suitcase

Abstract

A suitcase includes a case unit. The case unit includes a separable case body and a front cover, and a connecting mechanism for detachably securing the front cover to the front side of the case body. The case body has a forward-facing opening. When the front cover is secured to the front side of the case body, the opening is covered by the front cover, which cooperates with the case body to define an accommodating space. The connecting mechanism allows the front cover to be completely detached from the case body when the suitcase is unfolded, thereby reducing the space occupied by the front cover and increasing ease of use.

Description

suitcase Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a suitcase, and more particularly to a suitcase with a detachable front cover. Prior Technology

[0002] Travel is an important part of many modern people's lives, and many travelers use suitcases while traveling. When travelers want to retrieve items from their suitcases at their accommodations, they usually unfold both halves of the suitcase. However, unfolded suitcases take up a lot of space, which can obstruct movement within the room and cause inconvenience for travelers. Therefore, current suitcases have the problem of taking up too much space when the outer shell is unfolded. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide a suitcase that overcomes at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0004] Therefore, the present novel suitcase includes a case unit. The case unit includes a separate case body and a front cover, and a connecting mechanism for detachably fixing the front cover to the front side of the case body. The case body has a forward-facing opening. When the front cover is fixed to the front side of the case body, the opening is covered by the front cover and cooperates with the case body to define an accommodating space.

[0005] The advantages of this new design are as follows: When the suitcase is unfolded, the front cover can be completely detached from the suitcase body via the connecting mechanism, reducing the space occupied by the front cover and increasing ease of use. Simultaneously, the fully detachable front cover allows consumers to freely replace it and choose different combinations of the suitcase body and the front cover. When the front cover is rubbed or damaged, only the front cover needs to be replaced or repaired, increasing maintenance convenience and reducing maintenance costs. Furthermore, the detached front cover can also be used as a bag or tote bag for convenient carrying during travel. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0006] Other features and effects of this invention will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of the novel suitcase; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating that the two first zipper heads of the first embodiment are in a first connected state and the second zipper head is in a second connected state. Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the second zipper head of the first embodiment in a second disengaged state; Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating that one of the first zipper heads of the first embodiment is in a first disengaged state; Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating the first zipper head in the first disengaged state and the second zipper head in the second disengaged state of the first embodiment; Figure 6 is a side view illustrating the relative positions of one of the zipper assemblies in this first embodiment; Figure 7 is a side view illustrating another embodiment of the zipper assembly of the first embodiment; and Figure 8 is a partial perspective view illustrating a connecting module of a second embodiment of the novel suitcase. Implementation

[0007] Before this invention is described in detail, it should be noted that similar elements are represented by the same reference numerals in the following description.

[0008] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a first embodiment of this novel suitcase includes a suitcase unit 1, a pull rod 7 installed inside the suitcase unit 1 and protruding from the top of the suitcase unit 1, several wheel sets 8 installed at the bottom of the suitcase unit 1, and a suitcase safety lock 9 located at the top of the suitcase unit 1.

[0009] The box unit 1 includes a separate box body 2 and a front cover 3, a connecting mechanism 4 for detachably fixing the front cover 3 to the front side of the box body 2, and a fixing mechanism 5 installed between the box body 2 and the front cover 3 and located within the box unit 1. The box body 2 is an upright cuboid with a forward-facing opening 21. When the flat front cover 3 is fixed to the front side of the box body 2 by the connecting mechanism 4, the front cover 3 covers the opening 21, and the front cover 3 and the box body 2 cooperate to define an accommodating space 6 for accommodating items.

[0010] The connecting mechanism 4 includes a zipper assembly 41 and a connecting module 42 installed between the box body 2 and the front cover 3.

[0011] The zipper assembly 41 is used to detachably connect and fix the periphery of the case body 2 and the front cover 3. The zipper assembly 41 has two first chains 411 respectively mounted on the periphery of the case body 2 and the front cover 3, two first zipper heads 412 respectively mounted on the first chains 411, two first end caps 413 respectively mounted on one end of the first chains 411, and two first pins 414 respectively mounted on the other end of the first chains 411. The two ends of the first chains 411 overlap at a distance. The usage of the zipper assembly 41 will be explained later.

[0012] The connecting module 42 can be used to detachably connect and fix a portion of the periphery of the box body 2 and the front cover 3. In this embodiment, the connecting module 42 is used to detachably connect the box body 2 and one of the left or right sides of the front cover 3.

[0013] The connecting module 42 has two second chains 421 respectively installed on the partial periphery of the box body 2 and the front cover 3, a second zipper head 422 and a second opening tube 423 installed on one of the second chains 421, and a second pin 424 installed on the other of the second chains 421. The usage of the connecting module 42 will be explained later.

[0014] The fixing mechanism 5 can be used to detachably fix a portion of the periphery of the case body 2 and the front cover 3. In this embodiment, the fixing mechanism 5 is located at a periphery of the case body 2 and the front cover 3, which is substantially the same as the connecting module 42. The fixing mechanism 5 includes two connecting members 51 located on the inner side of the case body 2 and the inner side of the front cover 3, respectively. These connecting members 51 are detachably connected to each other, thereby partially fixing the front cover 3 to the case body 2. In this embodiment, these connecting members 51 are Velcro that can be felted together.

[0015] Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4, when the front cover 3 is to be installed on the box body 2, the connector 51 located on the front cover 3 can be connected to the connector 51 located on the box body 2, and the front cover 3 can be used to cover the opening 21 of the box body 2.

[0016] Next, the zipper assembly 41 is assembled and connected so that the front cover 3 closes the opening 21 of the suitcase body 2. The first zipper head 412, located on one of the first chains 411, is pressed against the first end sleeve 413 on the same first chain 411, and the first pin 414, located on the other first chain 411, is inserted into the corresponding first zipper head 412 and first end sleeve 413. At this time, the first zipper head 412 changes from a first disengaged state, completely detached from the other first chain 411, to a first connected state, simultaneously connected to both first chains 411. Then, each first zipper head 412 is driven to move away from its corresponding first end sleeve 413 along the first chains 411, that is, towards the suitcase security lock 9. At this time, the first zipper heads 412 will drive the first chains 411 to gradually connect until the first zipper heads 412 come into contact with each other, thus completing the setup of the zipper group 41.

[0017] The first zipper pull 412 can be fastened into the luggage security lock 9 to protect the items inside the luggage from theft.

[0018] Finally, referring to Figures 4 and 5, the second zipper head 422, located on one of the second chains 421, is pressed against the second end sleeve 423 on the same second chain 421, and the second pin 424, located on the other second chain 421, is inserted into the second zipper head 422 and the second end sleeve 423. At this time, the second zipper head 422 changes from a second disengaged state, completely detached from the other second chain 421, to a second connected state, simultaneously connected to both second chains 421. Then, the second zipper head 422 is driven to move away from the second end sleeve 423 along the second chains 421, that is, towards the other end of the second chains 421. At this time, the second zipper heads 422 will drive the second chains 421 to gradually connect until the second zipper heads 422 move to the other end of the second chains 421, thus completing the setting of the connecting module 42. The connecting module 42 covers the first opening tube 413 and the first pin 414 to protect the zipper assembly 41 and enhance its appearance.

[0019] Referring to Figures 4, 5 and 6, when the front cover 3 is to be completely removed from the box body 2, the zipper assembly 41, the connecting module 42 and the fixing mechanism 5 can be operated in reverse.

[0020] When a user wants to open the front cover 3 of the suitcase, they can simply operate the first zipper heads 412 to move along the first chains 411, causing the first chains 411 to be partially connected. For example, the section of the first chains 411 covered by the connecting module 42 remains connected. At this time, the front cover 3 is still partially connected to the suitcase body 2, so the user can open the front cover 3 relative to the suitcase body 2. The structural design of the zipper assembly 41 provides the user with multiple ways to open the suitcase.

[0021] In other embodiments of this invention, the connecting members 51 may also adopt a structure design of interlocking male and female buckles, or an open zipper structure design. However, since there are many types of structures in which the connecting members 51 can be detachably connected, the implementation is not limited to the above-mentioned forms.

[0022] Referring to Figures 6 and 7, in this embodiment, the two ends of the first chains 411 are designed to overlap in a front-to-back manner. However, in another embodiment of this novel invention, the ends of the first chains 411 with the first open tail cylinders 413 may not overlap.

[0023] Referring to Figures 6 and 8, a second embodiment of this novel suitcase differs from the first embodiment only in the structural design of the connecting module 42. For ease of explanation, the following description will focus only on the differences between these embodiments.

[0024] In this second embodiment, the connecting module 42 does not include the second chain 421, the second zipper head 422, the second tail tube 423, or the second pin 424. The connecting module 42 has a male Velcro 425 and a female Velcro 426 respectively installed on the partial periphery of the case body 2 and the front cover 3. The male Velcro 425 and the female Velcro 426 are felted together by being able to be opened and closed, thereby partially connecting and fixing the front cover 3 to the case body 2.

[0025] In other embodiments of this invention, the structure of the connecting module 42 for detachably connecting the box body 2 and the front cover 3 can also be modified to adopt a male and female snap-fit ​​structure that can be interlocked. However, since there are many types of structures that can be used to detachably connect the box body 2 and the front cover 3 with the connecting module 42, the implementation is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0026] In summary, this novel suitcase, through the connecting mechanism 4, allows the front cover 3 to be completely separated from the suitcase body 2. This reduces the space occupied when the suitcase is unfolded, increases ease of use, and allows consumers to replace the front cover 3 and choose different combinations of the suitcase body 2 and the front cover 3. It also increases the ease of repair and reduces maintenance costs in case of friction or damage to the front cover 3. Furthermore, the detached front cover 3 can also be used as a bag or tote bag for convenient carrying during travel. Therefore, this novel suitcase is indeed a highly practical design and effectively achieves its intended purpose.

[0027] However, the above description is merely an embodiment of this invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of implementation of this invention. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of the patent application and the contents of the patent specification shall still fall within the scope of this invention.

[0028] 1: Box Unit 2:Box body 21: Opening 3: Front Cover 4: Connecting mechanism 41: Zipper Set 411: The First Chain 412: First zipper pull 413: First opening of the tailpipe 414: First pin 42: Connect Module 421: Second Chain 422: Second zipper pull 423: Second opening of the tailpipe 424: Second pin 425: Male Velcro 426: Mother Devil's Felt 5: Fixed mechanism 51: Connecting component 6: Storage space 7: Pull rod 8: Wheelset 9: Luggage safety lock

Claims

1. A suitcase, comprising: a case unit including a separate case body and a front cover, and a connecting mechanism for detachably fixing the front cover to the front side of the case body, the case body having a forward-facing opening, wherein when the front cover is fixed to the front side of the case body, the opening is covered by the front cover and cooperates with the case body to define an accommodating space.

2. The suitcase as described in claim 1, wherein, The connecting mechanism includes a zipper assembly installed between the case body and the front cover, which detachably connects and secures the case body to the periphery of the front cover.

3. The suitcase as described in claim 2, wherein, The zipper assembly has two first chains respectively mounted on the periphery of the case body and the front cover, and two first zipper heads respectively mounted on the first chains. Each first zipper head can be operated to change between a first connected state connected to the other first chain and a first disengaged state completely detached from the other first chain. When the first zipper head is in the first connected state, it can be operated to move along the first chains, thereby driving the first chains to connect or separate.

4. The suitcase as described in claim 3, wherein, The two ends of the first chain overlap at a distance.

5. The suitcase as described in claim 3, wherein, The zipper assembly also has two first opening tubes respectively installed at one end of one of the first chains, and two first pins respectively installed at the other end of the first chains. The first opening tubes are for the first zipper heads to abut against, and the first pins are for insertion into the first zipper heads and the first opening tubes.

6. The suitcase as described in claim 5, wherein, The connecting mechanism also includes a connecting module installed between the box body and the front cover, the connecting module detachably connecting and fixing a portion of the box body and the front cover peripheral area, and the connecting module shielding the first tail tubes and the first pins.

7. The suitcase as described in claim 6, wherein, The connecting module has two second chains respectively installed on the partial periphery of the box body and the front cover, and a second zipper head installed on one of the second chains. The second zipper head can be operated to change between a second connected state connected to the other second chain and a second disengaged state completely detached from the other second chain. When the second zipper head is in the second connected state, it can be operated to move along the second chains, thereby driving the second chains to connect or separate.

8. The suitcase as described in claim 7, wherein, The connecting module has a second open tail tube installed on one of the second chains and a second pin installed on the other of the second chains. The second open tail tube is for the second zipper head to abut against, and the second pin is for insertion into the second zipper head and the second open tail tube.

9. The suitcase as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The enclosure unit also includes a fixing mechanism installed between the enclosure body and the front cover and located within the accommodating space. The fixing mechanism detachably fixes a portion of the enclosure body and the front cover to a local periphery. The fixing mechanism includes two connecting members located on the inner side of the enclosure body and the inner side of the front cover, respectively. These connecting members are detachably connected to each other to partially fix the front cover to the enclosure body.

10. The suitcase as claimed in claim 6, wherein, The connecting module has a male Velcro and a female Velcro respectively installed on the partial periphery of the box body and the front cover. The male Velcro and the female Velcro can be flipped up and down to be felted together, thereby connecting and fixing the front cover to the box body.

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