LUGGAGE CASE AND CASE BODY STRUCTURE THEREOF

A case body structure of a luggage case includes a case top member, a case bottom member and a sidewall member that are independent components. Each of the case top member and the case bottom member is a hard structure. The sidewall member includes a wall plate and a cover plate. The wall plate includes a connecting section, two installation sections, and an installation breach defined and formed by the two installation sections. The cover plate is disposed correspondingly to the installation breach. The cover plate and the wall plate define a hollow cavity. The case top member and the case bottom member are respectively disposed at two ends of the sidewall member to enclose the hollow cavity. The cover plate selectively opens relative to the wall plate to allow an object to be placed into or taken out of the hollow cavity.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a luggage case and a case body structure thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

To conveniently carry various objects for travelling or house moving, luggage cases are some of the first choices for loading objects. The most eye-catching part of a luggage case is the case body of the luggage case, which is much targeted by many consumers when a luggage case is chosen and purchased. Some main factors that consumers consider include the size and the outer appearance of the case body. For example, current luggage case structures are as disclosed by the Taiwan Patent Nos. 404193 and No. M332408, the China Patent No. 202456880, the U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014/0224608, and the European Patent No. 2873342A1, and have case bodies that are categorized based on the type of materials used. Current case body structures are chiefly categorized into two types—made of a textile fabric, and made of a plastic material in a formed integral.

Luggage cases made of textile fabrics eliminate costs for developing and manufacturing molds, with however large amounts of manpower and textile machinery required as a trade-off, leading to overall costs that cannot be lowered due to manpower costs and disfavored mass production. Further, for luggage cases implemented by plastic materials, although they can be mass produced once large sums of mold costs are invested at the beginning of the development and manufacturing process, the molds made are strictly limited to the use of one single product. In the event of slow sales in the manufactured luggage cases, these molds become unsuitable and need to be discarded. In addition, the manufacturer needs to invest another round of mold costs needed for a launching another product. The cycle above may lead to not only increased costs for the manufacturer but also waste in resources.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to solve issues of a conventional luggage case manufacturing method.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a case body structure of a luggage case. The case body structure of a luggage case includes a case top member, a case bottom member and a sidewall member. Each of the case top member and the case bottom member is a hard structure. The sidewall member includes a wall plate and a cover plate. The wall plate includes a connecting section, two installation sections respectively integrally extended from two opposite lateral sides of the connecting section and perpendicular to the connecting section, and an installation breach defined and formed by the two installation sections. The cover plate corresponds to the installation breach, and is disposed on the two installation sections. The cover plate and the wall plate define a hollow cavity. Each of the case top member, the case bottom member and the sidewall member is an independent component. The case top member and the case bottom member are respectively disposed at two ends of the sidewall member to enclose the hollow cavity. The cover plate selectively opens relative to the wall plate to allow an object to be placed into or taken out of the hollow cavity.

In one embodiment, the width of the connecting section of the wall plate is greater than the width of each of the installation sections, and the width of the installation breach is smaller than or equal to the width of the connecting section and greater than the width of each of the installation sections.

In one embodiment, the wall plate includes a support element and a flexible outer layer clad on the support element. The flexible outer layer is assembled to the case top member and the case bottom member. Two ends of the support element are respectively abutted against the case top member and the case bottom member to cause the flexible outer layer to be tightened relative to the support element.

In one embodiment, each of the case top member and the case bottom member includes an assembly groove for abutting and connecting with the sidewall member.

In one embodiment, the flexible outer layer is selected from the group consisting of textile, nylon, leather and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

In one embodiment, the wall plate is a formed integral made of a hard plastic material.

In one embodiment, the case body structure further includes at least two suture shutters. Each of the suture shutters is disposed at a seam of the case top member and the sidewall member or the case bottom member and the sidewall member, and includes a connecting portion being deep into the seam and a shutter portion integrally extended from the connecting portion and protruding out of the seam.

The present invention further provides a luggage case, which applies one of the case body structures of the foregoing embodiments. The luggage case further includes a pull handle and a pull handle positioning module. The pull handle is assembled to the case body structure. The pull handle positioning module includes a support sleeve disposed on the case top member and causing the pull handle to be inserted therein and to be able to perform a back-and-forth movement, and a limiting element disposed in the support sleeve and limiting or allowing the pull handle to perform the back-and-forth movement relative to the support sleeve.

In one embodiment, the case top member includes an installation opening in communication with the hollow cavity and allowing the support sleeve to be correspondingly disposed therein. The support sleeve is further located in the hollow cavity.

In one embodiment, the luggage case further includes a plurality of rollers disposed on the case bottom member. The case body member includes a plurality of assembly holes, which are in a quantity corresponding to the rollers and are respectively assembled with the rollers.

In one embodiment, the pull handle includes an outer tube assembled to the case body structure, and an inner tube inserted in the outer tube and capable of stretching and retracting relative to the outer tube.

Through the above technical solution, the present invention provides following features as opposed to the prior art.

The Applicant of the application considers that the size as well as the outer appearance and design are determined by the size and pattern of the case body structure instead of the design of a top surface or a bottom surface of the case body structure. Therefore, in the present invention, the case body structure is formed by the case top member, the case bottom member and the sidewall member that are independent components. During development and manufacturing, only one-time molds need to be made for the case top member and the case bottom member and may serve as universal parts. Thus, when a new product is developed, only the mold for the sidewall member needs to be manufactured, hence reducing unnecessary waste and development and manufacturing costs as well as enhancing market competitiveness.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Details and technical contents of the present invention are given with the accompanying drawings below.

Referring toFIG. 1toFIG. 3, the present invention provides a luggage case and a case body structure thereof. The case body structure1includes a case top member11, a case bottom member12and a sidewall member13. Each of the case top member11, the case bottom member12and the sidewall member13is an independent component. That is, the case top member11, the case bottom member12and the sidewall member13are individually manufactured, and are not a formed integral. Further, each of the case top member11and the case bottom member12is a hard structure, which may be made of a plastic material such as polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The case top member11or the case bottom member12may be a formed integral made by machinery processing. The case top member11and the case bottom member12may be corresponding structure designs based on actual requirements to bear an expect load weight, so as to prevent the case top member11or the case bottom member12from deformation during a weight bearing process.

The sidewall member13includes a wall plate14and a cover plate15. The wall plate14in overall appears substantially U-shaped, as shown inFIG. 4. The wall plate14includes a connecting section141, two installation sections142respectively integrally extended from two opposite lateral sides of the connecting section141and perpendicular to the connecting section141, and an installation breach143defined and formed by the two installation sections142. Further, the wall plate14may be designed with at least one recessed pattern or protruding block according to esthetic requirements. The cover plate15corresponds to the installation breach143and is disposed on the two installation sections142, and the cover plate15and the wall plate14define a hollow cavity16when assembled. Two ends of the hollow cavity16are not shielded and appear as a through formed. That is, when not assembled to the case top member11and the case bottom member12, the sidewall member13appears as a through form with two open ends. To assemble the case body structure1, the case top member11and the case bottom member12are respectively disposed correspondingly to the two open ends of the sidewall member13to enclose the two ends of the sidewall member13, thereby completing the case body structure1of the present invention. Further, the cover plate15is assembled to the wall plate14by a zipper (not shown), such that the cover plate15may selectively open or close relative to the wall plate14. When the cover plate15opens relative to the wall plate14, an object may be placed into or taken out of the hollow cavity16.

Referring toFIG. 4, in the present invention, the width of the connecting section141of the wall plate14is greater than the width of each of the installation sections142, and the width of the installation breach143is smaller than or equal to the width of the connecting section141but greater than the width of each of the installation sections142. For example but not limited to, the wall plate14and the cover plate15may be implemented by a hard plastic material. In one embodiment, the wall plate14includes a support element144and a flexible outer layer145clad on the support element144. The flexible outer layer145has an appropriate flexibility to be appropriate stretched, and is selected from the group consisting of textile, nylon, leather and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Further, the flexible outer layer145is assembled to the case top member11and the case bottom member12, and a remaining length of the part of the flexible outer layer145after the flexible outer layer145is assembled to the case top member11and the case bottom member12is smaller than the length of the support element144. When two ends of the support element144are respectively abutted against the case top member11and the case bottom member12, the case top member11and the case bottom member12are spaced by a distance, owing to which the flexible outer layer145is caused be tightened relative to the support element144. Further, when the flexible outer layer145is tightened, the case top member11and the case bottom member12, under the effect of the flexible outer layer145, are more stably pressed upon the support element144, such that better assembly effects among the components of the case body structure1are achieved.

In the present invention, since the sidewall member13is not a formed integral with the case top member11or the case bottom member12, a manufacturer or a consumer may select different patterns or materials for the sidewall member13according to designs or preferences. Further, with the present invention, a manufacturer is required to only replace the mold of the sidewall member13when launching a new product, hence innovating a conventional implementation of replacing an entire set of molds for a new product when a manufacturer launches the new product.

In one embodiment, respective ends of the case top member11and the case bottom member12predetermined to be assembled to the sidewall member13are provided with assembly grooves111and121for abutting and connecting with the sidewall member13. The assembly grooves111and121may further surround the case top member11or the case bottom member12. However, in an assembly process, the sidewall member13may be assembled to the case top member11and the case bottom member12by aligning with the assembly grooves111and121. As such, the sidewall member13is substantially positioned to effectively support the case top member11and the case bottom member12.

Referring toFIG. 5, in the present invention, the fastening between the case top member11or the case bottom member12and the sidewall member13may be achieved through a stitching method. As known from foregoing embodiments, only after the flexible outer layer145is assembled to the case top member11and the case bottom member12, the sidewall member13is then assembled to the support element144. The flexible outer layer145may be assembled to the case top member11and the case bottom member12through stitching (as shown by the stitching position20inFIG. 5), and the assembly of the support element144may then be performed after the flexible outer layer145is completely assembled.

Referring toFIG. 6, in another embodiment, the wall plate14may be implemented by a hard structure, and after the case top member11or the case bottom member12is assembled to the sidewall member13, an overlapping region of the two components assembled to each other may be stitched to produce a securing effect. To more substantially implement stitching, the thickness of the sidewall member13of the present invention is selected to meet an appropriate support strength and to be within a range that can be stitched. Further, the stitching position of the case top member11or the case bottom member12may also be correspondingly designed to facilitate the implementation of stitching. Further, to optimize the esthetic appearance after the stitching process, the case body structure1further includes at least two suture shutters17. Each of the suture shutters17is disposed at a seam21of the case top member11and the sidewall member13or the case bottom member12and the sidewall member13, and includes a connecting portion171being deep into the seam21and a shutter portion172integrally extended from the connecting portion171and protruding out of the seam21. During the implementation of the stitching process, while the case top member11(or the case bottom member12) is aligned with the sidewall member13, the connecting portion171of the suture shutter17is correspondingly placed at the seam21between the case top member11(or the case bottom member12) and the sidewall member13, such that the shutter portion172protrudes from the seam21and is revealed at an outer side of the sidewall member13. The case top member11(or the case bottom member12), the connecting portion171of the suture shutter17and the sidewall member13are stitched to secure the three through stitching. Then, the shutter portion172is used to cover the stitched positions to polish the overall appearance of the case body structure1. Further, in the present invention, each of the suture shutters17is a formed integral made from a soft plastic material. Further, the technical solution of implementing the suture shutters17may be applied to the embodiment of the wall plate14including the support element144and the flexible outer layer145, with associated details shown inFIG. 7.

Again referring toFIG. 1toFIG. 3, in addition to the foregoing case body structure1, the present invention further discloses a luggage case9. The luggage case9applies the case body structure1disclosed in the abovementioned embodiments, and further includes a pull handle3and a pull handle positioning module4. The pull handle3is assembled with the case body structure1. The pull handle positioning module4includes a support sleeve41disposed on the case top member11, and a limiting element (not shown) disposed in the support sleeve41. The support sleeve41may be installed at an outer edge of the case top member11or inside the hollow cavity16. Further, the case top member11may include an installation opening113in communication with the hollow cavity16and allowing the support sleeve41to be correspondingly disposed at an inner edge of the case top member11. Further, the support sleeve41allows the pull handle3to be installed therein, such that the pull handle3is capable of performing a back-and-forth movement relative to the support sleeve41, i.e., the pull handle3is capable of performing drawing and pulling operations relative to the support sleeve41. Further, apart from being disposed in the support sleeve41, the limiting element further allows the pull handle3to be inserted and disposed therein, or limits or allows the pull handle3to perform the back-and-forth movement relative to the support sleeve41. In addition, the luggage case9further includes a plurality of rollers5, which are disposed at an outer edge of the case bottom member12and distributed at four corners of the case bottom member12. Further, the case bottom member12includes a plurality of assembly holes123respectively corresponding to the rollers5and respectively assembled to the rollers5.

In one embodiment, the pull handle3further includes an outer tube31assembled to the case body structure1, and an inner tube32inserted in the outer tube31and capable of stretching and retracting relative to the outer tube31. In other words, when the pull handle3is pulled and drawn by a consumer, the inner tube32slides relative to the outer tube31to protrude out of the outer tube31for the consumer to push or pull. Then, after releasing the limitation of the limiting element on the pull handle3, the consumer may apply a force to push the inner tube32towards the outer tube31to retract the inner tube32back into the outer tube31.