Inventors:
Leonard R. Bradley - Cumberland RI
Wayne I. Schmitt - Bristol RI
Antone F. Macedo - Manville RI
Assignee:
American Tourister, Inc. - Warren RI
International Classification:
A45C 1336, A45C 1326, B62B 1100, A45C 514
Abstract:
A soft-sided piece of luggage comprises a container portion and a hinged cover including a lateral skirt. The skirt has a peripheral edge adapted for alignment with a peripheral edge of the container portion to accommodate the closure of cooperating zipper parts on the cover and container portion. Interior reinforcing means stiffens the luggage, and comprises a floor plate positioned along the inside of a rear wall of the container portion. The plate includes curved ends extending along rear corners of the container portion. The reinforcing plate projects beyond the peripheral edge of said container portion to shape respective rear and corner portions of the skirt when said cover is closed. A reinforcing U-bar extends along the inside of the container portion and is connected to the floor plate. A pair of curved stiffening plates are disposed at the inside of front corners of the container portion and are reinforced by the reinforcing bar.