GB2385319A

GB2385319A - Case with Moulded Plastic Shell and Fabric Shell

Info

Publication number: GB2385319A
Application number: GB0203915A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dick-Ming Hsieh
Original assignee: Eminent Luggage Corp
Current assignee: Eminent Luggage Corp
Priority date: 2002-01-30
Filing date: 2002-02-19
Publication date: 2003-08-20
Also published as: DE20201429U1; GB0203915D0

Abstract

A case includes a first shell (1, 100, 71), a second shell (2, 200, 72), and a shell-connecting unit (3, 73) for interconnecting the first and second shells (1, 100, 71, 2, 200, 72). The first shell (1, 100, 71) is a molded plastic shell and has a looped connecting end (121). The second shell (2, 200, 72) is made of a fabric material, complements the shape of the first shell (1, 100, 71), cooperates with the first shell (1, 100, 71) to form a receiving space of the case, and has a looped connecting end (221). The shell-connecting unit (3, 73) includes a connecting strip (31, 731) and at least one stitch seam (32, 320, 732) for securing the connecting strip (31, 731) to the looped connecting ends (121, 221) of the first and second shells (1, 100, 71, 2, 200, 72).

Description

CASE WITH MOLDED PLASTIC SHELL AND FABRIC SHELL The invention relates to a case having a molded plastic shell and a fabric shell.

One example of a conventional case includes two complementary molded plastic shells. While the molded plastic shells can provide adequate protection to articles inside the case against impact, a metal connecting frame is required for pivotally interconnecting the shells, thereby resulting in a substantial increase in the weight of the case.

Another example of a conventional case includes two complementary fabric shells that are interconnected by means of a zipper. While the fabric material of the shells results in a lighter weight for the case, the fabric shells are unable to provide adequate protection to articles inside the case against impact.

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a case having a molded plastic shell connected to a fabric shell so that the case can be relatively lightweight and so that articles inside the case can be protected against impact.

According to this invention, a case includes a first shell, a second shell, and a shell-connecting unit for interconnecting the first and second shells. The first shell is a molded plastic shell and has a looped connecting end. The second shell is made of a fabric material, complements the shape of the first shell,

cooperates with the first shell to forma receiving space of the case, and has a looped connecting end. The shell-connecting unit includes a connecting strip and at least one stitch seam for securing the connecting strip to the looped connecting ends of the first and second shells.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure lisa perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a case according to this invention ; Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the first preferred embodiment; Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of a case according to this invention ; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the third preferred embodiment of a case according to this invention ; and Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the third preferred embodiment.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the first preferred embodiment of a case according to this invention is shown to be embodied in a traveling case that includes a first shell 1, a second shell 2, a shell-connecting unit 3, a pair of wheels 4, a pair of foot posts 5, and a retractable handle unit 6.

The first shell 1 is an integrally molded plastic shell having a first base part 11 and a first peripheral part 12 extending from the first base part 11 to confine a first shell space. The first peripheral part 12 has a looped connecting end 121 remote from the first base part 11. The first shell 1 can serve to retain the shape of the case.

The second shell 2 is made of a fabric material, such as water-impervious canvas or nylon, and complements the shape of the first shell 1. The second shell 2 has a second base part 21 that is disposed to confront the first base part 11, and a second peripheral part 22 that extends from the second base part 21 to confine a second shell space. The first and second shell spaces form a receiving space of the case. The second peripheral part 22 has a looped connecting end 221 remote from the second base part 21 and disposed proximate to the looped connecting end 121 of the first peripheral part 12 of the first shell 1. Preferably, at least one strap 23 has opposite ends secured to an outer surface of the second peripheral part 22 to form at least one handle for carrying the case. Furthermore, the outer surface of the second base part 21 may be provided with a number

of pockets 24, each of which is made of a fabric material and is associated with a respective zipper 25 for closing the same.

The shell-connecting unit 3 interconnects the looped connecting ends 121,221 of the first and second peripheral parts 12,22 of the first and second shells 1, 2. In this embodiment, the shell-connecting unit 3 includes a rubber connecting strip 31 formed with a first strip portion 311 that is sandwiched between the looped connecting ends 121, 221, a second strip portion 312 that is connected to a lower end of the first strip portion 311 and that is disposed to lie against an inner side of the looped connecting end 121 of the first peripheral part 12, and a third strip portion 313 that is connected to an upper end of the first strip portion 311 and that is disposed to lie against an outer side of the looped connecting end 221 of the second peripheral part 22.

A stitch seam 32 secures the first, second and third strip portions 311,312, 313 of the connecting strip 31 to the looped connecting ends 121,221, thereby interconnecting the first and second peripheral parts 12,22 of the first and second shells 1, 2. In this embodiment, the second peripheral part 22 of the second shell 2 is provided with a zipper 26 to permit access into the receiving space of the case.

The wheels 4 are mounted spacedly on a bottom section of the first peripheral part 12 of the first shell 1 in a known manner to facilitate movement of the case along a ground surface.

The foot posts 5 are mounted securely on a bottom section of the second peripheral part 22 of the second shell 2, and cooperate with the wheels 4 to support the case in an upright position.

The handle unit 6 is a conventional retractable device mounted on an outer surface of the first base part 11 of the first shell 1. Since the particular configuration of the handle unit 6 is not pertinent to the claimed invention, a detailed description of the same will be omitted herein for the sake of brevity.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of a case according to this invention. Unlike the previous embodiment, the connecting strip of the shell-connecting unit of the case of the second preferred embodiment is in the form of a zipper that has a pair of zipper halves 310 secured to the looped connecting ends of the first and second peripheral parts of the first and second shells 100, 200 by a pair of stitch seams 320, respectively.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the third preferred embodiment of a case according to this invention is shown to be embodied in a knapsack that includes a first shell 71, a second shell 72, and a shell-connecting unit 73. Like the previous embodiments, the first shell 71 is an integrally molded plastic shell, whereas the second shell 72 is made of a fabric material and complements the shape of the first shell 71. The shell-connecting

unit 73 interconnects the looped connecting ends of the first and second shells 71,72. In this embodiment, the shell-connecting unit 73 includes a looped connecting strip 731 made of fabric and formed with a U-shaped cross-section to receive the looped connecting end of the first shell 71 therein. Stitch seams 732 secure the connecting strip 731 to the looped connecting ends, thereby interconnecting the first and second shells 71, 72.

The case of this embodiment is not provided with the wheels, the foot posts and the retractable handle unit of the previous embodiments. Instead, the case of this embodiment has a pair of shoulder straps 74 secured to the second shell 72 to facilitate carrying of the case.

Because the case of this invention includes a molded plastic shell connected to a fabric shell, the case can be relatively lightweight, and articles inside the case can be protected against impact. The object of the invention is thus met.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A case including a first shell, a second shell, and a shell-connecting unit for interconnecting the first and second shells, characterized in that: the first shell is a molded plastic shell and has a looped connecting end ; the second shell being made of a fabric material, complementing the shape of the first shell, cooperating with the first shell to form a receiving space of the case, and having a looped connecting end; the shell-connecting unit including a connecting strip and at least one stitch seam for securing the connecting strip to the looped connecting ends of the first and second shells.
2. The case as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the connecting strip is a rubber strip.
3. The case as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the connecting strip is a zipper.
4. The case as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the connecting strip is a fabric strip.
5. The case as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the first shell is provided with a set of wheels and a retractable handle unit.
6. The case as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the second shell is provided with a zipper to permit access into the receiving space of the case.

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7. The case as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the second shell has at least one shoulder strap secured thereto.
8. The case substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.