suitcase

Abstract

The present invention provides a suitcase that maintains waterproof performance in the expanded section even when the storage space is expanded. [Solution] The device comprises a first shell body 11, a second shell body 12, and an expansion section 22 interposed between the first shell body 11 and the second shell body 12 to expand the storage space S. The expansion section 22 includes an expansion sheet 221 and an expansion fastener 222, and the expansion sheet 221 is made of a waterproof material.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a suitcase with enhanced waterproof performance.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been disclosed a suitcase capable of expanding the storage space by separating a first shell body and a second shell body through a flange portion (for example, Patent Document 1). Also, there has been disclosed a suitcase using a waterproof fastener having waterproof performance (for example, Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in Patent Document 1, when the storage space is expanded, the flange portion (expansion portion) does not have a waterproof function, so there is a problem that rain or the like penetrates into the expansion portion. Also, even if the expansion portion is configured to be provided with the waterproof fastener described in Patent Document 2, there is a problem that rain penetrates into the expansion portion when the waterproof fastener is opened to expand the storage space.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a suitcase having waterproof performance in the expansion portion even when the storage space is expanded.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention is summarized as a suitcase according to any one of the following (1) to (9). (1) A suitcase comprising a first shell body, a second shell body, and an expansion section interposed between the first shell body and the second shell body for expanding the storage space formed inside the first shell body and the second shell body, wherein the expansion section comprises an expansion sheet and an expansion fastener, and by opening the expansion fastener, the expansion sheet is exposed, making the storage space expandable, and the expansion sheet is made of a waterproof material. (2) The suitcase according to (1) above, wherein the expansion section has a waterproof cover for waterproofing the expansion fastener. (3) The suitcase as described in (1) above, wherein the expansion zipper is a waterproof zipper having waterproof properties. (4) The suitcase according to (1) above, further comprising a fastener for opening and closing the storage space, wherein the fastener is also a waterproof fastener having waterproof properties. (5) The suitcase as described in (4) above, wherein the zipper for opening and closing has a waterproof cover for waterproofing the zipper for opening and closing. (6) The extension sheet may be a rubber material with a thickness of 0.5 to 5.0 mm, as described in (1) above. (7) The suitcase described in (1) above, wherein the extension sheet has accordion-like folds. (8) The suitcase according to (1) above, wherein the extension sheet is sloped in the width direction so that it becomes lower from the center to the edges. (9) The suitcase according to (1) above, wherein the expandable sheet has alternating thin-walled portions and thick-walled portions in the expansion direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a suitcase that has waterproof performance even in the expanded section. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1]This is a front view of the suitcase according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a side view of the suitcase according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the middle section of the suitcase according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a side view showing the expanded section of the suitcase according to this embodiment in an extended state. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram illustrating the structure of the extension sheet. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a front view of the suitcase 1 according to this embodiment, and Figure 2 is a side view of the suitcase 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the suitcase 1 according to this embodiment has a first shell body 11, a second shell body 12, an intermediate part 20 interposed between the first shell body 11 and the second shell body 12, a hook 30, and casters 40.

[0010] The first shell body 11 and the second shell body 12 are each rectangular parallelepipeds, and a storage space S is formed inside when the first shell body 11 and the second shell body 12 are combined. In this embodiment, the first shell body 11 and the second shell body 12 are made of hard resin materials such as ABS resin and polycarbonate to achieve high strength and light weight, but are not limited to these, and metal materials such as aluminum or chemical fibers such as polyester and nylon can also be used. The first shell body 11 and the second shell body 12 are waterproof, and if they are made of materials such as polyester or nylon, water-repellent treatment can be applied.

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the intermediate section 20 has an opening / closing section 21, an expansion section 22, and a connecting section 23, with the opening / closing section 21 and the expansion section 22 being connected via the connecting section 23. Here, Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the intermediate section 20 of the suitcase 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 3, the opening / closing section 21 has an opening / closing zipper 211 and a waterproof cover 212. In this embodiment, the user can open the storage space S of the suitcase 1 by opening the opening / closing zipper 211 and put luggage in and take it out of the suitcase 1. Furthermore, it is preferable that the opening / closing zipper 211 be a waterproof zipper with waterproof performance to prevent rain from penetrating into the storage space S. Moreover, in this embodiment, by providing not only the opening / closing zipper 211 but also the waterproof cover 212, it is possible to firmly prevent rain from penetrating into the storage space S from the opening / closing zipper 211.

[0012] Figure 4 is a side view showing the suitcase 1 with the expansion section 22 opened to expand the storage space S. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the expansion section 22 includes an expansion sheet 221, an expansion zipper 222, and a waterproof cover 223. The expansion zipper 222 is formed across the entire side of the suitcase 1 (right side, top, left side, and bottom). By opening the expansion zipper 222 starting from the right side of the suitcase 1 and going around to the top, left side, bottom, and right side in that order, the folded expansion sheet 221 is exposed, and the storage space S of the suitcase 1 can be expanded. Specifically, with the expansion zipper 222 open, the storage space S can be expanded by the width of the expansion sheet 221. For example, in this embodiment, the storage space S can be expanded by 20% or more by expanding the expansion section 22.

[0013] In this embodiment, the extension sheet 221 is a waterproof sheet, and for example, a sheet made of a synthetic rubber material can be used. However, when the thickness of the extension sheet 221 is large (especially when a synthetic rubber material is used), when the extension part 22 is contracted, the extension sheet 221 may not be able to be folded. Therefore, the thickness of the extension sheet 221 is preferably 0.5 to 5.0 mm, more preferably 0.7 to 3.0 mm, and particularly preferably 0.8 mm to 2.0 mm. Also, in this embodiment, the extension fastener 222 can also use a waterproof fastener, similar to the opening and closing fastener 211 of the opening and closing part 21. Furthermore, in the extension part 22, a waterproof cover 223 for waterproofing the extension fastener 222 is provided.

[0014] Also, as shown in FIG. 5(A), the extension sheet 221 can be configured to have a bellows-like fold line in the extension direction (elongation direction) of the extension sheet 221 so that it can be easily folded. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5(B), the extension sheet 221 can be configured to alternately have thick but thin parts and thick but thick parts in the extension direction (elongation direction) of the extension sheet 221 so that it can be easily folded. In the example shown in FIG. 5(B), it is preferable that the thickness of the thick part is 1 to 5 mm. Note that FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the structure of the extension sheet 221.

[0015] Furthermore, the extension sheet 221 can be configured to have a gentle slope such that the height is higher in the central part and lower at the ends in the width direction of the suitcase 1 (for example, the X direction in FIG. 1). Thereby, when the extension part 22 is extended and the extension sheet 221 is exposed, it is possible to prevent raindrops from accumulating on the extension sheet 221. From the same viewpoint, it is preferable that the extension sheet 221 is subjected to a water-repellent treatment to make raindrops fall easily.

[0016] Also, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the suitcase 1 has a hook 30. The hook 30 is provided on the side surface of the suitcase 1 and can hook a bag or a handbag. Further, the hook 30 also functions as a pedestal (bottom foot) when the side surface of the suitcase 1 to which the hook 30 is attached faces downward. Note that the hook 30 may have an open shape as shown in FIG. 1, or may have an annular shape that can be opened like a carabiner.

[0017] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the caster 40 can be a double caster having two wheels with respect to the pedestal. By using the caster 40 as a double caster, the stability when the suitcase 1 is traveling can be improved. Also, the caster can rotate independently 360°, and the operability of the suitcase 1 is also improved. Furthermore, by configuring the caster 40 to have a stopper, it is possible to prevent the suitcase 1 from running unintentionally on a slope or in a train.

[0018] In addition, the suitcase 1 according to this embodiment has a USB charging port that can be exposed to the outside. By connecting an electronic device such as a smartphone to this USB charging port, the electronic device can be charged without opening the suitcase 1. Note that the USB charging port has a cable for connecting to a mobile battery or the like inside, and can supply power from a mobile battery or the like.

[0019] As described above, the suitcase 1 according to this embodiment includes a first shell body 11, a second shell body 12, and an expansion part 22 interposed between the first shell body 11 and the second shell body 12 for expanding the storage space S. The expansion part 22 has an expansion sheet 221 and an expansion fastener 222. The expansion sheet 221 is composed of a member having waterproof performance. Thereby, even when the expansion part 22 is expanded to expand the storage space, it is possible to prevent rain from penetrating from the expansion part 22 into the storage space.

[0020] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the expansion zipper 222 of the expansion section 22 is a waterproof zipper with waterproof performance, it is possible to effectively prevent rainwater from seeping in through the expansion zipper 222 and accumulating between the expansion zipper 222 and the expansion sheet 221 when the expansion section 22 is not expanded. In addition, since the expansion sheet 221 is made of a waterproof material such as rubber, it may not be possible to fold it properly in some cases, but in this embodiment, by making the thickness of the expansion sheet 221 0.5 to 5.0 mm, it is possible to make it easy to fold by having bellows-like folds, or by having alternating thin-walled and thick-walled sections in the expansion direction. Furthermore, by sloping the expansion sheet 221 so that it becomes lower from the center to the edge in the width direction (X direction) of the suitcase 1, it is possible to prevent rainwater from accumulating on the expansion sheet 221.

[0021] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiments, and such modified or improved forms are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0022] For example, in the embodiment described above, a configuration using synthetic rubber material as the material for the extension sheet 221 of the extension section 22 was illustrated, but it is not limited to this as long as the material has waterproof properties. For example, polyester or nylon fabric that has been treated with a water-repellent finish can be used. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0023] 1… Suitcase 11...First shell 12...Second shell 20...Middle section 21…Opening / Closing Section 211… Zipper for opening and closing 212... Waterproof cover 22... Expansion section 221... Expansion Sheet 222... Expansion fastener 223... Waterproof cover 23...Connection part 30... Hook 40... Caster S...Storage space

Claims

1. It comprises a first shell body, a second shell body, and an expansion portion interposed between the first shell body and the second shell body for expanding the storage space formed inside the first shell body and the second shell body. The aforementioned expansion section comprises an expansion sheet and an expansion fastener. By opening the aforementioned expansion zipper, the expansion sheet is exposed, and the storage space becomes expandable. The aforementioned extension sheet is made of a waterproof material, forming a suitcase.

2. The suitcase according to claim 1, wherein the expansion portion has a waterproof cover for waterproofing the expansion fastener.

3. The suitcase according to claim 1, wherein the expansion zipper is a waterproof zipper having waterproof performance.

4. The storage space further has a fastener for opening and closing, The suitcase according to claim 1, wherein the opening and closing zipper is also a waterproof zipper having waterproof properties.

5. The suitcase according to claim 4, wherein the opening and closing zipper has a waterproof cover for waterproofing the opening and closing zipper.

6. The suitcase according to claim 1, wherein the extension sheet is a rubber material with a thickness of 0.5 to 5.0 mm.

7. The suitcase according to claim 1, wherein the extension sheet has accordion-like folds.

8. The suitcase according to claim 1, wherein the extension sheet is sloped in the width direction so that it becomes lower from the center to the edges.

9. The suitcase according to claim 1, wherein the expandable sheet alternates between thin-walled portions and thick-walled portions in the expansion direction.

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