Suitcase, especially a pilot suitcase

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9968170-B2
Application number	US-201414782348-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 20, 2014
Priority date	Apr 9, 2013
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

A suitcase made from hard shell material, preferably a pilot suitcase, including a lower suitcase portion which is open at the top, with a front panel, a rear panel and two side end panels, and a bottom panel, and a hinged lid for closing, wherein a telescopic handle can be pulled out in an upwards direction is arranged on the rear panel of the lower suitcase portion for pulling or pushing the suitcase, the lid having a narrow stationary lid element which extends along the entire length of the lower suitcase portion along the rear panel and has an opening in the middle of the length, through which opening the telescopic handle can be pulled out, and, next to the opening for the telescopic handle, the lid having a hinge which connects the stationary lid element to a fold-down wide lid element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A suitcase of hard shell material, preferably a pilot suitcase, comprising:
a lower suitcase portion which is open at the top, with a front panel, a rear panel and two side end panels, and with a bottom panel, and
a hinged lid for closing the lower suitcase portion, wherein a telescopic handle which is secured inside the suitcase and can be pulled out in an upwards direction is arranged on the rear panel of the lower suitcase portion for pulling or pushing the suitcase,
wherein the lid has a narrow stationary lid element which extends along the entire width of the lower suitcase portion along the rear panel and has an opening in the middle of the width, through which opening the telescopic handle can be pulled out, and
adjacent to the opening for the telescopic handle, the lid has a hinge which connects the stationary lid element to a hinged wide lid element, such that the lid can be moved into a stable open position in which the movable lid element does not protrude or only slightly protrudes beyond the rear panel of the suitcase in such a manner as to enable the suitcase to be open single-handedly, with the lid being retained in the open position only due to gravity,
wherein lock mechanisms are provided, with a push button, to enable a single-handed operation when opening the suitcase.

2. The suitcase of claim 1 , wherein a limiter means limits the maximum folding angle of the hinged lid element such that the lid element does not protrude beyond the rear panel when in the open state.

3. The suitcase of claim 1 , wherein the hinge extends over the entire width of the suitcase.

4. The suitcase of one of claim 1 , wherein a lighting means is arranged under the stationary lid element.

5. The suitcase of one of claim 1 , wherein at least two rollers are integrated in the bottom panel.

6. The suitcase of one of claim 1 , wherein an arresting means is arranged, preferably at the rear panel.

7. The suitcase of one of claim 1 , wherein the lower suitcase portion has a frame element at the upper edge, which element cooperates with the movable lid element.

8. The suitcase of claim 7 , wherein the frame element receives lock mechanisms cooperating with the movable lid element.

9. The suitcase of claim 7 , wherein the frame element is made of metal.

10. The suitcase of claim 4 , wherein the lighting means is adapted to be activated when the movable lid element is opened, preferably as a function of an activation state of an ambient light sensor.

11. The suitcase of claim 1 , wherein the suitcase is substantially made of polycarbonate or of an aluminum alloy.

Assignees

• Rimowa Gmbh

Inventors

• Morszeck Dieter

Classifications

• A45C2013/267

  the handle being slidable, extractable and lockable in one or more positions · CPC title

• A45C13/04

  Frames · CPC title

• A45C13/005 Primary

  Hinges · CPC title

• A45C13/34

  Stays or supports for holding lids or covers open · CPC title

• A45C15/06

  with illuminating devices · CPC title