Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
LUGGAGE ARTICLE ATTACHMENT MEMBER
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent
application
no. 17/546,167, filed 9 December 2021, entitled "Luggage Article Attachment
Member,"
which claims the benefit of priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S.
provisional
patent application no. 63/182,580, filed 30 April 2021, entitled "Luggage
Article
Attachment Member;" both of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein
in their
entirety for all purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Travelers frequently travel with many pieces of luggage. Moving with
more than
one luggage article can be cumbersome. For example when a traveler, especially
a lone
traveler, has more than one luggage article, the multiple pieces of luggage
can be difficult
to maneuver through an airport, train or bus station, or on a street. Many
current luggage
articles lack a feature by which a second luggage article can be selectively
attached to a
first luggage article to ease such travel burdens. Some current luggage
articles include
features such as belts or straps, which may be removable or retractable, by
which a second
luggage article may be selectively attached to a first luggage article. Such
solutions are
lacking in that they add un-necessary weight, complexity, and/or cost to the
luggage article.
Furthermore, removable attachment members are prone to being lost or
misplaced.
Features to enable the selective attachment of a second article to a luggage
article, other
than retractable attachment members, have not often been added to hard side
luggage
articles mainly due to the difficulty and expense of adding external features
to hard side
shell structures.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present disclosure provides a luggage case. The luggage case
includes a
main body including a lid shell and a base shell, wherein the lid shell and
the base shell are
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
hingedly coupled to one another and selectively closable by a closure
mechanism, a
primary recess formed on the luggage case, the primary recess defining a
bottom wall, a
secondary recess formed in the bottom wall of the primary recess, and an
attachment
member positioned in the secondary recess.
[0004] Optionally, in some embodiments, the primary recess may be defined by a
bezel,
the bezel positioned adjacent an intersection between a top panel and a main
panel of one
of the shells, a retractable tow handle operably coupled to the luggage case
extendable from
and retractable into the primary recess, and the secondary recess may be
formed in a bottom
wall of the bezel.
[0005] Optionally, in some embodiments, the attachment member may be below the
retractable tow handle when the retractable tow handle is in a retracted
position.
[0006] Optionally, in some embodiments, the secondary recess may include an
upper
region having an upper width, and a lower region having a lower width, the
lower width
being less than the upper width.
[0007] Optionally, in some embodiments, the attachment member may include a
base
portion extending from the secondary recess and an extension portion extending
from the
base portion in a direction at least partially towards the secondary recess.
[0008] Optionally, in some embodiments, a slot may be formed adjacent each
opposing
side of the base portion.
[0009] Optionally, in some embodiments, an auxiliary article may be received
in the
slots.
[0010] Optionally, in some embodiments, the extension portion may be
positioned flush
with or below the base wall of the primary recess.
[0011] Optionally, in some embodiments, the base portion may define a width
greater
than one third of the lower width.
[0012] Optionally, in some embodiments, the base portion may taper along its
length.
[0013] Optionally, in some embodiments, the attachment member may be
configured to
engage a portion of an auxiliary article and the secondary recess may be
configured to
receive the portion of the auxiliary member.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
[0014] Optionally, in some embodiments, the attachment member and secondary
recess
may be configured to position a portion of an auxiliary article below the
retractable tow
handle in a retracted position.
[0015] Optionally, in some embodiments, the attachment member and the
secondary
recess may be configured to position a portion of the auxiliary article at or
below the bottom
wall of the primary recess.
[0016] Optionally, in some embodiments, the attachment member and secondary
recess
may be configured to receive portions from more than one auxiliary article.
[0017] Optionally, in some embodiments, the attachment member and the
secondary
recess are integrally formed with the bezel.
[0018] The present disclosure provides for a luggage case including a main
body
including a lid shell and a base shell, wherein the lid shell and the base
shell are hingedly
coupled to one another and selectively closable by a closure mechanism, a
primary recess
formed on the luggage case, the primary recess including a secondary recess
formed in a
wall of the primary recess and an attachment member positioned over a portion
of the
secondary recess, and a retractable tow handle operably coupled to the luggage
case
extendable from and retractable into the primary recess.
[0019] Optionally, in some embodiments, the attachment member may be in
contact
with or below the retractable tow handle.
[0020] Optionally, in some embodiments, the attachment member may include a
base
portion extending from the secondary recess and an extension portion extending
from the
base portion in a direction at least partially towards the secondary recess,
wherein an outer
surface of the extension portion may be at or below a base wall of the primary
recess.
[0021] Optionally, in some embodiments, the primary recess and secondary
recess may
be integrally formed in a bezel, the bezel positioned adjacent an intersection
between a top
panel and a main panel of one of the shells.
[0022] Optionally, in some embodiments, slots may be formed adjacent each
opposing
side of the attachment member and between each opposing side and a wall of the
secondary
recess.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a luggage article with an attachment
member.
[0024] FIG. 2A is a partial front elevation view of the luggage article of
FIG. 1, and
shows an attachment member.
[0025] Fig. 2B is a front elevation view of another embodiment of the
attachment
member.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a partial right elevation view of the luggage article of FIG.
I.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a partial section view of the luggage article of FIG. 1 taken
along section
line 4-4 of FIG. 2.
[0028] FIG. 5 is a partial section view of the luggage article of FIG. 1 taken
along section
line 5-5 of FIG. 2.
[0029] FIG. 6 is a partial exploded isometric view of the luggage article of
FIG. I.
[0030] FIG. 7A is an isometric view of a luggage article with an example
attachment
member.
[0031] FIG. 7B shows a close up rear right perspective view of the example
attachment
member of FIG. 7A.
[0032] FIG. 7C shows a right cross sectional elevation view of the example
attachment
member.
[0033] FIG. 8 shows a close up rear right perspective view of an auxiliary
article retained
by the example attachment member.
[0034] FIG. 9 shows a close up rear elevation view of the attachment member
with a
retractable tow handle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0035] Referring to FIGS. 1-6, an attachment member 200 for a luggage article
100
according to an embodiment is disclosed. Another luggage article 101 may
engage the
attachment member 200 to be transported along with the luggage article 100. In
some
examples, the attachment member 200 may include a hook member portion 211 to
which
the other luggage article 101 or other object attaches.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
[0036] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a luggage article 100 in a closed
configuration,
which in some examples may be referred to as a luggage case. The luggage
article 100
illustrated in FIG. 1 is an upright hard side case. The luggage article 100
has a main body
102 with a plurality of panels defining an internal storage volume 130 to
carry a user's
belongings. The luggage article 100 includes a front panel 104 and an opposing
rear
panel 106, top panel 112 and bottom panel 114, and opposing left panel 108 and
right
panel 110. Corner regions 116 may be defined by the intersection of any two or
three
adjacent panels. The luggage article 100 can be moved between a closed
configuration in
which a lid 118 and a base 120 of the main body 102 are positioned adjacent
one another
to selectively open or close to provide access to the internal storage volume
130. In some
examples, the luggage article 100 may include one or more carry handles 128
and/or a
retractable tow handle 126 extendable from a bezel 500 of the rear panel 106
of the
luggage article 100. The bezel 500 may be a depression or recess 532 formed on
a rear
side of the main body of the luggage article 100, for example on the top panel
112 or rear
panel 106. The bezel 500 may be formed adjacent an intersection between the
top panel
112 and the rear panel 106. The bezel 500 may be defined in part by both the
top 112
and rear panels 106 of the suitcase.
[0037] The retractable tow handle 126 may extend outwardly from and retract
into the
bezel 500. The retractable tow handle 126 may include a grip portion 126a and
one or
more telescoping tubes 126b extending from the luggage case 100 and connected
to the
grip portion 126a. In one example, two telescoping tubes 126b are included. In
operation, the telescoping tubes 126b may retract to allow the grip portion
126a to be
received within the bezel 500. The telescoping tubes 126b may retract so that
the grip
portion 126a contacts a bottom wall 501 of the bezel 500 or so that the grip
portion 126a
is closely spaced from the bottom wall 501 of the bezel 500. The telescoping
tubes 126b
may also extend to their full length to allow a user to pull or tow the
luggage article 100.
[0038] The luggage article 100 may include one or more foot elements 148
such as
wheels, casters, spinner assemblies, posts, or the like to support or enable
the movement
of the luggage article 100 on a support surface such as a floor, street,
sidewalk, or the
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
ground. The luggage article 100 may be many types of luggage, including a soft
side
spinner case, a hybrid spinner case, a container, or the like.
[0039] Throughout this disclosure, reference may be made to a width or
transverse
direction 150, a length or vertical direction 152, and/or a depth direction
154. The width
or transverse direction 150 is generally a direction between the left panel
108 and the
right panel 110. The length or vertical direction 152 is generally a direction
between the
top panel 112 and the bottom panel 114. The depth direction 154 is generally a
direction
between the front panel 104 and rear panel 106. The width direction 150,
length
direction 152, and depth direction 154 may be mutually orthogonal in some
examples.
These directions are meant to be illustrative only and are in no way limiting.
[0040] The luggage article 100 has a recess 132 formed in the main body 102.
The
luggage article 100 includes an attachment member 200 coupled to the main body
102,
and in this example the attachment member 200 is received in the recess 132.
The
attachment member 200 may be positioned in the recess 132 and coupled to an
outer
surface of the main body 102 together with a lock mechanism 300. The
attachment
member 200 may have an overall hook-like shape. In many embodiments, the
recess is
formed in the lid or the base. In the example, shown in FIG. 1, the recess 132
is formed
in the lid 118 and the attachment member 200 is coupled to the lid 118 in the
recess 132.
In other examples, the attachment member 200 may be coupled to another portion
of the
main body 102, may be positioned in a recess or not positioned in a recess. As
shown in
FIG. 1, a second or other luggage article 101, for example a hand bag, engages
the
attachment member 200 to be suspended along a front panel 104 of the luggage
article
100. The second luggage article 101 may include a portion to engage the
attachment
member 200, such as handles 103. One or more of the handles 103 are seated in
and
selectively engaged with the attachment member 200 (also see the
representative dashed
handles 103 in Fig. 5).
[0041] The luggage article 100 can be configured in an open position with the
lid 118
and the base 120 positioned apart from one another. The lid 118 and the base
120 may be
pivotably attached together such as by a hinge 122 or similar mechanism, and
may be
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
releasably attached together by a closure mechanism 124 to releasably secure
the lid 118
and the base 120 together in the closed configuration. In some examples, the
closure
mechanism 124 is a zipper 125. The closure mechanism 124 may extend along one
or
more edges of the lid 118 and the base 120. The closure mechanism 124 may
include
complementary portions on each of the lid 118 and the base 120, where the
complementary portions are selectively couplable or decouplable relative to
one another.
When the complementary portions of the closure mechanism 124 are coupled, the
lid 118
and the base 120 form a closed internal storage volume 130. The closure
mechanism 124
may include an actuator such as one or more pull tabs that enable a user to
selectively
couple or decouple the complementary portions of the closure mechanism 124. In
the
example of a zipper, the closure mechanism 124 may have one or more pull tab
actuators
127 that are slidable along the length of the closure mechanism 124 to
selectively couple
or decouple the complementary portions of the closure mechanism 124.
[0042] The lock mechanism 300 may be operable to thwart, prevent, or
discourage the
unauthorized opening of the luggage article 100. For example, the lock
mechanism 300
may be a zipper lock, and may be operative to receive and secure the pull tab
actuators
127 (see FIG. 1) of the zipper 125 example of a closure mechanism 124 to
prevent the
actuators from being slid along the length of the closure mechanism 124 and
thus prevent
the opening of the closure mechanism 124. The lock mechanism 300 may,
additionally
include a key or combination lock 129 such that persons with the key or
combination can
remove the pull tab actuators from the lock mechanism 300 such as by pushing
an
actuator 318, which causes the lock mechanism 300 to release the pull tabs.
[0043] In one embodiment, the lock mechanism 300 is secured to the main body
102
with an anchor element 302. The anchor element 302 is disposed inside the
luggage
article 100 and the lock mechanism 300 is disposed on the outside of the
luggage article
100 with a portion of the main body 102 clamped between the anchor element 302
and
the lock mechanism 300. The anchor element 302, in this example, includes a
plate 312
with an upper face 310 and an opposing lower face 314. A wall 316 joins the
upper face
310 and the lower face 314. The anchor element 302 may be formed of any
suitable
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
material such as plastic, metal, a composite material (e.g., a fiber
reinforced composite),
wood, etc. The anchor element 302 may have one or more apertures 304a, b
formed
therein. The apertures 304a, b may be adapted to receive one or more fasteners
306. As
best shown in FIG. 4 ¨ FIG. 6, the anchor element 302 is disposed on an inner
surface of
the lid 118. In other embodiments, the anchor element 302 may be disposed on
an inner
surface of another portion of the main body 102, such as the base 120. As
shown in FIG.
5, the lock mechanism 300 may include one or more recesses 308 formed therein
that are
operative to receive one or more fasteners 306. The recesses 308 and the
fasteners 306
may be threaded to engage when the fastener 306 is rotated relative to the
recess 308.
Other types of fasteners 306 may be used, such as pins, nails, rivets, or the
like. The
recesses 308 may be blind recesses as shown, or they may be through holes that
extend
through the lock mechanism 300.
[0044] As best shown in FIG. 4 ¨ FIG. 6, in one embodiment, the attachment
member
200 is coupled to the main body 102 together with the lock mechanism 300 as an
assembly 322, positioned in this example on the outside of the main body 102.
The
anchor element 302 is disposed inside the luggage article 100. The attachment
member
200 is disposed on the outside of the luggage article 100. The lock mechanism
300 is
disposed on top of, or on the outside of, the attachment member 200. The
anchor element
302, a portion of the main body 102 (in the recess 132), the base plate 210 of
the
attachment member 200, and the lock mechanism 300 are secured together by the
fasteners 306. In one example, the fasteners engage with the anchor element
302 and the
lock mechanism 300 to clamp the base plate 210 of the attachment member 200
and the
portion of the main body 102 there between. An advantage of coupling the
attachment
member 200 to the luggage article 100 as an assembly with the lock mechanism
300 may
be cost savings realized by using the lock mechanism 300 and the anchor
element 302 to
serve an additional function of securing the attachment member 200 to the
luggage article
100. Additionally, joining the attachment member 200, and the lock mechanism
300
together in the assembly 322 may increase the strength and/or rigidity of the
combined
assembly 322. The lock mechanism 300 as received in the recess on the top of
the base is
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
better protected from damage, in part by the rim covering some of the
periphery of the
lock mechanism.
[0045] The recess 132 is formed in the main body 102 of the luggage article
100. The
recess 132 is defined by a depression of the main body 102 into the luggage
article 100.
The recess 132 has a depth, length, and a width suitable to receive at least a
portion of the
attachment member 200. The attachment member 200 is defined by a body 202
including a base plate 210, a shank 208, an intersecting portion 206, and a
tine 204. In
some embodiments, the shank 208 extends at an angle from the base plate 210.
In some
embodiments, the intersecting portion 206 extends at an angle from the shank
208. In
some embodiments, the tine 204 extends at an angle from the intersecting
portion. In
some embodiments, the shank 208, the intersecting portion 206, and the tine
204
transition smoothly between one another such as in one or more curves. In one
example,
the attachment member 200 may in part include a hook member 211. The main body
202
of the attachment member 200 may in part form the hook member 211. In one
example,
the hook member 211 may be formed by at least the shank 208, the intersecting
portion
206, and the tine 204. In one example, such as that of Fig. 4, the hook member
211 may
have a generally curved shape, such as a generally J-shaped curve. The
attachment
member 200 may thus include the hook member 211 and the base plate 210. In one
example, such as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, attachment member 200 curves away
from the
luggage article 100. For example, the hook portion 211 of the attachment
member 200
may curve away from the luggage article 100, such as for example the tine 204
of hook
member 211 may curve upwards and away from the top panel 112 of the luggage
article
100.
[0046] The base plate 210 includes an upper surface 244 having a rim 212
extending
around the upper surface 244 forming a recess. The rim 212 may vary in height
in a
portion thereof to form a scallop 224 to allow access to the actuator 318 when
the
luggage article 100 is assembled, such that a user can operate the actuator
318 to
disengage the lock mechanism 300. The rim 212 and the recess in the upper
surface 244
form a receptacle 246 suitable to receive the lock mechanism 300. The height
of the rim
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
212 may be higher near the front panel 104 than near the rear panel 106 (see,
e.g., FIG. 5)
to stiffen and/or strengthen the front of the base plate 210 and reduce
flexure of the
attachment member 200 and/or stabilize the lock mechanism 300 against lateral
forces.
Additionally, the lower rear portion of the rim 212 may allow for better
access to the pull
tabs of the closure mechanism 124. As discussed above, the lock mechanism 300,
the
attachment member 200, and the anchor element 302 may be sandwiched together
with a
portion of the main body 102 in the assembly 322. On the bottom of the body
202 are,
one or more apertures 216a that may extend through the body 202 to enable the
coupling
of the attachment element in the assembly 322. The apertures 216a may extend
through
the upper surface 244 such that the apertures 216a are in communication with
the
receptacle 246 at one end and the lower surface 222 at the other end. The
apertures 216a
may be operative to receive respective fasteners 306 to couple the attachment
member
200 to the luggage article 100. The apertures 216a and 216b may be clearance
apertures
with a dimension larger than a dimension of the fastener 306.
[0047] The body 202 may be formed of any suitable material such as plastic,
metal, a
composite material (e.g., a fiber reinforced composite), wood, etc. The body
202 may be
formed by any suitable method such as vacuum forming, injection molding,
subtractive
manufacturing (e.g., machining), additive manufacturing (e.g., 3D printing),
or the like.
The body 202 may be a single unitary piece. The body 202 may be two or more
pieces
joined to one another such as by a fastener, adhesive, brazing, welding, or
the like.
[0048] In some embodiments, the base plate 210 has a dimension 240 between the
upper surface 244 and the lower surface 222 of about 3-4 mm. In other
embodiments, the
dimension 240 may be about 1 mm or 2 mm. In other embodiments the dimension
240
may be about 5 mm, 6 mm, 7 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm, or more.
[0049] The shank 208 may extend from the base plate 210. The shank 208 may
extend
generally down into the recess 132 in the top panel 112 of the main body 102.
The shank
208 may also extend in the recess 132 from the base plate 210 toward the front
panel 104.
In one embodiment, the shank 208 extends into the recess 132 at an angle from
a plane
defined by the top panel 112 (see, e.g., FIG. 5). In some embodiments, a
securement
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
recess 214 may be formed in the body 202 such as near an interface of the
shank 208 and
the intersecting portion 206. The securement recess 214 may be operative to
receive a
fastener to better secure the attachment member 200 to the luggage article
100. In many
embodiments, the securement recess 214 is optional. The shank 208 has a width
dimension 248 (see, e.g., FIG. 4). The shank 208 defines an intermediate face
220 on a
lower surface thereof. In many embodiments, the intermediate face 220 is a
planar
surface. In other embodiments, the intermediate face 220 may be a curved or
irregularly
shaped surface.
[0050] The intersecting portion 206 extends from a lower end of the shank 208
opposite the upper end of the shank 208. The intersecting portion 206 is a
transition
portion between the shank 208 and the tine 204. In one embodiment, the
intersecting
portion 206 forms a surface 232 on an upper surface thereof. The surface 232
may be a
planar surface. The surface 232 may be operative to receive or support an
attachment of
secondary luggage article such as a strap or handle to selectively attach the
secondary
luggage article to the primary luggage article 100. In one embodiment, the
surface 232
has a length of about 4 mm in the dimension 234. In other embodiments, the
length of
the dimension 234 may be about 0 mm, 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, 7 mm, 8 mm,
9 mm, 10 mm, or more. In other embodiments, the surface 232 may be a curved or
filleted shape with no effective length in the dimension 234.
[0051] The tine 204 of the hook shape extends generally upward from the
intersecting
portion 206. The tine 204 may also extend back toward the rear panel 106 (see,
e.g., FIG.
5). In some embodiments, the tine 204 may extend at an angle 250 of about 18
relative
to a normal direction 158 of the top panel 112, and in some examples in the
direction of a
center of the luggage case 100, and in the example shown in the direction of
the lock
mechanism 300 (See Fig. 3). In some embodiments, the tine 204 may extend at an
angle
250 of about 0 , 5 , 10 , 15 , 20 , 25 , 30 , 35 , 40 , 45 or more relative
the normal
direction 158 of the top panel 112. The tine 204 may also have a width
dimension 248
(see, e.g., FIG. 2). The tine 204 has a thickness dimension 238 at a
transition between the
tine 204 and the intersecting portion 206. In some embodiments, the thickness
dimension
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
238 is about 9.5 mm. In other embodiments the thickness dimension 238 may be
about 5
mm, 6 mm, 7 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm, or more. The thickness dimension 238 may be
the thickest part of the attachment member 200 such as to counteract bending
forces on
the tine 204 imparted by attached luggage articles or the like. The tine 204
has a
thickness dimension 236 near a tip 242 thereof. In some embodiments, the
thickness
dimension 236 is about 7 mm. In other embodiments the thickness dimension 236
may
be about 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, 7 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm, or more.
In some embodiments, the thickness dimension 236 may taper from a central
portion of
the tine 204 toward the edges of the tine 204 along the width thereof. In some
embodiments, the dimension of the tine 204 tapers from the thickness dimension
238 to
the thickness dimension 236. For example, the thickness dimension 236 may be
less than
the thickness dimension 238.
[0052] When an additional luggage case is engaged with the attachment member
200, a
portion of the additional luggage case, such as a handle, is received by at
least a part of
the engagement portion of the attachment member formed by a portion of the
upper
surfaces of the shank 208, a portion of the tine 204, and the intersecting
portion 206.
[0053] In some embodiments, the attachment member 200, such as for instance
shown
in Fig. 2A, has a width dimension 248 of about 70 mm. For example, at least a
portion of
the shank 208, the intersecting portion 206, and/or the tine 204 may have a
width
dimension 248 of about 70 mm. In some embodiments, the width dimension 248 of
the
shank 208, the intersecting portion 206, and/or the tine 204 may be about 10
mm, 20 mm,
30 inm, 40 mm, 50 mm, 60 mm, 70 mm, 80 mm, 90 mm, 100 mm, or more. The width
dimension 248 may be generally consistent between the shank 208, the
intersecting
portion 206, and/or the tine 204.
[0054] Alternatively, in another example of the attachment structure 200' as
shown in
Fig. 2B, the width 248' (in the same or similar width direction as width 248)
of the region
of the tine 204' near the tip 242' may be wider than the width 249 of the tine
204' at or
near its intersection with the intersecting portion 206'. In this example the
width
dimension 248' of the region of the tine 204' near the tip 242', may be
approximately 50
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
mm, with the tine 204' tapering inwardly as it extends downwardly to a width
dimension
249 of approximately 47.5 mm at or near where the tine 204' engages with the
intersecting portion 206'. The attachment structure 200', other than the width
dimensions
as described above, is structurally the same as or is identical to the
attachment structure
200 referenced elsewhere herein. A benefit of a relatively wide tine, such as
by relatively
consistent width dimension 248 or varying width dimensions 248' and 249, may
be that
the attachment member is strong enough to resist deflection, torsion,
deformation, or
breakage and may impart less stress on articles coupled to the luggage article
100 via the
attachment member relative to a narrower attachment member. Additionally, the
width
dimension 248 of approximately 70 mm is approximately the width of a typical
human
hand, which is the basis of the size of many handles on bags that might be
coupled with
the attachment member 200.
[0055] As best shown in FIG. 6, the main body 102 may have a recess 132 formed
therein. The recess 132 may be adapted to receive the attachment member 200
and/or the
lock mechanism 300. A benefit of the attachment member 200 and/or portion of
the lock
mechanism 300 being received in the recess 132 may be to reduce the protruding
distance
of the attachment member 200 above the top panel 112, which is a difficulty
with respect
to additional features and functionality structures attached to the exterior
of hard side
luggage. The attachment member 200 and the lock mechanism 300 while received
in the
recess 132 do not increase the external size of the luggage article 100.
Additionally, by
being received in the recess 132, at least partially, the attachment member
200 and the
lock mechanism 300 may be somewhat protected from damage such as when snagging
on, or being impacted by, objects when being handled. Positioning the
attachment
member 200 and/or the lock mechanism 300 in the recess 132 may result in a
luggage
article 100 that is more aesthetically pleasing than simply attaching the
attachment
member 200 and/or lock mechanism 300 to the main body 102. Positioning the
attachment member 200 and/or lock mechanism 300 in the recess 132 may form a
stronger assembly 322 as the walls of the recess 132 help keep the tine 204
from being
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
displaced laterally. For example, the side walls 134a, b may support the
attachment
member 200 such that lateral or twisting displacement thereof is limited.
[0056] In many embodiments the recess 132 is formed in the lid 118. In the
present
example, the recess 132 is formed in the top panel of the lid 118. In other
embodiments,
the recess 132 may be formed in another portion of the main body 102 such as
the base
120. The recess 132 is formed as an area of off-set depression. The recess may
be
defined by a periphery, in the current example, by sidewall 134, and a floor
portion 135.
The side wall 134 may extend at a right angle from the floor 135, or may
extend at an
angle other than a right angle from floor 135. The recess has at least one
depth, at least
one width (e.g. as measured between side walls 134a and 134b), and at least
one length
(e.g. as measured by between the front wall 142 and the rear wall 146). The
recess 132
may have one or more sub-portions such that when combined together form the
entire
recess 132. The depth, width and length of any sub-portions of the recess may
be the
same or different than another sub-portion. Generally, the width of the recess
132
between walls 134a and 134b, and the length of the recess between the front
wall 142 and
rear wall 146 are sufficiently sized to receive the attachment member 200, as
described
further below. In one example, the width of the recess between side walls 134a
and 134b
is greater than the width of the attachment member 200. The difference in
width
dimensions may form a gap 147, 149 between either side of the hook member 211
and
the respective side wall 134a and/or 134b. In one example, the width between
the walls
134a and 134b may be about 115 mm.
[0057] In some embodiments, the recess 132 includes a first sub-portion 137
defined
by upper floor 138, side walls 134a and 134b, and a rear wall 146. The upper
floor 138
may be at a depth of approximately 6-7 mm. In some embodiments, the upper
floor 138
extends generally in a plane oriented similarly to (such as example being
parallel to) the
panel in which the recess 132 is formed. One or more apertures 156a and 156b
may be
formed in the upper floor 138. The apertures 156a and 156b may be operative to
receive
one or more respective fasteners 306. The apertures 156a and 156b may be
clearance
apertures with a dimension larger than the respective fastener 306.
14
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
[0058] In some embodiments, the recess 132 includes a second sub-portion 139
defined by an intermediate floor 140. The intermediate floor 140 may extend
from the
first sub-portion to a third sub-portion. Because the third sub-portion has a
greater depth
than the first sub-portion, the intermediate floor may have an increase depth
as it angles
downwardly from the first sub-portion to the third sub-portion 141, forming a
ramp
between the first and second sub-portions. The intermediate floor 140 in this
example
may be at a depth of approximately 6-7 mm where it intersects the first sub-
portion 137,
and at a depth of approximately 18-19 mm where it intersects the third sub-
portion. In
this example, the intermediate floor 140 extends at an angle relative to the
first sub-
portion and the third sub-portion. As discussed further herein, the ramp or
slope of the
intermediate floor may support a part of the attachment member 200, such as
the shank
208.
[0059] In some embodiments, a third sub-portion 141 of the recess 132 may
extend
towards the front panel 104, and in some examples may extend sufficiently far
so as to
overlap with the front panel 104. The recess may include a lower floor 136,
and a front
wall 142 that extends between the side wall 134a and the side wall 134b
proximal to, at
or overlapping the front panel 104. The lower floor 136 may be at a depth of
approximately 18-19 mm. The front wall 142 may be included in a lip portion
144 of the
main body 102, for example the front wall 142 may be formed by a lip portion.
In some
embodiments, the front wall 142 extends at an angle relative to the lower
floor 136. For
example, the front wall 142 may form a sloped surface that provides a smooth
transition
from the lower floor 136 to the panel in which the recess 132 is defined. In
other
embodiments, the front wall 142 may extend generally at right angles to the
lower floor
136. A gap 151 may be formed between the attachment member 200 and the front
wall
142. For example, the gap 151 may be formed between an end of the hook member
211
and the front wall 142. This gap may be continuous with the gaps 147,149 on
opposing
sides of the attachment member 200 when in the recess 132. In one embodiment
the
recess 132 does not include a front wall 142, and the attachment member 200
(for
example the hook member 211) may not have be enclosed at or near the front
panel 104.
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
[0060] In some embodiments, the recess 132 includes a rear wall 146 extending
between the side wall 134a and the side wall 134b opposite the front wall 142.
In some
embodiments, the rear wall 146 extends generally at a right angle from the
adjacent upper
floor 138.
[0061] As best shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, in some embodiments, when the
luggage
article 100 is assembled, the attachment member 200 may be received in the
recess 132.
The lower surface 222 may be disposed on the upper floor 138. As best shown in
FIG. 5
and FIG. 6, in some embodiments, the anchor element 302 may be disposed on an
interior
surface of the main body 102 below the upper floor 138 of the recess 132. The
lock
mechanism 300 may be disposed above the attachment member 200. The lock
mechanism 300 may be received in the receptacle 246. One or more fasteners 306
may
be inserted through the one or more respective apertures 304a and 304b. The
one or
more fasteners 306 may be inserted through the respective aperture 156a and
156b. The
fasteners 306 may be inserted through the one or more apertures 216a and 216b.
The
fasteners 306 may be inserted into the one or more recesses 308. In some
embodiments,
the fasteners 306 may include helical threads such that when the fasteners 306
are rotated
relative to the recesses 308, the respective threads of the fasteners 306 and
the recesses
308 engage to secure the attachment member 200 to the luggage article 100
between the
anchor element 302 and the lock mechanism 300. In other embodiments, such as
when
the fasteners 306 are rivets, the head of the rivet may be inserted through
the apertures as
described above and the rivet expanded to secure the attachment member 200 to
the
luggage article 100 via the lock mechanism 300 and the anchor element 302.
[0062] When installed with the luggage article 100, the lower face 218 may be
disposed on the lower floor 136. In some embodiments, the lower face 218 rests
on the
lower floor 136 but is not coupled thereto. In some embodiments, the lower
face 218 is
coupled to the lower floor 136. In some embodiments, the intermediate face 220
may be
disposed on the intermediate floor 140. In some embodiments, the intermediate
face 220
rests on the intermediate floor 140 but is not coupled thereto. In some
embodiments, the
intermediate face 220 is coupled to the intermediate floor 140. In some
embodiments, the
16
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
shank 208 and/or the intersecting portion 206 is coupled to one or more of the
lower floor
136 or the intermediate floor 140 such as with an appropriate fastener
received in the
securement recess 214. The tine 204 may be spaced apart from the front wall
142. A
benefit of not coupling the shank 208, the intersecting portion 206, and/or
the tine 204 to
the main body 102 may be that the attachment member 200 forms a cantilever
structure.
A cantilever structure may flex such as when it becomes snagged on an object
during
handling. The flexure of the attachment member 200 may enable the attachment
member
200 to be released from the object without breaking.
[0063] As shown in Fig. 5, a portion 103 of a second luggage article 101, such
as one
or more handles, may engage the attachment member 200. In some examples, the
portion
103 may be seated in the attachment member 200, and may engage a portion of
the shank
208, a portion of the intersecting portion 206, and/or a portion of the tine
204 in order to
remain removably secured to the attachment member 200. The portion of the
attachment
member 200 on which the second luggage article 101 is received may have a
width
dimension of approximately 70 mm as noted above. This width dimension may be a
suitable size because many handle structures of luggage articles adapted for
carrying by
hand have a grip portion of approximately 70 mm. Additionally, a width
dimension of
approximately 70 mm provides a sufficiently wide and stable contact for a loop
handle of
the second luggage case to reduce the lateral side to side movement of the
second
luggage article 101 suspended from the engagement member 200 as the primary
luggage
article 100 is pulled or moved along a support surface.
[0064] As best shown in FIG. 3, when the attachment member 200 is installed
with the
luggage article 100, the tip 242 of the tine 204 may be disposed a relief 228
distance
above the main body 102 of the luggage. For example, the tip 242 may rise
above the top
panel 112 by a relief 228. Similarly, the upper surface 320 of the lock
mechanism 300
may be disposed a relief 230 above the main body 102. For example, the upper
surface
320 may be disposed above the top panel 112 by a relief 228. The relief 228
may be less
than or equal to the upper surface 320, such that the tip 242 is disposed a
clearance 226
below the upper surface 320. Such an arrangement may have the benefit of
reducing the
17
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
likelihood of the tine 204 to snag on objects as the luggage article 100 is
moved.
Reducing the likelihood of snagging may enable the luggage article 100 to be
moved
more easily (e.g., through luggage handling systems) and may reduce the risk
of breakage
of the attachment member 200. The tip 242 of the tine 204 may also be disposed
at or
below an upper surface of the carry handle 128.
[0065] In another example of the luggage article 100, as shown in FIGs. 7A-9,
an
attachment member in the form of attachment member 700 for supporting an
auxiliary
article 101 may be defined on or by the bezel 500 and configured for placement
beneath
the retractable tow handle 126. The luggage article 100 may be the same or
similar to the
luggage article 100 previously described and may include all or some of the
same
features. For example, the luggage case may have a main body 102 with top 112,
bottom
114, front 104, rear 106, left 108, and right 110 panels. The attachment
member 700 may
allow auxiliary articles 101 to be hung from or supported by the luggage
article 100.
[0066] As shown in FIGs. 7A ¨ 7C, the luggage case 100 may define a primary
recess
532 in the shape of a depression in the main body 102, for example in the base
shell 120
of case 100. The primary recess 532 may in one example be defined in whole or
in part
by a bezel 500. A secondary recess 600 may be defined by the bezel 500 for
receiving a
portion 103 of the auxiliary article 101. An attachment member, such as in one
example
the attachment member 700, may be positioned in the bezel, such as in one
example on a
bottom wall 501. In one example, the attachment member 700 may be positioned
in a
secondary recess 600 formed in the bottom wall 501 of the bezel 500. The
attachment
member 700 may act to receive and retain a portion 503 of an auxiliary article
101, such
as a strap of a purse or hand bag. The attachment member 700 may include a
first base
portion 701 and a second extension portion 704. The base portion 701 may
extend
upwardly from the floor wall 605 of the secondary recess 600, and the
extension portion
704 may extend towards the secondary recess, and in one example it may extend
at an
angle from the base portion 701 to overly the floor wall 605 of the secondary
recess 600.
The outer surface 713 of the extension portion 704 of the attachment member
may be
positioned at or below the level of the base wall of the primary recess 532,
which may be
18
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
the bottom wall 501 of the bezel 500. As a result, the attachment member 700
of the
attachment member may be positioned below the retractable handle so as to not
interfere
with the grip portion 126a of the retractable tow handle 126 when the
retractable tow
handle 126 is in the retracted position with the grip portion 126a stored in
the bezel 500.
[0067] The primary recess 532 may be formed in a bezel 500 positioned at the
intersection of the top panel 112 and the rear panel 106. The bezel 500 may be
integral
with the panels, for example as a molded feature of the luggage article 100,
or may be
one or more separate pieces inserted into an underlying recess of the luggage
case 100.
The underlying recess may be the primary recess 532, which may be defined by
the
panels of the luggage case 100. For example, the bezel 500 may overlay a
depression or
opening defined by the luggage case 100. In other examples, the bezel 500 may
only
partially define the primary recess 532 and cover a portion of a depression or
opening
defined by the luggage case 100. In additional examples, a first part of the
bezel 500 may
cover or define a first section of the primary recess 532 while an additional
portion may
cover an additional section of the primary recess 532. The bezel 500 may
include a main
wall 503, a pair of opposing walls such as a left 505a and right sidewall
505b, and a
bottom wall 501. The bezel 500 may further define an exterior wall 508
positioned
between the bottom wall 501 and the rear panel 106 of the luggage article 100.
The main
wall 503 may extend upward from the bottom wall 501. The left and right
sidewalls 505
may extend upward from the bottom wall 501 and be located to the opposing
lateral ends
of the main wall 503. Each of the main wall 503 and sidewalls 505 may be
perpendicular
to or at an angle to the bottom wall 501. The sidewalls 505 and the main wall
503 may
be at an angle to each other or may have a smooth or curved transition. The
bottom wall
501 may further define one or more apertures, such as tow handle apertures
510, for the
retractable tow handle 126 to extend from the bezel 500 and attach within the
primary
recess 532.
[0068] As shown in FIG. 7A-7C, the bottom wall 501 of the bezel 500 may define
an
attachment member 700. In some examples, the attachment member 700 may be
positioned in a secondary recess 600 formed in the bottom wall 501 of the
bezel 500.
19
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
The attachment member 700 may be integrally formed in the bezel 500, or may be
a
separate portion attached to the bottom wall 501 of the bezel 500. The
attachment
member 700 may be positioned in or over the secondary recess 600.
[0069] The secondary recess 600 may be formed in the bottom wall 501 of the
bezel
500. The secondary recess 600 may have an opening in more than one direction.
For
example, the secondary recess 600 may extend to an exterior of the luggage
case 100,
such as the exterior wall 508, opening outwardly in a direction away from the
rear main
wall 503. The opening in the exterior wall 508 may define one or more slots or
grooves
720. The secondary recess 600 may be a volume where portions 103 of an
auxiliary
article 101, such as a strap of a bag 103, may be inserted so as to not
interfere with the
tow handle 126 in a retracted position. The secondary recess 600 may be
located in a
central area of the bottom wall 501, or in other examples the secondary recess
600 may
be positioned closer to one of the main wall 503 or sidewalls 505. The
secondary recess
600 may have a rear wall 601 and left 603a and right 603b opposing end walls
603, and a
floor wall 605. The rear wall 601 may be aligned in direction with the main
wall 503.
[0070] Referring to Figs. 7B and 9, laterally spaced step features 607 may or
may not
be formed between the floor wall 605 and the side wall 603. The step features
607 may
be defined at the intersection of the floor walls 605 and each opposing end
wall 603.
There may be multiple step features, for example a first step feature 607a, a
second step
feature 607b (which in the example shown is the floor 605), and so on. In
other
examples, there may be only a single step feature, such as 607a. The step
features 607
may demarcate the secondary recess 600 into an upper region 610 and a lower
region
611, where the upper region 610 is wider than the lower region 611, as best
shown in
FIG. 9. The upper region 610 and lower region 611 may define portions of the
slots 720.
The step features 607 may act to engage the portion of the auxiliary article
101, and
retain it in the secondary recess 600, or to assist in conforming the portion
103 of the
auxiliary article 101 to fit snugly within the secondary recess 600. For
example, the step
features 607 may align the portion of the auxiliary article 101 to curve
around or under
the attachment member 700. If the auxiliary article 101 has more than one
portion 103 to
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
be retained by the step features 607, a first auxiliary portion may be
retained in the lower
region 611 and a second auxiliary portion may be retained in the upper region
610.
[0071] As shown in FIG. 7B and FIG. 9, the end walls may optionally define
smooth
walls 613. The smooth walls 613 may extend from the bottom wall 501 to the
floor walls
605. The smooth walls 613 may have a rectilinear, rounded or concave shape. A
secondary recess 600 formed with a smooth wall 613 may define wider slots 720
than
when step 607 b is present. The wider slots 720 may assist in guiding a
portion 103 of a
secondary article 101 into engagement with the attachment member 700, and may
accommodate handles 103 with larger structure. The smooth walls 613 may also
effectuate a curve on the portion 103 of the secondary article 101 and align
the portion
103 around the attachment member 700 and through the grooves 720. In some
examples,
a secondary recess 600 may have a smooth wall 613 with a slope such that an
upper
width dimension of the recess 600 is greater than a lower width dimension of
the recess
600. In such an example, the upper width may define an upper region 610 having
the
upper width dimension and a lower region 611 having the lower width dimension.
The
upper width dimension may be greater than the lower width dimension. In other
examples, the smooth wall 613 may define a single region with the same or
similar width
dimension along its height.
[0072] The attachment member 700 may be positioned in or adjacent the
secondary
recess 600. The attachment member 700 may support or retain at least part of
an
auxiliary article 101 on the luggage case 100, and in some examples within the
recess 532
formed by the bezel 500, and in still other examples in the secondary recess
600. The
attachment member 700 may include a first portion, or base portion 701, and a
second
portion, or extension portion 704, and define an outer surface 713, inner
surface 710, and
opposing edges 715. The base portion 701 may extend upwardly from the floor
wall 605
of the secondary recess 600, and may be centrally located to define adjacent
slots or
grooves 720 between the base portion 701 and the end walls 603. The slots or
grooves
720 may receive a portion 103 of the auxiliary article 101 supported from the
attachment
member 700. The base portion 701 may be straight, curved, or a combination of
shapes.
21
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
In additional examples, the base portion 701 may be angled relative to the
floor wall 605,
such as in one example being angled inwardly towards the main wall 503 of the
secondary recess 600. Being angled inwardly may aid in retaining the portion
103 of the
auxiliary article 101 engaged with the attachment member 700. The base portion
may
define a width between its opposing edges 715 that is approximately equal to
or greater
than one-third of the width of the lower portion of the secondary recess 600.
The width
of the base portion 701 may be approximately equal to or less than one-quarter
of the
width of the upper region 610 of the secondary recess 600. The base portion
701 may
also define a width that is constant along its height, or in another example,
it may taper
from wider to narrow as along its height.
[0073] The second, or extension, portion 704 of the attachment member 700 may
extend away from the base portion 701 and over the secondary recess 600 toward
the
main wall 503 of the secondary recess 600. For example, the extension portion
704 may
extend from and be angled relative to the base portion 701, and in some
examples may
extend at an acute angle, right angle, or obtuse angle relative to the base
portion 701. The
extension portion 704 may be straight, curved, or a combination of shapes. In
one
example, the base portion 701 and extension portion 704 may together define an
inverted
J- shaped hook. In such an example, the base portion 701 may be a shank and
the
extension portion 704 may be a tine of the hook. In another example, the upper
701 and
extension 704 portions may together form a curve, such as in one example a
constant
curve. The opposing edges 715 of the extension portion 704 may define a width,
and the
width may change as the extension portion 704 extends from the intersection
with the
base portion 701 to its terminal end, such as in one example tapering to a
narrower width.
In other examples, the extension portion 704 may have a constant width. The
outer
surface 713 of the extension portion 704 may be the highest point or region of
the
attachment member 700. The outer surface 713 may be flush with, or below the
bottom
wall 501 of the primary recess 532, and not interfere with the handle of the
retractable
tow handle 126 when in the retracted position. In other examples, the outer
surface 713
may extend above the bottom wall 501 in luggage cases where the grip portion
126a of
22
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
the retractable tow handle 126, in the retracted position, is spaced from the
bottom wall
501 over the secondary recess 600.
[0074] The attachment member 700 may allow a user to store one or multiple
auxiliary
articles 101 on the luggage article 100 and reduce the number of items that
must be
carried. Further, when the attachment member 700 supports an auxiliary article
101 and
the retractable tow handle 126 is in a retracted position, the attachment
member 700 and
the tow handle may inhibit or make difficult the removal of the auxiliary
article 101.
[0075] As shown in Fig. 8, an auxiliary article 101 may be supported and
retained by
the attachment member 700. In this example, the portion 103 of the auxiliary
article 101
may be a flexible grip handle of a purse, bag, or soft briefcase. In
operation, a portion
103 of the auxiliary article 101, such as the handle, may be placed in the
lower region
611 of the secondary recess 600, and engaged with the inner surface 710 of the
attachment member 700. The portion 103 of the auxiliary article 101 may engage
the
base portion 701 and extend through the lateral slots or grooves 720 formed
adjacent each
opposing side of the base portion 701. In one example, the portion extending
through the
slot 720 may be engaged on opposite sides by an edge of the base portion 701,
and the
adjacent step feature 607. This may effectuate curvature on the portion 103 of
the
auxiliary article 101, which may enhance the retention of the article 101 by
the
attachment member 700. In other examples, the smooth walls 613 may also
effectuate a
curvature on the portion 103 so that the article 101 is positioned in the
slots 720 formed
on either side of the attachment member 700. The article 101 may also be in
engagement
with the attachment member 700. The portion 103 of the auxiliary article 101
may also
be positioned underneath the extension portion 704 of the attachment member
700, and
may or may not engage the inner surface 710 of the extension portion 704.
[0076] In other examples, and as shown in Fig. 9, the attachment member 700
may
receive more than one portion 103 of an auxiliary article 101, such as both
handles of a
purse, bag or soft brief case. In still other examples, the attachment member
700 may
receive more than one auxiliary article 101, such as two different purses,
bags or soft
briefcases. In these examples, one portion may be in the lower portion of the
secondary
23
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
recess 600, and the other portion may be received in the upper region 610 of
the
secondary recess 600. In this way, the more than one portion may be stacked in
the
attachment member 700 for support and securement to the luggage case 100.
[0077] Continuing with Fig. 9, the retractable tow handle 126 may be collapsed
to a
retracted position. In the retracted position, the grip portion 126a may be
closely spaced
from, or in engagement with the base wall 501 of the primary recess 532. In
this
instance, the attachment member 700 may not contact the grip portion 126a of
the
retractable tow handle 126 because the outer surface 713 of the extension
portion 704
may be flush with or below flush with the bottom or base wall 501 of the
primary recess
532. Because the portion 103 of the auxiliary article 101 may be within the
secondary
recess 600 and beneath the extension portion 704 of the attachment member 700,
the
portion 103 may be entirely below the tow handle 126 in the retracted
position. Further,
the entire auxiliary article 101 may be beneath the tow handle 126 in the
retracted
position. This configuration may allow for the retractable tow handle 126 to
utilize its
full retraction and extension capabilities while allowing portions 103 of the
auxiliary
article 101 to remain in, and be retained by, the attachment member 700 even
when the
tow handle 126 is retracted.
[0078] Where the attachment member 700 is positioned in the bezel 500, the
bezel 500
and attachment member 700 may be formed of any suitable materials such as
plastic, metal,
a composite material (e.g., a fiber reinforced composite), wood, or
combinations thereof.
The bezel 500 and attachment member 700 may be formed by any suitable method
such as
vacuum forming, injection molding, subtractive manufacturing (e.g.,
machining), additive
manufacturing (e.g., 3D printing), or the like. A relatively rigid material
may be beneficial
to support heavier loads in the attachment member 700, although softer
material may be
suitable. The attachment member 700 may be a single unitary piece or may be
two or more
pieces joined to one another such as by a fastener, adhesive, brazing,
welding, or the like.
Further, the exact orientations and angles of the attachment member 700 may be
adjusted
to accommodate different injection molding techniques. For example, the second
step
24
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
feature 607b of the secondary recess 600 may be arranged for a mold to form
the inner
surface 710 of the extension portion 704 or the attachment member 700.
[0079] The description of certain embodiments included herein is merely
exemplary in
nature and is in no way intended to limit the scope of the disclosure or its
applications or
uses. In the included detailed description of embodiments of the present
systems and
methods, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part
hereof, and
which are shown by way of illustration specific to embodiments in which the
described
systems and methods may be practiced. These embodiments are described in
sufficient
detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice presently disclosed
systems and
methods, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized,
and that
structural and logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit
and scope
of the disclosure. Moreover, for the purpose of clarity, detailed descriptions
of certain
features will not be discussed when they would be apparent to those with skill
in the art
so as not to obscure the description of embodiments of the disclosure. The
included
detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the
scope of the
disclosure is defined only by the appended claims.
[0080] From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific
embodiments
of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration,
various
modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
The main body 102 of the luggage case may include one or more layers of
material used
in the manufacture of hard sided luggage cases. Reference herein to attaching
or
coupling to the interior or exterior surfaces of the lid 118 and/or base 120
includes
attaching or coupling to the any one, or more than one, of the one or more
layers of hard
sided material forming the main body.
[0081] The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of
illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention
only and are
presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and
readily
understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of various
embodiments
of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural
details of the
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding
of the
invention, the description taken with the drawings and/or examples making
apparent to
those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be
embodied in
practice.
[0082] As used herein and unless otherwise indicated, the terms "a" and "an"
are taken
to mean "one", "at least one" or "one or more". Unless otherwise required by
context,
singular terms used herein shall include pluralities and plural terms shall
include the
singular.
[0083] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the
description and
the claims, the words 'comprise', 'comprising', and the like are to be
construed in an
inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to
say, in the sense
of "including, but not limited to". Words using the singular or plural number
also include
the plural and singular number, respectively. Additionally, the words
"herein," "above,"
and "below" and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall
refer to this
application as a whole and not to any particular portions of the application.
[0084] Of course, it is to be appreciated that any one of the examples,
embodiments or
processes described herein may be combined with one or more other examples,
embodiments and/or processes or be separated and/or performed amongst separate
devices or device portions in accordance with the present systems, devices and
methods.
[0085] Finally, the above discussion is intended to be merely illustrative of
the present
system and should not be construed as limiting the appended claims to any
particular
embodiment or group of embodiments. Thus, while the present system has been
described in particular detail with reference to exemplary embodiments, it
should also be
appreciated that numerous modifications and alternative embodiments may be
devised by
those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the broader and
intended
spirit and scope of the present system as set forth in the claims that follow.
Accordingly,
the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative manner
and are not
intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.
26
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-12-07
