suitcase

Abstract

To provide a suitcase that offers excellent convenience and multi-functionality, and features a foldable drink holder that is completely housed inside without protruding from the shell. [Solution] The suitcase 10 comprises a shell 10a and a drink holder 40 located on the rear surface of the shell 10a for holding a drink container 50. The drink holder 40 comprises a base 43 embedded in the shell 10a, a holder body 41, and a lid 42. The holder body 41 can be stored inside the base 43 when folded and is not exposed to the outside when not in use.

Description

Technical Field

[0007]

[0001] The present invention relates to a suitcase.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, suitcases are well-known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a suitcase including a shell body, casters provided on the lower surface of the shell body, a handle provided on the upper surface of the shell body, and a pull drive handle provided on the shell body so as to be vertically expandable and contractible.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003] <000着0016>

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the suitcase disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is no space for placing portable terminals such as drinks, smartphones, and tablets, which is inconvenient.

[0005] . There are also suitcases with drink holders, but they always protrude forward from the front or rear surface of the suitcase, hitting the body when moving or getting in the way when the suitcase is placed in a dedicated storage space such as a bus, airplane, or hotel.

[0006] The problem of the present invention is to improve the prior art, provide a suitcase having excellent convenience and multifunctionality, and including a foldable drink holder that is completely housed inside without protruding from the shell body.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To solve the above technical problems, the present invention relates to a suitcase having vertical, horizontal, and front-to-back directions.

[0008] The suitcase according to the present invention comprises a shell and a drink holder located on the rear surface of the shell for holding a drink container, wherein the drink holder comprises a base positioned on the shell, a holder body, and a lid, and the holder body is foldable and can be stored inside the base, and is not exposed to the outside when not in use. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The suitcase according to the present invention offers superior convenience due to its multi-functional structure, and the drink holder, which holds the drink container, is foldable so that it does not protrude from the shell when not in use and is completely housed inside. Therefore, it does not get in the way when traveling or when storing the suitcase, enabling smooth travel and efficient storage. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] The drawings illustrate specific embodiments of the present invention, including not only essential components of the invention but also optional and preferred embodiments. [Figure 1] A perspective view of a suitcase according to the present invention. [Figure 2] Back view of the suitcase. [Figure 3] (A) Enlarged view of the handle portion of the pull-drive handle. (B) Diagram showing the stand on the handle portion for holding a mobile device in the extended position. [Figure 4] (A) Diagram showing the drink holder in unused condition. (B) Diagram showing the drink holder in use. [Figure 5] (A) Cross-sectional view of the drink holder in its unused state. (B) Cross-sectional view of the drink holder in its used state. [Figure 6] A diagram showing a mobile battery stored inside a suitcase. [Figure 7] (A) A close-up view of a portion of the top surface of the shell. (B) A diagram showing a mobile device being charged via a charging cable extending from a USB port located on the top surface of the shell. [Figure 8] A diagram similar to Figure 1 in another embodiment of the suitcase. [Figure 9] Exploded perspective view of the caster. [Figure 10] (A) Schematic side view of the caster. (B) Bottom view of the caster. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following specific examples. It may be modified and applied within the scope of satisfying the features of the present invention. The suitcase 10 may be referred to as a carry bag in some cases. The suitcase 10 of the present invention is used in a concept that also includes carry bags.

[0012] The suitcase 10 comprises a vertical direction Y and a horizontal direction X intersecting each other, a front-to-back direction Z intersecting them, a top surface 11, a bottom surface 12, a front surface 13, a rear surface 14, resin shell bodies 15 and 16 formed by dividing a rectangular parallelepiped shell 10a into front and rear sections (having the divided shape), casters 17 attached to the bottom surfaces of the shell bodies 15 and 16, a handle 18 provided on the top surface of the shell body 16, and a pull-drive handle (telescopic handle) 20 provided on the shell body 16 so as to be extendable in the vertical direction Y.

[0013] The casters 17 can rotate 360 ​​degrees, and two of the four casters 17 are equipped with brakes. Furthermore, the suitcase 10 can be moved even with the brakes engaged by tilting it.

[0014] One side of the shell body 15 and one side of the shell body 16, which face each other in the front-rear direction Z, are hinged together, allowing the shell body 15 and the shell body 16 to open and close.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 6, an accommodation space 2 for accommodating luggage is formed inside the shell 10a. The accommodation space 2 has a front accommodation space 3 which is an accommodation space on the shell body 15 side and a rear accommodation space 4 which is an accommodation space on the shell body 16 side.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3(A), (B), the pull drive handle 20 has an extension portion extending upward from the shell body 16 and a handle portion 21 extending in the lateral direction X.

[0017] A stand 22 that can be deployed to the rear side via a hinge is disposed on the upper surface of the handle portion 21. The stand 22 has a U-shaped cross section and has a bottom wall 22a that bends and extends from the handle portion 21, side walls 22b, and a holding space surrounded by the bottom wall 22a and the side walls 22b.

[0018] A mobile device 30 such as a smartphone or a tablet is disposed in the holding space. Here, the "mobile device" refers to any device configured to communicate with a wireless network, which includes, but is not limited to, smartphones, tablets, mobile stations, user equipment, portable information terminals, laptops, public safety land mobile radio (LMR) terminals, e-book readers, dedicated terminals, and other devices that enable mobile data communication.

[0019] As shown in the figure, the mobile device 30 is held in the holding space so as to lean against the side surface of the stand 22, and the user can view the liquid crystal screen 31 of the mobile device 30 in a hands-free state.

[0020] In addition, a pair of protrusions 23 protruding upward are located on both sides of the side wall 22b of the stand 22 in the lateral direction X. Since the mobile device 30 is locked to the protrusions 23 even when the mobile device 30 is tilted backward, it is possible to prevent the mobile device 30 from falling.

[0021] A through-hole 24 extending laterally is formed in the flat portion of the bottom wall 22a of the stand 22. As shown in Figure 7(B), by inserting the charging cord 25 extending from the USB port 72 through the through-hole 24 and inserting the terminal of the charging cord 25 into the charging port of the mobile device 30, the mobile device 30 can be charged while being held on the stand 22.

[0022] Although not shown in the diagram, hooks may be provided on both sides of the stand 22 of the handle section 21 for securing the handles of luggage such as tote bags. In this case, the user can carry the luggage in the suitcase 10 hands-free. In addition, by temporarily holding the luggage, it is possible to prevent it from getting dirty by being placed directly on the luggage.

[0023] Referring to Figures 4(A) and 4(B), a drink holder 40 for holding a drink container 50 is located approximately in the center of the rear surface (rear surface of the shell 10a) 14 of the suitcase 10. The drink holder 40 has a holder body 41, a lid 42, and a base 43 that is positioned in a recess of the shell 10a (shell body 16).

[0024] The base 43 has a frame portion located on the outer surface of the shell body 16 and a housing portion located within the recess of the shell body 16. Above the frame portion, there is a locking groove into which a latch 42b located on the inner surface of the lid 42 is engaged. A button 44 is located on the upper surface of the lid 42. In the closed state, the latch 42b of the lid 42 is engaged in the locking groove, and by pressing the button 44, the latch 42b disengages from the locking groove, allowing the lid to be opened. This is a known button opening and closing structure.

[0025] The holder body 41 is foldable and retractable, and in its unused state, it is stored inside the shell 10a (shell body 16), completely covered by the lid 42, and not exposed to the outside.

[0026] Referring to Figures 5(A) and (B), the lid 42 is attached to the lower end of the base 43 so as to be openable and closable via a hinge 42a. The base 43 has an internal space S, and when the lid is closed, the holder body 41 is stored in the internal space S in a folded state.

[0027] The holder body 41 has an upper support portion 140 and a lower support portion 150, both having openings, which are spaced apart in the vertical direction Y. The openings of the upper and lower support portions 140 and 150 are in communication in the vertical direction Y. The upper and lower support portions 140 and 150 are pivotally supported on protruding portions extending from the base 43 via shafts 140a and 150a. A biasing means 45, such as a spring, is attached to the shaft 140a of the upper support portion 140, constantly biasing the upper support portion 140 in the direction of its deployment, i.e., in the direction of arrow K1. The upper and lower support portions 140 and 150 are also linked to each other via a connecting rod 160.

[0028] The upper support portion 140 has an upper wall 141 with an opening through which the drink container 50 is inserted, a peripheral wall portion 142 extending downward from the upper wall 141, and a storage space 143 defined by them. The lower support portion 150 is a hollow cylindrical shape with an outer diameter slightly smaller than that of the upper support portion 140, and the diameter of the lower end opening is smaller than the diameter of the upper end opening so as to support the bottom surface of the drink container 50.

[0029] As shown in Figure 5(A), when the holder body 41 is folded and housed in the internal space S, the lower support portion 150 is located within the housing space 143 of the upper support portion 140. That is, from the usage state shown in Figure 5(B), when the user grasps the lower support portion 150 and rotates it in the direction of arrow K3, the upper support portion 140, which is linked to the lower support portion 150 via the connecting rod 160, rotates in the direction of arrow K2 against the biasing force of the biasing means 45. As a result, the holder body 41 is folded with the lower support portion 150 located within the housing space 143 of the upper support portion 140.

[0030] In this folded state, closing the lid 42 prevents the holder body 41 from being exposed to the outside when the drink holder 40 is not in use. When in use, opening the lid 42 causes the upper support portion 140 to pivot in the K1 direction due to the biasing force of the biasing means 45, and the lower support portion 150 also pivots and is pulled out, so that the holder body 41 is unfolded. The upper and lower support portions 140 and 150 are connected to each other by a link mechanism, which allows the folding and unfolding operations of the holder body 41 to be performed smoothly.

[0031] In this way, by having a drink holder 40 in the suitcase 10, the user can move and wait while holding the drink container 50 hands-free.

[0032] Furthermore, when not in use, the holder body 41 is folded and stored in the shell 10a, and the lid 42 is flush with the outer surface of the shell 10a. Therefore, when the user drags the suitcase 10, the holder body 41 will not hit their body and hinder their movement. In addition, when storing one or more suitcases 10 in means of transport such as cars and airplanes, or in storage places such as homes and hotels, they will not get in the way or require extra space.

[0033] The drink holder 40 is not limited to the illustrated configuration, and may have a known configuration that can be used in a normal drink holder, as long as the holder body 41, which is folded by the lid 42 when not in use, is not exposed to the outside.

[0034] Referring to Figure 6, the shell body 15 has a compartment for housing the mobile battery 60. Referring to Figure 7(A), the top surface of the shell body 15 has a dial-type locking mechanism 71 and a USB port 72. A USB cable 73 extends from the USB port 72 into the interior of the shell body 15. The USB cable 73 can be connected to the output port of the mobile battery 60.

[0035] By connecting a USB cable 73 to the output port of the mobile battery 60 and inserting the charging cord's terminals into the USB port 72 of the shell 15 to connect it to the mobile device 30, the mobile device 30 can be charged even when the shell 10a is completely closed.

[0036] Furthermore, referring to Figure 7(B), as previously described, when the stand 22 located on the handle portion 21 of the pull-drive handle 20 is unfolded and the mobile device 30 is held in the holding space, the charging cord 25 connected to the USB port 72 can be inserted through the through hole 24 formed in the bottom wall 22a of the stand 22 and its terminals can be connected to the charging port of the mobile device 30. With the suitcase 10 having this configuration, the mobile device 30 is held stably and the user can charge the mobile device 30 hands-free.

[0037] Figures 8 to 10 show an example of an embodiment of the suitcase 10 according to the present invention, in which the caster 80 is detachably attached to the bottom surface of the shell body 15, 16 (or shell 10a). The caster 80 has a wheel 81 and a base 82 to which the wheel 81 is fixed. The base 82 has a shape that conforms to the corner portions 15a, 16a on the bottom surface side of the shell body 15, 16, and has a bottom surface 83 and an upper wall 84 erected on the bottom surface 83.

[0038] Multiple through-holes 85 are formed in the bottom surface 83 of the base 82, and multiple screw holes 87 are formed in the bottom surfaces of the shell bodies 15 and 16. When the caster 80 is positioned relative to the bottom surfaces of the shell bodies 15 and 16 such that the corner portions 15a and 16a are covered by the base 82, the through-holes 85 and screw holes 87 are in communication with each other. In this state, the caster 80 can be detachably attached to the shell bodies 15 and 16 by inserting the threaded portions of multiple bolts 90 into the mutually communicating through-holes 85 and screw holes 87 from below and screwing them into the screw holes 87.

[0039] As described above, the casters 80 are detachable, allowing for easy replacement if they become worn out. Furthermore, the suitcase 10 can be used even without the casters 80 attached, depending on the situation, offering superior convenience.

[0040] As shown in Figure 9, the outer surfaces of the bottom corner portions 15a and 16a of the shell bodies 15 and 16 are covered by the upper wall 84 of the caster 80, so that damage to the shell bodies 15 and 16 themselves can be suppressed even when subjected to external impact. In this embodiment, the base 82 of the caster 80 can be formed from known materials such as metal, natural or synthetic rubber, or soft or hard plastic.

[0041] The method for attaching the caster 80 to and from the caster is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, but any known method can be used without restriction. For example, the caster 80 may be attached by inserting the projections protruding from the upper surface of the base 82 of the caster 80 into the insertion holes of the shell bodies 15 and 16.

[0042] The characteristic configuration of the suitcase 10 according to the present invention can be used not only for storing suits, but also for carry bags in general for other purposes. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, various known materials commonly used in this field can be used without limitation for each component material of the suitcase according to the present invention.

[0043] The present invention described above may include at least the following embodiments. These embodiments may be adopted separately or in combination with each other. (1) The holder body has an upper support portion and a lower support portion having openings, which are spaced apart in the vertical direction, and the upper and lower support portions are connected to each other via a connecting rod and pivotally supported on the base. (2) The upper support portion is biased in the direction of unfolding from the folded state. (3) The shell is further provided with a pull-drive handle that is extendable in the vertical direction, and a stand for holding a mobile device is provided on the handle portion of the pull-drive handle in a deployable manner, and a USB port powered by a mobile battery housed inside is located on the top surface of the shell. (4) Further comprising multiple casters, the multiple casters being detachably attached to the bottom surface of the shell. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 10 suitcases 10a shell 20 Pull Drive Handle 21 Handle section 30 mobile devices 40 Drink Holders 41 Holder body 42 Lid 43 Base 50 drink containers 60 Mobile Battery 80 casters 140 Upper support part 150 Lower support part 160 Connecting rod X horizontal direction Y vertical direction Z front and back direction

Claims

1. A suitcase having vertical, horizontal, and front-to-back directions, It comprises a shell and a drink holder located on the rear surface of the shell for holding a drink container, The drink holder comprises a base positioned on the shell, a holder body, and a lid. The suitcase is characterized in that the holder body can be stored inside the base in a folded state and is not exposed to the outside when not in use.

2. The suitcase according to claim 1, wherein the holder body has an upper support portion and a lower support portion having openings, which are spaced apart in the vertical direction, and the upper and lower support portions are connected to each other via a connecting rod and pivotally supported on the base.

3. The suitcase according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper support portion is biased in the direction of unfolding from a folded state.

4. The suitcase according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a pull-drive handle provided on the shell so as to be extendable in the vertical direction, a stand for holding a mobile device being deployed on the handle portion of the pull-drive handle, and a USB port powered by a mobile battery housed inside being located on the top surface of the shell.

5. The suitcase according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a plurality of casters, wherein the plurality of casters are detachably attached to the bottom surface of the shell.

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