A luggage system with a wardrobe element which extends from the luggage portion and supports a crossbar for hanging clothing or costumes. An arm extends away from the crossbar for supporting a privacy curtain. The wardrobe element is secured within the sides of the luggage, and the opening of the luggage can be opened and closed without needing to store the wardrobe element. In a preferred embodiment, the wardrobe element includes two pairs of structural legs extending out of respective pockets within the luggage, the legs terminating at the crossbar.

A removable cover for protecting an article of luggage is provided. The cover has a tubular section with top and bottom open ends and two cover sections extending from respective opposite perimeter end edges of the tubular section for covering the top and bottom open ends of the tubular section. The tubular section is configured to be placed over and cover front, rear, top, bottom and sides of an article of luggage. In an exemplary embodiment, a rear side of the tubular section is provided with at least one compartment for storing shoulder straps and for allowing the shoulder straps to be readily removed from the compartment to allow the user to carry the luggage in the form of a backpack.

A wheeled luggage case comprises (a) a storage chamber, (b) a cover defining an opening on at least one side of the storage chamber for providing ready access therein and at least two labyrinth axle-free wheels operatively connected to the chamber for towing the case along a ground surface. The labyrinth axle-free wheel comprises an internal rim, an external rim provided with a ground interface, rollers being rotatably disposed within a roller spacer between the internal and external rims in a uniform circumferential manner by means of a spacer and external covers. A labyrinth type dust passage in the wheel is defined by the rims and the external plates mechanically connected to the internal rim.

A wheeled luggage case comprises (a) a storage chamber, (b) a cover defining an opening on at least one side of the storage chamber for providing ready access therein and at least two labyrinth axle-free wheels operatively connected to the chamber for towing the case along a ground surface. The labyrinth axle-free wheel comprises an internal rim, an external rim provided with a ground interface, rollers being rotatably disposed within a roller spacer between the internal and external rims in a uniform circumferential manner by means of a spacer and external covers. A labyrinth type dust passage in the wheel is defined by the rims and the external plates mechanically connected to the internal rim.

A wheeled carrier including a rigid base having a bottom side, opposing front and rear sides extending upward from the bottom side, and opposing first and second lateral sides extending upward from the bottom side, a body extending upward from the base defining an interior between the base and an apex of the body, a pair of wheels connected to the base, the pair of wheels configured to rotate about an axis proximate to the rear side of the base, a telescoping handle assembly including two telescoping legs, each having a proximal end attached to the base and a distal end, the telescoping handle assembly including a handle connecting the distal ends of the two telescoping legs and extending over the apex of the body, and a pair of backpack straps attached to the body.

A wheeled carrier including a rigid base having a bottom side, opposing front and rear sides extending upward from the bottom side, and opposing first and second lateral sides extending upward from the bottom side, a body extending upward from the base defining an interior between the base and an apex of the body, a pair of wheels connected to the base, the pair of wheels configured to rotate about an axis proximate to the rear side of the base, a telescoping handle assembly including two telescoping legs, each having a proximal end attached to the base and a distal end, the telescoping handle assembly including a handle connecting the distal ends of the two telescoping legs and extending over the apex of the body, and a pair of backpack straps attached to the body.

A method for manufacturing a quadrangular shell having five faces and non-developable trihedral connectors between the faces. Plies having continuous fibers are cut to cover the five faces of the shell outside of the trihedral connector zones. Four connector components consolidated in the shape of the trihedral connectors are obtained. Each of the components includes an integration zone between the plies. Plies are positioned and laid up. The four consolidated components are inserted in the trihedral connection zones by inserting the integration zones between two plies to form an assembly obtain a preform. The preform is placed in a tool and the consolidation of the stack of fibrous plies is performed by subjecting the assembly to a predetermined pressure/temperature cycle.

A method for manufacturing a quadrangular shell having five faces and non-developable trihedral connectors between the faces. Plies having continuous fibers are cut to cover the five faces of the shell outside of the trihedral connector zones. Four connector components consolidated in the shape of the trihedral connectors are obtained. Each of the components includes an integration zone between the plies. Plies are positioned and laid up. The four consolidated components are inserted in the trihedral connection zones by inserting the integration zones between two plies to form an assembly obtain a preform. The preform is placed in a tool and the consolidation of the stack of fibrous plies is performed by subjecting the assembly to a predetermined pressure/temperature cycle.

An item of luggage includes an extendable and retractable handle mechanism having a handle axle to which a grip portion is mechanically connected. An elongate member of specific cross-section is mounted to be movable in translation relative to a fixed sheath and a locking/unlocking system. The locking/unlocking system includes a bushing and partly housed in the elongate member. In a first position of the grip portion, the locking/unlocking system is configured to compress the bushing such that it is tightly applied against an inside face of the sheath to keep the elongate member fixed in the sheath, thus locking the handle in a selected position. In a second position of the grip portion, the locking/unlocking system is configured to decompress the bushing to enable a free sliding of the elongate member in the sheath, thus unlocking the handle.

An item of luggage includes an extendable and retractable handle mechanism having a handle axle to which a grip portion is mechanically connected. An elongate member of specific cross-section is mounted to be movable in translation relative to a fixed sheath and a locking/unlocking system. The locking/unlocking system includes a bushing and partly housed in the elongate member. In a first position of the grip portion, the locking/unlocking system is configured to compress the bushing such that it is tightly applied against an inside face of the sheath to keep the elongate member fixed in the sheath, thus locking the handle in a selected position. In a second position of the grip portion, the locking/unlocking system is configured to decompress the bushing to enable a free sliding of the elongate member in the sheath, thus unlocking the handle.