Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
  • A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
  • A45C13/26—Special adaptations of handles
  • A45C13/262—Special adaptations of handles for wheeled luggage
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
  • A45C5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage
  • A45C5/14—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage with built-in rolling means

Definitions

• the present invention concerns suitcases and in particular it concerns a suitcase with wheels.
• said trolley frame is at least partially of the pull out type and is constituted by a handle fixed across one or two parallel vertical rods.
• the rods of the trolley frame are telescopic, inserted as they are in apposite spaces obtained in the central part of the back shell, which means that they are positioned on the same side of the suitcase to which the wheels are applied.
• the rods of the trolley frame are free to slide vertically inside said spaces, so that the handle can be lifted or lowered according to the need. In this way, once the trolley frame has been extracted, the user can grip the handle and carry the suitcase, inclining it towards himself/herself, that is, on the wheels side, with the back shell facing the ground.
• handles On the top or sides of the suitcase there are further handles that can be used to transport the suitcase when it cannot slide on its wheels or when it is necessary to hold the suitcase, for example to position it horizontally or to load it on a raised supporting surface.
• Extensive research on the functionality of said wheels and on the structure of the handles has made suitcases more comfortable to carry.
• particularly effective sliding systems are available on the market, as well as handles whose shape makes them easier to grip.
• Pulling a suitcase is still rather tiring, especially when it is necessary to tow heavy and/or bulky suitcases for long distances, as it often happens in airports, where, furthermore, it is not always easy for passengers to find trolleys on which to load their luggage.
• the main aim of the present invention is to make the suitcase easier to handle and to carry.
• a further aim of the present invention is to improve the way the user can grip the handle.
• Another aim of the present invention is to optimise the space inside the suitcase, thus increasing its capacity.
• Another aim of the invention is to provide a suitcase where the stresses to which the wheels are subjected are dampened, thus ensuring a more effective operation and longer life of the suitcase.
• a further aim of the present invention is to make the suitcase more practical to use.
• These and other direct and complementary aims are achieved through the implementation of a new suitcase, suited to slide with its longer axis in vertical position, with reinforced wheels on the back shell, pull out trolley frame, external pockets, and allowing the installation of castors on the front shell.
• the innovative aspect of the present invention lies in that it combines in a single object all the characteristics needed to obtain a comfortable, practical and handy suitcase.
• the new suitcase, suitable for sliding with its longer axis in vertical position has substantially the shape of a parallelepiped and is constituted - as to its main components - by a back and a front shell.
• Said shells are joined on one side by means of hinges, so that the user can conveniently open and close the suitcase.
• the user In order to be able to open the suitcase and place inside it the items to be transported, like objects, garments, documents or other things, the user must position the suitcase horizontally, with the back shell lying on the supporting surface.
• the suitcase can be closed thanks to the presence of means suited to couple the two back and front shells, like rigid lever systems, hinges, straps or other devices.
• the new suitcase comprises two wheels applied to the back shell, near the base, so that when said suitcase has its longer axis in vertical position said rear wheels are in contact with the ground.
• Each one of said rear wheels is fixed to the back shell of the new suitcase by means of an innovative system comprising a main rotation pin, fastened to the shell, and a reinforcing plate, also called simply plate, suited to reinforce the entire rotation system, preventing the shell and the pin from breaking and maintaining the pin itself aligned.
• Said plate is fixed to said rotation pin of the rear wheel and to a second point on the back shell.
• a tubular element or a ring, made of an elastic and resistant material such as rubber or a similar material, and said plate is fixed thereto by means of a screw, after interposing a plastic protection ring between said screw and the back shell.
• the rubber tubular element serves the main function of dampening and absorbing the stresses to which said rear wheels are subjected.
• the new suitcase may also be equipped with one or more wheels on the front shell, said wheels being positioned near the base, too, so that when the suitcase has its longer axis in vertical position also said front wheels rest on the floor, on the side opposite the wheels of the back shell.
• the front wheels are preferably castors.
• the suitcase will comprise a sliding system with wheels, so that it can also be pushed, as well as pulled, that is, it can be used as a trolley, with the advantage that said suitcase becomes less tiring to carry and easier to handle.
• the new suitcase comprises a pull out trolley frame, preferably comprising, in its turn, a gripping handle fixed across two parallel vertical rods.
• Said rods of the trolley frame are housed in apposite seats obtained in the back shell, positioned on the side ends of its bottom, that is, near the sides of said back shell, and are therefore more spaced from each other than the rods of the known trolley frames.
• the lateral instead of central position of the seats for the trolley frame rods limits the drawback represented by the space occupied by said seats inside the suitcase, so that the user has more space at his/her disposal, said space being also distributed more practically.
• the trolley frame with spaced rods will also have a handle that is larger than the known handles, thus ensuring a better, safer and more comfortable grip, especially when the user has to push the suitcase.
• the new suitcase also comprises one or more external pockets that allow the user to place inside it the objects, documents and personal items that he/she needs to have at hand. Said pockets, therefore, mean additional space at the disposal of the user and make the suitcase more practical and comfortable to use.
• the new suitcase is extremely handy, thanks to the castors on the front shell and to the trolley frame with spaced rods, and also practical, thanks to the optimised inside space and to the application of one or more external pockets.
• Figure 1 shows a side view of the suitcase with its longer axis in vertical position and the section A-A orthogonal to the longer axis.
• Figure 2 is a rear view of the suitcase, where in particular it is possible to see the back shell with wheels and the pull out trolley frame in lifted position.
• Figure 3 shows a further view of the suitcase base.
• Figure 4 is a detailed view of a section of the connection point of the reinforcing plate to the back shell.
• the new suitcase suited to slide with its longer axis in vertical position, has substantially the shape of a parallelepiped and comprises a back shell (Gp) and a front shell (Ga). Said shells (Ga) and (Gp) are joined on one side, as shown in Figure 3, by means of a hinge or hinges (C), and suitable fastening elements such as hooks, straps or the like are coupled to one another in order to allow said suitcase to be closed.
• the back shell (Gp) comprises at least two wheels (Rl) and (R2), positioned near the base of the suitcase, so that said wheels (Rl) and (R2) are in contact with the floor when said suitcase has its longer axis in vertical position, as shown in Figure 1.
• Each wheel (Rl) and (R2) is fixed to the back shell (Gp) by means of a rotation pin and a plate (Bl) and (B2) suited to reinforce the entire rotation system, thus preventing the rotation pin and the back shell (Gp) from breaking and keeping said rotation pin aligned.
• Each one of said plates (Bl) and (B 2) is fixed to the corresponding rotation pin of the wheel (Rl) or (R2) of the back shell (Gp) and to a second point
• connection point (B') between said plate (Bl) and the back shell (Gp) is shown in cross section, by way of example, in Figure 4.
• the plate (Bl) is applied at the level of said hole (Fg) in the back shell (Gp), to which it is fastened via suitable fastening means, for example a screw (V), after insertion of an apposite protection ring (Pp) preferably made of a plastic material between said screw (V) and the back shell (Gp).
• suitable fastening means for example a screw (V)
• Pp apposite protection ring
• the back shell (Gp) is shaped in such a way as to allow said plates (Bl) and (B2) to be moved slightly with respect to said connection points (B') and
• the back shell (Gp) also comprises a trolley frame (T) that is equipped with a handle (Ml) fixed across two parallel rods (Al) and (A2).
• Said trolley frame (T) is completely telescopic, which means that when it is completely retracted the rods (Al) and (A2) as well as the handle (Ml) are housed in apposite spaces obtained inside the back shell (Gp), so that the external shape of the suitcase is even more compact and uniform, owing to the fact that the trolley frame (T) practically occupies no space.
• Said rods (Al) and (A2) slide in two seats (Sl) and (S2), respectively, obtained in the side ends of the back shell (Gp), in a direction parallel to the longer axis of the suitcase.
• the user can therefore grip the handle (Ml) and pull it upwards or push it downwards to make the rods (Al) and (A2) slide vertically, that is, parallel to the longer axis of the suitcase, thus extracting or retracting the trolley frame (T).
• the seats (Sl) and (S2) as well as the rods (Al) and (A2) are profiled so that the trolley frame (T) slides as smoothly as possible and that said rods (Al) and (A2) cannot move out of their seats (Sl) and (S2) when said trolley frame (T) is extracted completely.
• the rods (Al) and (A2) and the seats (Sl) and (S2) are worked in such a way as to allow the user to lock the trolley frame (T) at the desired height, preventing said rods (Al) and (A2) from sliding vertically in an uncontrolled manner.
• the space occupied by the trolley frame (T) is therefore limited to the area near the sides of the back shell (Gp), that is, near the corners, and the space inside the suitcase is distributed more uniformly (see Figure IA-A)
• the new suitcase also comprises one or more handles (M2) and (M3) applied to the back shell (Gp) and/or to the front shell (Ga), which allow the user to hold the suitcase when he/she needs to carry it without using the wheels or to place it in horizontal position.
• the handle (M2) may, for example, be positioned on one of the sides of the shells (Ga) and (Gp), so that the user can hold it when the suitcase is in horizontal position.
• the side opposite the one to which the handle (M2) is applied comprises one or more supports, or feet (Dl) and (D2) that allow the suitcase to be positioned in a stable manner even when its longer axis is horizontal.
• the handle (M3) on the other hand, can be positioned, for example, on the upper side of the suitcase, so that the user can hold it and lift it with no need to use the handle (Ml) of the trolley frame (T).
• the base (Ba) of the front shell (Ga) of the suitcase is shaped so that there is enough room for the installation of one or more castors.
• Figure 3 shows two seats (SPl) and (SP2), each having a substantially circular shape, inside which it is possible to install the castors (Pl) and (P2), one per seat.
• Said castors (Pl) and (P2) are positioned so that when the suitcase has its longer axis in vertical position it has four points of contact with the floor, that is, it rests on the floor both with the wheels (Rl) and (R2) of the back shell (Gp) and with the castors (Pl) and (P2) of the front shell (Ga).
• Said castors (Pl) and (P2) allow the user to carry the suitcase not only by pulling it behind him/her with the handle (M) of the trolley frame (T), but also by pushing it before him/her, leaning on said trolley frame (T).
• the suitcase comprises one or more external pockets (E) applied to its sides, to the back shell (Gp) and/or to the front shell (Ga).
• All the elements that make up the new suitcase may be made of a textile, plastic or metallic material or any other material suitable for the function of said elements.
• the advantages offered by the new suitcase with reinforced wheels (Rl) and (R2) positioned on the back shell (Gp), pull out trolley frame (T) 5 external pockets (E) and castors (Pl) and (P2) on the front shell (Ga) are numerous: the castors (Pl) and (P2) and the rear wheels (Rl) and (R2) allow the user not only to tow the suitcase, but also to push it by means of the trolley frame (T), while the reinforcing plates (Bl) and (B2) protect the new suitcase from the stresses to which the wheels are subjected.
• a further advantage lies in the fact that the suitcase is provided with a trolley frame (T) with spaced rods (Al) and (A2) that, besides ensuring a more comfortable grip on the handle (Ml), limits the drawback represented by the space occupied inside the case, in fact the space is distributed in a more compact and practical manner.

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• 2005
  • 2005-03-18 IT ITPD20050082 patent/ITPD20050082A1/it unknown
• 2006
  • 2006-03-13 EP EP06728482A patent/EP1858363A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2006-03-13 CN CNA2006800086735A patent/CN101141895A/zh active Pending
  • 2006-03-13 WO PCT/IT2006/000147 patent/WO2006097960A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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