Luggage side panel

Abstract

A suitcase has a plurality of walls at least one of which is rigid. The walls defining a storage space. The one wall is formed of a side panel of relatively soft moldable plastic and a plurality of fiber-glass rods imbedded in the panel and rigidifying it. Such a system is normally used where the suitcase has two such similar side panels extending parallel to and spaced from each other.

1 . A suitcase comprising: 
 a plurality of walls at least one of which is rigid, the walls defining a storage space, the one wall being formed of a side panel of relatively soft moldable plastic and a plurality of fiber-glass rods imbedded in the panel and rigidifying it.    
   
   
       2 . The suitcase defined in  claim 1  wherein the suitcase has two such similar side panels extending parallel to and spaced from each other.  
   
   
       3 . The suitcase defined in  claim 2  wherein the suitcase has a rigid top panel bridging upper ends of the side panels and a rigid bottom panel bridging lower ends of the side panels.  
   
   
       4 . The suitcase defined in  claim 3 , further comprising wheels secured at the lower ends of the side panels.  
   
   
       5 . The suitcase defined in  claim 1  wherein the side panel is formed with integral ridges, the fiber-glass rods being imbedded in the ridges.  
   
   
       6 . The suitcase defined in  claim 5  wherein the ridges including longitudinal ridges and transverse ridges.  
   
   
       7 . The suitcase defined in  claim 5  wherein the rods are of rectangular section.  
   
   
       8 . The suitcase defined in  claim 1  wherein the panel is made of polypropylene or polyethylene, the rods being of a harder and stronger resin reinforced with glass fibers.  
   
   
       9 . The suitcase defined in  claim 1 , further comprising 
 guides extending parallel to but offset from the side panel; and    a telescoping handle fitted to the guides and slidable therealong between extended and retracted positions.