HARDSIDE LUGGAGE ARTICLE WITH PIVOTABLE SHELL PORTION

A hard side luggage article (100) having a pivotable shell portion (164) is provided. The luggage article may include a luggage case (102) defining an internal compartment (104) and including a first split line (110) defining first and second shells (106, 108), each shell having a major face (126) and opposing sidewalls (140); a closure mechanism (148) releasably securing the first shell and the second shell along the first split line; a second split line (162) formed across the major face and the opposing sidewalls of the first shell and defining first and second shell portions (164, 166) of the first shell, the second split line extending from a portion of the first split line on one sidewall to another portion of the first split line on the opposing sidewall; and a hinge band (174) secured to the first and second shell portions along at least a portion of the length of the second split line. The first shell portion may be pivotable about the hinge band when the closure mechanism is disengaged along the first split line extending along the first shell portion.