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 traveling 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.

In one embodiment, each of the plurality of rollers includes a roller frame, two roller plates assembled with the roller frame, and a mounting post connected to the roller frame and threaded through one of the plurality of assembly holes for mounting on the case bottom member.

In one embodiment, each of the mounting posts is formed with an assembly groove, the case bottom member includes a plurality of sockets respectively forming the assembly holes, and a plurality of quick disassemble components respectively corresponding to the plurality of sockets and assembled with the mounting post of one of the plurality of rollers. Each of the plurality of quick disassemble components includes a spring and a clamping plate connected to the spring, each of the clamping plates includes a through hole for providing one of the mounting posts to thread through, one end of each of the springs is pushed on one of the plurality of sockets, and another end of the springs is pushed against one of the clamping plates correspondingly disposed. Each of the clamping plates has a clamping state in which one of the springs pushes to cause an edge of the through hole to be placed in the assembly groove to prohibit one of the plurality of rollers from detaching from the case bottom member, and a release state in which an external force pushes to compress one of the springs to disengage the clamping plate from the assembly groove so that one of the rollers is capable of detaching from the case bottom member.

In one embodiment, each of the clamping plates comprises a connecting plate formed with the through hole and connected to one of the springs, and an operating rod connected to the connecting plate.

In one embodiment, each of the plurality of sockets includes a rail that provides one of the clamping plates to be disposed and the clamping plate is able to slide in the rail.

In one embodiment, each of the plurality of sockets includes a block plate disposed at an end of the rail adjacent to the sidewall member and providing for one end of one of the springs to abut against.

In one embodiment, each of the plurality of sockets includes a spring accommodating groove disposed at an end of the rail adjacent to the block plate and an operating rod accommodating groove disposed at an end of the rail not provided with the spring accommodating groove.

In one embodiment, the case bottom member comprises a plurality of covers disposed correspondingly to the plurality of sockets to shield one of the rails.

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 toFIGS. 1, 2, and 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. Please refer toFIG. 5andFIG. 7, 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 appropriately 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 position20of 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 one of the suture shutters17is 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 one of the suture shutters17and the sidewall member13are stitched to secure the three through stitching. Then, the shutter portion172is used to cover the stitching position20to 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 two 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 toFIGS. 1, 2, and 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 above-mentioned 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 member11and an opening114provided for the pull handle3to pass through. 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 plurality of rollers5and respectively assembled to the rollers5. Referring toFIGS. 8, 9, and 10together, each of the plurality of rollers5comprises a roller frame51, two roller plates52assembled with the roller frame51, and a mounting post53connected to the roller frame51and threaded through one of the plurality of assembly holes123for mounting on the case bottom member12. Further, each of the mounting posts53is formed with an assembly groove531. The case bottom member12includes a plurality of sockets124respectively forming the plurality of assembly holes123and a plurality of quick disassemble components125respectively corresponding to the plurality of sockets124and assembled with the mounting post53of one of the plurality of rollers5. Further, each of the plurality of quick disassemble components125includes a spring126and a clamping plate127connected to the spring126. The extending direction of each of the clamping plates127is perpendicular to the extending direction of each of the plurality of assembly holes123. Each of the clamping plates127includes a through hole128for providing one of the mounting posts53to thread through. That is, the through hole128of each of the clamping plates127is communicated with the assembly hole123. On the other hand, one end of each of the springs126is pushed on one of the plurality of sockets124, and another end of the springs126is pushed against one of the clamping plates127correspondingly disposed. Each of the springs126normally pushes against one of the clamping plates127, such that the clamping plate127is located at an edge of the through hole128to interfere with the assembly hole123. Therefore, each of the clamping plates127has a clamping state in which one of the springs126pushes to cause the edge of the through hole128to be placed in the assembly groove531to prohibit one of the plurality of rollers5from detaching from the case bottom member12, and a release state in which an external force pushes to compress one of the springs126to disengage the clamping plate127from the assembly groove531so that one of the plurality of rollers5is capable of detaching from the case bottom member12. Specifically, when one of the plurality of rollers5is inserted into one of the assembly holes123, one of the clamping plates127to be assembled is first brought into the release state, so that the mounting post53of the roller5is able to pass through one of the assembly holes123. Thus, when the roller5is assembled, the assembly groove531of the mounting post53on the roller5will be horizontally disposed with the clamping plate127. When the clamping plate127is switched from the released state to the clamping state, the clamping plate127is located at the edge of the through hole128and enters the assembly groove531, so that the roller5cannot be separated from the case bottom member12. Moreover, each of the clamping plates127of the present invention prohibits the separation of one of the plurality of rollers5from the case bottom member12, but does not restrict the rotation of the roller5relative to the case bottom member12. It is because that each of the clamping plates127is connected to the mounting post53of one of the plurality of rollers5in a clamping manner, and each of the clamping plates127slides along the assembly groove531when one of the plurality of rollers5rotates. Furthermore, when one of the plurality of rollers5is damaged and needed to be replaced, the roller5can be separated from the case bottom member12simply by switching the corresponding holding pieces127into the released state again. In addition to the foregoing, the present invention allows the plurality of rollers5to be quickly assembled while manufacturing the luggage case9. Besides, in an embodiment, the through hole128of each of the clamping pieces127further includes a square hole portion187and a semicircular hole portion188connected to the square hole portion187. The shape of the semicircular hole portion188is substantially corresponding to the shape of the mounting post53at the assembly groove531. When each of the clamping plates127is in the clamping state, the semicircular hole portion188of the through hole128is located in one of the assembly grooves531.

Further referring toFIGS. 8, 9, and 10, in one embodiment, each of the clamping plates127comprises a connecting plate129formed with the through hole128and connected to one of the springs126, and an operating rod180connected to the connecting plate129. Further, the connecting plate129is provided with at least one protruding column181on a side connected to one of the springs126. The protruding column181provides one of the springs126disposed thereon. Referring toFIG. 9, in one embodiment, each of the plurality of sockets124includes a rail182that provides one of the clamping plates127to be disposed and the clamping plate127is able to slide in the rail182. The rail182is formed by a recess on the plurality of sockets124. Further, each of the plurality of sockets124includes a block plate183disposed at an end of the rail182adjacent to the sidewall member13and providing for one end of one of the springs126to abut against. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of sockets124includes a spring accommodating groove184disposed at an end of the rail182adjacent to the block plate183and an operating rod accommodating groove185disposed at an end of the rail182not provided with the spring accommodating groove184, wherein the spring accommodating groove184provides the spring126to be placed therein, and the operating rod accommodating groove185provides the operating rod180to be placed therein, and the size of the operating rod accommodating groove185is required to conform to at least the displacement of the operating rod180. Referring toFIGS. 8 and 9, in one embodiment, the case bottom member12further includes a plurality of covers186respectively corresponding to the plurality of sockets124for shielding one of the rails182. The assembly strength between the plurality of covers186and the plurality of sockets124may be increased through a plurality of assembly components (not shown). Please refer toFIGS. 1, 2, and 3, 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.