Samsonite IP Holdings S.a.r.l.

Samsonite Corporation

Rik Hillaert

Wim De Vos

Vivien Cheng

William L King

Roger Pedlar

James S Gregg

Daniel G Elles

Lawrence J Deliman

Michael Vandemergel

Carlo F Zezza, Jr

Bart Bauwens

Chui Wai Kin

Jon C Nordmark

David W Fiddes

Robert M Tesman

Peter Ten Haaf

Arno De Taeye

Benjamin Vandeputte

Erik Josef Sijmons

Richard Miles

Sean B Farrelly

Christophe Van Rumst

Jean-Claude Van De Walle

Pauline M Koslowski

Jean-Claude Vandewalle

Guy Moerman

Kenneth Coene

Wim Godefroid

Amo De Taeye

A laminate () of polypropylene films (), a luggage shell () constructed of the laminate (), a method () of making the laminate (), and a method () of making the luggage shell () are provided. The films () include a core () and at least one outer layer (). The laminate () includes a plurality of films (). The laminate () may be formed by laminating a plurality of filmsunder predetermined pressure, temperature, and time conditions. The shell () may be formed by deep drawing a sheet of laminate () while applying heat and tension to the laminate ().

Biaxially oriented thermoplastic polymer laminate films for luggage articles and methods of making the same

A luggage article may include a plurality of walls together defining an outer structure of the luggage article, a wheel bracket attached to and extending from one of the walls, and one or more wheels attached to the wheel bracket. The wheel bracket may comprise a leaf spring having a loop-shaped profile and the one or more wheels may be rotationally attached to a lower end of the loop-shaped leaf spring. The configuration of the wheel bracket may result in higher shock absorption and reduced wheel noise comparative to conventional wheel brackets, and offer an improvement and alternative to conventional luggage wheel brackets.

Luggage article with loop-shaped wheel bracket

Process of making a plastic component (), in particular luggage shell, from self-reinforced thermoplastic material, to a plastic component () made of self-reinforced thermoplastic material and an apparatus for making such a plastic component, in particular luggage shell (). The invention provides a new product and process for manufacturing same on the basis of self-reinforced thermoplastic material by means of the step of tensioning said material (lamina), at least partially tensioning said lamina during all follow-up component shaping and/or molding steps up to a release of a component pre-form shape from the remainder lamina, to form the component. The present invention allow the manufacturing of an ultra-light weight luggage shell () on the basis of using self-reinforced thermoplastic material, the manufacturing of same can be further enhanced by permanently tensioning said material during all manufacturing steps up to the final finishing of the product.

Process for making a luggage shell from self-reinforced thermo-plastic material

Protective systems () for a luggage piece () may include a deformable body () and a cover (). The cover () may be configured to overlie and to be coupled with the deformable body (). The cover () may be more rigid than the deformable body (). The deformable body () may include an interior shape () at least partially complementary to a recess () formed in an exterior surface () of the luggage piece (). The deformable body () may be joined to the luggage piece () when positioned at least partially in the recess (). External impacts exerted on the cover () may be transmitted across the cover () such that the forces associated with such external impacts may be exerted on the deformable body () across a larger surface area than a surface area of the cover () receiving the external impacts and may be at least partially absorbed by the deformable body ().

Protective system for luggage

A luggage article may include a plurality of walls together defining an outer structure of the luggage article, a wheel bracket attached to and extending from one of the walls, and a wheel attached to the wheel bracket. The wheel bracket may comprise first and second elongate arms extending along a common side of the wheel. The first and second arms may be vertically-spaced apart from one another over at least a portion of the length of the first and second arms. The configuration of the wheel bracket may result in higher shock absorption and reduced wheel noise comparative to conventional wheel brackets, and offer an improvement and alternative to conventional luggage wheel brackets.

Luggage article with cantilevered wheel bracket having elongated arms

A luggage piece may include a first shell and a second shell pivotably joined to the first shell. The luggage piece may include a clamp-type latch configured to releasably secure the first shell to the second shell. The luggage case may further include a frame assembly. The frame assembly may include opposing first and second frame members. The first frame member and the second frame member may be joined to the first shell and the second shell, respectively. The first and second frame members may be pivotably joined together by a hinge. The first frame member may be configured with a first recess to receive therein at least a portion of the clamp-type latch such that exterior surfaces of the first shell, the first frame member, and the clamp-type latch are substantially flush with each other when the clamp-type latch is positioned in its latched position.

Luggage with shell, frame, and lock

A luggage case may include opposing sidewalls forming minor faces, opposing sidewalls forming major faces, and opposing end walls together forming an article defining an enclosed space. A line of separation may be formed in said minor faces and end walls. A first portion of the line of separation may extend along a first portion of opposing minor faces at a location proximate one of said opposing major faces and corresponding one of said opposing end walls positioned therebetween. A second portion of the line of separation may extend along a second portion of said opposing minor faces in a direction away from said one of said opposing major faces and towards other of said opposing major faces.

Luggage with shells having varied depths

Wheeled luggage cases include at least two wheels and a handle with which to roll the luggage on these wheels. Most prior art wheel handles require the user to use considerable force to balance the case on these two wheels, either when the case is carrying auxiliary cases or when otherwise fully loaded. The disclosed luggage case has a wheel handle which extends out of and along one side of the case on an arm, and a handle grip mounted on this arm in a way that tips the luggage case forward to better balance over the wheels when carrying varying loads. The wheel handle arm also includes a mechanism that supports the handle grip at different heights to further optimize this load balancing function.

Wheeled luggage case with extendable handle

An auxiliary luggage attachment and security tether mechanism secure an auxiliary luggage case to a main luggage case for support on and by an exterior surface of a main luggage case, and secure at least the main luggage case to an object. The attachment mechanism comprises a clutch mechanism, an elongated flexible strap having an inner end fixably attached to the clutch mechanism and the outer end attached to a hook, the clutch mechanism being biased to pull the flexible strap onto the clutch mechanism and retract the hook to the clutch mechanism. A lid is pivotally mounted adjacent to the clutch mechanism and has a selectively open position where the hook and strap are accessible, and a selectively closed position where the lid covers the clutch mechanism and the strap or hook to the extent the strap is retracted onto the clutch mechanism. The lid engages the clutch mechanism in the open position to release the clutch mechanism whereby the strap can be extended from the clutch mechanism. The lid engages the clutch mechanism in the closed position to hinder the movement of the clutch mechanism and fix the length of extension of the strap. A lock mechanism in the lid locks the lid in the closed position, covering the clutch mechanism. The hook at the end of the strap can be replaced in the receptacle to engage the clutch mechanism, and the lid can then be locked to secure the hook and the strap to the clutch mechanism.

Retractable auxiliary luggage case attachment and security tether

Growing community of inventors

Oudenaarde, Belgium

Rik Hillaert