Patent Publication Number: US-2004045779-A1

Title: Protection seam member for suitcase

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to a protection seam member for a suitcase and includes a longitudinal body with two extension lips which have rounded portions for being matched with the edges of the outer skin of the suitcase.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] A conventional seam portion for a suitcase is shown in FIG. 1 and generally includes a longitudinal body  200  which includes a braid  210  of metal strings which is enclosed by a soft outer layer  220 . Two extension lips  23  extend from the longitudinal body  200 . The seam member  200  is located between two edges  3 ,  4  of the outer skin of a suitcase and the two respective insides of the edges  3 ,  4  are connected to the two lips  23  of the seam member  200 . It is to be noted that the lips  23  are connected to the longitudinal body  200  at an angle so that when the insides of the edges  3 ,  4  are connected to the lips  23 , there will be a gap defined therebetween so that the connection between the edges  3 ,  4  and the lips  3 ,  4  are not strong enough to bear forces applied to the edges  3 ,  4  of the suitcase.  
       [0003] The present invention intends to provide a seam member that has rounded portions to match with the insides of the edges of the suitcase so as to obtain a satisfied connection between the protection seam member and the edges of the outer skin of the suitcase.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a protection seam member for suitcase which has outer skins each having an edge, and the seam member comprises a longitudinal body with a braid of reinforcement member enclosed by a soft outer layer. Two extension lips extend from the longitudinal body and a rounded groove is defined in a conjunction portion of each lip and the longitudinal. The rounded grooves are matched with the edges of the suitcase.  
       [0005] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a protection seam member that is matched with the seam member so as to provide strong connection with the edges of the skins of the suitcase.  
       [0006] The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0007]FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view to show the connection of a conventional seam member and the edges of skins of a suitcase;  
     [0008]FIG. 2 is an exploded view to show the seam member of the present invention and the edges of skins of a suitcase.  
     [0009]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view to show the connection of the seam member of the present invention and the edges of skins of a suitcase; and  
     [0010]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view to show another embodiment of the connection of the seam member of the present invention and the edges of skins of a suitcase.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0011] Referring to FIGS.  2  to  4 , the protection seam member  20  of the present invention comprises a longitudinal body  20  which has a braid of reinforcement member  5  which is made of steel wires and a soft outer layer  201  encloses the reinforcement member  5 . A decoration surface  202  is connected to an outer periphery of the longitudinal body  20  and two extension lips  21 ,  22  extend from the longitudinal body  20 . A rounded groove  203  is defined in a conjunction portion of each lip  21 / 22  and the longitudinal body  200 . The rounded grooves  203  are matched with the edges of outer sinks of the suitcase. In other words, the edges  3 ,  4  each may be bent to a curvature  30 / 40  which matches with the surfaces of the grooves  203 .  
     [0012]FIG. 4 shows that the groove  203  is defined to be a concave in an outer periphery of the longitudinal body  20  and the edges  3 ,  4  are bent to a larger curvature and match with the surfaces of the grooves  203 .  
     [0013] The seam member  20  is snugly matched with the edges  3 ,  4  of the skins of the suitcase and reinforces the connection of the outer skins and the seam member  20  so that the suitcase has a longer term of use and a smooth and neat outer appearance.  
     [0014] While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.