Carry case with a detachable lid

Abstract

We provide a carry case with a detachable lid. [Solution] The carry case 1 comprises a lid 22 attached to the outside of the carry case and a zipper 26 for attaching and detaching the lid provided along the attachment point of the lid 22, wherein the lid 22 is detachably attached to the outside via the zipper 26. In one example, the lid 22 is formed in a generally flat shape that extends in a substantially vertical direction. In a further example, it further comprises a strip-shaped extension 36 extending from a predetermined position at the attachment point, and the element 32 of the zipper 26 for attaching and detaching the lid extends from the attachment point to the tip of the extension 36.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a carry case (including a suitcase) having a detachable lid.

Background Art

[0002] A carry case has a large-capacity article storage portion between a body-side shell and a lid-side shell. Some carry cases have an easily accessible storage portion on the outside of the carry case. If a rain gear such as an umbrella is placed in the outside storage portion, the rain gear can be taken out immediately when it suddenly starts to rain. In addition, it can be used as a storage portion for temporarily storing luggage such as souvenirs that increase during travel by the user of the carry case.

[0003] The carry case disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a lid having a top-open function or a front-open function that is easily accessible from the outside, and various articles can be stored inside the lid.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The lid provided on the outside of the carry case is not easily detachable. However, if the lid of the carry case can be configured to be detachable, it would be convenient because it can be replaced immediately when the lid is damaged or deteriorated. In addition, according to the user's request, for example, it is also possible to select from an opaque lid and a transparent lid.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention provides a carry case with a removable lid, comprising a lid attached to the outside of the carry case and a zipper for attaching and detaching the lid provided along the attachment point of the lid, wherein the lid is detachably attached to the outside via the zipper for attaching and detaching the lid.

[0007] In one embodiment, the lid is characterized by being formed in a generally flat shape that extends along a nearly vertical plane (a plane perpendicular to the horizontal plane).

[0008] In other embodiments, the zipper for attaching and detaching the lid is characterized by having two sliders facing opposite directions.

[0009] Furthermore, the carry case is characterized by further comprising a strip-shaped extension extending from a predetermined position at the mounting location, and the elements of the zipper for attaching and detaching the lid extending (further from the mounting location) to the tip of the extension.

[0010] Furthermore, the zipper element for attaching and detaching the lid is characterized by having the insertion end into the slider (the tip of the element on the side where the slider is not held) positioned at the tip of the extension. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] A perspective view showing a carry-on suitcase. [Figure 2] (a) Front view and (b) Top view of the carry case. [Figure 3] Side view of a carry-on suitcase. [Figure 4] Side view of a carry-on suitcase. [Figure 5] A diagram illustrating the procedure for disengaging the elements of the zipper used to attach and detach the lid. [Figure 6] Side view of the carry case with the lid removed. [Figure 7] A diagram illustrating the procedure for engaging the elements of the zipper used to attach and detach the lid. [Figure 8]A diagram showing (a) a transparent lid and (b) an opaque lid of a carry case. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] The carry case of this invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the carry case 1 generally comprises a body shell 2, a lid shell 4, a carry handle 14, a hand handle 16, and casters 18. In the illustrated embodiment, a lid 22 is further attached to the outside of the lid shell 4 of the carry case 1. In other embodiments, the lid 22 may be attached to the outside of the body shell 42.

[0014] Figure 2(a) is a front view of the carry case, and Figure 2(b) is a top view of the carry case. If the carry case 1 has a zipper type opening and closing mechanism, the carry case 1 is equipped with an opening and closing zipper 6 for opening and closing the storage compartment between the body shell 2 and the lid shell 4. Furthermore, it may be equipped with a TSA lock mechanism 12 for locking the sliders 8 and 10 of the opening and closing zipper 6 to prevent them from moving. Alternatively, if the carry case 1 is a hard-frame type, the carry case 1 is equipped with a locking opening and closing mechanism between the body shell 2 and the lid shell 4.

[0015] In the illustrated embodiment, a generally flat lid 22 extending along a vertical plane (a plane perpendicular to the horizontal plane) is detachably attached to the outside of the lid-side shell 4 via a lid-attachment zipper 26. In other embodiments, the lid 22 may be formed in a slightly curved shape, such as a turtle's shell. Furthermore, the lid 22 may be formed from various flexible materials or from rigid materials. For example, the lid 22 may be formed from a composite material such as carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP).

[0016] The zipper 26 for attaching / detaching the lid may have one slider, or may have two sliders facing each other in opposite directions (i.e., head-to-head or back-to-back). A zipper with two sliders is generally called a "double zip" or "reverse-opening fastener" and is also used for clothes such as jackets and bags.

[0017] When the user of the carrying case 1 opens the left slider 28 and the right slider 30 of the zipper 26 for attaching / detaching the lid, the storage opening 24 between the lid-side shell 4 and the lid 22 opens, allowing an article (item) to be inserted.

[0018] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are side views of the carrying case 1, showing the state in which the lid 22 of the carrying case 1 is opened to various opening degrees.

[0019] When the user opens each of the left slider 28 and the right slider 30 of the zipper 26 for attaching / detaching the lid (moves them in the opening direction), as shown in FIG. 3, the lid 22 opens in a so-called top-open form. The user can insert an article (item) through the slightly opened storage opening 24.

[0020] When the user further opens the left slider 28 and the right slider 30, as shown in FIG. 4, the lid 22 opens in a so-called front-open form. The user can insert even a bulky article through the storage opening 24 of the widely opened lid 22.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of a method for releasing the engagement of the elements (tooth portions) 32 of the zipper 26 for attaching / detaching the lid. When the user opens the left slider 28 in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 5(a) while opening the right slider 30 in the direction of arrow A' in the same figure, the elements 32 are released in both the left and right directions.

[0022] FIG. 5(b) shows the state when the user slightly opens the left and right sliders 28 and 30 of the zipper 26 for attaching / detaching the lid in the directions of arrows A and A', respectively.

[0023] Figure 5(c) shows the state when the user moves the right slider 30 along the mounting point of the lid 22, almost the entire circumference of the lid 22, and brings it close to the left slider 28. In this figure, the knob 29 of the left slider 28 is folded back from left to right.

[0024] In one embodiment, a protruding engagement device 41 is provided at the tip 40 of one of the elements 32 to hold the sliders 28 and 30 and prevent them from coming loose. When the user moves the right slider 30 in the direction of arrow A' in Figure 5(c) to bring the two sliders 28 and 30 into contact with the engagement device 41, and pulls out the insertion end 38 of the element 32 (the tip of the element 32 on the side where the slider is not held) from the grooves of the two sliders 28 and 30, the engagement of the elements 32 is released, as shown in Figure 5(d).

[0025] Figure 6 shows the state in which the element 32 of the zipper 26 for attaching and detaching the lid is released, and the lid 22 is completely separated from the lid shell 4.

[0026] Figure 7 illustrates an example of how to engage the elements 32 of the zipper 26 for attaching and detaching the lid. In Figure 7, the lid 22 is formed in a flat plate shape extending vertically, and a strip-shaped extension 36 extends from the upper central part of the mounting location of the lid 22. However, the strip-shaped extension 36 may also extend from a position on the side (not the upper or lower side) of the mounting location of the lid 22. Note that in Figure 7, the size ratio of the extension 36 is enlarged compared to other parts in order to make the present invention easier to understand.

[0027] As shown in Figure 7(a), the extension of the strip-shaped extension 36 has the advantage of making it easier for the user to operate the lid fastening zipper 26. In particular, if the insertion end 38 of the element 32 into the slider is positioned at the tip of the extension 36, the user can easily hold down the two sliders 28, 30 of the lid fastening zipper 26 with one hand and insert the insertion end 38 into the grooves of the two sliders with the other hand.

[0028] As shown in Figure 7(b), in order to engage the element 32 of the lid fastening zipper 26, the user needs to move the insertion end 38 of the element 32 in the direction of arrow B and firmly insert it into the groove of the sliders 28 and 30 until it reaches the base. After insertion, the user can hold the insertion end 38 with one hand and close the right slider 30 in the direction of arrow C with the other hand (move it in the closing direction).

[0029] When the user closes only the right slider 30 in the direction of arrow C, the elements 32 from the tips 38 and 40 to the right slider 30 engage, as shown in Figure 7(c).

[0030] Then, when the user further closes the right slider 30 in the direction of arrow C, engaging the elements 32 that extend around the lid 22 along the mounting points of the lid 22, the entire elements 32 are eventually engaged, as shown in Figure 7(d), and the housing opening 24 of the lid 22 is closed.

[0031] However, in other embodiments, the element 32 may not be provided only on the upper side of the lid 22, so that the upper side of the lid 22 is always open. In that case, even if the entire element 32 is engaged, the housing opening 24 of the lid 22 will not be closed.

[0032] The carry case 1 shown in Figure 8(a) is equipped with a lid 22 made of a transparent or translucent material (for example, plastic containing acrylic resin). Recently, it has become fashionable to carry around one's favorite stuffed animals or other items in a visible position on the outside of a transparent case or a transparent pocket provided in a backpack, etc. The carry case 1 equipped with a transparent or translucent lid 22 makes it possible to carry around items 34 displayed in a visible position on the inside of the lid 22.

[0033] As described above, in the carry case 1 of this invention, the lid 22 is configured to be detachable, so that if the lid 22 is damaged or deteriorated, it can be easily replaced with a new one. Furthermore, according to the user's request, the lid 22 can be replaced with, for example, the opaque lid 22' shown in Figure 8(b). [Explanation of Symbols]

[0034] 1… Carry-on suitcase 2... Body shell 4…Lid shell 6… Zipper for opening and closing 8... Slider 10... Slider 12…TSA lock mechanism 14… Carry handle 16…Handle 18... Caster 20...Outside 22,22'... Lid 24… Enclosure 26… Zipper for attaching and detaching the lid 28... Left slider 29... Left slider knob 30... Right slider 31... Right slider knob 32...Element 34...Goods 36...Extension part 38...Insertion end (the tip of the element on the side where the slider is not held) 40... Tip of the element 41…Engagement device 42... Element end (end stopper)

Claims

1. In carry-on cases, The lid attached to the outside of the carry case, A zipper for attaching and detaching the lid is provided along the mounting location of the lid, Equipped with, A carry case equipped with a detachable lid, characterized in that the lid is detachably attached to the outside via a zipper for attaching and detaching the lid.

2. A carry case comprising a detachable lid according to claim 1, characterized in that the lid is formed in a generally flat shape that extends along a substantially vertical plane.

3. A carry case comprising a detachable lid according to claim 1, characterized in that the zipper for attaching and detaching the lid has two sliders facing in opposite directions.

4. The carry case is, The mounting location further comprises a strip-shaped extension extending from a predetermined position, A carry case comprising a detachable lid according to claim 3, characterized in that the elements of the zipper for attaching and detaching the lid extend to the tip of the extension.

5. A carry case comprising a detachable lid according to claim 4, characterized in that the insertion end of the element of the zipper for attaching and detaching the lid into the slider is positioned at the tip of the extension.

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