How it works
A suitcase is a rectangular case with a handle, for carrying clothes on a trip. This drawing names six parts of a soft-sided upright case and two of a hard-shell one.
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Soft-sided first, then hard-shell
The soft-sided case has two handles. The telescoping handle slides up on two tubes to pull the case along on its wheels; the carrying handle on top is for lifting it. A zipper runs round the front, and the exterior pocket opens without it. The feet hold the case upright when it stands. The second case is built of a rigid shell, with a lock set into it.
- Two handles, two jobs: the telescoping one pulls, the carrying one lifts.
- A case with four wheels that turn any way is called a spinner.
Questions and answers
What are the parts of a suitcase called?
Outside: the telescoping handle, the carrying handle, the wheels, the feet, the zipper and, on a soft-sided case, an exterior pocket. A hard-sided case has a rigid shell and often a lock.
What is the pull handle on a suitcase called?
A telescoping handle, because its tubes slide inside one another. It is also called a retractable handle or a pull handle.
What is a spinner suitcase?
A suitcase with four wheels that can be moved and spun in any direction. The first were sold in 2004. Older wheeled cases have two wheels and are pulled leaning on them.
What are the feet on a suitcase for?
They hold the case steady and upright when it is standing still. When the case is tipped to roll, the feet come off the ground.