Abstract: A luggage case shell may be formed in a molding step. The luggage case shell may including an outer layer formed from a softer material, and a skeletal frame formed from a harder material. The skeletal frame may support the outer layer. A base frame may be joined to the outer layer and the skeletal frame. The base frame may support a telescoping handle and wheels. A foam layer may be positioned between the skeletal frame and the outer layer. Inner surfaces of the skeletal frame and the foam layer may be substantially co-planar. The outer layer and the skeletal frame may be joined in a pressing or molding operation. During the pressing or molding operation, the shell may also be shaped. The base frame or the foam layer may also be joined to the outer layer and the skeletal in the pressing or molding operation.

Abstract: A luggage article having offset support members is provided. The luggage article may include a luggage case including first and second shells pivotably connected together at a split line by a hinge member. The luggage article may include a plurality of support members connected to the luggage case, each of the first and second shells including at least one of the plurality of support members. Each of the support members may be offset relative to a corresponding support member positioned on an opposite shell portion. The support members may be offset laterally in a direction parallel to the split line and/or the hinge member.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A luggage case may include a connector assembly including a first connector and a second connector that releasably connect together. The first connector may be attached to a first flexible retaining member at a position spaced from the attachment of the first flexible retaining member to a respective wall. The second connector may be attached to one of the walls in opposing relationship to the first connector. The first and/or second connectors and/or walls may be adapted to selectively attach the first and/or second connectors to respective walls so that the first connector and/or the second connector are more easily accessible during and after packing one's belongings in the case (than more conventional buckle components, and offer an improvement and alternative to conventional luggage articles.

Abstract: Protective systems (1000) for a luggage piece (100) may include a deformable body (1002) and a cover (1004). The cover (1004) may be configured to overlie and to be coupled with the deformable body (1002). The cover (1004) may be more rigid than the deformable body (1002). The deformable body (1002) may include an interior shape (1034) at least partially complementary to a recess (1003) formed in an exterior surface (101) of the luggage piece (100). The deformable body (1002) may be joined to the luggage piece (100) when positioned at least partially in the recess (1003). External impacts exerted on the cover (1004) may be transmitted across the cover (1004) such that the forces associated with such external impacts may be exerted on the deformable body (1002) across a larger surface area than a surface area of the cover (1004) receiving the external impacts and may be at least partially absorbed by the deformable body (1002).

Abstract: A luggage case may include opposing front and back walls, opposing sidewalls, opposing end walls, and multiple wheels. The front, back, side, top and end walls together thereby define an outer structure and enclosed space of the case. The wheels may include a pair of axially spaced apart fixed axis wheels with a common fixed rotational axis substantially perpendicular to the front and back walls and located towards a bottom corner of the case and at least one spinner wheel assembly mounted to the case to rotate at least one wheel about at least two orthogonal axes and located on the bottom end of the case spaced a distance along the width (W) of the case from the common fixed rotational axis of fixed wheels. Such a case can be wheeled over and cope better with rough terrain than a more conventional luggage article, while still being relatively manoeuvrable.

Abstract: A stackable luggage article (100) is provided. The luggage article may include a luggage case (102) defined by opposing major faces (116), opposing top and bottom end walls (108, 110), and opposing left and right sidewalls (112, 114), the luggage case having a height (H) and a width (W); a plurality of wheel assemblies (160) attached to the bottom end wall; and a first strap (162) defined on a major face. The first strap may extend vertically along at least a portion of the distance between the opposing top and bottom end walls. At least a portion of the first strap may be spaced away from the major face.

Abstract: A wheel housing (340) for a luggage case may include first and second pieces (342, 344) pivotally joined together. At least one of the first and second pieces (342, 344) supports an axle (346) that supports a wheel (348). The first piece (342) includes a surface that conforms to a first surface portion of the luggage case (100, 300), and the second piece (344) includes a surface that conforms to a second surface portion of the luggage case (100, 300). The wheel housing (340) may advantageously be coupled to a luggage case (100, 300). The first piece of (342) the wheel housing (340) may be operatively coupled to a first support portion of the luggage case (100, 300), and the second piece (344) of the wheel housing (340) may be coupled to a second support portion of the luggage case (100, 300). The first and second support portions of the luggage case (100, 300) may be defined by a single sheet of material in some examples.

Abstract: 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.