Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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LIGHT-WEIGHTED LUGGAGE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to luggage and more particularly,
7 to a light weighted luggage that lowers the manufacturing cost.
(b) Description of the Prior Art:
Many soft and hard luggagcs are commercially available. A
soft luggage is made of waterproof fabric sheet material by
stitching, generally comprising a soft luggage body with a `oft
cover flap or zip fastener.. hard luggage generally comprises a
plastic body shell and a plastic cover shell respectively made of
a plastic material by injection molding and then hinged together.
Further, as shown in F[Ci. I, a frame structure 20 may be mounted
inside it soft luggage body 10 to give support. The frame structure
20 includes a hard bottom plate 201 attached to the inner surface
of the soft bottom wall of the soft luggage body 10, a hard back
panel 202 attached to the inner surface of the soft back wall of the
soft luggage body 10, four hard side plates 203 respectively
internally attached to the two opposite soft sidewalls of the soft
luggage body 10 at the top and bottom sides, and a substantially
r-l-shaped iron frame bar 204 extending around the top side and
two opposite lateral sides of the frame structure 20 and affixed
with the two distal ends thereof to the hard bottom plate 201, This
design of frame structure 20 give sufficient support to the soft
luggage body 10, however it is complicated and expensive to
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manufacture. Further, the arrangement of the hard bottom plate
201 , hardback panel 202, hard side plates 203 and t"1-shaped iron
frame bar 204 greatly increase the weight of the luggage, causing
inconvenience of use.
SUMMARY QF THE I fir'ENT I()V'
The present invention has been accomplished under the
circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to
provide a light-weighted luggage, which has the characteristics of
high structural strength and light weight, and is inexpensive to
manufacture.
To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a
light-weighted luggage comprises a flexible fabric outer bag
having a front panel, a back panel, a top panel, a bottom panel,
two opposing side panels, a first reinforced carrying handle
located on the top panel and a second reinforced carrying handle
located on one side panel, a hard plastic bottom frame plate
attached to the inner surface of the bottom panel of the outer bag,
a hard plastic back frame plate attached to the inner surface of the
back panel of the outer bag and connected to the bottom frame
plate and having a plurality of openings, wheel assemblies
provided at the bottom side of the bottom panel of the outer bag,
and a handle assembly joined to the back panel of the outer bag for
allowing the user to pull the light-weighted luggage on the floor.
Further, the back frane plate has a top side thereof curving
forwards and terminating into a top rim that is attached to a part
of the inner surface of the top panel of the outer bag.
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Further, the first reinforced carrying handle comprises a
narrow, elongated handle strip having two distal ends
respectively affixed to the top panel of the outer bag, and two
reinforcing members respectively wrapped about two opposite
long sides of the handle strip. Each reinforcing member of the
first reinforced carrying handle comprises a flexible plastic tube
and a metal mire rod surrounded by said flexible plastic tube.
Further, the second reinforced carrying handle comprises a
narrow. elongated handle strip having two distal ends
respectively affixed to the top panel of the outer bag, and two
reinforcing members respectively wrapped about two opposite
long sides of the handle strip. Each reinforcing member of the
second reinforced carrying handle comprises a flexible plastic
tube and a metal wire rod surrounded by said flexible plastic tube.
Further, as an alternate form of the present invention, the first
carrying handle comprises two fabric straps stitched to the top
panel of the outer bag, and a grip connected between the two
fabric straps. Each fabric strap of the first carrying handle can be
made having two distal ends thereof respectively stitched to the
top panel of the outer bag and a free middle part thereof connected
to one of the two distal ends of the grip.. Alternatively-=. each fabric
strap of the first carrying handle can be made having one end
thereof stitched to the top panel of the outer bag and an opposite
end thereof connected to one of the two distal ends of the grip.
Further, as an alternate form of the present invention, the
second carrying handle can be made comprising two fabric straps
stitched to the top panel of the outer bag and a grip connected
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between the two fabric straps. Each fabric strap of the second
carrying handle can be made having two distal ends thereof
respectively stitched to the associating side panel of the outer bag
and a free middle part thereof connected to one of the two distal
ends of the grip. Alternatively, each fabric strap of the second
carrying handle can be made having one end thereof stitched to the
associating side panel of the outer bag. and an opposite end thereof
connected to one of the two distal ends of the grip.
Further, the handle assembly comprises a bottom locating
1(f frame affixed to the bottom frame plate, a top constraint frame
affixed to the top rim of the back frame plate, a retractable
handlebar having its one end, namely, the fixed end affixed to the
bottom locating frame and its other end, namely, the free end
extending through the top constraint frame to the outside of the
outer bag, and a grip fastened to the free end of the retractable
handlebar.
Subject to the above statement, the bottom frame plate and the
back frame plate respectively support the bottom panel and back
panel of the outer bag in shape. Therefore, either the
light-weighted luggage is put in horizontal and set in vertical, it
give Sufficient support to protect the storage items in the outer
bag. Further, the first reinforced carrying handle at the top panel
of the outer bag and the second reinforced carrying handle at one
side panel of the outer bag reinforce the structural strength of the
light-weighted luggage, and enable the user to carry the
light-weighted luggage conveniently by hand. In conclusion, the
invention provides it light-weighted luggage, which has the
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characteristics of simple structural design, high structural
strength. light weight and low manufacturing cost.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. I is a perspective view, illustrating the internal frame
structure of a conventional soft-shell luggage.
FIG. 2 is an elevational assembly view of a light-weighted
luggage in accordance with a first embodiment of the present
invention.
FIC 3 is an exploded view of the first embodiment of the
present invention, illustrating the internal structure of the
light-weighted luggage.
FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a reinforced carrying handle
for light-weighted luggage in accordance with the first
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a sectional elevation, in an enlarged scale. of a part
of the reinforced carrying handle shown in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is an clevational assembly view of a light-weighted
luggage in accordance with a second embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 7 is an elevational assembly view of a light-weighted
luggage in accordance with a third embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3. a light-weighted luggage in
accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is
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shown comprising an outer bag 1, a bottom frame plate 2, a back
frame plate 3, at least one wheel assembly 4 and a handle assembly.
The outer bag 1 is a soft bag made of a flexible sheet material
in a rectangular shape, or any other configuration substantially
similar to rectangular shape. The outer bag I comprises a front
panel I 1, a back panel 12, a top panel 13, a bottom panel 14, two
opposing side panels 15, a first rein forced carrying handle 10
located on the top panel 13 and a second reinforced carrying
handle 17 located on one side panel 15.
The bottom frame plate 2 is a hard plastic sheet member
having a substantially U-shaped configuration and attached to the
inner surface of the bottom panel 14 of the outer bag I in such a
manner that the two opposing curved sides of the bottom frame
plate 2 respectively extended to the bottom side of the front panel
1 1 of the outer bag I and the bottom side of the back panel 12 of
the outer bag 1.
The back frame plate 3 is a hard plastic sheet member attached
to the inner surface of the back panel 12 of the outer bag 1 and
connected to the bottom frame plate 2, having a plurality of
openings 31 that enables the back frame plate 3 to provide a
sufficient structural strength while allowing a reduction in weight.
According to this embodiment, the openings 3 1 are elongated
openings respectively located on the middle and two opposite
lateral sides of the back frame plate 3. The back frame plate 3 has
its top side curving forwards and terminating into a top rim 32 that
is attached to a part of the inner surface of the top panel 13 of the
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outer bag 1.
Each wheel assembly 4 comprises a wheel holder 41 and a
wheel 42 pivotally Mounted in the bottom side of the wheel holder
41. The wheel holder 41 can be a regular wheel holder or a
universal wheel holder. According to this embodiment, four wheel
assemblies 4 are mounted in the bottom side of the bottom panel
14 of the outer bag 1 and affixed to the bottom frame plate 2 to
facilitate movement of the light-weighted luggage on the floor.
The handle assembly 5 is joined to the back panel 12 of the
IQ outer bag I for allowing the user to pull the light-weighted
luggage on the floor. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 3, the handle
assembly 5 comprises a bottom locating frame 51 affixed to the
bottom frame plate 2, a top constraint frame 52 affixed to the top
rim 32 of the back frame plate 3, a retractable handlebar 53 having
its one end, namely, the fixed end affixed to the bottom locating
frame 51 and its other end, namely. the free end extending through
the top constraint frame 52 to the outside of the outer bag I, and
a grip 54 fastened to the free end of the retractable handlebar 53.
Referrin<: to FIG. 2, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the first reinforced
carrying handle 16 comprises a narrow. elongated handle strip 161
that has its two distal ends respectively affixed to the top panel 13
of the outer bag I for distributing the upward lifting force evenly
through the top panel 13, and two reinforcing members 162
respectively wrapped about two opposite long sides of the handle
strip 161 to reinforce the structural strength of the first reinforced
carrying handle 16. Each reinforcing member 162 comprises a
flexible plastic tube 1621 and a metal wO.re rod 16212 surrounded
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by the flexible plastic tube 1621. Thus, the first reinforced
carrying handle 10 provides a high tensile strength and reinforces
the structural strength of the top panel 1 3 of the outer bag I . The
second reinforced carrying handle 17 comprises a narrow,
elongated handle strip 171 that has its two distal ends
respectively affixed to one side panel 15 of the outer bag 1, and
two reinforcing members 172 respectively wrapped about two
opposite long sides of the handle strip 171 to reinforce the
structural strength of the second reinforced carrying handle 17.
Each reinforcing member 172 comprises a flexible plastic tube
172 1 and a metal wire rod 1 722 surrounded by the flexible plastic
tube 1.721. 'T'hus, the second reinforced carrying handle 17
provides a high tensile strength and reinforces the structural
strength of the associating side panel 1-5 of the outer bag I.
Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the first reinforced carrying
handle, 16 can be alternatively made comprising two fabric straps
163 stitched to the top panel 13 of the outer bag I and a grip 164
connected between the fabric straps 163. According to the
embodiment shown in FIG. 6. each fabric strap 163 of the first
reinforced carrying handle lb has its two distal ends respectively
stitched to the top panel 13 of the outer bag I adjacent to one side
panel 15, and the grip 104 of the first reinforced carrying handle
10 is connected between the middle part of each of the two fabric
straps 163 of the first reinforced carrying handle 16. According to
the embodiment shown in FIG. 7. each fabric strap 163 has its one
end stitched to the top panel 13 of the outer bag I adjacent to one
side panel 15 and its other end connected to one end of the grip
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164 of the second reinforced carrying handle 17. Further, the
second reinforced carrying handle 17 can be alternatively made
comprising two fabric straps 173 stitched to the top panel 13 of
the outer bag I and a grip 174 connected between the fabric straps
173. According to the embodiment shown in FIG, 6, each fabric
strap 173 of the second reinforced carrying handle 17 has its two
distal ends respectively stitched to the top panel 13 of the outer
bag 1 adjacent to one side panel 15, and the grip 174 of the second
reinforced carrying handle 17 is connected between the middle
part of each of the two fabric straps 173. According to the
embodiment shown in FIG. 7, each fabric strap 173 of the second
reinforced carrying handle 17 has its one end stitched to the top
panel 13 of the outer bag 1 adjacent to one side panel 15 and its
other end connected to one end of the grip 174.
According to the aforesaid arrangement of the present
invention, the bottom frame plate 2 and the back frame plate 3
respectively support the bottom panel 14 and back panel 12 of the
outer bag I in shape. Therefore, either the light-,,weighted luggage
is put in horizontal and set in vertical, it give sufficient support
to protect the storage items in the outer bag I . Further, the first
reinforced carrying handle 16 at the top panel 13 of the outer bag
I and the second reinforced carrying handle 17 at one side panel
15 of the outer bag 1 reinforce the structural strength of the
light-weighted luggage. and enable the user to carry the
light-weighted luggage conveniently by, hand. In conclusion, the
invention provides a light-weighted luggage. which has the
characteristics of simple structural design, high structural
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strength, light weight and low manufacturing cost.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications and enhancements may be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the
invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
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