DE20015565U1 - Travel necessities, such as a bag, a suitcase, or the like. without inner stiffening frame - Google Patents

Description

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TRAVEL ITEMS, SUCH AS A BAG, SUITCASE, OR THE LIKE, WITHOUT AN INTERNAL REINFORCING FRAME

The present innovation relates to a travel article, such as a suitcase, a travel bag, a suitcase mounted on wheels or the like, according to the preamble of the main claim.

As is known, various types of travel articles of different sizes and weights are offered on the market. These articles generally have a rigid or semi-rigid structure; in the latter case, they have a framework or stiffening frame which provides, at least in the region of the edges of the body of such an article, the mechanical resistance to compression required for such an article.

Particularly in connection with suitcases or semi-rigid bags, their above-mentioned design, including the support frame (made of rigid plastic or metal), entails not insignificant costs and in any case leads to limitations in the aesthetics of such travel items.

Moreover, the presence of the support frame (or equivalent stiffening member) often results in a non-negligible additional weight to the structure of the body of these travel articles, which structure can also be obtained using inherently light plastic or polymer materials.

Furthermore, the frame or the aforementioned stiffening element limits the flexibility of the body of the suitcase or similar.

The aim of the present innovation is to create a travel article, such as a suitcase or the like, which is extremely light and can have aesthetic shapes which are not tied to any structural organ of the body of this article.

These and other objectives which are obvious to the person skilled in the art are achieved by a travel article in accordance with the accompanying claims.

For a better understanding of the present innovation, the following drawing is presented for purely exemplary explanation and without limitation, in which:

Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a suitcase or trolley designed according to the innovation;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view, seen from one side, of the open case according to Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the case according to Figure 1, seen from another side; and

Figure 4 shows a section along the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

According to the drawing figures, the suitcase designated 1 comprises a body 2 which, in the drawing example, has four parts 3, 4, 5 and 6 which partially or preferably entirely form a side wall 7 (the parts 3 and 4) and opposite wall surfaces 8 and 9 (the parts 5 and 6) of the body 2.

Each part 3, 4, 5 or 6 has essentially a layered structure (but forms a single-piece body) with an inner body 10 made of thermoformable polymer material, such as high density polyethylene or the like. This body is provided, preferably before thermoforming, on one side 1OA with a lining 11 (made of synthetic or natural material) which (with respect to its internal cavity 12) represents the external lining of the body 2. The body is further associated with a layer 13 of fabric, preferably a lining made of untwisted threads (natural fabric, such as silk, or plastic, such as nylon, polyester or viscose), on its other side 1OB. This layer 13 (inside with respect to the cavity 12) is also associated with the body 10, preferably before its thermoforming; in this way the connection between the body and the layer 13 is made possible (as that between the body and the layer or covering 11). In this way each part 3, 4, 5 or 6, as mentioned, is formed in one piece and all the layers adhere to one another.

The external panels 11 of the various parts 3, 4, 5 and 6 are connected to each other by sewing along the edges 18 of the body 2; this connection between said elements also allows a partially indirect connection between the structural bodies 10. Once the parts 3, 4, 5 and 6 are fixed to each other, the body 2 acquires a semi-rigid, self-supporting structure, even if it does not have an internal frame or skeleton made of semi-rigid material. This is thanks to the presence of the structural bodies 10 within said parts 3-6.

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The part 3 and the part 4 (preferably slightly convex with respect to the cavity 12) have edges 3A and 4A which point slightly outwards (with respect to the cavity 12 of the body) and which allow the arrangement of the parts 5 and 6 (also slightly convex with respect to the cavity 12) on them, which in turn have end portions 5A and 6A. The end portions 5A and 6A are then associated with each other, preferably by sewing their coverings; on the body 2, outside with respect to the cavity 12 and in the region of the connection zone between these parts, there is preferably arranged a strip 20 made of any flexible or semi-rigid material (natural or plastic), which is attached, for example by sewing, to the coverings 11 adjacent to the parts 5 and 6. This makes it possible to cover the connection zone in order to give the product a better aesthetic appearance.

One of the strips 20 is further associated with a handle 22 which is connected by mechanical fastening elements (for example rivets) to an element 29 inside the body 2 and is fixed to the edge 7 of the latter.

As already stated, the suitcase 1 is of the type known as a "trolley" and also has a conventional handle member 23 which can be extracted from a seat which is fixed in a manner known per se, for example mechanically, to the wall surface 8 of the suitcase 1 (for example inside the cavity 12). The suitcase 1 is also provided with wheels 25 which are mechanically fixed to one of its parts, for example to the part 6.

Finally, the wall surface 8 is provided with an opening 26 for access to the interior of the cavity 12; this opening can be closed with a movable part 27 of this part, for example with a sliding closure 30.

A preferred embodiment of the innovation has been described. It is obvious that it can also apply to a suitcase with opening shells and without an extendable handle 23, or to a briefcase or other travel item. Each of these items is semi-rigid and self-supporting thanks to the use of the structural bodies 10, without it being necessary to provide any kind of stiffening frame (internal or external).

Furthermore, other embodiments are possible in light of the present description, all of which are to be considered as being within the scope of the invention.

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Claims (13)

1. Travel article ( 1 ), such as a bag, a suitcase, with or without wheels, or the like, consisting of a body ( 2 ) with opposite flat wall surfaces ( 8 , 9 ) and a circumferential side wall ( 7 ), the body ( 2 ) having an opening ( 26 ) between two parts ( 27 , 28 ) that can be at least partially separated from one another and connected by means of connecting devices ( 30 ), and the separation of these two parts ( 27 , 28 ) allows access to the interior ( 12 ) of the body ( 2 ), characterized in that the body has a plurality of parts ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) that are connected to one another and which parts ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) are at least partially semi-rigid and stiffen the body ( 2 ), which is thus designed without its own bracing frame, wherein the parts ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) at least partially define the side wall ( 7 ) and the wall surfaces ( 8 , 9 ) of the body ( 2 ). 2. Travel articles according to claim 1, characterized in that each at least partially semi-rigid part ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) has a part ( 10 ) or structural body made of thermoformable plastic material. 3. Travel article according to claim 2, characterized in that each at least partially semi-rigid part ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) is formed in a layered manner and has at least one covering ( 11 ) which is arranged on an outer side ( 10A ) of the body ( 10 ) made of thermoformable plastic material and is present on the outside of the travel article, so that consequently each part ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) is formed in one piece. 4. Travel accessories according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the body ( 10 ) consists of thermoformable polymeric plastic material, such as high density polyethylene, and the covering ( 11 ) consists of synthetic or natural material. 5. Travel articles according to claim 3, characterized in that a further covering layer made of fabric ( 13 ), preferably made of a lining material made of untwisted threads, is arranged on an inner side (10B) of the structural body ( 10 ). 6. Travel article according to claim 1, characterized in that the semi-rigid parts ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) completely define the opposite flat wall surfaces ( 8 , 9 ) and the wall ( 7 ) of its body ( 2 ), the parts ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) being connected to one another. 7. Travel articles according to claims 3 and 6, characterized in that the semi-rigid parts ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) are connected to one another by sewing their outer coverings ( 11 ). 8. Travel articles according to claim 1, characterized in that in the region of the connection zones of the semi-rigid parts ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) on the outside of the body ( 2 ) there are covering elements ( 20 ) by which these zones are concealed. 9. Travel article according to claim 8, characterized in that it has a handle ( 22 ) in the region of a cover element ( 20 ). 10. Travel accessories according to claim 1, characterized in that each flat part ( 3 , 4 ) capable of forming the edge ( 7 ) of the body ( 2 ) has an end portion ( 3A , 4A ) bent outwards with respect to the body ( 2 ), on which at least one further part ( 5 , 6 ) of the body ( 2 ) rests. 11. Travel accessory according to claim 1, characterized in that a part ( 6 ) capable of forming a wall surface ( 8 ) of the body ( 2 ) has the access opening ( 26 ) to the interior of the body ( 2 ). 12. Travel article according to claim 1, characterized in that the body ( 2 ) is associated with wheels ( 25 ). 13. Travel accessories according to claim 1, characterized in that the body ( 2 ) is associated with an extendable handle part ( 23 ).