suitcase

Abstract

[Problem] To achieve a suitcase capable of providing a storage part above the suitcase in a vertical position. [Solution] To solve the problem, the suitcase 1 is configured by comprising: an opening part 21 cut out by a cutout line passing through the front surface, both side surfaces, and the top surface of a shell; and a lid part 23 provided so as to be openable and closeable with respect to the opening part via a hinge part 25 provided on the top surface of the shell, wherein the inside of the lid part 23 placed on the top surface of the shell by flipping up and opening the lid part 23 through the hinge part 25 can be used as a place for placing baggage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a suitcase.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a suitcase has two shells provided symmetrically with a central dividing portion therebetween, which are connected via a hinge portion, opened and closed via the hinge portion, and luggage is stored inside the shells.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a suitcase including a half shell body and a half shell lid that can be opened and closed with respect to the shell body, and connecting the open edge end portion of the shell body and the open edge end portion of the shell lid with a first slide fastener. Further, in this suitcase, the shell body includes a rear lid portion that is provided with a margin width on the side surface side and cut out to form a first opening excluding the lower side of the back surface portion, and is attached to the side surface side with a margin portion so as to be openable and closable, and the shell lid includes a second opening formed smaller than the first opening above it and an upper lid portion that can be opened and closed with respect to the second opening. The rear lid portion and the upper lid portion each have a hinge portion on the lower side, are connected to the shell body and the shell lid, and are open at the upper side.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, although the suitcase of Patent Document 1 realizes the loading and unloading of luggage in the vertical position with the rear lid portion and the upper lid portion opened, there is no idea of providing a storage portion on top of the suitcase in the vertical position.

[0006] The present invention aims to solve the above problems and realize a suitcase that can have a storage compartment on top of the suitcase when it is in a vertical position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides a suitcase comprising: an opening cut out in the front shell by a notch line passing through the front, both sides, and top; and a lid that can be opened and closed via a hinge provided on the top surface of the front shell corresponding to the opening. With such a suitcase, the lid can be flipped up via the hinge, and the inside of the lid, located above the top surface of the suitcase, can be used as a place to put luggage.

[0008] Furthermore, by having a holding mechanism in the lid to keep it positioned on the top surface, it is possible to prevent the lid from being unintentionally released from its flipped-up position.

[0009] Furthermore, if the lid has a shelf that can be positioned above it when it is in the flipped-up position, luggage can be placed on this shelf. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the closed state of the suitcase according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the suitcase with the lid open. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing the state in which the shelf unit is installed, as shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view showing the closed state of the suitcase according to the second embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the suitcase with the lid open. [Figure 6] This is a partial cross-sectional view from the side, showing the modified upper storage shelf installed in the state shown in Figure 2. [Figure 7] This is a side view showing a modified installation method for the lower storage shelf in the state shown in Figure 2.

[0011] Embodiments of the suitcase of the present invention will now be described. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the suitcase of the first embodiment of the present invention in a closed state. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the lid of this suitcase in an open state.

[0012] The suitcase 1 of the first embodiment comprises a front shell 2 and a back shell 3, which are symmetrically arranged on either side of a central dividing line C, and these are connected by an expansion zipper 4. When the runner 4r of the expansion zipper 4 is opened all the way around, an expansion fabric appears between the front shell 2 and the back shell 3 (not shown), and the suitcase 1 is expanded by the width of the expansion fabric. Conventional suitcases have a hinge on a part of the central dividing line C for opening and closing, but in suitcase 1, the dividing line C is provided not for opening and closing, but for expansion.

[0013] The suitcase 1 comprises an opening 21 cut out of the front shell 2 by a notch line passing through the front, both sides, and top, and a first lid 23 that is openable and closable via a hinge portion 22 provided on the top surface of the front shell 2 corresponding to the opening 21. A zipper 21f is provided along the notch line in the portion excluding the hinge portion 22, and a pair of runners 21r of the zipper 21f are held by the TSA lock portion T when the zipper 21f is closed. When the runners 21r are opened and the zipper 21f is opened, the first lid 23 can be opened by flipping it upward via the hinge portion 22, and the opening 21 opens forward and upward. Then, as shown in Figure 2, the first lid 23 rests on the top surface of the rear shell 3 with its inner side facing upward. With such a suitcase 1, the inner side 23b of the first lid 23 located above the top surface of the suitcase 1 can be used as a place to put luggage.

[0014] The first lid 23 includes a second opening 24 cut out by a second notch line passing through its front, both sides, and top, and a second lid 26 that is openable and closable via a second hinge portion 25 provided on the front of the first lid 23, corresponding to the second opening 24. A zipper 24f is provided along the second notch line in the portion excluding the hinge portion 25, and a pair of runners 24r of the zipper 24f are held by the TSA lock portion T when the zipper 24f is closed. Although not shown, when the runners 24r are opened and the zipper 24f is opened, the second lid 23 can be opened forward via the hinge portion 25, and the second opening 24 opens upward. By opening the second opening 24 when the opening 21 is closed, the contents can be easily put in and taken out of the suitcase 1 while it is placed upright.

[0015] The suitcase 1 is equipped with four casters 27 on the bottom, a handle 28 near the center of the top, and an extendable handle 29 on the back of the top that can be extended upward. The suitcase also has a pair of raised lines L on the front and back to prevent surface scratches. To move the suitcase 1, the extendable handle 29 is extended and the casters 27 are used, as with conventional suitcases. On the other hand, when opening the first lid 23 of the suitcase 1 as shown in Figure 2 to put in or take out the contents or to display them, it is preferable that the first lid 23 does not come down forward and close. In Figure 2, a pair of hook-and-loop fasteners 30 provided inside the front side of the first lid 23 wrap around a pair of extendable rods 29a of the extendable handle 29 to secure the first lid 23. Furthermore, the first lid 23 is secured by unbuckling the band 31, which is provided to span the inside of the left and right sides of the first lid 23, and engaging the buckle (not shown) with the band 31 wrapped around the outside of the pair of telescopic rods 29a of the telescopic handle 29. In addition, although not shown, the first lid 23 is secured on the back shell 3 by an engagement mechanism using hook-and-loop fasteners, snap buttons, engaging grooves, magnets, etc., provided between the top surface of the first lid 23 and the top surface of the back shell 3, or between the front surface of the first lid 23 and the telescopic rods 29a. Furthermore, although not shown, the first lid 23 may be secured by hook-and-loop fasteners, etc., provided inside the front side of the first lid 23 and wrapping around and locking onto the handle portion of the telescopic handle 29. There may be one or more such securing mechanisms. Also, in this state, in order to prevent interference between the convex line L and the telescopic rods 29a and to prevent lateral movement of the first lid 23, the distance between the convex line L and the telescopic rods 29a is set so that when the first lid 23 is in the open state, the convex line L follows the outside of the telescopic rods 29a. Alternatively, another pair of convex lines may be provided so as to follow the inside of the telescopic rod 29a, and the open state of the first lid portion 23 may be maintained by sandwiching the telescopic rod 29a between the inner and outer convex lines.

[0016] As shown in Figure 3, the upper storage shelf 32 and the lower storage shelf 33 are housed inside the first lid 23, which opens upward and forms the upper storage section (23b), and inside the front shell 2 and rear shell 3, which form the lower storage section. These consist of a horizontally positioned rigid shelf and a fabric-like portion, and when placed on the floor, they are compressed vertically by their own weight. A hook-and-loop fastener 32a is provided on the upper storage shelf 32, which wraps around and locks onto the handle portion of the telescopic handle 29, allowing it to be suspended, extended, and items placed on the shelf. Similarly, a hook-and-loop fastener (not shown) is provided on the top of the lower storage shelf 33, which wraps around and locks onto a grip portion (not shown) provided on the inside of the top surface of the rear shell 3, allowing it to be suspended, extended, and items placed on the shelf. The same effect can also be obtained by engaging an upward-facing hook-and-loop fastener (not shown) on the top of the lower storage shelf 33 with a downward-facing hook-and-loop fastener (not shown) facing the inside of the top surface of the rear shell 3. In this state, even when not being used for travel, suitcase 1 can be used as a shelf in a room. Furthermore, even while traveling, suitcase 1 can be used as a shelf in the hotel room, saving floor space even in small rooms such as business hotels. In addition, removing the casters 27 prevents suitcase 1 from moving unexpectedly, keeping the floor clean and improving its usability as a shelf. Of course, the casters 27 could also have a locking mechanism.

[0017] Figures 4 and 5 show the suitcase 101 of the second embodiment. The suitcase 101 consists of a front shell 102 and a rear shell 103. The suitcase 101 is divided into two parts by a dividing line that runs diagonally from the top surface near the rear of the suitcase 101 through both sides to the bottom surface near the front. These parts are connected by a hinge portion 122 provided on the top surface along the dividing line C and a zipper 121 provided on other parts along the dividing line C. There is no expansion zipper or part corresponding to a second lid. The casters 127 are omni-wheels, which can move in all directions without providing a vertical axis of rotation, thus minimizing the reduction in the suitcase's storage capacity.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 5, the front shell 102 can open upward so as to bounce up and has the same function as the first lid portion 23 in the suitcase 1. At this time, the leg portion 103a provided at the front part of the bottom surface of the rear shell 103 keeps it horizontal. In the suitcase 101, the storage shelf is not a compressible cloth one. The lower shelf board 133 is fixed at an appropriate position of the rear shell 103, and the upper shelf board 132 is variably provided on the front shell 102. Specifically, the upper shelf board 132 functions as a shelf board in the state of Fig. 5, but in the state of Fig. 4, it swings upward in Fig. 5 and downward in Fig. 4 along the front shell 102 via the hinge portion 132a and is stored so as not to interfere with the lower shelf board 133. Also, the lower shelf board 133 may be variably designed, for example, having a surface fastener that can be locked at an arbitrary position with respect to the surface fastener provided on the inner side of the side surface of the rear shell 103. Further, in order to prevent the luggage on the lower shelf board 133 from falling forward during transportation, it has a cover 134 that can be extended from the upper end to the lower end of the rear shell 103, and at the upper end of the front shell 102 in Fig. 5, it has a hook 135 for hanging small luggage.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 6, the upper storage shelf 321 of the modification is installed as a shelf on the inner part 23b of the first lid portion 23 by hanging the downward pocket 321a provided on its back on the telescopic handle 29. The upper storage shelf 321 has an open upper surface, and the shelf board 321c is held by the side cloth 321b. In this case, since the first lid portion 23 is sandwiched between the telescopic handle 29 and the upper storage shelf 321, no separate holding mechanism is required. That is, the upper storage shelf 321 also serves as a holding mechanism.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 7, the lower storage shelf 331 of the modification is fixed by engaging the belts 331a provided to extend upward near the center in the front - rear direction on both side surfaces thereof with the buckles 331b attached to the ends of each other behind the telescopic handle 29. Thereby, the lower storage shelf 331 can be placed inside the front shell 2 and the rear shell 3 that constitute the lower storage portion.

[0021] According to such a suitcase 1 or suitcase 2, it is possible to realize a suitcase that opens so as to flip up the front shell and uses the inside of the flipped-up shell on the top surface of the suitcase as a storage part. Note that the opening / closing part of the suitcase may be a frame-type buckle structure instead of a fastener structure. Further, in suitcase 1, a dividing line C may not be provided, and a second lid part may not be provided, that is, a suitcase composed of a lid part and other shell parts may be configured.

Explanation of Signs

[0022] 1 101 Suitcase 2 102 Front shell 3 103 Rear shell 21 Opening 23 First lid part 25 Hinge part

Claims

1. A suitcase comprising: an opening cut out by notch lines passing through the front, both sides, and top of the shell; a lid provided on the top of the shell so as to be openable and closable with respect to the opening via a hinge; wherein the lid can be opened upward via the hinge so as to flip up, allowing the inside of the lid resting on the top of the shell to be used as a luggage rack; and a shelf that can be placed inside the lid when it is flipped up.

2. The suitcase according to claim 1, wherein the shelf has a downward-facing pocket on its back, and the lid is held between the telescopic handle and the shelf by hanging the downward-facing pocket on the upper end of a telescopic handle provided on the back of the shell.

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