Luggage case with a closure assembly

Abstract

In one example of the present disclosure, a luggage case is disclosed. The luggage case includes at least one shell defining a rim, a zipper strip, an engagement structure selectively coupling the zipper strip, and the shell, the engagement structure including an integrally formed track defining a gap, and a retention feature selectively received in the gap and extending from the gap in a direction transverse to the track, and wherein one of the at least one shell or the zipper strip includes the track and another of the at least one shell or the zipper strip includes the retention feature.

1 . A luggage case comprising:
 at least one shell defining a rim;   a zipper strip;   an engagement structure selectively coupling the zipper strip and the at least one shell, the engagement structure including:
 an integrally formed track defining a gap, and 
 a retention feature selectively received in the gap and extending from the gap in a direction transverse to the track; and 
   wherein:
 one of the at least one shell or the zipper strip includes the track; and 
 another of the at least one shell or the zipper strip includes the retention feature. 
   
     
     
         2 . The luggage case of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the retention feature is integrally formed on a portion of the rim of the at least one shell; and   the track is integrally formed on a portion of an edge of the zipper strip.   
     
     
         3 . The luggage case of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the track is integrally formed on a portion of the rim of the at least one shell; and   the retention feature is formed on a portion of an edge of the zipper strip.   
     
     
         4 . The luggage case as in  claim 1 , wherein the track comprises:
 a first flange extending from the at least one shell; and   a second flange extending from the shell and spaced apart from the first flange to form the gap.   
     
     
         5 . The luggage case of  claim 4 , wherein the first flange and/or the second flange is continuous or discontinuous. 
     
     
         6 . The luggage case as in  claim 1 , wherein the retention feature comprises:
 a lobe defined along a portion of an edge of the zipper strip, the lobe having a width dimension (X 1 ) greater than a width dimension (X 4 ) of the gap;   a neck adjacent the lobe; and   wherein the gap receives the neck with the lobe engaging an inner surface of the first flange or the second flange, to retain the zipper strip in the track.   
     
     
         7 . The luggage case of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the retention feature further comprises:
 a rib extending along a portion of a length of the zipper strip and spaced from the lobe, the neck, defined between the rib and the lobe; and 
   wherein the gap receives the neck.   
     
     
         8 . The luggage case as in  claim 4 , wherein the second flange is supported by at least one brace member extending from the at least one shell the brace member defining a cutout to receive the lobe of the zipper strip. 
     
     
         9 . The luggage case of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one shell comprises:
 a bearing flange extending from the at least one shell and spaced from the track; and   wherein the at least one brace member extends between the bearing flange and the second flange.   
     
     
         10 . The luggage case as in  claim 8 , wherein:
 a width of the cutout is greater than the width (X 4 ) of the gap; and   the lobe is received in the cutout and the neck is received in the gap.   
     
     
         11 . The luggage case as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the at least one shell including a first shell and a second shell; and   a hinge coupling the first shell and the second shell.   
     
     
         12 . The luggage case of  claim 11 , wherein the hinge includes at least two discrete hinges, at least one of said hinges attached to the first shell and the second shell and to respective ends of the zipper strip. 
     
     
         13 . The luggage case of  claim 3 , wherein:
 an anchor couples at least one of the respective ends of the zipper strip to the at least one shell.   
     
     
         14 . The luggage case of  claim 1 , wherein the track comprises:
 an access region to selectively insert an end of the retention feature of the zipper strip to mount the zipper strip to the respective shell.   
     
     
         15 . The luggage case of  claim 1 , wherein the track is continuous or discontinuous.