Luggage case with internal retaining members

• US 10,028,561 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2014
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsonite IP Holdings SARL (Samsonite Sub Holdings SARL)
• Original Assignee: Samsonite IP Holdings SARL (Samsonite Sub Holdings SARL)
• Inventors: Vecellio, Corrado
• Primary Examiner(s): Mathew, Fenn C
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLADO, CYNTHIA FRANCISCA
• Application Number:
  US14/330,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20150014108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: 190100, 190107, 190109, 190 18 A, 206289, 206290, 206292, 206298, 206527, 224160, 224572, 224666, 224667, 24136 K, 24195, 24300-303, 24613, 245741
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/02 Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/03 Means for holding garments
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/03 Suitcases
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/14 with built-in rolling means

Abstract

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

Claims

1. A luggage article comprising:

a plurality of walls together defining an outer structure and an enclosed space of the luggage article;

a first flexible retaining member attached to and extending from one of the walls; and

a connector assembly including a first connector and a second connector that releasably connect together, the first connector attached to the first flexible retaining member at a position spaced from the attachment of the first flexible retaining member to the respective one of the walls, the second connector attached to one of the walls in opposing relationship to the first connector, when the first and second connectors are releasably connected together, the first flexible retaining member is extended across at least a portion of the enclosed space;

wherein the first connector includes a connector engagement feature and a wall engagement feature, and the first connector and/or a respective wall are adapted to attach the first connector to the respective wall via the wall engagement feature.

2. A luggage article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first connector and/or respective wall includes a clip or hook.

3. A luggage article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connector assembly and/or respective wall includes a clip or hook.

4. A luggage article as claimed in claim 3 wherein the clip or hook is positioned at a distal end of the first flexible retaining member.

5. A luggage article as claimed in claim 2 wherein the clip or hook comprises an integral part of the first connector.

6. A luggage article as claimed in claim 3 wherein the clip or hook is attached to the first flexible retaining member.

7. A luggage article as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first connector is indirectly attached to the respective wall.

8. A luggage article as claimed in claim 2 wherein the clip or hook includes two resilient fingers having laterally-offset free ends.

9. A luggage article as claimed in claim 2 wherein the clip or hook is adapted to fit over a peripheral edge of the respective wall of the luggage article when the luggage article is open.

10. A luggage article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second connectors include corresponding connector engagement features that releasably connect the first and second connectors together.

11. A luggage article as claimed in claim 10 wherein the first retaining member is attached to the first connector between a respective connector engagement feature and a clip or hook.

12. A luggage article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first connector and/or respective wall includes a cord that cooperates with a clip or hook to attach the first connector to the respective wall.

13. A luggage article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first retaining member comprises a strap.

14. A luggage article as claimed in claim 13 wherein the strap is attached at opposite ends to the respective one of the walls, and the first connector is attached to a mid-portion of the strap.

15. A luggage article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first retaining member comprises a flexible panel.

16. A luggage article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connector assembly includes a push button release mechanism to release the first and second connectors.

17. A luggage article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connector assembly comprise a buckle assembly and the first and second connectors comprise first and second buckle components.

18. A luggage article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second connectors releasably snap fit together axially and/or rotationally.

19. A luggage article as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a second flexible retaining member attached to and extending from one of the walls, wherein the second connector is attached to the second retaining member at a position spaced from the attachment of the second retaining member to the one of the walls.

20. A luggage article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second connector and/or a respective wall are adapted to attach the second connector to the respective wall.

21. A luggage article comprising:

a plurality of walls together defining an outer structure and an enclosed space of the luggage article;

a flexible retaining member attached to and extending from one of the plurality of walls; and

a connector assembly including first and second connectors that releasably connect together to selectively extend the flexible retaining member across at least a portion of the enclosed space;

wherein;

the first connector includes a connector engagement feature and a wall engagement feature each attached to the flexible retaining member at a position spaced away from the attachment of the flexible retaining member to the one of the plurality of walls, the connector engagement feature adapted to releasably connect to the second connector, the wall engagement feature adapted to engage a wall of the plurality of walls; and

the second connector is attached to the flexible retaining member at a position spaced away from the attachment of the flexible retaining member to the one of the plurality of walls.

22. The luggage article of claim 21, wherein the connector engagement feature and the wall engagement feature of the first connector are integrally formed together as a single unit.