Base Reinforcement and Handle for Luggage

Abstract

An article of luggage can include a housing portion and a reinforcement element disposed adjacent an interior surface of the housing portion. The reinforcement element can include a plurality of interconnecting ribs. The luggage system can include a handle partially disposed adjacent an exterior surface of the housing portion, which handle can at least partially extend through a handle opening in the housing portion and into the reinforcement element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of luggage comprising:
 a housing portion;   a reinforcement element disposed adjacent an interior surface of the housing portion; and   a handle partially disposed adjacent an exterior surface of the housing portion;   wherein a portion of the handle extends through at least a handle opening provided in the housing portion and into the reinforcement element.   
     
     
         2 . The article of luggage of  claim 1  further comprising:
 one or more wheel wells formed in the housing portion, the wheel wells configured to accommodate one or more wheel assemblies; 
 wherein the reinforcement element extends over at least a portion of an interior surface of the one or more wheel wells. 
 
     
     
         3 . The article of luggage of  claim 1  further comprising:
 one or more wheel wells formed in the housing portion, the wheel wells configured to accommodate one or more wheel assemblies; 
 wherein edges of the reinforcement element abut at least a portion of an interior surface of the one or more wheel wells. 
 
     
     
         4 . The article of luggage of  claim 1  wherein the reinforcement element includes a plurality of interconnecting ribs. 
     
     
         5 . The article of luggage of  claim 4  wherein a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the handle is formed among the plurality of interconnecting ribs. 
     
     
         6 . The article of luggage of  claim 1  wherein the reinforcement element includes a first reinforcement region and a second reinforcement region, wherein the first reinforcement region is configured to exhibit increased rigidity compared to the second reinforcement region. 
     
     
         7 . The article of luggage of  claim 6  wherein the first reinforcement region is at least partially located adjacent an open edge of the housing portion. 
     
     
         8 . The article of luggage of  claim 1  wherein the reinforcement element includes a honeycomb rib pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The article of luggage of  claim 1  wherein the handle includes an opening defining a grab region configured to permit a user's fingers to grab and exert a force on the article of luggage. 
     
     
         10 . The article of luggage of  claim 9  wherein the handle includes an angled surface. 
     
     
         11 . The article of luggage of  claim 9  wherein the reinforcement element defines an interior surface of the grab region. 
     
     
         12 . An article of luggage comprising:
 a housing portion; and   a reinforcement element disposed on an interior bottom surface of the housing portion, wherein the reinforcement element includes at least a first rib and a second rib wherein the first rib and the second rib interconnect.   
     
     
         13 . The article of luggage of  claim 12  further comprising:
 one or more wheel wells formed in the housing portion, the wheel wells configured to accommodate one or more wheel assemblies; 
 wherein the reinforcement element extends over at least a portion of an interior surface of the one or more wheel wells. 
 
     
     
         14 . The article of luggage of  claim 12  further comprising:
 one or more wheel wells formed in the housing portion, the wheel wells configured to accommodate one or more wheel assemblies; 
 wherein edges of the reinforcement element abut at least a portion of an interior surface of the one or more wheel wells. 
 
     
     
         15 . The article of luggage of  claim 12  wherein the reinforcement element includes a first reinforcement region and a second reinforcement region, wherein the first reinforcement region is configured to exhibit increased rigidity compared to the second reinforcement region. 
     
     
         16 . The article of luggage of  claim 15  wherein the first reinforcement region is at least partially located adjacent an open edge of the housing portion. 
     
     
         17 . The article of luggage of  claim 12  wherein the first rib and the second rib form a portion of a honeycomb rib pattern. 
     
     
         18 . The article of luggage of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a handle disposed at least partially on an exterior surface of the housing portion, wherein a portion of the handle extends through at least a handle opening provided in the housing portion and into the reinforcement element. 
 
     
     
         19 . The article of luggage of  claim 18  wherein the reinforcement element includes a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the handle. 
     
     
         20 . The article of luggage of  claim 18  wherein a grab region is defined by an opening in the handle and the reinforcement element, the grab region configured to permit a user's fingers to grab and exert a force on the article of luggage.