Suitcase frame

Abstract

There is provided a frame corner component (110) for a frame assembly of a suitcase panel. The frame corner component comprises a first connection portion (112) and a second connection portion (113), each of the first and second connection portion comprising an opening (116, 117) configured to receive an end of a support rod. At least one of the first and second connection portions further comprises an aperture (118A, 118B, 118C, 118D, 119A, 119B, 119C, 119D) configured to allow access to at least a part of a respective support rod when the respective support rod is received in the opening of a respective connection portion.

1 . A frame corner component for a frame assembly of a suitcase panel, the frame corner component comprising:
 a first connection portion comprising an opening to receive an end of a support rod; and   a second connection portion comprising an opening to receive an end of a support rod,   wherein at least one of the first and second connection portions further comprises an aperture configured to allow access to at least a part of a respective support rod when the respective support rod is received in the opening of a respective connection portion.   
     
     
         2 . The frame corner component according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening of at least one of the first and second connection portions comprises an internal protrusion configured to engage an external surface of a respective support rod when the respective support rod is received in the opening so as to maintain the end of the respective support rod in place. 
     
     
         3 . The frame corner component according to  claim 2 , wherein the internal protrusion is integrally formed on an internal surface of the respective opening, optionally wherein the internal protrusion is formed by a moulding process. 
     
     
         4 . The frame corner component according to  claim 2 or claim 3 , wherein the internal protrusion is in the shape of a ridge. 
     
     
         5 . The frame corner component according to  claim 4 , wherein the ridge is formed along at least a section of an inner circumference of the opening of the connection portion, optionally wherein the ridge is formed along at least 80% of the inner circumference of the opening of the connection portion. 
     
     
         6 . A frame assembly for a suitcase panel, comprising:
 four support rods, wherein each support rod comprises fiberglass; and   four frame corner components, wherein at least one of the four frame components is a frame corner component according to  any one of the preceding claims ,   wherein each frame corner component is configured to connect two respective support rods so as to form a quadrilateral frame.   
     
     
         7 . The frame assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein, for at least one of the four frame corner components, the at least one of the first and second connection portions further comprises applied adhesive at one or more contact areas adjacent to the aperture, the one or more contact areas being between an internal surface of the respective opening and the support rod that is received within the respective opening. 
     
     
         8 . The frame assembly according to  claim 6 or claim 7 , wherein at least one end of each support rod comprises a groove on the external surface, the groove having a complementary shape and a corresponding position to the internal protrusion, and wherein when a respective support rod is received in the opening of a connection portion provided with an internal protrusion, the internal protrusion engages the groove at the end of the support rod to maintain the support rod in place. 
     
     
         9 . A kit comprising parts for constructing the frame assembly of any one of  claims 6 to 8 . 
     
     
         10 . A suitcase panel comprising:
 the frame assembly according to any one of  claims 6 to 8 ; and   a covering,   wherein at least a part of the frame assembly is stitched inside one or more sections of an interior side of the covering.   
     
     
         11 . The suitcase panel according to  claim 10 , wherein the covering comprises an inner lining and at least a part of the frame assembly is stitched inside or underneath one or more sections of the inner lining of the covering. 
     
     
         12 . The suitcase panel according to  claim 10 or claim 11 , wherein the covering is a fabric covering. 
     
     
         13 . A kit comprising parts for constructing the suitcase panel according to any one of  claims 10 to 12 . 
     
     
         14 . A suitcase comprising the suitcase panel according to any one of  claims 10 to 12 . 
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing a frame assembly for a suitcase panel, the method comprising:
 providing four support rods and four frame corner components, wherein each support rod comprises fiberglass, and wherein each frame corner component comprises a first connection portion and a second connection portion, each connection portion comprising an opening configured to receive an end of a respective support rod, and wherein each frame corner component is configured connect two respective support rods so as to form a quadrilateral frame, and further wherein at least one of the first and second connection portions of at least one frame corner component further comprises an aperture configured to allow access to at least a part of a respective support rod when the respective support rod is received in the opening of a respective connection portion; and   connecting each of the four frame corner components with two respective support rods,   wherein connecting each frame corner component with two respective support rods comprises:
 inserting an end of one of the two respective support rods into the opening of the first connection portion; and 
 inserting an end of another one of the two respective support rods into the opening of the second connection portion. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first and second connection portions of each frame corner component comprises an aperture configured to allow access to at least a part of a respective support rod when the respective support rod is received in the opening of a respective connection portion. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 or claim 16 , wherein for at least one frame corner component, the opening of at least one of the first and second connection portions comprises an internal protrusion configured to engage an external surface of a respective support rod when the respective support rod is received in the opening, wherein inserting an end of a respective support rod into the opening of a connection portion that includes an internal protrusion comprises:
 inserting the end of the respective support rod such that the internal protrusion engages the external surface of the respective support rod.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein for each frame corner component, the opening of at least one of the first and second connection portions comprises an internal protrusion configured to engage an external surface of a respective support rod when the respective support rod is received in the opening. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 or claim 18 , wherein the internal protrusion is integrally formed on an internal surface of the opening, optionally wherein the internal protrusion is formed by a moulding process. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to any one of  claims 15 to 19 , further comprising, subsequent to connecting a frame corner component with two respective support rods, applying adhesive through the aperture of the at least one of the first and second connection portions. 
     
     
         21 . A method of manufacturing a suitcase panel, comprising:
 either:
 providing a frame assembly according to any one of  claims 1 to 8 ; or 
 manufacturing a frame assembly for a suitcase panel according to the method of any one of claims  15  to  20 ; 
   providing a covering; and   stitching at least a part of the frame assembly inside one or more sections of an interior side of the covering.   
     
     
         22 . A method of manufacturing a suitcase, the method comprising manufacturing a suitcase panel according to the method of  claim 21 .