Suitcase

Abstract

A suitcase (10) including a front suitcase shell (16) and a rear suitcase shell (18) which are engaged with other and movable relative to each other between an open configuration and a closed configuration, a front cover (20) engaged with the front suitcase shell (16) and movable relative to the front suitcase shell (16), a divider (30) attached to an internal peripheral surface of the front suitcase shell (16) divides an interior space of said suitcase (10) into a first space and a second space, the first space being accessible when the front suitcase shell (16) and the rear suitcase shell (18) are in the open configuration, the second space being accessible when the front cover (20) is in the open position, and the divider (30) is movable relative to the front suitcase shell (16) to vary the size of the first space and the size of the second space.

Description

This invention relates to a suitcase.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Suitcases with a front pocket usually do not have an opening allowing access to the front part of the main suitcase compartment. This kind of suitcase has a very shallow front pocket. Articles stored in such a front pocket can be easily crushed or damaged if the front pocket is accidentally impacted upon. Those suitcases which have an opening uses the front half of the main compartment of the suitcase as its front pocket. The storage volume of the main storage compartment of such a kind of suitcase is significantly reduced. Neither of these arrangements is ideal.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a suitcase in which the aforesaid shortcomings are mitigated or at least to provide a useful alternative to the trade and public.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a suitcase including a first body part and a second body part which are engaged with each other and movable relative to each other between an open configuration and a closed configuration, a cover engaged with said first body part and movable relative to said first body part between an open position and a closed position, a divider attached to an internal peripheral surface of said first body part, wherein when said first body part and said second body part are in said closed configuration and when said cover is in said closed position, said divider divides an interior space of said suitcase into a first space and a second space, wherein said first space is accessible when said first body part and said second body part are in said open configuration, wherein said second space is accessible when said cover is in said open position, wherein said divider is movable relative to said first body part to vary the size of said first space and the size of the second space, and wherein said divider comprises a dividing surface and a loop-shaped member fixed with each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A suitcase according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a suitcase according to the present invention with a front pocket in a closed position;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the suitcase of FIG. 1A with the front pocket in an open position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a divider of the suitcase of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the suitcase of FIG. 1A (with the front pocket removed) showing the divider at a rearward position;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the suitcase of FIG. 3A (with the front pocket removed) showing the divider at a frontward position;

FIG. 4A is a side view of the suitcase of FIG. 1A showing the divider at the rearward position; and

FIG. 4B is a side view of the suitcase of FIG. 4A showing the divider at the frontward position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

A suitcase according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, and generally designated as 10. The suitcase 10 has an upper handle 12, a side handle 14, a front suitcase shell 16, a rear suitcase shell 18 and a front cover 20. Both the front suitcase shell 16 and the rear suitcase shell 18 are made of a hard material so that they both have a hard outer peripheral surface. Four wheels 22 are attached underneath the suitcase 10, two attached below the front suitcase shell 16 and two attached below the rear suitcase shell 18.

The front suitcase shell 16 and the rear suitcase shell 18 collectively form a main body of the suitcase 10 with a main compartment inside, and they are fixedly attached with and movable relative to each other. A main compartment zipper 24 is provided between the front suitcase shell 16 and the rear suitcase shell 18 to allow the front suitcase shell 16 and the rear suitcase shell 18 to be movable relative to each other. When the front suitcase shell 16 and the rear suitcase shell 18 are opened, one may access the main compartment; and when the front suitcase shell 16 and the rear suitcase shell 18 are closed, access to the main compartment is denied.

The front cover 20 and the front suitcase shell 16 are fixedly attached with and movable relative to each other. A front pocket zipper 26 is provided between the front cover 20 and the front suitcase shell 16 to allow the front cover 20 and the front suitcase shell 16 to be movable (e.g. pivotable) relative to each other. When the front cover 20 and the front suitcase shell 16 are opened, one may access a front pocket space 28; and when the front cover 20 and the front suitcase shell 16 are closed, access to the front pocket space 28 is denied.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a movable divider 30 is shown. The movable divider 30 has a divider 32 and a loop-shaped belt 34 fixedly engaged with each other. The belt 34 is also fixed (e.g. by sewing) to a continuous and endless internal peripheral surface of the front suitcase shell 16 along an anchor line 36 such that the belt 34 is pivotable relative to the front suitcase shell 16. The anchor line 36 is preferably provided along a continuous line which is mid-way between a front end and a rear end of the front suitcase shell 16 and lies on a plane A. By way of such an arrangement, the movable divider 30 may be movable relative to the front suitcase shell 16 between a first position in which a first continuous major surface of the belt 34 contacts the internal peripheral surface of the front suitcase shell 16 and a second position in which an second continuous major surface (which is opposite to the first continuous major surface) contacts the internal peripheral surface of the front suitcase shell 16. Such movement of the belt 34 relative to the front suitcase shell 16 between the two positions brings about to-and-fro movement of the movable divider 30 in the suitcase 10.

As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B, the divider 32 may be moved to-and-fro in the interior space of the suitcase 10 between a frontward position (as shown in FIGS. 3B and 4B) in which it is closer to the front cover 20 and a rearward position (as shown in FIGS. 3A and 4A) in which it is closer to the rear suitcase shell 18. The divider 32 divides the interior space of the suitcase 10 into two spaces: (i) a main compartment between the rear suitcase shall 18 and a first major surface of the divider 32 facing the rear suitcase shell 18 and (ii) the front pocket space 28 between the front cover 20 and a second major surface of the divider 32 (which is opposite to the first major surface) facing the front cover 20. Because of the possible movement of the belt 34, it is possible to move the divider 32 within the interior space of the suitcase 10 to vary the size of the main compartment and the size of the front pocket space 28.

By way of such an arrangement, a suitcase 10 with a more adaptable interior space is provided, as a user may arrange the size of the main compartment and the size of the front pocket space 28 according to his/her need. In addition, as the front pocket space 28 in the suitcase 10 is larger than front cover pockets in existing suitcases, it is possible to store articles in the front pocket space 28 with less chance of the articles being damaged when accidentally impacted upon.

It should be understood that the above only illustrates an example whereby the present invention may be carried out, and that various modifications and/or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention. It should also be understood that various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations.

Claims

1. A suitcase including:

a first body part and a second body part which are engaged with each other and movable relative to each other between an open configuration and a closed configuration,

a cover engaged with said first body part and movable relative to said first body part between an open position and a closed position,

a divider attached to an internal peripheral surface of said first body part,

wherein when said first body part and said second body part are in said closed configuration and when said cover is in said closed position, said divider divides an interior space of said suitcase into a first space and a second space,

wherein said first space is accessible when said first body part and said second body part are in said open configuration,

wherein said second space is accessible when said cover is in said open position,

wherein said divider is movable relative to said first body part to vary the size of said first space and the size of the second space, and

wherein said divider comprises a dividing surface and a loop-shaped member fixed with each other.

2. A suitcase according to claim 1, wherein said loop-shaped member is fixedly engaged with said internal peripheral surface of said first body part.

3. A suitcase according to claim 2, wherein said loop-shaped member is pivotable relative to said first body part.

4. A suitcase according to claim 3, wherein said loop-shaped member has a first continuous major surface and an opposite second continuous major surface, and wherein said loop-shaped member is movable relative to said first body part between a first position in which said first continuous major surface contacts said internal peripheral surface of said first body part and a second position in which said second continuous major surface contacts said internal peripheral surface of said first body part.

5. A suitcase according to claim 1 wherein said internal peripheral surface of said first body part is continuous and endless.

6. A suitcase according toclainm 1 wherein each of said first body part and said second body part has a hard outer peripheral surface.

7. A suitcase according to claim 2, wherein said loop-shaped member is fixedly engaged with said internal peripheral surface of said first body part by sewing.