U.S. patent application number 12/475663 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-11 for foldable travelling case.
This patent application is currently assigned to TWINKLE LEATHERWARE COMPANY LIMITED. Invention is credited to Wei-Ming HUANG, Tzu-Wei TSENG.
Application Number | 20100282555 12/475663 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43061701 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100282555 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TSENG; Tzu-Wei ; et
al. |
November 11, 2010 |
FOLDABLE TRAVELLING CASE
Abstract
A foldable travelling case includes a case body, two support
plates and four zippers. The case body has two opposite first side
walls and two opposite second walls. The support plates are
respectively abutted against the first side walls of the case body.
The zippers are disposed between one of the support plates and one
of the second side walls to interconnect the support plates and the
second side walls. When the zippers are unzipped, the first and
second side walls of the case body can be folded to reduce the
volume of the travelling case.
Inventors: |
TSENG; Tzu-Wei; (Taichung
City, TW) ; HUANG; Wei-Ming; (Hong Kong, CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROWDY AND NEIMARK, P.L.L.C.;624 NINTH STREET, NW
SUITE 300
WASHINGTON
DC
20001-5303
US
|
Assignee: |
TWINKLE LEATHERWARE COMPANY
LIMITED
Hong Kong
CN
|
Family ID: |
43061701 |
Appl. No.: |
12/475663 |
Filed: |
June 1, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
190/103 ;
190/107; 190/124 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 7/0054 20130101;
A45C 7/0036 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
190/103 ;
190/107; 190/124 |
International
Class: |
A45C 7/00 20060101
A45C007/00; A45C 13/00 20060101 A45C013/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 5, 2009 |
TW |
98203361 |
Claims
1. A foldable travelling case comprising: a case body having a
bottom base and a top base with two opposite first side walls and
two opposite second walls, the first and second side walls being
connected with a periphery of the bottom base to respectively
define a fold line with the bottom base such that the first and
second side walls are foldable along the fold lines; two support
plates each having a bottom side pivotally connected with one of
the first side walls of the top base such that each of the support
plates is leanable against one of the first side walls of the top
base for supporting the first side walls; and four zippers each
disposed between one of the support plates and one of the second
side walls to interconnect the support plates and the second side
walls.
2. The foldable travelling case as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a cover detachably connectable to one of the support
plates and having a top side connected with one of the first side
walls of the top base.
3. The foldable travelling case as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
one of the support plates, to which the cover is detachably
connectable, has a first attachment member, and the cover has a
second attachment member attached to the first attachment
member.
4. The foldable travelling case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
top base includes a bottom wall having a periphery connected with
the first and second side walls and connected to each of the
support plates through a hook and loop fastener.
5. The foldable travelling case as claimed in claim 1, wherein each
of the support plates is attached to one of the first side walls
through a hook and loop fastener.
6. The foldable travelling case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
case body includes a lid capped on the top base and connectable to
the top base through a zipper; the foldable travelling case further
comprising a strap for binding the lid and the bottom base.
7. The foldable travelling case as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
strap extends from two wing portions of the lid.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a travelling
case, and more specifically to a travelling case that is foldable
to save its storage space.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In order to enjoy high quality in tourism, travelers usually
prepare enough travel items for contingent use, and thus a
travelling case can be used to store the travel items for enhancing
the convenience of the travelers.
[0005] As far as the travelers are concerned, the travelling case
must provide enough storage space to store a large number of the
travel items, and the larger capacity the travelling case provides,
the greater volume the travelling case has. However, the travelling
case generally has an unchangeable volume because it usually
includes an inflexible housing such that the travelling case having
a great volume will occupy large space when it is in storage.
Therefore, it is a need to provide an improved travelling case.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention has been accomplished in view of the
above-noted circumstances. It is one objective of the present
invention to provide a travelling case that is foldable to occupy
less space when it is in storage.
[0007] To achieve this objective of the present invention, the
travelling case comprises a case body, two support plates and four
zippers. The case body includes a bottom base and a top base having
two opposite first side walls and two opposite second walls. The
first and second side walls are connected with a periphery of the
bottom base to respectively define a fold line with the bottom base
such that the first and second side walls can be folded along the
fold lines and rested at a folded position. The support plates each
have a bottom side pivotally connected with one of the first side
walls of the top base such that each support plate is leanable
against one of the first side walls of the top base for supporting
the first side walls at an extended position. The zippers are
respectively disposed between one of the support plates and one of
the second side walls to interconnect the support plates and the
second side walls.
[0008] By means of unzipping the zippers, the support plates can be
folded to allow the first and second side walls of the top base to
be folded toward the bottom base to the folded position, enabling
the travelling case of the present invention to reduce its volume
and save its storage space.
[0009] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter.
However, it should be understood that the detailed description and
specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the
invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various
changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from
this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are
not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a travelling case according
to a first preferred embodiment of the prevent invention, showing
that the first and second side walls of the top base stand at an
extended position;
[0012] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the travelling case
according to the first preferred embodiment of the prevent
invention, showing the covers are lifted;
[0013] FIG. 3 is still another perspective view of the travelling
case according to the first preferred embodiment of the prevent
invention, showing the support plates are folded;
[0014] FIG. 4 is still another perspective view of the travelling
case according to the first preferred embodiment of the prevent
invention, showing the first and second side walls of the top base
are folded and rested at a folded position, and
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the travelling case
according to a second preferred embodiment of the prevent
invention, showing the lid and the bottom base of the case body are
bound together.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1-2, a travelling case 10 in accordance
with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention
comprises a case body 20, two support plates 30, four zippers 40,
and two covers 50.
[0017] The case body 20 includes a bottom base 22, a top base 24,
and a lid 26. The bottom base 22 can be placed on the ground, and
equipped with a pull rod assembly 221 therein. The top base 24 has
two opposite first side walls 242, two second side walls 244, and a
bottom wall 246. The first side walls 242 and the second side walls
244 are connected with a periphery of the bottom base 22 to
respectively define a fold line 25 such that the first side walls
242 and the second side walls 244 can be folded relative to the
bottom base 22 along the fold lines 25. The bottom wall 246 has a
periphery connected with the first side walls 242 and the second
side walls 244 to define a space 60 for accommodation of items. The
lid 26 includes a connection portion 264, and a top plate 262. The
connection portion 264 has two opposite sides respectively
connected with one of the first side walls 242 of the top base 20
and the top plate 262 for allowing the top plate 262 to be capped
on the top base 24 and connected to the top base 24 through a
zipper 266.
[0018] The support plates 30 each have a bottom side pivotally
connected with a bottom side of one of the first side walls 242
such that the support plates 30 can be foldable between a folded
position where the support plates 30 are rested on the bottom wall
246 of the top base 24 as shown in FIG. 3 and an extended position
where the support plates 30 are respectively abutted against the
first side wall 242. In addition, the support plates 30 each have
three first attachment members 32 at a front side thereof, as shown
in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the first attachment member 32 is
embodied as a hook fastener.
[0019] The zippers 40 are respectively located at four corners of
the top base 20 in such a way that each of the zippers 40 is
disposed between one of the support plates 30 and one of the second
side walls 244 to interconnect the support plates 30 and the second
side walls 244 when the zippers 40 are zipped up.
[0020] The covers 50 each have a top side connected with a top side
of one of the first side walls 244 of the top base 24 such that the
support plates 30 can be exposed when the covers 50 are lifted, and
three second attachment members 52 at a back side thereof, as shown
in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the second attachment member 52 is
embodied as a loop fastener for attachment of one of the first
attachment members 32 of one of the support plates 30. Further, the
cover 50 is provided with an internal chamber (not shown) and
equipped with a zipper 54 to open or close the internal chamber
such that the cover 50 functions as a bag for accommodation of
items.
[0021] To fold the travelling case 10 when it is not in use, a user
can lift the covers 50 to force the second attachment members 52 of
the covers 50 to be detached from the first attachment members 32
of the support plates 30, as shown in FIG. 2, and then unzip the
zippers 40 to disconnect the support plates 30 from the second side
walls 244 of the top base 24, allowing the support plates 30 to be
folded by the user and laid on the bottom wall 246, as shown in
FIG. 3, and then enabling the first and second side walls 242 and
244 to be folded toward the bottom base 22 along the fold lines 25
and rested on the bottom base 22 at a folded position, as shown in
FIG. 4. Finally, the user can put the lid 26 over the first and
second side walls 242 and 244 to complete the folding work of the
travelling case 10 of the present invention.
[0022] To extend the travelling case 10, the user can lift the lid
26 to extend the first and second side walls 242 and 244 of the top
base 24, and then lift the support plates 30 to lean against the
first side walls 242. Thereafter, the user can zip up the zippers
40 to interconnect the support plates 30 and the second side walls
244 such that the support plates 30 can uphold the first side walls
242 to keep the first and second side walls 242 and 244 of the top
base 24 in an extended position, and then the user can attach the
covers 50 to the support plates 30 through the attachment between
the first and second attachment members 32 and 52. Accordingly, the
user can put travel items in the space 60 or the chamber of the
covers 50, and close the space 60 or the chamber by zipping up the
zippers 266 and 54 after packing.
[0023] As indicated above, the travelling case of the present
invention can be reduced its volume when it is in storage through
the zippers and the foldable support plates.
[0024] To deserve to be mentioned, as shown in FIG. 2, a hook and
loop fastener 70 can be provided between the bottom wall 246 and
each of the support plates 30 for connecting the bottom wall 246
and the support plates 30 with each others, and a hook and loop
fastener 72 can be equipped between each of the support plates 30
and the corresponding one of the first side walls 242 for enhancing
the structural strength of the support plates 30. Further, the
covers 50 can be eliminated according the actual needs.
[0025] FIG. 5 shows a travelling case 80 according to a second
preferred embodiment of the present invention, further comprising a
strap 82 extending from two wing portions 84 of the lid 86 for
binding the lid 86 and the bottom base 88 of the case body 90
together when the first and second side walls of the top base are
folded.
[0026] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that
the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be
regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,
and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in
the art are intended to be included within the scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *