suitcase cover

Abstract

To provide a suitcase cover that has high cushioning properties, is lightweight, and can be stored compactly. [Solution] The suitcase cover 100 of the present invention is a suitcase cover 100 that is placed over a suitcase SC, and is characterized by having an inner layer 10a, 30a, 50a that contacts the surface of the suitcase SC, an outer layer 10b, 30b, 50b that faces the inner layer 10a, 30a, 50a, and an air layer 10c, 30c, 50c formed between the inner layer 10a, 30a, 50a and the outer layer 10b, 30b, 50b.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Suitcase covers have traditionally been used to protect the surface of suitcases from scratches, dirt, etc. Most conventional suitcase covers are made by forming a resin sheet or a fiber sheet into a box shape and placing it over the outside of the suitcase (Patent Document 1: Design Registration No. 1620985).

[0003] Meanwhile, as suitcases have become larger in recent years, damage to suitcases caused by baggage conveyors at airports has increased. While thicker suitcase covers can help prevent damage, they also increase the weight and bulk of the covers, making them less convenient to use. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Design Registration No. 1620985 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2021-104272 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-70205 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-57167 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a suitcase cover that is highly cushioned, lightweight, and can be stored compactly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the suitcase cover of the present invention is a suitcase cover that is placed over a suitcase, and is characterized by having an inner layer that contacts the surface of the suitcase, an outer layer that faces the inner layer, and an air layer formed between the inner layer and the outer layer. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The suitcase cover of the present invention has high cushioning properties, is lightweight, and can be stored compactly. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1A] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the suitcase cover according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1B] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the suitcase cover placed on the suitcase. [Figure 1C] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a suitcase cover placed on a suitcase. [Figure 2] 1A is a cross-sectional view of the main body cover of the suitcase cover, FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the front cover, and FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of the rear cover. [Figure 3A] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a modified example of the main body cover. [Figure 3B] 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3B-3B in FIG. 3A, showing (a) a cross-sectional view before stretching and (b) a cross-sectional view after stretching. [Figure 4A] 10 is a perspective view showing the main cover, front cover, and rear cover of the suitcase cover being connected with hook-and-loop fasteners. FIG. [Figure 4B] 4B is a side view showing the state in which the suitcase cover of FIG. 4A is placed on the suitcase, (a) a suitcase with a normal width and (b) a suitcase with an extended width. FIG. [Figure 5] 10(a) and 10(b) are diagrams showing examples of the surface structure of a suitcase cover. [Figure 6A] 1A and 1B are an exploded perspective view and an assembled perspective view, respectively, of a suitcase cover in which a main body cover and a rear cover are integrated. [Figure 6B] 1A and 1B are an exploded perspective view and an assembled perspective view, respectively, of a suitcase cover having air ribs formed along the edge of the main body cover. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1A is an exploded perspective view of a suitcase cover 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] The suitcase cover 100 has a main body cover 10, a front cover 30, and a rear cover 50. By connecting the fasteners F attached along the edges of each cover 10, 30, and 50, the box-shaped suitcase cover 100 can be formed as shown in Figure 1B.

[0011] The upper surface of the main body cover 10 is formed with a hole 11 for passing the handle G of the suitcase SC therethrough and a notch 12 for inserting the telescopic handle H therethrough. Also, the upper surface of the main body cover 10 is formed with an air valve 13 for filling the interior of the main body cover 10 with air. By connecting the nozzle of a commercially available electric air pump to the air valve 13 and filling the interior with air, the main body cover 10 can be expanded in the thickness direction.

[0012] Extensions 31, 51 are formed at the lower ends of the front cover 30 and the rear cover 50. These extensions 31, 51 are used to fit the lower ends of the front cover 30 and the rear cover 50 around the bottom of the suitcase SC. By connecting the hook-and-loop fasteners 32, 52 formed on the extensions 31, 51, it is possible to prevent the suitcase cover 100 from shifting position or coming off the suitcase SC.

[0013] Air valves 33, 53 are formed at the upper ends of the front cover 30 and the rear cover 50 to fill the interior of the covers 30, 50 with air. By connecting the nozzle of a commercially available electric air pump to the air valves 33, 53 and filling the interior with air, the covers 30, 50 can be expanded in the thickness direction.

[0014] The suitcase cover 100 is difficult to put on the suitcase SC when it is filled with air. Therefore, when putting the suitcase cover 100 on the suitcase SC as shown in Figure 1B, the air in the suitcase cover 100 is released in advance.

[0015] As shown in Figure 1C, after the suitcase cover 100 is placed over the suitcase SC, air is filled into the main body cover 10, the front cover 30, and the rear cover 50. By filling the covers 10, 30, and 50 with air, the covers fit snugly to the suitcase SC, preventing the suitcase cover 100 from shifting position and improving the shock absorption for the inner suitcase SC.

[0016] As shown in Figures 2(a), (b), and (c), the main body cover 10, the front cover 30, and the rear cover 50 have inner layers 10a, 30a, and 50a that contact the surface of the suitcase SC, outer layers 10b, 30b, and 50b that face the inner layers 10a, 30a, and 50a, and air layers 10c, 30c, and 50c that are formed between the inner layers 10a, 30a, and 50a and the outer layers 10b, 30b, and 50b.

[0017] Air can be supplied to and exhausted from the air layers 10c, 30c, and 50c through air valves 13, 33, and 53 formed in the outer layers 10b, 30b, and 50b. The air valves 13, 33, and 53 can be connected to commercially available air pumps.

[0018] The air layers 10c, 30c, and 50c can significantly improve the cushioning properties of the suitcase cover 100. Furthermore, the main body cover 10, the front cover 30, and the rear cover 50 are lightweight and can be stored compactly by removing the air.

[0019] The improvement of cushioning properties by using an air layer is described in the following Patent Documents 2-4. Patent Document 2: JP 2021-104272 A (holding the contents of a suitcase by inflating it with air) Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-70205 (inflating the surfboard cover to hold the board in place) Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-57167 (Air expansion of the side walls of a fishing case)

[0020] Extensions 31, 51 are formed at the lower ends of the front cover 30 and the rear cover 50. The extensions 31, 51 can be connected to the bottom side of the suitcase SC by hook-and-loop fasteners 32, 52 of the extensions 31, 51.

[0021] The main body cover 10 of the suitcase cover 100 can also be formed in an accordion shape as shown in Fig. 3A. That is, by forming an accordion portion 15 as shown in Fig. 3B on the main body cover 10, the width of the main body cover 10 can be expanded from L1 to L2. This makes the suitcase cover 100 compatible with a suitcase SC with an expandable function.

[0022] 4A shows that the main body cover 10, front cover 30, and rear cover 50 are connected with hook-and-loop fasteners 14, 34, and 54 instead of fasteners F. When the covers 10, 30, and 50 are connected to each other with hook-and-loop fasteners 14, 34, and 54 in this way, the connection position can be adjusted, so it can also be used with a suitcase SC with expandable functions as shown in FIGS. 4B(a) and (b).

[0023] Therefore, it is not necessary to form the bellows portion 15 on the main body cover 10. Of course, if the bellows portion 15 is formed on the main body cover 10, the connecting position can be adjusted over an even wider range.

[0024] 5A and 5B are diagrams showing examples of the surface structure of the main body cover 10, the front cover 30, and the rear cover 50. Fig. 5A shows lattice-shaped ribs formed on the surfaces of the covers 10, 30, and 50. This increases the cushioning properties of the cover surfaces and also improves the appearance design of the suitcase cover 100.

[0025] 5(b) shows that striped ribs are formed on the surface of the covers 10, 30, 50. In this case too, the cushioning properties of the cover surface can be improved, and the appearance design of the suitcase cover 100 can be improved.

[0026] 6A is a diagram showing a modified example of the suitcase cover 100. The suitcase cover 100 does not necessarily have to be formed of the three covers, the main body cover 10, the front cover 30, and the rear cover .

[0027] 6A, it is also possible to integrate the rear cover 50 with the main body cover 10. In this way, the air nozzle 53 can be omitted, and the effort required for filling the air can be reduced.

[0028] The main body cover 10 and the front cover 30 can be connected with a fastener F. By partially or completely opening the front cover 30, it becomes possible to take the contents of the suitcase SC in and out even when the suitcase cover 100 is placed over the suitcase SC.

[0029] 6B is a diagram showing a modified example in which U-shaped air ribs 16 are formed with a continuous air layer along the edge of the main body cover 10 of the suitcase cover 100. Forming U-shaped air ribs 16 can improve shock absorption, particularly in corners. U-shaped or rectangular air ribs with a continuous air layer may also be formed along the edge of the front cover 30 or rear cover 50, rather than along the edge of the main body cover 10.

[0030] Although the present invention has been described above in terms of an embodiment, it is not limited to the above embodiment and various modifications are possible. For example, while the rear cover 50 is integrated with the main body cover 10 in Figures 6A and 6B, it is also possible to integrate the front cover 30 and the rear cover 50 with the main body cover 10. In this case, the air nozzles 33 and 53 can be omitted, and air can be supplied and exhausted using only the air nozzle 13, further reducing the effort required for filling the suitcase with air. Furthermore, since the fastener F is not required, the cost of the suitcase cover can be reduced. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 10: Main body cover 10a: Inner layer 10b: Outer layer 10c: Air layer 11: Hole 12: Notch 13: Air valve 14: Hook and loop fastener 15: Bellows section 16: Air rib 30: Front cover 31: Extension 32: Velcro 33: Air valve 50: Rear cover 50: Air nozzle 100: Suitcase cover F: Zipper G: Handle H: Telescopic handle SC: Suitcase

Claims

1. A suitcase cover to be placed over a suitcase, the suitcase cover comprising: an inner layer in contact with the surface of the suitcase; an outer layer opposite the inner layer; an air layer formed between the inner layer and the outer layer; an air valve formed in the outer layer for supplying and discharging air to and from the air layer; A suitcase cover comprising:

2. a front cover that covers the front side of the main body of the suitcase; a rear cover that covers the rear side of the main body; a main body cover that is disposed between the front cover and the rear cover and covers a ceiling surface and both left and right side surfaces of the main body; 2. The suitcase cover of claim 1, further comprising:

3. 3. The suitcase cover according to claim 2, wherein said front cover, said rear cover and said main body cover are connected by fasteners.

4. 3. The suitcase cover according to claim 2, wherein said front cover, said rear cover and said main body cover are connected by hook-and-loop fasteners.

5. 3. The suitcase cover according to claim 2, wherein the main body cover is configured to be stretchable in the thickness direction of the suitcase.

6. 6. The suitcase cover according to claim 5, wherein the main body cover is configured in an accordion shape.

7. 3. The suitcase cover according to claim 2, wherein the extensions formed at the lower ends of the front cover and the rear cover are connected to each other by hook-and-loop fasteners on the bottom side of the suitcase.

8. 3. The suitcase cover according to claim 2, wherein the rear cover and the main body cover are integrated into one piece.

9. 3. The suitcase cover according to claim 2, wherein an air rib is formed along the edge of any one of the front cover, rear cover and main cover, with a continuous air layer.

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