# US 2019/0166967 A1 · Luggage article frame structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0166967 A1 - Document ID: US20190166967A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/835,390 - Filed: 2017-12-07 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01 - Assignees: Samsonite IP Holdings S.a.r.l. - Applicants: Samsonite IP Holdings S.a r.l. - Inventors: Leticia Suarez; George Teixeira; Janel Twogood - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190166967A1 ## CPC - A45C 13/04: Frames - A45C 5/02: Materials therefor - A45C 5/03: Suitcases - A45C 5/14: with built-in rolling means - A45C 13/36: Reinforcements for edges, corners, or other parts - A45C 2005/035: {soft-sided, i.e. with flexible side walls covering a rigid frame} - A45C 2005/037: {with a hard shell, i.e. rigid shell as volume creating element} - A45C: PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS ## Abstract A luggage article 100 is provided. The luggage article 100 may include a reinforcing board 202, and a closed loop frame 206. The reinforcing board 206 may include a central portion 220 and first and second side portions 224, 226 on opposing lateral sides of the central portion 220. The central portion may extend over a rear side 120 of the luggage article 100. The first and second side portions 224, 226 may extend over at least part of the opposing left 126 and right 128 sides of the luggage case 100. The closed loop frame 206 may match and aligned with the distal edge 250 of the first side portion 224 or the second side portion 226 of the reinforcing board 220. The top section 226 of the closed loop frame may also curve around the top edges (142, 144) of the luggage case 100 to extend at least partially over the top side 122 to match and align with the inwardly curved side edge 282 of the top portion 228. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A luggage article comprising: opposing front and rear panels, opposing left and right side panels, and opposing top and bottom panels together defining front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom sides of the luggage article; a rigid or semi-rigid reinforcing board including: a central portion extending over the rear side; and first and second side portions extending from opposing lateral sides of the central portion, the first and second side portions extending over at least part of the opposing left and right sides, each of the first and second side portions including a distal edge; a closed loop frame including a frame portion matching and aligned with the distal edge of the first side portion or the second side portion of the reinforcing board; and an outer fabric cover over at least part of the front, left, and right sides. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The luggage article of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second side portions supports one of the opposing left and right side panels. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The luggage article of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the side portion extends at least as far as a center line of the side panel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The luggage article of claim 1, wherein the closed loop frame comprises a wire loop. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The luggage article of claim 1, wherein the closed loop frame comprises: a front section; top and bottom sections extending from opposing ends of the front section; and a rear section extending from the top and bottom sections, the rear section including a shape matching and aligned with the distal edge of the first side portion or the second side portion of the reinforcing board. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The luggage article of claim 5, wherein the rear section includes a central section curved inwardly toward the front section to match and align with the distal edge of the first side portion or the second side portion of the reinforcing board. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The luggage article of claim 5, wherein the distal edge of the first side portion or second side portion is curved toward the front side to match and align with the rear section of the closed loop frame. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The luggage article of claim 7, wherein the distal edge of the first side portion or the second side portion has an arcuate shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The luggage article of claim 8, wherein an apex of the arcuate shape is positioned in a middle portion of the length of the left or right side. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The luggage article of claim 5, wherein: the front, top, and bottom sections of the closed loop frame are substantially linear; the top and bottom sections extend substantially perpendicularly from the front section; and the rear section connects the ends of the top and bottom sections together. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The luggage article of original claim 6, wherein the rear section is curved toward the front section. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The luggage article of claim 11, wherein the rear section is a long side of the closed loop frame, and the curve has an arcuate shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The luggage article of claim 2, wherein an apex of the curve is positioned in a middle portion of the length of the left or right side. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The luggage article of claim 1, wherein the closed loop frame is coupled to the distal edge of the first side portion or the second side portion of the reinforcing board. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The luggage article of claim 1, further comprising a fabric seam aligned with the distal edges of the first and second side portions of the reinforcing board. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The luggage article of claim 1, wherein the first and second side portions are resiliently bent from the central portion to extend over at least part of the opposing left and right sides of the luggage article. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The luggage article of claim 1, wherein the luggage article comprises: a first closed loop frame supporting the left side panel of the housing, the first closed loop frame including a frame portion matching and aligned with the distal edge of the first side portion; and a second closed loop frame supporting the right side panel of the housing, the second closed loop frame including a frame portion matching and aligned with the distal edge of the second side portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The luggage article of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing board includes a top portion extending over at least part of the top side. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The luggage article of claim 18, wherein: the closed loop frame is a wire loop and includes an upper top portion, the upper portion extends at least partially over the top side; the top portion of the reinforcing board defines a curved side; and the upper portion of the closed loop frame mates with the curved side of the top portion of the reinforcing board. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The luggage article of claim 18, wherein the top portion extends over a top front edge of the front side to form a top lip over a part of the top portion of the front side. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The luggage article of claim 18, wherein the reinforcing board includes a bottom portion extending over at least part of the bottom side of the luggage article. ### Claim 22 (depends on 11) The luggage article of claim 11, wherein the bottom portion extends over a bottom front edge of the top side to form a bottom lip over a part of the bottom portion of the front side. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The luggage article of claim 21, wherein: a brace is coupled between the top portion of the reinforcing panel and a bottom portion of the reinforcing panel along left and right sides, and extends along a central portion between the front and back sides. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The luggage article of claim 23, wherein the brace is formed of two separate braces. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The luggage article of claim 1, wherein at least one wheel is positioned on the bottom side. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The luggage article of claim 25, wherein four wheels are positioned on the bottom side. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The luggage article of claim 1, further comprising a door opening formed on the front side to selectively access the interior of the luggage case. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The luggage article of claim 1, wherein the closed loop frame may include a top portion, and wherein the top portion may extend at least partially over the top side. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The luggage article of claim 28, wherein the closed loop frame is a wire loop frame. ### Claim 30 A luggage article comprising: a housing defining a rear edge between a lateral side and a rear side; a reinforcing board including a first portion extending around the rear edge of the housing; and a closed loop frame including a frame portion matching and aligned with the first portion of the reinforcing board. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The luggage article of claim 30, wherein the first portion defines at least one curve; and the frame portion defines a mating curve to match and align with the curve defined by the first portion. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The luggage article of claim 30, wherein: the housing includes a rear panel, a left side panel, and a right side panel together defining rear, left, and right sides of the housing, the intersection between the rear side and the left side defining a left rear edge, the intersection between the rear side and right side defining a right rear edge; the first portion of the reinforcing board curves around the left rear edge of the housing to extend at least partially over the left side of the housing; the reinforcing board includes a second portion extending around the right rear edge of the housing to extend at least partially over the right side of the housing; the closed loop frame is a first closed loop frame supporting the left side panel of the housing; and the luggage article includes a second closed loop frame supporting the right side panel of the housing, the second closed loop frame including a frame portion matching and aligned with the second portion of the reinforcing board. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The luggage article of claim 32, wherein the first and second portions of the reinforcing board extend over only a rear portion of the left and right sides of the housing adjacent to the rear side. ### Claim 34 (depends on 30) The luggage article of claim 30, wherein the closed loop frame includes a nonrectangular shape. ### Claim 35 A luggage article comprising: opposing front and rear panels, opposing left and right side panels, and opposing top and bottom panels together defining front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom sides of the luggage article; the back panel including a rigid or semi-rigid reinforcing board defining opposing side portions, each side portion defining a curved distal edge, each extending around to cover at least a portion of the opposing left and right sides, respectively. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The luggage article of claim 35, wherein the side portions extend at least as far as a centerline of the left and right sides. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The luggage article of claim 35, wherein the side portions extend no further than a centerline of the left and right sides. ### Claim 38 A luggage article comprising: opposing front and rear panels, opposing left and right side panels, and opposing top and bottom panels together defining front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom sides of the luggage article; and one of the left or right side panels being non-rectangular, and including an edge having a middle portion defining a curved shape. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) A luggage article of claim 38, wherein the one of the left or right side panels defines opposing long sides, with one of the long sides curved inwardly toward the other of the long sides. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) A luggage article of claim 38, wherein the one of the left of right side panels defines opposing short sides, with one of the short sides curved outwardly away from the other short side. ### Claim 41 A luggage article comprising: a housing defined by opposing front and rear panels, opposing left and right side panels, and opposing top and bottom panels together defining front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom sides of the luggage article; wherein at least one of the panels wraps around an edge of the housing to extend over a plurality of sides of the luggage article.