U.S. patent application number 11/168891 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-28 for suitcase having reinforcing structure.
Invention is credited to Hui Chou Tsai.
Application Number | 20060289261 11/168891 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37565964 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060289261 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tsai; Hui Chou |
December 28, 2006 |
Suitcase having reinforcing structure
Abstract
A suitcase includes an enclosure having a chamber formed by an
outer peripheral wall and a bottom wall each having an outer
peripheral flange folded inwardly to form a peripheral recess, and
a cover member attached to the enclosure. A reinforcing frame is
engaged into the enclosure, for bracing and reinforcing the
enclosure, and includes an end edge fitted into the peripheral
recess of the outer peripheral wall, for stably anchoring the
reinforcing frame to the enclosure. A reinforcing strap may be
attached to reinforce the enclosure with an outer sleeve. The
reinforcing frame may include an inclined surface to form a
sharpened end edge, for snugly fitting into the peripheral recess
of the outer peripheral wall.
Inventors: |
Tsai; Hui Chou; (Chiayi,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES E. BAXLEY, ESQ.
90 JOHN STREET
THIRD FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
37565964 |
Appl. No.: |
11/168891 |
Filed: |
June 27, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
190/127 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 5/03 20130101; A45C
13/36 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
190/127 |
International
Class: |
A45C 13/36 20060101
A45C013/36 |
Claims
1. A suitcase comprising: an enclosure including a chamber formed
therein, and defined by an outer peripheral wall and a bottom wall,
said outer peripheral wall including an outer peripheral flange
folded inwardly to form a peripheral recess therein, a cover member
attached to said enclosure, for enclosing said chamber of said
enclosure, and a reinforcing frame engaged into said chamber of
said enclosure, for bracing and reinforcing said enclosure, said
reinforcing frame including an end edge fitted into said peripheral
recess of said outer peripheral wall, for stably anchoring said
reinforcing frame to said enclosure.
2. The suitcase as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bottom wall
includes an outer peripheral flange folded inwardly, and secured to
said outer peripheral flange of said outer peripheral wall.
3. The suitcase as claimed in claim 2, wherein a reinforcing strap
is attached to said outer peripheral flanges of said outer
peripheral wall and said bottom wall, for reinforcing said
enclosure.
4. The suitcase as claimed in claim 3, wherein an outer sleeve is
provided and attached to said outer peripheral flanges of said
outer peripheral wall and said bottom wall, for receiving said
reinforcing strap.
5. The suitcase as claimed in claim 4, wherein said outer sleeve
includes a longitudinal channel therein, to receive said
longitudinal strap therein, and includes at least one flange
engaged between and secured to said outer peripheral flanges said
outer peripheral wall and said bottom wall.
6. The suitcase as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing
frame includes an inclined surface formed therein, and located
close to said end edge thereof, to form a sharpened structure for
said end edge, and to allow said sharpened end edge to be snugly
fitted into said peripheral recess of said outer peripheral
wall.
7. The suitcase as claimed in claim 6, wherein said reinforcing
frame includes a honey-comb structure having an outer peripheral
panel, an inner peripheral panel, and a plurality of ribs provided
between said peripheral panels, said inclined surface is formed in
said inner peripheral panel of said reinforcing frame.
8. The suitcase as claimed in claim 7, wherein said reinforcing
frame includes a second inclined surface formed in either said
outer peripheral panel or said inner peripheral panel.
9. The suitcase as claimed in claim 8, wherein said cover member is
openably attached to said enclosure with a slide fastener, and said
second inclined surface of said reinforcing frame is arranged to
offset said reinforcing frame from said slide fastener.
10. The suitcase as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing
frame includes two end portions, and at least one peg engaged into
said end portions of said reinforcing frame, to couple said end
portions of said reinforcing frame together.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a suitcase, and more
particularly to a suitcase having a reinforcing structure, for
reinforcing the suitcase, and for preventing the suitcase from
being collapsed.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Typical suitcases or luggage devices comprise a bottom
enclosure, and a top cover member openably secured to the bottom
enclosure with a zipper of slide fastener, for enclosing and
retaining clothes or various objects within the bottom enclosure.
Normally, the bottom enclosure includes four side walls, and a
bottom wall that are normally made of cloth or canvas or plastic
materials, and that have the outer peripheral flanges secured
together, to form the bottom enclosure.
[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,580 to Berman et al.
discloses one of the typical luggage devices comprising a top
enclosure and a bottom enclosure secured to each other by a
continuous zipper or slide fastener. Normally, the outer peripheral
flanges of the four side walls and the bottom wall of the typical
luggage devices are folded inwardly, and then secured together by
such as staples or stitches or fasteners. However, the typical
luggage devices have no reinforcing members provided and engaged in
the enclosures, such that the structure of the enclosures may be
easily collapsed.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,542 to Lee discloses a typical covering
panel making process for making a covering panel for a portable
case. In this patent, another typical carrying case has been shown
and also includes four side walls and a bottom wall that have the
outer peripheral flanges folded outwardly, and then secured
together by stitches, and a protective tube attached onto the outer
peripheral flanges of the side walls and the bottom wall of the
typical portable case. However, the protective tube may be used to
reinforce the outer peripheral flanges of the side walls and the
bottom wall of the typical portable case only, but may not be used
to reinforce the typical portable case, such that the typical
portable case may also be easily collapsed.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,571 to Chen discloses a typical
protective strap for a suitcase. In this patent, one or more
protective straps have been provided and attached onto the outer
peripheral portions of the typical suitcase. However, the
protective straps may only be used to reinforce some areas of the
outer peripheral portions of the typical suitcase, but may not be
used to reinforce the entire suitcase, such that the central
portions of the typical suitcase may also be easily collapsed.
[0008] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional
suitcases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a suitcase including a reinforcing structure, for suitably
reinforcing the suitcase, and for preventing the suitcase from
being easily collapsed.
[0010] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a suitcase comprising an enclosure including a chamber
formed therein, and defined by an outer peripheral wall and a
bottom wall, the outer peripheral wall including an outer
peripheral flange folded inwardly to form a peripheral recess
therein, a cover member attached to the enclosure, for enclosing
the chamber of the enclosure, and a reinforcing frame engaged into
the chamber of the enclosure, for bracing and reinforcing the
enclosure, the reinforcing frame including an end edge fitted into
the peripheral recess of the outer peripheral wall, for stably
anchoring the reinforcing frame to the enclosure.
[0011] The bottom wall includes an outer peripheral flange folded
inwardly, and secured to the outer peripheral flange of the outer
peripheral wall. A reinforcing strap is attached to the outer
peripheral flanges of the outer peripheral wall and the bottom
wall, for reinforcing the enclosure.
[0012] An outer sleeve is provided and attached to the outer
peripheral flanges of the outer peripheral wall and the bottom
wall, for receiving the reinforcing strap. The outer sleeve
includes a longitudinal channel therein, to receive the
longitudinal strap therein, and includes at least one flange
engaged between and secured to the outer peripheral flanges the
outer peripheral wall and the bottom wall.
[0013] The reinforcing frame includes an inclined surface formed
therein, and located close to the end edge thereof, to form a
sharpened structure for the end edge, and to allow the sharpened
end edge to be snugly fitted into the peripheral recess of the
outer peripheral wall.
[0014] The reinforcing frame includes a honey-comb structure having
an outer peripheral panel, an inner peripheral panel, and a number
of ribs provided between the peripheral panels, in which the
inclined surface is formed in the inner peripheral panel of the
reinforcing frame.
[0015] The reinforcing frame includes a second inclined surface
formed in either the outer peripheral panel or the inner peripheral
panel. The cover member is openably attached to the enclosure with
a slide fastener, and the second inclined surface of the
reinforcing frame is arranged to offset the reinforcing frame from
the slide fastener.
[0016] The reinforcing frame may further include two end portions,
and one or more pegs engaged into the end portions of the
reinforcing frame, to anchor or couple the end portions of the
reinforcing frame together.
[0017] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed
description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a partial exploded view of a suitcase in
accordance with the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the suitcase;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view of the suitcase,
taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;
[0021] FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of the
suitcase;
[0022] FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view illustrating
an inner reinforcing member of the suitcase;
[0023] FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view similar
to FIG. 3, illustrating the other arrangement of the suitcase;
and
[0024] FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial perspective view similar to
FIG. 5, illustrating the inner reinforcing member of the suitcase
as shown in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0025] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-5, a
suitcase in accordance with the present invention comprises an
outer or bottom enclosure 10 including an inner chamber 11 formed
therein, and defined by an outer peripheral wall 12 and a bottom
wall 13, for receiving and retaining clothes or various objects
within the chamber 11 of the enclosure 10. For example, the outer
peripheral wall 12 and the bottom wall 13 of the enclosure 10 may
each include an outer peripheral flange 14, 15 folded inwardly, and
then secured together by such as stitches 16 (FIG. 2) or staples or
fasteners (not shown).
[0026] The suitcase further includes a typical top cover member 20
openably or pivotally secured or attached to the outer enclosure 10
with such as a zipper of slide fastener 22, for enclosing the
chamber 11 of the enclosure 10, and thus for stably retaining the
clothes or various objects within the chamber 11 of the enclosure
10. A reinforcing and longitudinal rod or strap 30 may further be
provided and attached to the outer peripheral flanges 14, 15 of the
outer peripheral wall 12 and the bottom wall 13, or attached to the
outer peripheral corner area of the enclosure 10, for reinforcing
the corner area of the enclosure 10.
[0027] For example, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an outer sleeve
31 is provided and may be made of cloth or canvas or plastic
materials, and may be folded to form a longitudinal channel 32
therein, to receive the longitudinal rod or strap 30 therein, and
may include one or more, such as two free or folded flanges 33
engaged between and secured to the outer peripheral flanges 14, 15
the outer peripheral wall 12 and the bottom wall 13 with such as
the stitches 16 (FIG. 2) or staples or fasteners (not shown), for
solidly securing and attaching the longitudinal rod or strap 30 to
reinforce the corner area of the enclosure 10.
[0028] The suitcase further includes a reinforcing member or frame
40, such as a peripheral frame 40 for snugly engaged into the
chamber 11 of the enclosure 10, for bracing and reinforcing the
enclosure 10. The reinforcing frame 40 may be made of paper board,
plastic, synthetic or fiber materials, and preferably includes a
honey-comb structure having an outer peripheral panel 41, an inner
peripheral panel 42, and a number of ribs 43 provided or formed or
secured between the peripheral panels 41, 42, for forming a
reinforcing structure, and for allowing the reinforcing frame 40 to
have a weight reduced structure.
[0029] As also best shown in FIG. 4, it is preferable that the
inwardly folded outer peripheral flange 14 of the outer peripheral
wall 12 is secured to the outer peripheral flange 15 of the bottom
wall 13 and/or secured to the folded flanges 33 of the outer sleeve
31, but preferably not secured to the outer peripheral wall 12 of
the enclosure 10, and arranged to form a substantially wedge-shaped
peripheral recess 18 therein, and for snugly receiving and engaging
with and anchoring an end edge 44 of the reinforcing frame 40, for
example.
[0030] It is preferable that the reinforcing frame 40 includes an
inclined ramp or surface 45 formed in the inner peripheral panel 42
thereof, and located close to or inclined toward the end edge 44
thereof, to form a sharpened structure for the end edge 44, and to
allow the sharp end edge 44 to be suitably and snugly fitted into
the peripheral recess 18 formed or defined between the inwardly
folded outer peripheral flange 14 and the outer peripheral wall 12,
and thus for further stably anchor and secure or couple the
reinforcing frame 40 to the enclosure 10.
[0031] The reinforcing frame 40 may further include another
inclined ramp or surface 46 formed in either the outer peripheral
panel 41 thereof (FIGS. 1-3 and 5), or the inner peripheral panel
42 thereof (FIGS. 6, 7), and located at the other side or end
opposite to the end edge 44 thereof, to form another sharpened end
edge 47 that is opposite to the end edge 44 thereof. The provision
or the formation of the inclined ramp or surface 46 may slightly
offset the reinforcing frame 40 from the zipper of slide fastener
22 (FIG. 3), for allowing the zipper of slide fastener 22 to be
smoothly or swiftly operated.
[0032] Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, the inclined ramp or
surface 46 may also be formed or located at the side opposite to
the zipper of slide fastener 22, for increasing the resilience of
the end edge 47 of the reinforcing frame 40, and also provided for
allowing the zipper of slide fastener 22 to be smoothly or swiftly
operated. As shown in FIG. 1, the reinforcing frame 40 may include
two end portions 48, and one or more pegs 49 engaged into the end
portions 48 of the reinforcing frame 40, such as engaged between
the ribs 43, to couple and to anchor the end portions 48 of the
reinforcing frame 40 together.
[0033] Accordingly, the suitcase in accordance with the present
invention includes a reinforcing structure, for suitably
reinforcing the suitcase, and for preventing the suitcase from
being easily collapsed.
[0034] Although this invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous
changes in the detailed construction and the combination and
arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
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