Luggage items

Abstract

A luggage item, in particular a luggage case, comprises at least six side walls, wherein each side wall has at least one outer surface and at least one inner surface, the outer surface and the inner surface being substantially parallel to each other. At least one side wall is provided with at least one raised portion on its associated outer surface, the raised portion comprising at least one exit surface, the exit surface being at least partially non-parallel to the outer surface of the corresponding side wall, the side wall comprising at least one raised portion being made of a plastic material, the plastic material containing a fluorescent dye and being light-conductive and light-transmissive, so that light is suitable for being introduced into the corresponding side wall and transmitted and exiting at the corresponding at least one exit surface, wherein conversion of invisible ultraviolet light into visible light occurs in the corresponding side wall.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to items of luggage. Background Art

[0002] Luggage items, in particular luggage cases, are known which comprise at least six side walls, wherein each side wall comprises at least one outer surface and at least one inner surface, the outer surfaces and the inner surfaces extending substantially parallel to each other.

[0003] It is known that luggage items often have the problem that they are difficult to identify on the luggage carousel when travelling on an airline. Therefore, there is an increasing demand to label or personalise luggage items. This is usually achieved by luggage straps of different colours placed around the suitcase. Summary of the invention

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a luggage item that is well identifiable from a distance.

[0005] This object is achieved by the features of the luggage item according to the invention.

[0006] According to the present invention, it is advantageously provided that at least one side wall is provided with at least one protrusion on its associated outer surface, the protrusion comprising at least one exit boundary surface extending non-parallel to the outer surface of the corresponding side wall, and the side wall comprising at least the at least one protrusion is made of a plastic material, the plastic material contains a fluorescent material and is light-conducting and light-transmissive, so that light is suitable for being introduced into the side wall and transmitted and exiting at the corresponding at least one exit boundary surface, wherein conversion of invisible ultraviolet light into visible light occurs in the side wall.

[0007] The invention provides the advantage that the luggage item, in particular the luggage case, is illuminated at the at least one protrusion. A portion of the light incident from the environment is absorbed by the fluorescent material and emitted as long-wave fluorescent radiation in all spatial directions. That portion of the light which is incident on the outer surface of the respective side wall, i.e. the boundary surface between the side wall and the ambient air, at an angle exceeding the critical angle for total internal reflection is subjected to total internal reflection and therefore remains in the respective side wall. In other words, the light is collected.

[0008] Since at least one ridge on the corresponding outer surface includes an exit boundary surface that is not parallel to the outer surface of the corresponding side wall, the light is incident on the exit boundary surface at this position at an angle different from that incident on the outer surface. Therefore, the light is incident on the exit boundary surface at an angle less than the critical angle of total internal reflection. This causes the light to be emitted from the side wall at the corresponding ridge. The light collected so far leaves the outer wall at the ridge. Therefore, the corresponding ridge is always brighter than its environment. In this way, a luggage item that can be identified from a distance is created. In particular, luggage items on a luggage conveyor belt can be well identified from a distance.

[0009] Fluorescent materials can also be called fluorescent dyes.

[0010] The surface roughness of the exit boundary surface of the ridges may be higher than the surface roughness of the outer surface on which the ridges are arranged. Therefore, the coupling-out of light at the ridges may be improved.

[0011] The exit boundary surface may have an angle between 80° and 170° relative to the outer surface.

[0012] At least one elevation may be a rib-shaped elevation.

[0013] The rib-shaped elevations can have a circular, triangular or rectangular cross section.

[0014] A plurality of ridges forming a pattern may be arranged side by side on an outer surface of at least one side wall.

[0015] At least two side walls, preferably all side walls, include at least one protrusion on at least the associated outer surface, and the protrusions respectively include at least one exit boundary surface that is at least partially non-parallel to the outer surface of the corresponding side wall. At least the side walls that respectively include at least one protrusion are made of a plastic material, which contains a fluorescent material and is light-conducting and light-transmissive, so that light is suitable for being introduced into the side walls and transmitted, and emitted at the corresponding exit boundary surface, wherein conversion of invisible ultraviolet light into visible light occurs in the side walls.

[0016] The fluorescent material may be a fluorescent dye. The content of the fluorescent material in the plastic material may be 0.3-5%, preferably 0.5-1.5%.

[0017] The fluorescent material may be selected from the group of naphthalimide and thioindigo.

[0018] The side walls can each have a thickness between 0.4 and 10 mm, preferably between 0.8 and 1.8 mm. Here, the thickness is defined by the distance between the inner surface and the outer surface.

[0019] Any polymer, in particular transparent polymers and / or mixtures of various polymers and / or recycled polymers can be used as plastic material. Particularly preferably, polycarbonate, preferably transparent polycarbonate, can be used. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 A luggage item is schematically shown;

[0022] Figure 2 schematically shows a cross section of a side wall of an item of luggage;

[0023] Figure 3 A cross section of a side wall is schematically shown with an illustrated angle between the exit boundary surface and the outer surface;

[0024] Figure 4 A cross section of a side wall of a luggage item with an alternative bulge is schematically shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Figure 1 A luggage item 1 according to the invention is shown. As shown, the luggage item may be a suitcase. The luggage item 1 comprises six side walls 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12. The side walls 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 may respectively comprise an outer surface 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and an inner surface (not shown), wherein the outer surfaces and the inner surfaces respectively extend substantially parallel to each other.

[0026] The side wall 8 is arranged on the underside of the luggage item. Luggage castors 28 can be arranged on the side wall 8 forming the underside, wherein in the present case the luggage item 1 comprises four luggage castors 28. However, fewer or more luggage castors can be provided. The luggage item 1 can be moved on the ground 30 by means of the luggage castors 28.

[0027] At least one of the side walls 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 includes at least one ridge 26 on the corresponding outer surface. In the exemplary embodiment shown, each side wall includes at least one ridge 26. As shown in the exemplary embodiment shown, a plurality of ridges 26 can be arranged side by side on the corresponding outer surface. A plurality of ridges arranged at regular intervals from each other thus form a pattern.

[0028] Figure 2 A portion of a cross section of the side wall 2 is shown. Generally, the side wall including at least one protrusion has a similar configuration. The side wall 2 includes an outer surface 14 and an inner surface 25. The side wall 2 includes at least one protrusion 26. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a plurality of protrusions 26 are provided. The protrusions 26 are raised in a direction toward the outside relative to the outer surface 14. At least one protrusion 26 includes at least one exit boundary surface 27, respectively.

[0029] The exit boundary surface 27 is arranged so that it is at least partially non-parallel to the outer surface 14. The cross section of the ridge 26 has a circular shape. Therefore, the exit boundary surface 27 does not have a defined angle relative to the outer surface 14, but has different angles at different positions relative to the outer surface 14. The ridge may also have a triangular or rectangular or any other cross section.

[0030] According to the exemplary embodiment shown, the recessed portion recessed relative to the inner surface is arranged on the inner surface in the region of the protuberance. Alternatively, the inner surface can be continuous and without any recesses. The side wall thickness d corresponding to the distance between the outer surface and the inner surface is 0.3-10 mm, preferably 0.8-1.8 mm.

[0031] The side wall 2 or the side wall including at least one protrusion 26 is made of a plastic material containing a fluorescent material and is light-conducting and light-transmissive, so that light is suitable for being introduced into the side wall and transmitted and emitted at the corresponding at least one exit boundary surface, wherein conversion of invisible ultraviolet light into visible light occurs in the side wall.

[0032] This will refer to Figure 2 Detailed explanation: The luggage item, in particular a luggage case, according to the invention offers the advantage that at least one raised portion is illuminated. Figure 2 It illustrates how part of the light 34 incident from the environment is absorbed by the fluorescent material and emitted as long-wave fluorescent radiation 36 in all spatial directions. Figure 2 As shown, the portion 38 of the fluorescent radiation incident on the outer surface 14 of the corresponding side wall at an angle β exceeding the critical angle of total internal reflection is subjected to total internal reflection and thus stays in the corresponding side wall 2. In other words, the light is collected. The outer surface 14 constitutes the boundary surface between the side wall 2 and the ambient air. The angle β is the angle between the portion 38 of the fluorescent radiation and the vertical line 50 at this position.

[0033] Since at least one of the ridges 26 comprises an exit boundary surface 27 which is at least partially non-parallel to the outer surface 14 of the corresponding side wall 2, at this location, the portion 37 of the fluorescent radiation strikes the exit boundary surface 27 at an angle α different from the angle α at which it strikes the outer surface 14. Therefore, the light strikes the exit boundary surface 27 at an angle α which is smaller than the critical angle for total internal reflection. This results in the light radiation leaving the side wall 2 at the corresponding ridge 26. The light collected so far leaves the side wall 2 at the ridge 26. Therefore, the corresponding ridge 26 is always brighter than its surroundings. In this way, a luggage item is created which can be identified from a distance. In particular, luggage items on a luggage conveyor can be well identified. The angle α is the angle between the portion 37 of the fluorescent radiation and the vertical 52 at this location.

[0034] The exit boundary surface 27 of the protrusion 26 may have a higher surface roughness than the surface roughness of the outer surface 14 on which the protrusion 26 is provided. Therefore, the coupling-out of light at the protrusion may be improved.

[0035] At least a portion of the exit boundary surface 27 may have an angle γ between 80° and 170° relative to the outer surface. Figure 3An angle γ of the marking region 50 including the outlet boundary surface 27 relative to the outer surface 14 is shown.

[0036] The illustrated elevations are rib-shaped elevations. However, they may also have other shapes. The elevations, in particular the rib-shaped elevations, may have a circular, triangular or rectangular cross section.

[0037] Figure 4 Alternative cross-sectional shapes for the ridges are shown.

Claims

1. A luggage item comprising At least six side walls, wherein Each side wall has at least one outer surface and at least one inner surface, the outer surface and the inner surface are parallel to each other, It is characterized in that At least one side wall is provided with at least one protrusion on its associated outer surface, the protrusion comprising at least one exit boundary surface, the exit boundary surface being at least partially non-parallel to the outer surface of the corresponding side wall, the side wall comprising at least the at least one protrusion being made of a plastic material, the plastic material containing a fluorescent dye and being light-conductive and light-transmissive, so that light is suitable for being introduced into the corresponding side wall and transmitted, and being emitted at the corresponding at least one exit boundary surface, wherein conversion of invisible ultraviolet light into visible light occurs in the corresponding side wall.

2. The luggage item according to claim 1, characterized in that: The surface roughness of the exit boundary surface of the ridge is higher than the surface roughness of the outer surface on which the ridge is arranged.

3. The luggage item according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: At least a portion of the exit boundary surface has an angle ranging between 80° and 170° relative to the outer surface.

4. The luggage item according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The at least one elevation is a rib-shaped elevation.

5. The luggage item according to claim 4, characterized in that: The raised portion has a circular, triangular or rectangular cross section.

6. The luggage item according to any one of claims 1 to 2 and 5, characterized in that A plurality of ridges forming a pattern are arranged side by side on the outer surface of the at least one side wall.

7. The luggage item according to any one of claims 1 to 2 and 5, characterized in that At least two side walls include at least one protrusion at least on the associated outer surface, and the protrusions respectively include at least one exit boundary surface that is at least partially non-parallel to the outer surface of the corresponding side wall. The side walls that at least include at least one protrusion are made of a plastic material, which contains a fluorescent material and is light-conductive and light-transmissive, so that light is suitable for being introduced into the side wall and transmitted and emitted at the corresponding exit boundary surface, wherein conversion of invisible ultraviolet light into visible light occurs during transmission.

8. The luggage item according to any one of claims 1 to 2 and 5, characterized in that The content of the fluorescent dye in the plastic material is 0.3-5%.

9. The luggage item according to any one of claims 1 to 2 and 5, characterized in that The fluorescent dye can be selected from the group of naphthalimide and thioindigo.

10. The luggage item according to any one of claims 1 to 2 and 5, characterized in that The side walls each have a thickness in the range of 0.4-10 mm.

11. The luggage item according to any one of claims 1 to 2 and 5, characterized in that The plastic material includes polycarbonate.

12. The luggage item according to claim 1, wherein: The luggage item is a suitcase.

13. The luggage item according to claim 4, characterized in that: The rib-shaped protrusions have a circular, triangular or rectangular cross section.

14. The luggage item according to claim 7, wherein: All side walls comprise at least one ridge, at least on an associated outer surface.

15. The luggage item according to claim 8, wherein: The content of the fluorescent dye in the plastic material is 0.5-1.5%.

16. The luggage item according to claim 10, wherein: The side walls each have a thickness in the range of 0.8-1.8 mm.

17. The luggage item according to claim 11, wherein: The plastic material includes transparent polycarbonate.

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