EP2542116B1

EP2542116B1 - Wheeled suitcase or suitcase trolley comprising vacuum pump

Info

Publication number: EP2542116B1
Application number: EP11706216.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Vincenzo Vandelli; Maurizio Albertini
Original assignee: Garagnani Giovanni; Gozzoli Ermanno; Lenzarini Pier Giorgio
Current assignee: Garagnani Giovanni; Gozzoli Ermanno; Lenzarini Pier Giorgio
Priority date: 2010-03-04
Filing date: 2011-02-24
Publication date: 2013-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 2031-02-24
Also published as: EP2542116A1; ES2445831T3; WO2011107396A1; ITBO20100126A1; IT1398488B1

Description

It is useful for travellers to be able to place the largest possible quantity of garments, clothes or other articles in their bags or suitcases, by an operation which is as convenient as possible, does not cause damage to the bags or suitcases or their contents, and can be performed easily even by persons such as children or elderly people whose physical strength is limited. In a first known solution for meeting this requirement, use is made of flexible bags of plastic material, usually transparent, in which the garments, clothes or other articles can be placed, each bag being provided with a mouth having an airtight reclosable closing device and a one-way valve through which air can be extracted from the bag, in order to compact the items in the bag and reduce their volume considerably, in such a way that a large quantity of items can be placed in the bag or suitcase, while avoiding the use of physical force in closing and opening the bag or suitcase and avoiding the forcing and damaging of the closure means of these pieces of luggage. At the present time, the air can be extracted from the closed bags by means of a vacuum cleaner or a small manual pump. These vacuum packing products are currently available online from the marketing site www.zetashopping.com and/or can be obtained on the market, under the trade name Ziploc® for example. An example of this first solution is illustrated in US patent 7 588 160 , to which reference is mainly made.
US patent 6 135 253 describes a second solution comprising a suitcase having an internal bag of the aforesaid type, whose base is fixed to the base of the suitcase, the bag being connected to the intake of a small vacuum pump, such as an electric pump, which has a delivery end communicating with the atmosphere through a one-way valve and which is permanently housed in the suitcase. When the items have been placed in said flexible bag, the mouth of the bag is closed by means of its airtight closure and said pump is then actuated to create a significant reduction in the volume of the items packed in the bag, in such a way that the bag can easily be enclosed in the suitcase, even if the volumetric capacity of the latter is considerably smaller than that of said flexible bag in its initial open expanded condition. With the first of the aforesaid solutions, the user can advantageously place articles in different bags and can open the bags in a progressive way as it becomes necessary to use their contents. On his return journey, the user can also isolate soiled washing or articles in any one or more of the bags, thus preventing any contact between these and the other articles placed in the suitcase inside other vacuum bags. On the other hand, said first solution has the disadvantage that a vacuum cleaner or vacuum pump must be available, and such means are not always available at the traveller's destination or at places where he stays during a journey. The second of the aforesaid solutions has the advantage that a vacuum pump is always available, since it is associated with the suitcase, but has the disadvantage of having only one flexible bag for containing the clothing and/or other articles to be carried, making it impossible to separate fragile articles from less fragile ones or soiled articles from clean ones.
US 2007/0083921 discloses a suitcase comprising an integrated vacuum pump for vacating air from vacuum bags.
The object of the invention is to overcome these and other drawbacks of the prior art with a solution as described in the attached Claim 1 and in the subsequent dependent claims, which has the advantageous features of the aforesaid solutions but not their negative aspects, and which is based on the following principle. The suitcase or bag is provided with a small vacuum pump of small dimensions which is integrated into the structure of the suitcase, in such a way that it occupies a very small space, is in a protected position, and is available at all times. Preferably, the pump is designed for manual operation, in such a way that it is extremely simple in terms of design, economical, and highly reliable in operation.
In a preferred embodiment, the pump is associated with the telescopic bar or bars of the extendable and retractable handle of the wheeled suitcase or of the trolley for carrying a conventional suitcase, and is actuated by the alternate raising and lowering of the movable handle. The pump can be connected, through a small tube which is supplied with it, to the various bags of the first of the aforesaid solutions, to evacuate air from them and reduce their volume.
Further characteristics of the invention, and the advantages resulting therefrom, will be made clearer by the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example in the figures on the single attached sheet of drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows, partially in lateral elevation and partially in cross section, a wheeled suitcase improved according to the invention and in the condition of use for the creation of a vacuum in a vacuum packing bag;
Fig. 2 shows the suitcase of Figure 1 in lateral elevation, in partial section, and in the closed condition for transport, after the articles packed in the vacuum bags have been placed in it.

In the drawings, the letter V indicates a wheeled suitcase, of any rigid or semirigid type, having in the corner areas of one side small wheels R by means of which it can rest on the ground and can run along the ground, and having, on the side opposite the wheels, an extendable handle M, which, when not in use, is in the contracted, non-projecting position shown in solid lines in Figure 1, and which can be extended and made to project as shown in broken lines for use as a handlebar for transporting the suitcase in the same way as a trolley running along the ground on the wheels R. The letter M' indicates an optional handle for carrying the suitcase by its longer side, if transport in the form of a trolley as described above is impossible or inconvenient for any reason. The handle M with variable positioning is usually associated with telescopic parts comprising at least one fixed part or sheath 1, fixed to the frame of the suitcase, and a moving part or rod 101 associated with the handle M. There can be two of these telescopic assemblies, positioned symmetrically as shown by 1, 101 and 1' 101' in Figure 1, or there can be a single assembly which is positioned centrally. According to the invention, at least one or both of said telescopic elements are positioned in such a way that they can form a vacuum pump P, being provided for this purpose with corresponding pistons 2, 2' which slide with a lateral seal in the sheaths 1, 1' to create chambers within the sheaths whose volumes increase and decrease alternately, and which, in this last stage, can be used to create a vacuum in the bags for packing the articles to be placed in the suitcase. In the example shown in Figure 1, the upper chambers 3, 3' of the cylinder and piston units are used to create the vacuum, since it is assumed that, where ease of use is concerned, it is simpler and less tiring to create the vacuum by pushing the handle M downwards while the side of the suitcase fitted with the small wheels R rests on a surface. In this case, the lower chambers of said cylinder and piston units can communicate constantly and freely with the atmosphere, through corresponding holes 4, 4' for example, while said upper chambers 3, 3' are interconnected in their upper parts by a pipe 5 which can communicate with the atmosphere through a one-way valve 6 when the chambers 3, 3' decrease in volume and the handle M is raised, and which communicates for example permanently through a tube 7, which is of the spiral type for example and is in any case sufficiently rigid, this tube having a length which is not excessive and usually being housed in a small rear compartment 8 of the suitcase, having for example a hatch 108 with a closure 208 of any suitable type. In the normal conditions of use of the suitcase, the handle M can be raised freely, since the air can flow out of the chambers 3, 3' through the valve 6, and the handle can also be lowered freely, since the air can flow out through the holes 4, 4'. A number of empty vacuum bags of the most frequently used type, folded back on themselves a number of times, can advantageously be placed in said compartment 8, in such a way that they occupy a small space and form a small reserve supply which is always ready for use. When necessary, as shown in Figure 1, the tube 7 can be pulled out of the compartment 8 and its distal end can be connected to the one-way valve VS of the vacuum bag S into which the articles T to be placed in the suitcase have been introduced through the initially open mouth B.
When the mouth B of the bag S has been closed, with the usual known sealing means, the handle M can be raised and lowered to create a vacuum in the bag S, which gradually decreases in volume and changes from the initial condition shown in broken lines in Figure 1 to the condition of reduced volume shown in solid lines, in which condition the bag can be detached from the tube 7 and replaced in the suitcase V. This is because the volumes of the chambers 3, 3' are increased whenever the handle is lowered, thus drawing air from the bag S.
In the subsequent movement in which the handle M is raised, the air contained in the chambers 3, 3' is evacuated to the outside through the valve 6, since the valve VS of the bag S is closed automatically. Figure 2 shows how the use of the pump P, which is normally associated with the suitcase in a protected position and is integrated in the ordinary structure of the suitcase, according to a solution which has little effect on the production costs of the suitcase, makes it possible to place a considerable quantity of items in a suitcase, while ensuring that the items can be packed in this way on both the outward and the return journeys, since the pump is available and ready for use at all times. In order to prevent accidental reflation of one or more of the filled bags S placed in the suitcase, the set of bags S can advantageously be retained by straps C provided with the suitcase. The bags S which are used can be of any type suitable for the purpose, provided with known means for easy repressurization and opening when required. Clearly, the embodiment which is described and illustrated in the drawings is a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the invention which can be associated with a wheeled suitcase or a trolley for carrying suitcases, and which can be varied and modified in numerous ways, especially as regards its construction.
For example, in variants which differ from the illustrated embodiment, the tube 7 and the circuit 5, 6 can be connected to the lower chambers of the cylinder and piston units of the pump P, which have a greater volume than the upper chambers 3, 3', since they do not contain the rods 101, 101'. In this case, the resistant force that leads to the creation of the vacuum in the bags S is encountered during the raising of the handle M, and therefore it is necessary to keep the suitcase V in the low position. In another possible variant, the assembly formed by the telescopic units of the pump P and the movable handle M can be placed on a small base which can easily and quickly be attached to the suitcase and detached from it, in such a way that the pump can be brought closer to the bag S if necessary, thus reducing the length of the tube 7 or even making this component unnecessary. In another variant not part of the invention, the pump P can be located near said telescopic units 1, 101, 1', 101' or in another position of the suitcase or of the trolley and can be actuated by means of a special bar mounted in a concealed way on the suitcase or trolley. In another variant, not part of the invention, the assembly comprising the manual pump P as described can be replaced by a small electric pump which is powered autonomously by rechargeable batteries and/or can be connected to the mains.

Claims

Wheeled suitcase or suitcase trolley, designed for the compaction of garments, clothing or other articles (T) to be placed in the suitcase after packing in vacuum bags (S), comprising a small vacuum pump (P), of a suitable type, having small dimensions and integrated into the structure of the suitcase (V) or trolley, in such a way that it occupies a very small space, is in a protected position, and is ready for use at all times, this pump being usable to create a vacuum in said bags (S) in which the articles to be put in the suitcase are placed, enabling large quantities of the articles to be carried with their overall dimensions adapted to the actual volumetric capacity of the suitcase, characterised in that said pump being a manual pump associated with a telescopic assembly (1, 1', 101, 101') formed by a movable handle (M) for transporting the suitcase or trolley on wheels (R), in such a way that it can be actuated by the alternate raising and lowering of said handle (M), said telescopic assembly being provided for this purpose with pistons (2, 2'), discharge openings (4, 4') and a circuit (5) having one-way valve means (6).
Wheeled suitcase or suitcase trolley according to Claim 1, in which said pump (P) is designed in such a way that it is extremely simple in its construction, has a limited effect on the cost of the suitcase or trolley, and is highly reliable in operation.
Wheeled suitcase or suitcase trolley according to Claim 1, characterized in that the inner chamber or chambers of said pump (P) for creating the vacuum are preferably the upper chambers (3, 3') which increase in volume when said handle (M) is lowered, while the suitcase or trolley remains in a stable position with the wheels (R) resting on the ground, although the lower chambers of the pump (P), which have larger volumes, may be used alternatively for the creation of the vacuum.
Wheeled suitcase or suitcase trolley according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a small tube (7) for connecting the suction chambers of said pump (P) to the valves (VS) provided on the vacuum bags (S), this tube (7) being housable in a small compartment (8) of the suitcase, in which a small reserve supply of empty folded bags (S) may be stored if necessary.
Wheeled suitcase or suitcase trolley according to Claim 1, in which the pump assembly (P), with the telescopic cylinder and piston units (1, 1', 101, 101', 2, 2') and with the associated handle M, can be placed on a small supporting base designed to be easily and quickly attached to the suitcase and detached from it, in such a way that said pump assembly (P) can be brought closer to the packing bag (S) if necessary, thus allowing the length of said connecting tube (7) to be reduced or even making the tube unnecessary.
Wheeled suitcase or suitcase trolley according to Claim 1, characterized in that, in order to prevent the accidental reflation of one or more of the filled bags (S) placed in the suitcase, the set of bags can advantageously be enclosed and secured in the suitcase (V) by means of straps (C) provided with the suitcase or with the trolley.
Wheeled suitcase or suitcase trolley according to Claim 3, characterized in that said pump (P) can be located at the position of the telescopic assembly (1, 1', 101, 101') of the movable handle (M) used for transporting the suitcase or trolley on the wheels (R), or can be located in any other position and can be actuated by means of a special bar mounted in a concealed way on the suitcase or trolley.