GB2477863A

GB2477863A - Protective Case with Replaceable Trim and Sock Absorbing Corner Protectors

Info

Publication number: GB2477863A
Application number: GB201102483A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Judson
Original assignee: PROTECHNIC Ltd
Current assignee: PROTECHNIC Ltd
Priority date: 2010-02-15
Filing date: 2011-02-11
Publication date: 2011-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 2031-02-11
Also published as: GB2477863B; GB201102483D0; GB201002536D0

Abstract

A protective case e.g. a flight case comprises a body portion 12 and a lid 14, a shock or impact absorbing cover 20 being secured to a corner thereof. An elongate cover or trim strip 18 covers an edge of the case which is replaceable by push-fit connection. An elongate cover on an edge of the case carries a length-wise seal (50, Figure 5, 180, Figure 8) e.g. a neoprene bead for sealing against a panel or lid of the case. The trim strips may have barbs (166, Figure 8), L-shaped protrusions or hooks (62, 64, 66, Figure 3) for engaging complementary channels in a spar (22, Figure 2) forming a frame of the case and may have a central stiffening rib (68, Figure 3). The trim strips may be made from plastics e.g. PVC, ABS or polycarbonate. The corner protectors (Figure 7) may have a metal disc with a nut welded onto it, covered by a plastics e.g. elastomer moulding. Recesses (78, Figure 7) receive corners of adjacent panels and recesses (80, Figure 7) provide impact absorbing formations.

Description

PROTECTIVE CASES

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to protective cases and particularly, but not exclusively, to flight cases.

Background to the Invention

Protective cases such as flight cases are used to transport high value and/or fragile items. A flight case is designed to provide a hard rigid outer shell that is provided with a relatively soft interior to provide a cushion between the outer shell and the items it is designed to contain.

Flight cases typically comprise aluminium spars that form the edges of the case, metal corner caps at each corner of the case and plastics or wooden panels that form the major surfaces of the case. The metal corner caps at the base of a flight case serve as feet for the case.

The aluminium spars are typically extruded profiles that define a pair of lengthways extending channels for receiving the edges of respective panels such that the panels are orientated at approximately 900 to one another. The corner caps are provided with a plurality of clearance holes to allow them to be screwed or riveted to the panels to form the corners of the flight case. The screws or rivets that secure the corner caps to the panels are inserted from the outside of the flight case.

Such cases may be relatively small and capable of being carried by a human or large and require lifting equipment to move them.

Flight cases can provide excellent protection for the items that are transported in them and may be sold with a particular piece of equipment with the intention they should be retained by the purchaser of the equipment or they may be used to protect equipment that is hired out.

When flight cases are transported together, the corner caps and/or spars tend to rub against adjacent cases and their exteriors, in particular the spars, often take on a battered appearance. Many flight cases are used to transport high capital value equipment and even though the items transported within them may be adequately protected, it can create a bad impression if the case looks battered and worn.

Similarly, if a flight case is for hire, it is not encouraging to potential customers if the case looks battered and worn.

The corner caps that serve as the feet of known flight cases are not good at resisting sliding movement of the flight case. This increases the likelihood of damage to the case and/or adjacent cases.

If a known flight case is dropped and lands on one of its corners, the metal corner caps do not absorb the impact and so a shock spike is transferred through the case.

Summary of the Invention

The invention provides a protective case comprising a body portion and a lid, wherein an edge of said case is provided with an elongate cover that covers said edge and is push-fit engagable with said case whereby when damaged said cover can be replaced by a push-fit operation.

The invention also includes a protective case elongate frame member provided with at least one formation for push-fit engagement with an elongate covering member for covering an edge of a said protective case that is defined by said elongate frame member.

The invention also includes a protective case comprising a body portion and a lid, said case having an impact absorbing corner cover secured to a corner thereof The invention also includes an impact absorbing protective case corner cover.

The invention also includes a protective case comprising a body portion and a lid, wherein an edge of said case is provided with an elongate cover that covers said edge and carries a seal that extends in a lengthways direction of said elongate cover for sealing against a panel of said case.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In order that the invention may be well understood, embodiments thereof, which are given by way of example only, will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a protective case in the form of a flight case; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a corner of the main body portion of the flight case seen from inside the case; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a corner of the lid of the flight case seen from outside the case; Figure 4 is a perspective view of an internal corner member of the flight case; Figure 5 is a schematic sectional view of an upper edge portion of the main body portion of the case and a lower edge portion of the lid; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a protective cap of the flight case; Figure 7 is a view of the protective cap of Figure 6 viewed from the opposite side; Figure 8 is a truncated perspective view of an elongate frame member and an elongate covering for the frame member for a second embodiment of a protective case in the form of a flight case; and Figure 9 is a sectional view of a corner of the lid of the second embodiment.

Detailed Descriition of the illustrated Embodiments Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a first embodiment protective case in the form of a flight case 10 comprises a main body portion 12 and a lid 14 that is attached to the main body portion by hinges (not shown) that allow the lid to be opened in the direction indicated by the arrow 16.

The flight case 10 is generally rectangular in shape and has trim strips 18 along its edges and corner covers 20 at each corner. The construction of the main body portion 12 and the lid 14 is similar and is best illustrated by Figures 2 and 3.

Referring to Figure 2, a corner of the main body portion 12 is shown looking from inside the flight case 10. A frame for the main body portion 12 comprises eight elongate frame members, or spars 22. The spars 22 may be aluminium extrusions.

Three of the spars 22 are shown in Figure 2 converging towards a corner of the main body portion 12. The spars 22 at each corner are disposed in generally mutually perpendicular relation. Each spar 22 defines a pair of lengthways extending channels 24 for receiving the edges of respective panels 26, 28 of the main body portion. The panels 26 form respective sides of the main body portion 12 and the panel 28 its base.

The panels may be made of any suitable material. For example, if weight is an issue the panels may comprise a polypropylene honeycomb. For heavier duty applications, the panels used may be phenol faced marine grade case panelling.

The spars 22 do not meet at the respective corners of the main body portion 12.

instead, the frame is completed at the corners by respective corner members 30 that are used to couple the spars to one another. As best seen in Figure 4 in which the corner member 30 is viewed from the same general direction as in Figure 2, the corner members are dished members having three ears 32 projecting from the periphery thereof. The corner members 30 are typically metal pressings, but may be formed by other methods. When assembled, the ears 32 extend generally parallel to the respective spars 22. The corner members 30 are provided with a centrally disposed through-hole 34 via which the protective caps 20 are secured to the flight case. Each ear 32 is provided with a through-hole 36 via which the corner member 30 is secured to the adjacent spars 22 by means of rivets, screws or other suitable fasteners.

The upper edges 40 of the side panels 26 (as viewed in Figure 2) are fitted with edge strips 42 as shown in Figure 5. The edge strips 42 may be aluminium extrusions. The edge strips 42 define a generally U-shaped channel 44 in which the upper edges 40 of the side panels 26 are received. The upper end face (as viewed in Figure 2) of the edge strips 42 is profiled for complementary engagement with the profiled transverse end faces 46 of spars 48 of the lid 14. The edge strips 42 and spars 48 engage when the flight case is closed. Optionally the edge strips 42 or spars 48 may carry a sealing element 50 for forming a waterproof barrier between the main body portion 12 and the lid 14. The sealing element 50 may take any suitable form and may, for example, be a neoprene bead.

As shown in Figure 3, the lid 14 is of similar construction to the main body portion 12. n this embodiment, the difference is that the lid 14 has only a top panel 52 and no side panels. Accordingly, as shown in Figure 3 the spars 48 have only one panel receiving channel 54 extending in the lengthways direction of the spar. The receiving channel 54 is generally L-shaped and defined at one edge of the spar 48. Instead of a second panel receiving channel, the opposite edge of the spar 48 is provided with the end face 46 that engages the edge strip 42 when the flight case 10 is closed.

The spars 22, 48 are able to carry a trim strip 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the trim strips 18 are push-fit engageable with the spars 22, 48. The engagement between the trim strips 18 and spars 48 of the lid 14 will not be described with reference to Figure 3. The same features apply to the engagement of the trim strips 18 and spars 22 of the main body portion 12.

The outwardly facing major surface of each spar 48 is provided with a lengthways extending main trim strip retaining channel 56 that is disposed generally centrally between the lengthways extending edges of the spar. The main trim strip retaining channel 56 is generally U-shaped with respective ears extending inwardly from the ends of the sides of the channel that are remote from its base such that the side portions of the channel are generally C-shaped. The spars 48 further define trim strip edge retaining channels 58, 60. One of the trim strip edge retaining channels 58 is defined at the edge of the spar 48 that overlies the top panel 52, while the other is disposed generally adjacent but inwardly of the end face 46.

The trim strips 18 are generally arcuate members and will typically be plastics extrusions. The lengthways extending edges of the trim strips 18 are provided with inwardly facing spar engaging members 62, 64 for engaging in the respective trim strip edge retaining channels 58, 60. The inwardly facing major surface of each trim strip 20 is provided with two generally centrally disposed opposite facing L-shaped engaging members 66 that extend in parallel spaced apart relation along the length of the trim strip. The L-shaped engaging members 66 engage in the C-shaped side portions of the respective main trim strip retaining channels 56.

Optionally, the trim strips 20 are provided with a stiffening rib 68 disposed between and running parallel to the L-shaped engaging members 66. The stiffening rib depends from the inwardly facing major surface of the trim strip 20 to engage the base of the main trim strip retaining channels 56.

The trim strips may be made of a plastics material such as PVC, ABS or polycarbonate. Optionally, the trim strips could be made of a metal. However, a plastics trim strip is the currently preferred option.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the corner covers 20 comprise a plastics moulding having a metal fastener supporting member 72 disposed internally thereof In the illustrated embodiment the fastener supporting member 72 is a metal disc with a nut welded onto it. The nut has a thread 74 by means of which a corner cover 20 can be secured to the corner member 30 by means of a bolt passing through the through-hole 34 of the corner member. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener supporting member 72 is shown fairly close to the inner surface of the corner cover 20. It will be appreciated that for strength purposes it might be desirable to bury the fastener supporting member deeper within the corner cover. The fastener supporting member could alternatively comprise a nut embedded in the corner cover or a cast or moulded structure that provides a fastening structure engageable by a suitable fastener for securing the corner cover to a corner member.

The portion 76 of the corner cover 20 disposed internally of the fastener supporting member 72 is provided with three generally triangular recesses 78 for receiving corners of the panels 26, 28, 52. The portion 76 is additionally provided with a plurality of impact absorbing formations in the form of recesses 80. In the illustrated embodiment, the impact absorbing recesses 80 are arcuate through-holes that extend in a circumferential direction of the portion 76. The impact absorbing recesses 80 provide the corner cover 20 with flexure properties that increase its shock absorbing capability.

The corner covers 20 are shaped such as to cover the adjacent ends of the trim strips 18 and the corner member 30 below. When secured to a corner member 30, a corner cover 20 traps the ends of the adjacent trim strips 18 in position on the respective spars 22, 48.

The corner covers 20 can be made of any suitable plastics material, including suitable elastomers. In order to provide a shock absorbing capability, it is presently preferred that the material used has a Shore A hardness in the range 60 to 90. Suitable materials include Santoprene ®. The presently preferred material is Apilon polyurethane.

Although not shown in the drawings, the flight case 10 may be provided with devices for securing and, optionally locking, the lid 14 to the base portion 12. Similarly, the flight case 10 may be provided with carry handles and similar such components for enabling the flight case to be moved from place to place. Additionally, the main body portion 12 and lid 14 may be provided with any suitable internal retaining and cushioning structure for the items to be transported. For example, the flight case may be provided with foam inserts profiled to engage around the item(s) to be transported.

If following use of the flight case 10 a trim strip 18 has been damaged making the case look scruffy, it can readily be replaced with a new strip. The user has only to remove a corner cover 20 at one end of the trim strip 18 by undoing the fastener that extends through the through-hole 34 in the cover and loosen the corner cover at the other end of the trim strip to both expose an end of the trim strip and free the strip such that it can be slid off of the spar 22, 48 on which it is carried. A new trim strip 18 can then be push-fitted onto the spar 22, 48 by sliding it along the spar with its spar engaging members 62, 64, 66 engaging in the retaining channels 56, 58, 60 provided on the spar. If necessary, the other trim strips 18 on the flight case 10 can be replaced in an analogous manner. In this way, the appearance of the flight case 10 can be quickly and easily improved and/or restored as many times as may be desired.

n the embodiment illustrated by Figures 1 to 7, the trim strips are fitted by a push-fit process that involves sliding the strips along the spar by which they are carried. Tt will be appreciated that this is not essential. For example, the trim strip may have one or more push-fit portions that allow for push-fitting in a direction transverse to the length of the spar and/or by a rolling motion of the trim strip. However, it will be appreciated that push-fitting by a relative sliding movement of the trim strip and spar, as in the case of the illustrated embodiment, provides for a simple, reliable and easily operated structure.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate features of a second embodiment of a protective case in the form of a flight case. To avoid repetition of description, only features that are different to the first embodiment are illustrated and the same reference numerals incremented by 100 will be used to reference like or similar features.

The second embodiment incorporates a trim strip 118 and spar 122. The spar 122 defines two lengthways extending generally U-shaped channels 124 for receiving respective panels (not shown) of the flight case such that the panels extend perpendicular to one another. The outwardly facing major surface of the spar 122 is provided with a lengthways extending main trim strip receiving channel 156. The main trim strip receiving channel 156 differs from the channel 56 shown in Figure 3 in that it is rather narrower and the C-shaped side portions are narrower. The lengthways extending edges of the spar 122 are provided with respective trim strip edge retaining channels 158, 160.

The trim strip 118 is an arcuate plastics member. The trim strip 118 has respective inwardly facing spar engaging members 162, 164 and respective sealing members 180, 182 extending along the exterior faces of the spar engaging members. The trim strip 118 may be formed by a co-extrusion process with the main portion of the trim strip being made of, for example, PVC, ABS or polycarbonate and the sealing members made of plasticised PVC The inwardly facing major surface of the trim strip 118 is provided with two generally centrally disposed lengthways extending barb formations 166 that extend in parallel spaced apart relation along the length of the trim strip. The barb formations 166 are configured to engage in the C-shaped side portions of the main trim strip retaining channel 156.

The spar engaging members 162, 164 and barb formations 166 are configured to provide less interference with the respective trim strip retaining channels 156, 158, of the spar 122 so that the trim strip and be fitted to the spar by push-fitting in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the spar. In the illustrated embodiment, the trim strip 118 can be placed over the spar 122 with the barb fonTnations 166 extending into the main trim strip receiving channel 156 and then fitted in place by applying a force extending in approximately the same direction as the barbs, which would be approximately 45° to the respective planes of panels received in the panel receiving channels 124. As the barb formations 166 are forced into the main trim strip receiving channel 156, they are initially forced towards one another and then spring apart to grip in the C-shaped side portions of the channel. Once the barb formations 166 are in place in the main trim strip receiving channel 156, the spar engaging members 162, 164 are forced into the respective trim strip edge retaining channels 158, 160 by pressing against the edge regions 184, 186 of the trim strip adjacent the spar engaging members. This causes the spar engaging members 162, 164 to deflect then snap into the trim strip edge retaining channels 158, 160.

When the trim strip 118 is secured to the spar 122, the sealing members 180, 182 engage and seal against the panels that are engaged in the channel receiving recesses 124 thereby waterproofing and/or dustproofing the join between the panels and the frame of the flight case.

It is anticipated that the trim strip 118 will be made longer than the spar 122 to provide an overhang at the ends of the spar sufficient to enable a user to peel the trim strip away from the spar when it needs replacing. However, this is not essential and for some embodiments it may be desirable and/or necessary to remove the trim strip by sliding it along the spar.

Figure 9 shows how the spar 148 of the lid 114 of flight case of the second embodiment has only one panel receiving channel in the same way as the spar 48 and has a profiled end face 146. The profiled end face 146 is configured for complementary engagement with an edge strip 142 fixed on the upper edge (as viewed in Figure 9) of the side panels 126 of the main body portion of the flight case.

The end face 146 has a centrally disposed lengthways extending channel 188 which receives a ridge 190 provided on the upper (as viewed in Figure 9) face of the edge strip 142. When the lid 114 of the flight case is closed, the engagement of the ridge in the channel 188 will accurately locate the lid on the main body portion of the flight case. In the same way as the arrangement shown in Figure 5, the spar 148 and/or edge strip 142 may be provided with a seal such as a neoprene bead.

Providing a flight case with trim strips that can be quickly and easily replaced allows the case to be customised by replacing one or more trim strips with a trim strip that incorporates information and/or a logo that relates to a particular customer or the content of the case.

Providing a flight case with corner covers that have a shock absorbing capability reduces the chance of damage to items carried in the case. The corner covers can absorb impact loads to the extent that an impact that might result in the immediate transmission of a 2000N shock spike through a conventional case would be dissipated in the corner cover with a resultant 250N force being transmitted through the case.

In the illustrated embodiments the corner cover is able to absorb impacts in part due to the choice of a suitably resilient material from which it is made and in part due to the impact absorbing features moulded into the corner cover. II will be appreciated that corner covers having an impact absorbing capability can be provided in many ways.

For example, instead of having a one piece moulding, the corner cover may comprise a relatively harder inner or outer component that supports the fastener engaging part and a relatively softer component that can absorb impact loads. It will also be appreciated that the impact absorbing formations do not have to be recesses as in the illustrated embodiment. For example, corrugations may be incorporated in the structure of the corner cover to provide an impact absorbing capability.

It will be appreciated that by forming the corner covers, or least an exterior portion thereof, from a suitable material such as Santoprene ® an improved resistance to sliding of the flight case when in transit can be obtained.

it will be appreciated that providing corner covers that can be secured to the flight case from within the case avoids having the sharp edges associated with fasteners such as screws on the outside of the case where they may cause damage to other cases or injury to those handling the case.

It will be appreciated that the advantages obtainable from impact absorbing corner covers can be had without providing the flight case with removable trim strips.

Similarly, the benefits obtainable by the use of removable trim strips can be obtained without the use of impact absorbing corner covers.

it will be appreciated that the shape of the protective case may be varied considerably from that shown in the drawings while retaining the same constructional features and/or functionality. For example, the depth of the flight case 10 shown in Figure 1 could be increased by making the lid essentially a mirror image of the main body portion so that the main body portion and lid may provide approximately the same of similar storage volumes.

Claims

Claims 1. A protective case comprising a body portion and a lid, wherein an edge of said case is provided with an elongate cover that covers said edge and is push-fit engagable with said case whereby when damaged said cover can be replaced by a push-fit operation.
2. A protective case as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongate cover comprises a first portion of a push-fit connection and the case comprises a frame member that defines a second portion of said push-fit connection.
3. A protective case as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said elongate cover is push-fit engagable with said case by relative sliding movement therebetween.
4. A protective case as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said elongate cover is snap-fit engagable with said case.
5. A protective case as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said case is provided with a corner cover releaseably secured to said case, said corner cover when secured to said case at least in part preventing push-fit release of said elongate cover from said case.
6. A protective case as claimed in claim 5 when dependent on claim 2, wherein said body portion comprises a frame comprising a plurality of said frame members, said frame members being disposed in mutually perpendicular relation and coupled at respective corners of said body portion by a corner member and said corner cover being secured to a said corner member.
7. A protective case as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein said corner cover is secured to said case from inside said case.
8. A protective case as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein said corner cover is a shock absorbing corner cover.
9. A protective case as claimed in claim 8, wherein said shock absorbing corner cover comprises shock absorbing formations.
10. A protective case as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein said corner cover comprises an outer portion and an inner portion and a component defining a fastener portion for engaging a fastener for releasably securing the corner cover to said case, said component being disposed between said inner and outer portions.
11. A protective case as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one of said inner and outer portions is a resilient plastics moulding.
12. A protective case as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein said inner member comprises shock absorbing formations.
13. A protective case as claimed in claim 9 or 12, wherein said shock absorbing formations comprise arcuate slots extending in a circumferential direction of said inner portion.
14. A protective case as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cover is provided with a Iengthways extending seal for sealing against a major surface of said case.
15. A protective case as claimed in claim 14, wherein said cover and seal are an integral co-extrusion.
16. A protective case as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each edge of said case has a said elongate cover that is push-fit engagable with the case.
17. A protective case comprising a body portion and a lid, said case having an impact absorbing corner cover secured to a corner thereof
18. A protective case as claimed in claim 17, wherein said corner cover is secured to said body portion by a fastener accessible from within said case.
19. A protective case as claimed in claim 17 or 18, wherein said body portion comprises a frame comprising a plurality of elongate members disposed in mutually perpendicular relation and coupled at respective corners of said body portion by a corner member, said corner cover being secured to a said corner member.
20. A protective case as claimed in claim 17, 18 or 19, wherein said corner cover comprises a plastics moulding provided with shock absorbing formations.
21. A protective case as claimed in claim 20, wherein said shock absorbing formations comprise at least one recess provided in said plastics moulding.
22. A protective case as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 21 wherein said corner cover comprises a plastics moulding have a Shore A hardness in the range 60 to 90.
23. A protective case as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 22, wherein an edge of said case is provided with an elongate cover that covers said edge and is push-fit engagable with said case whereby when damaged said cover can be replaced by a push-fit operation.
24. A protective case as claimed in claim 23, wherein said elongate cover is provided with a lengthways extending seal for sealing against a panel of said protective case.
25. A protective case comprising a body portion and a lid, wherein an edge of said case is provided with an elongate cover that covers said edge and carries a seal that extends in a lengthways direction of said elongate cover for sealing against a panel of said case.
26. A protective case substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.