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(11) | EP 4 449 937 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC |
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| (54) | COLLAPSIBLE SUITCASE |
| (57) The present invention relates to a foldable suitcase comprising: a front shell, a
rear shell, a top shell, a bottom shell, side shells and sheet-shaped corner joints,
wherein the front shell, the rear shell, the top shell, the bottom shell and the side
shells make up a body of the suitcase, wherein the sheet-shaped corner joints are
disposed respectively at upper left, upper right, lower left and lower right corners
of the body and joined to the top shell, the bottom shell and the side shells by sutures,
forming a folding module, wherein the folding module is joined to the front shell
by a front zipper, and is joined to the rear shell by a rear joint tape and sutures,and
wherein rear zipper teeth are attached to the rear joint tape by sutures.The present
invention adopts a foldable structure consisting of both hard and soft components,
which allows the suitcase to be transported at lower cost and stowed in a smaller
space. |
TECHNICAL FIELD
BACKGROUND
[0002] Suitcases are used in our daily life for storing stuff and travel items and play an important role in users' long and short travels. However, conventional suitcases are associated with certain problems. In general, a suitcase with dimensions meeting on-board requirements (airlines permit boarding of luggage with a height not exceeding 55 cm, a width not exceeding 40 cm and a thickness not exceeding 20 cm, or with the sum of its length, width and height not exceeding 115 cm), whether hard or soft, would have a maximum load capacity and define a relatively rigid volume. Any object that is somewhat bulkier than the rigid volume could not be properly stowed in the suitcase. An excessive item forced into the suitcase may bulge or otherwise deform the suitcase, potentially causing damage to other contents in the suitcase, as well as to the suitcase itself. Moreover, the suitcase may fail to pass a luggage size check during pre-boarding security screening due to oversizing, necessitating additional time to go through consequently necessary procedures and wait for the suitcase by the conveyor belt after taking off the plane. Conventional suitcases lack diversity in function - except for being used to store clothes for transportation, they are usually left in home, vehicles or hotels. Therefore, they are limited in functionality and application. It is thus desirable to design a foldable structure consisting of both hard and soft components, which allows a suitcase to be transported at lower cost and stowed in a smaller space.
SUMMARY
[0003] It is an object of the present invention to propose a foldable suitcase, which can be transported at lower cost and stowed in a smaller space.
[0004] The above object is attained by the present invention which lies in a foldable suitcase comprised of a front shell, a rear shell, a top shell, a bottom shell, side shells and sheet-shaped corner joints. The front shell, the rear shell, the top shell, the bottom shell and the side shells make up a body of the suitcase. The sheet-shaped corner joints are disposed respectively at upper left, upper right, lower left and lower right corners of the body and joined to the top shell, the bottom shell and the side shells by sutures, forming a folding module. The folding module is joined to a front cover of the front shell by a front zipper, and is joined to a rear cover of the rear shell by a rear joint tape and sutures. Rear zipper teeth are attached to the rear joint tape by sutures.
[0005] Additionally, a top side of the top shell and the side shells are all trapezoidal. The sheet-shaped corner joints are also trapezoidal, when stretched. This enables satisfaction of the strength and foldability requirements.
[0006] Additionally, the shell components of the body are made of a sewable hard plastic material, which is ABS, PC or PP.
[0007] Additionally, the sheet-shaped corner joints and the rear joint tape are easily flexible soft fabric, which is any of nylon fabric, polyester fibers, ultrafine fibers and leather.
[0008] Additionally, the front zipper between the front shell and the folding module is a detachable zipper.
[0009] Additionally, the front shell engages the rear zipper teeth on the rear shell through zipper teeth on the front zipper, defining a folded configuration.
[0010] A foldable suitcase includes a front shell, a rear shell and a folding module in the form of a frame when in an unfolded configuration, wherein:
an edge of the folding module on one side thereof is joined to the rear shell via a flexible rear joint tape;
an edge of the folding module on its other side is provided across its entire length with a row of teeth, and the rear shell is provided on its exterior with rear zipper teeth across its entire length;
the front shell is provided thereon with a row of teeth across its entire length and a secondary row of teeth located externally to said row of teeth, wherein
either of the row of teeth and the secondary row of teeth on the front shell is configured for engagement with the row of teeth on the folding module, or during folding, either of the row of teeth and the secondary row of teeth on the front shell is configured for engagement with the rear zipper teeth.
[0011] Additionally, the secondary row of teeth projects towards the front shell with respect to the row of teeth on the front shell.
[0012] The present invention offers the benefits as follows:
It adopts a foldable structure consisting of both hard and soft components, which allows the suitcase to be transported at lower cost and stowed in a smaller space.
[0013] In order to store or transport goods in the suitcase, the front cover is removed, and the left and right side shells and the top and bottom shells are unfolded outwards to allow the suitcase to have an expanded overall volume capable of containing more goods therein.
[0014] In order to stow the suitcase, the front shell is removed, and the left and right side shells and the top and bottom shells are folded inwards into the inside of the rear shell. The front shell is then engaged with the rear zipper teeth using the detachable zipper, resulting in the folded configuration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015]
Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a foldable suitcase according to the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a side view of a foldable suitcase according to the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a folding module.
Fig. 4 is a schematic view after a front shell is removed.
Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a suitcase in a folded configuration.
Fig. 6 is a schematic partial view of a foldable suitcase according to one embodiment.
Fig. 7 is a schematic partial view of a foldable suitcase according to one embodiment, showing gathering of a front shell and a rear shell in a folded configuration.
Fig. 8 is a schematic partial view of a foldable suitcase according to another embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments thereof.
[0017] As shown in Figs. 1 to 5, a foldable suitcase is comprised of a front shell 1, a rear shell 2, a top shell 3, a bottom shell 9, side shells 4 and sheet-shaped corner joints 5, which are joined together by sutures. The front shell 1, the rear shell 2, the top shell 3, the bottom shell 9 and the side shells 4 make up a body of the suitcase. The sheet-shaped corner joints 5 are disposed respectively at the upper left, upper right, lower left and lower right corners and joined to the top shell 3, the bottom shell 9 and the side shells 4 by sutures, forming a folding module. This folding module is joined to the front shell 1 by a front zipper 7, and is joined to the rear shell 2 by a rear joint tape 6 and sutures. Rear zipper teeth 8 are attached to the rear joint tape 6 by sutures.
[0018] Preferably, the shell components of the body are hard. They are made of a hard plastic material such as ABS, PC or PP, and are sewable.
[0019] Preferably, the sheet-shaped corner joints 5 and the rear joint tape 6 are soft fabrics made of soft materials such as nylon, polyester fibers, ultrafine fibers and leather, and are easily flexible.
[0020] Preferably, the front zipper 7 between the front shell 1 and the folding module is detachable, and the rear zipper teeth 8 are sewn to the rear joint tape 6. Zipper teeth on the front zipper 7 on the front shell 1 can engage the rear zipper teeth 8 to define a folded configuration.
[0021] Preferably, a top side of the top shell 3 and the side shells 4 are trapezoidal. Moreover, the sheet-shaped corner joints 5 are also trapezoidal, when stretched. This can ensure strength and enables foldability.
[0022] As shown in Fig. 4, the bottom shell 9 is joined at each of its left and right sides to one of the sheet-shaped corner joints 5, and the top shell 3 is also joined at each of its left and right sides to one of the sheet-shaped corner joints 5. One of the side shells 4 is joined to the two sheet-shaped corner joints 5 at the left side of the bottom shell 9 and the top shell 3, and the other side shell 4 is joined to the two sheet-shaped corner joints 5 at the right side of the bottom shell 9 and the top shell 3. The so-formed folding module appears like a roughly rectangular frame.
[0023] Longer bases of the trapezoidal sheet-shaped corner joints 5 are all located on the same side, i.e., joined to a single side of the front shell 1. This can facilitate inward folding of edges of the bottom shell 9, the top shell 3 and the side shells 4 along said side.
[0024] With combined reference to Fig. 6, the front zipper 7 includes two rows of teeth 70, which can interlock together. One of the rows of teeth 70 of the front zipper 7 is attached to a peripheral edge of the front shell 1 across its entire length. A peripheral edge of the folding module at its one side is joined to the rear joint tape 6, and the other row of teeth 70 of the front zipper 7 is attached to another peripheral edge of the folding module at its opposite side across its entire length. By means of the front zipper 7, the front shell 1 can be opened, closed and removed.
[0025] As shown in Figs. 4 to 5, a folding process may involve removing a front cover, folding the left and right side shells 4 inwards into the inside of the rear shell 2, and also folding the top shell 3 and the bottom shell 9 inwards into the inside of the rear shell 2. Alternatively, the top shell 3 and the bottom shell 9 may be first folded inwards into the inside of the rear shell 2, and the left and right side shells 4 may be then folded inwards into the inside of the rear shell 2. At last, the front cover is engaged with the rear zipper teeth 8 by the detachable zipper, resulting in the folded configuration. An unfolding process can be performed in a reverse order.
[0026] As shown in Fig. 7, the row of teeth 70 of the front zipper 7 that is attached to the front shell 1 can be engaged with the rear zipper teeth 8 to secure the front shell 1 to the rear shell 2, with the folding module being received inside the front shell 1 and the rear shell 2.
[0027] As shown in Fig. 8, in this embodiment, a secondary row of teeth 71 may be further provided on the front shell 1. It may be located externally with respect to the aforesaid row of teeth 70 of the front zipper 7 that is attached to the front shell 1. With this arrangement, there are two rows of teeth on the front shell 1, i.e., the aforementioned row of teeth 70 and the secondary row of teeth 71.
wherein the front shell, the rear shell, the top shell, the bottom shell and the side shells make up a body of the suitcase,
wherein the sheet-shaped corner joints are disposed respectively at upper left, upper right, lower left and lower right corners of the body and joined to the top shell, the bottom shell and the side shells by sutures, forming a folding module,
wherein the folding module is joined to a front cover of the front shell by a front zipper, and is joined to a rear cover of the rear shell by a rear joint tape and sutures,and
wherein rear zipper teeth are attached to the rear joint tape by sutures.
the sheet-shaped corner joints are also trapezoidal, when stretched, and enable satisfaction of the strength and foldability requirements.
an edge of the folding module on one side thereof is joined to the rear shell via a flexible rear joint tape;
an edge of the folding module on its other side is provided across its entire length with a row of teeth, and the rear shell is provided on its exterior with rear zipper teeth across its entire length;
the front shell is provided thereon with a row of teeth across its entire length and a secondary row of teeth located externally to said row of teeth, wherein
either of the row of teeth and the secondary row of teeth on the front shell is configured for engagement with the row of teeth on the folding module, or during folding, either of the row of teeth and the secondary row of teeth on the front shell is configured for engagement with the rear zipper teeth.
a bottom shell, which is joined at each of its left and right sides to a sheet-shaped corner joint;
a top shell, which is also joined at each of its left and right sides to a sheet-shaped corner joint; and
a side shell joined to the two sheet-shaped corner joints at the left side of the bottom shell and the top shell, and another side shell joined to the two sheet-shaped corner joints at the right side of the bottom shell and the top shell; wherein
the sheet-shaped corner joints are easily flexible.