Patents by Inventor Reinhard Meersschaert

Reinhard Meersschaert has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240115018
    Abstract: A luggage case including an injection molded luggage shell including a zipper assembly attached to the luggage case during the injection molding of each shell. The injection molded shell having a rim portion and having opposing inside and outside surfaces. An elongated zip member including a tape member having opposing first and second surfaces, and opposing inner and outer edges defining a width, with teeth positioned along the inner edge, and defining a length. One opposing surface of at least part of a first portion of the first tape member is in-mould-bonded to at least one opposing surface of the rim portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventor: Reinhard Meersschaert
  • Publication number: 20240115023
    Abstract: A luggage case including a zipper loop mounted thereon, the luggage case including a first zip member having an elongated first tape member with first zipper teeth extending along an edge, the first zip member having first and second opposing ends, the first zip member attached along a first rim portion of a first shell; a second zip member having an elongated second tape member with second zipper teeth extending along an edge, the second zip member having third and fourth opposing ends, the second zip member attached along a second rim portion of a second shell, and wherein the first zip member and the second zip member include substantially the same number of zipper teeth; the first zip member and the second zip member are attached together by engaging the first and second zipper teeth, with the first opposing end laterally adjacent the third opposing end, and the second opposing end laterally adjacent the fourth opposing end; the first opposing end attached to the second opposing end by a first joining mem
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventor: Reinhard Meersschaert
  • Publication number: 20230337796
    Abstract: A luggage article split along front and rear major faces is provided. The luggage article may include a housing defined by first and second shell portions pivotably connected together at a split line. The housing may define a front major face, a rear major face, and a plurality of minor faces extending between the front and rear major faces. The front and rear major faces may have a width dimension greater than each of the plurality of minor faces. The split line may extend along the front and rear major faces of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Wim De Vos, Erik Sijmons, Jurgen Oskamp, Ward Vancoppenolle, Lukas Van Campenhout, Reinhard Meersschaert, Ward Adriaenssens
  • Patent number: 11786021
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Samsonite IP Holdings S.a r.l.
    Inventors: Reinhard Meersschaert, Dirk Santy
  • Publication number: 20230276914
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Reinhard Meersschaert, Dirk Santy
  • Patent number: 11712094
    Abstract: A luggage article split along front and rear major faces is provided. The luggage article may include a housing defined by first and second shell portions pivotably connected together at a split line. The housing may define a front major face, a rear major face, and a plurality of minor faces extending between the front and rear major faces. The front and rear major faces may have a width dimension greater than each of the plurality of minor faces. The split line may extend along the front and rear major faces of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Samsonite IP Holdings S.a r.l.
    Inventors: Wim De Vos, Erik Sijmons, Jurgen Oskamp, Ward Vancoppenholle, Lukas Van Campenhout, Reinhard Meersschaert, Ward Adriaenssens
  • Publication number: 20230062734
    Abstract: A luggage case includes a shell and a continuous closure structure, the continuous closure structure including a protective cover and separately or additionally an expansion zipper. The continuous closure assembly of the continuous closure structure includes a first strip portion and a second strip portion connected along a common outer edge. The second strip portion overlays a portion of the first strip portion. The expansion zipper assembly of the continuous closure structure includes a central webbing portion having zipper teeth on opposing sides, and a gusset member secured between the shell and the central webbing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventor: Reinhard Meersschaert
  • Publication number: 20220151360
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a luggage article including a rear panel; a grip handle including a pair of spaced-apart tubes mounted on the rear panel; a recess defined between the tubes; and a removable pocket removably mountable in the recess between the tubes, wherein the removable pocket and the recess include corresponding inter-engaging engagement features to at least partially retain the pocket within the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Reinhard Meersschaert, Serge Raoul F. Vanheck
  • Publication number: 20210120925
    Abstract: A luggage article split along front and rear major faces is provided. The luggage article may include a housing defined by first and second shell portions pivotably connected together at a split line. The housing may define a front major face, a rear major face, and a plurality of minor faces extending between the front and rear major faces. The front and rear major faces may have a width dimension greater than each of the plurality of minor faces. The split line may extend along the front and rear major faces of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Wim De Vos, Erik Sijmons, Jurgen Oskamp, Ward Vancoppenholle, Lukas Van Campenhout, Reinhard Meersschaert, Ward Adriaenssens
  • Publication number: 20210015229
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Reinhard Meersschaert, Kenzo Yoneno
  • Patent number: 10791809
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Samsonite IP Holdings S.a r.l.
    Inventors: Reinhard Meersschaert, Kenzo Yoneno
  • Patent number: 10743632
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Samsonite IP Holdings S.a r.l.
    Inventor: Reinhard Meersschaert
  • Patent number: 10301850
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Samsonite IP Holdings S.a r.l.
    Inventors: Reinhard Meersschaert, Diego Recchia
  • Patent number: 10292473
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Samsonite IP Holdings S.a r.l.
    Inventor: Reinhard Meersschaert
  • Patent number: 10201217
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Samsonite IP Holdings S.a.r.l.
    Inventor: Reinhard Meersschaert
  • Patent number: 10194727
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Samsonite IP Holdings S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Reinhard Meersschaert, Dirk Santy
  • Publication number: 20180360180
    Abstract: A frame structure for a softside luggage case is provided. The frame structure may include a bottom pan structure, at least two spinner wheel assemblies coupled with the bottom pan structure, and a rear frame coupled to and extending from a rear portion of the bottom pan structure. The rear frame may extend along at least a portion of a perimeter of a rear panel of the luggage case. The rear frame may include a pair of spaced apart elongate elements connected to and extending from the bottom pan structure. The rear frame may include a cross frame member coupling distal ends of the elongate elements together. The frame structure may not include a front frame structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Reinhard Meersschaert
  • Publication number: 20180263345
    Abstract: A luggage case (10, 200, 500) including a housing (12) defining a primary internal compartment (15), and having a bottom portion (70, 80) including wheels (80) and a top wall (20, 212) positioned opposite the bottom portion. The top wall includes a recessed compartment (100, 218) having an internal volume (105) that may be separated from the primary internal storage compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: Reinhard Meersschaert
  • Publication number: 20180125192
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventor: Reinhard Meersschaert
  • Publication number: 20180084883
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventor: Reinhard Meersschaert