Base Reinforcement and Handle for Luggage
An article of luggage can include a housing portion and a reinforcement element disposed adjacent an interior surface of the housing portion. The reinforcement element can include a plurality of interconnecting ribs. The luggage system can include a handle partially disposed adjacent an exterior surface of the housing portion, which handle can at least partially extend through a handle opening in the housing portion and into the reinforcement element.
1 . An article of luggage comprising:
a housing portion;
a reinforcement element disposed adjacent an interior surface of the housing portion; and
a handle partially disposed adjacent an exterior surface of the housing portion;
wherein a portion of the handle extends through at least a handle opening provided in the housing portion and into the reinforcement element.
2 . The article of luggage of claim 1 further comprising:
one or more wheel wells formed in the housing portion, the wheel wells configured to accommodate one or more wheel assemblies;
wherein the reinforcement element extends over at least a portion of an interior surface of the one or more wheel wells.
3 . The article of luggage of claim 1 further comprising:
one or more wheel wells formed in the housing portion, the wheel wells configured to accommodate one or more wheel assemblies;
wherein edges of the reinforcement element abut at least a portion of an interior surface of the one or more wheel wells.
4 . The article of luggage of claim 1 wherein the reinforcement element includes a plurality of interconnecting ribs.
5 . The article of luggage of claim 4 wherein a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the handle is formed among the plurality of interconnecting ribs.
6 . The article of luggage of claim 1 wherein the reinforcement element includes a first reinforcement region and a second reinforcement region, wherein the first reinforcement region is configured to exhibit increased rigidity compared to the second reinforcement region.
7 . The article of luggage of claim 6 wherein the first reinforcement region is at least partially located adjacent an open edge of the housing portion.
8 . The article of luggage of claim 1 wherein the reinforcement element includes a honeycomb rib pattern.
9 . The article of luggage of claim 1 wherein the handle includes an opening defining a grab region configured to permit a user's fingers to grab and exert a force on the article of luggage.
10 . The article of luggage of claim 9 wherein the handle includes an angled surface.
11 . The article of luggage of claim 9 wherein the reinforcement element defines an interior surface of the grab region.
12 . An article of luggage comprising:
a housing portion; and
a reinforcement element disposed on an interior bottom surface of the housing portion, wherein the reinforcement element includes at least a first rib and a second rib wherein the first rib and the second rib interconnect.
13 . The article of luggage of claim 12 further comprising:
one or more wheel wells formed in the housing portion, the wheel wells configured to accommodate one or more wheel assemblies;
wherein the reinforcement element extends over at least a portion of an interior surface of the one or more wheel wells.
14 . The article of luggage of claim 12 further comprising:
one or more wheel wells formed in the housing portion, the wheel wells configured to accommodate one or more wheel assemblies;
wherein edges of the reinforcement element abut at least a portion of an interior surface of the one or more wheel wells.
15 . The article of luggage of claim 12 wherein the reinforcement element includes a first reinforcement region and a second reinforcement region, wherein the first reinforcement region is configured to exhibit increased rigidity compared to the second reinforcement region.
16 . The article of luggage of claim 15 wherein the first reinforcement region is at least partially located adjacent an open edge of the housing portion.
17 . The article of luggage of claim 12 wherein the first rib and the second rib form a portion of a honeycomb rib pattern.
18 . The article of luggage of claim 12 further comprising:
a handle disposed at least partially on an exterior surface of the housing portion, wherein a portion of the handle extends through at least a handle opening provided in the housing portion and into the reinforcement element.
19 . The article of luggage of claim 18 wherein the reinforcement element includes a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the handle.
20 . The article of luggage of claim 18 wherein a grab region is defined by an opening in the handle and the reinforcement element, the grab region configured to permit a user's fingers to grab and exert a force on the article of luggage.