EP2836660B1

EP2836660B1 - A suitcase for transport of tool assortment and a method for operating the suitcase

Info

Publication number: EP2836660B1
Application number: EP13716951.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Søren X. FRAHM; Robert Byriel Riedel
Original assignee: Raaco AS
Current assignee: Raaco AS
Priority date: 2012-04-12
Filing date: 2013-04-12
Publication date: 2016-04-06
Anticipated expiration: 2033-04-12
Also published as: DK177752B1; DK201270181A; EP2836660A1; WO2013152777A1

Description

The invention relates to a suitcase for transport of tool assortment or the like, which includes a bottom, a corresponding lid, a handle placed at a first side of the bottom, the lid and bottom being connected to each other by one or more hinges, said suitcase further comprising a lock for locking the lid to the bottom, said lock comprising a first surface, at least a part of the first surface interacting with a protruding part of the handle, said protruding part being moveable between a first position where the lock locks the lid to the bottom and a second position where the lock is adapted to be released.
It is known to transport tools and tool assortment or the like in suitcases of the above type. Such suitcase is known from CH 683585 , which includes a box-shaped bottom with a corresponding lid and a flip-up handle on the side of the bottom. The flip-up handle forms part of a lock. When the handle is flipped up, the lid is locked to the bottom, thus preventing the contents from falling out of the suitcase. However, the lock could be safer than the one described in the patent.
Further, EP 2254437 discloses a suitcase having a flip-up handle forming part of a locking system. However, the handle and the lock are both attached to and are part of the bottom. Further, in order to unlock the suitcase, the handle is moved in one direction while the lock has to be moved in the opposite direction. This does not provide a smooth opening of the suitcase. Further, the lock itself could be safer than the one described.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new construction of a suitcase for transport of tool assortment and smaller tools or the like and to solve at least one of the problems mentioned in the prior art or at least to provide a useful alternative. By tool assortment is to understand small items such as electronic components, tool components, bits, small tool devices as well as nails, screws etc.
According to a first aspect of the invention, a suitcase is provided as descried in the introduction, which further comprises the lock being turnably mounted on a first axle placed on the lid and further comprising a protruding engagement means, said protruding engagement means being adapted to engage with a locking key being a part of the bottom, said engagement takes place when the protruding part is in its first position.
Thereby, it is achieved that when the user grips the handle, the lid is automatically locked in its closed position by flip-up of the handle. Even if the lid has not been closed properly before the handle is flipped up, the lid will be forced into a closed position due to the hook and key arrangement, the hook and key having an interacting interface of a certain extent. The lock and the handle are placed on each their part of the suitcase, respectively placed on the lid and on the bottom. Further, when opening the lid, the pivoting movement of the lock, which is clockwise, takes place in the same direction as the lid moves when opening the suitcase. Therefore, opening of the suitcase is rather a sliding movement as the movement of the lock and lid- unlocking and opening - takes place in one movement. Finally, the lock arrangement itself is a very safe lock due to the construction as such.
By protruding engagement means is to understand a protruding article, which may be a straight part, a curved designed part, a hook or any design being suitable to abut another abutting part (the key) and keep the two parts in place. This may be done by the two parts having a certain friction between them, thereby preventing them from slipping apart. Another possibility is a separate locking of the lock in order to keep the lock in locked position.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the first surface is concave in the direction of the protruding part.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the protruding part and the handle are adapted to pivot around a second axle.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the first surface comprises a first surface part and a second surface part, said second surface part engaging with the protruding part during the movement of the protruding part between the first and the second position, by said engagement the lock is adapted to be non-pivotable in the first position.
Thereby, the lock is locking the lid securely when the handle is in upraised position, i.e. the first position. Further, as the pivoting protruding part does not engage the lock as long as it moves relative to and along the first surface part, the lock is freely moveable and the lock can be unlocked by moving the lock around the first axle. Thereby, the locking key and the protruding engagement means are moved away from each other and the suitcase is unlocked.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the first surface comprises a first surface part and a second surface part, said first surface part and the protruding part not exercising any or very little force towards each other, whereby the lock is freely movable and adapted to be turned into the second position.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the lock further comprises a locking recess, said locking recess being bounded by the protruding engagement means at one side.
Thereby, a firm locking of the suitcase is achieved and it is avoided that the protruding engagement means and the locking key engage.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the handle is u-shaped and comprises a hand-gripping part and two substantially parallel gripping legs placed at each end of the hand-gripping part, said gripping legs pivoting around the second axle and comprising the protruding part.
Preferably, the handle is u-shaped, but it may have any design suitable for a hand to grip around.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the protruding part of the handle and the first surface comprise abutting surfaces sliding against each other and a surface part of the first surface being partly cylindrically shaped by a rectilinear generatrix extending parallel with the first axle.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the part of the first surface is partly cylindrically shaped by the rectilinear generatrix extending parallel with the first axle comprising the second surface part.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the first surface and the protruding part are adapted to disengage from each other by turning the handle away from the flipped-up position and back to a flipped-down position, while the lock remains engaged with the lid locking the bottom and lid to each other.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the suitcase comprises at least one hinge connecting the lid and the bottom, said hinge(s) being placed at a surface different from the surface on which the handle is placed.
Usually, the suitcase comprises two hinges placed at a surface opposite the surface where the handle is placed.
The invention also comprises a method for operating a suitcase as described above where the handle is flipped-down, whereby the protruding part moves from a first position to a second position, at said first position the protruding part abuts a second surface part of the first surface, and at said second position the protruding part does not engage the first surface, and the method further comprising the turning of the lock around the first axle in clockwise direction, whereby the protruding engagement means disengages the locking key, whereby the lid is adapted to open in the same direction as the lock is turned.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the protruding part moves from the second position to the first position, whereby the protruding part abuts the sec-ond surface part and the lock turns around the first axle in counter clock direction, whereby the protruding engagement means engages the locking key and the lid is locked.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the bottom of the suitcase is formed as a box.
The invention is explained in detail below with reference to the drawing, in which

Fig. 1 shows a suitcase according to the invention seen in perspective view and with an open lid.
Fig. 2 shows the suitcase in Fig. 1 with closed lid.
Figs. 3a and 3b show a handle of the suitcase shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
Figs. 4a and 4b show a lock of the suitcase shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The lock is placed in a locking bar.
Fig. 5 shows a part of the invention, a sectional drawing of the lock and the handle. The lock is in a closed position, and the handle is freely moveable and in an upraised position.
Fig. 6 shows a part of the suitcase, a sectional drawing of the lock and the handle. The lock is in a closed and locked position, and the handle is laid down.
Fig. 7 shows the same embodiment as in Fig. 6, but the lock is in an open and unlocked position, and the handle is laid down.
Fig. 8 shows the same as in Fig. 6, but the handle is being moved to an upraised position, whereby the lock and handle are engaging with each other. By said engagement, the lock will be moved to a closed and locked position.

A suitcase 1 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 provided for accommodating and transporting tools and the like. It includes a bottom 2 and a lid 3 connected with each other by hinges 6 in a way not shown in detail. On the outside of the contain-er/suitcase, the bottom 2 and the lid 3 are a little extended at the front in such a way that an outwardly turned cavity is provided for accommodation of a handle 4. The handle 4 is adapted to interact with a lock 7 as described below. The handle 4 and the lock 7 are formed so as to fit into said cavity and such that along the outside surfaces, they are flush with a first side 5 of the bottom 2, i.e. the front of the bottom 2, as well as the front and upper surface of the lid 3 when the handle 4 is laid down, and the lock 7 is in a locked position. Further, the handle 4 is u-shaped.
Figs. 3a and 3b show the handle 4 in a perspective view seen from two opposite perspectives. The handle 4 comprises a hand-gripping part 19 comprising in each of the ends a substantially perpendicular-oriented leg 20 for attaching the handle pivotably to the suitcase 1. At the free end, each of the legs comprises a rounded groove 24 connected to an axle by snap effect. In this way, the handle is made pivotable. Each of the free ends of the legs 20 is completed with a protruding part 9. The protruding part 9 engages with the lock 7 as described below.
Fig. 4 shows the lock 7 in a perspective view seen from two opposite perspectives. The lock 7 is configured as a bar 22, and at each end of the bar 22, it comprises a protruding engagement means 13. Strengthening ribs 23 are placed in conventional manner between the protruding engagement means 13. The protruding engagement means 13 are not moveable in relation to the bar 22 and are an integrated part thereof.
Fig. 5 shows a sectional drawing of the lock 7, the handle 4, the bottom 2 and the lid 3 and shows the lid 3 locked to the bottom 2 as a consequence of the handle 4 being placed in an erect position. The lock 7 is in a closed and locked position, which will be further explained. The lock 7 comprises a rounded sec-ond groove 25. By said groove, the lock 7 is turnably mounted on a first axle 12. The lock 7 is connected to the axle 12 by snap effect. Along the periphery, the lock 7 comprises a protruding engagement means 13 concave-shaped in a direction towards the rounded second groove 25. At the concave side, the protruding engagement means 13 is limited by a locking recess 18. The locking recess 18 is also part of the lock 7. A locking key 14 formed as a protruding part is situated. In said locking recess 18 when the lock 7 is in locked position. The locking key 14 fits into the locking recess and the locking key 14 is an integrated part of the bottom 2. The locking key 14 slides against the curved surface of the protruding engagement means 13. The locking key 14 is placed at the first side 5. The locking key 14 is an immovable part.
Along the periphery, the lock 7 further comprises a first surface 8 concave-shaped in a direction away from the rounded second groove 25. The first surface 8 interacts with the protruding part 9 of the handle 4. When the handle 4 is in an upraised position as in Fig. 5, the abutting part 9 presses against an area of the first surface 8 - a second surface part 17 - and thereby presses the protruding engagement means 13 of the lock 7 towards the locking key 14. By said arrangement, the locking key 14 is positioned inside the locking recess 18. The first axle 12, on which the lock 7 is mounted, is part of the lid 3. Due to the locking key 14 being part of the bottom 2, the lid 3 and bottom 2 are locked to each other. The handle 4 can turn freely between a laid down position, where the protruding part 9 adopts a second position (the lock 7 can then be unlocked), and an erect position, where the protruding part 9 adapts a first position (the lock 7 is blocking opening of the suitcase 1).
The first surface 8 further comprises a first surface part 16. This area is an inactive area: no matter what position the lock 7 adapts, the abutting part - the protruding part 9 - does not physically influence the position of the lock 7 when the protruding part 9 is placed opposite the first surface part 16, see Fig. 6.
When the lock 7 is pressed clockwise, it will turn in clockwise direction around the first axle 12. This movement is possible when the handle 4 is laid down as shown in Fig. 6. (The handle 4 is pivoted around the second axle 15). Now, the protruding part 9 of the handle 4 is placed in the area of the first surface part 16. The protruding part 9 does not engage with the lock 7, which is now freely movable and can pivot around the first axle 12. The protruding part 9 is placed opposite the first surface part 16.
The lock 7 is pressed clockwise to pivot around the first axle 12 seen in Fig. 7. Thereby, the protruding engagement means 13 is moved away from the locking key 14 as the locking key 14 slides out of the locking recess 18. At this point, the lid 3 and the bottom 2 are not locked to each other and the suitcase 1 may be opened.
The protruding part 9 moves between two positions; the first position, where the handle 4 is in an upraised position and the suitcase 1 is locked, and a second position, where the handle 4 is laid down and the lock 7 is freely turnable. Further, the first surface 8 and the protruding part 9 of the handle 4 comprise abutting surfaces 21 sliding towards each other, see Fig. 8. At least part of the first surface 8 (the second surface part 17) is partly cylindrically-shaped, and a rectilinear generatrix extends parallel with the first axle 12.
The second surface part 17 and the protruding part 9 are adapted to be disengaged by turning the handle 4 from the erect position back to a turned down position.
Fig. 8 shows the locking of the lid when the handle 4 is being turned to an upraised position. Thereby, the protruding part 9 of the handle 4 is pressed against the concave first surface 8 (the second surface part 17) and pivots the lock 7 counter-clockwise. By this arrangement, the protruding engagement means 13 moves towards the locking key 14 until the locking key 14 is caught by the locking recess 18, and the lock 7 is prevented from further pivoting movements. The suitcase 1 is made in an appropriate material, such as a metal or a polymer component.
The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Many amendments may be made without deviating from the scope of the invention. The suitcase 1 may have other shapes and the described box design could for instance be oval or rounded, and obviously, the handle could also have other shapes than the u-shaped form.

List of references

1 Suitcase
2 Bottom
3 Lid
4 Handle
5 first side of the bottom
6 hinges
7 lock
8 first surface
9 protruding part
10 first position
11 second position
12 first axle
13 protruding engagement means
14 locking key
15 second axle
16 first surface part
17 second surface part
18 locking recess
19 hand gripping part
20 two parallel gripping legs
21 abutting surfaces
22 locking bar
23 strengthening ribs
24 round first groove (handle)
25 rounded second groove (lock)

Claims

Suitcase for transport of tool assortment or the like, which includes a bottom (2), a corresponding lid (3), a pivotable handle (4) placed at a first side of the bottom (2), said lid (3) and bottom (2) being connected to each other by one or more hinges (6), said suitcase (1) further comprising a lock (7) for locking the lid (3) to the bottom (2), said lock (7) comprising a first surface (8), at least a part of the first surface interacting with a protruding part (9) of the handle (4), said protruding part (9) being moveable between a first position (10), where the lock (7) locks the lid(3) to the bottom(2) and a second position (11), in where the lock (7) is adapted to be released, characterised in that the lock (7) is turnably mounted on a first axle (12) placed on the lid (3) and further comprising a protruding engagement means (13), said protruding engagement means (13) being adapted to engage with a locking key (14) being a part of the bottom (2), said engagement taking place when the protruding part (9) is in its first position (10).
Suitcase according to claim 1, characterised in that the first surface (8) is concave in the direction of the protruding part (9).
Suitcase according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the protruding part (9) and the handle (4) are adapted to pivot around a second axle (15).
Suitcase according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first surface (8) comprises a first surface part (16) and a second surface part (17), said second surface part (17) engaging with the protruding part (9) during the movement of the protruding part (9) between the first and the second position, by said engagement the lock (7) is adapted to be non-pivotable in the first position (10).
Suitcase according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first surface (8) comprises a first surface part (16) and a second surface part (17), said first surface part (16) and the protruding part (9) not exercising any or very little force towards each other, whereby the lock (7) is freely movable and adapted to be turned into the second position.
Suitcase according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lock (7) further comprises a locking recess (18), said locking recess (18) being bounded by the protruding engagement means (13) at one side.
Suitcase according to claims 3-5, characterised in that the handle (4) is u-shaped and comprises a hand-gripping part (19) and two substantially parallel gripping legs (20) placed at each end of the hand-gripping part (19), said gripping legs (20) pivoting around the second axle (15) and comprising the protruding part (9).
Suitcase according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the protruding part (9) of the handle (4) and the first surface (8) comprise abutting surfaces (21) sliding against each other and a surface part of the first surface (8) being partly cylindrically shaped by a rectilinear generatrix extending parallel with the first axle (12).
Suitcase according to claim 7, characterised in that the part of the first surface (8) is partly cylindrically shaped by the rectilinear generatrix extending parallel with the first axle (12) comprising the second surface part (17).
Suitcase according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first surface (8) and the protruding part (9) are adapted to disengage from each other by turning the handle (4) away from the flipped-up position and back to a flipped-down position, while the lock (7) remains engaged with the lid (3) locking the bottom (2) and lid (3) to each other.
Suitcase according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the suitcase (1) comprises at least one hinge (6) connecting the lid (3) and the bottom (2), said hinge(s) being placed at a surface different from the surface on which the handle is placed.
Method for operating a suitcase according to claims 1-9, characterised in that the handle (4) is flipped-down, whereby the protruding part (9) moves from a first position (10) to a second position (11), at said first position (10) the protruding part (9) abuts a second surface part (17) of the first surface (8), and at said second position (11) the protruding part (9) does not engage the first surface (8), and the method further comprising the turning of the lock (7) around the first axle (12) in clockwise direction, whereby the protruding engagement means (13) disengages the locking key (14), whereby the lid(3) is adapted to open in the same direction as the lock (7) is turned.
Method for operating a suitcase according to claim 10, characterised in that the protruding part (9) moves from the second position to the first position, whereby the protruding part (9) abuts the second surface part (17) and the lock (7) turns around the first axle (12) in counter clock direction, whereby the protruding engagement means (13) engages the locking key (14) and the lid is locked.