GB2030966A

GB2030966A - Injection moulded suitcase with rollers

Info

Publication number: GB2030966A
Application number: GB7929183A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Delsey SA
Current assignee: Delsey SA
Priority date: 1978-10-09
Filing date: 1979-08-22
Publication date: 1980-04-16
Also published as: BE879250A; DE7928550U1; FR2438442A1; NL7907125A; FR2438442B1; GB2030966B

Abstract

A suitcase comprises two shells 1, 2 injection moulded in a plastic material and at least two rollers 5 disposed in housings 6 provided inside the shells so that the rollers project outwardly. Each housing is defined by walls 7, 8 integrally moulded with the shell and the two walls 8 form a cover. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Injection moulded suitcase with rollers The present invention relates to a suitcase comprising two shells made from an injection moulded plastic material and at least two rollers disposed in housings provided inside the shells, so as to project outwardly.

The mounting of rollers on suitcases of this type is at present effected by means of added members whose construction and positioning on the shells are relatively complicated. Now, these members, not only because of their cost but also because of the numerous handling operations which they entail for fixing, increase the cost price of the suitcases in appreciable proportions.

Furthermore, experience shows that suitcase with rollers which are at present available on the market present increased weakness at the housings for the rollers thereof, so that they do not withstand well the impacts to which they are exposed, particularly during air or other transport.

The present invention proposes remedying these disadvantages and, for this, it provides a suitcase of the above-mentioned type which is characterized in that each housing is defined by walls integrally moulded with the shell and two of which form a cover.

The walls of the housings for the rollers are now obtained during moulding of the shells of which they form an integral part. No further operation during manufacture of the shells is then required to form the walls of these housings.

Mounting of the rollers becomes consequently simpler and more rapid. Since the added members which were required up to now for positioning the rollers are entirely done away with, the cost price of the suitcases may then be much lower.

It should furthermore be noted that the technique of injection moulding permits housings to be obtained having thicker walls than those of the shells, which reinforces the suitcase in the portions thereof which are usually the weakest.

Advantageously, the cover forming walls are parallel and connected together by a curved wall adjacent the periphery of the roller. This curved wall, while increasing the rigidity of the cover forming wails, prevents in addition foreign bodies from penetrating and accumulating inside the housing during rotation of the roller.

Preferably, one of the cover forming walls is formed by an outer face of the shell. This solution leads obviously to a simplification of the moulds used for manufacture of the shells since one of the cover forming walls may thus be omitted.

When the suitcase comprises feet projecting from the outer face of the bottom thereof, the rollers may advantageously project also from this face, but slightly less than the feet.

With this arrangement, the rollers support no load when the suitcase rest on its feet. They are then protected against the risks of accidental damage likely to be caused by the weight of the articles carried in the suitcase. They may however be used rapidly and at any moment as soon as the suitcase is sufficiently inclined for them to come into contact with the ground.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the suitcase comprises two rollers situated in one of the lower corners, these rollers having their axis perpendicular to the large faces of the suitcase.

One embodiment of the present invention is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of a suitcase according to the invention shown in its wheeling position; Fig. 2 is a front view on a larger scale showing the lower corner of the suitcase where the rollers are provided; and Fig. 3 is a sectional schematic view along line Ill-Ill of Fig. 2.

The suitcase shown in the drawings comprises two shells 1, 2 formed from an injection moulded plastic material such as ABS, a transport handle 3 situated centrally on its upper longitudinal face, a gripping rod 4 hinged to one of its cross faces, and two rollers 5 situated in the lower corner thereof which is opposite its transverse face bearing rod 4.

Rollers 5 are disposed in housings 6 each provided inside a shell and project outwardly so as to rest on the ground when the user, holding the gripping rod 4, raises the case to bring it to its wheeling position, shown in Fig, 1.

Housings 6 are defined by three walls moulded integrally with the shells. In the example shown in the drawings, each housing comprises a curved wall 7 and two sidewalls, 8, one of which is formed by the large face 9 of the corresponding shell.

The curved wall 7 is situated at a short distance from the periphery of the corresponding roller, so that no foreign body can be inopportunely carried thereby into the housing. As for the sidewalls3, they form a cover on which are fixed the free ends of shaft 10 of the roller, which is held in position by appropriate retaining means.

As can be seen in Fig. 3, the rollers are provided on their side faces with a shoulder 11 coming practically into contact with sidewalls 8. Because of these shoulders, they cannot move axially within their respective housing, and are furthermore exposed to reduced friction forces in contact with sidewalls 8.

The suitcase which is shown in the drawings comprises in addition two feet 12 each integrally moulded with a shell. These feet which project from the lower longitudinal face of the suitcase are slightly higher than the rollers, so that these latter do not rest on the ground when the suitcase is in the normal position shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

For the suitcase to rest on its rollers~it is then necessary to raise it by means of the gripping rod 4.

In the example shown in the drawings, the rollers are each supported by a shell, whereas their axes are aligned with and perpendicular to the large faces 9 of the suitcase. It will however be understood that these rollers could be mounted in the same shell and be situated either one behind the other, with their axis perpendicular to the large faces 9 of the suitcase, or in planes perpendicular to the large faces 9, their axis being then parallel to these latter. To wheel the suitcase, it would simply require the suitcase being inclined about the lower longitudinal side of its shell supporting the rollers.

It will also be understood that the suitcase could, if required comprise two rollers on each of its shells.

Claims

1. A suitcase comprising two shells made from an injection moulded plastic material and at least two rollers projecting outwardly, these rollers being disposed in housings provided inside the shells and each defined by walls moulded integrally with the corresponding shell, two of these walls forming a cover, characterized in that the cover forming walls are parallel and are connected together by means of a curved wall adjacent the periphery of the roller, one of the cover forming walls being formed by an outer face of the shell.

2. A suitcase according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two rollers situated in one of the lower corners thereof, these rollers having their axis perpendicular to the large faces of the suitcase.

3. A suitcase substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.