Luggage frame

Abstract

A piece of luggage (100, 298) may include front, rear, top, bottom, right, and left sides or faces (102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112) that define an enclosed space. The enclosed space may be divided into one or more compartments. The luggage piece may further include at least one zipper (124) to access the enclosed space. The at least one zipper may include a zipper track (132), at least one zipper slider (134), and at least one zipper tab (136). The luggage piece may further include a frame (138, 300) that generally defines the shape of the luggage piece. The frame may include upper and lower bodies (140, 142, 144, 146, 302, 304) that are joined together by elongated structural members (148, 150, 306), such as pultrusions or closed wire loops. The upper bodies may substantially define the top side of the luggage piece, and the lower bodies may substantially define the bottom side of the luggage piece. The upper and lower bodies may be molded, hard bodies.

1 . A luggage piece, comprising:
 a base;   a lid pivotally joined to the base to pivot between at least a first position where the base and the lid define a substantially enclosed space and a second position that allows for access to the substantially enclosed space; and   wherein either the base or the lid includes:   a first flap and a second flap;   a connection mechanism joined to the first flap and the second flap and configured to selectively connect and disconnect the first flap and second flap; and   when the first and second flaps are connected together, the flaps retain objects in the enclosed space.   
     
     
         2 . The luggage piece of  claim 1 , further comprising a liner or other inner layer of material joined to the first flap and the second flap, the liner configured to substantially cover an interior surface of the lid or the base. 
     
     
         3 . The luggage piece of  claim 2 , wherein the first flap is joined to the liner along a first side of the luggage piece and extends from the first side towards a second side of the luggage piece and terminates in a free end located a select distance from the first side. 
     
     
         4 . The luggage piece of  claim 3 , wherein the second flap is joined to the liner along the second side of the luggage piece and extends from the second side towards the first side of the luggage piece and terminates in a free end located a select distance from the second side. 
     
     
         5 . The luggage piece of  claim 4 , wherein the free end of the first flap and the free end of the second flap are proximate to each other. 
     
     
         6 . The luggage piece of  claim 1 , wherein the connection mechanism includes at least one buckle, preferably a tension buckle, positioned proximate the free ends of the first flap and the second flap. 
     
     
         7 . The luggage piece of  claim 6 , wherein the tension buckle comprises a male buckle element having a release mechanism and a female buckle element having a release mechanism slot, the release mechanism slot sized to receive the release mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The luggage piece of  claim 6 , further comprising a first buckle flexible member joining the male buckle element to one of the first or second flap and a second buckle flexible member joining the female buckle member to the other of the first or second flap. 
     
     
         9 . The luggage piece of  claim 8 , wherein the buckle flexible member is a fabric strap. 
     
     
         10 . The luggage piece of  claim 1 , wherein the connection mechanism includes a lock protrusion and a hole, the lock protrusion selectively received in the hole to selectively join the first and second flaps together. 
     
     
         11 . The luggage piece of  claim 10 , wherein the hole is defined in a structure joined to the first flap and the lock protrusion is defined in a component defined in the second flap. 
     
     
         12 . The luggage piece of  claim 1 , wherein the connection mechanism is a snap fastener, a hook and loop fastener, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The luggage piece of  claim 1 , wherein the first flap and the second flap are an elastic fabric or an elastic material. 
     
     
         14 . The luggage piece of  claim 1 , further comprising a frame, the frame comprising a first molded hard body, a second molded hard body and an elongated member joining the first and second molded hard bodies. 
     
     
         15 . The luggage piece of  claim 14 , further comprising a cover, the cover and a liner together defining an elongated cavity through which the elongated member is received.