EP0589022B1 - Bagage a main a ouverture intelligente - Google Patents

Bagage a main a ouverture intelligente Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0589022B1
EP0589022B1 EP93908547A EP93908547A EP0589022B1 EP 0589022 B1 EP0589022 B1 EP 0589022B1 EP 93908547 A EP93908547 A EP 93908547A EP 93908547 A EP93908547 A EP 93908547A EP 0589022 B1 EP0589022 B1 EP 0589022B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
case
panel
lid
shell
hook
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP93908547A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0589022A1 (fr
EP0589022A4 (en
Inventor
William L. King
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Samsonite Corp
Original Assignee
Samsonite Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Samsonite Corp filed Critical Samsonite Corp
Publication of EP0589022A1 publication Critical patent/EP0589022A1/fr
Publication of EP0589022A4 publication Critical patent/EP0589022A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0589022B1 publication Critical patent/EP0589022B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05BLOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
    • E05B65/00Locks or fastenings for special use
    • E05B65/52Other locks for chests, boxes, trunks, baskets, travelling bags, or the like
    • E05B65/5292Gravity - or orientation sensitive mechanisms, e.g. to prevent opening when wrongside-up

Definitions

  • This invention relates to luggage cases such as business or attache cases. More particularly, the invention relates to cases having two main compartments for carrying and, in some cases, organizing the contained personal and business related items, the compartments being separated from one another by an internal, hinged, divider panel.
  • Such cases fall in generally two groups: the first are softside cases made of fabric or leather-like material, often unstructured in a generally large envelope shape.
  • the other general class of cases includes hard outer structure or covering divided into a lid shell and a base shell which are hinged together along the bottom side.
  • the base shell usually has a handle attached to the top face for carrying.
  • the lid shell and base shell are normally selectively held closed together with a latching device.
  • a portfolio section comprising a number of vertically arranged flexible dividers which are attached to a divider panel hinged along the bottom inside edge of the lid shell.
  • the entire portfolio construction is held on left and rights sides by flexible gusset panels which permit the divider panel and the intermediate dividers behind the divider panel to hinge out. This exposes papers, documents and the like for easy access.
  • the base shell generally provides a large compartment for carrying clothing items or stacks of papers, books and other items.
  • An example of such a brief case is shown in U.S. patent 3,756,639 assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
  • the case includes a gravity responsive detent 41 which prevents the operation of the latch lever 17 if one tried to open the case upside-down. This prevents the papers held in the main shell from spilling out as is shown in figure 2 of that patent.
  • U.S. patent 4,714,286 to Yamamoto also assigned to the assignee of the present invention, shows an attache case with another gravity sensing feature.
  • Yamamoto teaches providing gravity sensing means to control the extent of opening of the lid shell.
  • the ball bearing detent located in a slot in the lid stays would permit the case to open fully.
  • the ball would fall into a slot to in effect shorten one arm of the stay.
  • the lid shell would be prevented from opening fully, thus contents in the main shell of the case would not tend to fall from the case.
  • it's likely that at least some of the contents of the main shell would fall to the bottom of the case even if such contents were prevented from falling completely out of the case. It would be difficult to shut the lid because of the accumulation of contents (papers, pencils, tape recorder, etc.) in the bottom of the case while the lid was even only partially opened.
  • U.S. patent 3,1112,017 discloses a case according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • the internal panel When the internal panel is clipped in its first position, the contents of the base shell are both hidden from view and generally prevented from falling out of the case should the case be opened in an other than horizontal position.
  • the internal panel provides a writing surface so that the case can be used as a desk.
  • the internal panel must be moved from one position to the other after the case is opened.
  • the case must be opened, then the internal panel pulled from its latched position over the articles and preferably holding means clipped to hold the internal panel in the vertical position within the lid while accessing articles.
  • this case does not prevent in each instance the contents of the main compartment of the case from spilling out of the case or from moving to the bottom of the case when the case is opened from a vertical position.
  • An object of this invention is to overcome this problem by providing a case according to the preamble of claim 1 which substantially prevent such spillage or movement.
  • the invention relates to a case as recited in claim 1.
  • Figure 1 shows an attache case according to the instant invention in an open position.
  • Figure 2 shows a broken away portion of the case of Figure 1 with the lid shell being opened from the horizontal position.
  • Figure 3 shows the case of Figure 1 after it has been opened in the vertical position.
  • Figure 4 is a partially broken away view of a detail of the attache case of Figure 1.
  • Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the case after it has opened in the vertical position.
  • Attache case 10 has an overall shape and construction similar to prior art attache cases. As with such prior art cases, it includes a lid shell 11 which defines a lid compartment 12 defined by the space contained within the lid shell. The case further includes a base shell similar in construction to the lid shell 11. This base shell 14 defines a volume which comprises the main compartment 17, which typically is larger than the lid compartment 12. The lid shell 11 and base shell 14 are hinged together along their lower adjoining edges at 24 in a known manner. The lid shell and base shell are selectively held together by latch hooks 18 which are selectively received in latch hook receivers 19 in the base shell. The latch hooks 18 are operated by pivotally mounted latch lever 16 which rotates the hooks away from hooking engagement in receivers 19.
  • This latching mechanism could include a locking device such as an ordinary key lock or perhaps a combination lock, as is well known in the luggage arts.
  • the base shell includes a carrying handle 21, here shown as being inset in a cavity along the top side of the base shell.
  • a more conventional handle arrangement with the handle or shoulder strap attached to a surface on the top side of the base shell is also contemplated.
  • the lid shell compartment is primarily occupied by a portfolio 20 which comprises a divider panel 22 of a generally thin but rigid, aesthetically pleasing material, and bellows gussets 23 made of a flexible cloth, leather,3 or leather-like material.
  • These bellows gussets have a generally triangular overall shape which permits the panel 22 to pivot about its lower edge at the lower side of the lid shell in the lid compartment to display the contents thereof.
  • hinge stay 25 To either side of the portfolio is a hinge stay 25 of known construction. This limits the range of pivoting of the lid shell 11 about hinge 24.
  • a pair of rod members 36 and 36 are attached along the upper horizontal edge of the panel 22. These rod members 36 form corresponding protruding ends beyond the sides thereof.
  • the upper edge of the panel 22 defines the height of the portfolio which is substantially less than the overall height of the lid shell 11 and the lid compartment 12 defined therein.
  • Within the space between the upper edge of the panel 22 and the upper edge of the shell compartment are one or more lid containers 13.
  • These lid containers can take many forms such as zippered pouches made of leather or fabric, but in the preferred embodiment they are defined by boxes with simple spring-loaded, hinged doors which hinge about their lower edges to permit access to the compartment 13 defined therein. The importance of this novel arrangement will be set forth below.
  • the main compartment 17 includes one or more base containers 15.
  • these containers can take many forms but are shown as being defined by a generally box-like construction with hinged lids which pivot about their lowermost edges (when the case is the vertical position).
  • the significance of these compartments or containers and their position within the base shell will be set forth with greater detail.
  • the panel 22 is held in the position shown in Figure 1 by a pair of portfolio catches 30 which engage the protruding ends of at least one of the rods 36.
  • the catch 30 comprises a box 31 which holds a first pivoting member 32 for relatively free pivotal movement about the axis shown.
  • This first pivoting member includes a first hook 32a which can selectively engage the rod member 36 as shown.
  • the first pivoting member 32 further includes a pendulum portion 33 which responds to the pull of gravity. In the position shown in Figure 2, pendulum member 33 applies a counterclockwise rotating torque about the axis to place the hook member 32a in firm engagement with the protruding end of rod 36.
  • a second box 38 is constructed similar to box 31 and positioned directly opposite thereof within the base compartment 17 and attached to the interior side walls of the base shell 14.
  • the first box and second box may include mating surfaces 35 to help align these boxes and the members contained therein relative to one another when the lid shell and base shell are closed on one another.
  • a second pivoting member 34 is pivoted for free rotation to the inside of the second box 38.
  • This second pivoting member has a second hook 34a which is integral with a second pendulum portion 39 which also responds to the pull of gravity by orienting itself with gravity.
  • a protruding arm 40 forms part of the pendulum portion 39. As will be set forth, this protruding arm 40 can engage and, through the force of gravity on the pendulum member 34, rotate the first pivoting member 32 under certain conditions.
  • the second box 38 includes semi-cylindrical indentations to receive and precisely position the rod members 36 when the lid shell and base shell are closed on to one another.
  • the panel 22 is held in a closed position by the hook portion 32a of first pivoting member 32.
  • the portfolio catch 30, and its corresponding mate 30 on the other side of the case can be manually released from the portfolio when the case is positioned in Figure 1 to permit access to the contents of the portfolio.
  • the contents of the lid containers 13 and the base containers 15 can be easily had by flipping their doors open using the finger holes shown.
  • the first and second pivoting members engage in one another to simultaneously cause the first rotating member 32 to release its hooked engagement from the end of the rod member 36 and to place the second hook member 34a into an engaging relationship with second rod member 36.
  • the second pivoting member 34 has moved relative to the case in a clockwise direction.
  • the mating surfaces 35 of the first and second boxes have positioned all the parts relative to one another precisely and the semi-cylindrical cutouts on the front face of the second box 38 have held both rods 36 and 36 in precise alignment with the various hook portions.
  • the second pivoting member 34 has rotated to bring the protruding arm 40 to engage the pendulum portion 33 of the first pivoting member 32. While the pendulum member 33 would tend to remain in the position shown in Figure 2, it is overpowered by the greater mass of member 34 when the protruding arm 40 engages it. Thus, the first hook 32a disengages from the end of rod 36. If the case is opened from this vertical position wherein the second pivoting member 34 and its corresponding hook 34a have engaged the rod 36, the configuration in Figure 5 will occur. In particular, the panel 22 is held by the second pivoting member 34 to close off most if not all of the base compartment 17 in the base shell 14.
  • the bellows gussets 23 are pulled into their open position to expose the contents of the portfolio 20.
  • the gussets 23 are sized to permit the lid shell to open a substantial but limited degree.
  • the degree to which the lid shell pivots open from this vertical orientation is limited by the bellows sides and not by the stays 25.
  • the disclosed attache case has been made to be responsive automatically and immediately to the differing needs of the user, depending on whether the case is opened from the horizontal position or whether the case is opened from the vertical position.
  • This novel functioning is done without the need for the user to first open the case and decide whether the main packing compartment 17 should be closed to access or inspection or whether the portfolio section should be opened for inspection.
  • the disadvantages of the prior art cases are elegantly overcome. In each instance, when the case is opened from the vertical position, inadvertent spillage or visual access of the contents of the main compartment 17 are substantially prevented.
  • the orientation of the case is used to trigger the varying functions of the portfolio latch members
  • other means are within the scope of the invention.
  • a separate latch operable from the outside before the case is opened to either cause the panel to be fastened to the base shell or to be fastened to the lid shell is clearly possible.
  • the alternative attaching or hooking function could be triggered by the carrying handle 21.
  • a mechanical linkage between the handle 21 and the catches could be provided such that if the handle 21 is in the vertical position as shown in Figure 5, the portfolio is held to the base shell as shown. However, if the handle 21 is in the position shown in Figure 1, the panel is held in the closed position in the lid shell.

Landscapes

  • Purses, Travelling Bags, Baskets, Or Suitcases (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Gloves (AREA)
  • Adornments (AREA)
  • Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
  • Undergarments, Swaddling Clothes, Handkerchiefs Or Underwear Materials (AREA)
  • Saccharide Compounds (AREA)
  • Farming Of Fish And Shellfish (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Mallette (10) comportant une coque de couvercle (11) et une coque de base (14) et des moyens de verrouillage (18) servant à maintenir sélectivement la coque de couvercle (11) et la coque de base (14) ensemble dans une position fermée de façon à fermer la mallette, la coque de couvercle (11) étant articulée à la coque de base (14) et la coque de couvercle (11) définissant un compartiment de couvercle (12) et la coque de base (14) définissant un compartiment principal (17), un panneau intérieur (22) disposé dans la mallette pour fermer le compartiment principal (17) et le compartiment de couvercle (12), des moyens de retenue (32, 34) pour retenir le panneau (22) dans une première position dans laquelle le panneau (22) ferme le compartiment principal (17) et pour retenir le panneau (22) dans une seconde position dans laquelle le panneau (22) ferme le compartiment de couvercle (12), caractérisée en ce pus les moyens de retenue (32, 34) peuvent être manoeuvrés de façon à retenir sélectivement le panneau (22) soit dans la première position, soit dans la seconde position alors que la coque de couvercle (11) et la coque de base (14) sont dans la position fermée.
  2. Mallette telle que définie à la revendication 1, dans laquelle les moyens de retenue (32, 34) retiennent automatiquement le panneau (22) dans la première position lorsque la mallette est ouverte à partir d'une position dans l'ensemble verticale et dans la seconde position lorsque la mallette est ouverte à partir d'une position sensiblement horizontale.
  3. Mallette (10) telle que définie à la revendication 2, dans laquelle les moyens de retenue comprennent un premier crochet (32) porté par la coque de couvercle (12) et comportant une partie pendulaire (33) servant à détecter la direction de l'attraction de la pesanteur, positionnant ainsi le crochet (32) en vue d'une venue en prise sur le panneau (22) lorsque la mallette est dans une position horizontale et en vue d'une libération du panneau (22) lorsque la mallette est dans une position verticale, lesdits moyens comprenant en outre un second crochet (34) porté par la coque de base (14), le second crochet (34) comportant une partie pendulaire (39) servant à détecter la direction de la pesanteur en vue d'une venue en prise sur le panneau (22) lorsque la mallette est dans la position verticale et en vue d'une libération du panneau (22) lorsque la mallette est dans la position horizontale.
  4. Mallette telle que définie à la revendication 3, dans laquelle les premier et second crochets (32, 34) sont disposés l'un vis-à-vis de l'autre de façon à venir sélectivement au contact l'un de l'autre suivant que la mallette est dans une position verticale ou dans une position horizontale.
  5. Mallette telle que définie à la revendication 4, dans laquelle le second crochet comprend une partie de bras (40) qui vient au contact du premier crochet et fait quitter de force au premier crochet la venue en prise sur le panneau (22) lorsque le second crochet tourne sous l'effet de la pesanteur lorsqu'on fait tourner la mallette vers une position verticale.
  6. Mallette (10) telle que définie dans l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans laquelle la mallette (10) est un attaché-case et le panneau (22) est le panneau avant d'une serviette pour documents (20) montée dans le compartiment de couvercle (12), le panneau avant (22) est relié au compartiment de couvercle (12) par des plis latéraux formant soufflet (23) qui permettent au panneau (22) de sortir d'une manière articulée du compartiment de couvercle (12) lorsque les moyens de retenue (32, 34) ne retiennent pas le panneau (22) dans la seconde position.
  7. Mallette (10) telle que définie dans l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, dans laquelle ledit panneau diviseur (22) est articulé au côté inférieur de la coque de couvercle (14) à l'intérieur de la mallette (10) et ne s'étend que sur une partie de la dimension en hauteur de la coque de couvercle (14), à partir du côté inférieur de la coque de couvercle (14) et vers le bord supérieur de la mallette, et en ce qu'au moins une poche pouvant être fermée (13) est disposée sur la face intérieure d'au moins l'une des coques entre le bord supérieur du panneau diviseur (22) et le côté supérieur de la mallette.
  8. Mallette telle que définie dans l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, comprenant en outre une poignée qui est reliée à la coque de base à l'endroit du côté supérieur de la mallette.
  9. Mallette telle que définie à la revendication 8, dans laquelle la coque de base comporte une cavité le long de son côté supérieur et la poignée est encastrée dans la cavité.
EP93908547A 1992-03-19 1993-03-17 Bagage a main a ouverture intelligente Expired - Lifetime EP0589022B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US85450592A 1992-03-19 1992-03-19
US854505 1992-03-19
PCT/US1993/002748 WO1993018682A1 (fr) 1992-03-19 1993-03-17 Bagage a main a ouverture intelligente

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0589022A1 EP0589022A1 (fr) 1994-03-30
EP0589022A4 EP0589022A4 (en) 1998-11-04
EP0589022B1 true EP0589022B1 (fr) 2001-10-24

Family

ID=25318864

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP93908547A Expired - Lifetime EP0589022B1 (fr) 1992-03-19 1993-03-17 Bagage a main a ouverture intelligente

Country Status (19)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0589022B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2603901B2 (fr)
CN (1) CN1078623A (fr)
AT (1) ATE207318T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU652331B2 (fr)
BR (1) BR9305444A (fr)
DE (1) DE69330987T2 (fr)
DK (1) DK0589022T3 (fr)
ES (1) ES2162817T3 (fr)
HK (1) HK1014467A1 (fr)
HU (1) HUT67979A (fr)
LT (1) LT3318B (fr)
LV (1) LV10031B (fr)
MX (1) MX9301533A (fr)
PT (1) PT589022E (fr)
RU (1) RU2077859C1 (fr)
SG (1) SG65598A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1993018682A1 (fr)
ZA (1) ZA931469B (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN106864082A (zh) * 2017-03-23 2017-06-20 罗勇 一种可快速取页装页的文件夹

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4345048A1 (de) * 1993-12-31 1995-07-06 Sortimo Int Gmbh Kofferverschluß, insbesondere für Metall-Werkzeugkoffer
DE69838003T2 (de) 1998-07-15 2008-03-06 International Business Machines Corp. Verfahren zum etablieren des vertrauenswürdigkeitgrades eines teilnehmers während einer kommunikationsverbindung
CH707564B1 (de) * 2013-02-14 2016-08-15 Swiss Luggage Sl Ag Koffer mit teilweise geöffneter Zwischenstellung und Offenstellung.
CN104314384A (zh) * 2014-09-07 2015-01-28 佛山市天晟隆油脂化工有限公司 一种方向感应式自锁结构的油脂容器拉链锁
CN109259403A (zh) * 2018-09-13 2019-01-25 徐州卓控科技有限公司 一种可自动解锁手提箱

Family Cites Families (15)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3298479A (en) * 1966-02-17 1967-01-17 Jay Feld & Company Ltd Luggage
US3756639A (en) 1971-10-27 1973-09-04 Samsonite Corp Orientation sensitive luggage latch
US3912055A (en) * 1974-03-18 1975-10-14 Robert J Malooly Luggage case having hinged lid with auxiliary access door to file compartment therein
US4020930A (en) * 1974-08-01 1977-05-03 Trimco Mfg. & Engineering Inc. Double action brief case
JPS5648164A (en) * 1979-09-26 1981-05-01 Nec Corp Semiconductor device
FR2480579A1 (fr) * 1980-04-16 1981-10-23 Dupont S T Bagage a main a un ou plusieurs compartiments
IT1190964B (it) 1981-08-25 1988-02-24 Ken Yamamoto Meccanismo di bloccaggio ausiliario per valigie,borse e simili articoli
US4433761A (en) * 1982-01-27 1984-02-28 Samsonite Corporation Portfolio with frame and integral article retainers
US4643281A (en) * 1986-02-18 1987-02-17 Erickson Kenneth E Carrying case
US4694940A (en) 1986-03-06 1987-09-22 Yutaka Horiuchi Carrying case with a hinged lid and closure member
US4844214A (en) * 1988-02-29 1989-07-04 Samsonite Corporation Adjustable portfolio strap arrangement
US4925021A (en) * 1989-06-26 1990-05-15 American Tourister, Inc. Three-section suitcase
US4998616A (en) * 1989-07-05 1991-03-12 Alltrade, Inc. Four ply fold-up display and carrying case
WO1992001403A1 (fr) * 1990-07-19 1992-02-06 Dauphin Alan J Mallette porte-documents amelioree
US5050740A (en) * 1990-08-28 1991-09-24 Eli Lucero Hard case for chess equipment

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN106864082A (zh) * 2017-03-23 2017-06-20 罗勇 一种可快速取页装页的文件夹

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69330987T2 (de) 2002-04-11
DK0589022T3 (da) 2001-12-27
HUT67979A (en) 1995-03-23
CN1078623A (zh) 1993-11-24
HK1014467A1 (en) 1999-09-30
JPH06507107A (ja) 1994-08-11
SG65598A1 (en) 1999-06-22
DE69330987D1 (de) 2001-11-29
LV10031B (en) 1995-04-20
ZA931469B (en) 1993-09-23
MX9301533A (es) 1994-01-31
WO1993018682A1 (fr) 1993-09-30
LTIP410A (en) 1994-10-25
LT3318B (en) 1995-06-26
EP0589022A1 (fr) 1994-03-30
LV10031A (lv) 1994-05-10
AU3933093A (en) 1993-10-21
BR9305444A (pt) 1994-08-02
ES2162817T3 (es) 2002-01-16
JP2603901B2 (ja) 1997-04-23
HU9303188D0 (en) 1994-03-28
EP0589022A4 (en) 1998-11-04
ATE207318T1 (de) 2001-11-15
AU652331B2 (en) 1994-08-18
RU2077859C1 (ru) 1997-04-27
PT589022E (pt) 2002-04-29

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