Samsonite IP Holdings S.a.r.l.

Samsonite Corporation

O'connor; Gregory W.

Other

Gregory W O'Connor

William L King

Robert L Bromley

James S Gregg

Allan C Branch

Barbara A Thurston

Berkley B Thornton, Jr

A process, and related structure, uses conventional palletized compositions to form the elements of a non-textile fabric by coining a single pellet or briquette of a polymer into an individual element in a single forming step. The steps of the process generally include: a) positioning a pellet in or adjacent to a mold cavity, and b) forcing the pellet into contact with the mold surfaces of the mold cavity to plastically deform the pellet to the shape of the mold cavity. The forcing step preferably uses an energy and speed where the pellet superplastically deforms to substantially fill the mold cavity. This process is repeated with the elements being formed in the appropriate order to form a non-textile fabric. The elements thus formed can have a variety of shapes, and can form base units for the formation of the non-textile fabric of two, three or more elements.

Direct forming of non-textile fabric elements from plastic pellets

Flexlock non-textile fabrics use intimately linked elements that are formed from formable, preferably solid phase forgeable materials into generally triangular shapes with hinging connection features along edges of a generally triangular overall shape. These hinging connection portions permit other elements to rotate about axes that intersect at intersections. Buttressing portions are located near these intersections and include cylindrical or conical shapes that abut the buttressing portions of adjacent formed elements. This abutting can occur even when adjacent elements are rotated or twisted out of a common plane. Connection portions include direct formed engagements with knuckles of the other elements. These connection portions and the engaged knuckles can include headed pintles, axles, or oppositely facing conical protrusions, and may be configured to permit the non-textile fabric to bend on itself within its own thickness without undue strain on the connection features.

Flexlock with headed pintle and conical buttressing

A process, and related structure, uses conventional pelletized compositions to form the elements of a non-textile fabric by coining a single pellet or briquette of a polymer into an individual element in a single forming step. The steps of the process generally include: a) positioning a pellet in or adjacent to a mold cavity, and b) forcing the pellet into contact with the mold surfaces of the mold cavity to plastically deform the pellet to the shape of the mold cavity. The forcing step preferably uses an energy and speed where the pellet superplastically deforms to substantially fill the mold cavity. This process is repeated with the elements being formed in the appropriate order to form a non-textile fabric. The elements thus formed can have a variety of shapes, and can form base units for the formation of the non-textile fabric of two, three or more elements.

Non-textile fabric panels (FIG.) are either formed, formed and joined, or joined by using plates or elementshaving edges with connection structures of complementary shaped and spaced knucklesthat interfit with one another. The knuckles include surfaces, that interfit and engage similar structures on adjacent elements or plates. Aligned, interfitting connection structures or knuckles can hinge along major bending axes, giving the non-textile fabric made thereby the ability to flex and bend like textile fabric or leather. Buttressing surfacesbetween connected knuckles help prevent early disengagement of intermitting surfaces when the non-textile fabric is subjected to strong tensile forces. Elementshaving the overall shape of a right isoscoles triangle in the plane of the non-textile fabric formed therefrom thus provide four major bending axes for superior flexible strength. Knuckleson the free edges of non-textile fabric panels made according the invention can be interleaved in a post manufacturing operation to make strong and almost invisible seams between panels.

Connection element structure for a non-textile fabric

Flashlight case

Flashlight

A clock, a lamp, an alarm, a motion detector and a smoke alarm are advantageously combined in a travel device which provides the user with both convenience and security when travelling. The motion detector detects motion and controls the delivery of an alarm signal and/or the delivery of light from the lamp. If motion occurs under circumstances suggesting that an intruder is present or if smoke is detected, the alarm signal and the degree of illumination alert the user to a potential security concern. If motion occurs under circumstances indicating the user is present and engaging in normal activities, the illumination is sufficient for those activities. If motion is not detected during a predetermined time period, suggesting that the user has gone to sleep, the illumination is ended. The alarm and the illumination may also be activated by clock functions, thereby achieving alarm clock functionality.

Travel convenience and security device

A hanger support trolley assembly which allows conventional clothes hangers to be loaded onto a support even though corner pockets in the garment bag are closely spaced on either side of the assembly. In one embodiment the hangers are supported on a sleeve slidably mounted on a support rod. When the sleeve is extended, hangers can be placed on the sleeve, and when closed a flange on the outer end of the sleeve retains the hangers in place. In another embodiment, the hangers are supported directly on a support rod, and the space surrounding the free end of the rod is guarded by one or more biased jaws of a spring clip. In both embodiments a concave overhead surface closely spaced from the arcuate rod prevents the hangers from being permanently transversely dislodged from the support.

Growing community of inventors

Littleton, CO, United States of America

Gregory W O'Connor