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(11) | EP 0 662 289 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
Foldable frame for a case Faltbarer Rahmen für einen Koffer Armature pliable pour valise |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0002] Cases, and suitcases in particular, are very useful for transporting clothes etc. on vacation and the like. Currently available cases include those that are rigid and those that are flexible. The rigid cases may have better protection of their content against foreign impacts, however, they occupy larger space when they are not in use. The flexible cases may have less protection of their contents, however, they occupy less space when they are not in use.
[0004] Therefore, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a case which provides a sufficient protection of its content and occupies small space when it is not in use.
[0005] The primary object of this invention is achieved by providing a case including a collapsible frame including four walls being joined together by means of four connectors each including a buckle assembly and a link assembly. The link assembly consists of several links each including a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, an upper edge, a lower edge, an ear which is formed on the upper edge thereof and which defines a first recess and a second recess, a lower ear which is formed on the lower edge thereof and which defines a first recess and a second recess, a slot defined in the first edge of the link, a ridge formed on the second edge of the link, a boss formed on the upper edge of the link near the ridge and another boss formed on the lower edge of the link near the ridge. A link is pivotable in respect to another link when the bosses of the former are received in the first recesses defined in the upper and lower ears of the latter. When the bosses of a link are received in the second recesses defined in the upper and lower ears of another link, the ridge of the former is received in the slot of the latter, retaining the former in position relative to the latter. The buckle assembly includes a female buckle and a male buckle including a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, an upper ear projecting from the first lateral edge thereof and defining a first recess and a second recess so that the first and second recesses defined therein partially overlap each other, a lower ear projecting from the second lateral edge thereof and defining a first recess and a second recess so that the first and second recesses defined therein partially overlap each other, a slot defined in the first lateral edge thereof. One of the links is pivotably linked to the male buckle when the bosses of the former are received in the first recesses defined in the upper and lower ears of the latter. When the bosses of the link are moved into the second recesses defined in the upper and lower ears of the male buckle, the ridge of the former is received in the slot defined in the latter, retaining the former in position relative to latter.
[0006] For a better understanding of the present invention and objects thereof, a study of the detailed description of the embodiments described hereinafter should be made in relation to the accompanying drawings.
[0007] In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a case which employs a collapsible frame according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded view of a connector which is in use in the frame of the case as shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a pivoting assembly and a male buckle which are in use in the connector as shown in Figure 2, showing that they are retained in a first relative position;
Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view similar to Figure 3, but showing that the pivoting assembly and the male buckle are in a second position relative to each other;
Figure 5 is an enlarged partial view of a dovetail and a latch both of which are retained in the male buckling member wherein the dovetail is retained in first position so as to allow the latch to slide;
Figure 6 is an enlarged partial view similar to Figure 5 but showing the dovetail retained in a second position so as to lock the latch; and
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a case which employs a collapsible frame according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0008] Referring to Figure 1, a case 10 uses a collapsible frame which has two long straight walls 11, two short straight walls 12 and four connectors 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The long straight walls 11 are opposed to each other. The short walls 12 are opposed to each other. Thus, the straight walls 11 and 12 form a substantially rectangular frame when they are joined together by means of the connectors 20. Each long straight wall 11 is connected to an adjacent short wall 12 by means of a corresponding connector 20. The walls 11 and 12 are rigid for providing protection of the content of the case.
[0009] Each connector 20 has a link assembly 30 and a buckle assembly 40 which consists of a female buckle 41 and a male buckle 51. The link assembly 30 of a connector 20 at the top left corner of the case 10 is linked to a long wall 11 at the top. The buckle assembly 40 of the connector 20 at the top left corner is linked to a short wall 12 at the left. The link assembly 30 of a connector 20 at the bottom left corner is linked to the short wall 12 at the left. The buckle assembly 40 of the connector 20 at the bottom left corner is linked to a long wall 11 at the bottom. The link assembly 30 of a connector 20 at the bottom right corner is linked to the long wall 11 at the bottom. The buckle assembly 40 of a connector 20 at the bottom right corner is linked to a short wall 12 at the right. The link assembly 30 of a connector 20 at the top right corner is linked to the long wall 11 at the top. Each link assembly 30 is foldable. Thus, the left short straight wall 12 is foldable toward the upper long straight wall 11 when the female buckle 41 of the left lower connector 20 is disengaged from the male buckle 51 of the same.
[0010] Referring to Figure 2, the link assembly 30 consists of several links 31 (only one is shown). Each link 31 is shaped as an arc when it is shown in a top view. Each link 31 has a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge which is opposite to the first lateral edge, an upper edge and a lower edge. A slot 32 (see Figure 4) is longitudinally defined in the first lateral edge of each link 31. An ear 33 is formed on the upper edge of the link 31 and another ear 33 is formed on the lower edge of the link 31. The distance between the ears 33 is marginally larger than the length of the second lateral edge of the link 31 so that the second lateral edge of a link 31 can be disposed between the ears 33 of another link 31. Two recesses 34 and 35 are defined in each ear 33 such that they partially overlap each other so as to form a rim between them. Instead of a ridge, several teeth are formed on the second lateral edge of one of the links 31 which is furthest from the buckle assembly 20. The teeth formed on the link 31 are insertable into a corresponding number of recesses (not numbered) defined in one of the walls 11 and 12 for engaging one of the link assemblies with one of the walls 11 and 12.
[0011] A ridge 37 is longitudinally formed on the second lateral edge of each link 31. A boss 38 is formed on the top of each link 31 while another boss 38 is formed on the bottom of each link 31. To form the link assembly 30, the second lateral edge of a link 31 is disposed between the ears 33 of another link 31 so that the bosses 38 of a link 31 are received in the recesses 34 or 35 of another link 31.
[0012] Referring to Figure 3, the bosses 38 of a link 31 are received in the recesses 34 of another link 31 so that the ridge 37 of the first link 31 is disengaged from the slot 32 of the second link 31 so that a link 31 is allowed to pivot with respect to another link 31. That is, the link assembly 30 is foldable.
[0013] Referring to Figure 4, the bosses 38 of a link 31 are engaged in the recesses 35 of another link 31 so that the ridge 37 of a link 31 is received in the slot 32 of another link 31. Thus, the first link 31 is kept from pivoting relative to the second link 31. That is, the link assembly 30 is thus retained in position.
[0014] Referring again to Figure 2, the female buckle 41 has a plate with a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge which is opposite to the first lateral edge. A tab 43, through which a hole is defined, perpendicularly projects from a side of the plate near the first lateral edge. Several teeth 44 project from the second lateral edge of the plate. The teeth 44 are engaged in several recesses (not shown) which are defined in a short wall 12 so that the female buckle 41 is linked to the short wall 12.
[0015] The male buckle 51 has a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge which is opposite to the first lateral edge. A slot 52 is longitudinally defined in the first lateral edge of the male buckle 51. An ear 53 is formed on an upper end of the first lateral edge of the male buckle 51 while another ear 53 is formed on a lower end of the first lateral edge of the male buckle 51. Two recesses 54 and 55 are defined in each ear 53. The slot 52 is similar to the slot 32 in structure and function. The ears 53 are similar to the ears 33 in structure and function. The recesses 54 and 55 are similar to the recesses 34 and 35 in structure and function. Thus, a link 31 can be linked to the male buckle 51. The link 31 is pivotable with respect to the male buckle 51 as the bosses 38 of the former are received in the recesses 54 of the latter. The link 31 is kept from pivoting relative to the male buckle 51 as the bosses 38 of the former are received in the recesses 55 of the latter.
[0016] A C-shaped portion 56 is formed on the second lateral edge of the male buckle 51. A spring-biased latch 57 with a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge is received in a space 58 which is defined in the male buckle 51. A tongue 59 projects from the second lateral edge of the spring-biased latch 57. A dovetail slot 60 is defined in the male buckle 51. The space 58 is above the dovetail slot 60, the former is in communication with the latter. Two recesses 61 and 62 are defined in the dovetail slot 60, the former is below the latter. A dovetail 63 on which a boss 64 is formed is engageable with the dovetail slot 60.
[0017] To engage the female buckle 41 with the male buckle 51, the spring-biased latch 57 is moved in a direction as indicated with an arrow A so that the tongue 59 is moved out of the C-shaped portion 56. The female buckle 41 is moved toward the male buckle 51 in a direction as indicated with an arrow B so that the tab 43 is inserted in the C-shaped portion 56. The spring-biased latch 57 is then released so that the tongue 59 is inserted in the hole which is defined through the tab 43.
[0018] Referring to Figure 5, as the boss 64 is received in the recess 61, the spring-biased latch 57 is not trapped by means of the dovetail 63. The spring-biased latch 57 is thus allowed to slide in the space 58 along a direction as indicated with arrow A (see Figure 2), i.e., the tongue 59 is disengageable from the hole which is defined through the tab 43. As a result, the female buckle 41 is disengageable from the male buckle 51.
[0019] Referring to Figure 6, as the boss 64 is received in the recess 62, an upper portion of the dovetail 63 traps a lower portion of the spring-biased latch 57. The spring-biased latch 57 is thus kept from moving in the direction as indicated with arrow A (see Figure 2), i.e., the tongue 59 is retained in the hole which is defined through the tab 43. Thus, the female buckle 41 is locked to the male buckle 51.
[0020] Referring to Figure 7, according to a second embodiment of this invention, each connector 31 consists of a link assembly 30, two buckle assemblies 40 and 40'. The buckle assembly 40 consists of a female buckle 41 and a male buckle 51. The buckle assembly 40' consists of a female buckle 41 and a male buckle 51'. The male buckle 51' is similar to the male buckle 51, therefore, details of the former will not be given.
[0021] To collapse the case, lower female buckles 41 are disengaged from the lower male buckles 51, the two short straight walls 12 are folded inward to a position substantially parallel to the upper long straight wall 11, thereby allowing the lower long straight wall 11 connected with a male buckle 51 at each end thereof to be pushed toward the upper straight wall 11, resulting in a reduction of the volume of the case.
said link assembly (30) consisting of several links (31) each including a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, an upper edge, a lower edge, an ear (33) which is formed on the upper edge thereof and which defines a first recess (34) and a second recess (35), a lower ear (33) which is formed on the lower edge thereof and which defines a first recess and a second recess, a slot (32) defined in the first edge of the link, a ridge (37) formed on the second edge of the link, a boss (38) formed on the upper edge of the link near the ridge and another boss (38) formed on the lower edge of the link near the ridge;
wherein a link is pivotable in respect to another link when the bosses of the former are received in the first recesses (34) defined in the upper and lower ears (33) of the latter, and when the bosses of a link are received in the second recesses (35) defined in the upper and lower ears of another link, the ridge (37) of the former being received in the slot (32) of the latter, retaining the former in position relative to the latter;
said buckle assembly (40) including a female buckle (41) and a male buckle (51) including a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, an upper ear (53) projecting from the first lateral edge thereof and defining a first recess (54) and a second recess (55) so that the first and second recesses defined therein partially overlap each other, a lower ear (53) projecting from the second lateral edge thereof and defining a first recess (54) and a second recess (55) so that the first and second recesses defined therein partially overlap each other, a slot (52) defined in the first lateral edge thereof;
wherein one of the links is pivotably linked to the male buckle (51) when the bosses of the former are received in the first recesses defined in the upper and lower ears of the latter, and when the bosses (38) of the link are moved into the second recesses defined in the upper and lower ears (53) of the male buckle, the ridge (37) of the former being received in the slot (52) defined in the latter, retaining the former in position relative to latter.
said male buckle (51) including a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, a C-shaped portion (56) formed on the second lateral edge thereof, a space (58) defined therein, a spring-biased latch (57) received in the space defined therein and a tongue (59) extending from the spring-biased latch;
said female buckle (41) including a plate with a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, a tab (43) perpendicularly projecting from the first edge of the plate thereof and defining a hole;
wherein the tongue of the spring-biased latch can be moved from the C-shaped portion of the male buckle so that the tab of the female buckle can be moved within the C-shaped portion of the male buckle, the tongue of the spring-biased latch can be inserted to the hole defined in the tab of the male buckle for firmly engaging the male buckle with a the female buckle.
wherein said boss (64) of the dovetail is received in the first recess (62) defined in the dovetail slot when the dovetail is in the first position, and said boss of the dovetail is received in the second recess (61) defined in the dovetail slot when the dovetail is in the second position.
wobei die Bindeeinrichtung (30) aus mehreren Bindegliedern (31) besteht, die jeweils eine erste Seitenkante, eine zweite Seitenkante, eine Oberkante, eine Unterkante, einen auf ihrer Oberkante ausgebildeten Ansatz (33) mit einer ersten Vertiefung (34) und einer zweiten Vertiefung (35), einen auf ihrer Unterkante ausgebildeten unteren Ansatz (33) mit einer ersten Vertiefung und einer zweiten Vertiefung, einen in der ersten Kante des Bindeglieds ausgebildeten Schlitz (32), eine auf der zweiten Kante des Bindeglieds ausgebildete Rippe (37), einen auf der Oberkante des Bindeglieds nahe der Rippe ausgebildeten Vorsprung (38) und einen anderen auf der Unterkante des Bindeglieds nahe der Rippe ausgebildeten Vorsprung (38) aufweisen;
wobei ferner ein Bindeglied gegenüber dem anderen Bindeglied verschwenkbar ist, wenn die Vorsprünge des vorhergehenden in den ersten, in dem oberen und dem unteren Ansatz (33) des nachfolgenden ausgebildeten Vertiefungen aufgenommen sind und wenn die Vorsprünge eines Bindeglieds in den zweiten, in dem oberen und dem unteren Ansatz des anderen Bindeglieds ausgebildeten Vertiefungen (35) aufgenommen sind und die Rippe (37) des vorhergehenden in dem Schlitz (32) des nachfolgenden aufgenommen ist, so daß das vorhergehende in Position relativ zum nachfolgenden gehalten wird;
wobei weiterhin die Schnalleneinrichtung (40) eine aufnehmende Schnalle (41) und eine einsteckbare Schnalle (51) aufweist, die eine erste Seitenkante, eine zweite Seitenkante, einen von ihrer ersten Seitenkante vorstehenden oberen Ansatz (53) mit einer ersten Vertiefung (54) und einer zweiten Vertiefung (55), so daß die erste und die zweite darin ausgebildeten Vertiefungen sich teilweise einander überlappen, einen von ihrer zweiten Seitenkante vorstehenden unteren Ansatz (53) mit einer ersten Vertiefung (54) und einer zweiten Vertiefung (55), so daß die erste und die zweite darin ausgebildeten Vertiefungen sich teilweise einander überlappen, und einen Schlitz (52) in ihrer ersten Seitenkante hat;
wobei außerdem eins der Bindeglieder verschwenkbar mit der einsteckbaren Schnalle (51) verbunden ist, wenn die Vorsprünge des vorhergehenden in den ersten, in dem oberen und dem unteren Ansatz der letzteren ausgebildeten Vertiefungen aufgenommen sind und wenn die Vorsprünge (38) des Bindeglieds in den zweiten, in dem oberen und dem unteren Ansatz (53) der einsteckbaren Schnalle ausgebildeten Vertiefungen eingesetzt sind und die Rippe (37) des vorhergehenden in dem Schlitz (52) in der letzteren aufgenommen ist, so daß das vorhergehende in Position relativ zu der letzteren gehalten wird.
die einsteckbare Schnalle (51) mit einer ersten Seitenkante, einer zweiten Seitenkante, einem auf ihrer zweiten Seitenkante ausgebildeten C-förmigen Teil (56), einem darin ausgebildeten Raum (58), einem in dem darin ausgebildeten Raum aufgenommenen, federnd vorgespannten Riegel (57) und mit einer sich von dem federnd vorgespannten Riegel wegerstreckenden Zunge (59); und
die aufnehmende Schnalle (41) mit einer Platte mit einer ersten Seitenkante und einer zweiten Seitenkante und mit einer von der ersten Kante ihrer Platte senkrecht vorstehenden Nase (43), die ein Loch begrenzt;
wobei die Zunge des federnd vorspringenden Riegels aus dem C-förmigen Teil der einsteckbaren Schnalle herausbewegt werden kann, so daß die Nase der aufnehmenden Schnalle in dem C-förmigen Teil der einsteckbaren Schnalle bewegt werden kann, und wobei die Zunge des federnd vorgespannten Riegels in das in der Nase der einsteckbaren Schnalle gebildete Loch für eine feste Koppelung der einsteckbaren Schnalle mit der aufnehmenden Schnalle eingeführt werden kann.
wobei ferner der Vorsprung (64) des schwalbenschwanzförmigen Elementes in der ersten, in dem schwalbenschwanzförmigen Schlitz gebildeten Vertiefung (62) aufgenommen ist, wenn das schwalbenschwanzförmige Element sich in der ersten Position befindet, und der Vorsprung des schwalbenschwanzförmigen Elementes in der zweiten, in dem schwalbenschwanzförmigen Schlitz gebildeten Vertiefung (61) aufgenommen ist, wenn das schwalbenschwanzförmige Element sich in der zweiten Position befindet.
ledit ensemble de chaînons (30) étant constitué par plusieurs chaînons (31) présentant chacun un premier bord latéral, un second bord latéral, un bord supérieur, un bord inférieur, un tenon (33) pratiqué sur son bord supérieur qui définit un premier évidement (34) et un second évidement (35), un tenon inférieur (33) pratiqué sur le bord inférieur et qui définit un premier évidement et un second évidement, une fente (32) pratiquée dans le premier bord du chaînon, une nervure (37) pratiquée sur le second bord du chaînon, un bossage (38) pratiqué sur le bord supérieur du chaînon au voisinage de la nervure et un autre bossage (38) pratiqué sur le bord inférieur du chaînon au voisinage de la nervure ;
dans lequel un chaînon peut pivoter par rapport à un autre chaînon quand les bossages du premier sont logés dans les premiers évidements (34) pratiqués dans les tenons supérieur et inférieur (33) du second et quand les bossages d'un chaînon sont logés dans les seconds évidements (35) pratiqués dans les tenons supérieur ou inférieur d'un autre chaînon, la nervure (37) du premier étant logée dans la fente (32) du second, maintenant le premier en position par rapport au second ;
ledit ensemble à boucles (40) comprenant une boucle femelle (41) et une boucle mâle (51) comprenant un premier bord latéral, un second bord latéral, un tenon supérieur (53) dépassant du premier bord latéral de celui-ci et définissant un premier évidement (54) et un second évidement (55) de manière telle que le premier et le second évidement qui y sont définis se superposent partiellement l'un à l'autre, un tenon inférieur (53) dépassant du second bord latéral de celui-ci et définissant un premier évidement (54) et un second évidement (55) de manière telle que le premier et le second évidement qui y sont définis se superposent partiellement l'un à l'autre, une fente (52) définie dans le premier bord latéral de celui-ci ;
dans lequel l'un des chaînons est réuni de manière pivotante à la boucle mâle (51) quand les bossages du premier sont logés dans les premiers évidements définis dans les tenons supérieur et inférieur du second et quand les bossages (38) du chaînon sont déplacés dans les second évidements définis dans les tenons supérieur et inférieur (53) de la boucle mâle, la nervure (37) du premier étant logée dans la fente (52) définie dans le second, en maintenant le premier en position par rapport au second.
ladite boucle mâle (51) comprenant un premier bord latéral, un second bord latéral, une portion en forme de C (56) pratiquée sur son second bord latéral, un espace (58) défini dans celle-ci, un verrou soumis à un ressort (57) logé dans l'espace défini dans celui-ci et une languette (59) partant du verrou soumis à un ressort ;
ladite boucle femelle (41) comprenant une plaque présentant un premier bord latéral et un second bord latéral, une patte (43) dépassant perpendiculairement du premier bord de la plaque de celle-ci et définissant un trou ;
dans laquelle la languette du verrou soumis à un ressort peut être déplacée par rapport à la portion en forme de C de la boucle mâle, de manière telle que la patte de la boucle femelle puisse être déplacée à l'intérieur de la portion en forme de C de la boucle mâle, la languette du verrou soumis à un ressort pouvant être insérée dans le trou défini dans la patte de la boucle mâle en vue d'amener solidement en contact la boucle mâle avec la boucle femelle.
dans laquelle ledit bossage (64) de la queue d'aronde est reçu dans le premier évidement (62) défini dans la fente en queue d'aronde quand la queue d'aronde est dans la première position et ledit bossage de la queue d'aronde est reçu dans le second évidement (61) défini dans la fente en queue d'aronde quand la queue d'aronde est dans la seconde position.