Luggage Case

Abstract

A luggage case is disclosed including a plurality of walls connected together to define an internal space for receipt of items to be retained in the luggage case. The luggage case including an elongate support structure connected to at least one of the walls. The support structure extending adjacent to at least two edges of the at least one wall. The elongate support structure comprising at least one elongate element and at least one fixation member to fixedly connect the at least one elongate element to said at least one wall.

1 . A luggage case comprising a plurality of walls connected together to define an internal space for receipt of items to be retained in said case, wherein the case comprises an elongate support structure connected to at least one of said walls, said support structure extending adjacent to at least two edges of said at least one wall, said elongate support structure comprising at least one elongate element and at least one fixation member to fixedly connect the at least one elongate element to said at least one wall. 
   
   
       2 . A case according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one elongate element is mounted internally of said case. 
   
   
       3 . A case according to  claim 2 , wherein said support structure extends adjacent to at least three edges of said at least one wall. 
   
   
       4 . A case according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one wall to which the elongate support structure is connected is a side wall of the luggage case. 
   
   
       5 . A case according to  claim 4 , wherein said elongate support structure extends adjacent to front, rear and top edges of said at least one side wall. 
   
   
       6 . A case according to  claim 3 , wherein said elongate support structure extends along at least around 50% of a length of at least one of said at least three edges. 
   
   
       7 . A case according to  claim 1 , wherein said elongate support structure comprises a plurality of elongate elements. 
   
   
       8 . A case according to  claim 7 , wherein a single elongate element extends adjacent one of said edges. 
   
   
       9 . A case according to  claim 7 , wherein said elongate support structure comprises a plurality of fixation members. 
   
   
       10 . A case according to  claim 9 , wherein at least a first fixation member fixedly connects two elongate elements to said at least one wall. 
   
   
       11 . A case according to  claim 9 , wherein at least a first fixation member defines a slot for receipt of a portion of one of the at least one elongate elements. 
   
   
       12 . A case according to  claim 9 , wherein at least a first fixation member is provided adjacent to a corner of the case interconnecting at least two walls of the case. 
   
   
       13 . A case according to  claim 12 , wherein said corner interconnects three walls of the case. 
   
   
       14 . A case according to  claim 9 , wherein at least a first fixation member is mounted internally of the case and the at least a first fixation member is connected to a corresponding outer fixation part mounted externally of the case. 
   
   
       15 . A case according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least a first fixation member is fixedly connected to the corresponding outer fixation part by a fixation member provided through said at least a first fixation member and the outer fixation part. 
   
   
       16 . A case according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least a first fixation member comprises a plastics material. 
   
   
       17 . A case according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least a first fixation member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate, nylon, glass filled polymer, metal, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       18 . A case according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongate element comprises a plastics material. 
   
   
       19 . A case according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongate element comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, carbon fibre, polyester, fibre reinforced polymer, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       20 . A case according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongate element is manufactured by a pultrusion process. 
   
   
       21 . A case according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongate element possesses an outer cross-sectional diameter of around 3 to 9 mm. 
   
   
       22 . A case according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongate element possesses an outer cross-sectional diameter of around 6 mm. 
   
   
       23 . A case according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongate element possesses a unit weight of around 30 to 60 g/m. 
   
   
       24 . A case according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongate element possesses a unit weight of around 44.5 g/m. 
   
   
       25 . A case according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongate element defines a hollow section. 
   
   
       26 . A case according to  claim 25 , wherein said hollow section possesses a cross-sectional diameter that is around 20 to 60% of the outer cross-sectional diameter of the at least one elongate element. 
   
   
       27 . A case according to  claim 25 , wherein said hollow section possesses a cross-sectional diameter that is around 30% of the outer cross-sectional diameter of the at least one elongate element. 
   
   
       28 . A luggage case comprising a plurality of walls connected together to define an internal space for receipt of items to be retained in said case, wherein the case comprises a support structure, said support structure comprising at least one corner bracket provided at a corner interconnecting at least two of said walls of the case, said bracket comprising a first part mounted internally of said case and a second part mounted externally of said case. 
   
   
       29 . A case according to  claim 28 , wherein said first and second parts are fixedly connected to one another by a fixation member provided through said first and second parts. 
   
   
       30 . A case according to  claim 28 , wherein at least one of said first and second parts comprises a plastics material. 
   
   
       31 . A case according to  claim 28 , wherein at least one of said first and second parts comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate, nylon, glass filled polymer, metal, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       32 . A case according to  claim 28 , wherein at least one of said first and second parts is manufactured by moulding. 
   
   
       33 . A case according to  claim 28 , wherein a first corner bracket of the at least one corner bracket is provided at the corner interconnecting a bottom wall and a side wall of the case, and the first corner bracket comprises a ground contacting element. 
   
   
       34 . A case according to  claim 33 , wherein the ground contacting element is a foot stud. 
   
   
       35 . A case according to  claim 33 , wherein the ground contacting element is a wheel. 
   
   
       36 . A case according to  claim 28 , wherein said support structure additionally comprises at least one elongate element. 
   
   
       37 . A case according to  claim 36 , wherein said at least one elongate element is mounted internally of said case. 
   
   
       38 . A case according to  claim 37 , wherein a first corner bracket defines a slot for receipt of a portion of one of the at least one elongate elements. 
   
   
       39 . A case according to  claim 38 , wherein the support structure is connected to at least one side wall of the case. 
   
   
       40 . A case according to  claim 39 , wherein the first part of the first corner bracket fixedly connects a first elongate element to said at least one side wall. 
   
   
       41 . A case according to  claim 40 , wherein the support structure extends adjacent to at least three of front, back, top and bottom edges of said at least one side wall.