WO2000021401A1

WO2000021401A1 - Container, especially luggage container and method for producing the same

Info

Publication number: WO2000021401A1
Application number: PCT/CH1998/000552
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ruedi Gygax; Martin Radtke; Karl-Heinz Waitz; Michael Bigler
Original assignee: Swiss Luggage Sl Ag
Priority date: 1998-10-09
Filing date: 1998-12-23
Publication date: 2000-04-20
Also published as: AU1553399A

Abstract

The invention relates to a container, especially a luggage container. Said container consists of a bottom and a lid part (3, 5) which are hinged together by a hinge (1a-c) so that the container can be opened and closed. The container also comprises at least two latch elements (6a, 6b) which fasten the two parts (3, 5) to one another and which are arranged in the outer corners (7a, 7b) of the small face (9) opposite the hinge (1a-c). The inventive container is able to withstand extreme stresses and/or loads and does not release its content under these stresses/loads.

Description

Containers, in particular travel cases and manufacturing processes

Technical field

The invention relates to a container, in particular a travel case with a base and cover part held together and closable by means of a hinge, and a method for producing the base and cover part of the container according to the preamble of claim 19.

Under the above container are not only suitcases, but also

Briefcases, handbags, boxes, packaging units, ... especially understood with a rigid base and lid part. Such containers with a closure unit, which has a flap that can be opened, are known, inter alia, from DE-A 196 13 638, CH-A 474 230, DE-A 31 30 243, DE-A 41 18 038 and DE-C 35 00 862 known. Presentation of the invention

Object of the invention

The object of the invention is to create a container that can withstand extreme loads, does not release its contents under these loads and largely withstands damage

Solution of the task

The above-mentioned object is achieved in that the two closure units holding the base and cover part together are no longer arranged at a distance from the corners on a narrow side opposite the hinge, but rather directly in the corner, they are part of the corner significantly better clamping of the two container parts achieved

In a preferred embodiment variant, the corners have depressions which receive the closure units.If the depressions are designed in such a way that a tangential plane comes to lie on the edges of the recesses above the closure unit or, if need be, touch the outer contour of the closure unit, the container and one will fall Impact on its edge having the closure unit provides a high level of security against damage

In a preferred embodiment variant, the container is provided with a closure, in particular a cylindrical closure, which is easy to close even when the container is heavily filled, ie when the contents are pressing against the lid. This is achieved in that the closure consists of two closure halves , wherein one half has a hooking part and the other half has an engaging part engaging in the hooking part. One of the locking halves has a swiveling and displacing device which interacts with its fastening device and by means of which the two parts can be hooked into one another or apart with a swiveling sliding movement

In a further embodiment variant, in addition to the two lateral closure units, a central closure unit is preferably provided, which likewise allows a "well" filled container, in particular a travel case, to be closed. A structurally simple and robust design with a preferably large closing force is selected for this purpose. This closure unit has a flap attachment Order, whereby a second flap unit is arranged at the end of the first flap unit, both flap units come to lie at an acute angle at this connection location and the surface length of the second flap unit in the longitudinal direction is shorter than that of the first and is below this. For easy opening and for assembly When pulling the container parts, the second flap unit has also been designed so that it can be swung out and folded over. In particular, by incorporating the embodiment variants described below, there is a large closing path with a large closing force

Further attention has been paid in preferred embodiments of the container to its weight saving. A substantial part of the weight saving results from the asymmetrical multilayered sequence of layers of the shell structure of the base and / or lid part explained below. Even with a very small shell thickness, gap-like openings between To avoid the bottom and lid parts when the container is closed, a further locking unit is preferably arranged between the bottom and lid parts in the immediate vicinity of the carrying handle. As gap-shaped openings were preferred when carrying the container or travel case, the locking takes place when the carrying handle is opened Lifting the container

Further advantages of the invention and its design variants result from the following designs

Brief description of the drawings

In the following, examples of the container according to the invention, here embodied for example as a suitcase, are explained in more detail with reference to drawings

1 is a perspective view of the container according to the invention designed as a travel case,

2 is a plan view of the case shown in Figure 1 in viewing direction II,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the case handle in a viewing direction from the inside of the case with the case side wall removed with the handle open and with the handle folded back in an enlarged representation compared to that in FIG. 1,

a plan view of a closure unit between the bottom and lid parts of the travel case,

a longitudinal section through the closure unit shown in Figure 5 with the closure halves still pushed together and

with the locking halves pushed apart, and

pushed together locking halves with an indication of the closure made

2 shows a longitudinal section through a hinge shown in FIG. 2 in the closed state of the travel case,

9 shows a longitudinal section through the hinge shown in FIG. 9 in the partially opened state of the travel case,

9 shows a longitudinal section through the hinge shown in FIG. 9 in the fully opened state of the travel case,

3 shows an exploded perspective view of the hinge elements of the hinge shown in FIGS. 9 to 11,

6 shows a cross section through a variant of a closure shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 with the case lid partially swung open with respect to a case bottom, the section being perpendicular to the hinge axis between the lid and the bottom, but a cross section through the closure shown in FIG. 13 with adjoining closure halves ( first step in closing), a further illustration of the closure according to FIG. 13 in the second closure step, 16 shows a further illustration of the closure shown in FIG. 13 in the closed state following the second closure section,

17 shows a cross section of the closure shown in FIG. 14 along the line XVII - XV, II in FIG. 18, a perspective view of the mechanical elements of the two closure halves in the closed state of the closure,

19 shows a longitudinal section through a closure unit in the closed state, arranged on the separating edge region of the two container parts (bottom part and cover part) lying opposite the container hinge, and FIG. 20 shows an exploded view of the individual parts of the closure unit shown in FIG. 19

Ways of Carrying Out the Invention

The case shown as a container in the closed state in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a base and cover part 3 and 5 which can be opened and closed by means of three hinge parts 1a to 1c. An example of the structure of the hinge parts 1a to 1c is described further below . Bottom and lid parts 3 and 5 are held open and closed with two closing units. Each closure unit 6a and 6b is arranged in one of the outer corners 7a and 7b of a narrow side 9 which lies opposite the hinge consisting of the three hinge parts 1a to 1c.

The case has an approximately cuboidal outer contour. In the outer corners 7a and 7b and in the remaining case corners 7c and 7d along the case height edges, approximately semicircular recesses 11a to 11d of the same dimensions are arranged with a rounded inlet 12 to the respective side surface. The recesses 11a to 11d are arranged both in the base part and in the cover part 3 and 5, the contours of which are aligned with one another. The depth of the recesses 11a to 11d is chosen such that a curved extension of the side surfaces, as indicated by the dashed line 13, would lie above the respective closure unit 6a or 6b and above the containers 14a and 14b described below. This line course gives an aesthetically good appearance. However, the depth of the recesses 11a to 11d is chosen such that a tangential plane Good protection against impact is given if the case falls on one of the (high) edges, just above the outer contour of the closure units 6a and 6b or the containers 14a and 14b, the impact force is then distributed over the two rounded inlet edges 12 and never on the outermost jacket of the relevant closure unit 6a or 6b or the relevant container 14a or 14b

The containers 14a and 14b are hollow and consist of a sleeve part with a removable flap. Small objects such as coins for telephone calls can be placed in the sleeve parts. Furthermore, the case has a bevelled edge 16 of the base part 3 of the

Rollers 18a and 18b on which the case can be moved or pulled on the floor using an extendable pulling handle 20. The pulling handle 20 lies in the retracted state flush in the bottom wall 22 of the bottom part 3

The case can be carried with a handle 15 arranged on the narrow side 9 of the bottom part 3. The handle 15 has a double function. It serves on the one hand to carry the case and on the other hand it serves to hold the bottom and lid parts 3 and 5 together when carrying the case

Figures 3 and 4 show the entire handle mechanism 24, taken out of a recess 17 in the narrow side 25 of the case narrow side 9 in a direction of view from the inside of the case. The profile edges 27 lie in the inserted state on the bottom of the recess 17. The handle mechanism is fastened by four ( screws (not shown) which engage through the wall of the narrow side 25 in the pipe socket 29

The handle 15 is designed to be foldable out of a recess 17. The depth of the recess 17 is selected to be so large that when the handle 15 is folded it does not protrude above the top of the narrow side 9 or 25. The mode of action of the foldable and automatic by means of the force of a spring 19 3 and 4 are explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 shows the handle 15 in the position shown in FIG. 1. If the handle 15 is folded into the recess 17, it is a hook-shaped one

Closure element 21 of a further closure unit is not in engagement with a slide 23. The closure element 21, with its foot part 30, is inside one Narrow side 31 of the cover part 5 arranged. The narrow side 31 is part of the narrow case side 9. The handle 15 is rigidly connected at its leg ends to an axis 33. On this axis 33, in addition to the spring 19 there is a compression spring 34, the slide 23 and a displacement element 35 connected to it , which has a slope 37 inclined to a plane perpendicular to the axis 33. Furthermore, a radially projecting cantilever element 38 which can be pivoted along with the axis 33 is arranged on the axis 33. This cantilever element 38 slides along the bevel 37 when the axis 33 is rotated by a grip movement Compression spring 34 presses against the slider 23 and the latter on the sliding element 35, the bevel 37 of which bears against the claw element 38. The cantilever element 38 is in FIG. 3 in its position rotated against the bottom of the recess 17 and in FIG. 4 somewhat indistinctly in its rotated position see

FIG. 4 shows the handle 15 folded into the recess 17. The cantilever element 38 is turned away and the bevel 37 bears against a projection 39 which is arranged on a side wall 40 of the handle mechanism 24. If the handle 15 is now folded up against the force of the spring 19, what happens when the case is picked up from the floor, the axis 33 is rotated. As a result, the cantilever element 38 is rotated against the bottom of the recess 17 into the position shown in FIG. 3. It slides along the bevel 37, as a result of which the displacement element 35 with the slide 23 is displaced in the direction of the spring 19 on the axis 33 until the slide 23 engages with its holding recess 41 over the hook 43 of the closure element 21 fastened to the cover part 5. Bottom and cover parts 3 and 5 are now additionally locked by this locking element and the slider 23. The locking position is shown in FIG. 3. The locking units 6a and 6b are designed differently, but both have a key lock and a combination lock, the key lock in each case is arranged in one half of the lock and the combination lock in the other half of the lock

FIG. 5 shows the closure unit 6a in a plan view. One closure half 45a, which is arranged on the bottom part 3 in the recess 11a, has the combination lock 47a. The other closure half 45b, which is arranged on the cover part 5, has a push button 49a Pushbutton 49a is arranged on the front side of the closure half 49a and has a central closure shown in FIG. 6, the push button 49a acts via the intermediate pieces 53a and 53b on an axially movable plunger 55 with a mushroom-shaped plunger head 56. The two intermediate pieces 53a and 53b are loaded with pressure springs 54a and 54b in such a way that the Pushbutton 49a is pressed outwards. The locking halves 45a and 45b are held by two opposite, pivotable pawls 57a and 57b in the locking half 45a, which engage in a matching hook ring 59 in the locking half 45b. FIG. 6 shows the pawls 57a and 57b with the pushbutton pressed in 49a in the unlocked state

The pawls 57a and 57b are each pivotably mounted on an axis 61. Each pawl 57a and 57b has a rear extension 63, on which a compression spring 64 acts in each case. In FIG. 6, the surface of the push rod head 56, which acts on oblique lugs 65 of the extensions 63, The pawls 57a and 57b are pivoted inward by lever action, as a result of which they are no longer in engagement with the hook ring 59. The expanded state of the two locking halves 45a and 45b is shown in FIG. 7, with one half of the figure always showing a top view and the other one Represents cross section

If the plunger 55 is impressed by the push button 49a, a locking plunger 67 is moved to the right in FIG. 6. This locking plunger 67 can only be moved to the right if the correct combination is set on the combination lock 47a. The push button 49a can only be impressed , if the key lock allows this The exact functioning of the combination and the key lock is not discussed in more detail here

It has now been shown that when the suitcase and / or superficial actuation of the two closure units 6a and 6b is particularly heavily filled, a first closure unit can be closed, but the second cannot. The closure of a first closure unit is relatively easy to determine, since this is the bottom - and cover parts 3 and 5 can be opened or not opened. However, the failure to close a second closure unit could lead to damage to the first closed closure unit and / or to the closure unit acting automatically with the handle 15. At least one of the in the recesses 11a and 11b arranged closure units 6a and / or 6b there is a display unit which indicates correct closure As is shown on the closure unit 6b in FIG. 8, the display unit has a clamping button 69 which protrudes when the closure is not properly closed.The clamping button 69 is designed as a hook-shaped, spring-loaded slide which has an opening 71 Hook-shaped end 72 showing the closure unit with a chamfered inside 73 The cross section of the end 72 is designed such that it fits into an opening 75 in the other closure part of the closure unit. If the closure parts 6b of the closure unit 6b are pushed together, the clamping button 69 is pressed in by the angled inside 73 a further contraction of the two locking parts If the clamping button 69 is fully pressed in, a plunger 77 snaps into the opening 71. The two locking parts are connected to each other with the indication of their locking (button no longer protruding) opening parts is printed on a front button 49b (analogous to button 49a), which pushes the tappet 77 out of the opening 71 via a further tappet 79, whereby the clamping button 69 springs out and the two closing parts are released from one another

In the remaining corners of the case, which are also provided with recesses 11c and 11d, in particular for aesthetic reasons, because of the symmetry, the bodies 14a and 14b in the contour of the locking units 6a and 6b are arranged. These bodies 14a and 14b serve to increase the opening stability of the case They can also be hollow on the inside with a base and a cap part as containers. If the cap part is removable, small parts can be stowed inside

The shell of the base and cover parts 3 and 5 are constructed analogously. Both shells have an asymmetrical structure. The individual components are composed of a layer of carbon fibers (carbon), a layer of polyester or glass fibers and a PVC foam core a warpage in the end faces of the bottom and cover parts 3 and 5, the layer structure is reinforced with an additional strip of carbon fiber with a width of the corresponding end face. The alignment of the carbon fiber takes place at 45 °. The outermost visible layer is always a carbon fiber fabric with the designation 2 / 2 and 3k, 6k or 12k. The layer used on the inside is made of a polyester or a glass fabric. One layer or two layers can be used. ter 0 ° The matrix is an epoxy resin for all layer types. A PVC rigid foam with a preferred thickness of 2 mm to 4 mm is used in the faces and faces with the exception of the corners. The corners are partially covered with a polycarbonate foam a preferred thickness of 2 mm to 4 mm reinforced A layer structure without a foam core can be used for briefcases and beauty cases. Here, the carbon fiber and polyester or glass fabric is combined to form a fabric, the fabric then being impregnated with the matrix

Instead of a three-layer shell structure, a four-layer structure can also be used, in which case either three polyester fabrics soaked in resin follow the carbon fabric or a foam core is inserted between the two polyester fabrics. Of course, four polyester fabrics soaked in resin can also follow the carbon fabric. At least one of the polyester fabrics can also be replaced by a highly drapable glass fabric

When making shells, it is important to ensure that the fabrics are not first placed in a mold and then coated with resin. It has been shown that with this method of manufacture, unsightly small but visible bubbles remain in the hardened carbon fabric. These bubbles leave Avoid if you put tissue soaked with the resin in question into the mold. The above-described closure units 6a and 6b preferably have a circular cylindrical inner contour and a barrel-shaped outer contour.You can now include a numeric and key lock or only one of the two types of lock. The closure units 6a and 6b have a cylindrical contour which fit well into the recesses 11a and 11b. However, other outer contours can also be selected

Of the hinges 1a to 1c visible in FIG. 2, FIGS. 9 to 12 show an exemplary embodiment variant, which is preferably used here in a travel case. The same hinge can also be used on a box and other containers, however, as will become apparent from the description below like to use this embodiment wherever the upper and lower parts, here the bottom and cover parts 3 and 5 are aligned with each other in the closed state, but lie next to each other in the open state Each hinge has a double-axis swivel joint with two swivel joint parts 301a and 301b, an intermediate piece 303 and a bracket 305. The two swivel joint parts 301a and 301b are mirror images of one another. The swivel joint part 301a is on the cover part 5 and the swivel joint part 301b on the bottom part 3 attached (glued, screwed, riveted,) In the following, the reference numerals for the corresponding elements of the swivel joint part 301a are identified with "a" and those of the swivel joint part 301b with "b"

The swivel joint part 301a has two joint flanges 307a and 309a. Both flanges 307a and 309a are provided with a through bore for receiving a swivel axis 311a and are separated from one another by an intermediate space 315a. In FIG. 12, to the left of the bore 313a in the flange 309a starting from the intermediate space 315a there is a blind bore 317 opposite in the flange 307a there is an analog blind bore, which is however not visible in FIG. 12. A blind bore 319 is also present on the flange 309b of the swivel joint 301b, but here lies above the bore 313b. The flange 307b has one Analog blind hole, but not visible here. The blind holes 317 and 319 are offset from one another by 90 ° with respect to the through hole 313a or 313b

The intermediate piece 303 has a projection 321 on both sides with a depth a. The outside of the projection 321 is flush with the outside of the base 322 of the intermediate piece 303. Suitable for the bores 313a and 313b of the swivel joint parts 301 a and 301 b, the intermediate piece 303 has two through bores 323 and 324 Parallel to these through bores 323 and 324 there are recesses 325 and 326 on the end faces of the intermediate piece 303. To assemble the swivel joint, first the bow legs 327a and 327b of the Bugeis 305 are inserted into the blind bore 317 and 319 as far as it will go slightly protruding prongs and the depth a of the projection 321 are coordinated with one another such that when the intermediate piece 303 is inserted and the axis 311a is inserted into the bores 313a - 323 - 313a and the axis 311b is inserted into the bores 313b - 324 - 313b, the prongs are in a space between the side wall of the base 322 the relevant one n Flange side wall does not cause jamming The two swivel joint parts 301a and 301b are now pivotally connected to one another via the intermediate piece 303 and via the bracket 305. Since the swivel axes 311a and 311b of the intermediate piece 303 are offset with respect to those of the bow egg 305 in the manner shown, there is a guided swivel movement D h The swivel position of the two swivel joint parts 301a and 301b is defined in contrast to swiveling without a bracket 305, in which the intermediate piece 303 would be freely swivelable up to a stop. The above-described design of the hinge allows a defined transfer of the swivel axes 311a and 331b from one layer next to each other (open state of the bottom and lid parts) in one layer one above the other (closed state of the bottom and lid parts)

In the embodiment variant shown here, the bracket 305 is arranged inside the swivel joint, but it can also be arranged on the outside. By arranging the bow inside the hinge is given a nicer design. If the bracket is arranged on the outside, precautions must be taken to prevent it from falling out meet For the functioning of the bow, it does not matter where it is placed. Within the hinge, it can be arranged on the left or right side due to the symmetrical design of the intermediate piece 303

Instead of the closure shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, a closure as shown in FIGS. 13 to 18 can also be used. The advantages of this result from the following text. The case closure 101 shown in FIG. 13 is shown in cross section in the open state Closure 101 has an upper and lower closure halves 105a and 105b on the case lid 103 and an upper and lower closure halves 105a and 105b on the case bottom 104. The housings 107a and 107b of both closure halves 105a and 105b are circular-cylindrical in shape of course, other contours, such as an egg ellipsoid, a cylinder with the cross section of a segment of a circle, a triangle, can of course also be used. The longitudinal housing axes 106a and 106b run perpendicular to the hinge axis 102 shown in FIG. 7 between the case lid 103 and bottom 104 Both locking halves 105a and 105b are screwed to the respective side wall of cover 103 and bottom 104 with a fastening device 109a and 109b. The fastening screws used for this purpose are not shown, so as not to overload Figures 13 to 17, that on the cover 103 arranged Nete closure half 105a has a push button 112 on its free end face 111 and on a jacket area, which lies opposite the attachment point, a corrugation 113 on push button 112 and corrugation 113 serve for the actuation of these closure halves 105a described below when opening or closing the closure 101 lower closure half 105b is constructed in three parts for assembly purposes, namely an end part 115 with the rear end face 116, a middle part 117 and a head part 119 which, when the closure 101 is closed, rests against the head part 121 of the upper closure half 105a. The middle part 117 carries a combination lock 123 End part 115 is inserted with a connecting flange 124 in the middle part 117 and the head part 119 also with a connecting flange 125 in the middle part 117. Head part 119 and end part 115 are held in the middle part 117 in a rotationally fixed manner by a continuous axis 127a and 127b. These axes 127a and 127b are at the same time guides for a hook-in part 129, which, as explained below, cooperates with a corresponding engaging part 130 in the other closure half 105a during the closing process. The hook-in part 129 has a U-shaped basic body 131, one end of which carries a hook-in element 133 which is also U-shaped , whereby the two U-shaped configurations are rotated by 90 ° against each other. In the base body 131 there are two elongated hole pairs 135a and 135b in each U-leg, through which the axes 127a and 127b engage, as a guide for a longitudinal movement of the hook-in part 129 in the housing 107b Arranged by a tension spring 137, the housing 107b in FIG. 1 is pulled to the left in such a way that the arch 139 of the U-shaped hook-in element 133 lies approximately in the end face 140 of the head part 105b.A blocking plate 141 is arranged between the two legs of the hook-in element 133 Change in position in the longitudinal direction of the closure half 105b with the Combination lock 123 can be blocked, as a result of which it is then no longer possible to open the two locking halves 105a and 105b

The housing 107a of the upper closure half 105a is constructed in two parts with the head part 121 and a closing control part 143. In the open state of the closure 101 shown here, the housing axis 106a is offset outwards relative to the housing axis 106b of the closure half 105b. The head part 121 is connected to a connecting flange in the closing control part 143 These two parts 121 and 143 are connected to one another in a rotationally fixed manner by an axis 144. The engaging part 130, the free end of which is a hook-shaped engaging element 145, is also located on this axis 144 The engaging part 130 is connected to the legs of the U-shaped fastening device 109a via a pair of lugs 147. One end of the pair of lugs 147 is mounted in the engaging part 130 with a torsion spring 149 loaded by a torsion spring 149. The other end of the pair of lugs is connected to another axis 151 by Fastening device 107a mounted

The fastening device 107a has in its two legs a congruent inner recess with the inner contour 153 which is clearly visible in FIGS. 15 and 16. The design of the inner contour and that of the outer contour 155 are described in connection with the shooting and opening functions A snap-in element 156 also interacts with this inner contour 153. This snap-in element 156 is rigidly connected to the push button 112 and to a pair of spacer rods 157, which is clearly visible in FIG

For the description of the functioning of the closure 101, the state shown in FIG. 1 is assumed, in which the closure is open. To close, the case lid 103 is folded onto the floor 104 and printed against one another, as shown in FIG. 14 121 of the closure halves 105a to lie on the head part 119 of the closure halves 105b. The longitudinal housing axes 106a and 106b of the two closure halves 105a and 105b are approximately parallel to one another, but are offset from one another, the closure halves 105a being offset outwards by the pressure against one another or the downward pressure of the Cover 103 on the bottom 104, the housing 107b of the closure half 105b is pressed away against the force of the spring 137, as a result of which the U-shaped hook-in element 133 penetrates through an opening 159 in the head part 121

In a next step, the ribbing 113 of the closure halves 105a is printed with the thumb, as a result of which the head part 121 tilts to the fastening wall hm, as shown in FIG. 3. As a result of this tilting movement, the hook of the engaging element 145 engages through the U-hook of the hooking element 133

In a further step, the corrugation 113, ie the closure half 105a, is printed completely into the position shown in FIG. 16. When it is completely pressed down, the tab 147 is pivoted against the force of the torsion spring 149 into a position above its top dead center a connecting line from the center of the axis 150 to the center of the curve 139 of the hooking element 133. The axis 151 lies about five degrees above this connection with a view of the axis 150 extension line The pair of tabs is thus in a stable closed state. Due to the length of the tab, the envelope part 129 moves to the left between the position in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16. The lid 103 and bottom 104 are pulled together. At the same time, the latching element 156 snaps into a latching recess 161 of the inner contour 153 of the fastening device 109a, a cover 103 and bottom 104 are now locked via the closure 101. The concave part 163 of the outer contour 155 is merely a clearance which enables assembly and, during the closing movement and the opening, a space for unimpeded movement of the Parts creates The connection of the two closure halves 105a and 105b, that is

The case lid 103 and the case bottom 104 are closed by means of a pivoting movement from the position of the closure halves 105a shown in FIG. 14 to the position shown in FIG. 15, the hook being inserted as an engagement element 145 of the closure half 105a in the U-bow as a suspension element 133 - As a transition from the position shown in FIG. 15 to the position shown in FIG. 16, the closing half 105a carries out a displacement in the direction away from the closing half 105b in order to pull the case lid 103 against the case bottom 104

The case bottom 104 is closed with the case lid 103 with a swivel and slide movement, caused by a swivel and slide device consisting essentially of the tab 147, one end of which is pivotable with the axis 151 on the fastening device 109a and the other end with the torsion spring 149 loaded on the mounting part 129 with the axis 150

To open the closure 101, the pushbutton 112 is printed. By pushing the pushbutton in, the latching element 156 is pushed out of the locking recess 161 against the force of a compression spring 154. Furthermore, the pair of spacer rods 157 connected to the pushbutton 112 prints the housing 107b of the closure half 105a from the head part 121 the closure half 105b away, so that a gap is formed between the two head parts 119 and 121. The force of the torsion spring 149 causes the end of the engagement part 130 facing away from the engaging element (hook) 145 to jump away from the fastening wall while the push button 112 is still pressed in, thereby causing the Engaging part is also pivoted away up to a stop angle. The stop angle is now so large that it is always larger than the angle of inclination. angle of the free end of the hook (engaging element) If the push button is released, a swiveling takes place into the position shown in FIG. 13, in which the pair of tabs changes from the approximately horizontal position shown in FIG. 16 into the approximately vertical position of FIG. 13 Locking element 156 in the inner contour 153 from the approximately quarter-circular area in the upper flat area

These two closure halves 105a and 105b are also designed such that, when closed, both outer contours are aligned. Due to the cylindrical outer contour, the closure 101 can be fitted in the rounded corners of a case provided with a circular groove, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is

The arrangement of the push button 112 in the closing face protects it on the one hand against unintentional triggering as a result of the case falling over, on the other hand it is very easy to open when opened. It is also suitable for closing on the corners of the case in a position that is very easy to use The embodiment variant described can, of course, be exchanged for the engaging and hooking element

The closure shown in FIGS. 13 to 18 can be used well with containers provided with a lid, in which, in particular, the "contraction effect" described above is to be used, such as, for example, in the case of an overfilled case. The closure according to the invention cannot be used on containers with hinged-open compartments Covering is limited An insert is indicated wherever an exciting connection is required in a locking process

The corrugation 113 is a pressure surface, which can also be designed as a pressure trough, knob profile, in addition to or as a replacement for that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4

In addition to the first lateral locking units already described above, as shown in detail in FIGS. 6 to 8 and 13 to 17, a handle mechanism can be arranged on the container as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20

The individual parts of this closure unit 201 can be seen in an exploded view shown in FIG. 20. The closure unit 201 is used for a container (case). Generally used as a central locking unit in the area of the handle, preferably recessed, but can also be used in other locations. This locking unit 201 can also be used on boxes, handbags, beauty cases, briefcases, boxes, cupboard doors. where a large degree of fullness is to be expected, which makes it necessary to pull the two container parts 203 and 205 - lid 203 and bottom part 205 - together

The closure unit 201 is designed as a flap arrangement, here as a two-flap arrangement, wherein a first flap unit has a flap 207 and is held with its flap base 209 on the first container part, preferably on the bottom part 205, and a second flap unit has a second flap 210, which is open End 211 of the first flap 207 is arranged. The separation between the base part 205 and the cover part 203 is indicated in FIG. 19 by the dash-dotted line 212. Both flaps 207 and 210 are movably connected to one another at their connecting location 213. The movement takes place in such a way that both flaps 207 and 210 always form an acute angle at the connection point 213. The second flap 210 is designed such that it can be swung out and folded over. The first flap 207 is always on the outside and the second flap 210 on the inside in front of the edge side 214 of the cover part 203 the edge side 214 is a counter-holder 215 with a recess 217 into which the free The end 219 of the flap 210 can be inserted. The flap base 209 is held on a fastening plate 218 arranged on the side edge 246 of the bottom part 205 with a swivel joint 216. The flap length of the second flap 210, measured from the attachment to the first flap 207 to the free one End 219, the distance d between the connection location 213 and the base of the recess 217 is greater than when the closure unit 201 is closed

The flap 210 has two flap parts 221 and 222, which are connected to one another via an intermediate joint 223. When the closure unit 201 is closed, as shown in FIG. 19, the location of this intermediate joint 223 lies on the underside 225 of a push button 226 as a release unit. The one 221 of the two Flap parts 221 and 222 are held by a swivel joint 228 on the free end region 211 of the flap 207. The two ends of the flap parts 221 and 222, which rest against the underside 225, in the closed state shown here represent a bulge in the flap 210 a stop for this bulge The intermediate joint 223, over which the bulge apex 230 of the bulge is located here above a stability level 227 or stability line, in which, apart from a tolerance, the intermediate joint 223, the flap base 209 or the axis 224 of the swivel joint 216 and the base of the recess 217 lie. In the closed state of the closure unit 201 shown in FIG Axis of the swivel joint 228 by a value X below the geometric axis of the swivel joint 216

The pushbutton 226 is arranged in an opening 229 in the flap 207. It has a stop 231, which prevents it from being pressed out of the opening 229, and is held in its protruding position with a compression spring 232. The impression path e of the pushbutton 226 is chosen to be large, that its underside 225 can print the intermediate joint on the other side of the stability level 227 to open the closure unit 201

The free end 211 of the flap part 221 has a surface area 233 which extends in a radius to the axis of the swivel joint 228 and which, in the closed state of the closure unit 210 shown in FIG. 19, does not lie on the surface 235 of a base plate 236 connected to the counter-holder 215 Lying more on the surface 235 is a cam 239 projecting above this surface area 233 at the end 219. If the push button 226 is now pressed onto the crown of the bulge 230, the two flap parts 221 and 222 are stretched. This results in a rotary movement of the one held by the swivel joint 228 End of the flap part 221. As a result, the cam 239 is pressed against the surface 235, as a result of which the swivel joint 228 is raised. The stability plane 227 is moved in the direction of the arrow 239. As a result of the impression of the push button 226, the intermediate joint 223 is now only slightly below the stability plane 227. brought and has the If value X has just exceeded a value of zero in the negative direction, then the swivel joint 228 swings away from the edge side 214 and with it the free end 211 of the flap 207, as a result of which the closure unit 201 is opened by a force of the springs 247 and 251 described below

The vertex 242 of a curved stop 243 arranged on the surface 235 lies exactly within a tolerance in the center line 245 of the push button 226. This center line 245 also runs roughly through the geometric axis of the intermediate joint 223 torsion spring 247 shown so loaded that it supports the opening process when opening the closure unit 201 and holds the flap 209 in the open state in an acute-angled position to the lateral edge 246 of the base part 205. The intermediate joint 223 is also loaded with a torsion spring 249, which is also only visible in FIG. 20 249 acts in such a way that the two flap parts 221 and 222 form an approximately opposite angle to the one shown in FIG. 19 when the closure unit 201 is open. This angle formation also supports a further torsion spring 251 which interacts with the swivel joint 228

When the container parts 203 and 205 are open, the flap 207 is folded outwards at an acute angle. In its unfolded position, the intermediate joint 223 is distanced further from the inside of the flap 207 than the swivel joint 228. To close the two container parts 203 and 205, these are closed, a gap generally remaining between them in the case of a well-filled case The upper part of the flap 207 is printed against the case lid 203. Here, the free end 210 of the flap part 222 slides along a slope 252 of the counter-holder 215 until it lies in the recess 217.

The depth of the recess 217 is determined in such a way that there is a good engagement of the free end 219. The possible “contraction path” results from the difference between a distance between the swivel joint 228 and the outer contour of the free end 219 with the intermediate joint 223 unfolded in the open position of the closure unit 210 and the distance d in FIG. 19

If the upper part of the flap 207 is now further pressed against the rim side 214 of the lid part 203, the intermediate joint 223 comes to rest on the stop 243, so that when the flap parts 221 and 222 are further impressed, the edges of the lid part 203 and the bottom part are pulled together 205 are stretched and jump shortly after exceeding their fully extended position in the Schesslage shown in Figure 19. Cover part 203 and bottom part 205 are now closed

In the exploded view shown in FIG. 20, the axes 224, 253 and 254 of the swivel joint 216, the swivel joint 228 and the intermediate joint 223 are shown pulled out. The axis 253 is secured against slipping out in a bore 256 in each side wall 258a and 258b of the flap 207 held. So that the free end 219 of the flap part 222 does not get caught when closing and also cannot be broken off, it is guided in the longitudinal direction of the flap. The guiding and holding is carried out by a guide pin 257 arranged on each side of the flap in the end region thereof, which runs in a longitudinal slot 259 in the flap 207. Guiding the free end 219 is not absolutely necessary, but results in perfect functioning. In the assembled state, the end faces 261 and 262 of the base plate 236 and the fastening plate 218 lie flush against one another. The end face 261 of the base plate 236 and also the end face 262 have a groove 263, in which a circumferential sealing tape 264 is inserted so that the closed container is splash water tight

To prevent the closure unit 201 from being opened unintentionally, a locking unit (not shown) can be provided in the flap 207, which prevents the push button 226 from being impressed. This locking unit, for example designed as a slide, can be operated from the flap outside instead of locking the push button 226. The flap 207 can also be locked with the counter-holder 215. The swivel joints 228 and 223 can be dispensed with if the flap 222 is made from elastically deflectable material. In this case too, the snap action is as described above using the two flap parts 221 and 222 described, realizable It is also possible to dispense with the swivel joint 216 if the flap 207 is designed to be bendable. Instead of the push button 226, a slider with a bevel can also be used. The slots 259 do not necessarily have to be straight, they can be designed as a curveto obtain a desired closing movement

A combination lock or key lock can be integrated into the locking unit 201 in order to secure it against unauthorized opening

The container according to the invention has a closing unit which is of robust design, is easy to operate, enables a large closing distance and has a large closing force

Instead of the recess 217, it is also possible to provide only one stop which limits the movement of the free end 219 of the second flap unit 210 or of the flap part 222 in the direction of the swivel joint 216. To be able to use it effectively, there must also be a movement limitation in FIG. 19 upwards and downwards. The above-described recess 217 fulfills all of these functions, but in one embodiment variant a movement of the free end perpendicular to the stability plane 227 can be used to generate the "turning" - i kens "

The two container parts bottom and lid parts 203 and 205 do not necessarily have to be arranged so that they can be swiveled open. This swivel joint can be dispensed with. In this case, the lid is simply placed on the floor with a box-like design, for example, so that the bottom and lid parts work properly can be freely locked with the closure unit described above, then a closure unit is arranged up to a tolerance in the middle of one side of the lid and the bottom side edge underneath and a second analog closure unit on the opposite side edge part

Claims

Container, in particular a suitcase with a base and lid part (3, 5) held open and closable by means of a hinge (1 a - c) and with at least two first closure units holding the two parts (3, 5) together

(6a, 6b; 101), which are arranged in the outer corners (7a, 7b) of a narrow side (9) opposite the hinge (1a - c)

A container according to claim 1, characterized by a preferably cuboidal outer contour, a recess (11a - b) in the outer corners (7a, 7b) of the narrow side (9) of the base and cover part opposite the hinge (1 a - c) (3, 5), the contours of which are flush with one another and each have a closure unit (6a, 6b; 101), the recess depth preferably being selected such that a tangential plane lying on both lateral recess edges over the respective closure unit (6a, 6b; 101) comes to rest and in particular is characterized by a further two recesses (11 c-d) with mutually aligned outer contours in the remaining two corners (7c, 7d), in which bodies (analogous to the outer contours of the closure units (6a, 6b; 101)) 78a, 78b) are arranged and serve in particular to increase the impact stability of the container and are preferably designed as openable containers into which small ones objects can be filed

Container according to claim 1 or 2 with a closure unit (101), each with a closure half (105a,) arranged on the bottom part (3, 104) and its pivotable cover part (5, 103) and having a fastening device (109a, 109b).

105b), characterized in that the one closure half (105a) is a hook-in part (129) and the other is an engaging part (130) matching this, and one (105a) of the closure halves (105a, 105b) has a swivel which cooperates with its fastening device (109a) - and displacement device (144, 147, 149, 150, 151, 163) by means of which the parts (129, 130) can be moved against one another or unhooked from one another with a swivel-sliding movement.

Container (101) according to claim 3, characterized in that the pivoting and displacement device (144, 147, 149, 150, 151, 163) in the open position of the closure (101) the longitudinal axes (106a, 106b) of the two closure halves (105a 105b) approximately parallel, but offset from one another, and the longitudinal axes (106a, 106b) of the housing preferably lie approximately perpendicular to the pivot axis of the cover part (103) and bottom part (104).

5. Container (101) according to claim 3, characterized in that the hanging part (129) on its fastening device (109a) with a tab (147) belonging to the swivel and displacement device (144, 147, 149, 150, 151, 163) is held, the tab ends of which are pivotably mounted, the force of a torsion spring (149) acts between the hooking part (129) and the fastening device (109a), and preferably there is a latching element (156) which is movable with the hooking part (129), but is displaceably arranged relative to the latter against the force of a second spring (154) and the fastening device (109a) has a recess (161) into which the latching element (156) when the engagement part (130) is hooked into the hooking part (129) and into which approximately aligned longitudinal housing position to the locking half (105b) pressed locking half (105a) engages.

6. Container according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the engaging part (130) has a hook-shaped engaging element (145) and the hanging part (129) has a U-shaped hanging element (133), the arch part (139) of the width additionally a tolerance of the engaging element (145) is adjusted, in the closed state the arch part (139) comes to lie in the hook recess of the engaging element and to open the engaging part (130) with the pivoting and shifting device (144, 147, 149, 150, 151 , 163) can be swiveled away so far that a loading a slope is obtained between the hook recess and the free hook end of the engagement element (145), which allows the suspension element (133) to slide off, and that there is a push button (112) acting in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the housing which is located on the end face (111) of the engagement part (130 ) having closure halves (105a), with which the latching element (156) can be pushed out of the latching recess (161) to open the closure (101)

Container according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the closure halves each have a housing whose outer contours are flush with one another in the closed state in order to give the closure an aesthetically pleasing appearance

A container according to claim 6, characterized in that the first housing (107b) of the closure halves (105b) not having the push button (112) on the relevant fastening device (109b) in the longitudinal axis of the housing

(107b) is held displaceably against the force of a spring (137) and a spacing element (157) is present which can be pushed out with the push button (112) in order to distance both housings (107a, 107b) from one another, so that an opening Swiveling away of the first housing (107b) is facilitated

Container in particular according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that each hinge (1a - 1c) has a double-axis swivel joint part, an intermediate piece (303) and a bracket (305), the swivel joint having two swivel joint parts (301a, 301b) , of which one swivel joint part (301 b) is arranged on the bottom part (3) and the other (301a) on the cover part (5), both

Swivel joint parts (301a, 301 b) are connected to the intermediate piece (303) such that the swivel axis (311a, 311 b) of the one swivel joint part (301a, 301 b) runs through an edge region of the intermediate piece (303) and the bracket (305 ) is arranged on the hinge side such that its bow legs (327a, 327b) can be pivoted into the hinge side next to the pivot axes (311a, 311b) intervene so that there is a guided swiveling movement of the swivel joint parts (301a, 301b)

Container according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that each closure unit (6a, 6b) has a matching closure half (45a, 45b) arranged on the cover part (5) and on the bottom part (3) and at least one of the two closure halves on one of the matching locking halves, a display unit (69), with which a perfect coupling of the two locking halves of the locking unit can be indicated, and preferably has a contraction unit, with which the two matching locking halves can be pulled together on their last closing path

Container in particular according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by a further, preferably arranged between the first closure units, second closure unit (201) with a tab-like flap arrangement (207,

210), a first flap unit (207) with its flap base (209) being held on the base part (3, 205) and a second flap unit (210) being arranged at the free end (211) of the first flap (207), both flap units (207 , 210) can be moved relative to one another at their connecting location (213) at an acute angle, the second flap unit (210) can be swung out and folded under the first (207)

Container according to claim 1 1, characterized by a counter-holder (215) arranged on the cover part (5, 203), which comes to lie adjacent to the flap base (209) of the first flap unit (207) in the closed state of the second closure unit (201), the counter-holder (215) for the other, free end (219) of the second flap unit (210) has a first stop, in particular a recess (217) that is open to the connection point (213) of the two flap units (207, 210), the surface length of the second flap unit (210) is larger in the longitudinal direction than in the closed state, a distance (d) between the most stop or the base of the recess (217) and the connection location (211), which results in a bulge (230) of the second flap unit (210) in the closed state, the curvature vertex (230) lying above a geometric stability plane (227), in which the connection location (213), the flap base (209) and the base of the recess (217) are within tolerance, and the

Wolbungs apex (230) is held against further buckling by a second stop (231), and the second closure unit (201) preferably has a release unit, in particular a pushbutton (226) with a spring load, which in the first flap unit (207) is approximately above the highest curvature apex (230) of the second flap unit (210) is arranged in the closed state of the second closure unit (201) and at the same time acts as a stop (231) for the bulge apex (230), and can be moved in such a way that with it (226) the over the curvature vertex (230) lying on the stability level (227) can be printed on the other side of the level to open the closure unit (201), and the second closure unit (201) preferably one from the free end (211) of the flap end region to the flap base (209) of the first flap unit ( 207) which has cams (237) arranged on the second flap unit (210) offset by a predetermined distance, the distance and height of which are selected such that the full cam height is only effective when the bulge point is pressed in by the trigger unit (226), causing the closure unit (201) to spring open

A container according to claim 12, characterized by at least one third stop (243) which is arranged on the second flap unit (210) and / or in front of the counter-holder (215) on the other, second container part (203) and whose stop height is designed such that the second flap unit (210) can be bent at least slightly over its extended position against the trigger unit (226) during the cutting process

Container according to one of claims 1 1 to 13, characterized in that the second flap unit (210) in the open state of the closure unit (201) is bulging and in the closed state there is an opposite curvature, the bulging height of which is lower than in the open state, so that the two container halves (203, 205 are pulled against one another during the closing process and preferably the first flap unit (207) with a first swivel joint (216) on Bottom part (205 and the second flap unit (210) is held on the first flap unit (207) by a second swivel joint (228), both axes (224, 253) of the swivel joints (216, 228) being approximately parallel to one another and to the swivel joint between the floor - And cover part (3, 5; 203, 205) are arranged

Container according to one of claims 1 1 to 14, characterized in that the second flap unit (210) has two tab parts (221, 222) pivotably connected to an intermediate joint (223), the axis (254) of the intermediate joint (223) being approximately parallel is arranged to the axis of the swivel joint of the base and cover part (3, 5; 203, 205) and both tab parts (221, 222) preferably have approximately the same tab length and preferably the free end (219) of the second flap unit (210, 222) is performed in the direction of the flap

Container according to claims 14 and 15, characterized in that the first swivel joint (216) is loaded with a first torsion spring 247) which gives the first flap unit (207) an opening force, the second swivel joint (228) with a second torsion spring (251 ) is loaded, which impresses the second flap unit (210) with a rotational force turning away from the first flap unit (207) and the intermediate joint (223) is loaded with a third torsion spring (249), which has an outward curvature with the two flap parts (221 , 222) of the second flap unit (210) is generated at a predetermined minimum opening angle

A container, preferably a travel case, with a base and cover part (3, 5) held open and closable by means of a hinge (1a - c), in particular according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the base and / or the cover part (3, 5) is constructed in multiple layers with an asymmetrical layer sequence, the individual layers being inseparably connected to one another and at least Each layer contains a carbon fabric and at least one further layer contains a polyester fabric, both of which are preferably impregnated with hardened resin and preferably have only a single layer in the sequence of layers, in particular an outer layer has a carbon fabric and have at least two layers of polyester fabric, in particular from diols, and in particular in the position sequence a foam core is arranged

Container according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized by a further locking unit which only engages during the carrying process and which holds the base and lid part (3, 5) together at least at a location distant from the corners, preferably in the middle of the narrow case, and in particular a handle which can be folded out for carrying (15), which closes the further closure unit, which is preferably arranged inside the device, and in particular the handle (15) in a recess (17) of the narrow side (9) opposite the hinge (1 a - c), which can be folded out and automatically into this by one

Spring loading is foldable

Method for producing a container, in particular a travel case, with a base and cover part (3, 5) held open and closable by means of a hinge (1a - c) according to one of Claims 1 to 18, characterized in that a carbon fabric impregnated with resin inserted into a mold corresponding to the negative shape of the base or cover part (3, 5), at least two polyester fabrics soaked in resin are weighed onto this carbon fabric and the base or cover part (3, 5) is removed after curing