Suitcase with interchangeable case-shells

Details Suitcase with interchangeable case-shells Suitcase with interchangeable case-shells

1999-09-24

2001-05-22

Shoap, Allan N. (Department: 3727)

Trunks and hand-carried luggage

Hand luggage

Including frame or frame members substantially surrounding...

C190S028000, C190S103000, C150S105000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06234287

ABSTRACT:

The present invention relates to a suitcase with exchangeable suitcase shells and having a central part which comprises two stable frame halves which are articulated to one another. The frame halves serve as supports for two shells which form the suitcase interior, it being the case that each frame half has a handle side, a hinge side, which is located opposite the handle side, and two mutually opposite side parts. The frame and/or the shells may be of any desired general shape, for example of a rectangular, round or oval shape. Within the present context “handle side” of the frame is to be generally understood as being the top side of the frame, located opposite the hinge side, on which a suitcase handle is usually arranged. It is irrelevant to the invention, however, as to whether a handle is actually provided or whether the handle is provided, for example, on the frame regions designated here as side parts or even on the shells. Each shell is connected releasably to the central-part frame half assigned to it. The shells typically have a sheet-like main plane, the periphery of which is adjoined by a border which is turned down essentially at right angles to said main plane. The width of the turned-down border thus determines the depth of the shell and therefore the capacity of volume of the suitcase as well.
Such suitcases with shells which can be exchanged or released from the frame are known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,590 and from the international Patent Application WO 96/02160.
WO 96/02160, to the disclosure of which you are expressly referred here, describes a suitcase with a variable capacity. Since the volume of the interior of conventional suitcases, e.g. overnight cases or holiday cases, is usually constant, it is also necessary to use different suitcases in order to cater for different content volumes. For example, a smaller case is more suitable for a business trip over a number of days than for holiday travel over a number of weeks. The cost of buying a number of suitcases of different sizes is high. Moreover, the suitcases require a large amount of storage space.
In the case of the suitcase described in WO 96/02160, the shells are connected releasably to the frame halves of the central part. This means that it is possible to use shells of different depths in conjunction with one and the same central part. In this manner, the volume of the suitcase can be adapted to the volume of its contents. The shells, which usually consist of a stiff plastic, together with the central part, which consists of light metal or stiff plastic, form a stable suitcase. When the suitcase is not in use, the shells of different depths can be stacked one inside the other. The suitcase thus requires considerably less storage space than a number of conventional suitcases with different volumes. The border of the suitcase shells has a peripheral bordering lip which, from the inside, comes into abutment against a peripheral edge of the associated frame half and is locked.
If a suitcase with exchangeable shells is used as a seat or if further suitcases or other heavy objects are stacked onto such suitcases during transportation, large forces may act, from the outside, on the locking elements of the two shell parts on the respectively associated frame halves.
The problem on which the present invention is based is to develop the known suitcases with exchangeable shells, in particular the suitcase known from WO 96/02160, such that, even when the shell parts are subjected to high loading from the outside, the frame parts and shell parts continue to be held together and thus the stability of the suitcase is still ensured. In this case, the forces acting on the means for locking the respective shell in its associated frame half remain low, with the result that it is possible to use straightforward locking means which allow the user to exchange the shell parts quickly and without complications.
This problem is solved by a suitcase with a variable capacity which has the features of claim
1
.
The suitcase according to the invention is characterized in that the border of each shell is extended, at least in some areas, by a surround, of which the width is selected such that, when the suitcase is closed, the surround of the first shell and the surround of the second shell butt against one another and support one another. The surround is suitably of such a width that, when the shell has been inserted into the frame half and locked, the surround terminates essentially flush with the border of the frame half. This ensures that the shells cannot be released from the frame even when they are subjected to high loading from the outside. Since the shell parts support one another, the locking elements need only absorb low forces. Said locking elements may be of relatively straightforward and compact construction, as a result of which the suitcase shells can be exchanged very easily.
The surround preferably forms the extension of the shell border, which is turned down at right angles, and is oriented essentially perpendicularly to the main plane of the shell.
The surround and the suitcase shell usually form a single-piece component, for example a plastic moulding.
Sealing strips are advantageously positioned in the edges of the surrounds, said edges butting against one another when the suitcase is closed. These sealing strips preferably consist of an elastic material. Upon closure of the suitcase, the sealing strips of the two shell parts are pressed against one another and ensure the necessary sealing of the thus defined suitcase interior towards the outside.
The shell is particularly advantageously configured such that the surround runs on all sides except in the hinge region of the shell.
The surround is advantageously connected to the shell via a peripheral folding-lip region.
Each frame half advantageously has, on the inside, a peripheral edge in which there is made, at least in the region of the handle side and of the side parts, a channel in which a strip of the surround of the shell engages. The peripheral edge serves as a stop during the insertion of the shell, while the strip which engages in the channel ensures precise positioning and securing of the shell in the frame half. In addition, the interengagement of strip and channel ensures that, when a heavy suitcase is lifted, the frame and the shell remain connected on the handle side and any possible bending deformation of the handle side of the frame is prevented.
Each frame half preferably has, on the inside side of the hinge side, a groove in which a bordering lip of the respective shell engages and, on the opposite, handle side, at least one means for locking the respective shell in its frame half. This means that the shell is secured in position on the hinge side by the groove/bordering-lip engagement connection and on the other sides by being supported by the surround of the other shells.
In the case of a preferred embodiment of the suitcase according to the invention, the locking means comprises a slide which is fitted in a movable manner on the inside of the handle side of each frame half and interacts with an engagement system provided on the handle side of the surround of the shells. The engagement system is configured here such that, in the open position of the slide, the shell can be brought into abutment against the peripheral edge of the frame half. If the slide is then moved into the closed position, the slide and engagement system interact such that the shell is locked in abutment against the peripheral edge and cannot swing out of the frame half again.
The engagement system for the slide, which may be designed, for example, as ribs projecting from the handle side of the surround, is preferably arranged in the two outer border regions of the handle side.
It is advantageous, if, for each frame half, in each case one slide is provided on either side of the suitcase handle.
The slides are preferably located opposite one another on their frame halves such that, in the locked state and when the suitcase is closed, they block one

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