Suitcase

A suitcase is a form of luggage. It is often a somewhat flat, rectangular-shaped bag with somewhat rounded square corners, either metal, hard plastic or made of cloth, vinyl or leather that more or less retains its shape. Vinyl, leather or cloth suitcases may have a metal frame. It has a carrying handle on one side and is used mainly for transporting clothes, toiletries and other small possessions during trips. Hardshell suitcases open on hinges like a door. Suitcases may lock with keys or a combination.

For other uses, see Suitcase (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Briefcase.
A modern strolley case or roll along

History
Archetypal suitcase
Main article: Trunk (luggage)

Originally, suitcases were made of wool or linen. Leather also became a popular material for suitcases. It was used to cover wood suitcases or just on its own for collapsible suitcases. It is difficult to document all the materials suitcases have been made out of. Like all produced consumer goods, the materials chosen to construct suitcases are a product of their time. Wool, wood, leather, metal, plastic, fiber composite - even recycled materials are all common suitcase materials. During covered wagon times, trunks were a popular form of transporting goods. The ride was rough, so the luggage had to be strong. The theme of suitcases becoming less cumbersome over time could be directly related to the advancement of better transportation.

20th century

As transportation changed, soft sided suitcases manufactured from polyester prevailed. The original 'Halliburton' aluminum travel cases were handmade for Erle P. Halliburton's personal use in 1938. In 1950 Rimowa introduced the mass market aluminum suitcase based on the Junkers Ju 52 airplane shortly followed by Zero Halliburton. Nylon suitcases prevailed afterwards. Wheeled luggage was first patented by Bernard Sadow in 1972[1] though the first commercially available wheeled suitcase, the Rollaboard, only emerged in 1987.[2] In the mid 1980s, Andiamo was the first company to incorporate ballistic nylon into luggage.

21st century

The first suitcases made of polycarbonate were made in 2000 by the German luggage maker Rimowa. Most luggage manufacturers have made some suitcases from the material. There are many grades of polycarbonate.[3]

Both acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), which was cheaper than polycarbonate, and polypropylene, which was lighter than polycarbonate, were introduced shortly after polycarbonate.[4] Spinner style wheeled suitcases were introduced in 2004.

Construction
Leather travel bag

The most sturdy suitcases are generally constructed from polymers such as nylon and have a covering that resists gouging and liquid from entering into the interior. The seams can be glued together or stitched with strong nylon thread. Generally the stitched-together suitcases hold up over time as compared to the glued construction and have a lock or latch.

Many modern suitcases have built-in small wheels enabling them to be pulled along on hard flat surfaces by a fixed or extendable handle or by a retractable or stowable leash. Suitcases are a type of luggage. A smaller, firmer suitcase, used mainly for transporting papers and office supplies, is known as a briefcase.[5][6][7] Some cases are made from proprietary materials such as Cordura or Tegris.

Variations

A suitcase that includes a telescopic handle and wheels is known as a stroller case or strolley (UK) or a roll along (US). These typically have two fixed wheels on one end with the handle located on the opposite for vertical movement.

Powered and smart suitcases are increasingly popular. A smart suitcase can typically be controlled via a smartphone application and may have features like GPS, smart lock, and robotic auto-follow.[8][9]

See also

References
  1. https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/05/business/05road.html
  2. https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-the-rollaboard-suitcase-changed-travel-forever
  3. http://www.worldtraveler.com/luggage-materials. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. "How to Choose the Right Suitcase". 2013-11-21.
  5. "Wheel Structure. Original document: US808765 (A) ― 1906-01-02". Espacenet.
  6. "Suitcase Test". Archived from the original on October 24, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  7. Sharkey, Joe (October 24, 2016). "Reinventing the Suitcase by Adding the Wheel". The New York Times. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  8. "CowaRobot Travel Suitcase". Flowily. 2016-08-06.
  9. ForwardX Ovis.
  • Media related to Suitcases at Wikimedia Commons
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