FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 OF 1970)
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See section 10, Rule 13)
"A LUGGAGE CASE WITH SIMPLE EDGE PROFILE TO ASSEMBLE MOULDED SHEEL AND RESPECTIVE REINFORCING FRAME"
VIP Industries Ltd., 78 A MIDC Satpur,
Nasik-422007, Maharashtra, India
An Indian company registered under the Company's Act 1956

The following specification (particularly) describes the nature of the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

1 5 MAR 2005

FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention "A luggage case with simple edge profile to assemble moulded shell and respective reinforcing frame" relates to joining of metallic or non-metallic reinforcing frame to the moulded shell of a luggage case.
The term luggage case wherever used in this specification includes suitcase, briefcase, trolleycase and vanitycase.
The invention relates to a luggage case or similar enclosure, having a metallic or non-metallic frame, as a reinforcing member, joined with shell to form a casing or a luggage case.
PRIOR ART
Usually the hard luggage cases and similar enclosures are provided with a metallic or plastic reinforcing frame 1 in multiple parts, around the edge of the shell 2, to provide structural strength to the product ( refer figure 1). One edge of the frame has a matching profile to receive another congruent edge of the frame, all over the periphery. The other edge of the each frame part has a groove to receive the corresponding shell edge for joining purpose. The shell edge is joined to the frame, along its periphery, with various known art, to form a rigid enclosure to keep the contents, which is the purpose of a luggage case. These frames are also used as an aesthetics band and for providing space for fitting hardware of the luggage case, such as locks, hinges, handle etc..
In one of the known art, the frame 1, with typical cross section 3 as shown in fig 2, 3 & 4, are joined to shell edge 4 by standard fasteners 5 e.g. rivets, screws, staples etc. The cross section 3 of the frame 1, over the periphery, is provided with a groove 6, bound by
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outer and inner walls 7 and 8 to receive the shell edge 4, which is gripped by permanently forming these walls all over the edge under controlled pressure, henceforth named as pinching and then joined to the frame with rivets, and similar fasteners. The disadvantages of this method are..
1. Pinching the shell edge between the walls, deforms the frame shape, which at later stage of assembly is corrected, manually.
2. These fasteners are seen on the front of the product, which lessens the aesthetics. A flexible cover 9 is required to hide these fasteners.
3. Also the assembly process involves, drilling of holes and then
riveting.
4. The process requires more time.
In some of the cases the shell edge is held in the cross sectional groove 6, as shown in fig 5, over the periphery of the frame, is gripped between outer wall 7 and inner wall 8, with a projection 10 , after pinching. The projection 10 is added for better gripping. The disadvantages of this method are..
1. Pinching the shell edge between the walls deforms the frames and affects the total working of the luggage, which after assembly needs to be rectified manually.
2. Gripping of the shell edge by frame walls only depends upon the hardness of the shell material, which is not foolproof. Higher hardness restricts extent of pinching, affecting the reliability of joint.
3. The process requires more time.
In some cases, as shown in fig 6, the shell and frame section are designed with interfering edges 11 and 12 in the frame section walls and the shells for permanent fitting. The interfering edges of the shell and frame section further add to gripping.
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1. The process of joining with interfering edges deforms the shell edges and thus reduces the gripping, affecting the reliability of joint.
2. The pinching process deforms the frame, and the structure of the shell, which is further, needs to be rectified manually.
3. The process requires more time.
OBJECTIVE AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the objective of the invention is to provide a section and shell edge such that when the shell edge is pressed over the frame groove, the shell edge gets locked inside the groove, and will not come out easily.
Other objective and advantage of the invention is to device a simple shell and edge profile for joining, to reduce the skill.
Other objective and advantage of the invention is to avoid the pinching operation, for gripping the shell edge. And, thus, avoid the chances of deforming the luggage structure, and avoid the rectification process.
Other objective and advantage of the invention is to enhance aesthetics of the luggage case by avoiding the use of fasteners, which are seen from outside, and lessens the aesthetics.-
Further objective and advantage of the invention is to reduce the labor content and time to join the frame and shell edge.
Further objectives and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.
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DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figure 1, shows the sketch of luggage showing the frame, shell part and their fitting edge, along with other components of the luggage such as locks handle etc.
Figure 2, is the cut section of frame of the luggage with reinforcing section, which describes the prior art of joining the shell edge and frame with rivets and similar fasteners, which are seen from outside.
Figure 3, is the cut section of frame of the luggage with reinforcing section, which describes the prior art of joining the shell edge and frame with rivets and similar fasteners, with a flexible cover to hide them.
Figure 4, is the cut section of frame of the luggage with reinforcing section, which describes the prior art of joining the shell edge and frame with staple and similar fasteners, with a flexible cover to hide them.
Figure 5, is the cut section of frame of the luggage with reinforcing section, which describes the prior art of joining the shell edge and frame , in which the shell edge is pinched between the inner and outer wall of the section for gripping the shell edge without any fastener.
Figure 6, is the cut section of frame of the luggage with reinforcing section, which describes the prior art of joining the shell edge and frame, in which the a designed interfering shell edge is
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gripped in the designed interfering edge of the frame by pinching the edge between the inner and outer walls of the section.
Figure 7 is the cut section of frame of the luggage with reinforcing section, which describes the invented way of gripping the shell edge and frame edge, along with the beading for fool proofing.
Figure 8, is the exploded view of the invented way of gripping the shell and frame edge.
The invention is, a new simpler section profile of the reinforcing frame and the moulded shell edge of a luggage, which will make the joining of said shell and frame, easy, quick and reliable.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the most preferred embodiment of this invention, a frame with cross sectional groove 6, as shown in the figure 7 & 8, has a restricted entry 12, between the inner wall 8 and the butting edge 13 of the outer wall 7 , over the periphery of the frame, to receive the shell edge, to make a luggage case.
The shell's peripheral edge 4 is in "U" shaped as shown in the figure 7 & 8. Because of the flexible property of the plastic material, the outer wall 14, of the "U" shaped edge 4, of the shell, is prone to bend inside, under external pressure.
While fitting the "U" shaped shell edge 4 into the frame section, the shell edge is pressed inside the frame groove 6. The restricted entry 12, of the frame section presses the flexible outer wall 14 of "U" shaped shell edge, and enters into the groove 6, under
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pressure. But when the shell edge tip 13, crosses over the section butting edge 15, of the frame , the flexible "U" shell edge tip 13, retracts down to accommodate itself inside the space of the groove 6, such that the shell edge tip 13, of 'U" shaped shell edge , is in line with the frames section butting edge 15.
This is one-way fitment. Now when the luggage ,made with this process is stuffed with the contents of the luggage, it exerts outward pressure on inner walls of the shell 2. The entire periphery of the U bend edge is pushed to open up from the frame, but said "U" bend Edge 13 is restricted by the butting edge 15, of the section and frame and shell joint remain intact. And it does not allow any shell frame opening.
To make the fitment further fool proof, a beading 16, made of harder plastic is inserted inside the "U" Bend to avoid collapsing of the walls of the "U" bend, in extreme conditions. The beading is held in position in the "U" shaped shell edge, by locating the groove 17 provided on the beading 16, into the butting edge 15, of the frame section. The beading also serves the purpose of aesthetic enhancement, as different color beading will add to beauty of product.
We claim,
1. A luggage case with simple edge profile to assemble a moulded shell and respective reinforcing frame, comprising, a reinforcing frame with a peripheral groove to receive a moulded shell edge with "U" shape , said shell edge being inserted into said groove under pressure to form a joint, between the frame peripheral edge and said shell edge, wherein a beading is inserted into said "U" bend edge of the shell.
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2. a luggage case assembly, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the beading has a groove profile corresponding to frame said edge tip for permanently locating the beading.
Dated this 19th day of December 2003

To,
The Controller,
Patent Office,

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ABSTRACT
A luggage case comprising of a reinforcing frame with a peripheral groove to receive a moulded shell edge being inserted into said groove under pressure to form a joint between frame peripheral edge and said shell edge wherein a beading is inserted into said "U" bend edge of the shell.