EP2344000A1

EP2344000A1 - Hinge for a suitcase

Info

Publication number: EP2344000A1
Application number: EP08876042A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Enrico Roncato
Original assignee: Valigeria Roncato SpA
Current assignee: Valigeria Roncato SpA
Priority date: 2008-09-09
Filing date: 2008-09-09
Publication date: 2011-07-20
Also published as: WO2010029582A1

Abstract

The present invention concerns a suitcase (1) equipped with two shells (2,3) hinged to each other by means of at least one hinge (4), wherein the hinge, equipped with an extensible pin (21), can be rapidly snapped into the suitcase itself.

Description

The present invention relates to a suitcase or trolley comprising at least two portions hinged to each other.

Generally, suitcases equipped with two portions hinged to each other comprise a single pin, substantially as long as the hinge, which may extend also substantially for the entire length of the side on which it is located, which is customarily the longer side of the suitcase itself.

In order to join the two portions with each other so that they can rotate one with respect to the other, it is therefore necessary to insert the single pin inside all the pivots which constitute the hinge, by means of an operation which is not an easy one. Similarly, in the event of damage to a part of the hinges, the operation of replacement of the hinge is laborious and complicated.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a suitcase comprising a hinge which can be secured to and/or detached from the suitcase in a simpler manner compared with known suitcases, permitting greater rapidity in the operations of assembling and repairing the suitcase.

According to the present invention, this aim is achieved by a suitcase according to claim 1.

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description of a practical embodiment, provided by way of non- limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a suitcase according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a partially exploded perspective view of a detail of the suitcase of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a partial section of a portion of the suitcase of Figure 1;

Figures 4A and 4B respectively show an element of the suitcase of Figure 1 in a full perspective view and in a broken-up perspective view;

Figures 5A- 5C show a pin of the suitcase of Figure 1, in three different configurations.

Referring to the drawings, the suitcase 1 comprises a first and a second shell 2, 3, hinged to each other by means of at least one hinge 4 and defining, when closed, the internal volume of the suitcase 1.

The shells 2, 3 of the suitcase 1 shown in the drawings are rigidly connected to respective frames 5, 6.

The hinge 4 links the frames 5, 6 (and therefore the shells 2, 3) in relative rotation, permitting the opening and closing of the suitcase 1.

Advantageously, the shells 2, 3 are shells made of rigid plastics material, secured for example by gluing to the respective frames 5 , 6. Alternatively, the frames 5, 6 may be produced integrally with the shells 2, 3, for example from plasties material, or it is possible for the shells 2, 3 to be made of semi-rigid material.

The suitcase 1 shown in the drawings is substantially in the shape of a parallelepiped, having a front 7, a back 8 substantially opposed to the front 7, a shorter upper side 9, a lower side 10 and two longer sides 11, 12. Other shapes are obviously also possible.

Advantageously, the suitcase 1 may comprise: a pull-out handle 13 housed in suitable seats of the back 8; one or more castors 14, optionally swivelling, on the shorter lower side 10; means (for example feet 15) for resting on the ground, on a longer side 11 and/or at least one handgrip 16 disposed on the longer side 12 opposed to the longer side 11.

The suitcase 1 may also comprise a handgrip 16 on the shorter lower side 9 and/or one on the shorter upper side 10.

Some or all of the handgrips 16 may comprise closure means for the suitcase 1, such as, for example, locks, optionally of the combination or key type.

On the longer side 11, advantageously comprising the means for resting on the ground, one or more hinges 4 are arranged, suitable for permitting the mutual rotation of the shells 2, 3 about at least a first axis of rotation Xl-Xl.

In the suitcase 1 of Figure 1, three hinges 4, identical to one another, are shown. Suitcases of different dimensions may have only one or two, four, six or more hinges, therefore in the continuation of the present description reference will be made to only one hinge, it being understood thereby that the other hinges may be identical to the one described above.

The hinge 4 comprises a first part 17, rigidly connected to the first shell 2, a second part 18, movable in rotation about the first axis of rotation Xl-Xl with respect to the first part 17 and a first pin 20, which connects the first and the second part 17,

18 in rotation about the axis of rotation Xl-Xl.

The pin 20 comprises extensor means for modifying its maximum length in the direction of the first axis of rotation Xl-

Xl.

As can be seen more easily in Figures 5A- 5C, the extensor means may comprise a spring 22, preferably a helical spring, or similar resilient means,- advantageously, the pin 20 is sub- divided into two halves, each of which may comprise a respective helical spring 22, for example disposed about an inner end portion

23 having a diameter smaller than that of the pin 20 itself and a length shorter than the length, at rest, of the optional spring

22. According to a preferred embodiment, the pin 20 does not have portions of reduced diameter on the opposite side from that of the inner end portion 23.

Alternatively, the pin 20 may comprise a central cylindrical portion, from the ends of which protrude two coaxial elements of smaller diameter which can be pushed towards the inside of the central portion, against the force of the extensor means indicated above .

The second part 18 advantageously comprises a central body 24, for example in the form of an elongate plate, rigidly connected to or integral with at least one appendage 25.

As can be seen from the drawings, the appendage 25 comprises a through-hole 26 with axis Xl-Xl, in which the pin 20 is received.

The appendage 25 has (for about 270°) a substantially cylindrical profile concentric with the axis of rotation Xl-Xl, so as to facilitate the rotation of the appendage 25 with respect to the first part 17. In the region in which the appendage 25 joins the central body 24, the profile is not substantially cylindrical.

Advantageously, as can be seen in Figure 4, the appendage 25 comprises a punched portion 27, in order to provide a lead-in for a subsequent punching of the appendage 25, which by creating an inner protuberance (not visible) in the hole 26, prevents the displacement of the pin 20 along the axis Xl-Xl.

As can be seen in Figure 2, the first part 17, advantageously the frame 5, comprises a seat 28 for receiving the appendage 25.

The seat 28 is defined by one, advantageously two, transverse walls 29, extending along a plane transverse or perpendicular to the axis of rotation Xl-Xl. In each transverse wall 29 a hole 30, advantageously a through-hole, is provided, having a diameter such as to permit the insertion of the pin 20 therein.

An inner longitudinal wall 31 makes it possible to bear the transverse load at the location of the pin 20 when the suitcase 1 is closed.

The seat 28 may further be defined by a bottom wall 32 and by an outer longitudinal wall 33.

The external form of the first and of the second part 17, 18 are such that, when the hinge 4 is mounted and the suitcase is closed, the second part 18 is disposed in a natural extension of the outer surface of the first part 17.

On the side of the through-hole 30 opposed to the side on which the seat 28 is located, an abutment wall 34 may be provided, having the function of preventing excessive elongation of the pin 20. The abutment wall 34 may be provided at a non-zero distance from the seat 28.

Alternatively, the abutment wall 34 may be produced integrally with the transverse wall 29, equipping it with a through-hole having a diameter equal to the diameter of the hole 30 on the inner side (or facing away from the seat 28) and a smaller diameter on the opposite side.

Advantageously, the second part 18 is not rigidly connected to the second shell 3, but is movable in rotation with respect thereto . In the embodiment shown in the drawings, in fact, the hinge 4 comprises a third part 19, rigidly connected with respect to the second shell 3. The second shell 3 and the second part 18 can therefore rotate with respect to each other about a second axis of rotation X2-X2, advantageously parallel to the first axis of rotation Xl-Xl and advantageously defined by a second pin 21, identical to the first pin 20.

The connection between the second part 18 and the third part 19 may advantageously be identical to that between the second part 18 and the first part 17, for example in mirror- image with respect to the median plane between the first and the second axis of rotation Xl-Xl, X2-X2.

The second part 18 may therefore comprise a second appendage 36, received in a second seat 37, but also a third appendage 38 received in a third seat 39 and a fourth appendage 40 received in a fourth seat 41.

The central body 24, according to some preferred embodiments, may comprise either two single appendages 25, 36 defining the two axes of rotation Xl-Xl, X2 , X2 , or two appendages 25, 38 aligned along the first axis of rotation Xl-Xl, and two appendages 36, 40 aligned along the second axis of rotation X2-X2.

In each case, subject to the due geometrical variations along the planes of symmetry, all the appendages 25, 36, 38, 40 of the second part 18 are coupled in the respective seats 28, 37, 39,

41 in the same manner as previously described. The second part 18 may further comprise one or two (or more) bulges 42, protruding towards the outside, advantageously disposed on the central plate 24 , for example at the centre of two appendages 25, 36 defining the two different axes of rotation Xl- Xl, X2-X2, having the function of providing points for bearing on the ground in order to co-operate with the feet 15.

Naturally, in order to satisfy contingent and specific requirements, a person skilled in the art may apply to the configurations described above many modifications and variants, all however included within the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Suitcase (1) comprising a first and a second shell (2, 3), substantially defining, when closed, the internal volume of said suitcase (1) , and a hinge (4) , defining a first axis of rotation (Xl-Xl) ; said first and a second shell (2, 3) being connected to said hinge

(4); said hinge (4) comprising a first part (17) rigidly connected to said first shell (2) , a second part (18) movable in rotation about said first axis of rotation (Xl-Xl) with respect to said first part (17), a first pin (20) capable of connecting said first and second part (17, 18) in rotation about said first axis of rotation

(Xl-Xl) ; characterized in that said first pin (20) comprises extensor means (22) for modifying its maximum length in the direction of said first axis of rotation

(Xl-Xl) .

2. Suitcase (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first part (17) comprises a seat (28) for at least partially receiving said second part (18) and a first wall (29) , extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to said first axis of rotation (Xl-Xl) , comprising a through-hole (30) for receiving said first pin (20) .

3. Suitcase (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said first part (17) comprises an abutment wall (34), disposed on the side of said first wall (29) opposed to the side on which said seat (28) is disposed, and capable of forming an abutment surface for said first pin (20) .

4. Suitcase (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said abutment wall (34) comprises a hole which is coaxial with, but of smaller diameter than, said through-hole (30) .

5. Suitcase (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said pin (20) is sub-divided into two halves, symmetrical with respect to a median plane perpendicular to said first axis of rotation (Xl-Xl) .

6. Suitcase (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said pin (20) comprises an inner end portion (23) having a diameter smaller than the maximum diameter of said pin (20) , disposed in proximity to said median plane.

7. Suitcase (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said extensor means (22) comprise a spring disposed around said inner end portion (23) .

8. Suitcase (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second part (18) comprises a central body (24) from which starts a first appendage (25) comprising a through-hole (26), said first pin (20) being inserted into said through-hole (26) .

9. Suitcase (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said first appendage (25) comprises a second through-hole (27) having an axis perpendicular to, and incident with, said first axis of rotation (Xl-Xl) .

10. Suitcase (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said central body (24) comprises a second appendage (36) , said second pin (21) being inserted into said second appendage (36) .

11. Suitcase (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said central body (24) comprises a third (38) and/or a fourth (40) appendage, corresponding respectively to said first (25) and/or second (36) appendage and disposed respectively aligned along said first and/or second axis of rotation (Xl-Xl, X2-X2) .

12. Suitcase (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said hinge (4) comprises a second (21), a third and/or a fourth pin, each comprising respective extensor means for extending along the direction defined by said first axis of rotation (X-X) .