CN118234402A - Luggage article - Google Patents

Abstract

A suitcase (100) includes an enclosure portion and a skeletal frame (120) defining an interior volume of the suitcase. The closure portion includes a base (170), a top (160), and a wall separating the base from the top. The skeleton (120) includes: a first diagonal assembly (130) extending between a front of the base (170) and a rear of the top (160); and a second diagonal assembly (140) extending between a rear portion of the base (170) and a front portion of the top (160).

Description

Luggage article

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to articles of luggage. In particular, the present disclosure relates to suitcases.

Background

Items of luggage may come in many different shapes, sizes and forms. In particular, one known type of luggage item is a suitcase. Typically, a suitcase may include at least one pair of wheel assemblies and at least one or two handles. Known suitcases may be of either a hard sided or soft sided construction.

Hard suitcases (also known as hard shell suitcases, hard side suitcases or hard construction suitcases) are generally constructed of a rigid material that forms a major surface of the suitcase. For example, the hard-sided suitcase may be made from a molded plastic shell. The molded plastic shell may be formed into a three-dimensional shape that defines a major surface of the suitcase when assembled.

Soft suitcases (also known as soft shell suitcases, soft edge suitcases, or soft construction suitcases) generally include a fabric cover panel and a shape defining frame disposed about a perimeter of one or more of the fabric cover panels. Fabric cover panels are often attached to each other via a shape defining frame such that the fabric cover panels substantially form a major surface of the suitcase.

In particular, for example, the shape defining frame may take the form of a flexible hemming (hemming) or hemming (taping), which is commonly used in the manufacture of soft suitcases as a means of separating and fastening adjacent panels of the soft suitcase together, thereby defining the overall shape of the suitcase. Adjacent edge portions of the panel are typically sewn to the legs or flanges of the trim, the legs or flanges extending below the outer surface of the panel, exposing it to only the normally outer tubular portion of the trim. Thus, the outer tubular portion of the trim is typically raised (proud) above the surface of the suitcase, often defining many of the external dimensions of the suitcase. The wrapping may be enhanced, such as by a hard wire or coil wire inserted into the tubular portion.

In addition to the trim, the shape defining frame may also include an internal metal or plastic frame in combination with the PE panels and plywood panels, which are bent and secured together to form a particular shape to add further strength and structure to the suitcase.

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an alternative and improved construction of a soft-sided suitcase.

Disclosure of Invention

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a suitcase comprising:

a closure portion defining an interior volume of the suitcase, the closure portion including a base, a top, and a wall separating the base from the top; and

A skeleton, comprising:

A first diagonal member extending between the front of the base and the rear of the top; and

A second diagonal member extends between the rear of the base and the front of the top.

In this way, strength is provided by the triangular form provided by the first diagonal assembly and the second diagonal assembly, as well as the position relative to the base, top, and each other. This strength may allow the user to use the suitcase as a stool.

Optionally, the first diagonal assembly is connected to the second diagonal assembly between the base and the top, which further facilitates the triangular structure.

Optionally, the first diagonal assembly comprises a first rectangular frame and the second diagonal assembly comprises a second rectangular frame.

Optionally, the first rectangular frame includes a first horizontal bar adjacent the front of the base, a second horizontal bar adjacent the rear of the top, and a first pair of inclined members extending between the first horizontal bar and the second horizontal bar.

Optionally, the second rectangular frame includes a first horizontal beam adjacent the front of the top, a second horizontal beam adjacent the rear of the base, and a second pair of diagonal members extending between the first horizontal beam and the second horizontal beam.

These features may provide further strength to the armature while maintaining simplicity of construction, component manufacture and assembly.

Optionally, the suitcase further includes a top stay extending between the first horizontal bar and the first horizontal beam.

This may be used to maintain a fixed distance between the first horizontal bar and the first horizontal beam. This may provide further strength to the skeleton.

Optionally, the suitcase further includes a bottom stay extending between the second horizontal bar and the second horizontal beam.

This may be used to maintain a fixed distance between the second horizontal bar and the second horizontal beam. This may provide further strength to the skeleton.

The framework may further comprise one or more vertical assemblies comprising one or more of the following:

A front vertical assembly extending between the front of the base and the front of the top such that a front wall of the enclosure portion extends around the front vertical assembly; and

A rear vertical assembly extending between the rear of the base and the rear of the top such that a rear wall of the enclosure portion extends around the rear vertical assembly.

In this way, a substantially parallelepiped shape may be provided by the vertical assembly. However, the vertical assembly may be a relatively light and less weight bearing material than the skeletal frame.

The base includes a rigidly molded base structure.

This may provide further strength to the skeleton and may provide facilities for attachment of adjacent components.

The top may comprise a rigid molded top structure.

This may provide further strength to the skeleton and may provide facilities for attachment of adjacent components.

Alternatively, the top portion comprises a flexible fabric.

This may provide strength and flexibility.

The first and second components may each comprise a metal tube.

When present, the top struts and/or bottom struts may comprise metal tubes.

When present, some or all of the one or more vertical components may be made of composite materials.

The closure portion may be formed in a substantially parallelepiped shape.

The suitcase may include a telescoping handle. This may facilitate handling with minimal space occupation when retracted.

The suitcase may include a plurality of wheel assemblies. This may facilitate handling.

The suitcase may include a lid formed in a front wall of the enclosure portion.

Drawings

The invention may be practiced in a variety of ways and specific embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the internal components of a suitcase according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic view of the same internal components of the suitcase shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the exterior of the suitcase shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with exterior components present;

FIG. 4 illustrates various features of FIG. 1 from a different perspective;

FIG. 5 shows a variation of the suitcase of FIG. 1 having eight wheels instead of four wheels;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the interior components of a suitcase according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is an exploded schematic view of the same internal components of the suitcase shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 shows a variation of the suitcase of FIG. 6 having eight wheels instead of four wheels;

FIG. 9 illustrates a third embodiment of the present disclosure similar to FIG. 1 but with an alternative top;

FIG. 10 shows a three-dimensional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 from a rear perspective;

FIG. 11 shows a two-dimensional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 from a front perspective;

FIG. 12 shows a two-dimensional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 from a rear perspective;

FIG. 13 shows a two-dimensional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 from a side view angle; and

Fig. 14 shows a two-dimensional view of the embodiment of fig. 1 from the top perspective.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of the internal structure of a suitcase 100 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

The interior structure of suitcase 100 includes a skeleton 120, and skeleton 120 includes a first diagonal assembly 130 and a second diagonal assembly 140. The internal structure of the suitcase also includes a top 160 and a base 170.

The top 160 may include a rigid molded top structure 160. The rigid molded top structure 160 may have a substantially planar central element and rounded edges on either side of the substantially planar central element. The rigid molded top structure 160 may include holes for the purpose of reducing weight while minimizing loss of rigidity.

Similarly, the base 170 may include a rigidly molded base structure 170. The rigid molded base structure 170 may have a substantially planar central element and rounded edges on either side of the substantially planar central element. The rigid molded base structure 170 may include holes for the purpose of reducing weight while minimizing loss of rigidity.

The rigid molded base 170 may include connection portions for the wheel assemblies 191, 192, 193, 194.

The first diagonal assembly 130 extends between a front of the base 170 and a rear of the top 160. The second diagonal assembly 140 extends between the rear of the base 170 and the front of the top 160.

Each of the first and second diagonal members 130 and 140 may be made of a metal pipe (e.g., iron, steel, or aluminum).

The skeletal frame 120 further includes a connector 150, wherein the first diagonal assembly 130 is connected to the second diagonal assembly 140 between the base and the top.

Suitcase 100 also includes telescoping handle assembly 180 and wheel assemblies 191, 192, 193, 194 (194 not visible in FIG. 1).

The first diagonal assembly 130 includes a first rectangular frame 130, and the second diagonal assembly 140 includes a second rectangular frame 140.

Referring to fig. 2, the first rectangular frame 130 includes a first horizontal bar 132 adjacent to the front of the top 160 and a second horizontal bar 134 spanning the rear of the base. In this case, the level is not an absolute term, but describes the direction shown in fig. 1 and 2. The first rectangular frame 130 also includes a first pair of inclined members 136, 138 extending between the first horizontal bar 132 and the second horizontal bar 134. In this case, tilting is not an absolute term, but describes the direction shown in fig. 1 and 2, which is neither horizontal nor vertical.

The first horizontal bar 132 and the second horizontal bar 134 extend largely across the entire width of the skeleton 120. The first and second sloped members 136, 138 may each extend substantially the entire height of the skeletal frame 120.

The second rectangular frame 140 includes a first horizontal beam 142 adjacent the front of the top 160 and a second horizontal beam 144 spanning the rear of the base. In this case, the level is not an absolute term, but describes the direction shown in fig. 1 and 2. The second rectangular frame 140 also includes a second pair of angled members 146, 148 extending between the first horizontal beam 142 and the second horizontal beam 144. In this case, tilting is not an absolute term, but describes the direction shown in fig. 1 and 2, which is neither horizontal nor vertical.

The first and second horizontal beams 142, 144 extend largely across the entire width of the framework 120. The first and second sloped members 146, 148 may each extend substantially the entire height of the skeletal frame 120.

The connection member 150 may include a first connection member 151 and a second connection member 152. The first connector 151 may provide a connection between a middle point of the first tilting member 136 of the first rectangular frame 130 and an approximate middle point of the first tilting member 146 of the second rectangular frame 140. The midpoint of each diagonal member 136, 146 may be approximately the midpoint of the diagonal members 136, 138. The second connector 152 may provide a connection between a middle point of the second tilting member 138 of the first rectangular frame 130 and an approximate middle point of the second tilting member 148 of the second rectangular frame 140. The midpoint of each angled member 146, 148 may be approximately the midpoint of the angled member 146, 148.

First rectangular frame 130 may be positioned at a first angle θ relative to the vertical axis of suitcase 100, and second rectangular frame 140 may be positioned at a second angle α relative to the vertical axis of suitcase 100, wherein first angle θ and second angle α may be approximately equal and opposite such that θ≡ - α relative to the vertical line.

Each connector 151, 152 may maintain an angle (= |θ|+| - α|=2θ) between the first rectangular frame 130 and the second rectangular frame 140. Alternatively, the connection may allow some rotation of the first rectangular frame 130 relative to the second rectangular frame 140, and the relative angle is maintained by other features. Each of the connectors 151, 152 may include a rivet.

The top 160 of the suitcase extends between the first horizontal bar 132 of the first rectangular frame 130 and the first horizontal beam 142 of the second rectangular frame 140.

The base 170 of the suitcase extends between the second horizontal bar 134 of the first rectangular frame 130 and the second horizontal beam 144 of the second rectangular frame 140.

The interior volume of suitcase 100 is defined in part by first rectangular frame 130 and second rectangular frame 140. The interior volume of suitcase 100 may be further defined by the interior surface of top 160 and the interior surface of base 170.

Referring to fig. 3, enclosure portion 200 may enclose skeletal frame 120, and the interior volume of suitcase 100 may be defined in part by enclosure portion 200. The closure portion 200 may be a cover. The cover may be flexible. The cover may be made of fabric. The cover may include a plurality of panels forming a top cover portion, a base cover portion, and a wall cover portion extending between the top cover portion and the base cover portion. The wall covering portions may include four wall covering portions including a front wall covering portion, a rear wall covering portion, a left wall covering portion, and a right wall covering portion. In this manner, each of the plurality of panels may be configured to cover a substantially planar side of suitcase 100. The plurality of panels may be sewn together at their edges to form a three-dimensional covering having an interior dimension configured to correspond to an exterior dimension of the skeletal frame. The cover may have a substantially parallelepiped configuration. One or more of the panels may have an opening with an opening perimeter and a cover with a cover perimeter. The cover may be hingedly attached to one edge of the opening. The lid and opening may be secured to one another by a zipper assembly 210 around the perimeter of the lid and the perimeter of the opening. A secondary pocket may be provided and may be accessed by the secondary zipper assembly 220.

Although fig. 3 does not show a handle attached to the closure portion 200, a top handle may be provided on the top cover portion and side handles may be provided on the sides of the closure portion 200.

Telescoping handle assembly 180 may be located at the rear of suitcase 100 and may extend from top 160 of the suitcase. Referring to fig. 4, the first horizontal bar 132 of the first rectangular assembly 130 may include a recessed portion 133 configured to receive elements of the telescoping handle assembly 180.

Optionally, the framework 120 may include a top stay (not shown) extending between the first horizontal bar 132 and the first horizontal beam 142. The top stay may comprise a metal tube.

Optionally, the framework 120 may include a bottom stay (not shown) extending between the second horizontal bar 134 and the second horizontal beam 144. The bottom stay may comprise a metal tube.

Various options for the wheel assembly are envisaged for embodiments of the suitcase that fall within the scope of the claims. The first embodiment shown in fig. 1-4 may have four wheel assemblies 191, 192, 193, 194, wherein each wheel assembly 191, 192, 193, 194 comprises a single wheel.

A first embodiment of the present application is further illustrated in fig. 10-14, which illustrate the first embodiment from a different perspective.

Referring to fig. 5, in a variation of the first embodiment of the present disclosure, suitcase 101 may include four wheel assemblies 195, 196, 197, 198, wherein each wheel assembly 195, 196, 197, 198 includes a pair of wheels.

In a second embodiment of the present disclosure and with reference to fig. 6 and 7, a suitcase 102 with the additional features of the skeletal frame is provided.

The armature 121 of the suitcase 102 of the second embodiment may include all of the features of the armature 120 of the suitcase 100 of the first embodiment. For the first and second embodiments, like features have like reference numerals.

Further, the skeleton 121 of the second embodiment may further include: front vertical assemblies 122, 124 extending between a front of base 170 and a front of top 160; and rear vertical assemblies 126, 128 extending between a rear portion of base 170 and a rear portion of top 160. In this case, the vertical is not an absolute term, but describes the directions shown in fig. 6 and 7.

The front vertical assemblies 122, 124 may include a left front bar 122 and a right front bar 124. The rear vertical assemblies 126, 128 may include a left rear bar 126 and a right rear bar 128. The lower ends of the left front bar 122, right front bar 124, left rear bar 126, and right rear bar 128 may mate with corresponding features of the base 170 by which they may be held in place at their lower ends. Similarly, the upper ends of the left front bar 122, right front bar 124, left rear bar 126, and right rear bar 128 may mate with corresponding features of the top 160 by which they may be held in place at their upper ends.

The front and rear vertical assemblies 122, 124, 126, 128 may together form a cross-sectional profile that is constant throughout the height of the backbone 121.

In this way, the area extending between each vertical rod and an adjacent vertical rod and also between the base 170 and the top 180 may be substantially rectangular. This may help to hold the rectangular wall panels of the enclosure portion in place.

Some or all of the vertical bars may be made of a composite material, such as a composite plastic material.

The vertical bars 122, 124, 126, 128 may be configured to bear a load that is a fraction of the load configured to be carried by the first and second rectangular frames 130, 140 and in particular by the inclined members 122, 124, 126, 128 of the first and second rectangular frames. This may be because the primary purpose of the first and second rectangular frames 130, 140 may be to provide structural integrity of the suitcase, while the primary purpose of the vertical bars 122, 124, 126, 128 may be to define an envelope (envelope) surrounded by a covering portion. In other words, the primary purpose of the vertical rods 122, 124, 126, 128 may be to tension the cover portions.

Variations of the second embodiment of the present invention will include those having a different number of wheel assemblies and a different number of wheels on each wheel assembly. A variation of the second embodiment of the invention shown in fig. 8 is a suitcase 103 having eight wheels (two wheels per wheel assembly) instead of four wheels (one wheel per wheel assembly).

According to a third embodiment of the present invention, and referring to fig. 9, a suitcase 104 according to the present disclosure is provided.

Suitcase 104 of FIG. 8 is similar to the suitcase of FIG. 1 except that the rigid molded top section 160 of the FIG. 1 embodiment is replaced with a flexible fabric top section 161. The flexible fabric top portion 160 may have a lower mass than the rigidly molded top portion 160 without compromising strength.

As shown in many of the figures, suitcases 100, 101, 102, 103, 104 may include a telescoping handle assembly 180, sometimes referred to as a "trolley handle assembly. The telescoping handle assembly 180 includes a substantially U-shaped handle portion 181, a first support member 182, and a second support member 183 that are received and positioned by the base 170. The U-shaped handle portion 181 is telescopically received in and telescopically extendable from within the support members 182, 183. Other arrangements of telescoping handles are also known to those skilled in the art, for example, in other embodiments, there may be only a single handle portion with a single telescoping tube extending from a single support member. Examples of suitable telescoping handle assemblies are described in WO 2008/09905 A1.

As shown in fig. 3, the top 160 may include a cut-out portion in which the handle receiving cavity insert 184 is placed. The handle receiving cavity insert 184 provides a partial enclosure for the U-shaped handle portion 180. Handle receiving cavity insert 184 may have corresponding attachment portions (not shown) disposed inside suitcase 100 that enable handle receiving cavity insert 184 to be securely attached to top 160 of suitcase 100.

Next, a method of constructing a suitcase according to the first or second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

First, the outer fabric cover may be fully assembled by sewing all the corresponding seams of the fabric cover together. In this way, the fully assembled fabric cover can fully define the interior volume. Since the fabric cover does not have any shape defining frame such as a hem, it is generally flexible and does not include any rigid structure.

Next, an opening (i.e., a lid) in the closure portion 200 may be used to access the interior volume defined by the closure portion 200. The skeleton 120 may then be assembled inside the enclosure portion 200 by a cover in the enclosure portion 200. In this way, the complete suitcase is assembled by constructing the internal defined shape frame within the fabric cover via the opening. This construction method allows the enclosure portion 200 to be constructed in a separate manufacturing step prior to assembly of the complete carrying case 100 including the skeletal frame. This construction method is advantageous because it does not require any further adhesion, bonding or manual sewing of the closure portion 200 to the backbone 120. Thus, suitcases 100, 200 may be assembled in a reduced and/or minimal number of manufacturing steps. Furthermore, where the backbone provides the shape of the suitcase, the bead need not provide the shape of the closure portion. In this case, fewer stitches are required to assemble suitcase 100, thereby further reducing and/or minimizing the number of manufacturing steps.

Optionally, the closure portion 200 may be provided with an inner liner. The inner liner may include an opening to allow the inner frame to be assembled between the inner liner and the layer defined by the closure portion 200. An inner liner may be attached to the enclosure portion 200 around the opening to line the interior volume of the suitcase. The inner liner may be provided as a textile material. The inner liner may be attached to the closure portion 200 by any suitable joining method, such as by stitching or adhesive.

Thus, a soft suitcase, a soft sided suitcase or a soft sided suitcase according to the present disclosure is provided. The skilled artisan will appreciate that other luggage items may also be constructed in accordance with the present disclosure using soft or soft-sided configurations. For example, soft-sided configurations may be provided for other shapes of luggage items by providing an inner shape defining frame comprising molded sections connected by elongated members and a fabric cover for the shape defining inner frame comprising a reduced number of seams. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a luggage article having a soft-sided configuration that is lightweight and resilient while still being economical to manufacture, and that provides sufficient strength to allow a user to sit on the luggage article.

Claims (18)

1. A suitcase, comprising:

a closure portion defining an interior volume of the suitcase, the closure portion including a base, a top, and a wall separating the base from the top; and

A skeleton, comprising:

A first diagonal assembly extending between a front of the base and a rear of the top; and

A second diagonal assembly extending between a rear portion of the base and a front portion of the top.

2. The suitcase of claim 1, wherein the first diagonal assembly is connected to the second diagonal assembly between the base and the top.

3. The suitcase of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first diagonal assembly includes a first rectangular frame and the second diagonal assembly includes a second rectangular frame.

4. The suitcase of claim 3, wherein the first rectangular frame includes a first horizontal bar adjacent a front portion of the base, a second horizontal bar adjacent a rear portion of the top, and a first pair of diagonal members extending between the first horizontal bar and the second horizontal bar.

5. The suitcase of claim 4, wherein the second rectangular frame includes a first horizontal beam adjacent a front portion of the top, a second horizontal beam adjacent a rear portion of the base, and a second pair of diagonal members extending between the first and second horizontal beams.

6. The suitcase of claim 5, further comprising a top stay extending between the first horizontal bar and the first horizontal beam.

7. The suitcase of claim 5 or 6, further comprising a bottom stay extending between the second horizontal bar and the second horizontal beam.

8. The suitcase of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the skeletal frame further includes one or more vertical assemblies including one or more of:

a front vertical assembly extending between a front portion of the base and a front portion of the top such that a front wall of the enclosure portion extends around the front vertical assembly; and

A rear vertical assembly extending between a rear of the base and a rear of the top such that a rear wall of the enclosure portion extends around the rear vertical assembly.

9. The suitcase of any preceding claim, wherein the base includes a rigidly molded base structure.

10. The suitcase of any preceding claim, wherein the roof includes a rigidly molded roof structure.

11. The suitcase of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the top section includes a flexible fabric.

12. The suitcase of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second components each comprise a metal tube.

13. The suitcase of claim 6 or 7, or any one of claims when dependent on claim 6 or 7, wherein the top and/or bottom support braces comprise metal tubes.

14. The suitcase of claim 8 or any claim dependent on claim 8, wherein some or all of the one or more upright assemblies are made of a composite material.

15. Suitcase according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the closing portion forms a substantially parallelepiped shape.

16. The suitcase of any one of the preceding claims, wherein:

the suitcase includes a telescoping handle.

17. The suitcase of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising:

A plurality of wheel assemblies.

18. The suitcase of any one of claims 4 to 9, further comprising:

a cover formed in a front wall of the closing portion.