WO2005104896A1

WO2005104896A1 - Travel article such as a suitcase or the like provided with safety fastener

Info

Publication number: WO2005104896A1
Application number: PCT/EP2005/050705
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roberto Briccola
Original assignee: Bric's Industria Valigeria Fine - S.P.A.
Priority date: 2004-04-28
Filing date: 2005-02-17
Publication date: 2005-11-10
Also published as: ITMI20040192U1

Abstract

A travel article such as a suitcase (1) or the like comprises two parts connected together but movable relative to each other and defining at least one internal compartment of the article, said parts fitting together along their edges (2A, 3A) when the article is dosed, at least one (2) of the parts (2, 3) comprising a handle (13) for transporting the closed travel article, means being provided for security fastening this latter. These means comprise a projection (17) associated with a first (3) of said parts (2, 3) and provided with a through hole (18), said projection (17) being arranged to penetrate into a blind recess (20) provided in the second (2) of the parts (2, 3) and presenting an end wall provided with a through hole (23) which lies coaxial to the hole (18) in said projection (17) when this latter is within said recess, a binder element (25) being passed through said holes when in mutual contact.

Description

TRAVEL ARTICLE SUCH AS A SUITCASE OR THE LIKE PROVIDED WITH SAFETY FASTENER

The present invention relates to a travel article in accordance with the introduction to the main claim. The term "travel article" signifies a suitcase of rigid and/or semi-rigid material, a travelling bag or the like. For such an article, there has long been a need for high security during transfer, particularly via airlines where the suitcase or the like is entrusted to persons other than the owner for their transportation. Various solutions are known for providing such security by preventing unauthorized personnel from opening the travel article. Although these adequately perform the function for which they are proposed, they are often of complicated construction and use, or considerably affect the appearance of the suitcase or the like. "^•' An object of the present invention is to provide a travel article such as a suitcase or a travelling bag which presents means enabling it to be security fastened such as to prevent unauthorized personnel from opening it and also to clearly indicate if such opening has taken place. Another object is to provide a travel article of the stated type, the appearance of which is not compromised by the presence of the means for achieving its security fastening. A further object is to provide a travel article in which the means for achieving its security fastening provide a supplementary fastener of high resistance to article opening. These and further objects which will be apparent to the expert of the art are attained by a travel article in accordance with the accompanying claims.

The present invention will be more apparent from the accompanying drawing, which is provided by way of non-limiting example and in which: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a suitcase formed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a detail of the suitcase of Figure 1 provided with a security tie;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the detail of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a view of the detail of Figure 2 but without the security tie. With reference to said figures, a suitcase is indicated overall by 1 and comprises two parts 2 and 3 hinged together and movable relative to each other to allow access to at least one internal compartment of the suitcase when these parts are separated. Said parts comprise a free edge 2A and 3A respectively, said edges being in mutual contact when the suitcase is closed.

With reference to Figure 1 , each part comprises an upper side 7, a lower side 8 and lateral sides 9 and 10. At least on the upper side 7 of the part 2 a handle 13 is present to transport the suitcase 1 , said handle 13 being rigid with end shoulders 14 and 15 rising from the upper side of the part 2. Known fastening elements 15 for the suitcase are also present.

According to the invention, the suitcase 1 comprises security fastening means associated with its parts 2 and 3. Specifically, on its upper side 7, the part 3 presents a projection 17 rising perpendicularly from that side in proximity to the free edge 3A. This projection 17 presents a through hole 18 and is intended to be inserted into a recess 20 provided in the end shoulder 14 of the part 2 when this latter is relatively closed onto the part 3. The recess 20, acting as a seat for the projection 17, presents a depth such as to receive the projection so that it preferably does not project from said recess, but lies at the same level as the front lateral surface 14A of the shoulder 14 (with reference to Figure 1). This avoids an irritating appearance of the suitcase.

The blind recess 20 presents an end wall (on which the projection 17 rests) through which a hole 23 passes to open into the rear lateral surface 14B of the shoulder 14 acting as the end wall of the recess 20, said hole 23 being coaxial to the hole 18 of the projection 17 when this latter is inserted into the recess 20. In this manner, the holes 18 and 23 can receive a (supplementary) binder element 25 for the two parts 2 and 3 of the suitcase, this binder element being additional to those usually provided for the fastening elements 15. Alternatively, if the shoulder has a U- shaped cross-section and the recess 20 is provided in one of its lateral parts, the opposing lateral part would present a hole coaxial to the hole 23 of said recess, in order to be able to passingly receive the binder element 25.

In Figure 2 the binder element 25 is a tie 26 for example of known plastic type with a first end portion 27 presenting a toothed surface 28 and with a second portion 30 provided with an aperture 31 and a stop tooth projecting into it. In this manner, by inserting the tie 26 though the holes 18 and 23 and inserting its end portion 27 through the aperture 31 of its end portion 30, the first end portion 27 can be freely slid through the buckle but cannot be moved in that direction which extracts it from said aperture. Consequently by pulling the first portion 27 above the tie, this latter tightens about the shoulder 14 to hence security fasten the suitcase. It should be noted that the tightening force of this known tie 26 is high, comparable to that of a strap present over the surface of the two parts 2 and 3 of the suitcase 1. This force is such as to maintain the suitcase closed even if its usual locks are opened. To open the suitcase the tie 26 has to be cut. To facilitate this operation, the shoulder 14 preferably presents a surface recess 33 into which the tie can be inserted for its cutting. By inserting a pair of scissors into this recess, the tie 26 can be cut without touching other surface parts of the suitcase with the risk of damaging it. The fact that the suitcase can be opened only after cutting the tie makes the suitcase fastening secure and highlights any opening of the suitcase by unauthorized persons.

The tie preferably also comprises a writable part 50 on which the suitcase owner can write data useful for identification purposes, as is usual in the case of aircraft journeys. The tie can therefore be personalized.

Instead of the tie 26, any other binder element 25 can be used, including a lock which can be opened only by its own key.

The solution proposed by the invention is of simple construction and use and allows the suitcase to be rapidly and securely fastened by means which, by virtue of their breakage, immediately display if the suitcase has been unauthorizedly opened. This solution is applicable to all travel articles, including travelling bags, of rigid and/or semi-rigid material. Finally, the projection 17 and relative seat 20 can be located in different suitcase positions from that described.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A travel article such as a suitcase (1 ) or the like, comprising two hinged-together parts movable relative to each other and defining at least one internal compartment of said travel article, said parts fitting together 5 along a free edge (2A, 3A) thereof when said article is closed, at least one (2) of said parts (2, 3) comprising a handle (13) for transporting the closed travel article, means being provided for security fastening this latter, characterised in that said means comprise a projection (17) associated with a first (3) of said parts (2, 3) of the travel article (1) and provided with

10 a through hole (18), said projection (17) being arranged to penetrate into a blind recess (20) in the second (2) of said parts (2, 3), said recess (20) acting as a seat for the projection (17) when the travel article is closed and being formed within a portion (14) projecting from a side (7) of said second part (2), the recess presenting an end wall provided with a through hole

Ϊ5 (23) which lies coaxial to the hole (18) in the projection (17) of the first part (3) when this projection is within said recess, a binder element (25) being passed through said holes when in mutual contact, to provide security fastening of the travel article.

2. A travel article as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the blind 20 recess (20) is provided within a shoulder (14) of the second part (2) close to the handle (13) and opens in that surface of said shoulder facing the first part (3) which is movable relative to the second.

3. A travel article as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the hole (23) of said blind recess (20) opens into an opposing surface (14B) of the

25 corresponding shoulder (14).

4. A travel article as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the shoulder (14) in which the blind recess (20) is provided presents a surface recess (33) for facilitating cutting of the tie (26).

5. A travel article as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the binder means (25) are breakable, and only by breaking them can the travel article be opened.

6. A travel article as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the binder means are a tie.

7. A travel article as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the breakable biner means (25) are a plastic tie (26) of the type comprising a first end part (27) presenting a toothed surface (28) and a second part (30) provided with an aperture (31) and a stop tooth projecting into it.

8. A travel article as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the tie (26) presents a writable part.

9. A travel article as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the binder means (26) are a lock. ^w

10. A travel article as claimed in claim 1, characterised by being positioned on any one of its sides.