Abstract: A backpack including a flexible hip belt assembly is provided. The backpack may include a frame assembly defining a lower portion, a hip belt including a central portion and a lower portion with opposing first and second arms extending from the central portion. The lower portion of the hip belt and the lower portion of the frame assembly may be securely coupled together to support a substantially vertical load. A resilient member may couple the hip belt to the frame assembly. The resilient member may expand or contract as the hip belt and frame assembly move relative to one another to reduce the forces applied to the hip belt by the non-vertical movement of the frame assembly.

Abstract: A piece of luggage (100, 298) may include front, rear, top, bottom, right, and left sides or faces (102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112) that define an enclosed space. The enclosed space may be divided into one or more compartments. The luggage piece may further include at least one zipper (124) to access the enclosed space. The at least one zipper may include a zipper track (132), at least one zipper slider (134), and at least one zipper tab (136). The luggage piece may further include a frame (138, 300) that generally defines the shape of the luggage piece. The frame may include upper and lower bodies (140, 142, 144, 146, 302, 304) that are joined together by elongated structural members (148, 150, 306), such as pultrusions or closed wire loops. The upper bodies may substantially define the top side of the luggage piece, and the lower bodies may substantially define the bottom side of the luggage piece. The upper and lower bodies may be molded, hard bodies.

Abstract: A luggage article 100 is provided. The luggage article 100 may include a reinforcing board 202, and a closed loop frame 206. The reinforcing board 206 may include a central portion 220 and first and second side portions 224, 226 on opposing lateral sides of the central portion 220. The central portion may extend over a rear side 120 of the luggage article 100. The first and second side portions 224, 226 may extend over at least part of the opposing left 126 and right 128 sides of the luggage case 100. The closed loop frame 206 may match and aligned with the distal edge 250 of the first side portion 224 or the second side portion 226 of the reinforcing board 220. The top section 226 of the closed loop frame may also curve around the top edges (142, 144) of the luggage case 100 to extend at least partially over the top side 122 to match and align with the inwardly curved side edge 282 of the top portion 228.

Abstract: An extendable tow handle for a luggage article is provided. The tow handle may include at least one tube structure each including first and second tubes, a rotational mechanism, and a hand grip coupled to one of the first and second tubes for gripping the tow handle by a user. The first tube may be slidably received within the second tube and selectively rotatable thereto. The rotational mechanism may be operable to rotate the first tube relative to the second tube. Rotation of the first tube relative to the second tube may cause at least a portion of the first tube to couple with a portion of the second tube to selectively frictionally lock axial movement of the first tube relative to the second tube.

Abstract: A luggage article, such as luggage case, with zipper pull-tabs laterally engaged along inner sides and separably secured by a magnetic force, without interlocking with each other, to allow enhanced manipulation of the zipper pull-tabs, zipper sliders and optionally improved operation of the lock mechanism.

Abstract: The luggage article described herein provides improved stability by creating an increased footprint at the bottom to improve stability. The footprint is increase by position the supports for the luggage article outside the perimeter of the body. The supports may be a plurality of wheel spinner assemblies. The wheel spinner assemblies may have an upright axis of rotation that is positioned outside of the perimeter of the body thereby improving stability.

Abstract: A luggage case (100, 600, 700, 800, 900) may include opposing sidewalls forming minor faces (105, 106), opposing sidewalls forming major faces (101, 102), and opposing end walls (103, 104) together forming an article defining an enclosed space (109). A line of separation (150) may be formed in said minor faces (105, 160) and end walls (103, 104). A first portion of the line of separation (150) may extend along a first portion of opposing minor faces (105, 106) at a location proximate one of said opposing major faces (101, 102) and corresponding one of said opposing end walls (103, 104) positioned therebetween. A second portion of the line of separation (150) may extend along a second portion of said opposing minor faces (105, 106) in a direction away from said one of said opposing major faces (101, 102) and towards other of said opposing major faces (101, 102).

Abstract: A hydration reservoir is provided. The hydration reservoir may include at least two panels of resilient material joined together at edges to define a bladder and a bladder volume for storing a liquid. The at least two panels may be deformable as the bladder is emptied of liquid. One of the at least two panels may be molded into a three-dimensional shape.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively securing at least a first zipper closure mechanism and a second zipper closure mechanism of a luggage case, may include a lock device coupled to the luggage case. The lock device includes a lock mechanism operable between a locked and unlocked configuration, at least two securing recesses for releasable receipt of at least a portion of each of the respective first and second zipper closure mechanisms and at least one release member for actuating the lock mechanism.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A luggage article (2) having surface features providing enhanced corner strength is provided. The luggage article may include a shell (4) at least partially formed by an outer layer (6), and including first and second shell portions (28) selectively secured together at a split line (26), the first shell portion defining a first corner region (24). The luggage article may include at least one first surface feature formed by the outer layer, the at least one first surface feature having a depth. The depth of the at least one first surface feature may be greater nearer the first corner region. The depth of the at least one first surface feature may decrease with distance away from the first corner region.

Abstract: A luggage carry handle assembly for a luggage case is provided. The handle assembly may include a recessed region positioned on the top side of the luggage case, and a carry handle movably mounted to the recessed region on top of the case. The carry handle moves pivotally relative to the recessed region and the luggage case.

Abstract: A luggage shell or case made from a sheet formed by compacting and heating a mat made of either a mixture of randomly oriented first discontinuous non-woven plastic fibers (42) having a first melting temperature and randomly oriented second discontinuous reinforcing non-woven plastic fiber (46) having a second melting temperature higher than the first melting temperature, or a bicomponent fiber having a first plastic portion having a first melting temperature and a second plastic portion having a second melting temperature. The non-woven mat is heated at a temperature between the first melting temperature and the second melting temperature, as well as by forming the compacted non-woven sheet (64) into the luggage shell.