EP3758546A1

EP3758546A1 - Luggage having shells that are foldable together

Info

Publication number: EP3758546A1
Application number: EP19713101.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: François LIPOVETSKY
Original assignee: Lipo Capital France
Current assignee: Lipo Capital France
Priority date: 2018-02-26
Filing date: 2019-02-22
Publication date: 2021-01-06
Anticipated expiration: 2039-02-22
Also published as: FR3078233B1; EP3758546B1; WO2019162631A1; FR3078233A1

Abstract

This luggage (10) comprises two shells (12, 14) and opening/closing means (16, 18) that are intended to position the two shells (12, 14) in a manner folded together so as to define an internal volume in the closed configuration of the luggage (10). One of the two shells, referred to as rear shell (12), has at least one transporting handle (24, 26). The other of the two shells, referred to as front shell (14), has on its outer face a groove (34) that extends longitudinally in a main direction of the luggage (10) and at least one receiving strip (36), disposed in the groove bottom (34), covered with removable securing elements that extend freely in the groove (34) along the entire length thereof.

Description

LUGGAGE WITH FOLDING SHELLS ONE AGAINST THE OTHER

The present invention relates to a luggage comprising two shells and opening / closing means for positioning the two shells folded against each other so as to define an interior volume in the closed configuration of the luggage.

It relates more specifically to a luggage in which one of the two hulls, called the rear hull, comprises at least one carrying handle. In general, the carrying handle is disposed in the upper part of the rear shell which may further comprise, in the lower part, a roller system: for example a system having at least two wheels mounted at the lower lateral ends of the rear shell. Thus, in normal use of the luggage when it is closed and transported, the other hull, called the front hull, is the most visible. Therefore, it is usual to note that the outer faces of the hull funds before such luggage are singled out using various devices more or less elegant and retractable, including stickers. The reason for these singularizations is not only decorative. It also allows the owner of such luggage to recognize it better, for example on a treadmill receiving baggage, or to better appropriate.

But such artifices or decorations are likely to degrade the luggage itself.

It may thus be desired to provide a baggage that makes it possible to overcome at least some of the aforementioned problems and constraints, including luggage that can be singled out without fear of being degraded.

It is therefore proposed a luggage comprising two hulls and opening / closing means for positioning the two hulls folded against each other so as to define an interior volume in the closed configuration of the luggage, wherein:

one of the two hulls, called the rear hull, comprises at least one carrying handle, and

the other of the two hulls, called the front hull, has on its outer face a groove extending longitudinally along a main direction of the luggage and at least one receiving strip disposed at the bottom of the groove, covered with removable fastening elements. extending freely in the throat all along its length. Thus, the groove and the receiver strip cooperate to receive and protect all the desired elements capable of singling the luggage without damaging it. Their longitudinal disposition according to a main direction of the baggage in the outer face of the front hull makes it possible to improve the visibility of the decorative or distinctive element (s) which one wishes to fix. Considering the removable attachment properties of the receiving belt, any decorative or distinctive element with corresponding removable fasteners does not risk damaging the luggage and is also easily replaceable without leaving a trace.

Optionally, said at least one receiver band is itself fixed at the bottom of the groove by gluing.

Optionally also, a luggage according to the invention may further comprise at least one identification band reported or intended to be reported at the bottom of the groove against said at least one receiving band, this identification band having a fixing face covered with complementary removable fastening elements of the removable fastening elements of said at least one receiving strip and an opposite face of presentation intended to be visible.

Also optionally, the removable fastening elements of the receiving strip and the identification strip are mechanical fasteners with hooks and textile buckles.

Optionally also, the depth of the groove is dimensioned so as to remain greater than or equal to the combined thickness of said at least one receiver strip and any one of said at least one identification strip when these strips are secured to each other by their complementary removable fastening elements.

Optionally also:

the front hull has a hull bottom, two side flanks, an upper flank and a lower flank,

the upper side is provided with a carrying handle,

the groove and said at least one receiver strip extend continuously: • longitudinally in the outer face of the shell bottom parallel to the lateral flanks, and in the upper and lower flanks to the carrying periphery of the opening / closing means, or • Laterally in the outer face of the shell bottom parallel to the lower and upper flanks, and in the side flanks to the periphery carrier opening / closing means.

Optionally also, a bag according to the invention may comprise a single receiving band, extending over the entire surface of the bottom of the groove, covered with removable fastening elements.

Optionally also, each shell is rigid or deformable shape memory.

Optionally also, the rear shell has a bottom caster system to be placed on the ground.

Optionally also, the front shell also comprises a bottom caster system intended to be placed on the ground.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows in perspective the external appearance of a luggage with two shells in open configuration, according to one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the luggage of FIG. 1 in a closed configuration;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view from above of the closed luggage of FIG. 2,

FIGS. 4 and 5 are partial front perspective views of the closed luggage of FIG. 2, during two steps of fixing an identification strip, and

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the closed luggage of FIG. 2 after installation of the identification strip of FIGS. 5 and 6.

The luggage 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a suitcase with two shells 12 and 14 intended to be folded against each other by means of opening / closing means 16, 18 so as to define an interior volume essentially rectangular parallelepiped in the closed configuration of the bag 10. The latter is however illustrated in open configuration in Figure 1 for reasons of clarity. Each shell 12 or 14 is itself of rectangular parallelepipedal general shape, slightly rounded at the corners and represents approximately half of the internal volume of the bag 10. It can be rigid, for example polycarbonate, or deformable memory shape.

The opening / closing means 16, 18 are conventional and for example formed of a zipper fabric strip 16 fixed along a first side to the open rounded rectangular periphery of one of the shells 12 and along from a second side to the open rounded rectangular periphery of the other 14 of the shells. The zipper 16 can extend over three quarters of the periphery of the shells 12 and 14 thus allowing their pivoting around a hinge formed by a portion 18 of the strip along which this zipper 16 is absent, for example on a large side of the suitcase 10.

The hull 12, called the rear hull, has a hull bottom 12A, two lateral flanks 12B and 12C, an upper flank 12D and a lower flank 12E. It comprises a roulette system 20, 22 in the lower part, in particular a double wheel 20 under the lower left part of the hull bottom 12A (when this hull bottom 12A is viewed from the outside of the hull 12), fixed in free rotation in a complete rolling device under the lower flank 12E, and a double wheel 22 under the lower right portion of the bottom of the hull 12A (when looking at this hull bottom 12A from the outside of the rear hull 12), also fixed in free rotation in a complete rolling device under the lower flank 12E. It further comprises at least one transport handle fixed at the top. In the illustrated example, it comprises a carrying handle 24 on its upper sidewall 12D, intended to transport the bag 10 by lifting it, and a telescopic pulling handle 26, designed to transport the bag 10 by pulling and moving it by rolling on the ground. The telescopic pulling handle 26 is mounted on two rods 28 sliding vertically (in the reference of Figure 1) in housing, not visible, arranged in the inner wall of the hull bottom 12A.

The hull 14, called the front hull, has a hull bottom 14A, two lateral flanks 14B and 14C, an upper flank 14D and a lower flank 14E. It also comprises a roller system 30, 32 in the lower part, including a double wheel 30 under the lower left of the bottom shell 14A (when we look at the bottom shell 14A from the outside of the hull before 14), fixed in free rotation in a complete rolling device under the lower sidewall 14E, and a double wheel 32 under the lower right part of the bottom of the shell 14A (when we look at this bottom shell 14A from the outside front hull 14), also fixed in free rotation in a complete rolling device under the lower flank 14E.

According to the invention, the front shell 14 has on its outer face, more precisely formed by hollow molding on the outer face of its shell bottom 14A, a groove 34 with a flat bottom extending longitudinally from its upper part to its lower part. According to an optional but advantageous embodiment, the groove 34 extends longitudinally longitudinally in the outer face of the shell bottom 14A parallel to the side flanks 14B and 14C, as well as in the upper flank 14D and the lower flank 14E up to their periphery carrying the zipper fabric headband 16.

According to the invention also, the front shell 14 has on its outer face, disposed at the bottom of the groove 34, a receiver strip 36, one face is fixed against the bottom of the groove. This receiving strip 36 extends into the groove 34 over its entire length, in particular longitudinally in the outer face of the shell bottom 14A parallel to the side flanks 14B and 14C, as well as in the upper flank 14D and in the lower flank 14E until on their periphery. Its fixing at the bottom of the groove 34 is for example made by gluing, in particular using a strong self-adhesive coating. The other face, free in FIG. 1, of the receiving strip 36 is covered with removable fastening elements, for example male or female elements of removable mechanical fastening such as hooks or textile buckles. These removable fastening elements also extend over the entire length of the groove 34. In a variant, the receiving strip 36 could be subdivided into a plurality of independently bonded adhesive strips at the bottom of the groove 34 all along its length, all of which are covered with elements. removable attachment also extending the entire length of the groove 34.

Two identification strips 38 and 40 are furthermore illustrated in FIG. 1. Each of them is intended to be attached at the bottom of the groove 34 against the free face of the receiving strip 36 so as to be removably attached to it, as indicated. by means of the two arrows of FIG. 1. For this purpose, each identification band 38 or 40 has an inner fixing face 38A or 40A, covered with removable fastening elements complementary to those of the receiving band 36, for example female or male elements of removable mechanical fastening such as textile buckles or hooks. Each identification strip 38 or 40 further has an opposing exterior face 38B or 40B presentation intended to be visible and customizable by its pattern. Thus, the presentation face 38B of the strip identification 38 is distinguished by its circle pattern, while the presentation face 40B of the identification strip 40 is distinguished by its striped pattern. Of course, the patterns are customizable at will. Similarly, the materials, fabrics or other, that can be used to form the identification band or bands are multiple. They are preferably flexible so that the identification strips can conform to the general shape of the groove base 34. Each identification band 38 or 40 may also consist of two strips attached to each other by gluing or sewing, one to form the attachment face, the other to form the presentation face.

Advantageously, the depth of the groove 34 is dimensioned so as to remain greater than the thickness of the receiving strip 36, including the removable fastening elements of which it is covered. Thus, it fulfills a protection function ensuring the durability of the receiver strip 36 as a removable fixing surface for identification strips.

Optionally, the depth of the groove 34 may even be dimensioned so as to remain greater than or equal to the combined thickness of the receiver band 36 and any of the identification bands 38, 40 when these two bands 36 and 38 or 36 and 40 are secured to each other by their complementary removable fasteners. Thus, it performs a protection function, not only of the receiver band 36, but also of each identification band that can be fixed against it.

Figure 2 shows schematically in perspective before the bag 10 in closed configuration. According to this view, the outer face of the hull bottom 14A of the front hull 14 is clearly visible, which is generally the case in normal use of the bag 10. In particular, the groove 34 and the receiving band 36 are visible on the essential of their length which exploits the largest dimension of the bag 10. They are also laterally offset with respect to the main longitudinal axis of the hull bottom 14A, so as to be located according to an arbitrary choice in the vicinity of the lateral flank right 14C.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the top of the bag 10. It can be seen that the groove 34 and the receiving band 36 also extend in the upper flank 14D of the front shell 14 to the periphery, which is that is, to the vicinity of the zipper strip 16. By symmetry, it may be the same under the case 10, that is to say in the lower flank 14E of the front hull 14. A non-limiting example of the procedure for the removable attachment of one of the identification strips 38 and 40 against the receiver band 36 will now be detailed with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, a first end 42 of the identification strip 38 or 40 is attached against the free face of the receiving strip 36. The fastening operates by cooperation of the male and female elements of removable mechanical fastening. Advantageously, the identification strip 38 or 40 is precisely arranged so that its first end 42 fits well into the lateral boundaries of the groove 34 as formed in the upper side 14D.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the detachable fixing of the identification strip 38 or 40 continues in the bottom of the shell 14A, by progressively tacking it from top to bottom against the free face of the receiving strip 36. Advantageously also, the identification strip 38 or 40 is precisely arranged to fit well into the lateral boundaries of the groove 34 as formed in the shell bottom 14A.

The detachable attachment of the identification band 38 or 40 continues until under the bag 10 in the lower flank 14E (not visible). If the fixing steps as illustrated by FIGS. 4 and 5 have been correctly and precisely performed, the correct positioning of the second end of the identification band 38 or 40 in the lateral limits of the groove 34 as formed in FIG. the lower flank 14E is done naturally and simply without special precautions. This results in the suitcase 10 with an identification band as illustrated in front perspective in FIG.

It is clear that luggage such as that described above is customizable at will without risk of deterioration. The same bag can be associated with several different interchangeable identification strips, each of which can be selected from a wide choice or even uniquely designed.

Note also that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.

Thus, the removable fasteners previously presented as mechanical fastening elements with hooks and textile buckles could alternatively be for example male and female elements with snaps.

Alternatively also, the groove 34 and the receiving belt 36 could extend laterally in the outer face of the shell bottom 14A, in parallel at the lower flanks 14E and 14D, and in the lateral flanks 14B, 14C up to the bearing periphery of the opening / closing means 16, 18.

The bag 10 could also alternatively be replaced by any other luggage generally comprising two shells and opening / closing means for positioning the two shells folded against each other so as to define an interior volume. in the closed configuration of the luggage, wherein one of the two hulls, called the rear hull, comprises at least one carrying handle in the upper part.

It will be apparent more generally to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made to the embodiment described above, in the light of the teaching just disclosed. In the following claims, the terms used are not to be construed as limiting the claims to the embodiment set forth in this description, but must be interpreted to include all the equivalents that the claims are intended to cover by reason of their formulation and whose prediction is within the reach of those skilled in the art by applying his general knowledge to the implementation of the teaching that has just been disclosed to him.

Claims

Baggage (10) comprising two shells (12, 14) and opening / closing means (16, 18) for positioning the two shells (12, 14) folded against each other so as to define an interior volume in the closed configuration of the luggage (10), in which one of the two hulls, called the rear hull (12), comprises at least one carrying handle (24, 26), characterized in that the other of the two hulls, said front hull (14), has on its outer face:

a groove (34) extending longitudinally along a main direction of the luggage (10), and

at least one receiving belt (36) disposed at the bottom of the groove (34) covered with removable fastening elements extending freely in the groove (34) along its entire length.

2. Baggage (10) according to claim 1, wherein said at least one receiving strip (36) is itself fixed at the bottom of the groove (34) by gluing.

3. Baggage (10) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising at least one identification band (38, 40) reported or intended to be reported at the bottom of the groove (34) against said at least one receiving band (36). ), said identification strip (38, 40) having a fixing face (38A, 40A) covered with removable removable fastening elements of the removable fastening elements of said at least one receiving strip (36) and an opposite face of presentation (38B, 40B) to be visible.

4. Baggage (10) according to claim 3, wherein the removable fastening elements of the receiving strip (36) and the identification strip (38, 40) are mechanical fastening elements with hooks and textile loops.

The luggage (10) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the depth of the groove (34) is dimensioned to remain greater than or equal to the combined thickness of said at least one receiver strip (36) and the any one of said at least one identification strip (38, 40) when said strips (36, 38; 36, 40) are attached to each other by their complementary removable fastening elements.

Baggage (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: the front hull (14) has a hull bottom (14A), two side flanks (14B, 14C), an upper flank (14D) and a lower flank (14E),

the upper flank (14E) is provided with a carrying handle (24), the groove (34) and said at least one receiving strip (36) extend continuously:

• longitudinally in the outer face of the shell bottom (14A) parallel to the side flanks (14B, 14C), and in the upper flanks (14D) and lower (14E) to the bearing periphery of the opening / closing means (16 , 18), or

• laterally in the outer face of the shell bottom (14A) parallel to the lower flanks (14E) and upper (14D), and in the lateral flanks (14B, 14C) to the bearing periphery of the opening / closing means (16 , 18).

Luggage (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a single receiving band (36), extending over the entire surface of the bottom of the groove (34), covered with removable fastening elements.

The luggage (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each shell (12, 14) is rigid or deformable with shape memory.

9. Luggage (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the rear shell (12) comprises a roller system (20, 22) in the lower part to be placed on the ground.

10. Baggage (10) according to claim 9, wherein the front shell (14) also comprises a roller system (30, 32) in the lower part to be placed on the ground.