SUITCASE

Abstract

Suitcase for transporting goods to be transported, the suitcase having: a corpus; a lid, which is connected, or connectable, to the corpus; and coupling structures provided at the corpus and/or at the lid; wherein in a closed state, an accommodating space for accommodating goods to be transported is formed between the corpus and the lid inaccessibly from the outside, wherein in an open state, the accommodating space is accessible from the outside, and wherein the coupling structures are formed such that the suitcase and another suitcase, which has coupling structures are, by the coupling structures, one upon the other, selectively: vertically detachably and protected against displacement stackable, or vertically non-removably coupleable with each other.

Claims

1.-29. (canceled)

30. Suitcase for transporting goods to be transported, the suitcase having: a corpus; a lid, which is connected, or connectable, to the corpus; coupling structures provided at the corpus and/or at the lid; wherein in a closed state, an accommodating space for accommodating goods to be transported is formed inaccessibly from the outside between the corpus and the lid; wherein in an open state, the accommodating space is accessible from the outside; wherein the coupling structures are configured such that the suitcase and another suitcase, which has coupling structures, in particular a similar other suitcase, by the coupling structures, are, one upon the other, selectively: vertically detachably and protected against displacement stackable; or vertically non-detachably coupleable with each other; wherein the coupling structures are configured such that the suitcase and the other suitcase, in the state, in which they are one upon the other vertically non-detachably coupled with each other, are selectively: displaceable relative to each other; or protectable against displacement relative to each other by actuating the coupling structures.

31. Suitcase according to claim 30, wherein a part of the coupling structures contribute both to the vertically detachable, protected against displacement stacking and to the vertically non-detachable coupling with each other.

32. Suitcase according to claim 30, wherein a coupling direction, along which the suitcase and the other suitcase can be arranged one upon the other for coupling, and a stacking direction, along which the suitcase and the other suitcase can be arranged one upon the other for stacking, are identical.

33. Suitcase according to claim 30, wherein one of the following options (a) to (f) is implemented: (a) a part of the coupling structures, which contribute to the protecting against displacement in the one upon the other vertically non-detachably coupled with each other state, are configured, and are actuable, independently from another part of the coupling structures, which contribute both to the vertically detachable, protected against displacement stacking and also to the vertically non-detachable coupling with each other; (b) a part of the coupling structures, by which the suitcase and the other suitcase are stackable one upon the other vertically non-detachably and protected against displacement, are configured in the form of latching cams provided at outer upper-side edge sections of the corpus as well as in the form of latching bases, which co-operate with the latching cams in the stacked state, and which have lower-side accommodating notches provided at outer, lower-side edge sections of the corpus; (c) a part of the coupling structures, by which the suitcase and the other suitcase are coupleable one upon the other vertically non-detachably with each other, are configured in the form of guide rails provided at outer, upper-side edge sections of the corpus as well as in the form of lower-side coupling projections, which co-operate with the guide rails in the coupled state, provided at outer, lower-side edge sections of the corpus; (d) wherein in option (b) or (c) preferably the latching cams form a part of the guide rails; and/or (e) wherein in option (b) or (c) preferably the coupling projections form a part of the latching bases; and/or (f) wherein in any one of the options (b) to (e) preferably the latching bases extend downwards vertically beyond a bottom surface of the corpus, such that the suitcase is depositable at the latching bases onto an underground.

34. Suitcase according to claim 30, wherein a part of the coupling structures, by which the suitcase and the other suitcase are protectable against displacement relative to each other, in the one upon the other vertically non-detachably coupled with each other state, is configured in the form of accommodating notches and latching sliders co-operating with the former, wherein the latching sliders are provided in particular at the corpus of said one suitcase, and are insertable into the accommodating notches provided in particular at the corpus of said other suitcase.

35. Suitcase according to claim 30, wherein at least a part of the coupling structures is provided at side surfaces of the corpus.

36. Suitcase according to claim 30, wherein the coupling structures are provided exclusively at the corpus.

37. Suitcase according to claim 30, wherein in the suitcase is configured to be selectively stackable or coupleable with a similar suitcase having an equal or different depth.

38. Suitcase according to claim 30, further having a handle provided at a side surface of the corpus, which handle is tiltable between a state folded to a side surface of the corpus and a state folded away from the side surface, wherein preferably the handle has a hard component for stabilizing and a soft component for touching the suitcase by a user upon carrying the suitcase.

39. Suitcase according to claim 30, having a hinge, which foldably connects the corpus and the lid with each other, and which is configured to be capable to fold over the suitcase between the closed state and the open state.

40. Suitcase according to claim 39, wherein latching bases extend downwards vertically beyond a bottom surface of the corpus, such that the suitcase is depositable at the latching bases onto an underground, wherein the latching bases and the hinge are configured such that the hinge is spaced non-contactingly with respect to the underground, if the suitcase lies on the underground by the latching bases.

41. Suitcase according to claim 30, wherein the corpus is configured non-detachably from the lid, so as to be applicable, in the detached state, as a drawer.

42. Suitcase according to claim 30, wherein accommodating structures for accommodating at least one accommodating container are formed at an inner side of the corpus and/or of the lid; (a) wherein preferably the suitcase has the at least one accommodating container, which is accommodated or accommodatable at the inner side; (b) wherein in option (a) preferably the accommodating structures and corresponding outer structures of the accommodating container are adapted to each other, such that an accommodating of the at least one accommodating container at the inner surface is enabled only in a pre-determined orientation and is made impossible in other orientations; (c) wherein in option (a) or (b) preferably the accommodating structures and corresponding outer structures of the accommodating container are adapted to each other, such that an accommodating of the at least one accommodating container at the inner surface is enabled at variable positions, which are selectable by a user; (d) wherein in any one of the options (a) to (c) preferably the accommodating structures and the accommodating container are adapted to each other, such that, in the closed state, the lid makes impossible a dropping out of goods to be transported from the accommodating container.

43. Suitcase according to claim 30, wherein at least a portion of the lid is transparent.

44. Suitcase according to claim 30, wherein a document holder is fixed at an inner side of the lid.

45. An arrangement having: a suitcase according to claim 30; an additional body, which has coupling structures; wherein the suitcase and the additional body are configured such that the coupling structures of the suitcase and the coupling structures of the additional body can be brought in an operative connection with each other, such that the suitcase and the additional body are selectively: vertically detachably, protected against displacement stackable; or vertically non-detachably coupleable with each other.

46. The arrangement according to claim 45, wherein the additional body is an additional suitcase or a storage box.

47. The arrangement according to claim 45, wherein the additional body has another depth than the suitcase.

48. Method for handling a suitcase for transporting goods to be transported, the method comprising: handling a corpus and a lid, which is connected, or connectable, to the corpus, so as to transform the suitcase between a closed state, in which the corpus and the lid form an accommodating space for accommodating goods to be transported inaccessibly from the outside, and an opening state, in which the accommodating space is accessible from the outside; handling coupling structures provided at the corpus and/or at the lid, so as, by the coupling structures, to selectively, one upon the other: stack the suitcase and another, in particular similar, suitcase vertically detachably and protected against displacement, or to couple the suitcase to the other suitcase vertically non-detachably with each other; wherein the coupling structures are configured such that the suitcase and the other suitcase are, by the coupling structures, in the state, one upon the other vertically non-detachable coupled with each other state, are selectively displaceable relative to each other; or protectable against displacement relative to each other by actuating the coupling structures.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] In the following, exemplary embodiment examples of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the following figures.

[0058] FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 show a suitcase according to an exemplary embodiment example of the invention in an open state.

[0059] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show the suitcase according to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 in a closed state.

[0060] FIG. 6 shows a suitcase, as it is depicted in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, in a state coupled with another similar suitcase.

[0061] FIG. 7 shows the corpus, which is depicted according to FIG. 1 to FIG. 6, without lid.

[0062] FIG. 8 shows another view of the suitcase according to FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 in the closed state.

[0063] FIG. 9 shows accommodating structures of a suitcase according to an exemplary embodiment of the example in co-operation with corresponding accommodating structures of assortment boxes accommodated in the suitcase.

[0064] FIG. 10 shows a suitcase according to another exemplary embodiment example of the invention, having a transparent lid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0065] Similar or like components in different figures are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0066] Before exemplary embodiment examples of the invention are described with reference to the figures, some general aspects of the invention shall still be explained.

[0067] A suitcase according to an exemplary embodiment example of the invention may have a bottom, which may also be called corpus, and a lid as well as four side walls (which may, for example, form parts of the corpus). Handle recesses for a hand of a user for relocating the suitcase may be arranged on two opposing sides (for example a right side and a left side). For example, two lid latches may be provided at the handle side for latching the lid to the corpus. Alternatively, also two, three or even more handles may be formed at a handle side for carrying the suitcase. The handle may be formed of two components, a hard and a soft component. There may be an abutment, which may prevent a tilting by more than a predefinable angle of for example 120°, alternatively at least 90°. Three (alternatively, at least two) corpus rail sections, which may be formed, for example, as latching cams, may be arranged at the right and at the left side wall at the side of the lid. These may be formed integrally with the corpus, and may have recesses in a lid-side surface. Three (alternatively, at least two) bottom rail sections, which may be formed, for example, as latching bases (or latching feet), may be located at the right and at the left side wall at the side of the bottom. These may be formed integrally with the corpus. They may have recesses in the bottom-side surface (alternatively, projections from the bottom).

[0068] For merely putting two suitcases one upon the other (state I), bottom rail sections may be put on corpus rail sections. The handle sides of the suitcases may be aligned with each other in this position.

[0069] For holding two suitcases against each other (state II), the bottom rail sections may be put on a running rail provided underneath the corpus rail sections, and the upper suitcase may be displaced (or shifted) backwards relatively to the lower one, up to an abutment. Corpus rails sections and running sections then jointly may form a guide rail. In this state, the cases may be held against each other, however displaceable along the direction of the rails. Handle side surfaces of the suitcases may be preferably aligned with each other in the state II.

[0070] For holding two suitcases against each other and for locking them to each other (state III), these may be shifted into each other (as according to state II) and then the suitcase may latche (which may be formed as latching sliders, which may be inserted in corresponding accommodating notches) are actuated, whereby the suitcases may no longer be displaceable relatively to each other. In this state, the suitcases may be held against each other and may be locked to each other.

[0071] The states II and III may be realized, if the suitcase having the suitcase bottom possibly lies on an underground, or if the suitcase possibly stands on its bases (or feet). On the side that is opposite to the handle side, the suitcase may have, for example, six knuckle feet or latching feet (alternatively, at least two), on which the suitcase may be deposited. The height of the knuckle feet may be selected such that the hinges of the lid may have no contact to an underground. A lock may be provided at a lid latch for possibly locking the suitcase or the suitcases.

[0072] Storage boxes may also be provided with rail sections for holding and for latching, if needed, the storage box to the suitcase. The rail sections may also be formed as continuous rails. However, it may also be possible to form only one rail section as a continuous rail. The corpus without lid may be used as a drawer in a cupboard, a mobile workshop, or an office furnishing. If suitcases having different depths are to be connected with each other, corresponding rail sections may be provided. Bottom rail sections may be formed replaceably with the corpus. The suitcase latches may also be formed as turning elements.

[0073] A particularly advantageous aspect of embodiment examples of the invention may be the separation of the functions “laid against each other” (state I), “held against each other” (state II) as well as “held against each other and locked with each other” (state III). All the operating elements and/or the coupling structures may be arranged at the handle side.

[0074] Suitcases having different depths, but equal widths, may jointly be brought in the states I, II and III.

[0075] FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show a suitcase 10 according to an exemplary embodiment example of the invention in an open state. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show the suitcase 10 according to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 in a closed state. FIG. 6 shows a suitcase 10, as is depicted in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, in a state coupled to another similar suitcase 10′. FIG. 6 thus shows an arrangement 99, which shows the suitcase 10 and the additional similar suitcase 10′ in a connection state. FIG. 7 shows a corpus 12, which is depicted according to FIG. 1 to FIG. 6, of the suitcase 10 without lid 14. FIG. 8 shows another view of the suitcase 10 according to FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 in the closed state.

[0076] The suitcase 10 may serve for transporting goods to be transported. Such goods to be transported may be accommodated (or received) in the interior of the suitcase loosely or fixedly and/or securedly, and may in particular be accommodated in accommodating containers 80 (not shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 8, refer to FIG. 9), which in turn may be accommodated safely in the closed state of the suitcase 10 in the interior thereof. Examples of such goods to be transported may be consumption items (such as screws, nails, rawlplugs, bulk material, or liquids) or tools (such as, for example, screwdrivers or bits), etc.

[0077] The suitcase 10 may have a corpus 12 and a lid 14 that may be connected, or may be connectable, to the corpus 12. Enforcement ribs 28 for mechanically strengthening the suitcase 10 may be formed at the inner side of the corpus 12. Various coupling structures 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44 may be arranged, in the embodiment example shown, exclusively at the corpus 12, and, by contrast, not at the lid 14. In the closed state between the corpus 12 and the lid 14, an accommodating space may be enclosed inaccessibly from the outside for accomodating goods to be transported. In an opening state, the accommodating space may be accessible from the outside, for example for possibly removing goods to be transported from the suitcase 10 or to possibly bring them into the suitcase 10.

[0078] The coupling structures 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44 may be formed such that the suitcase 10 and the identical other suitcase 10′ are, by the coupling structures 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44 (which thus may also be provided at the other suitcase 10′), selectively, one upon the other: vertically detachably and horizontally protected against displacement stackable (state I), or vertically non-detachably and horizontally displaceably coupleable with each other (state II). Furthermore, the suitcases 10, 10′ may be coupled vertically non- detachably and horizontally non-displaceably coupled with each other (state III). The coupling structures 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44, which may perform the stacking (state I) as well as the coupling (state II, state III) of the plural suitcases 10, 10′, may be realized exclusively by provisions provided at the respective corpus 12 (refer to the latching cams 30 and accommodating notches 36 of latching bases 34, coupling projections 38 provided at the latching bases 34, a guide rail 30, 32 provided between the latching cams 30, and steps 32 as well as latching sliders 40 and accommodating notches 44 possibly co-operating with each other), but possibly without provisions being provided at the lid 14 for these purposes.

[0079] For activating the state I, the other suitcase 10′ may be arranged vertically over the suitcase 10, and may subsequently be lowered onto the suitcase 10 such that the accommodating notches 36 at the latching bases 34 of the other suitcase 10′ may come in engagement with the latching cams 30 of the suitcase 10. The accommodating notches 36 provided at the latching bases 34 of the other suitcase 10′ as well as the latching cams 30 of the suitcase 10 then may provide that the other suitcase 10′ may be lifted off vertically from the suitcase 10 (that is, an inverse movement with respect to the stacking movement) at any time, but may be protected against a displaceability in the horizontal plane by the form-fit between the accommodating notches 36 provided at the latching feet 36 of the other suitcase 10′ and the latching cams 30 of the suitcase 10.

[0080] For activating the state II, the other suitcase 10′ may be arranged in the horizontal plane in front of the suitcase 10, and may be vertically lifted slightly with respect to the suitcase 10, such that the coupling projections 38 of the other suitcase 10′ may be arranged at a height between the latching cams 30 and the guide rails 30, 32 of the suitcase 10. Then, the activation of the state II may be completed by displacing (or pushing) the other suitcase 10′ on (or over) the suitcase 10, such that the coupling projections 38 of the other suitcase 10′ may pull (or dunk) in between the latching cams 30 and the guide rails 30, 32 of the suitcase 10. In the state II, a lifting off (or detaching) of the other suitcase 10′ from the suitcase 10 may be made impossible by the form-fit between the coupling projections 38, on the one hand, and the latching cams 30 and/or the guide rails 30, 32, on the other hand. At the same time, a separation of the suitcase 10 from the other suitcase 10′ may be possible by a horizontal displacing of the other suitcase 10′ from the suitcase 10, namely by an inverse displacing movement in comparison to the movement, with which the state II may have been completed.

[0081] For possibly activating the state III starting from the state II, in the displaced on (or over) each other state (i.e. in the state of the suitcases 10, 10′, wherein the suitcase 10′ may be displaced on (or over) the suitcase 10), the latching sliders 40 of the other suitcase 10′ may be inserted into the accommodating notches 44 of the suitcase 10 by a vertical displacing movement. In the state III thus possibly completed, also a protection against displacement between the suitcases 10, 10′ may be formed, such that then, neither a vertical lifting off nor a horizontal displacing of the suitcases 10, 10′ from each other may be possible.

[0082] A part of the coupling structures 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44 (namely the coupling structures having the reference numerals 30, 34 to 38) may contribute both to the vertically detachably protected against displacement stacking, and to the vertically non-detachably coupling with each other.

[0083] As has been described already, the coupling structures 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44 may be formed such that the suitcase 10 and the other suitcase 10′ are, by the coupling structures 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44, in the one upon the other vertically non-detachably coupled with each other state, selectively displaceable with respect to each other (state II, in which coupling structures 40, 44 are not in engagement with each other), or protectable against displacement with respect to each other by actuating the coupling structures 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44 (state II, in which coupling structures 40, 44 are in engagement with each other). A part of the coupling structures 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44 (namely the coupling structures having the reference numerals 40 and 44), which part, in the one upon the other vertically non-detachably protected against displacement coupled with each other state III, may contribute to the protection against displacement, may be formed, and may be actuated, independently from another part (namely the coupling structures having the reference numerals 30, 32, 34, 36, 38) of the coupling structures 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44, which part may contribute to the vertically detachable protected against displacement stacking and/or to the vertically non-detachable coupling with each other (state I and/or state II).

[0084] The part of the coupling structures 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44, by which the suitcase 10 and the other suitcase 10′ may be stackable one upon the other vertically non-detachably protected against displacement, may be formed in the form of latching cams 30 provided at outer upper edge sections of the corpus 12 as well as in the form of latching feet 34 having bottom side accommodating notches 36 provided at outer bottom-side edge sections of the corpus 12, which notches 36 may co-operate with the latching cams 30 in the stacked state.

[0085] The part of the coupling structures 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44, by which the suitcase 10 and the other suitcase 10′ may be coupleable with each other one upon the other vertically non-detachably, may be formed in the form of the guide rails 30, 32 provided at outer upper edge sections of the corpus 12 as well as in the form of bottom side coupling projections 38 provided at outer bottom edge sections of the corpus 12, which projections 38 may co-operate with the guide rails 30, 32 in the coupled state. Thereby, the latching cams 30 may form a part of the guide rails 30, 32, and the coupling projections 38 may form a part of the latching bases (or latching feet) 34. The latching bases 34 may extend downwards vertically beyond a bottom surface of the corpus 12 (see FIG. 4), such that the suitcase 10 may be deposited onto an underground by the latching bases 34.

[0086] The part of the coupling structures 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44, by which the suitcase 10 and the other suitcase 10′ may be protectable against displacement with respect to each other in the one upon the other vertically non-detachably coupled with each other state (state III), may be formed in the form of accommodating notches 44 and the latching sliders 40 possibly co-operating with the former. As is indicated by an arrow 42 in FIG. 1, the latching sliders 40 provided at the corpus 12 of the other suitcase 10′ may be insertable into the accommodating notches 40 provided at the corpus 12 of the suitcase 10 (if the other suitcase 10′ is arranged above the suitcase 10, as in FIG. 6), or reversely (if the suitcase 10 is arranged above the other suitcase 10′).

[0087] All the coupling structures 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44 may be provided at side surfaces of the corpus 12 (refer, for example to FIG. 1). By contrast to this, the lid 14 may be free from coupling structures 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44.

[0088] The suitcase 10 further may have grasp recesses 26 in the form of recesses provided at side surfaces of the corpus 12, which may be opposite to each other.

[0089] Furthermore, a locking device 46, 48, 50, 52 may be provided for locking the lid 14 to the corpus 12 in the closed state. In the closed state of the suitcase 10, a locking with a counterpart 48 of the lid 14 may be effected by a key 50 in a turning lock 52 in an accommodating element 46 of the corpus 12 in the closed state of the suitcase 10. If the lid 14 is tilted (by a hinge 16, which is described in detail below), for closing the interior of the corpus 12, then, locking elements of the turning lock 52 provided at the corpus 12 may latch with the counterpart 48 provided at the lid 14. The turning lock 52 provided at the corpus 12, which may be activated by the retractable key 50, may comprise a swivelling clamp, which may pulls into the counterpart 48 provided at the lid 14.

[0090] A handle 54 may be fixed in a recess provided at a side surface of the corpus 12, which may be on the top in a carrying state, and may be tiltable between a state folded to the side surface of the corpus 12 (see FIG. 1) and a state folded away from the side surface. A transition between these two states may be effected by the user by handling the handle 54. The handle 54 may be formed of a hard component 56 for stabilizing and supporting the handle 54 and of a soft component 58 for a comfortable touching of the suitcase 10 by a user when carrying the suitcase 10. The handle 54 provided at the corpus 12 may be folded to the latter, and may remain there in a compact position by the effect of a latching cam, which may latch the handle 54 in the folded-in state. A label field 75 may be provided in the region of the handle 54, into which label field a marking carrier, which may, for example, be indicative for the contents of the suitcase 10, may be inserted.

[0091] The suitcase 10 further may have a hinge 16, which may foldably connect the corpus 12 and the lid 14 to each other, and which may be configured to be capable to fold the suitcase 10 between the closed state and the open state. The latching bases 34 and the hinge 16 may be adapted and positioned structurally with respect to each other such that the hinge 16 may remain non-contactingly at a distance with respect to the underground, if the suitcase 10 lies on the underground by the latching bases 34.

[0092] As can be recognized in FIG. 1, a document holder 68 may be fixed at an inner side of the lid 14, by which document holder documents, which are not shown in FIG. 1, may be clamped temporarily and may thus be attached during the transportation.

[0093] Both the corpus 12 and the lid 14 may be formed, from the manufacturing standpoint, simply as a die cast component. Subsequently, further components (for example, the latching slider 40 at the corpus 12, or the document holder 68 at the lid 14) may be fixed to the respective die cast component.

[0094] The suitcases 10, 10′ may also be configured for receiving assortment boxes 80 (refer to FIG. 9), in which, for example, tool materials, such as screws, rawlplugs or others, may be accommodated. This is described in more detail below with reference to the embodiment example according to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. In the closed state of the respective suitcases 10, 10′, the assortment boxes 80 may be secured inaccessibly for a user in the interior of the respective suitcases 10, 10′, whereas a user may access the assortment boxes 80 in the open state of the respective suitcase 10, 10′.

[0095] As is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, longitudinal bars 18 and transverse bars 20, which may intersect each other cross-wisely, may project in an elevated manner above a plane underlayment at an inner side of the corpus 12. Frames 22, which may be non-square-shaped, which may be rectangular, and which may project in an elevated manner, may be fixed in the intersection regions of the longitudinal bars 18 and the transverse bars 20, wherein the frames 22 may form, jointly with the longitudinal bars 18 and the transverse bars 20, in each intersection region, four non-square-shaped rectangular accommodating recesses 24 for accommodating bases (or feet) 86 of assortment boxes 80 and/or 80′, wherein the bases 86 may be substantially shaped inversely to the accommodating recesses 24 (compare FIG. 9). Adjacent accommodating recesses 24 may have a different spacing in the longitudinal and the transverse directions. On the inner surface of the shell-shaped corpus 12, which may define the major portion of the accommodating volume, accommodating structures (see reference numerals 18, 20) may be integrally formed as elevated ribs with respect to the plane base surface in a line-wise and a column-wise manner. This may be effected, for example, in the framework of a die casting process, by which the corpus 12 may be manufactured. Additional accommodating structures (see reference numeral 22) may provide for defining rectangular non-square-shaped accommodating areas 24 for accommodating accommodating containers, which are not shown in FIG. 1, at variable positions, however, respectively, only in one desired orientation.

[0096] The arrangement of the accommodating recesses 24 may be largely equidistant, and may be symmetrical in the direction of lines and columns. This equidistance and/or symmetry may be broken, however, in a central region, because there, a range of accommodating recesses 24 may have a geometry, which may deviate from the other accommodating recesses 24, for production-oriented reasons (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2).

[0097] FIG. 1 to FIG. 8 show an embodiment example of the suitcase 10, in which, for example, also a large tool can be accommodated in the accommodating space of the corpus 12, and then the suitcase 10 can be closed.

[0098] An outer side of the lid 14 may be formed with a central recess 60, which may be confined circumferentially by an annular protrusion 62. For obtaining a plane surface at the inner side of the lid 14, an annular recess at the inner side of the lid 14, which annular recess may correspond to the annular protrusion 62, may be covered with an annular passepartout 64, which may be ultrasonically welded circumferentially to the lid 14. The document holder 68, which may be formed of plastic, and which may be for clampingly attaching documents, may be mounted to the passepartout 64 by plastic clips 66.

[0099] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the suitcase 10 according to FIG. 1, and enables recognizing that the coupling structures may extend in part laterally beyond the respective side wall of the corpus 12.

[0100] FIG. 3 shows the suitcase 10 according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 in an open state, but from an outer side. Also in FIG. 3, it can be recognized, how the different coupling structures may be formed at side surfaces of the corpus 12.

[0101] FIG. 4 shows a front side of the suitcase 10 in the closed state, in which the handle 54 may be folded to a side wall arranged at the front side. Also, the coupling projections 38, which may project inwardly from a bottom side of the latching bases 34, can be recognized well, wherein the coupling notches 38 may extend inwardly so as to be capable to possibly engage between latching cams 30 and guide rails of a lower suitcase that is not shown in FIG. 4.

[0102] FIG. 5 shows a stereoscopic view of the suitcase 10 in the closed state. The accommodating recesses 36 provided at the bottom side of the latching bases 34, which may be confined laterally by a protrusion, which may ensure a protection against displacement in the horizontal plane, can be recognized well. The coupling structures 38 may be formed as hollow profiles, and thus light-weight and compatible with die casting. The latching cams 30 may be formed and dimensioned so as to possibly be capable to engage in the accommodating notches 36 of the latching bases 34.

[0103] FIG. 7 shows the corpus 12 without lid 14, and enables recognizing that all the coupling structures may be provided at the corpus 12.

[0104] In FIG. 8, the suitcase 10 is shown in the closed state, and the figure enables recognizing particularly well the latching cams 30 and a corresponding shaping of the side wall for defining the guide rails 30, 32.

[0105] FIG. 9 shows an implementation of the inner-sided bottom surface of the corpus 12 of a suitcase 10 according to another exemplary embodiment example of the invention, wherein the bottom surface may have accommodating containers 80 possibly being accommodated therein. The accommodating containers 80 each may have four bases (or feet) 86, which may be inserted into rectangular accommodating recesses 24, which may be formed between the accommodating structures 18, 20, 22. Additional interfering (or disturbing) structures 84 in the form of elevated ribs provided at the inner-side bottom surface of the corpus 12 may prevent a misarrangement of the accommodating containers 80 at the corpus 12, because the interfering structures 84 may exclude a tilt-free accommodation of the accommodating containers 80 in the accommodating structures (see reference numerals 18, 20, 22) in the case of an erroneous orientation of one of the accommodating containers 80. The accommodating structures having the reference numerals 18, 20, 22, 84 may co-operate with corresponding bottom-side accommodating structures 82 of assortment boxes 80 which may be incorporated in the suitcase 10. The accommodating containers 80 may be reversibly accommodatable on the inner side of the suitcase 10, i.e. they may be put on and/or be relocated in a user-defined manner. The accommodating structures may have the reference numerals 18, 20, 22 and the corresponding outside accommodating structures 82 of the accommodating container 80, which may be, for example, open at the top, may be adapted (or fitted) with respect to each other such that an accommodation of the at least one accommodating container 80 at the inner surface may be enabled only in one predefined orientation and may be made impossible in other orientations. This may be effected by the interfering structures 84 provided at the corpus 12 in combination with the accommodating structures 82 of the assortment boxes 80. The accommodating structures having the reference numerals 18, 20, 22 and corresponding accommodating structures 82 of the accommodating container 80 may, however, be adapted with respect to each other, such that an accommodation of the at least one accommodating container 80 may be enabled at the inner surface at variable positions, which may be selectable by a user.

[0106] According to FIG. 9, interfering ribs, which may project in an elevated manner from the plane underlayment, may be formed as interfering structures 84 at the inner side of the corpus 12. In addition, interfering contours may be formed as accommodating structures 82 at the bottom of the assortment boxes 80 and/or 80′, which may be open on the top. Three assortment boxes 80, which are depicted in FIG. 9 in the upper row as well as in the left column of the lower row, may stand with respectively four bases 86 in four accommodating recesses 24, wherein the interfering structures 84 and the accommodating structures 82 may not stand in each other's way interferingly such that the three described assortment boxes 80 may be correctly accommodated at the corpus 12. In contrast to the three assortment boxes 80, which may be correctly accommodated at the corpus 12, the assortment box 80′ in the lower row and the right column according to FIG. 9 may be rotated by 180°, whereby the accommodating structure 82 thereof and the interfering structures 84 of the corpus 12 may stand in each other's way interferingly, such that the assortment box 80 may not be accommodated stably at the corpus 12. Thus, the described structural features may provide that the assortment boxes 80, 80′ may be deposited stably in the accommodating recesses 24 in exactly only one orientation. A positioning of the assortment boxes 80, 80′, which may be rotated by 180° or 90°, may be mechanically made impossible.

[0107] The accommodating structures having the reference numerals 18, 20, 22 provided at the corpus 12 as well as accommodating structures, which are not shown in FIG. 9 (which may be realized as positioning bars 88 in FIG. 10), and which may be provided at the lid 14, on the one hand, and the accommodating container 80, on the other hand, may furthermore be adapted to each other such that, in the closed state of the suitcase 10, the lid 14 may make impossible a falling (or dropping) out of bulk material from the accommodating container 80. For example, the accommodating container 80 may be protected from an undesired displacing (or shifting) movement at the bottom side by the accommodating structures having the reference numerals 18, 20, 22, and may be protected from an undesired displacing movement at a circumferential edge, which may be open at the top (at which goods to be transported may be inserted in the accommodating container 80, which may be open at the top, or may be withdrawn therefrom), by accommodating structures of the lid 14. Thereby, goods to be transported, which even may have a small volume, may be protected from a falling out from the accommodating container 80, if the suitcase 10 is handled in the closed state.

[0108] FIG. 10 shows a suitcase 10 according to another exemplary embodiment example of the invention, possibly having a transparent lid 14. In FIG. 10, there is shown a suitcase 10 possibly having a transparent lid 14, which may allow a view from the outside into the interior of the suitcase 10, even if the lid 14 and the corpus 12 may be arranged in the closed state with each other.

[0109] FIG. 10 shows an embodiment example of a suitcase 10 possibly having a transparent lid 14, at the inner surface of which positioning bars 88 may project in an elevated manner, wherein the bars may be surrounded by a circumferential edge, which may be open at the top, of the respective assortment box 80. In this way, an assortment box 80 may be accommodated in the accommodating recesses 24 at the lower side and may be confined by the positioning bars 88 at the upper side, so as to possibly be fixed with an allowance for clearance both at the upper side and at the bottom side. It may be avoided by the positioning bars 88 that bulk material of small volume (or small size) (for example flat washers) fall out from assortment boxes 80, which may be open at the top. In the example shown, the assortment box 80 may have an area, which may be more than double the area of each one of the two positioning bars 88, which may be surrounded by the box. However, an assortment box 80 having another size may also surround only one positioning bar 88, or more than two positioning bars 88.

[0110] Supplementary, it is to be noted that “having” or “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and that “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. In addition, it is to be noted that features or steps, which have been described above with reference to one of the above embodiment examples, may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiment examples that have been described above. Reference numerals in the claims are not to be construed as limitations.