Protective system for luggage

Abstract

Protective systems for a luggage piece may include a deformable body and a cover. The cover may be configured to overlie and to be coupled with the deformable body. The cover may be more rigid than the deformable body. The deformable body may include an interior shape at least partially complementary to a recess formed in an exterior surface of the luggage piece. The deformable body may be joined to the luggage piece when positioned at least partially in the recess. External impacts exerted on the cover may be transmitted across the cover such that the forces associated with such external impacts may be exerted on the deformable body across a larger surface area than a surface area of the cover receiving the external impacts and may be at least partially absorbed by the deformable body.

1 . A protective system for a luggage piece, comprising:
 a deformable body comprising a first surface and a second surface, the first surface at least partially complementary to and abutting a recess integrally formed in an exterior surface of a substantially rigid outer structure of the luggage piece and joined to the luggage piece when positioned at least partially in the recess; and   a cover overlying and coupled with the deformable body, the cover being more rigid than the deformable body,   wherein:
 a periphery of the deformable body is greater than a periphery of the cover; 
 the deformable body comprises at least one aperture; and 
 at least one fastener is positioned through the at least one aperture of the deformable body. 
   
     
     
         2 . The protective system according to  claim 1 , wherein the deformable body absorbs forces impacting at least one spinner wheel. 
     
     
         3 . The protective system according to  claim 1 , wherein the deformable body comprises at least one of a foam, a gel, a visco-elastic material or an elastic material. 
     
     
         4 . The protective system according to  claim 1 , wherein the luggage piece comprises at least one corner region, the recess being formed at the at least one corner region, and a base wall of the recess defines in general a concave or convex exterior surface shape. 
     
     
         5 . The protective system according to  claim 4 , wherein the protective system absorbs an amount of sound and/or vibration produced by at least one caster wheel. 
     
     
         6 . The protective system according to  claim 1 , wherein the deformable body comprises an exterior shape complementary to the periphery of the cover. 
     
     
         7 . The protective system according to  claim 6 , wherein the exterior shape of the deformable body defines a recess for receiving a peripheral edge portion of the cover. 
     
     
         8 . The protective system according to  claim 6 , wherein the deformable body operably forms a friction fit between the recess of the exterior surface of the luggage piece and the periphery of the cover. 
     
     
         9 . The protective system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one fastener is configured to join the deformable body within the recess of the luggage piece.   
     
     
         10 . The protective system according to  claim 9 , wherein the luggage piece is configured with at least one aperture formed within the recess, and at least one deformable boss is configured to operably engage the at least one aperture of the luggage piece formed within the recess. 
     
     
         11 . The protective system according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one deformable boss is configured to receive the at least one fastener positioned through the at least one aperture of the deformable body. 
     
     
         12 . The protective system according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one deformable boss is positioned between the aperture formed in the luggage piece in the recess and the at least one fastener, and is configured to absorb impacts transmitted from the at least one fastener. 
     
     
         13 . The protective system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover further comprises an interior surface defining a plurality of protruding structures from the interior surface of the cover extending toward the recess of the exterior surface of the luggage piece. 
     
     
         14 . The protective system according to  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of protruding structures includes a deformable terminal end adjacent to or in contact with the exterior surface of the luggage piece and within the recess, and the deformable terminal end is configured to absorb external impacts exerted on the cover by deforming. 
     
     
         15 . The protective system according to  claim 1 , wherein the deformable body includes an exterior surface forming a recess; and the cover is received within the recess formed in the deformable body. 
     
     
         16 . The protective system according to  claim 15 , wherein the deformable body further includes a thickness wherein at least one region is relatively thicker than surrounding regions of the deformable body. 
     
     
         17 . The protective system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a thin portion, and external impacts exerted on the thin portion cause the thin portion to deflect inwardly into the deformable body. 
     
     
         18 . The protective system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover includes anchors extending from an interior surface of the cover and are configured to join with the deformable body. 
     
     
         19 . The protective system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a frame surrounding the deformable body, wherein the frame forms a connection structure for connecting the deformable body to the exterior surface of the luggage piece. 
     
     
         20 . The protective system according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one attachment leg joining the cover to the deformable body, wherein the attachment leg extends from an attachment structure coupled to the deformable body.