Baggage item

Abstract

With a baggage item from plastic shell elements (2,4) linked with each other via a hinge (5) along an edge of the free margins (9) facing each other and comprising a closing device for holding the shell elements (2,4) in the closed position, it is provided that the shell elements (2,4) are formed of a thin, flexible plastic material, and that at least one shell element (2,4) has an outward protruding peripheral margin (28) that circumscribes an area, said margin being linked with a lid (8) by means of a zipper (16) while forming an outer pocket (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a baggage item out of two shell elements from plastic material according to the precharacterizing part of claim 1.

[0002] Such baggage items, e.g., bags, suitcases or rucksacks, may consist of two shell elements of plastic material being linked with each other via a hinge along an edge of the free margins facing each other and comprising a closing device, e.g., a lock, for holding the shell elements in the closed position.

[0003] The mentioned baggage items are also made of textile material, such baggage items of textile material having the disadvantage of being less robust and susceptible to wear to an increased degree. The advantage of baggage items of textile material consists in that they are light-weighted and that they are able to be provided with pocket elements. The baggage items of ABS shell elements have the disadvantage to have a higher weight in comparison with textile baggage items. Further, no additional pockets can be provided on the outside of the suitcase. In comparison with textile baggage items, however, baggage items of ABS plastic have the advantage of being more robust and less susceptible to wear.

[0004] It is the object of the invention to provide a baggage item of plastic shell elements which has a low weight and can be provided with put-on pockets, on the one hand, and is robust and not much susceptible to wear, on the other hand.

[0005] This object is solved, according to the invention, with the features of claim 1.

[0006] The invention advantageously provides that the shell elements are formed of a thin, flexible plastic material and at least one shell element has an outward protruding peripheral margin that circumscribes an area, said margin being linked with a lid by means of a zipper while forming an outer pocket.

[0007] To form the shell elements of a thin, flexible plastic material has the advantage that the baggage item has an extremely low weight and is even lighter than a comparable textile baggage item. The flexibility of the plastic material permits to achieve a high degree of filling, similar to that of a baggage item of textile material. At the same time, the shell elements of a high-strength but flexible plastic material are nevertheless robust and resistant to wear to a high degree. In at least one shell element, at least one outward protruding peripheral margin that circumscribes an area may be provided, which is linked with a lid by means of a zipper while forming an outer pocket. Due to the fact that the flexible plastic material is thin, it can be sewn to a zipper at the peripheral margin, said zipper being sewn to a lid, on the other hand. Thus, an outer pocket can be advantageously formed in a baggage item of plastic shell elements in order to provide a baggage item with partitioned loading spaces.

[0008] The plastic material preferably consists of a polycarbonate sheet. Such a plastic sheet can be deep-drawn and has high values of strength so that the baggage items can resist to high loads the like of which particularly occur during voyages by airplane. At the same time, the polycarbonate sheet can be manufactured so as to be sufficiently thin so that the baggage item has an extremely low weight, on the one hand, and is sufficiently thin to be able to be sewn, on the other hand.

[0009] The polycarbonate sheet has a thickness of about 1.5 to 2.0 mm, preferably 1.6 mm.

[0010] The lid may have a peripheral margin facing the shell element. This margin may be connected with a side portion of the zipper.

[0011] Preferably, the protruding margin of the shell element and the margin of the lid are bordered by a rand, the side portions of the zipper being connected with the rands and the margins.

[0012] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the shell element is configured as a molded part with an integrated integrally formed lid first and then, the molded part is separated along a line of separation to separate the shell element with a protruding margin, on the one hand, and the lid, on the other hand. This has the advantage that both the shell element with protruding margin and the lid can be manufactured in a single manufacturing process.

[0013] The sparing in the shell element formed by separating the lid can be closed by a bottom portion with an outward protruding margin, the protruding margin being connected together with the abutting protruding margin of the shell element, the rand and the one side portion of the zipper.

[0014] In this connection, it is preferably provided that the protruding margins are sewn with the rand and the respective side portions of the at least one zipper.

[0015] When sewing with high-strength threads or strong yarns, the strength of the connection between the zipper and the shell element and the lid and/or the bottom portion, respectively, can be increased such that the baggage item is able to survive high loads without any damage.

[0016] Preferably, the closing device of the shell elements consists of a zipper as well.

[0017] The zippers of the baggage item and the outer pocket may have two independently operable slides.

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention is explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0019] In the Figures:

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a view of the main surface of a baggage item.

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the baggage item.

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a molded part of which a shell element and a lid are formed.

[0023] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged representation of the section IV-IV in FIG. 2.

[0024] The baggage item shown in FIG. 1 has about the shape of an attaché case with an outer pocket 6. The baggage item is formed of plastic shell elements 2,4 connected via a hinge 5 and held in their closed position via a closing device consisting of a zipper 12. The lower shell element 2 is provided with a handle 10 for carrying the baggage item.

[0025] The zipper 12 connecting the two shell elements 2,4 may be provided with two slides 36 that are operable independently of each other.

[0026] The plastic shell elements 2,4 consist of a high-strength polycarbonate sheet with a thickness of about 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm. The preferred material thickness amounts to 1.6 mm.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a deep-drawn molded part 24 with which the upper shell element 4 as well as a lid 8 for an outer pocket are integrally formed. The molded part 24 is separated along the separation line 26, whereby the shell element 4, one the one hand, and the lid 8 are manufactured.

[0028] The molded part 4 has a recessed peripheral margin 28 circumscribing the area of the outer pocket 6 and protruding outward from the shell element 4. To provide the margin with a higher rigidity, it is recessed with respect to a circumferential base 29, as can be seen best from FIG. 3. When the protruding margin, as shown in FIG. 2, is manufactured, a sparing is created in the shell element 4 which can be closed by a bottom portion 22. The bottom portion 22 is manufactured separately and has an outward protruding peripheral margin 30 which, as shown in FIG. 3, can be connected with the margin 28 protruding in the same direction in such a manner that the rear side of the bottom portion 22 is preferably in substantial alignment with the inner main surface of the shell element 4.

[0029] It goes without saying that more than one outer pocket can be arranged on the outside of the shell element 4. They could be arranged next to each other or above one another on the outer main surface of the shell element 4 or 6 or also on top of each other when the lid 8 is configured with two margins 32 protruding in opposite directions.

[0030] In a further non-illustrated alternative, the molded part 24 may be manufactured integrally with the bottom portion 22 and only one outward protruding peripheral margin 28 may be formed in the molded part 24. In this case, a separation of the bottom portion could perhaps be omitted. In this case, however, the lid 8 has to be manufactured separately.

[0031] As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the shell elements 2,4 have a peripheral bead 34 at their mutually facing margins 9 at a small distance thereto, which protrudes outward and stiffens the margin 9 like a frame. Between the peripheral bead 34 and the margin 9, a strip remains that receives a rand 14 enclosing the margin 9 and being respectively sewn to a side portion of the zipper 12.

[0032] As can be seen best from FIG. 3, the bottom portion 22 contacts the outward protruding margin 28 of the shell portion 4 with an outward protruding margin 30, both margins 28,30 being enclosed by a peripheral rand 18. A zipper 16 of the outer pocket 6 is sewn to the rand 18 and the intermediate margins 28 and 30 via a side portion 15. The seam is prepared by means of a high-strength thread or yarn so that a high strength of the connection can be achieved which can also withstand high loads of the baggage item.

[0033] The other side portion 17 of the zipper 16 of the outer pocket is sewn to a rand 20 enclosing the margin 32 of the lid 8. The lid 8 may also be articulately connected with the shell element 4 by means of a hinge 7. The hinges 5,7 consist of an artificial leather material, e.g., and may be sewn to the shell elements 2,4 and the lid 8, respectively and, if necessary, additionally riveted.

Claims

1. Baggage item of plastic shell elements (2,4) linked with each other via a hinge (5) along an edge of the free margins (9) facing each other and comprising a closing device for holding the shell elements (2,4) in the closed position,

characterized in

that the shell elements (2,4) are made of a thin, flexible plastic material and that at least one shell element (2,4) has an outward protruding peripheral margin (28) that circumscribes an area, said margin being linked with a lid (8) by means of a zipper (16) while forming an outer pocket (6).

2. Baggage item according to claim 1, characterized in that the plastic material consists of a polycarbonate sheet.

3. Baggage item according to claim 2, characterized in that the polycarbonate sheet has a thickness of about 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm, preferably 1.6 mm.

4. Baggage item according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the lid (8) has a peripheral margin (32) facing the shell element (4).

5. Baggage item according to claim 4, characterized in that the protruding margin (28) of the shell element (4) and the margin (32) of the lid (8) are enclosed by a rand (18,20), and that the zipper (16) comprises side portions (15,17) linked to the rands (18,20) and the margins (28,32).

6. Baggage item according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the shell element (4) is adapted to be configured as a molded part (24) with an integral lid (8), and that the molded part (24) is separated along a line of separation (26) to form the shell element (4) with the protruding margin (28) and the lid (8).

7. Baggage item according to claim 6, characterized in that the sparing in the shell element (4) formed by separating the lid (8) is closed by a bottom portion (22) with protruding margin (32), the protruding margin (30) being linked together with the protruding margin (28) of the shell element, the rand (18) and the one side portion (15) of the zipper (16).

8. Baggage item according to claim 7, characterized in that the protruding margins (28,30,32) are sewn to the rands (18;20) and the respective side portions (15;17) of the at least one zipper (16).

9. Baggage item according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the closing device of the shell elements (2,4) consists of a zipper (12).

10. Baggage item according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the zippers (12,16) comprise two independently operable slides (36).