Patent Publication Number: US-2022235584-A1

Title: Opening and closing device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present utility model relates to an opening and closing device. Further, the present utility model relates to an opening and closing device used with a first shell and a second shell. 
     BACKGROUND 
     For a long time, locks have been widely used on a variety of devices and objects that need to be secured. For objects such as a cabinet, a suitcase, a travel bag, and an electronic device, a padlock is used to prevent objects from being opened and taken by others. Passengers usually lock their suitcases to avoid theft during air, sea, or land journeys. 
     However, a suitcase is prone to be accidentally opened during travel due to collision and other factors, causing objects in the suitcase to be scattered or lost. Therefore, straps and film bindings are additionally used to reinforce the suitcase, or a cloth cover is additionally used to cover the suitcase. The above method is relatively inconvenient in use. 
     On the other hand, the common suitcase lock is set at a position where sides of two shells are adjacent to the other shell. To lock the suitcase, the two shells need to be approached together, and a zipper or a lock hook is inserted into a lock hole while an approached state is maintained. When the suitcase is loaded with more or bulky objects, the above operation is inconvenient. 
     SUMMARY 
     An objective of the present utility model is to provide an opening and closing device, which can reduce accidental opening of a box body and resolve the above problem in the related art. 
     The opening and closing device of the present utility model is used with a first shell and a second shell of a box body that are approachable with each other. The opening and closing device includes a fixing device and a limiting device. The fixing device includes a fixing portion and a fixing member, and the limiting device includes a driving device, a limiting portion, and a limiting member. The fixing portion is disposed on the first shell, and is provided with a fixing hole. One end of the fixing member is pivotally connected to an outer side of the second shell, and when the first shell approaches the second shell, the fixing member may rotate so that the other end is inserted into the fixing hole to be engaged with the fixing portion. The driving device is disposed on the first shell. The limiting portion is disposed on an inner side of the first shell. The limiting member is disposed on an inner side of the second shell, one end of the limiting member is provided with a limiting member end portion, and when the first shell approaches the second shell, the limiting member end portion may be engaged with the limiting portion. The driving device may be subjected to an external force to release the engagement between the fixing member and the fixing portion and the engagement between the limiting member end portion and the limiting portion. 
     In an embodiment of the present utility model, the opening and closing device further includes a lock body for limiting movement of the driving device. 
     In an embodiment of the present utility model, the lock body is disposed on the fixing portion. 
     In an embodiment of the present utility model, the fixing portion further includes an arc-shaped guide slot and an arc-shaped hook that is movably disposed in the arc-shaped guide slot; when the other end of the fixing member is inserted into the fixing hole, the arc-shaped hook may move so that one end of the arc-shaped hook extends into the fixing hole to be engaged with the other end of the fixing member; and the driving device may be pushed by the external force so that the arc-shaped hook moves and leaves the fixing hole, to release the engagement between the one end of the arc-shaped hook and the other end of the fixing member. 
     In an embodiment of the present utility model, the first shell may approach the second shell to form an approaching boundary, and the driving device may be subjected to the external force to move along the approaching boundary to release the engagement between the limiting member end portion and the limiting portion. 
     In an embodiment of the present utility model, the driving device is inserted to the first shell, and includes a manual member and a driving member. The manual member is disposed on the outer side of the first shell. The driving member is connected to the manual member, and is disposed on the inner side of the first shell. 
     In an embodiment of the present utility model, the limiting member end portion extends toward the first shell along an X axis, and the manual member may be subjected to the external force so that the driving member moves along a Y axis to abut against the limiting member end portion, so that the limiting member end portion generates displacement along a Z axis to release the engagement between the limiting member end portion and the limiting portion. The X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are orthogonal. 
     In an embodiment of the present utility model, a top end of the limiting member end portion extends toward the first shell along the X axis to form a driving portion, and the manual member may be subjected to the external force so that the driving member moves along the Y axis to abut against the driving portion. 
     In an embodiment of the present utility model, the opening and closing device further includes a release device disposed on the first shell, for releasing the engagement between the fixing member and the fixing portion and the engagement between the limiting member end portion and the limiting portion. 
     In an embodiment of the present utility model, the driving member includes a first moving member connected to the manual member and a second moving member abutting against the first moving member, the manual member may be subjected to the external force so that the first moving member moves to drive the second moving member, the release device includes a rotating member, and the rotating member may rotate to push the second moving member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  are schematic diagrams of an embodiment of an opening and closing device of the present utility model. 
         FIG. 2A  is a schematic top view of the embodiment of the opening and closing device of the present utility model. 
         FIG. 2B  and  FIG. 2C  are schematic cross-sectional views of the embodiment of the opening and closing device of the present utility model. 
         FIG. 3A  is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a driving device being located at a closed position in the opening and closing device of the present utility model. 
         FIG. 3B  is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a limiting member end portion being engaged with a limiting portion in the opening and closing device of the present utility model. 
         FIG. 3C  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the limiting member end portion being engaged with the limiting portion in the opening and closing device of the present utility model. 
         FIG. 3D  is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a driving device being located at an open position in the opening and closing device of the present utility model. 
         FIG. 3E  is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of releasing the engagement between the limiting member end portion and the limiting portion in the opening and closing device of the present utility model. 
         FIG. 3F  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the embodiment of releasing the engagement between the limiting member end portion and the limiting portion in the opening and closing device of the present utility model. 
         FIG. 4A  is a schematic top view of another embodiment of the driving device being located at the closed position in the opening and closing device of the present utility model. 
         FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 4C  are schematic cross-sectional views of another embodiment of the driving device being located at the closed position in the opening and closing device of the present utility model. 
         FIG. 4D  is a schematic three-dimensional diagram of another embodiment of the driving device being located at the closed position in the opening and closing device of the present utility model. 
         FIG. 5A  is a schematic top view of another embodiment of the driving device being located at the open position in the opening and closing device of the present utility model. 
         FIG. 5B  and  FIG. 5C  are schematic cross-sectional views of another embodiment of the driving device being located at the open position in the opening and closing device of the present utility model. 
         FIG. 5D  is a schematic three-dimensional diagram of another embodiment of the driving device being located at the open position in the opening and closing device of the present utility model. 
         FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  are schematic diagrams of an embodiment of a release device in the opening and closing device of the present utility model. 
         FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B  are schematic diagrams of an embodiment of a rotating member of the release device rotating to push a second moving member in the opening and closing device of the present utility model. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  are three-dimensional views of an embodiment of the present utility model. As shown in  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B , an opening and closing device  800  of the present utility model includes a fixing device  100  and a limiting device  200 , and is used with a first shell  910  and a second shell  920  that are approachable with each other. The first shell  910  and the second shell  920  may be components of a box body  900 , and the box body  900  is a suitcase provided with the first shell  910  and the second shell  920  that may be opened and closed with a connected side as a shaft. However, in different embodiments, the box body  900  may be a luggage or briefcase, etc., and is not limited to be formed by two shells connected by a side. 
       FIG. 2A  is a top view of an embodiment of the present utility model, and  FIG. 2B  is equivalent to a cross-sectional view of a cut surface taken along a dash-dot line A-A′ shown in  FIG. 2A .  FIG. 2C  is equivalent to a cross-sectional view of a cut surface taken along a dash-dot line B-B′ shown in  FIG. 2A . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2B  and  FIG. 2C , the fixing device  100  includes a fixing portion  110  and a fixing member  120 , and the limiting device  200  includes a driving device  210 , a limiting portion  220 , and a limiting member  230 . The fixing portion  110  is disposed on the first shell  910 , and is provided with a fixing hole  111 . One end  122  of the fixing member  120  is pivotally connected to an outer side of the second shell  920 , and when the first shell  910  approaches the second shell  920 , the fixing member  120  may rotate so that the other end  121  is inserted into the fixing hole  111  to be engaged with the fixing portion  110 . The driving device  210  is disposed on the first shell  910 , and the driving device  210  is preferably but not limited to be inserted to the first shell  910 . The limiting portion  220  is disposed on an inner side of the first shell  910 . The limiting member  230  is disposed on an inner side of the second shell  920 , and one end of the limiting member  230  is provided with a limiting member end portion  231 . The limiting member end portion  231  is preferably but not limited to be of a hook shape. When the first shell  910  approaches the second shell  920 , the limiting member end portion  231  may be engaged with the limiting portion  220 . The driving device  210  may be subjected to an external force to release the engagement between the fixing member  120  and the fixing portion  110  and the engagement between the limiting member end portion  231  and the limiting portion  220 . The first shell  910  may approach the second shell  920  to form an approaching boundary  901  (referring to  FIG. 2A ), and the driving device  210  may be subjected to the external force to move along the approaching boundary  901 . 
     Based on the above, when the other end  121  of the fixing member  120  accidentally leaves the fixing hole  111  due to vibration and other reasons, because the driving device  210  is not subjected to the external force which will release the engagement between the limiting member end portion  231  and the limiting portion  220 , the limiting device  200  is able to limit and prevent the first shell  910  and the second shell  920  from moving away from each other, that is, prevent the box body from being opened accidentally. On the other hand, compared with the common suitcase, even if the box body  900  is loaded with more or bulky objects, after the first shell  910  approaches the second shell  920 , the limiting member end portion  231  is engaged with the limiting portion  220 , to limit and prevent the first shell  910  and the second shell  920  from moving away from each other, thereby maintaining an approached state. Therefore, a user may easily insert the other end  121  of the fixing member  120  into the fixing hole  111  to complete fixing of the box body  900 . 
     More specifically,  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  are respectively a three-dimensional bottom view and a three-dimensional top view of an embodiment of the driving device  210  being located at a closed position in the present utility model, and  FIG. 3C  is equivalent to a cross-sectional view of a cut surface taken along a dash-dot line A-A′ shown in  FIG. 3B .  FIG. 3D  and  FIG. 3E  are respectively a three-dimensional bottom view and a three-dimensional top view of an embodiment of the driving device  210  being located at an open position in the present utility model, and  FIG. 3F  is equivalent to a cross-sectional view of a cut surface taken along a dash-dot line A-A′ shown in  FIG. 3E . To facilitate description and understanding, only some components are shown in the schematic diagrams of  FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 3F . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B , the driving device  210  includes a manual member  211  and a driving member  212 . The manual member  211  is disposed on the outer side of the first shell  910  (referring to  FIG. 2A ). The driving member  212  is connected to the manual member  211 , and is disposed on the inner side of the first shell  910 . The limiting member end portion  231  extends toward the first shell  910  along an X axis. As shown in  FIG. 3B  and  FIG. 3C , when the driving device  210  is located at the closed position, the limiting member end portion  231  is engaged with the limiting portion  220  through a hook-shaped end portion. In other words, in this case, the limiting portion  220  may limit the limiting member end portion  231  to move away along the X axis. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3D  and  FIG. 3E , the driving member  212  includes a first moving member  212 A connected to the manual member  211  and a second moving member  212 B abutting against the first moving member  212 A, and the manual member  211  may be subjected to the external force so that the first moving member  212 A moves to drive the second moving member  212 B. A top end of the limiting member end portion  231  extends toward the first shell  910  (referring to  FIG. 2B ) along the X axis to form a driving portion  231 A. As shown in  FIG. 3D  and  FIG. 3E , the manual member  211  may be subjected to the external force so that the driving member  212  moves along a Y axis, so that a bump  212 C of the driving member  212  abuts against the driving portion  231 A. In this way, the limiting member end portion  231  may move from the position shown in  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3C  to the position shown in  FIG. 3D  and  FIG. 3F , so that the limiting member end portion  231  generates displacement along a Z axis, to release the engagement between the limiting member end portion  231  and the limiting portion  220 . In other words, in this case, the limiting member end portion  231  may move away from the limiting portion  220  along the X axis. The X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are orthogonal. 
     On the other hand,  FIG. 4A  is a top view of an embodiment of the driving device  210  being located at the closed position in the present utility model,  FIG. 4B  is equivalent to a cross-sectional view of a cut surface taken along a dash-dot line A-A′ shown in  FIG. 4A ,  FIG. 4C  is equivalent to a cross-sectional view of a cut surface taken along a dash-dot line D-D′ shown in  FIG. 4A , and  FIG. 4D  is a three-dimensional view of this embodiment.  FIG. 5A  is a top view of an embodiment of the driving device  210  being located at the open position in the present utility model,  FIG. 5B  is equivalent to a cross-sectional view of a cut surface taken along a dash-dot line A-A′ shown in  FIG. 5A ,  FIG. 5C  is equivalent to a cross-sectional view of a cut surface taken along a dash-dot line D-D′ shown in  FIG. 5A , and  FIG. 5D  is a three-dimensional view of this embodiment. To facilitate description and understanding, only some components are shown in the schematic diagrams of  FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 5D . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4B  to  FIG. 4D , the fixing portion  110  further includes an arc-shaped guide slot  112  and an arc-shaped hook  113  that is movably disposed in the arc-shaped guide slot  112 ; and when the other end  121  of the fixing member  120  is inserted into the fixing hole  111 , the arc-shaped hook  113  may move so that one end  113 A of the arc-shaped hook  113  extends into the fixing hole  111  to be engaged with the other end  121  of the fixing member  120 . The other end  121  of the fixing member  120  is preferably provided with a hole  121 A for the one end  113 A of the arc-shaped hook  113  to extend for engagement. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4D  and  FIG. 5D , the driving member  212  includes the first moving member  212 A connected to the manual member  211  and the second moving member  212 B abutting against the first moving member  212 A, and the manual member  211  may be subjected to the external force so that the first moving member  212 A moves to drive the second moving member  212 B. A push block  114  is disposed on one side of the arc-shaped hook  113 , and the second moving member  212 B is provided with a guiding slope  214  corresponding to the push block  114 . The manual member  211  may be subjected to the external force so that the driving member  212  moves along the Y axis, so that the guiding slope  214  abuts against the push block  114 . In this way, the one end  113 A of the arc-shaped hook  113  may move from the position of extending into the fixing hole  111  shown in  FIG. 4C  to be engaged with the hole  121 A to the position of leaving the fixing hole  111  shown in  FIG. 5C , to release the engagement between the one end  113 A of the arc-shaped hook  113  and the other end  121  of the fixing member  120 , that is, to release the engagement between the fixing portion  110  and the fixing member  120 . 
     In the embodiments shown in  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 5A , the opening and closing device  800  may further include a lock body  300  disposed on the fixing portion  110 , for limiting movement of the driving device  210 . More specifically, the lock body  300  includes a shaft rod  310  linked with the first moving member  212 A of the driving member  212 . When the lock body  300  is in a locked state, movement of the shaft rod  310  is limited, and the first moving member  212 A cannot move. Therefore, the second moving member  212 B cannot be driven to abut against the push block  114  and the driving portion  231 A. In this way, the opening and closing device  800  may have a lock attachment function. The lock body  300  may be a combination lock. 
     In a preferable embodiment, the opening and closing device  800  may further include a release device  400 , to be conveniently opened by authorized personnel in situations such as baggage inspection at border customs. In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B , the release device  400  is disposed on the first shell  910  (referring to  FIG. 1A ), for releasing the engagement between the fixing member  120  and the fixing portion  110  and the engagement between the limiting member end portion  231  (referring to  FIG. 3C ) and the limiting portion  220 . More specifically, the release device  400  includes a rotating member  410 . In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B , the rotating member  410  may move to push the second moving member  212 B, so that the second moving member  212 B abuts against the push block  114  and the driving portion  231 A, thereby releasing the engagement between the fixing member  120  and the fixing portion  110  and the engagement between the limiting member end portion  231  and the limiting portion  220 . The release device  400  may be a key lock, and authorized personnel may unlock the lock with a special key and rotate the rotating member. 
     Although the foregoing description and drawings have disclosed exemplary embodiments of the present utility model, it should be understood that various additions, many modifications, and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the principles of the present utility model as defined by the appended claims. Those ordinarily skilled in the art of the present utility model will appreciate that the present utility model is applicable to modifications of many forms, structures, arrangements, proportions, materials, elements, and components. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed herein should be considered as illustrative and not restrictive of the present utility model. The scope of the present utility model should be defined by the appended claims, and covers the legal equivalents thereof, but is not limited to the foregoing descriptions.