Luggage trim

Oct 16, 1962

3,058,554

Μ. H. DOREN ETAL

LUGGAGE TRIM Filed July 27, 1959

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ATTORNEYS

United States Patent Office ³'⁰⁵⁸>⁵⁵⁴

Patented Oct. 16, 1962

3,058,554 LUGGAGE TRIM Mark H. Doren, Cedar Springs, and Frank J. Honmrth, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignors to Sackner Products, Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of Michigan 5 Filed July 27, 1959, Ser. No. 829,854

Claims. (CI. 190—49)

This invention relates to a luggage trim adapted to be secured within a luggage holder for facilitating a more effective closure of the lid thereon. More particularly, this invention relates to a luggage trim comprised primarily of elongated strips of fibreboard, utilizing an elongated stiffener therein to provide a strengthened trim.

Most luggage holders utilize some sort of trim around the inside lip of the holder to facilitate a more effective closure. These trims are adapted to lie closely adjacent the inside face of the cover when it is in closed position, thereby assuring a more complete closure. Most of the luggage trims presently in existence are comprised of nothing more than paperboard molded to the proper ²θ shape. However, these molded paperboard luggage trims have many inherent disadvantages.

The paperboard is molded in wet condition so that it may be formed into the desired shape. When such trims dry out after the molding process, there is a certain ⁵amount of shrinkage which causes imperfections. The edges are not straight and the imperfections tend to eventually rip and tear the material placed over the trim. As it hardens into shape, it is difficult to work with in that it will not easily bend around corners when being applied within the luggage holder. Further, molded paperboard does not exhibit the necessary strength during long and continued use. It tends to crack and not fit as perfectly as it should. These and other disadvantages 05 have given rise to a need for a different type of luggage trim.

.An object of this invention is to provide a luggage trim which exhibits strength sufficient to withstand long and continued use.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a luggage trim which is easier to apply to the luggage, holder, being more flexible and workable.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a luggage trim which does not crack and deform when bent 45 during application at the corners of the luggage holder.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a luggage trim which is neat in appearance, exhibiting sharp, straight edges.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a 50 luggage trim which is virtually free of imperfections, thereby not damaging the lining within the luggage holder.

Still another object of this invention is to provide such a luggage trim which is simple and inexpensive to fabricate. . ₅₅

Other objects of this invention will become obvious to those skilled in the art of luggage holders upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an open luggage holder 60 showing the positioning of the luggage trim comprising this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the luggage trim comprising this invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane 65 III—III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective, end view of this luggage trim, certain parts thereof being broken away to better show elements of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a top, perspective view of this luggage trim 70 shown in bent position as it is attached to the corner of a luggage holder.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view showing this luggage trim in position within a luggage holder, the cover being in closed position.

Briefly, this invention relates to a luggage trim adapted to be secured within a luggage holder for facilitating a more effective closure of the lip thereon, the trim including an elongated stiffener secured between a pair of elongated fibreboard strips. These strips are of a height greater than the stiffener, whereby the bottoms of the pair of strips extend below the bottom of the stiffener. A plurality of elongated, narrower fibreboard strips are secured one to another along their lengths, one of the outermost narrower strips being secured to one of the pair of strips along the bottom portion thereof. A fibreboard covering envelops this assembly and the portion of this covering which envelops the narrower strips and the narrower strips themselves are scored at spaced points along their lengths.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates a luggage holder having a cover 2 (FIG. 1). The luggage trim 10 is secured to the inside face of the luggage holder 1, a portion thereof extending above the luggage holder. This luggage trim lies closely adjacent the inside surface of the cover 2 when it is in closed position, engaging the luggage holder 1. It is the structure of the luggage trim 10 which is important to this invention.

Luggage trim 10 includes an elongated stiffener 11 secured between a pair of elongated fibreboard strips 14 and 15 (FIGS. 3 and 4). It has been found that an elongated steel band serves very well as a stiffener. The term fibreboard is used as a generic term for all fibrous types of material, such as paperboard, jute liner board, chip board, etc. The stiffener 11 may be secured between the strips 14 and 15 by any one of several methods, such as gluing. The top of the stiffener 11 is aligned generally with the tops of the strips 14 and 15. These strips are of a height greater than that of the member 11, the bottom portion of each strip 14 and 15 extending below the bottom thereof. The purpose of this structure will be more fully explained hereinafter.

A plurality of narrower, elongated fibreboard strips 20, 21 and 22 are secured together along their lengths, the strip 20 being secured along its length to the lower portion of the strip 15. Again, these strips may be secured together by gluing. This entire assembly is enveloped by a fibreboard covering 30, this covering fitting snugly about the structure described to this point.

The portion of the covering 30' which envelops the narrower strips 20, 21 and 22 is scored at spaced intervals 40 throughout its length. These scores extend through this portion of the covering 30, and through the narrower strips 20, 21 and 22 (FIGS. 2, 4 and 5).

Operation

The luggage trim 10 comprising this invention is assembled as described hereinbefore. This luggage trim is completely flexible and is applied in a continuous strip to the inner surface of a luggage holder by means of staples 50 (FIG. 6). These staples extend through the lower portions of elongated strips 14 and 15, and through the narrower strips 20, 21 and 22 and into the luggage holder 1. This trim is very easy to apply. It will be noted that the scores 40 provided in the luggage trim 10 facilitate bending at its corners, the bend being smooth and even without cracks or sharp edges. This is accomplished by separations forming in the trim 10 as is clearly shown in FIG. 5.

The luggage trim 10 is secured to the luggage holder by means of the staples 50 (FIG. 6). A silk lining 70 may then be attached to this fabric, lining the inside of the luggage holder. It must be understood that this latter

3,058,564 structure is not part of this invention, but rather describes one type of luggage holder. It will be noted from FIG. 6 that a portion of the luggage trim 10 extends above the luggage holder 1 and rests closely adjacent the inside surface of the cover 2 when in closed position.

The luggage trim described herein is formed quickly and easily and exhibits much greater strength due to the stiffener forming a part of the trim. It exhibits sharper, straighter edges, thereby being more pleasing in appearance and providing a more effective closure for the lid on the luggage holder. This is because a tight fit is assured around the circumference of the holder. Further, this luggage trim is flexible and therefore is attached easily within a luggage holder. It is especially adapted to bend easily so that the trim does not crack when secured at the corners of the holder. The problems caused by shrinkage in a molded trim are completely eliminated.

While only one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is possible that the invention may be practiced through the utilization of certain other embodiments. These other embodiments are to be included within the spirit and scope of this invention unless the following claims specifically state otherwise.