GB2197207A - Case - Google Patents

Abstract

A case, e.g. a suitcase, comprises two halves which are joined together, e.g. by cantilever hinges the arrangement being such that when the case is fully opened there is no dividing wall between the coplanar bases of the halves and, preferably, no gaps in the side walls in the region of the hinges. The bottom of the case, when closed, may be formed by a panel having pins at its corners which, as the case is opened, travel in guideways until the panel is coplanar with the bases of the halves. When open, the case may be used as a travelling cot.

Description

SPECIFICATION Case The present invention relates to a case such as a briefcase, a suitcase, or a suitcase which can convert into a travelling cot.

When completely opened up, existing cases such as briefcases and suitcases constitute essentially two boxes hinged together and each open at the top. There is a double thickness dividing wall between the two compartments formed by the wall sections which constitute the bottom of the case when closed.

The presence of the dividing wall is a disadvantage when an uninterrupted bottom surface of the opened case is required, eg for display purposes or to form the base of a cot.

Existing travelling cots comprise folding tubular members which, when erected, form a framework which supports the base and fabric walls of the cot. A disadvantage of such cots is that, when they are folded up, there are problems of transport and storage. Since the legs project they tend to catch when the cot is placed in the boot of a car. Also it is no easy task to place the cot in a flexible bag, e.g. of fabric or plastics material, and the bag can easily be torn by the legs. A particular difficulty arises in connection with air travel, since a travelling cot consigned to the cargo hold can emerge damaged and/or dirty.

The present invention seeks to overcome or reduce one or more of the above problems.

G.B. 1166676 discloses a carry-cot which may be folded into a box configuration. The parts of the carry-cot are flexible and it does not have feet. Furthermore, in its box configuration the side walls overlap so that only a relatively-small capacity is afforded.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a case comprising two members each substantially in the form of an open box, the members being connected to each other by hinge or pivot means at an edge region of the case, each box comprising a base portion and a plurality of side wall portions, and the base portions of the boxes each constituting, when the case is closed, a respective major surface of the case, the arrangement being such that, when the case is fully opened by relative movement of the members about said hinge or pivot means, the base surfaces of the boxes lie in substantially the same plane with no dividing wall portion therebetween and the side wall portions of the members adjacent said hinge or pivot means meet each other to form a substantially uninterrupted side wall of the opened case.

Such an arrangement has a considerable advantage over arrangements such as that disclosed in Fig. 5 of GB1166676, in which gaps remain between the side wall portions and extra assembly steps are necessary to close these gaps.

Preferably the base portion and side wall portions are of rigid material, so that the case may be sufficiently strong to serve as a suitcase.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a case comprising two mutually-attached open box members, each box member comprising a base portion and a plurality of side wall portions, and the base portions of the box members each constituting, when the case is closed, a respective major surface of the case and, when the case is fully opened lying in substantially the same plane with no dividing wall portion therebetween.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a travelling cot comprising a rigid base with side wall portions, wherein, when the cot is folded up, it is in the form of a suitcase.

In one preferred embodiment, the travelling cot comprises two substantially identical halves hinged together and a panel which in the folded-up configuration constitutes the bottom of the suitcase. In the unfolded configuration the panel lies substantially coplanar with the adjacent major surfaces of the halves to form the base of the travelling cot.

The panel preferably has pivot pins at its corners which slide in respective tracks at the inside of the side walls.

In another preferred embodiment, the top member of the suitcase, which may be conveniently divided into two substantially identical halves, is arranged to pivot relative to at least one of the side members of the suitcase so that, as the major surfaces of the side members are pivoted from a spaced parallel configuration (as a suitcase) to a coplanar configuration (as a cot), the top member does not obstruct this operation. The top member may form one or more supporting feet for the cot.

The same, or other feet, when the cot is folded up, may form handles for the suitcases.

The depth of the suitcase configuration is arranged to be substantially twice the depth of the base of the cot, thus affording a large carrying capacity.

Frame members may be pivotally attached to the inside of the suitcase so that, when ths cot is erected, the frame member may be pivotted to define side wall supports of the cot.

The suitcase may contain one or more holdalls, which hold a mattress and fabric bag for suspending from the erected frame members to define the walls of the cot.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a travelling cot/suitcase in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a initial step in the conversion from suitcase to travelling cot; Figure 3 shows a further step in the conversion progress; Figure 4 shows the next step in the conversion process; Figure 5 shows a suitcase/travelling cot in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; Figures 6 to 8 show successive steps in the conversion from the suitcase shown in Fig. 5 to a travelling cot; Figure 9 shows a travelling cot in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 shows a travelling cot in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention;; Figure 77 shows a perspective view of a travelling cot/suitcase in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 12 is a cross-section of part of Fig.

11 on a reduced scale; Figure 13 is a similar cross-section of the embodiment of Fig. 11 in an intermediate state between its two configurations; Figure 14 is a perspective view of the em bodiment of Fig. 11 in its travelling cot configuration; and Figure 15 is a cross-section of part of Fig.

14 on a reduced scale.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a suitcase/travelling cot 10 in its suitcase configuration. The suitcase comprises two generally symmetrical halves 11,12 which define the opposing major surfaces of the suitcase, the end walls and the bottom of the suitcase.

However, the top of the suitcase is formed by a separate member 14 which incorporates a handle 15 with three grip portions. Members 11,12 and 14 are moulded from a strong plastics material.

The four corners of the bottom of the suitcase are provided with wheels 1 7 to assist in its transport. Adjacent the bottom of the suitcase, each major surface is provided with a pivotable bar member 19 which, in the suitcase configuration, is housed flush with the respective major surface in a recess 20, Fig.

3, therein.

The top member 14 is attached to the rest of the suitcase by a sliding and pivoting arrangement comprising pins 21 projecting from the end walls of the suitcase and slots 22 at the ends of member 14. The end walls of the suitcase have snap projections 23 which engage with the bottom end of slots 22 in the configuration shown in Fig. 1. Similarly the major surfaces of the suitcase have projections 24 which snap into openings 25 in tabs 26 of the member 14.

To convert the suitcase into a travelling cot, the snap fastenings 22, 23 and 24, 25 are first disconnected and then handle 15 is pulled upwardly in the direction of arrow A, Fig. 2. Member 14 moves upwardly until the bottom ends of slots 22 abut the respective pins 21. Member 14 is then rotated through substantially 90 as indicated by arrow B in Fig. 3.

Bars 19, 19' are then pivotted out of their recesses 20 through substantially 90" (arrow C) to rest on the ground. Holdalls (not shown) containing the fabric side-walls of the cot, the mattress, bedding, clothing and other belongings of the child are then removed from the interior of the suitcase.

The entire suitcase is then rotated through substantially 90 to rest on member 14 and one of the bars 19', Fig. 4.

After the unclipping of a snap fastening 40 (which is optional) member 12 is then rotated about pivot 21 through substantially 180 as indicated by arrow D, so that the other bar 19 also rests on the ground. This operation completes the formation of the base of the travelling cot. The interior major surfaces of members 11 and 12 are aligned and form an uninterrupted support for the mattress, and the cot has three large and firm foot supports 14, 19 and 19' to raise the cot from the floor without introducing the possibility of the child overturning the cot.

Substantially U-shaped tubular frame members, similar to members 90 in Fig. 9, are then attached at the corners of the cot base.

A bag-like member (not shown) is then removed from one of the holdalls and attached to the frame members. The cot mattress, e.g.

a concertina-type foam mattress, is placed in the bag or sack and located to press the bag into the corners of the cot base. The still visible parts of the bag, stretched between the tops of members 90 and the cot base, then form the four side walls of the cot.

To convert the travelling cot back into a suitcase, the above process is simply reversed.

The above-described travelling cot has numerous advantages. The conversion procedure from suitcase to cot and vice versa is quick and simple. The production of the cot is simple and cheap: a) because the fastenings are integrally moulded thus necessitating a minimum of extra components, and b) because the largest parts 11, 12 may be identical which means that only a single mould is required for them. By providing the top member 14 as a single moulding, better protection and strength are afforded.

During transport and storage of the cot, only the external surfaces of members 11, 12 and 14 are exposed to impact or dirt.

Since the external lines of the suitcase configuration are smooth the likelihood of damage by snagging or catching is minimised; in any case the plastics material is sufficiently robust to resist most likely damage. As far as dirt is concerned, the surfaces can be quickly wiped down before unpacking; in any case none of the external surfaces of the suitcase is likely to come into contact with the fabric side walls, mattress or bedding in use. Thus the cot can safely be consigned to the cargo hold on an aircraft.

The suitcase configuration has a large carrying capacity. It can contain the frame members, mattress, bedding, and at least two holdalls. Thus it can hold all the normal holidy requirements of a child up to 18 months and keep them all completely clean. For a day trip or a short holiday, such as a weekend away, the suitcase configuration can hold the requisites of the parents and even the rest of the family.

The triple-grip handle offers the alternatives of lifting the case to move it, or of towing it on wheels 17 from either end.

The plastics side wall portions at the base of the cot serve to firmly hold the mattress in place and to reduce the effects of draughts on the child. In addition and in combination with the feet which raise the cot from the ground, they serve to reduce the likelihood of insects entering the cot.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to 8, a second embodiment of the present invention comprises a suitcase/travelling cot 50 comprising two substantially identical halves 51, 52 and top members 54, 55. Handle members 80, 80' are mounted flush with the exterior of the suitcase in recess 82. Wheels 57 are provided at only one end of the bottom of the suitcase.

To convert the suitcase to a cot, the handle members 80, 80' are rotated as indicated by arrow E, Fig. 5, through substantially 1800 about pivots 81, to rest on the ground, Fig.

6. Top members 54, 55 are then rotated as indicated by arrows F, Fig. 7, about respective pivots through substantially 1800, thus permitting access to the interior of the suitcase. The holdalls and other contents can then be removed. Next, the entire suitcase is rotated through substantially 90" so that handle 80 and member 54 form feet resting on the ground, Fig. 8, and then part 52 is rotated through substantially 1800, Fig. 8, about pivots 56, to form the base of the cot with handle 80' and member 55 also resting on the ground. Thus in the cot configuration parts 54, 55, 80 and 80' each form a respective foot portion.

The frame and the rest of the cot are then assembled as described in connection with the first embodiment. The travelling cot according to the second embodiment has generally the same advantages as the first embodiment.

Various modifications can be made to the first and second embodiments. For example members 14, 54, 55 which form the feet of the cot could be arranged to form the bottom of the suitcase instead of the top. In addition, the mattress and the sack for forming the sides of the cot can be arranged in one piece if desired.

The frame members 90 may be contained loosely within the case. Alternatively, and preferably, they are pivotally attached to the interior of the case. In the embodiment of Fig.

10, each generally U-shaped frame member comprises two generally L-shaped sections of tubular metal. In Fig. 10 the respective right hand halves 91, 92 of the two frame members are shown, the respective left-hand halves not being illustrated. When stowed away, section 91 is held parallel to the major surface of part 52 by clips (not shown). To erect section 91 it is pulled away from the clips and rotated as indicated by arrow C through substantially 90" to position 91' and then its end is dropped down as indicated by arrow H into a cylindrical bore so that it is securely held in position. The bore may be formed by an end of a length of similar metal tubing which extends along the long side of the case to complete a loop. Section 92 and the left-hand halves are then similarly erected.

To secure the upper ends of each pair of sections together a short tube with an interior diameter slightly greater than the exterior diameter of sections 91, 92 is slid over both ends and secured in position. The bag forming the sides of the cot is then placed over the completed framework.

An advantage of this arrangement is that the cot has no detachable parts other then the bedding and the side walls.

Alternatively the frame members, or parts thereof, may be telescopic. The illustrated version is preferred, however, since it has greater rigidity.

The cot parts may be vacuum-formed if desired.

Figs. 11 tko 15 show a further suitcase/travelling cot 100 in its suitcase configuration. The suitcase comprises two identical halves 101,102 each formed with a handle portion 103. The halves 101, 102 are preferably of moulded or vacuum-formed plastics material and have integral projecting feet 104, at the upper corners of their major surfaces. The bottom portion 105 of each half is broadened slightly both sideways and longitudinally and merges with the rest of the half by means of a sloping surface 106. The bottom edge of each portion 105 is provided with an inner lip 107 to prevent the ingress of moisture. Lying within the broadened portion and resting on lips 107 to form the base of the suitcase is a rectangular panel 110, also conveniently of plastics material.At each end of each short side of the panel there is provided a projecting pivot pin 111 which engages in a respective guideway 113 defined by a rib 114 projecting from the inside of the end wall of the suitcase.

In Figs. 11 and 12, the two halves 101, 102 are connected at both ends of the centre line of the bottom surface by means of sosstype or cantilever hinges 112. To open the suitcase, the two halves are mutually pivoted about the hinges 112 towards the position shown in Fig. 13. It will be seen that panel 110 has been constrained by the pivot pins 111 to travel upwards and outwards along the guideways 113. Continued pivoting of the halves causes them to occupy the final, travelling cot, configuration shown in Figs. 14 and 15 in which the pivot pins have travelled downwardly and further outwardly so that the panel 110 lies flat at the bottom of the cot covering the line along which the two halves 101, 102 meet. The short sides of the panel are sealed against the end faces of ribs 114.

During pivotting the two halves 101,102 initially move apart slightly, but then move together again.

Associated with hinges 112 are pillars 120.

In the suitcase configuration, Figs. 11 and 12, the sealing against moisture ingress at the bottom by lips 107 engaging the bottom of the long sides of panel 110 is supplernented at the ends by the short sides of the panel abutting against the pillars 120.

In the cot configuration, the panel 110 lies in the same plane as the rest of the bottom surface of the cot formed by halves 101, 102. The gaps in the base between the horizontal portions of the cot halves and the panel 110 and above the sloping portions 106 are no problem in practice since they are covered by the cot mattress. However, separate panels may be provided to cover these gaps if desired. In Fig. 14, the cot is shown with frame elements 92 partially erected. All internal surfaces can be rendered coplanar and soft by the addition of a foam lining layer, either moulded in situ or located during assembly.

An advantage of the above embodiment is that a minimum number of moving parts are required. This leads to ease of use and reduced manufacturing costs. Also, an advantage of the halves pivotting about a single pivot line is that this is more stable than an arrangement with two pivot lines, and it produces no distortion. In GB1166676, for example, the arrangement of Fig. 5 has two hinge lines; even if the material was rigid, there would still be distortion in use which would tend to lead to permanent damage.

The embodiment of Figs. 11 to 15 can be modified by replacing pins 111 with wheels or rollers. In another modification, in the cot configuration shown in Fig. 15, the two lips 107 are arranged to be slightly spaced horizontally.

In the suitcase configuration of this modification, the pillars 120 associated with the hinges constitute feet or runners which raises the rest of the suitcase from the ground, which further assists in avoiding the ingress of moisture; the feet or runners are indicated in broken line at 120' in Fig. 12.

The features of the various embodiments described may be interchanged as desired.

The following modifications can also be made: The cot can be provided with integral or separate adjustable telescopic feet 95, Fig. 9 which, in the suitcase configuration, are retracted within the case. The tubular frame members may incorporate a battery-powered light; the light is preferably incorporated in a translucent cylindrical housing substantially flush with adjacent parts of the tubular frame member. Figs. 5 to 8 show the suitcase with two wheels 57 arranged at the ends of a short edge; alternatively the suitcase may have two wheels at the ends of a long edge which enables it to be more easily towed and manoeuvred. The top member or members 14 (54, 55) can be replaced by a separable lid; if desired this may be placed under the base of the cot to provide extra support after the cot has been un-folded. The other feet may comprise generally U-shaped hoops which can be pulled out laterally from the long edges of the base of the suitcase. Instead of clips and/or snap fastenings, the two halves of the suitcase may be held together by exterior webbing. In the suitcase configuration, the Ushaped frame members may be arranged at the exterior of the case, pivotally attached thereto, e.g. at the ends of the long sides of the case bottom. The bag to form the side walls of the cot may have a rectangular strengthening strut around its mouth; the strut may be foldable for storage.

Although the embodiments described relate to a travelling cot, the invention also embraces briefcases and suitcases etc, which when opened out provide a flat uninterrupted surface which may be used to support a display etc.

Claims (9)

1. A case comprising two members each substantially in the form of an open box, the members being connected to each other by hinge or pivot means at an edge region of the case, each box comprising a base portion and a plurality of side wall portions, and the base portions of the boxes each constituting, when the case is closed, a respective major surface of the case, the arrangement being such that, when the case is fully opened by relative movement of the members about said hinge or pivot means, the base surface of the boxes lie in substantially the same plane with no dividing wall portion therebetween and the side wall portions of the members adjacent said hinge or pivot means meet each other to form a substantially uninterrupted side wall of the opened case.

2. A case according to claim 1 comprising a panel which, when the case is closed, constitutes the bottom of the suitcase and, when the case is fully opened, is arranged to lie substantially coplanar with the base surfaces.

3. A case according to claim 2, wherein the panel has pivot pins at its corners which slide in respective tracks on the side wall portions.

4. A case according to any preceding claim which, when the- case is fully opened, constitutes at least the base of a travelling cot.

5. A case according to any preceding claim, wherein the base portion and side wall portions are of rigid material.

6. A case according to any preceding claim, wherein the members are hinged together by means of a cantilever hinge.

7. A case comprising two mutually-attached open box members, each box member comprising a base portion and a plurality of side wall portions, and the base portions of the box members each constituting, when the case is closed, a respective major surface of the case and, when the case is fully opened lying in substantially the same plane with no dividing wall portion therebetween.

8. A case substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4, or Figs. 5 to 8, or Fig. 9, or Fig. 10, or Figs. 11 to 15 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A travelling cot comprising a rigid base with side wall portions, wherein, when the cot is folded up, it is in the form of a suitcase.