U.S. patent application number 12/304376 was filed with the patent office on 2009-06-11 for lightweight structured suitcase.
This patent application is currently assigned to Valigeria Roncato S.p.A.. Invention is credited to Cristiano Roncato.
Application Number | 20090145710 12/304376 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37198905 |
Filed Date | 2009-06-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090145710 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Roncato; Cristiano |
June 11, 2009 |
LIGHTWEIGHT STRUCTURED SUITCASE
Abstract
This invention relates to a suitcase provided with two mouldings
(2a, 2b), bonded to two shells (1a, 1b) respectively. The two
mouldings (2a, 2b) each have a seat (7a, 7b) in which the terminal
parts of the shells (1a, 1b) can be inserted. The interface
surfaces are subjected to pre-treatment with cold plasma so as to
form an activated surface layer (9) upon them which encourages
adhesion between the adhesive (3) placed between the mouldings (2a,
2b) and the shells (1a, 1b) in order to bond them firmly together.
In this way structured suitcases can even be obtained with thin and
therefore very light shells whose resistance to squashing and
impacts is due to the mouldings which can be manufactured with the
necessary robustness. This invention also relates to a method for
the production of such suitcases through the moulding of plastics
materials.
Inventors: |
Roncato; Cristiano;
(Campodarsego, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LUCAS & MERCANTI, LLP
475 PARK AVENUE SOUTH, 15TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10016
US
|
Assignee: |
Valigeria Roncato S.p.A.
Campodarsego PD
IT
|
Family ID: |
37198905 |
Appl. No.: |
12/304376 |
Filed: |
June 12, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
June 12, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2007/005161 |
371 Date: |
December 11, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
190/103 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 5/03 20130101; A45C
13/04 20130101; A45C 2005/037 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
190/103 |
International
Class: |
A45C 7/00 20060101
A45C007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 16, 2006 |
EP |
06425409.7 |
Claims
1. A suitcase comprising a first element manufactured from a first
polymer material and a second element manufactured from a second
polymer material bonded thereto, said first element being a shell
and said second element being a stiffening frame, said suitcase
comprising adhesive material located at least partly between said
shell and said stiffening frame, wherein said adhesive material
being capable of joining said shell and said stiffening frame
together by adhesive bonding, wherein said stiffening frame
comprises a seat capable of receiving a terminal part of said
shell, said seat comprising webs with sloping sides forming a guide
for said shell located along said seat at regular intervals.
2. The suitcase according to claim 1, in which at least one of said
first and second element comprises an activated surface layer
placed in contact with said adhesive material, said activated
surface having surface properties which are different from those of
the material on which it is formed.
3. The suitcase according to claim 2, in which said activated
surface layer is obtained by plasma activation of the surface of
said first and said second element on which it is produced.
4. The suitcase according to claim 1, in which said first and
second polymer materials are selected from the group consisting of
PC, PC/ABS, ABS, PP, and HDPE.
5. The suitcase according to claim 4, in which at least one of said
first and second polymer materials is polypropylene.
6. The suitcase according to claim 5, in which both said first
polymer material and said second polymer material are
polypropylene.
7. (canceled)
8. The suitcase according to claim 1 in which the polymer material
of at least one of said shells incorporates a fabric.
9. The suitcase according to claim 1, comprising two stiffening
frames, each bonded to two shells through the intermediary of said
adhesive material, said two shells being rotatably joined
together.
10. (canceled)
11. (canceled)
12. (canceled)
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a lightweight structured suitcase,
that is a suitcase according to the precharacterising clause of
claim 1 and a method for its manufacture in accordance with the
precharacterising clause of claim 8.
[0002] Suitcases of the known type are substantially subdivided
into two major types: soft and rigid suitcases.
[0003] The context which requires the maximum performance from
suitcases is that of air transport. Suitcases must in fact be at
the same time lightweight, so as not to excessively reduce the
maximum quantity of baggage which can be carried by a passenger,
and strong, in order to adequately protect their load from the
impacts which they inevitably incur during handling within airport
equipment for the automatic distribution of baggage.
[0004] Soft suitcases, generally made of synthetic material or
fabric, are lightweight and flexible but are easily torn and are
unable to effectively protect the objects within them against
impacts.
[0005] Rigid suitcases are generally provided with shells of rigid
metal or polymer material and locks; these are the only ones
capable of combining a high level of protection for the objects
within them and high resistance to tearing.
[0006] Despite the fact that they are heavier and more bulky than
other suitcases, they are preferred by those travelling by air,
specifically because of their greater security.
[0007] The weight limits imposed on passengers by airlines are not
however easily reconciled with the weight of rigid suitcases. It is
therefore particularly important that the structure of the suitcase
should be lightened in order to increase the weight available for
the baggage which has to be carried.
[0008] Rigid suitcases are generally formed of two shells with
corresponding integral stiffening mouldings about their perimeter
which ensure the mechanical and structural properties necessary for
normal use of the suitcase.
[0009] The connection between the various components of a suitcase,
such as for example between the shells and the stiffening
mouldings, is currently brought about for example through riveting,
sewing or stapling.
[0010] Among the alternative methods to those mentioned above,
adhesive bonding would appear to be particularly advantageous from
the point of view of both weight and ease and speed of execution
were it not for the difficulties encountered in carrying out
bonding operations between plastics materials.
[0011] In view of the state of the art described, the object of
this invention is to provide a suitcase which makes it possible for
two components, such as for example a shell of polymer material and
the corresponding moulding, to be joined together through adhesive
bonding resulting in suitcase structures which are particularly
light and at the same time very strong.
[0012] In accordance with this invention this object is achieved
through a suitcase according to claim 1 and through a method
according to claim 10.
[0013] The features and advantages of this invention will be
obvious from the following detailed description of a practical
embodiment provided by way of a non-restrictive example with
reference to the appended drawings, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a suitcase in a semi-open configuration
constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention,
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a partly exploded detail of a suitcase
according to FIG. 1,
[0016] FIG. 3 shows a disassembled detail in perspective
cross-section of the shell/moulding assemblies of a suitcase
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2,
[0017] FIG. 4 is a partly disassembled view of the detail in FIG. 3
in the direction indicated by arrow A.
[0018] The suitcase illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises two elements
1a, 2a, between which there is at least partly provided an adhesive
material 3 which is capable of joining them firmly together through
adhesive bonding.
[0019] Advantageously these two elements 1a, 2a are a shell 1a,
preferably of polymer material, and a stiffening frame 2a, but
obviously they may be any two components of the suitcase which must
be firmly joined together.
[0020] For example, the adhesive bonding of any accessory or
equipment such as for example a handle, a lock, a hinge or the
frames therefor to the frame of the suitcase may be considered.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment at least one of the two elements
1a, 2a between which adhesive material 3 is placed to bond them
together is made of preferably thermoplastic polymer material;
suitable materials may for example be PC, PC/ABS, ABS, PP,
HDPE.
[0022] Each of the two shells 1a, 1b, preferably manufactured
through the moulding of thin sheets or by injection moulding may be
regarded as being defined by a convex external surface 4a, 4b,
which is generally visible from the outside, an inner surface 5a,
5b opposite thereto and a closed perimetral surface 6a, 6b.
[0023] At least one of shells 1a, 1b may be formed with a fabric
which is incorporated into the plastics material used for
moulding.
[0024] FIG. 3 also shows a cross-section of stiffening frames 2a,
2b. These are advantageously made of polymer material, preferably
by extrusion, and comprise a seat 7a, 7b capable of receiving the
terminal part of shell 1a, 1b with which it has to be associated,
for example inserted along the direction indicated by arrow F in
FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0025] Seats 7a, 7b are preferably U-shaped, with the two sides of
the U substantially parallel with each other. "Fins" 8a, 8b, which
are substantially in the shape of a rectangular trapezium, with
sloping sides forming a guide for shells 1a, 1b, are located along
the seat at regular intervals.
[0026] Preferably these fins 8a, 8b are located in such a way as to
lie inside the suitcase when it is closed.
[0027] First and second elements 1a, 2a each comprise an interface
surface, or that part of their surface which comes into contact
with adhesive material 3 when the suitcase is assembled.
[0028] Adhesive material 3, which is advantageously silicone based,
is then placed in contact with at least one part of the two
interface surfaces, advantageously on a part such that it is
located over the entire interface surface when the suitcase is
assembled.
[0029] In the case where the two elements 1a, 2a are shell 1a and
stiffening frame 2a, adhesive material 3 may be located within seat
7a close to the base of seat 7a. Advantageously adhesive material 3
may be located along the entire length of the base of seat 7a
and/or over the entire surface of seat 7a which comes into contact
with outer surface 4a of shell 1a. Pre-treatment of the surface
parts of fins 8a which will come into contact with the inner
surface 5a of shell 1a is also a possibility.
[0030] In order to obtain a better bond with adhesive 3 it is
possible to pretreat at least part of the interface surfaces or,
advantageously, the entire extent of one or both interface
surfaces; for example, in the case in which shell 1a is bonded to
stiffening frame 2a the entire bottom surface of seat 7a and at
least that part of its sides which will be in contact with adhesive
material 3 may be treated; with regard to the shell, peripheral
surface 6a and/or that part of outer surfaces 4a and/or inner
surfaces 5a which will be in contact with adhesive material 3 may
be treated.
[0031] This pre-treatment comprises suitable activation, for
example by plasma activation, preferably using cold plasma, of the
part of the interface surface which is to be activated in such a
way as to form an activated layer 9 thereupon, the depth of which
is particularly shallow, at least such as not to diminish the
mechanical properties of the underlying material.
[0032] This activated layer 9 has the property of being very much
more adherent to adhesive material 3 than the material used for the
elements which are to be bonded would otherwise be.
[0033] This treatment therefore makes it possible to use polymer
materials such as those indicated above when manufacturing bonded
suitcases, for which adhesive bonding was hitherto unthinkable,
thus achieving an appreciable saving in weight.
[0034] In fact in accordance with the invention structured
suitcases can even be obtained with thin and therefore very light
shells whose resistance to squashing and impacts is mainly due to
the frames which can be manufactured with the necessary robustness
without having an overall disadvantage on the weight of the
suitcase.
[0035] Frames 2a and 2b may be used to support means for rotatably
joining two parts of the suitcase together as indicated
diagrammatically by 10 in FIG. 1.
[0036] obviously in order to satisfy contingent and specific
requirements a person skilled in the art could apply many
modifications and variants to the configurations described above,
all of which are however included within the scope of protection of
the invention as defined by the following claims.
* * * * *