Modular suitcase frame

A method for producing an article of luggage comprising:

• forming a plurality of luggage shells comprising a front shell and a rear shell having substantially similar widths and heights;
• forming a length of edge framing material having a tab portion and an edge coupling portion that extends along the length of the edge framing material;
• cutting said edge framing material into two or more pieces having a length that is substantially similar to the width of said front and rear luggage shells and into two or more pieces having a length that is substantially similar to the height of said front and rear luggage shells;
• forming a plurality of reinforcing corner pieces including at least one first front corner piece and at least one first rear corner piece, at least one second front corner piece and at least one second rear corner piece;
• forming a plurality of front edge joint pieces;
• forming a plurality of rear edge joint pieces;
• constructing a front edge frame comprising at least four pieces of edge framing material, at least eight front edge joint pieces, and the at least one first front corner piece and the at least one second front corner piece, wherein each first front corner piece includes a projection configured to extend through an opening in a respective front joint piece connected to one of the pieces of edge framing material, and each second front corner piece has an opening configured to receive a fastener so that the respective fastener extends through the opening of the second front corner piece and into the projection of the first front corner piece;
• constructing a rear edge frame comprising at least four pieces of edge framing material, at least eight rear edge joint pieces, and the at last one first rear corner piece and the at least one second rear corner piece;
• attaching said front edge frame to said front shell;
• attaching said rear edge frame to said rear shell;
• and
• joining said front shell to said rear shell with a hinge.

A piece of luggage comprising:

• a front shell and a rear shell, each shell comprising an internal compartment for receiving contents;
• at least four pieces of front edge framing material having a tab portion and a front edge coupling portion that extends along the length of said front edge framing material;
• at least four pieces of rear edge framing material having a tab portion and a rear edge coupling portion that extends along the length of the rear edge framing material, wherein said front edge coupling portion and said rear edge coupling portion are capable of matingly coupling;
• at least sixteen corner pieces;
• at least eight front edge joint pieces;
• at least eight rear edge joint pieces;
• a front edge frame comprising said at least four pieces of front edge framing material, said at least eight front edge joint pieces, and at least four reinforcing corner pieces of said at least sixteen corner pieces;
• a rear edge frame comprising said at least four pieces of rear edge framing material, said at least eight rear edge joint pieces, and at least four reinforcing corner pieces of said at least sixteen corner pieces;
• wherein said front edge frame is attached to said front shell and said rear edge frame is attached to said rear shell;
• and
• at least one hinge joining said front shell to said rear shell,
• wherein the at least sixteen corner pieces comprises at least four first front reinforcing corner pieces, at least four second front reinforcing corner pieces, at least four first rear reinforcing corner pieces, and at least four second rear reinforcing corner pieces, and wherein each of said at least four first front reinforcing corner pieces matingly couples with one of said at least four first rear reinforcing corner pieces and each of said at least four second front reinforcing corner pieces matingly couples with one of said at least four second rear reinforcing corner pieces, and
• wherein each first front reinforcing corner piece includes a projection configured to extend through an opening in one of the front edge joint pieces connected to one of the pieces of front edge framing material, and each second front reinforcing corner piece has an opening configured to receive a fastener so that the respective fastener extends through the opening of the second front reinforcing corner piece and into the projection of the first front reinforcing corner piece.