Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02261357 1999-02-09
ROLLING GARMENT BAG WITH REINFORCED FRAME
This invention relates to travel bags. More particularly, it relates to rigid
frame, soft-
sided garment bags equipped with rollers and handles for transport. Such bags
usually
include hangers for holding suits or dresses and auxiliary pockets for holding
soft clothing
items.
CA 02261357 1999-02-09
2
Suits, dresses, gowns and the like are usually stored on hangers because such
garments are subject to wrinkling when folded to fit within a conventional
suitcase. A full-
length flexible garment bag is the most efftcient carrier for preventing
wrinkling, but is not
equipped with compartments for organizing anything other than hanging
clothing. Even for
trips of short duration, a traveler usually carries a small overnight bag for
small clothing items
in addition to the full-length garment bag. Although some foldable travel bags
are now
equipped with compartments for undergarments, socks, sweaters and other soft
clothing
items, they tend to be bulky and unwieldy and are difficult to stow beneath
the seat or in the
overhead compartment of an aircraft.
Attempts to modify suitcases to include hooks and hangers for such garments
represent a compromise which has not been entirely successful. Hangers are
generally
provided on at least one interior wall of a hard-sided relatively large
suitcase so that suits,
dresses and the like can be stored on a hanger and folded once. Such hangers
do not provide
wrinkle-free transportation of fine articles of clothing and are not suitable
for carry-on. The
pressure exerted by other articles in such suitcases, especially if the
suitcase is relatively full,
still results in wrinkling of the hanging clothing.
Other suitcases include a rigid panel for supporting the portion of hanging
clothing
which lies within the interior well of one side of the suitcase. Clothing
portions which hang
below the lower edge of the panel are folded over the edge of the panel. While
the proper
2 0 arrangement using such suitcases can lead to top and bottom portions of
the hanging clothes
which are unwrinkled, experience shows that such an arrangement tends to put a
crease in
the clothing along the panel edge.
CA 02261357 1999-02-09
r
3
A conventional folding panel arrangement is shown in United States Patent No.
5,458,239 to Plath in which a folding panel is accompanied by larger diameter
padded bars
at the fold line along a folding panel. This structure requires two folds in a
suit and puts the
entire folded assembly into the lid of the case. The folds in this structure
are severe,
however, despite the large radius padded bars. Wrinkles form where the
suitcoat wraps
around the bars and tend to get Aironed@ in. Thus, the problem of transporting
suits or
dresses in wrinkle-free condition in a rigid fame stowable case which
functions as a soft-sided
garment bag remain to be solved. The problem is compounded if several garments
are placed
in such a bag, one over the other. Also, the bulky, heavy frame structure of
conventional
1o soft-sided garment bags adds substantially to the weight of the bag while
also reducing its
internal storage volume.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention a rigid frame garment bag and travel case
combination (travel bag) is provided which serves as a soft-sided garment bag
to prevent
wrinkling of suits, dresses, gowns and other fine garments. The lightweight,
rigid frame
structure of the invention is especially suitable for handling several
business suits or other
garments without significant wrinkling while still retaining the lightweight,
durable
characteristics of comrentional travel bags. The overall strength of the rigid
frame structure
accommodates a significant number of other garments in auxiliary pockets but
is small
2 0 enough to fit into an overhead compartment as required by airline rules.
In the preferred embodiment, increased frame strength and reduced weight
construction are provided by a multi-cellular, rigid plastic frame member
secured end-to-end
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4
in a rectangular configuration. The rigid plastic fi~ame member includes flat
side panels which
are spaced apart and joined by multiple transverse web linking portions
forming multiple cell
passages extending longitudinally along the length of the rigid frame.
Opposite end portions
of the rigid frame are joined together by metal pins, nails or the like
inserted into aligned cell
passages. The fiictional fit engagement of the metal pin or nail linking
members against the
cell walls provides a strong union which withstands the impacts and rough
handling normally
encountered during travel.
The multi-cellular, rigid plastic frame arrangement may be assembled manually
without requiring special tools and forms a smooth, narrow line butt union
easily sealed by
thin plastic tape and is not visible when covered by conventional external
padding and fabric
materials.
The lightweight, reinforced frame structure supports opposed openable main
compartments foldingly and flexibly hinged along one common side. There is an
upper
compartment and a lower compartment viewed as the bag is opened and laid out.
The
compartments are defined by a closed face, an open face into which garments
are placed and
three generally rectangular sides in addition to the common side. The three
rectangular sides
of the compartments have edges which come together along a common parting line
closable
with a sliding fastener when the compartments are pivoted toward each other
about the
foldingly hinged common side to close and form the case.
2 0 The overall dimensions of the case are typically about seventeen inches by
about
twenty-four inches by about seven inches. Those dimensions make the case small
enough to
fit in the overhead compartment of an airliner. The fabric used in the
construction is
CA 02261357 1999-02-09
preferably ballistic nylon as conventionally employed in the construction of
soft-sided
luggage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TI-~ DRAWING
The accompanying drawing is incorporated into and forms part of the
specification
5 to illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present invention and,
together with the
description, serves to explain the principles of the invention. The drawing is
only for
illustrating an exemplary embodiment showing how the invention can best be
made and used
and should not be construed as limiting the invention to the illustrated and
described
embodiments. Various advantages and features of the invention will be come
more readily
understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with
the appended
claims and attached drawing in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a travel bag incorporating the principles of
the
invention;
Fig. 2 is a view from the opposite side of the bag of Fig. 1 showing an
additional
compartment mounted on the closed face of the lower main compartment and an
access area
containing a telescoping handle mechanism which enables the case to be rolled;
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the case of Fig. 1 in its full open and laid out
position over a
flat surface wherein a flexible panel having an edge connected along the right
side of both
upper and lower main compartments and another panel having an edge connected
along the
2 0 right side of both upper and lower main compartments and another panel
having an edge
connected along the lower side of the lower compartment are laid open
respectively to the
right of and below the main compartments;
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6
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing a
portion of the
U-shaped frame where it is fastened to a brace laying across the closed face
of the upper
compartment;
Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a suit hung and secured in the main
compartment with a holding strap fastened over the common side and the smaller
of the
folding panels folded inwardly over the lower main compartment and the lower
portion of
the suit contained therein;
Fig. 6 shows the next step in closing the travel bag after the steps shown in
Fig. 5 in
which the larger panel attached along the right side of both compartments is
folded over and
secured and showing that the folding panel has accessible pockets on both
surfaces;
Fig. 7 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, of the travel bag
shown in Fig.
1;
Fig. 8 is a sectional view, taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7; showing the
reinforced
frame of the present invention; and,
~5 Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of a metal pin/nail linking member that
is insertable
into the cellular passages of the frame.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIIUVIENT
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference
to various examples of how the invention can be made and used. Like reference
numerals
2 0 are used throughout the description and several views of the drawing to
indicate like or
corresponding parts. Throughout the description, the travel bag or case is
referred to
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7
generally by the reference numeral 10. Fig. 1 shows what may be regarded as
the front of
case 10 while Fig. 2 may be regarded as a view of the back.
When viewed from above with the bag open and lying flat, an upper side and
right
angularly continuing opposed left and right sides form the upper compartment.
A lower side,
right angularly continuing into opposed left and right sides form the lower
compartment.
Each of the compartments are attached to the reinforced frame by a rigid U-
shaped frame
which extends across the upper side of the upper compartment and another rigid
U-shaped
fi~ame which extends across the lower side of the lower compartment. The U-
shaped fi-ames
have legs which extend toward but short of the common wall along the left and
right sides
of the respective compartments. At least one brace lies across the closed face
of the upper
compartment and connects the ends of the legs of the rigid frame. Similarly,
at least one
brace lies across the closed face of the lower compartment and connects the
ends of the legs
which extend along and define the left and right sides of the lower
compartment. Layers of
fabric which make up the bag cover the reinforced frame member and the U-
shaped frames.
The rigid rectangular frame forms part of the common wall between the upper
and
lower compartments and acts as the backbone of the common wall extending
substantially
between the left and right sides of the main compartments. The rectangular
frame is covered
with sturdy fabric from which the faces of the compartments are formed. The
common wall
has an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion when considered in the flat
laid open
2 0 orientation of the case wherein the upper edge portion serves as a loose
hinged connection
to the upper compartment and the lower edge portion serves as a loose hinged
connection
CA 02261357 1999-02-09
8
to the lower compartment. The upper and lower edge portions extend away from
and are
separated by the height of the planar frame. The common wall has an interior
surface facing
up when the case is open and the closed faces of the main compartment are on a
surface. A
securable strap extends between the left and right sides along the interior
surface of the
common wall over the planar frame in order to hold a suit or several suits
against the
common wall, thereby establishing a soft fold protected by the common wall
when the case
is closed.
A large foldable panel has an edge foldably connected along one of the side
edges of
both the upper and lower compartments. As the panel has an outer periphery
slightly less
than the combined periphery of the upper and lower compartments, it can be
pivoted similar
to the page of a book over the open faces of both compartments and removably
fastened
therein to serve as a flexible wall over garments previously placed in the
compartments. The
upper side has a centrally located hanger fastening device to hold hangers
whereby one or
more suits can be laid out flat across the upper and lower compartments and
the common
wall and covered with the folding panel to create a soft fold in the vicinity
of the common
side when the case is closed and secured, thereby preventing hard wrinkles
from forming.
In addition to the strap which lies over the interior surface of the common
wall to hold such
suit or suits in place, other straps may be placed across the suits to hold
them against the
closed faces of the upper and lower compartments.
2 0 Another folding panel having an edge connected along the lower side and an
area
substantially equal to the open area of the lower compartment can be folded
over the open
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9
face of the lower compartment and secured to form a removable wall over the
lower
compartment before the larger panel is folded over the face of both
compartments. Both of
these flexible panels include accessory pockets for soft garments such as
shirts, underwear,
socks and the like.
The lower compartment preferably includes an additional compartment mounted on
the outside closed face of the lower compartment. The additional compartment
is
substantially coextensive with the lower compartment. The additional
compartment is
substantially coextensive with the lower compartment, has a perimeter wall
defined by a rigid
frame and includes exposed wheels attached to the reinforced frame and an
extendable handle
for rolling the closed case along a surface without lifting the full weight of
the bag. The
additional compartment attached to the lower main compartment is traversed
internally by
an extendable handle mechanism connected to an extendable handle opposite the
wheels and
having an openable access opening for storage of soft garments within the
additional
compartment.
The closed face of the upper compartment preferably includes a second
additional
compartment mounted on the outside of the closed face of the upper
compartment. The
second additional compartment is substantially coextensive with the upper
compartment,
having a flexible outer wall surface accessible from the outside of the closed
case and one or
more pockets having closures for storage of soft garments. Because the closed
faces of the
2 0 upper and lower compartments and the additional and second additional
compartments are
made of flexible material, they will expand outwardly when filled with soft
garments without
applying pressure on folded suit or suits contained within the main
compartments of the
CA 02261357 1999-02-09
structure. The peripheral walls of the closed bag are formed by the reinforced
rectangular
frame, the contents are protected from crushing.
Even with two suits in the bag, there is still sufficient room in the main
compartments
for additional soft garments such as shirts and underwear. The bag of the
invention can be
5 hung from a handle or hook for convenient loading and removal of hanging
shirts or dresses
without stooping. Small, soft garments can be stowed in the separate pockets.
The hungered
garments are placed with the aid of gravity so they hang naturally. Once the
large folding
panel is closed over the hungered garments, they are held in the correct
position which is
established while the case is hanging. The larger folding panel and the
smaller folding panel
10 hold the suits or dresses in place when the case is closed. Upon reaching
the destination, the
traveler can open the bag and hang it by a handle in the same manner as a soft-
sided garment
bag, if desired, without unloading the soft garments because they are retained
in the separate
auxiliary pockets.
As illustrated in Fig. 3, the case 10 is opened and laid flat on a surface.
Most of the
description will be given with reference to this orientation of the fixlly
opened case 10. The
case 10 has opposed operable main compartments including an upper compartment
12 and
a lower compartment 14 foldingly hinged along the common side 16. The main
compartments 12, 14 are defined by faces in the plane of the drawing sheet and
sides which,
except for the common side, are perpendicular to the plane of the drawing
sheet. The upper
2 0 compartment 12 has a closed face 18 and lower compartment 14 has a closed
face 20. The
closed faces are, of course, attached to the sides and form a floor of the
main compartments
12, 14. Directly above and coextensive with the closed faces 18, 20 are
corresponding open
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11
faces 22 for the upper compartment 12, 24 for the lower compartment 14. These
open faces
come together when the hingedly connected compartments are pivoted to face
each other
when the case 10 is closed. Removable zippered pockets 25 are conveniently
located along
the upper corners of the compartment 12.
The compartments have three generally rectangular sides in addition to the
common
side 16 which come together along a common parting line 26 as shovm in Fig. 6.
The parting
line 26 includes both sides of a sliding fastener 28 located at the upper edge
of the sides
which surround the compartments and which is used to close case 10. The upper
compartment 12 (see Fig. 3) has an upper side 30 and a lower compartment has a
corresponding lower side 32 which is partly obscured by a small flap or panel
to be described
later. Upper side 30 continues smoothly into the left side 34 and a right side
36 which in Fig.
3 is partly obscured by a large flap or panel to be described later.
Similarly, the lower side
32 of lower compartment 14 transitions smoothly into a left side 38 and a
right side 40 which
is partially obscured by the large flap or panel mentioned above.
The sides 30, 34 and 36 and sides 32, 38 and 40 are each made of two layers of
material sandwiching a rigid rectangular frame 42 which is seen in Fig. 4 and
Fig. 7. The
frame 42 is constructed of a lightweight rigid plastic material which has some
flexibility to
withstand impact forces. The three rectangular shaped sides of the upper and
lower
compartments 12, 14 are enclosed within fabric coverings as indicated in Fig.
s 1 and 7. With
respect'to upper compartment 12, the frame 42 extends across the upper side
30, having legs
which extend along each of the left side 34 and right side 36 but end short of
the common
side 16. The legs of the rigid U-shape frame in upper compartment 12 extend to
CA 02261357 1999-02-09
._
12
approximately where a brace 44 is seen in Fig. 3. The brace 44 is a flat
rectangular shaped
piece with upturned right angled ends 46 which by means of a fastener 48
connect the ends
of the legs of rigid U-shaped frame 42 in upper compartment 12 and secures
them. The brace
44 is preferably covered with fabric.
The lower compartment 14 has sides supported by a rigid frame 42 in exactly
the
same manner as the upper compartment 12. In lower compartment 14, the rigid
frame 42
runs along lower side 32 with legs tuning at right angles to fonm the interior
of the left side
38 and right side 40, terminating where another brace 44 connects the ends of
the legs of the
U-shaped frame and secures them short of common wall 16.
When the case 10 is closed, the common side 16 forms part of the fourth side
of
upper compartment 12 and the fourth side of lower compartment 14. A planar
panel 50 is
sandwiched between fabric panels which make up common side 16 and extends
along
common side 16 from the left side to the right side of case 10. The planar
panel 50 includes
a main planar member 52 which is conveniently made with the same thickness as
the rigid
frame 42. The panel 50 preferably includes a thin flexible member 54 lying
under the main
planar member 52 (see Fig. 3) which is wider than member 52 and extends a
small distance
above and below the top and bottom edges of main panel member 52.
The common side 16 has an upper edge portion 56 and a lower edge portion 58
where the doubled fabric panels covering the planar frame 52 extend away from
the frame
2 o and are loosely and flexibly coupled to the fabric which forms the closed
faces of
compartments 12 and 14. The fabric may simply be continued across the common
side in a
double piece between which planar frame 50 is located. In the preferred
embodiment, the
CA 02261357 1999-02-09
13
thinner flexible member 54 may be extended left and right slightly beyond main
planar
member 42 and sewed along the edge 59 to hold it in place. Other conventional
means could
be employed to hold the planar frame 50 in place so that it acts as a backbone
of the common
side to which handles or straps may be anchored from outside the case by means
of bolts
through the planar members and the fabric.
The edge 59 represents the opposite ends of common side 16 generally in line
with
the left and right sides of the main compartment but is not connected to them
except through
the connection of the common wall along the upper and lower edge portions of
common side
16 which comprise the loosely hinged fabric connections. This allows the
common side to
lie relatively flat when the case is laid out fully opened on a surface.
In Fig. 1 the common side 16 is shown on the right side where handle 60 is
bolted in
place through the planar member at tabs 62 with fasteners 48. Tabs 64 near the
ends of
common wall 16 are also bolted through planar member 50. Tabs 64 anchor the
ends of
sliding fastener 28 which forms the parting line 26 seen in Fig. 6.
Common wall 15 is seen in Fig. 3 showing an interior surface over planar frame
52.
A securable strap 66 with connections at the left and right side lays along
the interior surface
of common wall 16 and serves to hold a suit against the common wall thereby
helping to
establish a soft fold line at common wall 16 when case 10 is closed. An
additional securable
strap 68 is seen lying across the interior side of closed face 20 of lower
compartment 14.
2 o Additional straps may be employed as desired. Fixed elastic straps could
be employed.
Normally a suit coat 67 when hung from fixture 70 near handle 72 along the
upper
side of compartment 12 will hang straight across both open compartments to
near lower side
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14
32. The structure is ideally suited to carry several suits 67 on top of each
other in this
manner because the height of the sides above closed faces 18, 20 will easily
accommodate
several suits with space remaining. When the case is closed there is a large
radius soft fold
line established along common side 16 which is protected by the width of the
planar member
52. In the preferred embodiment, the planar member 52 is about 3-1/4 inches
wide and the
thinner planar member 54 is about 4-3/4 inches wide, although these dimensions
are not
critical. The handle 72 may be a hook (not shown) or a separate hook may be
employed for
hanging the rigid frame bag in a vertical orientation for loading and
unloading.
A small flexible flap or panel 74 is flexibly attached along one edge near the
upper
io inside edge of lower side 32. This will be referred to as the smaller panel
74. The edge 76
is connected to lower side 32. A perimeter 78 having a cloth covered wire
frame therearound
establishes a rectangular area substantially equal to the open area of open
face 24 of the
lower main compartment. The wire frame simply holds the shape and makes the
panel easy
to open and close but it is not essential.
The panel preferably includes an accessory pocket 80 on the inner surface and
may
contain one or more securing straps 82 which may be used to secure a garment.
This flap
is of particular us in the case of long dresses which will extend below lower
side 32 but in
most cases will not extend below the lower edge 84 of smaller panel 74.
After placing suits or dresses on hangers and securing them in place with
straps 66,
68 and 82, panel 74 is folded over as shown in Fig. 5 and attached by means of
straps 86 to
hold it in place. Because edge 76 is attached near the upper edge of the lower
side 32 of the
compartment 14, there is another soft fold created there which is protected by
the height of
CA 02261357 1999-02-09
lower side 32 above closed face 20 even if the hanging garment extends out
onto the panel
74.
The case can be opened and hung vertically by the handle 72. The suits or
dresses
can be placed on hangers and hang within the open case. Referring to Fig. 5,
an additional
5 accessible pocket 88 is conveniently provided on the opposite side of panel
74 from pocket
80. In the preferred embodiment, the smaller panel 74 is a flexible fabric
panel loosely hinged
at lower side 32.
Referring again to Fig. 3, a larger foldable panel 90 having an edge 92
foldably
connected to the upper portion of the inside surfaces of the side edges 36, 40
of the upper
l0 and lower compartments. The rectangular perimeter edge 94 of panel 90 is
slightly less than
the combined periphery of the upper and lower compartments and includes a
sliding fastener
96 around three sides of perimeter 94. A cooperating corresponding portion of
zipper 96 is
found attached to the sides just inside zipper 28 in Fig. 6.
The inside surface of larger panel 90 includes a pair of accessible panels 98
and 100.
15 These are suitable for shirts or other sift garments. An additional pocket
102 for small items
is seen in the upper right hand corner of Fig. 5. Fig. 6 shows the appearance
of the opposite
side of larger panel 90 after it has been folded over coat 67 to close the
open faces 22, 24 of
both compartments and overlap smaller panel 74 where it is fastened in place
by means of
sliding fastener 96. Additional pockets 104 and 106 are formed on the
underside of larger
2 0 panel 90, which are shown in Fig. 6. In the preferred embodiment, the
larger panel 90 is a
flexible fabric panel loosely hinged along sides 36 and 40 but unconnected to
the common
side 16.
CA 02261357 2001-05-23
16
Fig. 2 shows an additional .compartment 108 mounted on the closed face 20 of
the lower compartment. The additional compartment 108 has rectilinear sides
110,112,
114, 116 perpendicular to face 20 which enclose a chamber 118. The sides 110,
112,
114, 116 form a perimeter wall defined by an internal frame similar to the
reinforced
frame 42. The reinforced frame 4:?. The reinforced frame 42 is hidden in Fig.
2 but
follows along and forms the shape of contiguous sides 110 - 116.
A pair of opposed wheel mounts 120 have exposed wheels 122 located near side
114. The wheel mounts are rigidly attached to the internal frame 119. A
chamber 1 18
of the compartment 108 is traversed internally by an extendable handle
mechanism 124
and an extendable handle 126 of a conventional nature. The handle 126 is
received in a
well formed within frame 119 and covered with a flap 128. Additional
compartment
108 has an openable access panel 130 which is closed with a zipper. Despite
the
presence of handle mechanism 124, a considerable amount of soft garments can
be
stored within the chamber 118 without disturbing or opening the main case.
Chamber
118 is ideal for storing soiled clothing.
Referring now to Fig. 2, the frame 119 is a rigid frame, separate from the
reinforced frame 42, which encloses the main compartment below. The additional
compartment 108 is connected to the remainder of the bag mainly through the
fabric
sidewalk which are stitched or bonded into the bag. Protective corner welts
142 resist
edge wear. The wheel structure is described in detail in United States Patent
5,794,744.
As shown in Fig. l, an additional handle 134 is placed near the handle 126 for
allowing
the use of two hands to lift the bag if desired.
~ EM 145600.D(>C;1 t
CA 02261357 1999-02-09
17
In Fig. 1 a second additional compartment 136 is shown mounted on the outside
of
the closed face 18 of the upper compartment. The additional compartment 136
has a
rectangular periphery 138 and an internal compartment 140 which is closed by
zippers 142.
The additional compartment 136 further includes separated pockets 144 and 146
which have
their own zippered openings. Finally, opposite wheels 122 and support feet 148
maintain the
case 10 in the.upright, standing position shown in Fig. 1.
As shown in Figs 7, 8 and 9 the reinforced frame 42 is constructed generally
in the
form of an open rectangle with opposite end portions 42A, 42B closed and
joined together
end-to-end in a butt union 149 by one or more fasteners such as pins or nails
150 embedded
within the opposite end portions of the rigid frame member 42. In this
embodiment the rigid
frame member includes first and second flat side panel portions 152, 154
spaced apart but
joined by multiple transverse web linking portions 156. The web linking
portions 156 are
laterally spaced with respect to each other, thereby forming multiple cell
passages 158 which
extend longitudinally along the length of the rigid frame member. The metal
pins or nails 150
each include opposite end portions 150A,, 150B which are inserted into aligned
cell passages
158 of the opposite frame end portions. The metal pin/nail members have a
diameter sized
for interference fit and frictional engagement against the web linking
portions 156 and the
panel portions 152, 154. Moreover, each metal pin/nail includes a pair of
radially projecting
ribs 150C, 150D which also frictionally engage the web linking portions and
flat side panel
2 0 members.
The multi-cellular rigid frame member 42 is preferably formed by extrusion or
molding of lightweight plastic material. This provides increased strength and
reduced weight
CA 02261357 1999-02-09
18
without compromising the internal storage volume of the travel case assembly.
The frame
42 has a thickness dimension of about 1/4 inch. The flat side panels and
linking web
members have a thickness of about 1/64 inch with lateral spacing between web
linking
portions being approximately 3/16 inch. The frame end portions 42A, 42B are
assembled
together in a butt union 149 by inserting the end portions 1 SOA of two or
more pins/nails 150
into selected cell passages 158. The nails are fully inserted until the ribs
150C, 150D form
a strong interlocking union with the web and panel sidewalls. The end portions
150B of the
pins/nails are then inserted into corresponding aligned cell passages 158 of
the opposite frame
end portion 42B. After the end portions are fully pressed together, with the
pins/nails 150
l0 being fully embedded within the frame end portions, the butt union 149 is
waterproofed and
sealed by a strip of thin plastic tape.
The mufti-cellular frame is preferably formed by extrusion of polyvinyl
chloride
(PVC) or ABS plastic. ABS is generally preferred because it is about 30%
lighter than PVC
in construction of equivalent strength and rigidity. Any other material which
may be formed
into the lightweight cellular structure and provide equivalent or better
strength and rigidity
at the same volume and weight may also be used.
In the embodiments discussed above, the mufti-cellular frame material is
particularly
suited for forming soft-sided travel bags utilizing a rectangular frame
structure covered by
a soft, flexible containment wall because the ends of the mufti-cellular
member may be joined
2 0 by pins inserted into the cellular passages. However, the invention is not
limited to this
particular bag structure. The mufti-cellular material may be used to form
frames for travel
CA 02261357 1999-02-09
19
bags in which the ends of the frame are not joined to form a rectangular
frame. The material
may be shaped to form a side panel frame or support, or may be used as a free
panel
stn~cture. The mufti-cellular material may thus be used in hard-sided luggage
as well as soR-
sided luggage.
While the invention has been described with particular reference to specific
embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the
same principles
may be used in similar arrangements. Therefore, it is to be understood that
although the
invention has been described within particular reference to specific
embodiments, the forms
of the invention shown and described in detail are to be taken as preferred
embodiments only
to and that various changes and modifications may be resorted to without
departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
