Piece of luggage, especially a suitcase

Abstract

A piece of luggage, especially a suitcase with a container where the container features or has on one exterior side a base layer and at least one cover layer. An easily customizable piece of luggage is provided, where the container features on one exterior side a base layer and at least one cover layer. The base layer and at least one cover layer, respectively, being non-transparent and of various colors, where the cover layer is formed from an abradable material, where at least one cover layer features a lower resistance to abrasion than the base layer, where through traces of use at least one cover layer is at least partially abradable so that the subjacent base layer and/or each subjacent base layer may be exposed in the area of the traces of use and at least one motif template positioned between the outer cover layer and the base layer, where the motif template facilitates a detachment of the outer cover layer in the shape of the motifs formed by the motif templates.

Claims

1. A piece of luggage, comprising: a container including a base layer forming or disposed over one side of the container; a cover layer disposed over the base layer, each of the base layer and the cover layer being non-transparent and of one or more colors, the cover layer formed of an abradable material having a lower resistance to abrasion than the base layer, wherein the cover layer is configured to be at least partially abradable through use to expose the base layer in areas of traces of use; and a motif template disposed between the cover layer and the base layer, where the motif template facilitates a detachment of the cover layer in a shape of motifs formed by the motif template.

2. A piece of luggage in accordance with claim 1, wherein the piece of luggage is a suitcase.

3. A piece of luggage in accordance with claim 1, wherein the container comprises a suitcase shell, wherein one exterior side of the suitcase shell forms the base layer.

4. A piece of luggage in accordance with claim 1, wherein the base layer comprises an aluminum material, and the base layer is colored through anodization.

5. A piece of luggage in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cover layer comprises a layer of paint.

6. A piece of luggage in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cover layer comprises a textile material or a film.

7. A piece of luggage in accordance with claim 1, the base layer comprises a polycarbonate material.

8. A piece of luggage in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cover layer is an inner cover layer and further comprising an outer cover layer disposed over the inner cover layer, the outer cover layer formed of a second abradable material having a different color or color scheme from the inner cover layer.

9. A piece of luggage in accordance with claim 8, wherein the container is enclosed by a suitcase shell, wherein one exterior side of the suitcase shell forms the base layer, and where the inner cover layer is applied to the base layer.

10. A piece of luggage in accordance with claim 9, wherein the suitcase shell comprises a polycarbonate material.

11. A piece of luggage in accordance with claim 9, wherein the suitcase shell comprises an aluminum material, and the base layer is colored through anodization.

12. A piece of luggage in accordance with claim 9, wherein at least one of the inner cover layer or the outer cover layer comprises a layer of paint.

13. A piece of luggage in accordance with claim 9, wherein the inner cover layer or the outer cover layer comprises a textile material.

14. A piece of luggage in accordance with claim 9, wherein the inner cover layer or the outer cover layer comprises a film.

15. A piece of luggage, comprising: a shell comprising a base layer and enclosing an interior container space; a motif template disposed on the base layer of the shell, and comprising a motif shape; an opaque outer cover layer disposed over the motif template, the outer cover layer formed of an abradable material having a different color than the base layer and configured to be at least partially abradable through luggage use in areas of traces of use to expose the base layer in the areas of traces of use, wherein the motif template facilitates a detachment of the outer cover layer in the motif shape of the motif template.

16. A piece of luggage in accordance with claim 15, wherein an exterior surface of the shell forms the base layer.

17. A piece of luggage in accordance with claim 16, wherein the base layer comprises a color anodized aluminum material.

18. The piece of luggage in accordance with claim 15, wherein the base layer comprises an inner cover layer disposed between the shell and the motif template, wherein the inner cover layer comprises an inner abradable material having a different color than the outer cover layer.

19. A piece of luggage, comprising: a shell including an exterior surface and enclosing an interior container space; an inner cover layer disposed on the exterior surface of the shell, and including a first color; a motif template disposed on the inner cover layer, and comprising a motif shape; an opaque outer cover layer disposed over the motif template, the outer cover layer formed of an abradable material having a second color that is different than the first color of the inner cover layer, the abradable material configured to be at least partially abradable through luggage use in areas of traces of use to expose the inner cover layer in the areas of traces of use, wherein the motif template is configured to facilitate a detachment of the outer cover layer in the motif shape of the motif template.

20. A piece of luggage in accordance with claim 19, wherein the exterior surface of the shell comprises a color anodized aluminum material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) There are now a number of possibilities to further design and further develop the piece of luggage according to this invention. For this purpose, the dependent claims are referred to initially. The following describes a preferred design of the piece of luggage in accordance with this invention by the drawing and the associated description.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a piece of luggage in accordance with this invention in a schematic, perspective view, that is a suitcase;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an exterior wall of the suitcase with two cover layers and a base layer, in a cutaway detailed view; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows the exterior wall of the suitcase with two cover layers of the base layer and motif templates arranged between the cover layers, in a schematic cutaway view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows a piece of luggage 1a in the form of a suitcase 1b. The piece of luggage 1a is in the form of a piece of luggage for travel. The suitcase 1b is in the form of a suitcase for travel. In an alternative design, the piece of luggage 1a can have the form of a bag or backpack.

(6) The suitcase 1b features a container 2. Container 2 limits the interior space, not shown in detail, of suitcase 1b. Container 2 is preferably formed by at least one hard shell 3, 4, especially by two hard shells 3, 4. FIG. 1 shows a posterior hard shell 3, and a carrying handle 5 is placed on an unidentified longitudinal side, while a telescopic handle 6 is placed on a top face. Furthermore, suitcase 1b preferably features at least one, especially several rollers which are not shown. The rollers are especially placed on the lower face, preferably in the area of the edges.

(7) Suitcase shells 3, 4 are preferably made from a polycarbonate material. In an alternative design, it is possible for suitcase shells 3, 4 to be made from aluminum. Furthermore, designs are possible where the suitcase shells 3, 4 are vacuum formed from a thermoplastic material such as an ABS polymer.

(8) Container 2 features several traces of use 7, 8. The traces of use 7, 8 in the area of the largest outer wall show that suitcase 1b features one base layer 9 and at least one cover layer 10, 11, preferably two cover layers 10, 11 as shown, on the exterior side of container 2. The cover layers 10, 11 are applied to the shaping wall of the container 2. The cover layers 10, 11 are applied to the exterior side of the wall. This base layer 9 and the cover layers 10, 11 are preferably especially formed on and applied to the two largest exterior surfaces of the piece of luggage 1a or the suitcase 1b. Furthermore, it is possible for the cover layers 10, 11 to be alternatively or additionally formed on the edges or corners of the suitcases 1b, as these edges and corners are more heavily worn during transport.

(9) The base layer 9 and the cover layers 10, 11 each feature varying colors. At the same time, adjacent cover layers feature varying colors. The base layer 9 and the cover layers 10 and 11 form differently colored consecutive layers on the exterior surface of suitcase 1b. The cover layers 10, 11 are not transparent but opaque.

(10) The cover layers 10, 11 consist of or include an abradable material. The traces of use 7, 8 generated during use reach differently colored layers depending on their depth and thickness, such as here, in the case of trace of use 8, cover layer 10 is subjacent to cover layer 11, and in the case of trace of use 7, cover layer 10 subjacent to cover layer 11, as well as base layer 9. These traces of use 7, 8 render the various layers of color visible, generating an individual color scheme on the exterior surface through abrasion of the upper cover layer 10, respectively the upper cover layers 10, 11. The traces of use 7, 8 are desired and serve to individualize the suitcase. The abradability of the upper cover layers 10, 11 and their different coloration more easily generate scratches, abrasions, and other traces of use 7, 8 in order to highlight the individuality of the piece of luggage (for travel) 1a, that is, suitcase 1b. The traces of use 7, 8 for example are inadvertently generated during transport of the piece of luggage 1a. It is however also possible for the user or owner of the piece of luggage 1a fashions said piece of luggage 1a himself or herself through artificial traces of use 7, 8. The user may, for example, treat the exterior side with its cover layers 10, 11 through scratching, scouring, or grinding in order to at least partially detach cover layers 10, 11 from the exterior side and thus to obtain an individual design.

(11) The cover layers 10, 11 feature varying colors and consist of or include an abradable material, such as paint or a synthetic material. During use, the abrasion traces or traces of use 7, 8 with their varying depths and widths reveal a varying number of layers, resulting in an individual coloration of suitcase 1b.

(12) The base layer 9 is formed by the form-giving, firm exterior wall of suitcase 1b. The base layer 9 is part of the suitcase shell 3 or 4. Two cover layers 10, 11 are applied to the base layer 9 that is one inner colored cover layer 10 and one outer cover layer 11. Both the inner cover layer 10 and the outer cover layer 11 are abradable. For example, the abrasion resistance or abrasion durability of the cover layers 10, 11 is lower than the abrasion durability of base layer 9.

(13) The base layer 9 may contain several colors. It is possible for also the cover layers 10, 11 to contain several colors. Especially, the base layer 9 or the cover layers 10, 11 may contain several colors.

(14) It is possible for the base layer 9 and/or the cover layers 10, 11 to feature motifs. However, the outer cover 11 is preferably monochrome, such as a single color. Especially the color layers underneath the outer cover layer 11, that is cover layer 10 or base layer 9 features motifs. In one design, exactly one cover layer 11 and one base layer 9 may be present, where the base layer 9 features motifs.

(15) In the unused state of suitcase 1b, the motifs are preferably not visible since the outer cover layer 11 is not transparent, thus covering the motifs. The motifs become visible only through the traces of use 7, 8 that are generated during use.

(16) It is possible for suitcase 1b to be sold with already existing traces of use 7, 8. The traces of use 7, 8 will be generated during production of suitcase 1b. The traces of use 7, 8 can be generated through scouring, grinding, or sandblasting.

(17) In order to facilitate removal of the outer cover layer 11, at least one so-called motif template 12 is preferably arranged between the outer cover layer 11 and the base layer 9, or, as shown in FIG. 3, between the outer cover layer 11 and the middle cover layer, respectively inner cover layer 10. Preferably, several motif templates are present.

(18) The motif templates 12 delineate the outline of the motif to be displayed. The motif template 12 preferably has a weaker bond with the adjacent layers than the layers among themselves. The bonds between cover layers 10, 11 and motif template 12 are especially weaker than the bond between cover layers 10, 11. There are now different possibilities of how the motif is generated by the traces of use 7, 8. In one design, it is possible for the cover layers 10, 11 and/or the base layer 9 to each be different monochrome colors, so that during use of suitcase 1b at least the outer cover layer 11 detaches in such places where the motif template is present. This way, the motif templates 12 become visible.

(19) It is possible for the motif templates 12 to be bonded to the subjacent inner cover layer 10 in an easily detachable manner, so that the motif templates 12 also detach from the middle cover layer 10 as soon as the outer cover layer 11 is damaged in places where the motif templates 12 are present. This facilitates the detachment of the outer cover layer 11 in the shape of the motif. In this case, it is not compulsory for the subjacent cover layer 10 to feature the motif in the exact shape of the motif templates 12. Instead, the motif can be generated solely through detachment of the motif templates 12. In an alternative design, the inner cover layer 10 or the base layer 9 features a motif that is covered by the motif template 12. It is possible to also utilize corresponding motif templates 12 in designs in which exactly one outer cover layer 11 is stipulated. In this case, the motif template 12 is placed immediately between the outer cover layer 11 and the base layer 9. It is furthermore conceivable that several cover layers 10, 11 are present, and that the motif template 12 is not placed between the outer cover layer 11 and the subjacent cover layer 10, but between the base layer 9 and the first cover layer 10. The motifs may, for example, consist of or include various brands, logos, images, letterings, etc.

(20) The disadvantages mentioned initially are thus avoided, while the relevant advantages are achieved.

(21) The entire teachings of German Patent DE 20 2015 004 580 U1, filed 29 Jun. 2015, and German Patent DE 10 2015 008 221 B4, filed 29 Jun. 2015, are incorporated, by reference, into this specification.