ES2313269T3 - RIGID LUGGAGE WITH DECORATIVE INSERT OR PERSONALIZED IDENTIFICATION BY THE USER. - Google Patents

Abstract

The construction of a suitcase (1), trolley, trunk, beauty-case, brief-case or alike items of luggage with a substantially rigid material, is modified in a manner to permit to the traveller to render his own luggage immediately recognizable, even at a distance, from other substantially identical items of luggage, in a practically unalterable manner, unless being able to access the interior of the item.The item of luggage of rigid material, has at least one of its side panels (2) (or optionally both) with an area (3) recessed from the plane of the outer surface of the side panel and the recessed area has a stepped perimeter. A transparent screen (5) rests on a step surface of the stepped perimeter of the recessed area to define a confined space (6) over said recessed area for accommodating a flat distinctive object of recognition/personalization of one's own items among identical items of luggage. The transparent screen is held by fasteners that are releasable only from inside the item of luggage.

Description

Rigid luggage with decorative insert or custom identification by the user.

The present invention relates to luggage, and in particular to suitcases or similar items of luggage Made of a rigid material.

The considerably rigid suitcases, made for example molded plastic and often provided with wheels to be able to drag them effortlessly on flat pavements, they are popular luggage items that lend themselves better than others Baggage forms to automated handling and inspection non-intrusive in modern conveyors and tunnels of inspection of airports and stations.

Serial industrial production of this type of luggage items has resulted in the presence of countless outer-looking luggage items almost identical.

Such a demonstration phenomenon triples for most popular models of the main article manufacturers traveling due to its commercial success.

Pretty before it can be done with precision identification of the luggage itself by means of labeling of the carrier, in the often congested baggage claim areas at airports, stations, hotels, hallways and similar sites the problem arises primary for a passenger to recognize their own luggage among many other luggage items that look identical or similar as to induce confusion, as in the case of the limit situation in which suitcases of the same brand appear and of the same model and color.

To meet the need that stimulates ingenious initiatives of the passengers, who often hit tourist stickers or tie colored ribbons to the handles, the industry has tried to offer some solutions that could satisfy the need for the passenger to recognize immediately and remotely your own suitcase among other suitcases of similar appearance.

The document US-A-5,058,959 discloses a way to make the suitcase with wheels itself more easily recognized among other suitcases of similar appearance, said way consisting of applying a circular adhesive label to a hubcap of the circular face of the wheels of the suitcase and protect the label against abrasions with a cover transparent lace spring applied on the hubcap.

A series of labels comes with the suitcase stickers that are each printed with a different symbol, and the owner will select one of the symbols to apply to wheels after momentarily lifting the cover transparent, which will then be forced into place again so remain in stable coupling with the hubcap.

This type of identification is just recognizable at a distance of a few meters, also due consider the possibility of luggage items that move on the conveyor may not be oriented favorably so that the hubcaps are visible.

The selection of symbols is limited in the practice for the number of them that is supplied with the suitcase. In addition, the transparent plastic cover that is installed by spring snapping it can be accidentally detached and lost due to shocks and friction with parts of the conveyors or with Other luggage items.

The use of adhesives tourist-promotional is also subject to the recurring graphic similarity of adhesive labels, and use of colored ribbons may not be a very reliable solution due to the accidental or unintended disappearance of the tape during the numerous manipulations and transfers to which it is subjected the luggage.

It is known by the document US-A-5 718 336 an article of luggage comprising a custom insert.

For this need to customize their own luggage items and the precariousness and the possibility that there are exchanges or other improper manipulations incorrect during the hauling and transport of luggage, in avoidance of which known identification devices are ineffective, the present applicant has discovered an effective construction of a suitcase, a cart, a toiletry bag, a wallet or items of similar trips made of considerably rigid material that will allows the user to make their own luggage immediately recognizable, even at a considerable distance, among others considerably similar luggage items, in a way which is virtually unalterable either fortuitously or deliberately without access to the inside of the suitcase, of the trunk, of the cart or similar items of luggage that are supposed to They are locked.

In addition, the situation and the relatively broad dimensions of the customization object are such that they make it is easily recognizable practically unmistakable and even at a distance.

The suitcase or similar item of luggage from rigid material retains considerable integrity despite fact that basically and according to the present invention at least one of the two panels or semi-boxes (optionally both) has a zone which is lowered with respect to the plane of the external surface of the  side panel and has a stepped perimeter. A screen transparent rests on a perimeter step that acts as an area that constitutes a flange around the entire perimeter of the lowered area, thus defining a flat space of small height which is closed by the transparent screen placed on the lowered area A flat decorative / distinctive object is housed in the small flat space so as to make the own luggage is recognizable between luggage items even identical The transparent screen has fixing / release means which are exclusively accessible from within the article of luggage.

The object of identification can be a photographic print for example of the pet itself, of a relative or of a certain family site or panorama, of a flower, of a car or any other subject that the owner of the luggage can immediately recognize as your own so virtually unmistakable.

The identification object that remains contained in the tightly closed and externally protected space using the transparent screen can be a sheet of paper printed, a fabric or any other essentially flat support and relatively thin of a distinctive image. Its relatively very small thickness will be in practice hardly more than 0.5-1.0 mm, and said object will be generally cut tailored to the lowered area of the box. Having been the object of identification placed on the recessed area, we proceed to enclose it by fixing the transparent screen on it, causing it to rest on the perimeter step of the area recess that acts as an area that constitutes a flange, so such that the outer surface of the screen is practically at flush of the outer surface of the side panel of the article luggage.

The screen is safely retained by means of screws or elastic fasteners of split rod which through holes made in the recessed area or preferably on the surface of the step (flange) of support in which rests the perimeter of the transparent screen, which can be released only acting from inside the items of luggage supposedly locked. In this way the distinctive insert is retained in a way that virtually prevents tampering due to the impossibility of access inside a suitcase or other luggage item locked or locked.

The invention is defined in the attached claims.

Figure 1 is a three-dimensional view partially exploded of a suitcase made of a material considerably rigid according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a new section view transverse of the recessed part of a side panel of the suitcase;

Figures 3 and 4 show alternative ways to hold the transparent screen.

For illustrative purposes only they are described as below different embodiments of this invention by making reference to an implementation in the form of a common rigid suitcase, if either the new construction of this invention is applicable with utility to any item of luggage that is considerably rigid or in any case have at least one box or panel side made or made from a material considerably rigid, such as a cart, a toiletry bag, a wallet, a trunk and similar luggage items.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the Suitcase 1 can be commonly manufactured based on forming the two Semi-sheets in respective molds (by injection or pressing) using a moldable plastic, which will commonly include reinforcing fibers, and optionally incorporating inserts stiffeners to increase the rigidity of the molded suitcase.

At least one of the two side panels 2 of the suitcase is produced in a mold in a special way in such a way that a recessed area is generated on the outer surface of panel 2 3 with a stepped perimeter such that it defines a support perimeter surface 4 which constitutes an area that it constitutes a perimeter flange on which a 5 transparent screen with its outer surface considerably  coplanar or slightly lower than the surface plane of the panel lateral 2, defining in the middle a space of enclosure 6 that is considerably protected by the transparent screen 5.

In the case of a transparent screen 5 of considerably rigid material, the closure of the space of enclosure 6 against external agents (rain, dust, etc.) It can be increased by installing an elastomeric gasket of tightness made for example based on a silicone rubber or a similar material, being able to interpose a flat joint and thin sealing on the support surface 4 of the step perimeter of the lowered area 3 of the side panel of the suitcase. Plus preferably, an annular elastomeric gasket 15 made for example of a silicone rubber can be installed in a seat destalonado that can be defined in the vertical wall of the perimeter step so that said joint is applied against the perimeter edge of screen 5 and stay there tight in between to establish an effective seal.

Alternatively, the transparent screen 5 it can be done so that it is already provided with a cord perimeter of elastomer on the support surface of the surface of the perimeter step 4, by a molding technique special according to which we proceed to mold in the same mold and in single operation molding materials of different elasto-mechanical characteristics.

In any case, once the fixation is completed of the transparent screen 5, the outer surface of the screen 5 is coplanar or it is a little lower with respect to the outer surface of the side panel 2, around the area Reduced 3, 4.

Transparent panel fasteners 5 not can be released unless it is intervened from within the suitcase, that is unless it acts on the internal surface of the side panel 2. This can be established in different ways but functionally equivalent.

In the embodiment shown in the Figures 1 and 2, the clamping of the transparent screen 5 with the possibility releasing it is done with a plurality of screws that have a smooth head 7 without settling or incision and a part that it constitutes a neck 8 and joins the head 7 to the threaded rod 9, said neck having a non-circular cross section, by example a polygonal cross section (square). In the part end that comes out of the hole that crosses the thickness of the panel molded 2 of the suitcase tighten nut 10.

The rotation of the threaded rod 9 during the tightening of nut 10 is impeded by the fact that the part 8 which constitutes a polygonal cross-section neck (in any case of non-circular cross section) fits in a hole of similar cross section that crosses the thickness residual of the transparent screen 5 (that is, through the bottom of the circular cavity 11 housing the smooth circular head 7 of the screw).

The transparent panel 5 can be made of any transparent plastic material that has enough mechanical resistance characteristics, such as for example polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polycarbonate or plexiglass transparent or other plastic materials with similar characteristics of transparency and mechanical resistance. Its thickness It is generally between 0.5 mm and 2.0 mm, although it can be even greater, depending on the application and the material of which this transparent panel is made.

The fastening screws can be made of stainless steel, bronze or other metallic material, if any provided with a surface coating (such as a chromed coating) or of a sufficiently stiff material (such such as nylon or a machinable aggregate such as bakelite and similar composite materials). Non-preferred materials are preferred. metallic so as not to cause interference in the systems of non-intrusive baggage inspection.

They are illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 alternative clamping devices used for clamping of the transparent screen 5 that can be released only acting from the inside surface of the box or panel side of the suitcase or similar items of luggage.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, the function of the plurality of fastening screws of the example shown in Figures 1 and 2 it is played by a plurality of elastic cleft stem fasteners that also have a smooth head 11 that lacks any indentation of tightening and fits in a cavity geometrically adapted to it and practiced in the transparent screen 5. The stem is split like this divided into two parts 12 and 13 that constitute a fork elastic and end in a clamping tooth 14. Each bra Elastic cleft rod is forced to pass through a hole through the bottom of the circular cavity of the screen 5 that houses the smooth head of the pin and through the hole 16 that crosses the thickness of the side panel 2 of the suitcase, until you have completely passed the endings made in the form of teeth of the two parts of the stem cleft, thus causing an elastic relaxation of the fork. The clamping teeth 14 establish a firm anchorage of the screen 5 in which it cannot be operated from outside and that can be released only by acting from within luggage items flexing the two teeth towards each other for holding the stem made in the form of an elastic fork and pushing them through the aligned holes.

An additional one is shown in Figure 4 alternative embodiment according to which already in the molding operation screen 5 is provided with elastic clenched stem fasteners that form a single piece with it and are forced to move on to through corresponding holes 16 that cross the thickness of the side panel 2.

In the embodiment of Figure 4 also shows an additional alternative way of establishing a suitable sealing of the enclosure space 6 that is defined by fix the transparent screen 5 on the recessed area 3 of the panel lateral 2. According to this alternative embodiment, on the surface perimeter of panel 5 a groove 17 is present to accommodate and retain in it an annular seal (seal toric) made of a superelastic material (elastomer), which at be the screen forced to adopt its holding position will remain applied elastically against the vertical wall of the step perimeter 4, whereby said seal will remain like this tight and thus ensure adequate sealing of the 6 space in front of atmospheric agents.

As it will be obvious to the reader, the means of transparent screen holder 5 that hold it in such a way that it can be released only by acting from the inside of the suitcase can also be executed in other ways and according to other provisions.

In addition to fully achieving the objectives indicated and to overcome the limitations, disadvantages and defects of the known devices of luggage identification / customization, the present invention offers the possibility that the passenger can modify according to the customization image is necessary at any time Applied to your own luggage items.

The device of the present invention is structurally robust, and if the outer surface of the transparent screen get damaged or eroded by a cause fortuitous or because of normal wear and tear, when selling The suitcase or other item of luggage can be included as replacement accessories one or more replacement screens, or there could be the possibility of buying a new one as a spare display through the same retail channels of travel goods.

In order to limit surface abrasion exterior of the transparent screen by rubbing against a flat surface, smooth head and no indentations of the screws or fastening pins can be convex and can deliberately having its central cusp arranged so that protrudes slightly above the surface plane outer side panel of luggage item. the same result can also be obtained by designing the depth and relative thicknesses such that when the screen is installed transparent its outer surface is slightly lower than the plane of the outer surface of the surrounding part of the panel side of the luggage item.

Naturally, the device of the present invention can serve to decorate the luggage itself.

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References cited in the description This list of references cited by the applicant is provides only as information for the reader and not It is part of the European patent document. Although it has proceeded with great care when compiling the references, you cannot exclude the possibility that errors have occurred or omissions, and the EPO disclaims all liability to this respect. Patent documents cited in the description

US 5058959 A [0007]

US 5718336 A [0012]

Claims (7)

1. Baggage item that has at least: a relatively rigid side panel (2), where said side panel (2) has a recessed area (3) with respect to the plane of the outer surface of the panel surrounding the area lowered, whose perimeter wall has at least one step intermediate; a transparent screen (5) that rests on said step of the perimeter wall of said recessed area defining an enclosure space (6) on said recessed area (3) to accommodate a flat distinctive object therein; means for holding said transparent screen so that it is likely to be released from the inside of the article. 2. Baggage item according to claim 1, further comprising a joint (15) between said screen transparent (5) and side panel (2) to close tightly said enclosure space (6) in front of the agents external 3. Baggage item according to claim 1, where said fastening means are screws having a smooth non-indented head (7) that is housed, so that no it can be rotated, in a cavity that has a shape adapted to the same and that pass through the through hole of said screen transparent (5). 4. Baggage article according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means are elastic fasteners of cleft stem that have a smooth, non-indented head (11) and endings in the form of clamping teeth that are passed to through holes (16) aligned through the screen transparent (5) and through the thickness of the side panel (2) up to hook onto the inner surface of the side panel (2). 5. Baggage item according to claim 4, where said fastener means are protruding from the screen transparent (5) that form a single piece with it and they constitute elastic cleft stems. 6. Baggage item according to claim 2, where said seal is an elastomer o-ring that remains retained in a circular grooved wall bead vertical of the perimeter step of said recessed area, remaining said o-ring elastically applied against the edge of said transparent screen (5) when applied to the latter under pressure against the perimeter step and fix it by means of said support that allows Release it from inside the suitcase. 7. Baggage article according to claim 2, where said O-ring is retained in a groove circular (17) defined on the perimeter surface of said screen transparent (5) to be elastically applied against the wall vertical of the perimeter step to force fit and hold the transparent screen (5) on the step.