EP3145360A1

EP3145360A1 - Variable-volume luggage item

Info

Publication number: EP3145360A1
Application number: EP15705659.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ebbe Jacobsen; Lorenzo ARMANI; Laurence DETRY
Original assignee: Delsey SA
Current assignee: Delsey SA
Priority date: 2014-01-27
Filing date: 2015-01-26
Publication date: 2017-03-29
Also published as: US10485311B2; US20150327640A1; SG11201606208YA; BR112016017436A2; CN106488718A; FR3016778A1; US20180146755A1; WO2015110769A1; US20160345694A1

Abstract

A luggage item of which the volume (1) can be varied between a small volume position and at least one large volume position has a structure that can be modified between a reduced position and at least one extended position, and a plurality of means (4, 5) for making non-rigid lateral parts rigid in order to hold the luggage item (1) in a position corresponding to a chosen volume.

Description

Luggage with Volumetric Ratio

The invention relates to luggage volume variation between a small volume position and at least a large volume position.

The invention is particularly useful in its application to the construction of wheeled luggage equipped with a telescopic handle and having non-rigid side portions.

Currently, there is no known system for satisfactorily varying the volume of a wheeled luggage and telescopic handle, and having non-rigid side portions.

Indeed, wheeled luggage and telescopic handle generally consist of a floor and side frames combined with a polypropylene sheet having a conformation C.

This design of the floor and side frames maintains the spacing, stiffness and coplanarity of the four wheels, while allowing a good guiding efficiency with the telescopic handle.

Documents EP 1 882 424 A2, WO 2006/023 722 A2, EP 1 097 654 A2 and US 2006/070 837 A1 describe luggage with variable volume. The luggage structures taught by these documents do not allow application to luggage with wheels and telescopic handle: indeed, the deformations and displacements of parts to form the floor do not allow to ensure spacing, rigidity and a desired coplanarity of the four wheels that can equip the floor of the luggage. A first object of the invention is to provide a new luggage volume variation, whose structure allows an application to luggage on wheels and baggage without wheels.

Document US 2013/140 118 A1 describes another volume-varying luggage system comprising an intermediate frame associated with a plurality of Ω-shaped folding links. This document US 2013/140 118 A1 does not allow to apply the described structure to a luggage with four wheels. Indeed, the expansion system of this document US 2013/140 118 A1 does not provide a coplanarity of the four wheels, because the expansion mechanism has a certain elasticity and is not lockable in position.

Other luggage with volume variation have intermediate structures, including expansion bellows, which are not effectively applicable to luggage on wheels.

A first object of the invention is to propose a new luggage volume variation, lightweight structure having non-rigid side portions and having a good quality of rolling and stability comparable to non-varying volume luggage.

A second object of the invention is to propose a new volume-varying luggage comprising non-rigid lateral parts, the chosen volume of which can be maintained, even while driving.

The object of the invention is a luggage with a volume variation between a position of small volume and at least one position of large volume, the volume-variable luggage having a modifiable floor between a reduced position and at least one extended position, the floor changeable having a rigid front part and a rigid rear part, characterized in combination by the fact that the rigid front part and the rigid rear part are complementary or interlocking, to ensure the total rigidity of the floor in the position of small volume; in that the rigid front portion is spaced from the rigid rear portion in a large volume position by translation, in particular by sliding, relative to one another, on rigid translation means; and in that the luggage comprises rigid non-rigid side portions in the small-volume position by rigid stabilizing or stiffening means, as well as by rigid stabilizing or stiffening means in a large-volume position, so as to exhibit a stable and rigid structure in the position of small volume and in a position of large volume.

Because the structure is modifiable by being stabilized between a reduced position and an extended position, the rolling stability and the coplanarity of the rollers can be obtained in an application of the invention to the construction of wheeled luggage.

According to other alternative features of the invention: the luggage has a plurality of stiffening means of the non-rigid lateral parts to maintain the baggage in a position corresponding to a chosen volume.

When the luggage has a plurality of stiffening means, the luggage is thus maintained in a position corresponding to the volume chosen by the user.

- The luggage ceiling may have two complementary rigid parts or interlocking, to ensure the total rigidity of the ceiling in the small volume position; the rigid front portion is then moved away from the rigid rear part in a position of large volume by sliding relative to one another on rigid sliding means. - The floor has two rigid parts with an inner edge with a sawtooth conformation and interconnected by rigid sliding rods.

- The ceiling has two rigid parts with an inner edge with a sawtooth conformation and interconnected by rigid sliding rods.

- The stiffening means advantageously comprise rigid frames and pivoting frames.

the baggage may comprise spacers cooperating with C-shaped pivoting frames to prevent their deformation during rolling.

the luggage may comprise means for locking the stiffening frames to hold the luggage in a position corresponding to a chosen volume.

the C-shaped pivoting frames may be sliding frames whose ends of the C-shaped shapes are guided on rails arranged on the front face of access to the contents of the luggage.

- Pivoting frames may include pairs of pivoting frames forming a V in the small volume position of the luggage and placed substantially parallel in a position of large volume of the luggage.

the baggage may comprise control means for passing from a position of small volume of the baggage to a position of large volume of the baggage, and vice versa.

The invention will be better understood from the following description given by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a luggage volume variation structure according to the invention in small volume position. Figure 2 schematically shows a perspective view of a luggage volume variation structure according to the invention in a position of large volume.

3 schematically shows an enlarged detail perspective view illustrating the locking of a stiffening frame corresponding to a small volume position.

FIG. 4 schematically represents a partial perspective view illustrating the locking of a stiffening frame corresponding to a position of large volume.

Figure 5 schematically shows a perspective view of another embodiment of luggage volume variation according to the invention.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, identical or functionally equivalent elements are identified by identical reference numerals.

The structure of the volume-change luggage according to the invention described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 is particularly advantageous for the construction of luggage with four wheels, so as to ensure a quality of rolling in all the positions corresponding to a chosen volume, while retaining the impact resistance, use and carrying properties of non-volume changing roller luggage of the prior art.

The invention makes it possible to vary the volume of a wheeled luggage, in a simple and ergonomic way, without disassembly and without particular handling.

In Figure 1, a bag 1 volume variation according to the invention comprises a floor 2 and a ceiling 3 and has non-rigid side portions.

Two rigid side frames 4 are mounted between the floor 2 and the ceiling 3. The floor 2 is an extensible floor between a small volume position of the luggage 1 and a large volume position shown in Figure 2. The floor 2 has a front portion 2a and a rear portion 2b. The ceiling 3 is extensible between a small volume position of the luggage 1 and a large volume position shown in Figure 2. The ceiling 3 comprises a front portion 3a and a rear portion 3b. The front parts 3a, 3b of the ceiling 3 have in their close position an opening for mounting a handle. The parts 2a and 2b of the floor 2 are joined in the small volume position. Two pivoting frames 5 are mounted inside the structure of the volume-varying luggage, to constitute stiffening frames in the large-volume position shown in FIG. 2. The frames 5 form a pair of pivoting frames forming a V-shape. in the small volume position. The rigidifying frames 4 in the small volume position are rigid continuous frames ensuring the maintenance of the structure and the absence of deformation of the volume-changing luggage 1. Spacers 6 are provided to cooperate with the pivoting frames 5 in the large volume position of Figure 2.

The front portion 2a of the floor 2 is preferably a rigid portion, the inner edge has a sawtooth conformation.

The rear portion 2b of the floor 2 is a rigid portion which advantageously has an inner edge with a sawtooth conformation.

The sawtooth conformations of the front portion 2a and the rear portion 2b are preferably complementary or interlocking portions which provide total rigidity of the floor 2 in the small volume position shown in FIG. The front portion 3a of the ceiling 3 may also be a rigid portion laterally having a sawtooth edge. The rear portion 3b of the ceiling 3 is a rigid portion having an inner sawtooth edge.

The front 3a and rear 3b parts of the ceiling 3 are complementary side side, to form a substantially rigid ceiling supported by the frame 4 of stiffening.

In Figure 2, the luggage volume variation 1 according to the invention is shown in a position of large volume.

In this position of large volume, the front portion 2a is spaced from the rear portion 2b of the floor 2. The front portions 2a and 2b back slide relative to each other on rigid rods 2c. The rigid rods 2c are alternately mounted on the front portion 2a or the rear portion 2b. The recesses of the rigid rods 2c are formed in the recessed portions of the saw teeth, while guiding and sliding conformations are formed in the raised parts of the saw teeth.

The rigid rods 2c may be made of any rigid material, for example fiberglass, steel, or rigid plastic.

The provision of an alternative recess of the rigid rods 2c in the front portion 2a and in the rear portion 2b of the floor 2 avoids the stress concentrations due to the embedding of the rods 2c. This avoids forming a shear plane at the recesses rigid rods 2c and distributes the forces over a greater length, corresponding to the contour of the inner edges sawtooth.

Similarly, the front portion 3a of the ceiling 3 and the rear portion 3b are connected to each other by rigid rods 3c. The rigid rods 3c are alternately recessed on one side and the other of the front portion 3a and the rear portion 3b of the floor 3. The provisions corresponding to the internal sawtooth edges of the floor 2 and the ceiling 3 make it possible to increase the rigidity of the floor 2 and the ceiling 3 relative to at edges in a straight line, because the points of resistance are alternated on either side of the geometric plane of separation of the front portions 2a and 2b rear floor 2 or the front portions 3a and 3b rear of the ceiling 3.

The rods 2c and 3c are guided in cylindrical conformations 2d, 3d, respectively. The guiding conformations 2d, 3d are advantageously open upwards and downwards to limit the friction surfaces during the sliding of the rods 2c, 3c.

In their displacement movement towards a position of large volume, the parts 2a and 3a of the floor 2 and ceiling 3 are guided by the closed rigid frames 4 arranged laterally.

In this same movement, the pivoting frames 5 open outwardly by being articulated on the rear face of the luggage. The pivoting frames 5 adopt substantially parallel positions in the large volume position. In their pivoting movement, the front ends of the pivoting frames 5 are guided on rails 5a formed at the edges of the front parts 2a, 3a of the floor 2 and ceiling 3. For this purpose, the pivoting frames 5 preferably have a C-shaped configuration. , the front ends of these conformations C being guided on the slides 5a from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2.

In the position shown in FIG. 2, the C-shaped frames 5 are completed by the spacers 6 which are bridging the ends of the C-shaped conformations to complete the frame 5 and thus constitute a rigid structure in the position of large volume.

Thus, thanks to the invention, the luggage volume variation has a stable and rigid structure in the position of small volume and in a position of large volume: in fact, in the small volume position, the side portions are stabilized by the rigid frames 4, while the lateral parts are stabilized by the pivoting frames 5 completed by the spacers 6 in a position of large volume.

The spacers 6 positioned in the alignment of the ends of the C-shaped pivoting frames 5 and allow to recreate a continuity between the ends of the conformations in C, by "closing the C".

The invention described with reference to a single pair of pivoting frames 5 also applies to any number of pivoting frames 5, possibly of different orientation.

In the case of a plurality of pivoting frames, the pivoting frames can be hinged to the front or rear of the volume-varying luggage according to the invention.

When the pivoting frames are hinged to the rear, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the pivoting frames have C-shaped conformations to allow access through the front opening of the volume-changing luggage.

When the pivoting frames are articulated on the front of the volume-changing luggage, on the access opening side, the pivoting frames can be continuous frames. This arrangement, however, limits the possibilities of pivoting in the case of a telescopic handle mounted on the rear face of the luggage volume variation.

The articulations on the front or on the back of the pivoting frames are preferably constituted by articulations in form of hinges arranged in the upper part and the lower part of the luggage.

The control of the movement of the pivoting frames simultaneously ensures the spacing of the half-floors 2a, 2b and the half-ceilings 3a, 3b to arrive at a position similar to the position described with reference to FIG.

In order to ensure the rigidity and the stability of the volume-varying luggage according to the invention in all the positions corresponding to a chosen volume, it is advantageous to provide locking means for the stiffening frames to maintain the stiffening frames in their position of rotation. transmission of vertical and lateral forces.

In Figure 3, a locking means of a rigid frame 4 is shown.

The locking means comprises at least one latch whose locking position is held by elastic effect, for example by a spring. In the position shown in broken lines, the frame 4 is released from its latch 7, for example during an expansion of the bag and a spacing of the semi-floors or half-ceilings. In the position shown in solid lines, the rigid frame 4 is locked in its housing by the latch 7, so as to constitute a border for holding a side face of the luggage according to the invention. This retaining edge includes the vertical extensions of the frame 4 and the lower and upper contours of the frame 4 mounted in the half-floors and half-ceilings.

The rear part of the stiffening frame 4 can be embedded in the rear half-floor 2b rear and half-ceiling 3b rear, while the front parts of the frames 4 are slidably mounted in corresponding grooves half-floor 2a before and half ceiling 3a front. The invention also covers the variant not shown in which the front part of the stiffening frame 4 is embedded in the half floor 2a before and half ceiling 3a before, while the rear parts of the frames 4 are slidably mounted in grooves corresponding half floor 2b rear and half ceiling 3b rear.

The control of the latches 7 can be carried out manually by direct depression, or by pulling a flexible link, or by another means, to exert a force against the resilient means holding the latch 7 in the locking position.

Preferably, each rigid frame 4 cooperates with a lower latch 7 mounted on the front part 2a of floor 2 and with a top latch 7 mounted on the front part 3a of ceiling 3.

The invention also covers the not shown variant according to which each rigid frame 4 cooperates with a lower latch 7 mounted on the rear floor portion 2b 2 and with a top latch 7 mounted on the rear ceiling portion 3b 3.

Other locking means that the locks 7 can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention, the essential thing being that the locking means of the rigid frames 4 are manually operable, directly or indirectly, with the aid of manual or automatic control means.

In Figure 4, a locking means of a movable frame 5 is shown. The movable frame 5 is, in this example, a pivoting frame. Other types of stiffening frames can be considered instead of the pivoting frames 5, without departing from the scope of the invention.

The invention also covers variants not shown in which the frames 4 or 5 are sliding frames. In In this case, the frames 4 and 5 can be mounted together, forming a telescopic frame with a fixed part corresponding to the geometry of the frame 4 and a movable part whose complete output corresponds to the geometry of the frame 5 in a large volume position.

In FIG. 4, a locking means of a mobile frame 5 is disposed in the vicinity of a spacer 6 completing the C-shaped conformation of a mobile frame 5.

In the position shown in dotted lines, the movable frame 5 has not yet fully pivoted to its position of cooperation with the spacer 6. The latch 8 is erased by the end of the C-shaped frame of the movable frame 5 until arriving in a terminal housing corresponding to a position of large volume allowing the recovery of forces by the spacer 6. In this terminal position, the latch 8 resiliently biased in its locking position by an elastic means blocks any decline in the pivoting frame 5, thereby ensuring the rigidity of the combination formed by the spacer 6 and the C-shaped conformation of the movable frame 5.

The latch 8 can be operated directly or via a flexible link 8a operable from the inside or outside of the luggage volume variation of the invention.

In FIG. 5, another embodiment of volume-change luggage according to the invention having non-rigid side portions is volume-variable luggage comprising a telescopic handle 11, an expandable floor 12 and a ceiling 13. Casters R are advantageously provided on the side of the floor 12. The extension of the floor 12 and the ceiling 13 increases the volume volume of luggage volume 10 to a chosen position. The luggage 10 comprises two rigid frames 14 and two pivoting frames 15. The frames pivoting members 15 differ from the frames 5 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, in that these pivoting frames 15 are articulated on the front face of the luggage, and slide on the side of the telescopic handle.

The pivoting frames 15 may be continuous pivoting frames or interrupted pivoting frames having a C-shaped conformation, so as to allow the telescopic handle 11 to be fitted inside the luggage 10. In this case, the lateral tubes of the telescopic handle 11 may carry guide rails or rails of C-shaped ends of pivoting frames 15, to facilitate pivoting upwards and downwards of pivoting frames 15.

The pivoting frames 15 may be pivoting frames interconnected by a rigid frame 16 defining the front of the luggage and movable in translation. This arrangement of a rigid frame 16 defining the front of the luggage and mobile in translation makes it possible in particular to coordinate the pivoting upwards and downwards of the pivoting frames 15.

Manual control means integrated into the telescopic handle 11 may be provided to control the movement of the pivoting frames 15 from their position shown in small volume dashed lines to their position shown in solid lines corresponding to a large volume position.

The invention described with reference to several particular embodiments is not in any way limited to them, but on the contrary covers any modification of form and any variant embodiment within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

claims

1. Volume-changing luggage (1, 10) between a small-volume position and at least one large-volume position, the volume-variable luggage comprising a floor (2) modifiable between a reduced position and at least one extended position , the modifiable floor (2) having a rigid front part (2a) and a rigid rear part (2b), characterized in combination by the fact that the rigid front part (2a) and the rigid rear part (2b) are complementary or interlocking, to ensure the total rigidity of the floor (2) in the small volume position; in that the rigid front portion (2a) is spaced from the rigid rear portion (2b) in a position of large volume by translation relative to one another, on rigid means (2c) of translation; and in that the luggage comprises non-rigid lateral parts stabilized in the small volume position by means (4 or 6) of stiffening, as well as by means (5 or 6) of stiffening in a position of large volume, so as to have a stable and rigid structure in the small volume position and in a large volume position.

Luggage according to claim 1, characterized in that the luggage (1) has a plurality of stiffening means (4, 5; 14, 15) for the non-rigid lateral parts for holding the luggage (1, 10) in a luggage compartment. position corresponding to a chosen volume.

3. Luggage according to claim 1, comprising a ceiling (3) modifiable between a reduced position and at least one extended position, the ceiling (3) having two rigid parts (3a, 3b) connected together, characterized in combination by the fact that the two rigid parts (3a, 3b) are complementary or interlocking, to ensure the total rigidity of the ceiling (3) in the small volume position; in that the rigid front part (3a) is moved away from the rigid rear part (3b) in a large volume position by sliding relative to one another on rigid sliding means (3c); and in that the luggage comprises rigid non-rigid side portions in the small volume position by rigid stabilizing means (4), as well as by rigid stabilizing means (5, 6) in a large volume position, so as to have a stable and rigid structure in the small volume position and in a large volume position.

4. Luggage according to claim 1, characterized in that the floor (2) has two rigid portions (2a, 2b) having an inner edge with a sawtooth conformation and interconnected by rigid rods (2c) sliding .

5. Luggage according to claim 3, characterized in that the ceiling (3) has two rigid parts (3a, 3b) having an inner edge with a sawtooth conformation and interconnected by rigid rods (3c) sliding .

6. Baggage according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stiffening means (4, 5; 14, 15) comprise rigid closed frames (4, 14) and pivoting frames (5, 15).

7. Luggage according to claim 6, characterized in that the luggage comprises pivoting frames (5) having a C-shaped and spacers (6) for closing the C-shaped to prevent the deformation of the luggage (1).

8. Luggage according to claim 1, characterized in that the luggage (1) comprises locking means (7, 8) of the stiffening means (4, 5) for holding the luggage (1) in the position corresponding to a chosen volume.

9. Luggage according to claim 7, characterized in that the pivoting frames (5) having a C-shaped conformation are frames whose ends C-shaped conformations are guided, during sliding, on rails (5a) arranged on the side from the front of access to the contents of the luggage.

10. Luggage according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivoting frames (5, 15) form a V in the small volume position of the baggage and are placed substantially parallel in a large volume position of the baggage.

Luggage according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the luggage (1) comprises control means (8a) for passing from a small volume position of the luggage (1) to a position of large volume. luggage, and vice versa.