wire frame element, and a second wire frame element attached at least in part to the inner material and the outer material. The outer material is not attached to the first wire frame element.

Assembly structure for a luggage case

Luggage wheel housing

Luggage handle

A lightweight computer carrying case () has an undulating leaf spring () enclosed between two layers of foam. The foam strips and leaf spring are bonded to one another, and the combined spring protection system () is surrounded by an aesthetic layer of fabric and mounted in the interior of a main packing compartment. Once snugly fitted betwixt the spring protection device, the computer () is strapped in and enjoys superior safety from impact forces, including impacts felt on the corner of the carrying case. The foam is of EVA construction and the leaf spring comprises polypropylene or ABS. A unique and aesthetically pleasing outer pocket with a curving zippered access () holds valuables, and a sleeve pocket on the outer front face of the case provides easy access to computer peripherals and such.

Growing community of inventors

Koekelare, Belgium

Dirk Santy