A hard case for housing and transporting objects includes a first shell and a second shell, hinges for connecting the shells and enabling the latter to be arranged in a closed configuration or in an open configuration, and a closing device to lock the shells in the closed configuration. The shells include respective main panels formed by thermoforming an interwoven polypropylene sheet including a plurality of superimposed layers, each layer having oriented polypropylene fibers therein, the layers being arranged to interweave the superimposed fibers, and respective side elements including respective interface edges intended to be coupled to each other in the closed configuration. The side elements are made of polypropylene by injection molding and are fixed to the main panels to carry out respective joining portions in which the injected polypropylene of the side elements and the interwoven polypropylene of the main panels are melted and joined to each other in order to form the shells in a single part and entirely made of polypropylene.

A hard case for housing and transporting objects includes a first shell and a second shell, hinges for connecting the shells and enabling the latter to be arranged in a closed configuration or in an open configuration, and a closing device to lock the shells in the closed configuration. The shells include respective main panels formed by thermoforming an interwoven polypropylene sheet including a plurality of superimposed layers, each layer having oriented polypropylene fibers therein, the layers being arranged to interweave the superimposed fibers, and respective side elements including respective interface edges intended to be coupled to each other in the closed configuration. The side elements are made of polypropylene by injection molding and are fixed to the main panels to carry out respective joining portions in which the injected polypropylene of the side elements and the interwoven polypropylene of the main panels are melted and joined to each other in order to form the shells in a single part and entirely made of polypropylene.

A piece of luggage (1) comprising a housing (2) and at least one pair of caster wheels (9), wherein each of the caster wheels (9) comprises a swivel axis (S) and at least one wheel (10) with a peripheral surface (11) rotating around a rotation axis (R) running perpendicular to the swivel axis (S). The diameter (D) of the at least one wheel (9) is as large as possible under the provision that in a rotational position parts of the peripheral surface (10) of the wheel (9) extend in a space between a center plane (C) extending centrally between a front wall (3) and a back wall (4) and a reference plane (P) extending parallel and at a distance (A) to the center plane (C), which distance (A) amounts up to 20% of the diameter (D) of the wheel (9).

A laminate (110) of polypropylene films (100), a luggage shell (120) constructed of the laminate (110), a method (200) of making the laminate (110), and a method (280) of making the luggage shell (120) are provided. The films (100) include a core (102) and at least one outer layer (104). The laminate (110) includes a plurality of films (100). The laminate (110) may be formed by laminating a plurality of films 100 under predetermined pressure, temperature, and time conditions. The shell (120) may be formed by deep drawing a sheet of laminate (110) while applying heat and tension to the laminate (110).

A luggage shell fabrication method includes the step of making a thermoplastic sheet into a shell using a vacuum molding method, the step of placing the shell in a female mold area of a heating mold, the step of applying a molten thermosetting plastic layer to the inner surface of the shell; and the step of pressing the thermosetting plastic layer toward the inner surface of the shell and simultaneously heating the molten thermosetting plastic layer and the shell for causing the shell and the thermosetting plastic layer to be combined with each other to form a luggage shell.

The present invention relates to a part of a luggage system, in particular a shell of a hard-shell case or trolley, comprising a natural fiber material. The present invention further relates to a method for the manufacture and a method for the repair of such a part. A part of a luggage system is provided which comprises a fiber-reinforced material, wherein the fiber-reinforced material comprises a natural fiber material and a matrix material. The natural fiber material comprises at least one set of unidirectional fibers which are embedded in and/or impregnated with the matrix material.

A container capable of suppressing the unexpected opening of a pair of upper walls including a first side wall and a second side wall facing each other; a third side wall provided therebetween; a first upper wall and a second upper wall; and a locking member. The first side wall and the second side wall face each other. The first upper wall and the second upper wall are configured to be rotatable with respect to the first side wall and the second side wall, respectively. The locking member includes a fixed portion and an engagement portion, the fixed portion being fixed to the third side wall, the engagement portion being engaged with at least one of the first upper wall and the second upper wall to prevent the first upper wall and the second upper wall from opening.

A luggage case including an injection molded luggage shell including a zipper assembly attached to the luggage case during the injection molding of each shell. The injection molded shell having a rim portion and having opposing inside and outside surfaces. An elongated zip member including a tape member having opposing first and second surfaces, and opposing inner and outer edges defining a width, with teeth positioned along the inner edge, and defining a length. One opposing surface of at least part of a first portion of the first tape member is in-mould-bonded to at least one opposing surface of the rim portion.

An injection-molded container or shell, in particular a suitcase shell made of plastic, A) is made of foamed plastic and has gas channels and/or B) is made using physically or chemically foamed plastic and/or a plastic mixed with hollow fillers and/or C) is integrally made with wheel mounting axles and/or extendable rod buffers and/or extendable rod cavities.

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.