WO2004068993A2

WO2004068993A2 - Travel container such as a suitcase

Info

Publication number: WO2004068993A2
Application number: PCT/EP2004/001010
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frans Wijnveld; Gerben Hillebrand
Original assignee: Transposafe Systems Holland BV
Current assignee: Transposafe Systems Holland BV
Priority date: 2003-02-05
Filing date: 2004-02-03
Publication date: 2004-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2005-08-05
Also published as: NL1022592C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a travel container such as a suitcase, comprising at least two container parts pivoting relative to each other between an open and a closed position, wherein in the closed position edges of the container parts lie in closing manner against each other, and comprising at least one releasable fastening engaging on the edges for holding the container parts in the closed position, wherein sealing means arranged at the position of the edges comprise a holder for receiving a sealing element and engaging parts of the container parts which extend close to the holder and which can be engaged non-releasably by the sealing element.

Description

TRAVEL CONTAINER SUCH AS A SUITCASE

The invention relates to a travel container, such as a suitcase or the like, comprising at least two parts pivoting relative to each other between an open and a closed position. The parts can be locked in the closed position with fastenings arranged on opposite edges of the parts.

Such travel containers are generally known. A known example is formed by a suitcase of the type with two hinged, relatively hard plastic shells. One of the shells generally comprises on its edge a number of, for instance two or three, clasp fastenings which can engage on the edge of the other container part adjacent thereto in the closed position in order to clamp the parts against each other. It^' is known to provide at least one of the fastenings with a lock, for instance a combination lock. The clasp fastening cannot be opened in the active position of the lock, so that the container cannot be opened by unauthorized persons. It has been found that such a lock does not suffice in all cases to prevent unauthorized persons opening the container. This not only entails the risk of unauthorized persons being able to remove items from the container, but also that unauthorized persons can put contraband such as drugs into the container.

Another development in the field of travel containers is that, in respect of checking the content of containers, the possibility is being considered of forbidding the use of locks on such containers, particularly when they have to be transported on aircraft . The user then no longer has any idea whether the container has been opened by a third party. The invention has for its object to provide a solution to these problems with sealing means arranged at the position of the edges, comprising a holder for receiving a sealing element and engaging parts of the container parts which extend close to the holder and which can be engaged non-releasably by the sealing element .

When the container is opened, the sealing element will be broken so that it can no longer engage on the container and is released therefrom. The absence of the sealing element thus shows that the container has been opened after arranging of the sealing element, or the presence of the sealing element shows that the container has not been opened. The engaging means for the sealing element can be arranged on the mutually opposite edges of the parts of the container. When the container is opened, these parts move away from each other, whereby the engaging means of the sealing element are moved away from each other and this sealing element is broken.

In another, preferred embodiment the holder is arranged at the position of at least one locking element or clasp. The sealing element can herein engage on a movable part of the clasp and one of the parts of the container. In order to open the container, the locking element must be moved out of its locking position, wherein the sealing element is then broken.

In a further preferred embodiment, at least one of the locks is provided with a blocking element which prevents accidental opening of the lock, and the holder is arranged such that a sealing element received therein co-acts with the blocking element. When the blocking element is moved into a release position, wherein the lock can be opened, the sealing element is broken. The invention will be further elucidated in the following description with reference to the annexed figures .

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a travel container according to the invention in the form of a suitcase.

Figure 2 shows a detail view of the suitcase of figure 1 as according to arrow II.

Figure 3 shows a part of a suitcase with another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 shows the suitcase of figure 3 in opened position.

Figure 5 shows a partly broken-away perspective view of a lock as shown in figure 2. Figure 6 shows a view corresponding with figure 5 with a sealing element placed in position.

Figure 7 shows a view according to arrow VII in figure 6.

Figure 1 shows a travel container in the form of a suitcase 1. This suitcase is of a per se known type consisting of two hard plastic shells 2, 3 which are hingedly connected to each other along an edge 4.

Suitcase 1 is provided in this embodiment with two clasp fastenings 5, 6. Clasp fastening 5 is provided in usual manner with a combination lock, using which the clasp fastening can be blocked in the closed position. Clasp fastening 6 is described in more detail hereinbelow with reference to figures 5-7.

Fastening 6 can be opened even when clasp fastening 5 is closed and blocked by the combination lock. While suitcase 1 cannot hereby be opened, it is however possible with some exertion of force to force the two shells of suitcase 2, 3 slightly apart at the position of their edges . Access to the interior of the suitcase can thus be obtained for removal of objects from or placing of objects in the suitcase.

In order to prevent this, a sealing element is applied according to the invention. Figures 3 and 4 show a first embodiment of such a sealing element.

Suitcase 10, a corner of which is shown in figures 3 and 4, likewise comprises two shells 11, 12 hingedly connected to each other. Close to a corner of one of the shells 12 a recess 14 is arranged in the contour. An opening 16 is situated in the relevant shell 12 at the position of this recess 14. This opening 16 lies in line with an opening 17 arranged in a lip 18 situated on the inner side of shell 11. In the closed situation the openings 16 and 17 lie at least practically against each other.

Sealing element 13 is provided with a pin-like protrusion with barbs 15. These can be placed through the openings 16 and 17 lying together in the closed position of the suitcase, wherein barbs 15 remain hooked behind the edges of opening 17. Barbs 15 are arranged on sealing element 13 such that when the suitcase is opened, barbs 15 or a part of sealing element 13 bearing these barbs 15 break off. It is therefore immediately apparent when suitcase 10 has been opened and closed again after arranging of sealing element 13, because sealing element 13 is then no longer inserted in openings 16, 17, but has been released therefrom.

For the sake of completeness, sealing element 13 is provided with a unique number so that sealing element 13, after unauthorized breakage, can be replaced by an identical sealing element.

As noted above, figures 5-7 show a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the sealing element co-acts with clasp fastening 6. This clasp fastening 6 comprises a clasp 20 which pivots at 21 on a bracket 23, which itself in turn pivots at 22 on a support 26 connected fixedly to suitcase part 2. Clasp 20 is provided on its free end with a hook-like outer end 24 which can drop into a recess 25 of the edge of suitcase part 3. It will be apparent that in the situation shown in figure 7 the clasp 20 holds suitcase part 3 clamped against suitcase part 2. The locking can be released by moving bracket 23 upward, whereby hook 24 can be taken out of recess 25.

In order to prevent unintended opening of clasp fastening 6, there is arranged on the outer part of bracket 23, at the position where clasp 20 pivots, a holding element 27 which likewise pivots about bracket 23. As seen in figure 7, holding element 27 is spring- loaded in counter-clockwise direction, whereby a protrusion 28 on the lower end thereof remains in engagement behind a protrusion 29 connected to support 26. Holding element 27 is provided with a finger-grip 30 with which holding element 27, as seen in figure 7, can be tilted in clockwise direction in order to release the engagement between protrusions 28 and 29 and to enable opening of the fastening 6. The embodiment of locking element 6 shown here further comprises a blocking element 35. This element 35 is received slidably in clasp 20 and provided on its underside with a pair of protruding hook-like parts 36. In the position shown in figures 5 and 6 the hook-like parts 36 protrude under a bent edge 37 formed integrally with support 26. Clasp 20 can hereby not be released, even after holding element 27 has been pivoted aside, since hook-like parts 36 remain hooked behind protrusion 37. In order to open the fastening, the blocking element 35 as seen in figures 5 and 6 can be displaced to the right, whereby hook-like parts 36 are released from under protrusion 37.

According to the invention a sealing element 40 is applied in this clasp fastening 6. This sealing element 40 is provided with a plate-like part 41 having on the underside two protruding barb-like parts 42.

Blocking element 35 is provided with a slot 43 through which the barb parts 42 can be placed. In the active position of blocking element 35 shown in figure 5, sealing element 40 can be placed with its barbs 42 through opening 43. The plate-like part 41 then fits precisely into the standing edge inside which the blocking element 35 is slidable. Barbs 42 drop under respectively the bent protrusion 37 of support 26 and a protrusion 45 at the bottom of clasp 20. The access to blocking element 35 is hereby closed off, so that lock 6 is held in the closed position. In order to reopen the lock, sealing element 40 must be whipped out of the mounting 46, wherein the barbs 42 will break off. The fastening can then be opened in the usual manner. The fastening can therefore not be opened and closed again unnoticed, because the absent sealing element 40 indicates that the fastening has been opened. Here too the sealing element 40 is provided with a unique number for the above described reason.

Sealing element 40 can also be embodied in other manner, i.e. such that blocking element 35 is still accessible, so that fastening 6 can be opened, wherein sealing element 40 is broken automatically. According to the invention a good sealing of a travel container such as a suitcase can therefore be achieved, wherein a sealing element is applied which either engages directly onto parts of the container or onto parts of a fastening which must necessarily be opened to be able to open the container at all.

Claims

1. Travel container, such as- a suitcase, comprising at least two container parts pivoting relative to each other between an open and a closed position, wherein in the closed position edges of the container parts lie in closing manner against each other, and comprising at least one releasable fastening engaging on the edges for holding the container parts in the closed position, characterized by sealing means arranged at the position of the edges, comprising a holder for receiving a sealing element and engaging parts of the container parts which extend close to the holder and which can be engaged non-releasably by the sealing element.

2. Travel container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder is arranged on the fastening and the engaging parts are connected to an operating element of the fastening.

3. Travel container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder is arranged such that a sealing element received therein makes an operating element of the fastening inaccessible.

4. Travel container as claimed in claim 1, wherein engaging parts of the container parts are parts of the travel container which are situated close to each other in the closed position and which are moved away from each other in the opened position.

5. Travel container as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the fastening is provided with a blocking element which prevents accidental opening of the fastening, and the holder is arranged such that a sealing element received therein co-acts with the blocking element .