WO2009022042A1

WO2009022042A1 - Universal waterproof elastic device for protecting suitcases of different sizes using tamper-evident and customisable seals

Info

Publication number: WO2009022042A1
Application number: PCT/ES2008/070080
Authority: WO
Inventors: Emilio Layrana Fernández
Original assignee: Layrana Fernandez Emilio
Priority date: 2007-08-02
Filing date: 2008-04-23
Publication date: 2009-02-19
Also published as: US20100282380A1; ES2292371B1; CN101772314A; EP2174564B1; CN101772314B; EP2174564A1; ES2292371A1

Abstract

It is a universal, waterproof, elastic device to protect suitcases (4) of different sizes with inviolable and customisable seal fasteners, said device consisting of an extremely elastic, waterproof cover (2), resistant to abrasions which has at last one opening (3) for inserting suitcases, equipped with customisable, inviolable seal fasteners. The cover is of smaller dimensions than those of the suitcases to adapt thereto due to its elasticity in all directions.

Description

UNIVERSAL WATERPROOF ELASTIC DEVICE FOR

PROTECT SUITCASES FROM DIFFERENT SIZES WITH SEALS

INVOLVABLE AND CUSTOMIZABLE CLOSURE

D E S C R I P C I Ó N

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is a device to protect a suitcase, whose main purpose is to prevent its opening by unauthorized persons, in addition to protecting it against abrasions due to handling in airports and similar facilities.

The device is elastic, waterproof and universal and protects suitcases of different sizes by means of a very elastic, waterproof and abrasion resistant case, which has an opening for the introduction of the suitcase and is equipped with customizable inviolable closure seals. The cover is smaller than those of the suitcases to adjust on them due to their elasticity in all directions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that suitcases, during handling in airports and similar facilities, are subjected to abrasions and other treatments suffered. To overcome this problem, we tend to make increasingly resistant bags, but they are also heavier and more expensive.

In addition, sometimes it also happens in these facilities that, during the check-in, loading and unloading of suitcases, unauthorized persons access their content, having even produced subtractions. To try to avoid this, it is increasingly common to see suitcases wrapped in plastic film, but it is a cumbersome task, which does not effectively protect against abrasions and needs a specific machinery, It also gives an image of degradation and the packaging is not reusable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device of the invention has an optimal constitution to protect a suitcase against abrasion and against improper opening.

According to the invention, the device comprises a very elastic, waterproof and abrasion resistant sheath provided with at least one opening for inserting the suitcase.

In addition, the opening is closed with the cooperation of inviolable and customizable seals in such a way that in order to unpack the bag it is necessary to break the seals, which will be easily detected, even if it is re-sealed, given the possibility of personalization of the seals, which can be materialized by screen printing, pad printing, etc.

The cover is equipped with windows for the passage of the wheels and the handles of the suitcase.

The cover format has dimensions smaller than the dimensions of a small suitcase. Given the high elasticity of the material of the sheath, it will adapt like a glove to any suitcase of any shapes and dimensions, protecting it from abrasions and undue manipulations. The elasticity of the material chosen to make the sheath will be sufficient to allow it to stretch, at least, until its surface is doubled. The materials in which the cover can be manufactured are varied. For example, they may be selected from the following:

-polyamide,

-elastán, and -polyurethane.

On the other hand, it is provided that the case has pockets for storing documentation, such as tickets or passports.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical implementation thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description. where, for the purposes of illustration and not limitation, the following has been represented:

Figures 1 and 2.- They show both front and back views of the cover constituting the device of the invention.

Figures 3 and A - Show both front and rear views of a suitcase protected with the device of the invention.

Figures 5 to 7.- They show an exploded view of a template with which the cover of the device of the invention can be manufactured. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The device (1) for protecting a suitcase of the invention comprises a very elastic, waterproof and abrasion resistant cover (2) with at least one opening (3) for introducing the suitcase (4). Said opening (3) is closed with the cooperation of inviolable seals (5), and preferably by means of a flap (30) where said customizable inviolable seals (5) are implemented.

The cover (2) is provided with windows (6, 6a, 6b, 6c) for the passage of the wheels (7, 7a) and the handles (8, 8a) of the suitcase (4).

One of the windows (6a) is arranged in positional correspondence with some of the side handles (8a) of the suitcase (4). In these handles (8a) is where the labels (11) corresponding to the airport identification are attached. In said window (6a) there is a flap (9) with a closure (10), the window (6a) being substantially longer than the flap (9) to give way to the ends of the handle (8a), the remainder being of the window protected by the flip (9).

Another of the windows (6c) is arranged in positional correspondence with the rear wheels (7) of the suitcase and has larger dimensions to adapt to the passage of suitcases with, two, three or more rear wheels (7), in addition to adapting to the different positions they can adopt. Given the size of this window (6c), where the suitcase could be pulled out, non-elastic belts (35) are provided that relate their opposite edges, which cross and prevent the removal of the suitcase (4).

Other windows (6b) are arranged in positional correspondence with the front wheels (7a) of the suitcase, if available of them.

Finally, another of the windows (6) is arranged in positional correspondence with the removable rear handle (8) of the suitcase (4) that is used to pull it by rolling it by its rear wheels (7).

The elasticity of the sheath allows the same to stretch to at least double its surface. It may consist of one or more materials selected from the following:

polyamide, elastane, and polyurethane.

By way of example, a multilayer sheath comprising these three materials, regardless of the number or arrangement of the layers, can be stretched elastically to reach 100% -150% more of its resting surface. It can also be reused repeatedly, being finally disposable.

On the other hand, the inviolable seals (5) comprise bushings (12) through which breakable pins (13) can move forward without the possibility of recoil. The bushes are fixed in the delimitation of the opening (3) to face each other and receive the pins. In the example represented in the figures there is a flap (30) that closes the opening (3), so that the bushings in this case are fixed on the edge thereof and in the area of the sheath that is adjacent to the flap (30) when it closes. Given the non-possibility of recoil of the breakable pins (13) by the bushings (12), it will be necessary to break them to open the cover, showing if there have been manipulations of the suitcase (4). According to this example of embodiment of the invention, in no limiting case, the cover (2) can be constituted according to a template consisting of three parts sewn together: a part of perimeter closure (14), a front cover (15) and another back cover (16).

The perimeter closure part (14) has a substantially oblong general shape, with an intermediate narrowed zone (17) displaced towards one of its extreme zones, which defines a larger recess (18) corresponding to the window (6c), and arising from the opposite part to said major recess (18) a T-shaped extension (19) defining the flap (30) and lateral recesses (20) defining the windows (6b). In the extreme areas, recesses (21, 22, 23) that define the windows (6, 6a) for the passage of the handles (8, 8a) are implemented. Some of these recesses implement the flaps (9) and their closures (10) corresponding to the windows (6a).

The rear cover (16) has a general rectangular shape, with an extreme recess (24) in positional correspondence with another side recess (21) of the perimeter closure part (14) to cooperate in the definition of the window (6). It also has another opposite extreme recess (24) in positional correspondence with the major recess (18) of the perimeter closure part (14), to cooperate in the definition of the window (6c).

For its part, the front cover (15) has a general rectangular shape and implements the inviolable closures (5) in addition to the flap (30).

Claims

1.- Device (1) to protect a suitcase (4) preferably provided with wheels (7, 7a) and handles (8, 8a); comprising a cover (2), waterproof and resistant to abrasion that has an opening (3) through which the suitcase (4) is introduced, characterized in that the cover (2) is smaller than the dimensions of a suitcase (4) Small and of sufficient elasticity to stretch at least to double its surface to adapt to any shape and size of suitcase, as well as the cover (2) incorporates inviolable security seals (5) that establish the inviolable closure (5 ) of the cover (2) around the suitcase (4).

2. Device (1) for protecting a suitcase (4) according to claim 1 characterized in that the cover (2) has a flap (30) that closes the opening (3) once the cover (2) is adapted on the suitcase ( 4), and the security seals (5) are defined in a flap (30) and in the vicinity of the opening (3) that establish the inviolable closure (5) of the cover (2) around the suitcase (4) ).

3. Device (1) for protecting a suitcase according to claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the cover (2) is provided with windows (6, 6a, 6b, 6c) for the passage of the wheels (7, 7a) and the handles (8, 8a) of the suitcase (4).

4 - Device (1) for protecting a suitcase according to claim 3 characterized in that at least one of the windows (6a) is arranged in positional correspondence with some of the side handles (8a) of the suitcase (4) intended to receive the airport identification tags (11), and has a flap (9) with a closure (10); said window (6a) being substantially more elongated than the overlap (9) in order to make room for the ends of the handle (8a).

5. Device (1) for protecting a suitcase according to claim 3 characterized in that another of the windows (6c) is arranged in positional correspondence with the rear wheels (7) of the suitcase and has larger dimensions to fit suitcases with, two, three or more rear wheels (7); disposing in the window (6c) non-elastic belts (35) that relate their opposite edges to prevent the extraction of the suitcase (4) through it.

6. Device (1) for protecting a suitcase according to claim 3 characterized in that other windows (6b) are arranged in positional correspondence with the front wheels (7a) of the suitcase.

7. Device (1) for protecting a suitcase according to claim 3 characterized in that another of the windows (6) is arranged in positional correspondence with the rear handle (8) removable from the suitcase (4).

8. Device (1) for protecting a suitcase according to claim 1 characterized in that the cover (2) is constituted in one or more materials selected from the following:

polyamide, elastane, and polyurethane.

9. Device (1) for protecting a suitcase according to claim 2, characterized in that the security seals (5) comprise caps (12) fixed in the delimitation of the opening (3), and in the flap (30), intended for be faced when closing the sheath (2), and breakable pins (13) that advance without the possibility of recoil in said bushings (12).

10. Device (1) for protecting a suitcase according to claim 1 characterized in that the cover (2) is constituted according to a template consisting of three parts sewn together: a perimeter closure part (14), a front cover (15) and another back cover (16).

11 - Device (1) for protecting a suitcase according to claims 3 and 10 characterized in that the perimeter closure part (14) has a generally oblong shape, with an intermediate narrowed zone (17) displaced towards one of its end zones, which defines a major recess (18) corresponding to the window (6c), and from the part opposite to said major recess (18) a T-shaped extension (19) defining the flap (30) and lateral recesses (20) that define the windows (6b); while in its extreme areas recesses (21, 22, 23) that define the windows (6, 6a) are implemented, some of which implement the flaps (9) and their closures (10).

12. Device (1) for protecting a suitcase according to claims 3, 10 and 11 characterized in that the rear cover (16) has a general rectangular shape, with an extreme recess (24) in positional correspondence with another side recess (21) of the Ia perimeter closure part (14) to cooperate in the definition of the window (6); and another opposite extreme recess (24) in positional correspondence with the major recess (18) of the perimeter closure part (14) to cooperate in the definition of the window (6c).

13. Device (1) to protect a suitcase according to claims 3, 10 and 11 characterized in that the cover (2) has pockets for storing documentation.