Luggage with shells having varied depths
A luggage case ( 100, 600, 700, 800, 900 ) may include opposing sidewalls forming minor faces ( 105, 106 ), opposing sidewalls forming major faces ( 101, 102 ), and opposing end walls ( 103, 104 ) together forming an article defining an enclosed space ( 109 ). A line of separation ( 150 ) may be formed in said minor faces ( 105, 160 ) and end walls ( 103, 104 ). A first portion of the line of separation ( 150 ) may extend along a first portion of opposing minor faces ( 105, 106 ) at a location proximate one of said opposing major faces ( 101, 102 ) and corresponding one of said opposing end walls ( 103, 104 ) positioned therebetween. A second portion of the line of separation ( 150 ) may extend along a second portion of said opposing minor faces ( 105, 106 ) in a direction away from said one of said opposing major faces ( 101, 102 ) and towards other of said opposing major faces ( 101, 102 ).
1. A luggage case, comprising:
opposing sidewalls forming a first minor face and a second minor face, opposing sidewalls forming major faces, and opposing end walls together forming an article defining an enclosed space; and
a line of separation formed in said minor faces and end walls along which said article separates;
wherein:
the enclosed space is divided into a first interior volume and a second interior volume by the line of separation;
the line of separation defines a first upper depth of the first minor face, a second upper depth of the first minor face, a first lower depth of the first minor face, and a second lower depth of the first minor face;
the first upper depth is greater than the second upper depth, and the second upper depth is greater than the second lower depth; and
the first interior volume is greater than the second interior volume.
2. The luggage case of claim 1 , wherein the first volume is from about 51% to about 95% of the total volume of the luggage case.
3. The luggage case of claim 2 , wherein the first volume is from about 64% to about 92% of the total volume of the luggage case.
4. The luggage case of claim 1 , wherein the first upper depth and second upper depth are associated with a first portion of line of separation and the first lower depth and second lower depth are associated with a second portion of the line of separation and the two portions extend in two different directions.
5. The luggage case of claim 4 , wherein the first portion of the line of separation extends along a first portion of each minor face at a location proximate one of said major faces and along corresponding one of said opposing end walls positioned therebetween.
6. The luggage case of claim 4 , wherein the second portion of the line of separation extends along a second portion of each minor face in a direction away from one of said major faces and towards the other of said major faces.
7. The luggage case of claim 4 , wherein the two portions meet at a transition portion positioned at a location between 10% and 40% of a height dimension of the luggage case as measured from an end wall.
8. The luggage case of claim 7 , wherein the transition portion is located at about 10% to about 20% of the height dimension of the luggage case and the first volume is from about 52% to about 95% of the total volume of the luggage case.
9. The luggage case of claim 7 , wherein the transition portion is located at about 20% to about 40% of the height dimension of the luggage case and the first volume is from about 51% to about 94% of the total volume of the luggage case.
10. The luggage case of claim 7 , wherein the transition portion forms a discrete angle or a curve defining a taper angle.
11. The luggage case of claim 10 , wherein the taper angle is from 20 degrees to 80 degrees.
12. The luggage case of claim 7 , wherein the first volume is increased and the second volume is decreased by decreasing the height of the transition portion.
13. A luggage case, comprising:
a lid operatively coupled to a base, the lid and the base defining a line of closure along abutting edges of respective perimeters of the lid and the base;
wherein:
the line of closure defines a lid volume having a first depth along a first portion of said case and a second depth along a second portion of said case, the line of closure further defining a base volume having a third depth along a first portion of said case and a fourth depth along a second portion of said case;
the first depth and the second depth are different; and
the lid volume is less than the base volume.
14. The luggage case of claim 13 , wherein the first depth is less than the second depth.
15. The luggage case of claim 13 , wherein the second depth is up to 12 times greater than the first depth.
16. The luggage case of claim 15 , wherein the second depth is from about 2 times to about 8 times greater than the first depth.
17. The luggage case of claim 13 , wherein the lid volume is from about 5% to about 49% of the total volume of the luggage case.
18. The luggage case of claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of support elements.
19. The luggage case of claim 18 , wherein the support elements are wheels and at least one wheel is coupled to the lid at the second portion of the case and at least one wheel is coupled to the base at the second portion of the case.
20. The luggage case of claim 13 , wherein a closure device is positioned along at least a portion of the line of closure.