Foldable suitcase

Abstract

The present invention relates to a foldable suitcase, which includes a front shell, a rear shell, a top shell, a bottom shell, a side shell, and a sheet-shaped corner joint, the front shell, the rear shell, the top shell, the bottom shell, and the side shell constitute the main body of the suitcase, the sheet-shaped corner joint is respectively located at the upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right corners of the main body, and is joined to the top shell, the bottom shell, and the side shell by sewing threads to form a folding module, the folding module is joined to the front shell by a front zipper, and to the rear shell by a rear joint tape and sewing threads, and the rear zipper teeth are attached to the rear joint tape by sewing threads. The present invention adopts a folding structure consisting of both hard and soft components, which allows the suitcase to be transported at a lower cost and stored in a smaller space.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a suitcase, and more particularly to a foldable suitcase. [Background technology]

[0002] Suitcases are used in our daily life to store luggage and travel items, and play an important role in users' long and short trips. However, conventional suitcases are associated with certain problems. Generally, suitcases, whether rigid or flexible, have dimensions that meet carry-on requirements (carry-on luggage permitted by airlines has a height of 55 cm or less, a width of 40 cm or less, and a thickness of 20 cm or less, or the sum of its length, width, and height is 115 cm or less), have a maximum load capacity, and define a relatively rigid volume. Any object that is somewhat bulkier than the rigid volume may not be properly accommodated within the suitcase. Squeezing excess items into the suitcase may cause the suitcase to bulge or otherwise deform, which may damage not only the suitcase itself but also other contents within the suitcase. Furthermore, a suitcase may not pass baggage size inspection during pre-boarding security screening due to its oversize, which may result in additional time required to go through the necessary procedures and wait for the suitcase on the conveyor belt after takeoff. Except for being used to store clothes for transportation, traditional suitcases have no versatility in function and are usually left at home, in a car or in a hotel. Therefore, their functions and uses are limited. Therefore, it is desirable to design a folding structure consisting of both hard and soft components, which allows the suitcase to be transported at a lower cost and stored in a smaller space. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of the invention is to propose a foldable suitcase which can be transported at lower cost and which can be stored in a smaller space.

[0004] The above object is achieved by the present invention, which is a foldable suitcase consisting of a front shell, a rear shell, a top shell, a bottom shell, a side shell, and a sheet-shaped corner joint. The front shell, the rear shell, the top shell, the bottom shell, and the side shells constitute the body of the suitcase. The sheet-shaped corner joints are respectively located at the upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right of the body, and are joined to the top shell, the bottom shell, and the side shells by sewing threads to form a folding module. The folding module is joined to the front cover of the front shell by a front zipper, and to the rear cover of the rear shell by a rear joint tape and sewing threads. The rear zipper teeth (elements) are attached to the rear joint tape by sewing threads.

[0005] In addition, the top sides of the top shell and the side shells are all trapezoidal, and the sheet-shaped corner joints are also trapezoidal when they are stretched, which makes it possible to meet the requirements of strength and foldability.

[0006] Furthermore, the shell components of the main body are made of a sewable hard plastic material, which may be ABS, PC or PP.

[0007] In addition, the sheet shape corner joint and rear joint tape are excellent flexible soft fabric, which are either nylon fabric, polyester fiber, microfiber, and leather.

[0008] Additionally, the front zipper between the front shell and the folding module is a releasable zipper.

[0009] Additionally, the front shell has zipper teeth on the front zipper that engage rear zipper teeth on the rear shell to define a folded configuration.

[0010] The foldable suitcase comprises a front shell, a rear shell, and a folding module in the form of a frame when in a non-folded configuration. An edge of one side of the folding module is joined to the rear shell by a flexible rear joint tape. An edge of the other side of the folding module is provided with a row of teeth over its entire length, and the rear shell is provided on its exterior with rear zipper teeth over its entire length. The front shell is provided on its exterior with a row of teeth over its entire length and a second row of teeth located on the exterior of the row of teeth. Either the row of teeth and the second row of teeth on the front shell are configured to engage with the row of teeth on the folding module, or during folding, either the row of teeth and the second row of teeth on the front shell are configured to engage with the rear zipper teeth.

[0011] Additionally, the second row of teeth projects toward the front shell relative to the row of teeth on the front shell.

[0012] The present invention offers the following advantages:

[0013] By employing a foldable structure made up of both rigid and flexible components, the suitcase can be shipped at lower cost and stored in a smaller space.

[0014] To store or transport items in the suitcase, the front cover is removed and the left and right side shells and the top and bottom shells are deployed outwardly, allowing the suitcase to have an expanded overall volume that can accommodate more items therein.

[0015] To stow the suitcase, the front shell is removed and the left and right side shells and the top and bottom shells are folded inwardly inside the rear shell. The front shell is then engaged with the rear zipper teeth using a releasable zipper into the folded configuration. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a foldable suitcase according to the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of a foldable suitcase according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a folding module. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic view after the front shell has been removed. [Diagram 5] 1 shows a schematic representation of a suitcase in a folded configuration; [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a partial schematic diagram of a foldable suitcase according to one embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a partial schematic diagram of a foldable suitcase, showing the gathering of the front and rear shells in a folded configuration, according to one embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a partial schematic diagram of a foldable suitcase according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] The present invention is further explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments thereof.

[0018] As shown in Figs. 1-5, the foldable suitcase is composed of a front shell 1, a rear shell 2, a top shell 3, a bottom shell 9, a side shell 4, and a sheet-shaped corner joint 5 joined together by a sewing thread. The front shell 1, the rear shell 2, the top shell 3, the bottom shell 9, and the side shell 4 constitute the body of the suitcase. The sheet-shaped corner joints 5 are located at the upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right, respectively, and are joined to the top shell 3, the bottom shell 9, and the side shell 4 by sewing threads to form a folding module. This folding module is joined to the front shell 1 by a front zipper 7, and joined to the rear shell 2 by a rear joint tape 6 and sewing thread. A rear zipper tooth 8 is attached to the rear joint tape 6 by sewing thread.

[0019] Preferably, the shell components of the body are rigid: they are made from a rigid plastic material such as ABS, PC or PP and are sewable.

[0020] Preferably, the sheet-shaped corner joint 5 and the rear joint tape 6 are soft fabrics made of soft materials such as nylon, polyester fiber, microfiber, and leather, and have good flexibility.

[0021] Preferably, a front zipper 7 between the front shell 1 and the folding module is engageable and rear zipper teeth 8 are sewn to the rear joint tape 6. The zipper teeth on the front zipper 7 on the front shell 1 can engage the rear zipper teeth 8 to define the folded configuration.

[0022] Preferably, the top shell 3 and the top side of the side shell 4 are trapezoidal. Furthermore, the sheet-shaped corner joints 5 are also trapezoidal when they are stretchable. This ensures strength and allows folding.

[0023] As shown in Figure 4, the bottom shell 9 is joined on each of its left and right sides to one sheet-shaped corner joint 5, and the top shell 3 is also joined on each of its left and right sides to one sheet-shaped corner joint 5. One side shell 4 is joined to the two sheet-shaped corner joints 5 on the left side of the bottom shell 9 and the top shell 3, and the other side shell 4 is joined to the two sheet-shaped corner joints 5 on the right side of the bottom shell 9 and the top shell 3. The folding module so formed looks approximately like a rectangular frame.

[0024] The longer bases of the trapezoidal sheet shape corner joints 5 are all located on the same side, i.e. joined to a single side of the front shell 1. This allows for easy inward folding of the edges of the bottom shell 9, top shell 3 and side shell 4 along that side.

[0025] 6, the front zipper 70 includes two rows of teeth 70 that can interlock with each other. One row of teeth 70 of the front zipper 7 is attached to the periphery of the front shell 1 over its entire length. The periphery on one side of the folding module is joined to the rear joint tape 6, and the other row of teeth 70 of the front zipper 7 is attached to the other periphery of the folding module over its entire length on the opposite side. The front zipper 7 allows the front shell 1 to be opened, closed and removed.

[0026] As shown in Figures 4-5, the folding process may include removing the front cover, folding the left and right side shells 4 inwardly inside the rear shell 2, and then folding the top shell 3 and bottom shell 9 inwardly inside the rear shell 2. Alternatively, the top shell 3 and bottom shell 9 may be folded inwardly inside the rear shell 2 first, and then the left and right side shells 4 may be folded inwardly inside the rear shell 2. Finally, the front cover is in the folded position when the releasable zipper engages the rear zipper teeth 8. The unfolding process can be performed in the reverse order.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 7 , the teeth 70 of the front zipper 7, when attached to the front shell 1, can engage with the rear zipper teeth 8 to secure the front shell 1 to the rear shell 2, and the folding module is received inside the front shell 1 and the rear shell 2.

[0028] 8, in this embodiment, a second row of teeth 71 may further be provided on the front shell 1. It may be located external to the aforementioned row of teeth 70 of the front zipper 7 attached to the front shell 1. In this arrangement, there are two rows of teeth on the front shell 1, namely the aforementioned row of teeth 70 and the second row of teeth 71.

[0029] During folding, the second row of teeth 71 may interlock with the rear zipper teeth 8 to secure the front shell 1 to the rear shell 2.

[0030] The teeth row 70 of the front shell 1 is provided with a slider 72, and the second teeth row 71 is provided with another slider 72. The two sliders 72 can be operated separately, which increases the convenience of use.

Claims

1. 1. A foldable suitcase, comprising a front shell, a rear shell, a top shell, a bottom shell, a side shell, and a seat-shaped corner joint, the front shell, the rear shell, the top shell, the bottom shell, and the side shells form a body of the suitcase; the sheet-shaped corner joints are respectively disposed at the upper left corner, the upper right corner, the lower left corner, and the lower right corner of the body, and are joined to the top shell, the bottom shell, and the side shell by sewing threads to form a folding module; The folding module is joined to a front cover of the front shell by a front zipper and to a rear cover of the rear shell by a rear joint tape and sewing thread; The rear zipper teeth are attached to the rear joint tape by sewing thread.

2. the top sides of the top shell and the side shells are all trapezoidal; The foldable suitcase according to claim 1, wherein the seat shape corner joints are also trapezoidal when expanded or contracted, enabling the suitcase to meet the requirements of strength and foldability.

3. The foldable suitcase according to claim 1, wherein the shell components of the body are made of a sewable hard material, which is ABS, PC or PP.

4. 2. The foldable suitcase according to claim 1, wherein the sheet-shaped corner joint and the rear joint tape are made of a highly flexible soft fabric, which is one of nylon fabric, polyester fiber, microfiber, and leather.

5. 2. The foldable suitcase of claim 1, wherein the front zipper between the front shell and the folding module is a releasable zipper.

6. 6. The foldable suitcase of claim 5, wherein the front shell engages the rear zipper teeth on the rear shell with zipper teeth on the front zipper to define a folded configuration.

7. A foldable suitcase having a front shell and a rear shell, further comprising a folding module in the form of a frame when in a non-folded configuration, one side edge of the folding module is joined to the rear shell by a flexible rear joint tape; the other side edge of the folding module is provided with a row of teeth along its entire length, and the rear shell is provided with rear zipper teeth along its entire length on its exterior; The front shell is provided thereon with a row of teeth over its entire length and a second row of teeth located outside the row of teeth, A foldable suitcase, wherein either the engagement teeth row and the second engagement teeth row on the front shell are configured to engage with the engagement teeth row on the folding module, or during folding, either the engagement teeth row and the second engagement teeth row on the front shell are configured to engage with the rear zipper teeth.

8. 8. A foldable suitcase according to claim 7, wherein the row of teeth of the front shell is provided with a slider and the second row of teeth is provided with another slider.

9. The folding module comprises: a bottom shell, the bottom shell being joined at each of its left and right sides to sheet form corner joints; a top shell joined at each of its left and right sides to a sheet form corner joint; a side shell joined to the two sheet-shaped corner joints at the left side of the bottom shell and the top shell, and another side shell joined to the two sheet-shaped corner joints at the right side of the bottom shell and the top shell; Includes 8. The foldable suitcase according to claim 7, wherein the sheet-shaped corner joint has excellent flexibility.

10. 10. The foldable suitcase according to claim 9, wherein the seat-shaped corner joints are trapezoidal, and the longer bottoms of the trapezoid seat-shaped corner joints are all located on the same side, i.e. joined to a single side of the front shell.

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