Storage device with three-dimensional protrusions

In a storage device, in particular a piece of baggage or a wallet, having at least one outer surface, it is provided that an additional outer layer is provided on the outer surface, said layer having at least one three-dimensional protrusion formed therein by a thermoforming process and protruding from the outer surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a storage device with three-dimensional protrusions according to the precharacterizing part of claim1.

Description of the Prior Art

Storage devices exist, in particular suitcases with three-dimensional protrusions. With hard-shell cases, for example, these three-dimensional protrusions are provided in the mold during the production.

However, there is a need for a simple and economic way of producing such three-dimensional protrusions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple and economic manner for applying three-dimensional protrusions on the outer surface of storage devices. The object is achieved with the features of claim1.

The invention advantageously provides that an additional layer is arranged on the outer surface, said additional layer comprising at least one three-dimensional protrusion formed therein by a thermoforming process and protruding from the outer surface.

The present invention has the advantage that the three-dimensional protrusions can be made in a simple and economic manner, while the shape of the three-dimensional protrusions can be varied as desired.

The at least one three-dimensional protrusion may be rib-shaped.

The at least one rib-shaped protrusion can be hollow.

The outer layer may be made of plastic material, leather or a textile material.

The outer layer may be applied onto the outer surface by means of an adhesive layer. The three-dimensional protrusion can have a triangular cross section.

At least one raised portion can be provided on the outer surface, which is conformed to the shape of the at least one three-dimensional protrusion, the outer layer being arranged on the outer surface in such a manner that the at least one three-dimensional raised portion arranged on the outer surface is provided beneath the at least three-dimensional protrusion of the outer layer.

This has the advantage that the three-dimensional protrusion is not hollow and can therefore not be dented when forces are applied thereto.

In this manner, the three-dimensional protrusion retains its contour for a long time.

The at least one three-dimensional raised portion arranged on the outer surface may comprise two stacked and interconnected layers.

The at least two layers may be printed onto the outer surface. This has the advantage that the layers can be applied onto the outer surface in a simple and economic manner. Further, the width and the shape of the layers can vary so that the shape of the three-dimensional raised portion is variable. In this manner, the shape of the three-dimensional raised portion can easily be adapted to the three-dimensional protrusion of the outer layer.

The layers can be produced using a 3D printing method or a screen printing method.

Further, a method for producing a piece of baggage can be provided, which comprises the following steps:producing a piece of baggage having at least one outer surface,producing at least one additional outer layer,applying rib-shaped protrusions into the additional outer layer by means of thermoforming,fastening, preferably by adhesion, the outer layer on the at least one outer surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1shows a storage device formed as a suitcase6. Said suitcase6is a piece of baggage. Suitcase6comprises at least one outer surface12, wherein said outer surface is provided with an additional outer layer2having three-dimensional protrusions10applied by means of a thermoforming process and extending outward relative to said outer surface12. The three-dimensional protrusions10are rib-shaped. The design of the three-dimensional protrusions10is illustrated in greater detail inFIGS. 4-8. The suitcase can be a hard-shell suitcase made of aluminum or plastic (e.g. PE).

FIG. 2shows a storage device formed as a bag8′. Said bag8′ comprises at least one outer surface14′ and one outer surface16′ which form the front side and respectively rear side of bag8′. On at least one of said outer surfaces14′,16′, projecting three-dimensional protrusions10′ are arranged. These three-dimensional protrusions10′ are applied into an outer layer by means of a thermoforming process, said outer layer being arranged on the outer surface14′,16′. Said three-dimensional protrusions10′ are rib-shaped. On a given outer surface14′ and respectively16′, a plurality of such three-dimensional protrusions10′ are arranged, the protrusions10′ running parallel next to each other. InFIG. 3, bag8′ is shown in lateral view. The three-dimensional protrusions are only shown schematically inFIGS. 1-3.

It can be provided that the storage devices shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and 3, i.e. suitcase6and bag8′, comprise three-dimensional protrusions10and10′ only on one of their outer surfaces12,14′. Alternatively, suitcase6and bag8′ can comprise three-dimensional protrusions10and10′ also on two or more of their outer surfaces12,14′,16′.

Preferably, the respective outer surfaces12,14′,16′ are provided with a plurality of three-dimensional protrusions10and10′, wherein these three-dimensional protrusions10and10′ are preferably rib-shaped, and the rib-shaped three-dimensional protrusions10and10′ are preferably arranged parallel next to each other and at equal distances to each other. The three-dimensional protrusions10and10′ can also be arranged on the outer surface of a purse.

The design of the three-dimensional protrusions10and10′ of the storage device inFIGS. 1-3is illustrated in more detail inFIGS. 4-8.

FIG. 4illustrates three-dimensional protrusions10. The three-dimensional protrusions10have been formed in an outer layer2by means of a thermoforming process. Three-dimensional means that the protrusions have a width B, a length L and a height H. The outer layer2is applied onto the respective outer surfaces12,14,16by means of an adhesive layer4. Owing to the thermoforming process, the shape of the three-dimensional protrusions formed in the outer layer2can be varied as desired. InFIG. 4, three-dimensional rib-shaped protrusions10are illustrated that have a triangular cross-sectional shape. Thus, the height of the three-dimensional protrusion changes across the width B. The three-dimensional protrusion10tapers conically. The three-dimensional protrusions10illustrated are hollow. The outer layer2may be made of plastic material, leather or a textile tissue.

However, the three-dimensional protrusions10may as well have any other shape.FIG. 5shows three-dimensional protrusions rounded at the tip.

InFIG. 6, the three-dimensional protrusions10ofFIG. 4are illustrated in lateral view. The three-dimensional protrusion10of the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 6has a constant height H along the length L.

FIG. 7illustrates an embodiment in which the three-dimensional protrusion10varies in height H along the length L. In the edge portions, the height H decreases continuously and runs out towards the end regions.

FIG. 8illustrates another alternative embodiment. In this case, raised portions11are arranged on the outer surface12,14,16, which portions are adapted to the shape of the at least one three-dimensional protrusion10, the outer layer2being arranged on the outer surface12,14,16such that the at least one raised portion11arranged on the outer surface12,14,16is arranged beneath the at least one three-dimensional protrusion10of the outer layer2.

The three-dimensional raised portions11provided on the outer surface12,14,16each comprise at least two stacked and joined layers.

The layers31-35, stacked upon and joined with each other, may be formed on the outer surface14,16,12by means of a printing process, for example. In this regard, a first layer31is printed on the outer surface12,14,16. This first layer31forms the lowermost layer and is the layer adjacent the outer surface12,14,16. Thereafter, a second layer32is printed on the first layer31. The third layer33is then printed on the second layer32, the fourth layer34is printed on the third layer33, and the fifth layer35is printed on the fourth layer34. In the embodiment illustrated, the fifth layer35is the topmost layer and is the layer farthest from the outer surface12,14,16. The three-dimensional raised part may as well comprise another number of layers.

Due to the fact that the layers31-35are printed on the outer surface12,14,16and the three-dimensional raised portions11are formed by a plurality of layers31-35, the three-dimensional raised portion can have any desired shape. In this manner, the shape and the design of the three-dimensional raised portion can be changed as desired in a production process and be adapted to the three-dimensional protrusion10.

In the embodiment ofFIG. 8, five layers are arranged one upon the other, respectively. The layers31-35vary in their width from B31to B35. The width B31of the layer31that is provided in contact with the outer surface12,14,16is the largest width. The width B35of the layer35farthest from the outer surface12,14,16is the smallest width. The widths B32-B34of the layers32-35, situated between the layers31and35, vary in width between the widths B31and B35so that the three-dimensional raised portions11tape conically and are adapted to the three-dimensional protrusions10of the outer layer2. Further, the lengths L of the layers and the thicknesses D of the layers can vary. The outer layer2is applied on the outer surface12,14,16and on the three-dimensional raised portions11by means of an adhesive layer4.

With reference toFIG. 9, it will be explained how the three-dimensional protrusions10are formed in the outer layer2by means of a thermoforming process. A web-shaped fabric22can be unwound from a roll and be heated in a heating oven24. After having been heated in the heating oven24, the web-shaped layer22is introduced into a forming means26in which the three-dimensional protrusions, in particular the rib-shaped three-dimensional protrusions, are formed in the web-shaped layer. This is effected by means of a pressing means having the shape of the three-dimensional protrusions. Downstream of the forming means26, the web-shaped layer is severed into individual segments in a punching means28so that the outer layer2is formed. The outer layer2has the outer dimensions of the outer surfaces12,14,16.

As an alternative, it is also possible to use plate material in a thermoforming process instead of the web-shaped layer, the plate material already having the dimensions of the respective outer surface12,14,16. This plate material is heated and formed.

Thus, in a method for producing a piece of baggage, the following steps are carried out:producing a piece of baggage having at least one outer surface,producing at least one additional outer layer2,forming rib-shaped protrusions10in the additional outer layer2by means of thermoforming, andfixing, preferably adhering, the outer layer on the at least one outer surface.