GB2024612A - Portable containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable container comprises a flexible hollow body (1), a flexible hollow lid (2) pivoted thereto, and a frame member (8) fitted within the side wall (4) of the body with a portion (9) extending beyond the free edge of the body. Recesses (10) are provided at the corners of the extending portion of the frame member so that the side wall (6) of the lid may fit over it when the container is in a closed condition. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Portable containers The present invention relates to portable containers, particularly but not exclusively to suitcases.

The invention includes a portable container comprising: a flexible hollow body and a flexible hollow lid pivoted thereto; the body and the lid each comprising a respective side wall, the free edges of the side walls being adjacent when the container is in a closed condition; a rigid frame member supporting the side wall of the body and having a portion extending above the free edge thereof, the frame member being recessed in said extending portion to allow the lid to fit over said extending portion and the side wall of the lid to be supported thereby when the container is in said closed condition.

In order that the invention may be well understood an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a suitcase; and Figure 2 is a detail of a corner of the body of the suitcase of Figure 1.

The suitcase illustrated in Figure 1 has a hollow body 1 and a lid 2. The body 1 and lid 2 are both constructed of a flexible material such as a 'leather' cloth, such as supported p.v.c.

The body 1 has a rectangular base 3 with rounded corners and a side wall 4 attached to the base 3, and capable of being supported substantially perpendicularly thereto.

The lid 2 has a rectangular top 5 with rounded corners, the top 5 having the same dimensions as base 3. The top 5 has a side wall 6 depending therefrom.

The body 1 has the lid 2 pivoted thereto by a hinge means (not shown in the drawings) at the rear of the suitcase.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art the hinge means may be of any suitable variety and may in particular be constructed of the same flexible material as the body 1 and lid 2. The free edges of side walls 4 and 6 are adjcaent when the suitcase is in a closed condition and a sliding clasp fastener 7 is provided on those free edges to connect the side walls. One half of the fastener 7 is attached to the free edge of the side wall 4 of the body 1 and the other half of the fastener 7 is attached to the free edge of the side wall 6 of the lid 2.

The suitcase is provided with a substantially rectangular frame member 8. The member 8 has a height equal to the combined depths of side walls 4 and 6. The member 8 is of such dimensions that it just fits inside the body 1 and supports the side wall 4 substantially perpendicular to the base 3. The portion of the frame member 8 within the side wall 4 of the body 1 has a cross section which is rectangular with rounded corners and of just sufficiently smaller dimensions than the base 3 to permit the member 8 to be closely fitted within side wall 4. With the frame member 8 fitted into the body 1 a portion 9 extends above the free edge of side wall 4. The extending portion 9 is recessed to allow the lid 2 to fit thereover and the side wall 6 of the lid 2 to be supported thereby when the suitcase is in the closed condition.As shown the substantially rectangular frame member 8 is provided with recessed portions 10 formed at its corners in the extending portion 9.

The provision of the recessed portions 10 enables the lid 2 to be fitted over the extending portion 9 of frame member 8 without subjecting the material of the lid 2 to undue strain as it is passed over the maximum dimension of the extending portion 9 which is the diagonal 11. The appearance of the closed case is clearly much improved if the rigid frame member 8 has dimensions as close as possible to the body 1 and lid 2 which it supports, so that the material of which they are made is smoothly extended over and by the frame member 8.

The frame member 8 may be made from laminated windings of paper or from an elongate strip of fibre board, the recessed portions 10 being provided after formation of the substantially rectangular configuration of the member 8.

A handle 12 is fitted to the side wall 4 of the body 1 opposite the hinge means.

It will be appreciated that the portable container may have other than the rectangular shape described, and may be provided with additional securing straps, locking devices, lining and other additional fittings as will be familiar to those skilled in the art.

1. A portable container comprising: a flexible hollow body and a flexible hollow lid pivoted thereto, the body and the lid each comprising a respective side wall, the free edges of the side walls being adjacent when the container is in a closed condition; a rigid frame member supporting the side wall of the body and having a portion extending above the free edge thereof, the frame member being recessed in said extending portion to allow the lid to fit over said extending portion and the side wall of the lid to be supported thereby when the container is in said closed condition.

2. A portable container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body and lid are of substantially rectangular cross-section and the extending portion of the frame member is recessed at corners thereof.

3. A portable container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein at least a portion of each of the free edges of the side walls of the body and lid is provided with a sliding clasp fastener for maintaining the container in a closed condition.

4. A portable container substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Portable containers The present invention relates to portable containers, particularly but not exclusively to suitcases. The invention includes a portable container comprising: a flexible hollow body and a flexible hollow lid pivoted thereto; the body and the lid each comprising a respective side wall, the free edges of the side walls being adjacent when the container is in a closed condition; a rigid frame member supporting the side wall of the body and having a portion extending above the free edge thereof, the frame member being recessed in said extending portion to allow the lid to fit over said extending portion and the side wall of the lid to be supported thereby when the container is in said closed condition. In order that the invention may be well understood an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a suitcase; and Figure 2 is a detail of a corner of the body of the suitcase of Figure 1. The suitcase illustrated in Figure 1 has a hollow body 1 and a lid 2. The body 1 and lid 2 are both constructed of a flexible material such as a 'leather' cloth, such as supported p.v.c. The body 1 has a rectangular base 3 with rounded corners and a side wall 4 attached to the base 3, and capable of being supported substantially perpendicularly thereto. The lid 2 has a rectangular top 5 with rounded corners, the top 5 having the same dimensions as base 3. The top 5 has a side wall 6 depending therefrom. The body 1 has the lid 2 pivoted thereto by a hinge means (not shown in the drawings) at the rear of the suitcase. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art the hinge means may be of any suitable variety and may in particular be constructed of the same flexible material as the body 1 and lid 2. The free edges of side walls 4 and 6 are adjcaent when the suitcase is in a closed condition and a sliding clasp fastener 7 is provided on those free edges to connect the side walls. One half of the fastener 7 is attached to the free edge of the side wall 4 of the body 1 and the other half of the fastener 7 is attached to the free edge of the side wall 6 of the lid 2. The suitcase is provided with a substantially rectangular frame member 8. The member 8 has a height equal to the combined depths of side walls 4 and 6. The member 8 is of such dimensions that it just fits inside the body 1 and supports the side wall 4 substantially perpendicular to the base 3. The portion of the frame member 8 within the side wall 4 of the body 1 has a cross section which is rectangular with rounded corners and of just sufficiently smaller dimensions than the base 3 to permit the member 8 to be closely fitted within side wall 4. With the frame member 8 fitted into the body 1 a portion 9 extends above the free edge of side wall 4. The extending portion 9 is recessed to allow the lid 2 to fit thereover and the side wall 6 of the lid 2 to be supported thereby when the suitcase is in the closed condition.As shown the substantially rectangular frame member 8 is provided with recessed portions 10 formed at its corners in the extending portion 9. The provision of the recessed portions 10 enables the lid 2 to be fitted over the extending portion 9 of frame member 8 without subjecting the material of the lid 2 to undue strain as it is passed over the maximum dimension of the extending portion 9 which is the diagonal 11. The appearance of the closed case is clearly much improved if the rigid frame member 8 has dimensions as close as possible to the body 1 and lid 2 which it supports, so that the material of which they are made is smoothly extended over and by the frame member 8. The frame member 8 may be made from laminated windings of paper or from an elongate strip of fibre board, the recessed portions 10 being provided after formation of the substantially rectangular configuration of the member 8. A handle 12 is fitted to the side wall 4 of the body 1 opposite the hinge means. It will be appreciated that the portable container may have other than the rectangular shape described, and may be provided with additional securing straps, locking devices, lining and other additional fittings as will be familiar to those skilled in the art. CLAIMS

1. A portable container comprising: a flexible hollow body and a flexible hollow lid pivoted thereto, the body and the lid each comprising a respective side wall, the free edges of the side walls being adjacent when the container is in a closed condition; a rigid frame member supporting the side wall of the body and having a portion extending above the free edge thereof, the frame member being recessed in said extending portion to allow the lid to fit over said extending portion and the side wall of the lid to be supported thereby when the container is in said closed condition.

2. A portable container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body and lid are of substantially rectangular cross-section and the extending portion of the frame member is recessed at corners thereof.

3. A portable container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein at least a portion of each of the free edges of the side walls of the body and lid is provided with a sliding clasp fastener for maintaining the container in a closed condition.

4. A portable container substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.