Title:

Lightweight luggage shell

United States Patent Application 20030057046

Kind Code:

A1

Abstract:

A luggage shell is formed of a top plate, a bottom plate, and two side plates, which are all provided with a number of pits for reducing the weight of the luggage shell. The pits are arranged at interval in rows. The top plate, the bottom plate and the side plates are further provided with a plurality of ribs which are located between two adjacent rows of the pits for reinforcing the structural strength of the luggage shell.

Inventors:

Chang, Ruey-yang (Taichung Hsien, TW)

Application Number:

09/956932

Publication Date:

03/27/2003

Filing Date:

09/21/2001

Export Citation:

Click for automatic bibliography generation

Assignee:

CHANG RUEY-YANG

Primary Class:

190/127

Other Classes:

190/124

International Classes:

A45C5/02; A45C5/14; (IPC1-7): A45C13/00; A45C13/36

View Patent Images:

Download PDF 20030057046

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Primary Examiner:

MAI, TRI M

Attorney, Agent or Firm:

Egbert, McDaniel & Swartz, PLLC (Houston, TX, US)

Claims:

I claim:

1. A luggage comprising a shell, a sleeve fitted over said shell, an expandable pull rod fastened with the shell, and a plurality of casters pivoted to the shell; wherein said shell is formed of: a top plate provided with a number of pits, said pits being arranged equidistantly in rows for reducing the weight of said top plate, said top plate further provided with a plurality of ribs which are located between two adjacent rows of said pits and are intended to reinforce the structural strength of said top plate whereby said pits and said ribs are integrally made with said top plate; a bottom plate provided with a number of pits, said pits being arranged equidistantly in rows for reducing the weight of said bottom plate, said bottom plate further provided with a plurality of ribs which are located between two adjacent rows of said pits for reinforcing the structural strength of said bottom plate, said pits and said ribs being made integrally with said bottom plate; and two side plates fastened between said top plate and said bottom plate and provided with a number of pits which are arranged equidistantly in rows for reducing the weight of said side plates, said two side plates being further provided with a plurality of ribs whereby said ribs are located between two adjacent rows of said pits for reinforcing the structural strength of said side plates, said pits and said ribs being made integrally with said side plates.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a luggage, and more particularly to a shell of the luggage.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] As shown in FIG. 1, a prior art luggage comprises a shell 10, a sleeve 11 fitted over the shell 10, a plurality of casters 12, and a pull handle 13. The shell 10 of the prior art luggage is rather durable; nevertheless it is rather heavy. In general, the consumers prefer a durable and lightweight luggage to a durable and heavy luggage.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a luggage shell which is durable and light in weight.

[0006] The luggage shell of the present invention is formed of a top plate, a bottom plate, and two side plates. The top plate, the bottom plate and the side plates are provided with a number of pits which are arranged equidistantly and are intended to reduce the weight of the luggage shell. The top plate, the bottom plate and the side plates are further provided with a plurality of ribs for reinforcing the structural strength of the luggage shell.

[0007] The features and the advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a prior art luggage.

[0009] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a luggage of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the top plate of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the bottom plate of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the side plate of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the bottom plate of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 2-6, a luggage of the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a shell 20, a sleeve 30 fitted over the shell 20, an expandable pull rod 32, and a plurality of casters.

[0015] The luggage of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized by the shell 20 which is formed of a top plate 22, a bottom plate 23, and two side plates 24 which are disposed between the top plate 22 and the bottom plate 23. The top plate 22, the bottom plate 23 and the side plates 24 are provided with a number of pits 21 which are arranged equidistantly in rows and are intended to reduce the weight of the shell 20.

[0016] In order to enhance the structural strength of the shell 20, the top plate 22 is provided with a plurality of ribs 25 (not shown in the drawings) which are located between two adjacent rows of the pits 21. The pits 21 and the reinforcing ribs 25 are made integrally with the top plate 22. Similarly, the bottom plate 23 is provided with a plurality of ribs 25 which are located between two adjacent rows of the pits 21. The pits 21 and the ribs 25 are integrally made with the bottom plate 23. The two side plates 24 are also provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs 25 which are located between two adjacent rows of pits 21. The pits 21 and the ribs 25 are integrally made with the side plates 24.

[0017] In light of the pits 21, the shell 20 of the present invention is light in weight. In addition, the structural strength of the shell 20 of the present invention is reinforced by the ribs 25.

[0018] The embodiment of the present invention described above is to be regarded in all respects as being merely illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without deviating from the spirit thereof. The present invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the following claim.

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