GB2209027A - Collapsible luggage - Google Patents

Abstract

An article of luggage has substantially rigid walls and is reversibly collapsible into a substantially flat state. End walls 1, 2 are located in grooved ribs 16 at the ends of side walls 3, 4, at least a portion of the grooves being necked, Fig. 6. <IMAGE>

Description

FOLDING/EXPANDING PILOT CASE DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to articles of luggage having rigid walls, more particularly articles having rigid walls, which articles of luggage are reversibly collapsible to a substantially flat state.

For the frequent traveller, particularly the travelling businessman, a problem often encountered is that of the availability of luggage space in proportion to the bulk of the luggage. This problem is particularly exemplified when the traveller has more luggage to carry in one of the outward or return trips. Furthermore, the travelling businessman often wishes to carry one or more briefcases, when away from home, such briefcases being full of samples, documents, etc. However, when such briefcases are not required they are often empty and thus provide unwanted bulk for carrying because, although empty, such luggage takes up a large amount of space.

Thus, in one example, a businessman may go away, with enough samples to fill a suitcase, but also having to carry one or more briefcases, such as the large pilot cases favoured by the businessman, which cases being empty, occupy a disproportionate amount of space during travel. When at the destination the businessman then uses these briefcases when travelling to and from meetings, and often returns again'with empty briefcases.

According to the present invention there is provided an article having substantially rigid walls and being reversibly collapsible into a sabstanvially flat state. Preferably the article of @@@@@@ @@@@@@@@ a handle.

More preferably, the article of luggage is a pilot case.

Most preferably, the pilot case has a top cover comprising two reversibly interconnectable flaps.

In one embodiment of the present invention the article of luggage comprises means for securing the article in the substantially flat state. Most preferably the means for securing the article of luggage in a substantially flat state comprises the sections of the article of luggage which comprise the latch of the briefcase when in an expanded state.

In a second embodiment of the present invention the walls of the case are connected to one another, in the expanded form, by means of zip fasteners.

In a third embodiment of the present invention the walls of the case are interconnected, in the expanded state, by means of corresponding flanges and grooves on opposing edges of the walls.

The articles of luggage according to the present invention overcome or mitigate the disadvantages of the prior art described above. Furthermore, because of the collapsible nature of these articles of luggage, when transporting such articles of luggage from the place of manufacture to the place of sale there is a large reduction in the cost of transportation and storage of each article.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be put into practice, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 1 shows 2 perspective view of a pilot case in accordance with s fr - - - r e-ent invention, Figure 2 shows a side view of the pilot case of Figure 1, Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the top of the pilot case of Figure 1, with one of the cover flaps folded away from the body of the case, Figure 4 shows a top plan view of the handle of the pilot case of Figure 1, Figure 5 shows the pilot case of Figure 1 when dismantled and laid flat, Figure 6 shows a perspective view of grooves within the longitudinal side walls of the pilot case of Figure 1, Figure 7 shows the pilot case of Figure 1 in the course of being dismantled, Figures 8 to 11 show the steps in folding the collapsed case of Figure 5 into a substantially flat state, in which the case is to be carried, Figure 12 shows a side view of the folded collapsed case of Figure 11, Figure 13 shows a perspective view of a pilot case according to a second embodiment of the present invention Figure 14 shows a side view of the pilot case of Figure 13, Figure 15 shows a perspective view of the top of the pilot case of Figure 13 with one of the cover flaps folded away from the body of the pilot case, Figure 16 shows a top plan view of the handle of the pilot case of Figure 13, Figure 17 shows the pilot case of Figure 13 dismantled and laid flat, Figures 18 to 21 show the stages involved in folding the dismantled case of Figure 17 to the folded collapsed state in which the case is to be carried, and, Figure 22 shows a side view of the collapsed folded case of Figure 21.

The pilot case of Figure 1 has a base 7, two transverse sides 1 and 2, two longitudinal sides 3 and 4 and a lid comprising two overlapping cover flaps 5 and 6.

The assembled pilot case shown in Figure 1 has each of the longitudinal side walls 3 and 4 joined to each of the transverse side walls 1 and 2, the upper and lower cover flaps 5 and 6 being pivotably joined to the upper edges of the longitudinal walls 4 and 3 respectively. The upper cover flap 5 has two metal catch pieces 9 which lock onto corresponding metal catch pieces 10 located on the lower cover flap 6 so as to lock the case. The upper cover flap 5 further has a longitudinal opening 14 in a position corresponding to a flexible handle 11-supported on the lower cover flap 6 so that the flexible handle 11 may be pulled through the longitudinal opening 14 to allow the bag to be carried.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the pilot case of Figure 1, viewing from the side of the transverse side wall 1. In Figure 2 the catches 9 and 10 have been released and the cover flaps 5 and 6 have been pivoted away from the body of the case along the top edges of the longitudinal side walls 3 and 4. As can be seen from Figure 2, the case further comprises metal legs 17 upon which the case stands.

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the transverse side walls are connected to the longitudinal side walls by means of a rib 16, positioned at the edges of the longitudinal side walls 3 and 4, the rib 16 having a groove therein along the length of the rib 16. The transverse side walls 1 and 2 are connected to the longitudinal side walls 3 and 4 by means of flanges extending along the edges of transverse side walls 1 and 2, which flanges (not shown) are complimentary to the groove of the rib 16. As can We seew from r--:r tte ribs 16 are joined to t laid > na: ;a~~~ - -.- by means of a strip of flexible material 13.This flexible material 13 ensures that, during assembly, the flanges of the transverse walls 1 and 2 may be aligned with the grooves swithin the rib 16 so as to easily slide therealong.

Figures 4 shows a detailed plan view of the flexible handle 11. The flexible handle has, at either end, longitudinal openings 14. The handles are held in place by metal sections 15 which metal sections are stapled around the sections of the handle 11, either side of the longitudinal hole 14, to secure the handle 11 to the case. The sections of the handle 11 separated by the hole 114 may slide longitudinally between the metal parts 15 and the lower cover flap 6. Thus when the case is being carried, the mid-portion of the handle 11 is pulled upwards, and the two end portions of the handle 11 slide towards the mid-portion, thus allowing the mid-portion of the handle 11 to be drawn away from the lower cover flap 6.When the case is set down the mid-portion of the handle 11 may be pushed towards the lower cover flap 6, thus sliding the end portions of the handle 11 away from the mid-portion of the handle, ensuring that the handle lies flat on the lower cover flap 6.

Figure 5 shows the pilot case of Figures 1 to 4 when dismantled. As can be seen from Figure 5 the transverse side walls 1 and 2 have been removed from the case and the longitudinal side walls 3 and 4 have been pivoted about their lower edges, which lower edges are, in turn, connected to the base 7, so that the longitudinal side walls lie in the same plane as the base 7. Furthermore, the upper and lower cover flaps 5 and 6 have been pivoted about the upper edges of the longitudinal side walls 3 and 4 so that the upper and '^ ^r Cove flaps 5 and 6 also lie in same plane as the base 7.Also shown in Figure 5 are t; > - of fettale buttons 20 on the inside of one of the longitudinal side walls 4, and two sets of male buttons, one set on each of the transverse side walls 1 and 2. These buttons are complimentary and serve fix the transverse side walls inside the longitudinal side wall 14 when the case is folded for storage.

As can be seen from Figure 5, at the bottom of each of the transverse side walls 1 and 2 are two flanges 17 which flanges correspond to apertures 19 in the base 7.

When the case is assembled these flanges 17 extend through apertures 19 to secure the transverse side walls in position with relation to the base and, further, the flanges 17 extend below the base 7 to form legs 17 shown in Figure 2.

Figure 6 shows -One possible form of groove which may be used in the rib 16 attached at the side edges of longitudinal side walls 3 and 14.

Figure 7 shows how the pilot case of Figure 1 may be assembled from the disassembled state shown in Figure 5. As can be seen, the longitudinal side walls shown in Figure 5 are pivoted about the connecting edges with base 7 so that they extend substantially normally to base 7.

The appropriate flanges of the transverse side walls 1 and 2 are then inserted into the complimentary grooves within the rib 16 at the side edges of the longitudinal side walls 3 and 4 so that the transverse side walls 1 and 2 may be slid down, along rib 16, towards the base 7.

When the transverse side walls have been slid down along the rib 16, the flanges 17 at the bottom of each of the transverse side walls 1 and 2 extend through apertures 19 in the base to form the leg 17 of the pilot case. The case is then assembled and may be closed by pivoting the upper and lower cover flaps 5 and 6 about the upper edges of longitudinal walls 4 and 3 respectively, so that the upper and lower cover flaps cover the aperture defined by the top edges of the transverse side walls 1 and 2 and the longitudinal side walls 3 and 4.

Figures 8 to 11 show how the disassembled pilot case shown in Figure 5 may be swiftly folded to a compact and substantially flat state. Figure 8 corresponds to the disassembled state shown in Figure 5. The transverse side walls 1 and 2 are laid over one of the longitudinal side walls 4 so that the corresponding sets of female and male buttons 20 and 21 may be secured to each other so as to secure the transverse side walls 1 and 2 to the longitudinal side wall 4. This is shown in Figure 9.

Once this is done, the lower cover flap 6 is pivoted through 180 degrees about its connecting edge with the longitudinal wall 3 so that lower cover flap 6 lies on top of the longitudinal wall 3. In this position the lower cover flap 6 has the catch portions 10 positioned on the side of the lower cover flap to remote from longitudinal side wall 3. This is shown in Figure 10.

The longitudinal wall 4 is then pivoted about its lower edge connection with the base 7, through 180 degrees, so that the longitudinal wall 4 lies over the base 7 and the longitudinal wall 3. When this is done the upper cover flap 5, being pivoted with the longitudinal-wall 14, then lies over the lower cover flap 6 so that the catch portions 9 lie over the catch portions 10. Thus the catch portions 9 and 10 may be locked together, so locking the disassembled case in the compact, substantially flat, form shown in Figure 11.

Figure 12 shows a side view of the whole unit when folded.

As would be readily obvious to a FDrrrT p the art there are many variations of this embodiment which may be employed. The basic material for the walls may be thick cardboard, thin wooden sheeting, or plastic sheet and the case may be covered with a standard material such as vinyl or, preferably, leather.

The transverse side walls 1 and 2 need not have flanges which correspond to the grooves in the rib 16 on the side edges of longitudinal side walls 3 and 14.

Instead, the grooves in the rib 16 can be designed to a very fine tolerance so that the thickness of the transverse side walls would be exactly equal to the width of the groove within the ribs so that the transverse side walls 1 and 2 will be tightly held within the grooves of the rib 16.

In addition, the flanges 17 on the base of the transverse side walls 1 and 2 may be rotatable so that, when the flanges 17 have passed through the apertures 19 in the base 7 the flanges 17 may be rot-ated through 90 degrees so that the upper edges of the flanges 17 contact the lower face of base 7 ensuring that the transverse side wall 1 or 2 may not be slid within the rib 16 of the longitudinal side walls 3 and 14.

It should further be noted that alternative means of securing the separated transverse side walls to the inner of one of the longitudinal side walls 4 may be used and that the use of complimentary male and female buttons is not required. For instance press studs, hook and eye catches and alternative standard securing means may be used.

A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 13 to 22. In this embodiment the base 7, transverse side walls 1 and 2 longitudinal side walls 3 and 11, Upper and lower cover flaps 5 aro' - s: s- pieces 9 and 10, and handle 11, 14 and 15 are all as in the previous embodiment and require no further description. In this embodiment, however, the transverse side walls 1 and 2 are pivotably attached by their lower edge to the base 7 in a similar manner of attachment as the longitudinal side walls 3 and 14.

As can be seen from Figure 114 all pivot points, that is to say the edges around which various portions of the case are pivoted to other portions of the case, are formed from a flexible material 13. Furthermore, the side edges of the transverse side walls 1 and 2 are connected to the side edges of the longitudinal side walls 3 and 4 by means of a zip fastener 23. The teeth of the zip fastener are locked together by the movement of the slide of the zip fastener from the base 7 to the cover flaps 5 and 6. Thus, to disassemble the pilot case of the second embodiment to the state shown in Figure 17, the slides of the zips are merely drawn down the teeth of the zip fasteners to the base 7. The transverse walls 1 and 2 and longitudinal walls 3 and 4 may then be pivoted about their edges adjoining the base 7 so that they lay in the same plane as the base 7, as shown in Figure 17.

Figures 18 to 21 show the folding of this embodiment from the dissassembled state shown in Figure 17; to a compact substantially flat state. Firstly, one of the transverse side walls 2 is pivoted through 180 degrees around its bottom edge so that it lies over base 7, as shown in Figure 18. The other transverse side wall 1 is then pivoted through 180 degrees about its bottom edge so that the other transverse side wall 1 lies over the base 7 and the first transverse side wall 2, as shown in Figure 19.

The lower cover flaD 6 is then pivoted through 180 degrees about the upper edge of the longitudinal s-'de wall 3 so that the lower cover flap 6 lies over the longitudinal side wall 3 with the catch portions 10 of the lower cover flap 6 located on the side of the lower cover flap 6 remote from the longitudinal side wall 3, as shown in Figure 20.

Finally, the other longitudinal side wall 4 is pivoted through 180 degrees about the lower edge thereof, so that the other longitudinal side wall 4 lies over transverse side walls 1 and 2 and base 7. The upper cover flap 5 is not pivoted and so, after the pivoting of the other longitudinal side wall 14, the upper cover flap 5 lies over ~the lower cover flap 6 and the first longitudinal wall 3, with the catch portions 9 of the upper cover flap 5 lying over the catch portions 10 of the lower cover flap 6 so that the catch portions 9 and 10 may be locked together thus locking the disassembled case in a compact, substantially flat, state as shown in Figure 21.

Figure 22 shows a side view of this compact, substantially flat, state of the disassembled case shown in Figure 21.

In both the embodiments of the present invention, the pilot case may be re-assembled by a simple reversal of the steps described above.

Claims (13)

CLAIMS:

1. An article of luggage having substantially rigid walls and being reversibly collapsible into a substantially flat state wherein, in the expanded state, a first wall and a second wall are connected by means of a flange on an end of the first wall positioned within a corresponding groove on the adjacent end of the second wall, at least a portion of the groove being necked.

2. An article of luggage according to Claim 1, comprising a base and at least two side walls, wherein the first and second walls are side walls.

3. An article of luggage according to Claim 2, wherein each of both side ends of the first side wall is connectable to the adjacent side wall.

14. An article of luggage according to Claims 1, 2 or 3, which further comprises means for releasably fixing the first wall in position with respect to the second wall.

5. An article of luggage according Claim 2 or 3, wherein the releasable fixing means comprises a noncircular aperture within the base and a non-circular stud, positioned on the base end of the first side wall and rotatable in a plane substantially normal to the plane of the first side wall, the stud being receivable within the aperture and rotatable within the aperture so as to abut a portion of the edge of the aperture.

6. An article of luggage according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, which is assemblable from a single blank.

7. An article of luggage according to any one of preceding claims, which f'urtber comprises oearc- locking the article of luggage in the substatially flat state.

8. An article of luggage according to Claim 7, wherein the means for locking the article of luggage into the substantially flat state comprises means for locking the cover of the article of luggage when in the expanded state.

9. An article of luggage according to any one of the preceding Claims, which further comprises a handle.

10. An article of luggage according to Claim 9, wherein the handle is positioned so as to be usable when the article of luggage is in the expanded state and in the substantially flat state-;

11. An article of luggage according to any one of the preceding Claims, which is a pilot case.

12. An article of luggage substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 to 12 of the accompanying drawings.

13. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.