EP0237691A1

EP0237691A1 - A structure of suitcase, sack, bag or similar container with perimetrical ribbing -like pneumatic stiffening

Info

Publication number: EP0237691A1
Application number: EP86830067A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giovanni Cuccuini; Daniele Lotti
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-03-20
Filing date: 1986-03-20
Publication date: 1987-09-23

Abstract

A suitcase structure, sack, bag or similar container, which has along at least part of its periphery, longitudinal side-by-side air tubes (3X,5X,7X,9X) which by inner pressure stiffen the container periphery without practically increasing its weight and which also give protection against shocks.

Description

The invention refers to a suitcase structure or other equivalent container such as a sack, a bag or the like.
The containers of this type have a rigid conformation or a flexible conformation with possible beads for a partial stiffening. Each one of these groups of containers exhibits both advantages and drawbacks. In particular, a rigid structure results in being fairly heavy and liable to be damaged during use because of its rigidity. The flexible containers offer poor capability of protecting the contents from shocks and are also less capable of maintaining the contents in order just because of the flexibility and deformability of the container.
The present invention refers to a suitcase, sack, bag or equivalent container structure, which unites the advantages of the various above mentioned groups and avoids their drawbacks.
Substantially, a structure according to the invention has, at least along part of its periphery, air tubes - especially longitudinal - that, by means of an inner pressure stiffen the container periphery without, practically, increasing its weight, and offer protection against shocks as well as more or less limited compliance for preventing damages in case of shocks or shoves greater than certain limits (which depend on the inner pressure and the air tubes construction ).
Practically, the longitudinal air tubes may be manifold and longitudinally arranged side-by-side in order to make up the height of the container when this lies down on a horizontal plane.
Advantageously, to perform the pumping up of the air tubes, a single valve, respectively, a limited number of valves may be provided, the air tubes being in communication with each other. This can easily be accomplished by suitable interruptions in the weldings of the two layers defining the longitudinal air tubes.
The air tubes may form perimetrical pads along all the periphery of the container sides or, respectively, may be restricted to some parts, for example, to three sides of the container, the fourth side being possibly used to create a support, respectively, to present a handle, respectively, to form the admittance opening.
A reinforcement may be also provided in combination with the outer wall of some of the air tubes.
In correspondence with the perimetrical corners of a container, the air tubes converging to these corners, may be put into communication between them through passages having reduced sizes in respect to the cross section of the individual longitudinal air tubes; the passages between two adjacent air tubes, separated by the corner, may be single or double.
For a suitcase structure, it is convenient to provide-on the resting side of the suitcase in upright position - either only wear-resistant reinforcements, and without air tubes, or reinforcements placed outside the air tubes.
Obviously, a suitcase or similar container - realized as above mentioned - may be utilized, at will, either with the air tubes being inflated and, hence, pneumatically stiffened, or with the air tubes not inflated and, hence, not pneumatically stiffened.
The invention will be better understood by following the description and the attached drawing, which shows a practical, non limitative exemplification of the same invention. In the drawing:

Figs. 1 to 3 show a suitcase embodiment in plan view and in sections according to lines II-II and III-III of Fig. 1;
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of a suitcase in plan view and in sections according to lines V-V and VI-VI of Fig. 4;
Fig. 7 shows a detailed partial view of a corner to which the longitudinal air tubes converge;
Figs. 8 to 13 show in various views and sections a bag-like container;
Figs. 14 to 19 show in various views and sections two other types of bag-like container;
Figs. 20 to 25 show in various views and sections still another type of a bag-like container.

According to what is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, numeral 1 indicates the bottom of the container, numerals 3, 5 and 7 indicate the three perimetrical walls intended to be pneumatically stiffened and numeral 9 indicates the fourth perimetrical wall which has suitable stiffenings like those indicated by 9A; the wall 9 is that to which the cover 10 is pivotally and flexibly engaged. The wall 5 is the one in correspondence of which the handles 12 (or a single bridge-handle) are, respectively, formed.
In correspondence of the walls 3, 5 and 7 a plurality of air tubes 3X, 5X, 7X, respectively, is formed, which tubes are developed longitudinally and parallel between them and in a suitable number, especially from two to five, and more particularly, from three to four. The individual, longitudinal air tubes 3X, 5X, 7X are in communication with each other in correspondence of passages like those indicated by 13 between side-by-side arranged air tubes and like those indicated by 15 between longitudinally adjacent air tubes in correspondence of the corners between the perimetrical walls. All that is better visible in Fig. 7. It is not excluded that the air tubes system might be formed by two separate groups, each one made up of a number of air tubes communicating between them, the two groups being able to be inflated through independent valves; it seems sufficient, however, to provide a single inflation valve with the possibility of discharge. The realization of the perimetrical walls is readily achievable by two waterproof layers being coupled by heat-welding or equivalent process in order to obtain the longitudinal air tubes and the passages like those indicated by 13 and 15 or equivalent. These layers may be of plasticized fabrics or suitable plastics, more or less reinforced with fibres or other.
Figs. 4 to 6 show an embodiment fully similar to that of Figs. 1 to 3 with the only difference that also the wall 9 is provided with air tubes 9X equivalent to those indicated by 3X, 5X, 7X; the air tubes 9X will be advantageously completed with stiffenings 9A preventing wear and providing as well a safeguard for the air tubes themselves. In this embodiment, the pneumatic protection and stiffening occur in a substantially annular manner.
Figs. 8 to 13 show an embodiment of a sack, that is, a bag container which has the three perimetrical walls 21, 23, 25 provided with longitudinal side-by-side air tubes (like those indicated by 5X or 7X in Fig. 7) and communicating between them (as at 13 in Fig. 7) as well as in abutment along the corners, and communicating with one another between abutting air tubes (as at 15 in Fig. 7). By pneumatically stiffening said air tubes through inflation, a partial stiffening of the bag is achieved. Numeral 27 indicates the upper flap-like closure and 29 indicates a handle.
Figs. 14 to 19 show a bag container similar to that of the preceding Figures and in which the same reference numbers are used. In this case, the accessibility to the major cavities of the container is from the top through openings provided with slide closure systems (zippers) indicated by 27, while 29 indicates a handle lace.
Figs. 20 to 25 show a bag container again similar to that of the preceding Figures and in which the same reference numbers are used. In this case, the accessibility to the major cavities of the container is made possible through one of the main fronts which is provided with compartments 28 one of which, at least, is accessible through a slide closure (zipper); also the main access may be provided with a zipper 30. Numeral 29 indicates the handle which is formed on a perimetrical wall lacking in air tubes and being opposite to the perimetrical wall making up the air tube 23; these air tubes 23 may be possibly reinforced at the outer surface.
It is obvious that, when inflating the air tubes with some - even relatively limited - pressure, a partial stiffening of the container can be obtained - and that may be carried out whenever this stiffening is desired - while the air tubes may be deflated thereby maintaining the possibility of using the container. The inflation does not modify in a significant way the overall dimensions of the container and its weight does not vary at all.
It is understood that the drawing shows an exemplification given only as a practical demonstration of the invention as this may vary in the forms and dispositions without departing from the scope of the idea on which the invention is based. For instance, the air tubes may be provided also along all or part of the front walls of a suitcase and/or at the bottom of a bag whose side walls - also cylindrical - are already reinforced with perimetrical elongate air tubes.

Claims

1) A suitcase structure, sack, bag or similar container, characterized in that it has at least along part of the periphery, air tubes which by an inner pressure stiffen the container periphery without increasing in practice the weight and offer protection against shocks.

2) Structure according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the air tubes are longitudinal.

3) Structure according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the longitudinal air tubes are manifold and longitudinally placed side-by-side in order to make up the height of the container when this lies down on a horizontal plane.

4) Structure according to the preceding claims, characterized in that, for the inflation of the longitudinal air tubes, a single valve is provided (respectively a limited number of valves), the air tubes being in communication between them with suitable interruptions and profilings of the weldings bewteen the two layers which define the longitudinal air tubes.

5) Structure according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the air tubes make up perimetrical pads along the whole periphery of the container sides.

6) Structure according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the air tubes are limited to portions, especially to three sides of the container, the fourth side being possibly utilized to create a support respectively to present a handle, respectively to form the admittance opening.

7) Structure according to the preceding claims, characterized in that a reinforcement is provided in combination with the external wall of some of the air tubes.

8) Structure according to the preceding claims, characterized in that in correspondence of the perimetrical corners of a container, the longitudinal air tubes converging to these corners are put into communication between them through passages of reduced dimensions in respect to the cross section of the individual longitudinal air tubes; the passage between two adjacent air tubes, separated by the corner, being possibly single or double.

9) Structure according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises further air tubes on the fronts and/or on a bottom of a suitcase or bag.

10) A suitcase structure, sack, bag or similar container, with perimetrical ribbing-like pneumatic stiffening; all as above described and represented for exemplification in the accompanying drawing.