Folding frame for a case

Abstract

A folding frame structure, wherein a folding structure includes two movable binded members and a fixing clasp member. Two ends of the two movable binded members are respectively affixed to edges of a fixed supporting board and a movable supporting board, and two fastening members are respectively affixed to movable ends of two of the movable supporting boards. After joining together the two fastening members by a mutually embedding method, a fastening catch then securely clasps together the two fastening members. The present invention not only increases convenience when assembling the case, moreover, it effectively reduces the dimensions of the case after folding to facilitate storing away.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a collapsible frame for a case, which is stored away using a multistage folding method. Moreover, a fastening structure that can be quickly clasped together for securing the frame structure increases convenience when assembling the case, and more effectively reduces the dimensions of the case after folding to facilitate storing away.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

Referring to FIG. 1, which shows a conventional case a as seen on the market, the majority of which have a frame structure a2 disposed within an outer casing a1. The frame structure a2 is used to support the outer casing a1, thereby forming a holding space a3 for a user to place articles therein. Although the conventional case a is extremely convenient, the inability to reduce the dimensions of the frame structure a2 when not in use is a cause for frustration in storing away the oversized case a. Referring to FIG. 2, which shows a foldaway case a that has appeared on the market because of the aforementioned shortcoming in the conventional case. A frame structure a2 is disposed within the case a, and a hinge a4 is fitted on each curved corner of the frame structure a2; moreover, a fastening structure a5 is configured at each end of the case a. When the fastening structures a5 are unfastened, short side supporting boards a21 are respectively folded inward onto two long side supporting boards a22, which are then folded down together onto the bottom of the case a, and an existing zipper a6 is then used to zip up the case a, thereby achieving the object of reducing the dimensions of the case a by folding away the frame structure a2. Although the frame structure a2 improves achieving targeted reduction in the dimensions of the case a, in practical use, the problem of the curved corners of the frame structure a2 having insufficient supporting strength is still present, moreover, assembly is inconvenient. Hence, the inventor of the present invention has designed a new improved case folding frame structure, wherein the supporting strength of a frame structure does not weaken when in use, and eliminates unnecessary frustration in handling. Moreover, adoption of a new design for a fastening catch enables greater convenience in assembling the frame structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the shortcomings of the aforementioned conventional structures, the inventor of the present invention, having accumulated years of experience in related arts, attentively and circumspectly carried out extensive study and exploration to ultimately design a new improved folding frame structure.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a folding frame structure that can be used in a general case, which not only more effectively reduces dimensions of the case when storing away but also eliminates concern about weakness in the supporting strength when in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide fastening members having simple structure and that facilitate convenient assembly of the folding frame structure.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, the folding frame structure of the present invention is structured to comprise a plurality of fixed supporting boards, movable supporting boards, folding structures and fastening members. Two ends of the folding structure are respectively attached to the fixed supporting boards and the movable supporting boards. The folding structure is structured to comprise two movable binded members and a fixing clasp member, wherein side edges of the two movable binded members are provided with reciprocal pairing serrated block members, which after reciprocally inter-inserting defines a pivot connection therebetween. A side edge of one of the movable binded members is provided with an inverted U-shaped clip portion and a plurality of through holes. Two protruding pieces respectively inwardly protrude from inner sides of the clip portion, which respectively clip within corresponding grooves of the fixing clasp member and move therewithin. The through holes are used for insert pieces that protrude from the fixing clasp member to insert therein. The fastening members are respectively affixed to movable ends of the movable supporting boards. One of the fastening members is provided with a mounting slot, and an embedding groove is defined center of an edge of the other fastening member corresponding to position of the mounting slot. A fastening catch is disposed within the mounting slot, and catches configured on a front end of the fastening catch protrude out from the mounting slot when disposed therein. A rear end of the fastening catch is provided with an elastic member, and a circular hole is defined center of the fastening catch, an inner side edge of which is provided with a clasp member that protrudes from the plane of the fastening catch, which is used to securely clip the fastening catch within the mounting slot. The catches at the front end of the fastening catch insert within corresponding fastening holes of the embedding groove, thereby achieving object of fastening together the fastening members.

According to the aforementioned structure, when using the folding structure, the block members of the movable binded members are first mutually clipped together to fix position of the folding structure, then the fixing clasp member is simultaneously rotated and translated to insert the insert pieces of the fixing clasp member into the through holes of the movable binded member. Furthermore, the two corresponding fastening members are mutually clasped together, and the catches at the front end of the fastening clasp clip within the fastening holes of the embedding groove, thereby rigidly joining together the folding structure and the fastening members to form an integrated body. Moreover, each linking portion has a clasp or clip fastening structure, thereby eliminating concern about weakness in the supporting strength when in use. When storing away the folding structure, the fastening catch is shifted away from its fastening within the embedding groove to separate the catches at the front end of the fastening catch from the fastening holes. The movable binded member and the fixing clasp member are then pulled open and the fixing clasp member rotated. The two movable binded members are also rotated, thereby moving the movable supporting board towards the fixed supporting board, thus realizing multistage folding of the folding structure, which effectively reduces dimensions of the case for storing away. Furthermore, after a fastening catch is inserted within an opening defined center of the mounting slot, a clasp member of the fastening catch is used to clasp within an inner side of the opening of the mounting slot, thereby securely clasping together the fastening structure. Moreover, a rear end of the fastening catch is configured with an elastic member, which apart from providing restoring elasticity when pressing the fastening catch disposed within the fastening member, also provides a force for clasping the clasp member within the opening of the mounting slot. According to the aforementioned configuration, simplicity of the folding frame structure of the present invention facilitates both convenient assembly and use.

To enable a further understanding of said objects and the technological methods of the invention herein, brief description of the drawings is provided below followed by detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a prior art structural elevational view of a case.

FIG. 2 shows a prior art structural elevational view of a folding case.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded elevational view according to the present invention.

FIG. 3A shows a structural elevational view of a fastening clasp according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an assembled elevational view according to the present invention.

FIG. 5A shows a top view of the present invention in an opened state.

FIG. 5B shows a schematic view depicting actions when opening the present invention.

FIG. 6A shows a top view of the present invention folded away.

FIG. 6B shows a schematic view depicting actions when folding away the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 3A and FIG. 4, an improved folding frame structure of the present invention is structured to comprise a plurality of fixed supporting boards 10, movable supporting boards 20, folding structures 30 and fastening members 40.

Two ends of the folding structure 30 are respectively attached to the fixed supporting boards 10 and the movable supporting boards 20. The folding structure 30 is structured to comprise two movable binded members 31, 32 and a fixing clasp member 33, wherein side edges of the two movable binded members 31, 32 are provided with reciprocal pairing serrated block members 31a, 32a respectively, which after reciprocally inter-inserting defines a pivot connection therebetween. A side edge of the movable binded member 32 is provided with an inverted U-shaped clip portion 32b and a plurality of through holes 32c. Two protruding pieces 32b1 respectively inwardly protrude from inner sides of the clip portion 32b, which respectively clip within corresponding grooves 33a of the fixing clasp member 33 and move therewithin. The through holes 32c are used for insert pieces 33b that protrude from the fixing clasp member 33 to insert therein.

A side edge of one of the fastening members 40 is provided with a protruding mounting slot 41 and a plurality of insert slots 42. An opening 41a is defined center of the mounting slot 41, and outer edges of the mounting slot 41 are provided with a plurality of locating clasps 41b. Catches 41c1 configured on a front end of the fastening catch 41c protrude out from the mounting slot 41 when inserted therein, and a rear end of the fastening catch 41c is provided with an elastic member 41c2. A circular hole 41c3 is defined center of the fastening catch 41c, an inner side edge of which is provided with a clasp member 41c4 that protrudes from the plane of the fastening catch 41, which is used to securely clip the fastening catch 41c within the opening 41a of the mounting slot 41. An embedding groove 43 is defined center of an edge of the other fastening member 40 corresponding to position of the protruding mounting slot 41 of the other fastening member 40. Peripheral edges of the embedding groove 43 are provided with locating holes 43a and fastening holes 43b corresponding to the locating clasps 41b and the catches 41c1 respectively. Upper and lower sides of the embedding groove 43 are respectively provided with insert pieces 44, which are used to increase supporting strength after clasping together the fastening members 40. Furthermore, ends of the aforementioned two fastening members 40 are respectively affixed to movable ends of two of the movable supporting boards 20 by means of an integrated method or an insert fixing method. After mutual embedding of the two fastening members 40, the catches 41c1 at the front end of the fastening catch 41c clip within the fastening holes 43b of the embedding groove 43, the locating clasps 41b insert within the respective locating holes 43a of the mounting slot 41, and the insert pieces 44 respectively insert within the insert slots 42, thereby achieving rigid, precise and secure clasping together of the two fastening members 40.

Referring to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, when using the folding structure 30, the folding structure 30 is first opened outwardly to the side, thereby enabling the block members 31a, 32a of the two movable binded members 31, 32 to respectively mutually clip together and fix position of the folding structure 30, then the fixing clasp member 33 is simultaneously rotated and translated to insert the insert pieces 33b of the fixing clasp member 33 into the through holes 32c of the movable binded member 32. Furthermore, the two corresponding fastening members 40 are mutually clasped together, and the catches 41c1 at the front end of the fastening clasp 41c clip within the fastening holes 43b of the embedding groove 43, thereby rigidly joining together the folding structure 30 and the fastening members 40 to form an integrated body. Referring to FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, when folding away the folding structure 30, the fastening catch 41c is shifted away from its fastening within the embedding groove 43 to separate the catches 41c1 at the front end of the fastening catch 41c from the fastening holes 43b. The movable binded member 32 and the fixing clasp member 33 are then pulled open and the fixing clasp member 33 rotated. The two movable binded members 31, 32 are also rotated, thereby moving the movable supporting board 20 towards the fixed supporting board 10, thus realizing multistage folding of the folding structure 30, which effectively reduces dimensions of the case for storing away.

In conclusion, the improved folding structure 30 of the folding frame structure of the present invention not only more effectively reduces dimensions of the case when storing away, moreover, the present invention eliminates concern about weakness in the supporting strength when in use. Furthermore, improvement in the fastening members 40 includes simplification of structure, convenience in assembly, and effectiveness of greater facilitation of operation. Practicability and advancement of the present invention clearly comply with essential elements as required for a new patent application, accordingly, a new patent application is proposed herein.

It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A folding frame structure, comprising a plurality of fixed supporting boards, movable supporting boards, folding structures and fastening members, and characterized in that:

two ends of the folding structure are respectively attached to ends of the fixed supporting board and the movable supporting board, the folding structure comprises two movable binded members and a fixing clasp member, wherein side edges of the two movable binded members are provided with reciprocal pairing serrated block members, which after reciprocally inter-inserting defines a pivot connection therebetween, another side edge of one of the movable binded members is provided with an inverted U-shaped clip portion and a plurality of through holes, two protruding pieces respectively inwardly protrude from inner sides of the clip portion, which respectively clip within corresponding grooves of the fixing clasp member and move therewithin, the through holes are used for insert pieces that protrude from the fixing clasp member to insert therein;

a side edge of one of the fastening members is provided with a protruding mounting slot and a plurality of insert slots, an opening is defined center of the mounting slot, and outer edges of the mounting slot are provided with a plurality of locating clasps, and a fastening catch is disposed within the mounting slot; an embedding groove is defined center of an edge of the other fastening member corresponding to position of the mounting slot of the other fastening member, and peripheral edges of the embedding groove are provided with locating holes and fastening holes corresponding to the locating clasps and catches of the fastening catch respectively; upper and lower sides of the embedding groove are respectively provided with insert pieces.

2. The folding frame structure according to claim 1, wherein catches configured on a front end of the fastening catch protrude out from the mounting slot when inserted therein, and a rear end of the fastening catch is provided with an elastic member, moreover, a circular hole is defined center of the fastening catch, an inner side edge of which is provided with a clasp member that protrudes from the plane of the fastening catch, which is used to securely clip the fastening catch within the opening of the mounting slot.

3. The folding frame structure according to claim 1, wherein the fastening members are respectively affixed to movable ends of the movable supporting boards by means of an integrated method.

4. The folding frame structure according to claim 1, wherein the fastening members are respectively affixed to movable ends of the movable supporting boards by means of an insert fixing method.