LUGGAGE ITEM

Abstract

A luggage item, in particular suitcase, has two shells made of essentially solid material, which shells are connectable to each other via a closure element which runs around the majority of the circumference and can be opened out in a fully opened state of the closure element, a region made of flexible material being arranged along at least a part of the circumference on at least one side of the closure element between the closure element and the shell made of essentially solid material, so that access into the interior of the luggage item is possible even with only partially open state of the closure element.

Claims

1. A luggage item, in particular suitcase, having two shells made of essentially solid material, which shells are connectable to each other via a closure element which runs around the majority of the circumference and can be opened out in a fully opened state of the closure element, wherein a region made of flexible material is arranged along a part of the circumference on at least one side of the closure element between the closure element and the shell made of essentially solid material, so that access into the interior of the luggage item is possible even with only partially open state of the closure element, wherein the position of the shells remains unchanged to each other.

2. The luggage item according to claim 1, wherein the region is formed by a strip of flexible material.

3. The luggage item according to claim 1, wherein a region made of flexible material is arranged along the part of the circumference on one side of the closure element between the closure element and the shell made of essentially solid material.

4. The luggage item according to claim 1, wherein a region made of flexible material is arranged in each case along the part of the circumference on both sides of the closure element between the closure element and each shell made of essentially solid material.

5. The luggage item according to claim 1, wherein the region made of flexible material has folding structures or patterns.

6. The luggage item according to claim 1, wherein the region is formed from textile material.

7. The luggage item according to claim 1, wherein the region is formed from elastic material.

8. The luggage item according to claim 1, wherein the closure element is formed by a zipper.

9. The luggage item according to claim 1, wherein at least one compartment is arranged along the part of the circumference in the interior of the luggage item.

10. The luggage item according to claim 1, wherein one shell is configured deeper than the other shell.

11. The luggage item according to claim 1, wherein the shells are formed from solid material, in particular plastic or metal.

12. The luggage item according to claim 1, wherein the shells are formed from flexible material and reinforcing elements.

13. The luggage item according any to claim 1, wherein two wheels are arranged on least one shell.

14. The luggage item according to claim 1, wherein at least one preferably extendable handle bar is arranged on a shell.

15. The luggage item according to claim 1, wherein at least one shell has a holding element for a bag or the like on the outside.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

[0024] In the drawings,

[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a variant of a luggage item according to the invention in the standing state having a flexible region on the upper side of the luggage item;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a luggage item;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a luggage item;

[0028] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the luggage item according to FIG. 3 in the fully opened state;

[0029] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a further embodiment variant of a luggage item in the fully open state;

[0030] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a further embodiment variant of a luggage item in the fully open state;

[0031] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a further embodiment variant of a luggage item in the fully open state;

[0032] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a luggage item in a fully opened state, wherein the shells are made of flexible material with reinforcing elements; and

[0033] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a further embodiment variant of a luggage item in the fully open state, wherein the shell and the lid are made of flexible material with reinforcing elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a luggage item 1, in particular a suitcase, having two shells 2, 3 of essentially solid material, wherein the shells 2, 3 are connected to each other via a closure element 4, for example a zipper, which runs around the majority of the circumference. In a completely open state of the closure element 4, the two shells 2, 3 can be opened out (see, for example, FIG. 4). A region 6 made of flexible material is arranged between the closure element 4 and at least one shell 2, 3 (hatched drawn) on a side surface of the luggage item 1, in the standing state of the upper side 5a, along at least part of the circumference. As a result, access into the interior of the luggage item 1 is possible in this region 6 even with partially open state of the closure element 4.

[0035] The shells 2, 3 of the luggage item 1 are formed from solid material, in particular plastic or metal.

[0036] The region 6 is preferably formed from elastic material. The elasticity of the material particularly makes it easily possible to push apart or bend open the flexible region 6. Alternatively or additionally, the region 6 can be formed from textile material.

[0037] The closure element 4 only has to be opened on that side surface on which the region 6 of flexible material is arranged (in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 the upper side 5a), in order to enable access into the interior of the luggage item 1. The two shells 2, 3 can thus continue to be connected to each other on at least three side surfaces 5b, 5c, 5d via the closure element 4, wherein access into the interior of the luggage item 1 is still enabled. The outer dimensions of the luggage item 1 do not change with access into the interior, as would be the case with a complete opening of the luggage item 1, that is, an unfolding of the two shells 2, 3 (see, for example, FIG. 4). Because the closure element 4 essentially only needs to be opened on one side, for example, the upper side 5a, the position of the two shells 2, 3 remains unchanged relative to each other or the opening angle of the two shells 2, 3 is essentially zero degrees.

[0038] The region 6 is formed in FIG. 1 by a strip 7 of flexible material, wherein the dimensions of the strip 7 can vary. The wider and longer the strip 7, the easier the access into the interior of the luggage item 1. The strip 7 of flexible material is preferably integrated directly into the essentially solid material of the shells 2, 3 or produced in one piece with the shell(s) 2, 3 during the production of the luggage item 1. This integral embodiment enables the production of the luggage item 1 particularly easily and inexpensively. The strip 7 can also be attached to a region on the outer edge 8 of at least one shell 2, 3, which has a recess according to the dimensions of the strip 7, with different attachment methods.

[0039] An extendable handle bar 18 is arranged on a shell 2 in the illustrated embodiment variant of the luggage item 1. In addition, wheels 19 can be arranged on the lower side 5c of the luggage item 1. Four wheels 19 are arranged on the lower side 5c of the luggage item 1 in the illustrated embodiment. However, embodiment variants having only two wheels 19 are also possible (not shown). The shell 3 has, on the front side 5e, a holding element 20 for a bag 21 (shown in FIG. 2) or the like.

[0040] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment variant of a luggage item 1, wherein a region 6 of flexible material in each case is arranged along the part of the circumference on both sides of the closure element 4, that is, between the closure element 4 and each shell 2, 3. The flexible region 6 is accordingly arranged on both sides of the closure element 4 (here on the upper side 5a of the standing luggage item 1).

[0041] A bag 21 or the like is arranged on the holding element 20. The bag 21 or the like is accordingly arranged on the front side 5e of the luggage item 1 and not, as usual, on its upper side 5a (usually bags, such as laptop bags, are placed on the upper side 5a of the luggage item 1 and leaned against the handle bar 18 during transport). By arranging the bag 21 or the like on the front side 5e of the luggage item 1, access into the interior of the luggage item 1 via the flexible region 6 which is arranged on the upper side 5a of the luggage item 1 is not blocked by the bag 21. Furthermore, the use of a carrying handle 22, which is usually arranged on the upper side 5a of the luggage item 1, is possible by the attachment of the bag 21 or the like on the front 5e of the luggage item 1.

[0042] In the embodiment variant of a luggage item 1 according to FIG. 3, the flexible region 6 is configured beyond the edge 9 of the upper side 5a, so that the flexible region 6 extends partially into the adjacent side surfaces 5b, 5d. The thus wider flexible region 6 further facilitates access into the interior of the luggage item 1. In an embodiment (not shown), the flexible region 6 can also be extended over the entire side surface 5a. However, these embodiment variants can weaken the stability of the luggage item 1, but do so only to an extent which does not or scarcely perceptively limits the practical advantages of a hard-shell construction.

[0043] FIG. 4 shows the luggage item 1 according to FIG. 3 in a completely open state, wherein the two shells 2, 3 are essentially completely unfolded. A compartment 13 can be arranged in the interior of the luggage item 1. The opening 14 of the compartment 13 is oriented within the luggage item 1 in the direction of the flexible region 6.

[0044] The compartment 13 is provided to store objects which are introduced via the flexible region 6 into the interior of the luggage item 1. As a result of the orientation of the compartment 13 within the luggage item 1, the items can be removed easily and quickly from the luggage item 1 or can be stored in the luggage item 1 without having to fully open the luggage item 1 or without the outer dimensions of the luggage item 1 being enlarged.

[0045] The closure element 4 is formed by a zipper 10 in the embodiment variants shown. The teeth of the zipper 10 are arranged along the edge 11, 12 of the respective shell 2, 3. The zipper 10 runs here in the plane of symmetry of the two shells 2, 3 of the luggage item 1. The zipper 10 runs centrally through the flexible region 6 on the upper side 5a.

[0046] A shell 2, 3 of the luggage item 1 can also be configured deeper than the other shell 2, 3. FIG. 5 shows such an embodiment in which a shell 3 is designed as a lid 15. The flexible region 6 is arranged in this embodiment at that edge 16 of the lid 15, which is arranged on the upper side 5a of the luggage item 1 in the closed and upright standing state of the luggage item 1. The shell 2 also has a flexible region 6 on the upper side 5a of the luggage item 1. If now the closure element 4 is opened at the upper side 5a of the luggage item 1, the flexible region 6 on the lid 15 and on the shell 2 can be pushed apart, thus enabling access into the interior.

[0047] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show alternative embodiments of the luggage item 1, wherein in FIG. 6 only the lid 15 and in FIG. 7 only the shell 2 has a flexible region 6.

[0048] Alternatively, the shells 2, 3 or the shell 2 and the lid 15 can be formed from flexible material and reinforcing elements 17. The flexible region 6 has no reinforcing elements 17 in these embodiment variants (FIGS. 8 and 9).

[0049] In the embodiment according to FIG. 9, the flexible region 6 of the shells 2, 3 is dimensioned larger than in the variant according to FIG. 8. With the luggage items 1 according to FIGS. 1-7, also possible is the embodiment of the flexible region 6 in which the shells 2, 3 are made of essentially solid material. Conversely, it is also possible to integrate a narrower or a flexible region 6 (see FIGS. 1 to 7) arranged on only one of the two shells 2, 3 into a luggage item 1 according to FIG. 8 or 9.

[0050] Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.