Abstract:
In a case, in particular a pilot case, comprising a bottom element ( 2 ), a cover element ( 4 ) and side as well as front wall elements ( 6,8 ), the cover element ( 4 ) is made up of a plurality of hingedly interconnected strips ( 10 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to a case, in particular a pilot case. 
   Such cases having a bottom element, side and front wall elements and a cover element made from a plurality of hingedly interconnected strips are known from FR 1.109.515. 
   For pilot cases one-hand operation for opening and closing the case is desired. It is a drawback of known pilot cases that one-hand operation is either impossible or very troublesome, and that the open cover requires too much space. Further, the raised cover element may cause the case to topple over if the case is not sufficiently weight-loaded. 
   It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a case, in particular a pilot case, which allows one-hand operation, can be opened without requiring too much space and is stable to a large extent. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the invention, the cover element is advantageously of bipartite configuration such that, in the closed position, both cover parts abut on each other and, in the open position, extend in parallel to the respective front wall elements on both sides of the case. 
   The two cover parts of the bipartite cover are coupled to each other via a linkage to allow synchronous movement of both cover parts. In this manner, a cover part provided with a handle can, for example, be moved, wherein the other cover part is moved either without a second hand being required for this operation. 
   Such a cover part is made from a plurality of hingedly interconnected strips can be moved like a louver thus fully clearing the opening of the case. Since the cover element is not swivelled and does not laterally project beyond the case, there is no danger that the case topples over. Since the cover element need not be raised, the space requirement is extremely small. Further, the louver-like movement of the cover element fully clears the opening of the case such that the contents is freely accessible from all sides of the case. 
   The cover element is preferably guided in lateral guides provided at the side wall elements. 
   At the front edge of the cover element one or a plurality of lock elements may be provided. 
   The cover part is adapted to be moved along the lateral guides into a position essentially parallel to the front wall elements thus assuming an open position. Since the cover element extends in parallel to the front wall element, the case can be opened without additional space being required. 
   The lateral guides are preferably made from a profile with a U-shaped cross-section. 
   The cover element may be provided with a handle. 
   The profile with a U-shaped cross-section may at least partially surround or border the side wall element. In the upper portion the lateral guides are arcuately bent by 90° such that the cover element can be moved from an essentially vertical open position into a horizontal closed position. 
   The linkage comprises two swivel arms and a coupling element, wherein each cover part is rigidly connected with one swivel arm and the coupling element hingedly connects the two swivel arms. 
   The swivel arms are swivellingly supported in the side wall elements in a vertical plane extending in parallel to the side wall elements. 
   The swivel arms may further be connected with each other via a spring element promoting the closing movement. Said spring element facilitates closing of the linkage-connected cover part during the one-hand closing operation. 
   The bottom, wall and cover elements may be made of plastic and/or metal, preferably aluminium. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Hereunder embodiments of the invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of the case comprising a bipartite cover element; 
       FIG. 2  shows a top view of the case shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The cover parts  4   a ,  4   b  are formed by a plurality of strips  10  extending in parallel to each other and being hingedly connected with each other, which are guided like louvers in the lateral guides  12  such that at least a portion of the cover parts  4   a ,  4   b  is movable from a horizontal closed position on the upper side of the case into an essentially vertical position parallel to the front wall elements  8 . 
   The free front edges  15  of the cover elements  4   a ,  4   b  comprise at least one lock element  16 ,  16   a ,  16   b ,  17  for locking the two cover parts  4   a ,  4   b  to each other in the closed position ( FIG. 4 ) at a substantially bisecting plane P of curved portions (unnumbered) of the lateral guide  12 . The numeral  17  designates a combination lock. 
   The lateral guides  12  are configured as frame elements and serve for receiving the side wall elements  6  and fastening the front wall elements  8 . 
   As can best be seen in  FIG. 3 , in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  the lateral guides  12  completely surround the side wall elements  6 . 
   As can best be seen in  FIG. 3 , the strips  10  extending in parallel to each other are hingedly connected with each other in that a coupling part  5  with a bell-shaped cross-section grips over a coupling part  7  with an essentially circular cross-section. 
   The two cover parts  4   a ,  4   b  are coupled with each other via a linkage  20  which comprises two swivel arms  22 ,  24  and a coupling element  26  hingedly connected with the two swivel arms  22 ,  24 . The swivel arms  22 ,  24  are swivellingly supported via pivots  23 ,  25  in a vertical plane at the respective vertical side wall elements  6 . The swivelling arm  22  is rigidly connected with the cover part  4   a , and the swivel arm  24  is rigidly connected with the cover part  4   b , wherein each swivel arm  22 ,  24  is fastened to one of the strips  10 . When the cover part  4   b  comprising the handle  18  is moved, a corresponding force is transmitted via the coupling element  26  to the swivel arm  22  such that, synchronously with the movement of the cover part  4   b , the cover part  4   a  is moved either. For this purpose, the two swivel arms  22 ,  24  are configured as two-arm levers. While the swivel arm  22  extends linearly, the swivel arm  24  is bent to form a right angle, wherein the hinge  25  is arranged at the location where the two legs of the swivel arm  24  intersect. 
   For promoting the closing movement, a spring element  28  configured as a tension spring and promoting the closing movement is arranged between the free end of the swivel arm  24  and the swivel arm  22 . The spring element  28  is fastened to the swivel arm  22  in a central portion between the hinge  23  and the fastened end of the swivel arm  22 . 
     FIG. 4  shows the position of the linkage  20  in the closed position of the cover parts  4   a , 4   b.    
     FIG. 5  shows a further embodiment of a case of the trolley case type. This case comprises only one cover part  4  which can also be guided like a louver in a lateral guide  12  such that it performs a 90° turn. The rear edge of the cover element  4  can be moved down to the bottom  2  of the case such that a wide opening is formed. This case can be provided with a trolley handle  20  and two rollers  31 . 
   In all embodiments the width of the strips  10  amounts to approximately 15 to 25 mm, preferably 23 mm. With such a strip width curvature radii of the lateral guides can be realized which do not substantially restrict the case volume. 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  a horizontal batten  21  can receive the lock elements  16  and  17  which cooperate with corresponding lock elements at the front edge  15  of the cover element  4 . 
   Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations may be made in the apparatus without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.