EP0106906B1 - Suitcase with castors - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a case with wheels for transport, which has the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Such a case is already known (AT-A-330 978). The swivel castor cannot be brought into a rest position.

In another known case (US-A-2,439,660), two rollers are only provided on the rear edge of the case. These non-steerable roles can be brought into a retracted rest position.

The invention has for its object to provide a case of the type described above so that the steering roller reduces the bulk of the case when it is transported by devices, in particular does not interfere with the transport of the case by means of a conveyor belt or the like.

To achieve this object, the features of claim 1 are provided according to the invention.

By arranging the one swivel castor in the longitudinal center plane, a countersunk arrangement of the castor is provided by accommodating it in a circumferential groove, which is formed by the circumferential frame in particular in the case of shell cases. Due to the recessed arrangement of the roll, it can be made larger. This, as well as the provision of only a single swivel castor, improves the maneuverability and reduces the bulkiness which arises when the castors are attached to the lower narrow side of the case completely undamaged.

The swivel castor can be extended for rolling operation and for transport on tape or for storing the case, where the extended roll only disturbs, so that it is no longer in contact with the ground. On the one hand, this improves the steerability of the case and, on the other hand, protects the roller from stresses during rough loading operations when loading the case into the luggage compartment of a vehicle, e.g. B. an airplane. When transported on an inclined conveyor belt, the case also has a secure hold against reverse or sideways rolling when the swivel castor is fully retracted. Such security is not given in the case described above with rollers or only when a separate braking device is provided.

The swivel castor is expediently mounted on a guide part so as to be pivotable about the vertical axis, and the guide part is guided on a frame stiffening the case, for example in a guide groove of the frame. It is advantageously provided in a constructive embodiment of the inventive concept that the frame or the transition between the lower narrow side and the front narrow side of the case is chamfered or hollowed out so that the guide part can be snapped into an upper detent on the frame and the swivel castor into a rest position can be swung back behind the front edge of the case, and that the guide part can be snapped into a lower locking device on the frame after being moved, the swivel castor being swiveled forward into an operating position pointing forward. The bevel or trough ensures that the swivel castor receives the required swiveling on the one hand and is protected against tarnishing on a sidewalk of normal height on the other hand.

To extend the castor, the guide part can be displaced from the rest position into the operating position against the force of a spring which is held at one end on the case and at the other end on the guide part. This can happen, for example, by acting on the guide part and thereby running over the upper locking device with the foot. The lower locking mechanism could then be triggered by hand or foot by means of an adjusting button if the steering roller is to be retracted from the operating position into the rest position.

In order to ensure that the case is securely supported when the swivel castor is in the retracted rest position, at least one glider can be arranged near the swivel castor on the lower narrow side of the suitcase, which supports the front of the suitcase on the ground when the swivel castor is locked in the rest position.

The invention also strives for a simple, interchangeable construction for the mounting of the rigid rollers. For this purpose it is provided according to the invention that the rigid rollers each have an axis which is held in a bushing of a bearing element, that the bushing is inserted into a correspondingly shaped trough-shaped depression in the lower narrow side of the case and that the bearing element is in a shape in the lower Sidewall region of the case has a snug half-shell, which is dimensioned to accommodate about the roller half and to which the bush is molded. Surprisingly, this very simple design, designed for a quick exchange of the rigid rollers, is sufficient to accommodate the sometimes high bearing loads, these bearing loads being transferable via the formations without a special fastening being required between these parts. A small screw or the like can only be provided between the half-shell and the shape of the case as a protection against loss.

Advantageously, an embodiment of this last-mentioned idea of refining is further developed in that the two rigid rollers are arranged with an axial position offset in the longitudinal direction of the case and in that the formations have expansions dimensioned such that when the case is opened, the roller mounted on the other case half fits into the Extension of the formation to Storage of the other role.

• Fig. 1 einen Koffer gemäß der Erfindung von unten, d. h, auf die Scharnierseite gesehen;
• Fig. 2 den Koffer nach Fig. 1 von der Seite gesehen, wobei eine Lenkrolle in ausgefahrener Betriebsstellung gezeigt ist;
• Fig. 3 eine Teilansicht wie Fig. 2 des Kofferunterteils, wobei die Lenkrolle in versenktem bzw. eingefahrenem Zustand gezeigt ist;
• Fig. 4 eine teilweise geschnittene Ansicht in größerem Maßstab des die Lenkrolle aufweisenden Kofferabschnittes, wobei die Lenkrolle wie in Fig. 2 in die Betriebsstellung ausgefahren gezeigt ist;
• Fig. 5 eine ebenfalls in vergrößertem Maßstab dargestellte Alternative für die Anbringung der Lenkrolle, die hier gemäß Fig. 3 in versenktem oder eingefahrenem Zustand gezeigt ist;
• Fig. 6 eine Explosionsdarstellung der Lagerung für eine starre, hintere Rolle gemäß der Erfindung;
• Fig. 7 den hinteren Teilbereich eines Koffers gemäß der Erfindung in Unteransicht, wobei zwei Rollen mit einer Lagerung gemäß Fig. 6 in eingebautem Zustand gezeigt und die beiden Kofferschalen in zugeklapptem Zustand gezeichnet sind;
• Fig. 8 eine Darstellung des Kofferteils nach Fig. 7 bei aufgeklappten Kofferschalen und
• Fig. 9 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Koffers gemäß der Erfindung, wobei die Handhabung zum Lenken des Koffers während des Rollbetriebes veranschaulicht ist.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

• Fig. 1 shows a case according to the invention from below, d. h, seen on the hinge side;
• FIG. 2 shows the case according to FIG. 1 from the side, a swivel castor being shown in the extended operating position;
• 3 shows a partial view like FIG. 2 of the lower part of the case, the swivel castor being shown in the lowered or retracted state;
• FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned view on a larger scale of the case section having the steering roller, the steering roller being shown extended into the operating position as in FIG. 2;
• FIG. 5 shows an alternative, likewise shown on an enlarged scale, for the attachment of the steering roller, which is shown here according to FIG. 3 in the sunken or retracted state;
• Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the storage for a rigid, rear roller according to the invention;
• 7 shows the rear part of a case according to the invention in a bottom view, two rollers with a bearing according to FIG. 6 being shown in the installed state and the two case shells being drawn in the closed state;
• Fig. 8 is an illustration of the case part of FIG. 7 with the case shells and
• Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a case according to the invention, the handling for steering the case during the rolling operation is illustrated.

Figures 1 to 3 show a shell case, generally designated by the reference number 1, with two shells 2 and 3 and a central, circumferential frame 4, which has the hinges for opening the case shells on the underside seen in Fig. 1. The hinge plane is designated by the reference number 5. On the top, the frame carries a handle 6 and the locks (not shown). Approximately semicircular troughs 7 are formed in the two rear outer sides of the case shells, in which rollers β are arranged sunk. The rollers can be rotated on the case shells by means of thru axles 9, but are rigid, i.e. swiveling, stored.

At the transition between the lower narrow sides of the two case shells 2 and 3, the case has a continuous bevel 10. The frame sunk in relation to the case shells 2, 3 also has a corresponding bevel 11. A guide part 12 for a front steering roller 13 is slidably guided on this bevel 11 and can be locked in two limit positions. The guide part 12 supports the roller 13 via a fork 15 which can be pivoted about a vertical axis 14.

In Fig. 2 the arrangement of the guide member 12 and the steering roller 13 is shown in the operating position. The guide part is locked on the bevel 11 in the lower limit position, and the fork 15 is pivoted forward into an operating position. The arrangement is such that even in this operating position the roller 13 is still a game behind the front narrow side 16 of the case 1. Since the height h of the bevel is selected so that it is smaller than the usual curb height, the case does not run with the comparatively sensitive steering roller 13 but with the front narrow side 16 on the curb when it is pulled against it in rolling operation.

Fig. 3 shows the rest position, in which the guide member 12 is locked in the upper limit position on the bevel 11 of the frame 4 and the fork 15 is pivoted back. The roller 13 is then completely sunk under the bevel and no longer has any contact with the ground. Rather, the front end of the case is supported in this case by sliders 17, one of which is attached under the lower narrow side of each case shell.

4 shows an embodiment for the guide part 12 with a steering roller 13 in detail, FIG. 4 showing the steering roller in the lower locked operating position according to FIG. 2. The fork 15 is pivotally held in a vertical bore 19 by means of a thru axle 1ß and is non-positively secured by means of a snap ring 20 against slipping out of the bore. A guide groove 21 is provided in the bevelled frame part 11 for the sliding displacement of the guide part 12. Furthermore, the frame part 11 has a lower locking hole 22 and an upper locking hole (not shown in FIG. 4), into each of which a locking pin 24 which slides in a horizontal bore 23 fits. The locking pin can be pulled out of the locking hole 22 against the force of a spring 26 against a spring 26 in order to release the locking and to move the guide part 12 between the two limit positions (the upper limit position is not shown in FIG. 4).

In the variant according to FIG. 5, in which parts having the same effect are provided with the same reference numerals, the guide part 12 is shown locked in the upper limit position, the steering roller 13 being shown pivoted back out of contact with the ground about the vertical axis 14 into the rest position. In this position, the locking pin 24 engages in an upper locking hole 27 under the action of the spring 26. This locking hole is designed so that when you exert a foot pressure on the guide member 12 down the rounded end of the locking pin 24 slide over the rounded edge of the locking hole 27 and can move against the force of the spring 26 in the unlocked position. In addition to the embodiment according to FIG. 4, a spiral leaf spring 28 is provided in the one according to FIG. 5, one end of which at 29 on the frame section 11 of the case and the other end of which on a projection 30 on Guide part 12 is held. In Fig. 5 the spring is relaxed or almost relaxed. If the guide member 12 is pushed down, the spring tensions until it has reached the greatest tension when the locking pin 24 snaps into the locking bore 22 for the lower limit position (operating position of the steering roller 13). After releasing the locking, which can also be effected by a conventional trigger mechanism from the side of the guide part 12 with the foot (not shown), the spring 28 automatically pulls the guide part 12 back into the rest position shown in FIG. 5.

6 to 8 show the storage and support of the rigid, i.e. non-steerable castors β at the rear end of the case.

The roller 8, which can be a commercially available roller skate roller, is rotatable on an axle 30 connected to it, which has a safety collar 31 with a hole 32 for a cotter pin 33 at the free end. With the axle 8, the roller is in a suitably shaped socket 34 of a metal bearing element 35 can be inserted. The bearing element has a half-shell 36 formed integrally with the bushing 34. The bearing element is designed so that it with the half-shell 36 in a corresponding formation 37 in the lower side wall region of the case shell 2 in question. 3 fits, while the socket 34 is received in a correspondingly shaped trough-shaped recess 38 on the lower narrow side of the case shell. This arrangement of the role on the case shell is such that the not inconsiderable supporting forces are easily transferred between the case and the rollers 8 without the need for a stable, firm connection between the bearing element 35 and the case shells 2 and 3. All that is needed is to secure the bearing element 35 from falling off the case shell 2 or 3, this securing being able to be achieved, for example, by means of a small screw 42 which, from the inside of the case, through a hole 40 into a threaded hole 41 in the metal half shell 36 can be screwed. The cotter pin 33 serves to secure the roller 8 against lateral pulling out of the bearing element 35 (see FIG. 7).

7 and 8 that the two rollers 8 are mounted with a parallel axis position offset in the longitudinal direction of the case. Accordingly, the formations 37 on the two case shells 2, 3 are arranged offset. Each shape has an extension 39, which is not as high from the lower narrow side of the bottom of the case as the main part of the shape 37 and which is dimensioned such that when the case is opened, the roller 8 mounted on the other case half fits into the extension of the other Form can insert. Thus, the relatively large rollers 8 do not interfere with each other when opening the case, as shown in particular in the view according to FIG. 8 with the case shells unfolded from below.

Fig. 9 illustrates the handling of the case by means of a loop 44 attached to the frame in the region of the upper narrow side. By applying a pulling force obliquely forward in the direction of arrow Z on the loop 44, the case can easily become one when the steering roller 13 is extended in the operating position Steer cornering in the direction of arrow K.

Claims (6)

1. Suitcase with castors (8,13) for transport purposes of which two castors are disposed rigidly and at the rear and one castor is constructed as a steering castor and is disposed at the front at the lower portion of the suitcase (1) so as to be pivotable about a vertical axis (14), characterised in that the front steering castor (13) which is disposed approximately in the plane of the hinge of the suitcase may be moved into a rest position at least partially by displacement relative to the suitcase, that the steering castor (13) is mounted on a guide member (12) and that the guide member (12) is movably guided on a frame (4) which stiffens the suitcase (1).

2. Suitcase as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the frame (4) or the transition between the lower narrow side and the front narrow side (16) of the suitcase (1) is bevelled (at 10,11) or provided with a recess so that the guide member (12) may be engaged in an upper catch (27) on the frame (4) and the steering castor may be pivoted back into a rest position behind the front edge of the suitcase and that after displacement the guide member (12) may be engaged in a lower catch (22) on the frame (4) whereby the steering castor may be pivoted forwards into a forwardly pointing operational position.

3. Suitcase as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the guide member (12) is displaceable from the rest position into the operational position against the force of a spring (28) which is mounted at one end on the suitcase (at 29) and at the other end on the guide member (at 30).

4. Suitcase as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that on the lower narrow side of the suitcase (1) close to the steering castor (13) there is at least one slider (17) which supports the front side of the suitcase on the floor when the steering castor (13) is locked in the rest position.

5. Suitcase, particularly as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the rigid castors (8) each have a spindle (30) which is mounted in a sleeve (34) of a bearing element (35), that the sleeve (34) is inserted in a correspondingly shaped trough-like recess (38) in the lower narrow side of the suitcase (1) and that the bearing element (35) has a half shell (36) nestling in a recess (37) in the lower side wall region of the suitcase, which recess is dimensioned to accommodate about half of the castor and on which the sleeve (34) is formed.

6. Suitcase as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the two rigid castors are disposed with their spindle position offset in the longitudinal direction of the suitcase and that the recesses (37) have extensions (39) so dimensioned that when opening up the suitcase the castor (8) mounted in each case on the other half of the suitcase enters into the extension (39) of the recess (37) to accommodate the other castor (8).

Images