SUITCASE

Abstract

The technology concerns a suitcase. More particularly the disclosure is directed to a collapsible suitcase.

Claims

1. A suitcase comprising a back shell and a front shell, both of which being made of a rigid material; the back shell is configured with a substantially flat back base and a perimetric back wall extending upwards from the flat back base, and the front shell is configured with a substantially flat front base and a perimetric front wall extending upwards from the flat front base; a flexible perimetric closed-loop side wall of the suitcase is attached along one of a back edge and a front edge of the flexible perimetric side wall to one of a perimetric edge of the perimetric back wall and a perimetric edge of the perimetric front wall, respectively, with the other one of the back edge and the front edge of the flexible perimetric side wall being articulated to an articulation portion of the other of the perimetric edge of the perimetric back wall and perimetric edge of the perimetric front wall, the flexible perimetric side wall comprising a sliding closure along a reclosable portion that extends along the edge of the flexible perimetric side wall that is articulated via the articulation portion, the sliding closure extending along said entire edge of the flexible perimetric side wall excluding the articulation portion; the suitcase is configurable between an expanded position and a collapsed position, wherein at the collapsed position the perimetric front wall accommodates the perimetric edge of the perimetric back wall and wherein the thickness of the suitcase at the collapsed position corresponds with a height of the back shell and a thickness of the front base.

2. The suitcase of claim 1, wherein the front shell is larger than the back shell, and at the collapsed position at least a portion of the perimetric back wall is enveloped by the perimetric front wall, giving rise to a space extending between an inside face of the back base and an inside face the front base, said space having a height substantially corresponding with a height of the perimetric back wall, and further wherein at the collapsed position said space accommodates the perimetric side wall.

3. The suitcase of claim 1, wherein one or more rigid support boards are articulated at inside portions of the back shell, wherein at the expanded position said one or more rigid support boards are disposed flush against corresponding portions of the perimetric side wall.

4. The suitcase of claim 1, wherein a rigid bottom support board extends at least at a bottom base of the suitcase, and is configured such that at the collapsed position said bottom support board is disposed substantially parallel to the back base, and at the expanded position said bottom support board is disposed substantially normal to the back wall and flush against a corresponding bottom portion of the perimetric side wall.

5. The suitcase of claim 4, wherein at least one additional support board is configured, at a top base of the suitcase and is configured such that at the collapsed position said additional support board is disposed substantially parallel to the back base, and at the expanded position said support board can be disposed substantially normal to the back wall and flush against a corresponding top portion of the perimetric side wall.

6. The suitcase of claim 5, wherein the one or more support boards are detachably attachable at portions thereof to an inside face of the corresponding the perimetric side wall and the one or more support boards are articulated to the back shell near a perimetric edge of the perimetric back wall.

7. (canceled)

8. The suitcase of claim 1, wherein at the collapsed position the perimetric edge of the perimetric back wall substantially bears against the inside face of front base.

9. The suitcase of claim 1, wherein a planar footprint of the front shell is slightly greater than a planar footprint of the back shell.

10. The suitcase of claim 1, wherein the flexible perimetric side wall is folded inwards into a space extending between an inside face of the back base and an inside face the front base at the collapsed position.

11. The suitcase of claim 1, wherein at least a pair of rear wheels is articulated near a rear bottom portion of the back shell, wherein a base of the wheels is disposed at the inside face of the back base, said base being lower than the height of the perimetric back wall.

12. (canceled)

13. The suitcase of claim 1, wherein a handle is configured at least at one location of the perimetric side wall, said handle being stored within the space at the collapsed position.

14. The suitcase of claim 1, further comprising a telescopic handle, said telescopic handle configurable between a retracted position and an extended position, the telescopic handle mechanism comprising one or more telescopic rods disposed flush with the back base, and a handle which at the collapsed position is stowed within a depression configured at a top base of the back shell.

15. The suitcase of claim 14, wherein the one or more telescopic rods are received within longitudinal recesses configures at an outside face of the back base.

16. The suitcase of claim 14, wherein the one or more telescopic rods are fully received within received within the longitudinal recesses and substantially do not project from an outside face of the back base.

17. The suitcase of claim 14, wherein the one or more telescopic rods are attached to an inside face of the back base, and projecting through an opening at a top base of the back base.

18. The suitcase of claim 14, wherein the longitudinal recesses are disposed within the space defined at the collapsed position therefrom.

19. The suitcase of claim 14, wherein one or more ground support pieces are configured at one or more locations of the perimetric side wall, near front edge portions thereof.

20. The suitcase of claim 14, wherein the height of the perimetric side wall can be extended by a zipper.

21. The suitcase of claim 1, wherein the inside face of the one or both of the back shell and the front shell can be configured with a liner.

22. The suitcase of claim 1, wherein one or both of the front base and the back base can comprise one or more closable openings, facilitating access into the space of the suitcase.

23. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0064] In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0065] FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of the suitcase subject of an example of the present disclosure, at a collapsed position;

[0066] FIG. 1B is a rear perspective view of the suitcase of FIG. 1A;

[0067] FIG. 1C is a side view of the suitcase of FIG. 1A;

[0068] FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of the suitcase at its expanded position;

[0069] FIG. 2B is a rear perspective view of the suitcase of FIG. 2A;

[0070] FIG. 2C is a side view of the suitcase of FIG. 2A;

[0071] FIG. 2D is a back side view of the suitcase of FIG. 2A;

[0072] FIG. 2E is a front side view of the suitcase of FIG. 2A;

[0073] FIG. 2F is a top side view of the suitcase of FIG. 2A;

[0074] FIG. 3A is a cross section taken along line 3A-3A in FIG. 1B;

[0075] FIG. 3B is a cross section taken along line 3B-3B in FIG. 1A;

[0076] FIG. 3C is a cross section taken along line 3C-3C in FIG. 1A;

[0077] FIG. 3D is a cross section taken along line 3D-3D in FIG. 1B;

[0078] FIG. 3E is a cross section taken along line 3E-3E in FIG. 1B;

[0079] FIG. 4A is a longitudinal section taken along line 4A-4A in FIG. 2A;

[0080] FIG. 4B is a cross section taken along line 4B-4B in FIG. 2B;

[0081] FIG. 4C is a section at the level of line 4C-4C in FIG. 2E;

[0082] FIG. 4D is a perspective longitudinal section of the suitcase through a telescopic support rod, along line 4D-4D in FIG. 2D;

[0083] FIG. 5A illustrates deploying a top support board and a bottom support board into their extended position;

[0084] FIG. 5B illustrated the suitcase at its expanded, fully open position;

[0085] FIG. 6 illustrates another example of the suitcase, fully opened at its expanded position, with four support boards deployed;

[0086] FIG. 7A is a local section along line 7A-7A in FIG. 6;

[0087] FIG. 7B is an enlargement of the portion marked 7B in FIG. 7A; and

[0088] FIG. 8 illustrates the suitcase at its expanded position, at an upright position, with the telescopic handle at its extracted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0089] Attention is made to the annexed drawings showing an example of a collapsible suitcase according to this disclosure, generally designated 10, deployable between a collapsed position (FIGS. 1A-1C and 3A to 3E), and an expanded position (FIGS. 2A to 2F and 4A to 8).

[0090] The suitcase 10 comprises a back shell 12 and a front shell 14, both shells 12 and 14 made of a non-pliable, rigid material, such as molded polymeric resins, composite materials etc. The back shell 12 is configured with a substantially flat back base 18 and a perimetric back wall 20 extending upwards therefrom. The front shell 14 is configured with a substantially flat front base 24 and a perimetric front wall 26 extending upwards therefrom.

[0091] A flexible perimetric side wall 30 of the suitcase is made of flexible material such as fabric, synthetic materials e.g. flexible plastic, rubber, etc., with or without reinforcements, is attached, e.g. by stitching, welding, adhering, etc., in this specific example, along a back edge 32 thereof to a perimetric edge 34 of the perimetric back wall 20, with a front edge 38 of the perimetric side wall 30 articulated to a perimetric edge 40 of the perimetric front wall 26 at articulation portion 27 (better seen in FIGS. 5A-6), and the front edge 38 of the perimetric side wall 30 is engageable with the perimetric edge 40 of the perimetric front wall 26 by a zipper fastener 42 (FIGS. 2A to 2C) extending along the entire front edge 38 excluding the articulation portion 27. The zipper fastener 42 comprising a front zipper tape 44 attached to the perimetric edge 40 of perimetric front wall 26, and a back zipper tape configured at the front edge 38 of the perimetric side wall 30 (said back zipper tape can be integral with or integrated with the front edge 38 of the perimetric side wall 30). A pair of zipper pull tabs 45 is provided, for closing/opening the zipper 42. It is noted that although the specific example refers to articulation of the flexible perimetric side wall 30 to the perimetric front wall 26 of the front shell, this is but a mere example; it is to be understood that this disclosure also encompasses alternative arrangements in which the flexible perimetric side wall can be articulated to the perimetric back wall by via an articulation portion and a zipper arrangement located at the perimetric edge of the back perimetric wall.

[0092] Whilst not illustrated, the suitcase can be configured with an expansion mechanism, by configuring a zipper over a flexible gusset portion at the perimetric side wall 30, whereby opening said zipper enlarges the width of the perimetric side wall 30, and closing said zipper contracts the perimetric side wall 30.

[0093] It is appreciated that one or both the front base 24 and the back base 18 can comprise one or more closable openings (not shown), wherein the one or more closable openings can facilitate access into the space of the suitcase. Such closable openings can be in addition or instead a fastener at the perimetric side wall.

[0094] Either or both the front base and the back base can comprise one or more soft portions (not shown). Said soft portions can be integrated with the rigid shell or they can be applied thereto by a closure system, e.g. a zipper fastener, facilitating access to the inside space of the suitcase

[0095] A pair of wheels 48 is articulated at a bottom portion of the back shell 12, said wheels 48 can be free swivel wheels or roller wheels, with a flat support base 50 comprising an outside portion 50A and an inside portion 50B, the latter fixedly disposed within the suitcase, as will be discussed hereinafter.

[0096] The suitcase is further configured with a telescopic handle disposed at the back shell 12, said handle comprising, in the present example, two telescopic rods 60 (e.g. seen in FIGS. 1B, 2B, 2D) and a handle 62 disposed at the top end of the telescopic rods. The telescopic handle is manipulable between a retracted position (FIGS. 1B, 2B, 2D, etc.) and an extracted position (FIG. 8) used for rolling along the suitcase 10. The arrangement is such that at the retracted position of the telescopic handle, the handle 62 is received within a depression 64 at a top back face of the back shell 12, thus it does not project above and behind the surface of the back shell 12. Likewise, the telescopic rods 60 are each received within a support guide tube 63 which in turn is fixedly secured within a longitudinal recess 65 at the back base 18, such that the guide tubes 63 are flush with the back surface of the back base 18 (i.e. the recesses project at an inside face 19 of the back base 18).

[0097] As an alternative (not shown), the guide tubes can be configured at the inside face 19 of the back base 18, with the telescopic rods extending through a suitable opening at the top portion of the perimetric back wall 20 of back base 18.

[0098] Further noted, the perimetric side wall 30 is configured at a top portion thereof with a carrying handle 31 and with a side carrying handle 33 (FIG. 8). Said carrying handles can be made of pliable material or they can be rigid. However, as they are configured over the outside face of the perimetric side wall 30, they collapse inwards upon folding the suitcase, as will be discussed herein after. Furthermore, the perimetric side wall 30 can be configured with one or more storage pockets, at an outside face (designated 37A) and/or an inside face (designated 37B) of the perimetric side wall 30.

[0099] The perimetric side wall 30 is further configured at bottom portion at the outside face thereof with one or more support pieces 66, whereby at the expanded position of the suitcase 10, when placed at its upright position, it is supported by the wheels 48 and said one or more support piece 66, maintaining the suitcase level and stable. Though one or more support pieces 66 are made of rigid material, at the collapsed position of the suitcase they are fully received within the space of the suitcase and do not project or interfere.

[0100] In order to render the suitcase stability and maintain a substantially rectangular shape at its expanded position, one or more rigid support boards, collectively designated 70, are articulated at inside portions of the back shell 12 (seen in FIGS. 5A to 8). The rigid support boards 70 are made of non-pliable material, and are articulated at an inside face of the perimetric back wall 20 (or to the inside face 19 of back wall 18) through a flexible connecting pivot 72 (FIGS. 7A and 7B), wherein at the expanded position said rigid support boards 70 are be disposed flush against corresponding portions of the perimetric side wall 30. The support boards 70 are detachably attachable to inside face of the corresponding the perimetric side wall 30 through a detachable fastening mechanism, e.g. a hook and pile fastener (Velcro™), snap fasteners, etc.

[0101] A bottom rigid support board 70 extends at a bottom base of the suitcase 10, and is configured such that at the collapsed position said bottom support board 70 is disposed substantially parallel to the back base 18 and flush against the inside face 19, and at the expanded position said bottom support board 70 is disposed substantially normal to the back wall 18 and flush against a corresponding inside bottom portion of the perimetric side wall 30. Likewise, additional support boards (top and side support boards) are be configured, at a top base and side walls of the suitcase 10, and are configured such that at the collapsed position said additional support board is disposed substantially parallel to the back base, and at the expanded position said support board can be disposed substantially normal to the back wall and flush against corresponding inside top portion and side wall portions of the perimetric side wall 30.

[0102] At the expanded position the one or more support boards reinforce the flexible perimetric side wall and impart the suitcase, at the expanded position, with stability and secure the overall rectangular shape of the suitcase 10.

[0103] An important feature of the suitcase according to the present disclosure is the ratio of thickness between the expanded position and the fully collapsed position of the suitcase 10. Thus, the arrangement is such that the planar footprint of the front shell 14 is slightly greater than a planar footprint of the back shell 12, whereby at the collapsed position (FIGS. 1A-1C and 3A to 3E) the perimetric front wall 26 accommodates the perimetric edge 34 of the perimetric back wall 20, and wherein the thickness T of the suitcase 10 at the collapsed position corresponds with a height H) of the back shell 12 and a thickness t of the front base 24.

[0104] The term footprint refers to the planar size of the shell members. It is thus noticeable that the front shell 14 is larger than the back shell 12, and at the collapsed position at least a portion of the perimetric back wall 20 is enveloped by the perimetric front wall 26, giving rise to a space S extending between an inside face 19 of the back base 18 and an inside face 29 the front base 24, said space having a height h substantially corresponding with a height of the perimetric back wall 20, and further wherein at the collapsed position said space S entirely accommodates the perimetric side wall 30, as well as all other components discussed hereinabove, e.g. inside portion 50B member of wheel supports, longitudinal recess 65, etc. At the collapsed position the perimetric edge 34 of the perimetric back wall 20 substantially bears against the inside face 29 of front base 24.

[0105] The expanded position of the suitcase gives rise to an expanded storage space S′, extending between inside face 19 of the back base 18 and an inside face 29 the front base 24, with the perimetric side wall 30 fully expanded, wherein said expanded storage space S′ has a thickens corresponding with the accumulated height of the perimetric back wall 20 with the height of the perimetric front wall 26 and the width of the perimetric side wall 30.

[0106] Collapsing the suitcase 10 from its expanded position into its collapsed position, takes place by detaching the one or more support boards 70 from the inside face of the perimetric side wall 30 and folding said support boards 70 inwards, in direction of arrows 79, deposing the support boards 70 against the inside face 19 of the back wall 18. Then the perimetric side wall 30 can be folded inwardly into the space S′ and then the two shells 12 and 14 are pressed against each other until the fully collapsed position is obtained, wherein the perimetric edge 34 of the perimetric back wall 20 substantially bears against the inside face 29 of front base 24. Deploying the suitcase 10 into its fully expanded position takes place in a reverse sequence, namely, first the two shells 12 and 14 are displaced away from one another causing the perimetric side wall 30 to fully span and stretch out, whereupon the one or more support boards 70 are flipped outwards (in a direction opposite arrows 79), securing the support boards 70 to the inside face of the perimetric side wall 30, whereby the suitcase 10 is ready for use.

[0107] According to one particular example, the overall thickness of the suitcase, at its expanded position, can conform with the guidelines set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for cabin baggage/hand luggage/carry-on luggage size, defining a maximum thickness (depth) of 25 cm (10 inches), whereas at the collapsed position the thickness can be configured not to exceed about 6 cm. This, however, is a particular example and it is appreciated that the disclosure applies to any size of suitcase.