GB2090323A

GB2090323A - Piece of luggage such as a suitcase or document case

Info

Publication number: GB2090323A
Application number: GB8136265A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Delsey SA
Current assignee: Delsey SA
Priority date: 1980-12-31
Filing date: 1981-12-01
Publication date: 1982-07-07
Also published as: GB2090323B; IT1140169B; BE891577A; DE3150873A1; FR2508087A2; JPS57145608A; NL8105888A; FR2508087B2; IT8125826A0

Abstract

A piece of luggage, such as a suitcase or document case, comprises at least one hinge between elements hinged with respect to one another by means of a hinge pin 8 engaged in supports 10, 11 provided on each of the two elements. Each of the supports 10 and 11 is formed from at least two lugs 12a, 12b, 14a, 14b disposed after one another in the direction of the hinge pin 8 these lugs being staggered angularly with respect to each other about the hinge pin and each comprising a face having a longitudinal recess letting the hinge pin pass therethrough, the recess of one of the lugs defining, with that of the adjacent lug, a channel whose section is equal to or slightly greater than the section of the hinge pin. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Piece of luggage such as a suitcase or document case The present invention relates to a piece of luggage such as a suitcase or document case, comprising at least one hinge formed from two elements hinged with respect to each other by means of a hinge-pin bearing on supports provided on each of the two elements.

The elements of hinges which are to be found on pieces of luggage at the present time are generally provided with lateral supports comprising aligned bores for receiving the hingepin. When these elements are made from a moulded plastic material, it is necessary, before moulding, to insert one or more metal pegs in the mould so as to prevent the plastic material from filling the positions of the bores reserved for the hinge-pin. This method of manufacture however does not give full satisfaction for implementation thereof requires long and delicate handling operations. The pins have in fact to be placed within the moulds before each moulding operation, then withdrawn so as to free the bores of the supports.

The present invention proposes remedying these disadvantages and, for this, it provides a piece of luggage, comprising at least one hinge which is characterized in that each of the supports is formed by at least two lugs disposed one after the other in the direction of the hinge-pin, these lugs being staggered angularly with respect to each other about the hinge-pin and each comprising a face with a longitudinal recess for letting said hinge-pin pass therethrough, the recess of one of the lugs defining, with that of the adjacent lug, a channel whose section is equal to or slightly greater than the section of said hinge-pin.

The supports provided on each of the elements of the hinge are therefore no longer provided with bores but with complementary recesses following one another. They may consequently be moulded without the need for a peg.

According to one particular embodiment of the hinge, the recessed faces of the lugs of the supports of each element are situated in or substantially in a longitudinal median plane of the hinge-pin, their recess being semi-cylindrical and having a diameter equal to or slightly greater than that of said hinge-pin.

The hinge-pin is thus retained over all or practically all of its periphery. There is therefore no danger of it escaping laterally, which makes the hinge particularly strong.

According to another embodiment of the hinge, the lugs of each support are connected together by webs extending upwardly from the walls of the longitudinal recesses.

The webs thus increase the rigidity of the supports and confer therefore a greater strength on the hinge. Furthermore, they allow the hingepin to be held more firmly in the longitudinal recesses, which eliminates any risk of accidental disassembly of the hinge, even when the elements thereof are subjected to intense forces exerted in the opposite direction.

Preferably, the webs extending upwardly the walls of the same longitudinal recess have parallel internal faces and external faces situated in the extension of the external face of the adjacent lug(s) and having the same from as said external face.

The continuity of form existing between the external faces of the webs and those of the lugs contributes to improving the aesthetic appearance of the hinge.- In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, the supports of one of the elements are preferably inserted between those of the other element. In this case, the hinge-pin is alternately supported by the two elements of the hinge, which greatly improves the strength of this latter.

Furthermore, the hinge-pin is preferably surrounded, over at least a section between two successive supports, by a helical spring whose ends bear respectively on the two elements so as to return one of these latter to one of the end most pivoting positions.

Thus, when one of the elements of the hinge is subjected to a pivoting force which loads the spring at the same time, it is automatically brought back to its initial position by this latter which relaxes once the action of the pivoting force is no longer exerted.

In the case where the piece of luggage comprises a plastic pen-box, the two elements of the hinge may be advantageously formed by the bottom and the lid of the pen-box.

It will moreover be readily understood that in the case where the piece of luggage is formed from two plastic material shells hinged with respect to one another, the two elements of the hinge may be advantageously formed by the two shells.

Several embodiments of the present invention will be described hereafter by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a document case in accordance with the invention, this case having two pen-boxes provided with a bottom and a lid hinged with respect to one another by means of a hinge formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment; Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of one of the pen-boxes shown in Fig. 1, the lid of this pen-box being shown open; Fig. 3 is an exploded view showing the components of a pen-box in accordance with the invention; Fig. 4 is a sectional view along line IV--IV of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional view along line V-V of Fig.

3: Fig. 6 is a partial view in section, on a larger scale, along line VI--VI of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a partial sectional view, on a larger scale, along line VIl-VIl of Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a partial expoded perspective view showing the two elements and the hinge-pin of a hinge formed in accordance with another embodiment; Fig. 9 shows another embodiment of one of the elements of the hinge shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 shows another embodiment of the element shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 shows another embodiment of the other element of the hinge shown in Fig. 8; and Fig. 12 shows another embodiment of the element shown in Fig. 11.

The document case which can be seen in Fig. 1 comprises a bottom 1 and a lid 2 hinged to one another by means of a hinge which may have the structure of one of those which will be described hereafter.

The bottom 1 comprises a carrying handle 3 projecting from the external face of its front wall, between two locks (not shown) for locking lid 2 in the closed position. As for lid 2, it comprises two pen-boxes along its side adjacent the hinges and a pocket 5 for holding documents which must be readily accessible.

Each pen-box 4, one of which can be seen in Figs. 2 and 3, comprises a parallelepipedic bottom 6 and a lid 7 both made from a plastic material and hinged to one another by means of a pin 8.

The lower longitudinal wall 9 of bottom 6 is provided, along its front edge, with aligned supports 10 projecting downwardly, i.e. in the direction of bottom 1 of the case. Similarly, the internal face of lid 7 is provided with aligned supports 11. These supports are spaced slightly apart from the lower longitudinal side of lid 7, i.e.

from the one which is in the vicinity of pin 8. They are furthermore inserted between supports 10 with which they retain pin 8 by means of which lid 7 may pivot on bottom 6.

In the example shown in Figs. 2 and 3, each of supports 10 and 11 is formed from two lugs disposed one after the other longitudinally, situated on each side of pin 8 and each comprising a longitudinal recess on their face turned towards this latter. More precisely, each support 10 comprises two lugs 1 2a, 1 2b whose recessed faces are substantially situated in a longitudinal median plane of pin 8, the recesses 1 3a and 1 3b of two associated lugs having identical semicylindrical sections and defining together a channel whose section is slightly greater than that of pin 8. As for supports 1 they each comprise two lugs 1 4a, 1 4b whose faces turned towards pin 8 comprise recesses 1 spa, 1 sub defining in their turn a channel also having a section slightly greater than that of pin 8.

It will be noted here that recesses 1 spa have a rectangular section (see Fig. 4), whereas recesses 1 sub have a semi-cylindrical section (see Fig. 5). It is however evident that recesses 1 5a and 1 5b could have the same section.

It will be further noted that when lid 7 is open by about 90 , the recessed faces of the lugs of supports 10 are substantially perpendicular to those of the lugs of supports 11.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 2, pin 8 is surrounded by two helical springs 1 6 each extending into a free space provided between two successive supports 10 and 11. These springs are provided so as to allow the lid 7 to close automatically when it is no longer retained in an open position. Their ends 1 7 and 1 8 (see Fig. 3) bear respectively on the internal face of lid 7 and on the external face of the lower longitudinal wall 9 of box 6, and thus ensure loading thereof during opening of the lid.

As is further shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the lower longitudinal side of lid 7 bears against the lower face of wall 9 of bottom 8 when the pen-box is fully open and thus forms a stop limiting the opening angle of the lid.

With further reference to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be noted that the upper longitudinal wall 1 9 of the bottom of the pen-box comprises an internal setback 20 and that a curved notch 21 is formed in the upper longitudinal side of lid 7 so as to come directly in front of the set-back when it is closed.

Thus, the lid may be very easily gripped with a finger in order t3 open it.

For the sake of completeness, it will be further noted that supports 10 and 11 could be integral with two simple plates intended to be fixed subsequently to two bodies intended to be hinged with respect to each other. They could also be provided on the bottom 1 and on the lid 2 of the case and receive the pin about which these latter are hinged with respect to each other.

The hinge which is partially shown in a disassembled condition in Fig. 8 comprises two elements 31,32 made from a moulded plastic material and a cylindrical rod 33 for hingeing the two elements with respect to each other.

Element 31 comprises supports 34 (only one of which is shown) spaced apart along one of its sides and defining a gutter 35 with its front visible face. Similarly, element 32 comprises supports 36 (only one of which is shown) spaced apart along one of its sides, these supports being inserted between supports 34 with which they cooperate to hold rod 33 when the hinge is assembled.

Each of supports 34 is formed from three lugs 37, 38, 39, following one another longitudinally and each comprising a longitudinal recess forming with those of the other lugs a channel intended to receive rod 33 with slight play.

Each of supports 36 is also formed from three lugs 40, 41,42 following each other longitudinally, these lugs each comprising a longitudinal recess forming with those of the other lugs a channel for receiving in its turn rod 33 with a slight play.

As is clearly shown in Figs. 8 to 12, the lugs of each of supports 34 and 36 are staggered angularly with respect to each other and connected together by webs 43 extending upwardly the walls of their longitudinal recesses, e.g. over a height at least equal to the diameter of rod 33. It will in particular be noted that the internal faces of the webs extending the walls of a longitudinal recess are parallel whereas their external faces are in the extension of the external face of the adjacent lug(s), and have the same form as said external face.

In the example shown in Fig. 8, lug 38 is staggered by 1 800 with respect to lugs 37 and 39 as is also lug 41 with respect to lugs 40 and 42. It will be noted in particular that the longitudinal entrances of the recesses of the lugs of support 34 are situated in parallel planes extending perpendicularly to element 31 whereas those of the recesses of the lugs of support 36 are situated in planes parallel to element 32.

In the example shown in Fig. 9, the lugs 37 and 38 are further staggered by 1 800. The longitudinal entrances of their recesses are situated in planes parallel to element 31, that of the recess of lug 38 opening into gutter 35. Lug 39 is, as far as it is concerned, staggered by 900 with respect to lug 38, the longitudinal entrance of its recess being situated in a plane perpendicular to element 31.

In the example shown in Fig. 10, lugs 37 and 38 are further staggered by 1 800. On the other hand, the longitudinal entrances of their recesses are situated in the parallel planes extending perpendicularly to element 3. Lug 39 is staggered by 900 with respect to lug 38, the longitudinal entrance of its recess being situated in a plane parallel to element 31.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 11, lugs 40 and 41 are staggered by 900, the longitudinal entrances of their recesses being situated in planes respectively parallel and perpendicular to element 32. Lug 42 has, in so far as it is concerned, the same angular position as lug 40.

Finally, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 12, lugs 40 and 41 are staggered by 1800, the longitudinal entrances of their recesses being situated in parallel planes extending perpendicularly to element 32. Lug 42, in so far as it is concerned, has the same angular position as lug 10.

It is evident that the angular stagger of the lugs of supports 34 and 36 could have other values from those which have been mentioned above.

The bottom 6 and the lid 7 of the pen-box visible in figures 2 and 3, just like elements 31 and 32 which may be seen in Figs. 8 to 12, may be formed by moulding without it being necessary to use pegs for forming the longitudinal recesses required for passing either pin 8 or rod 33 therethrough. This advantage results in fact from the particular shape of the lugs which are provided with a recessed and unpierced face.

It will be noted here that supports 34 and 36 have increased rigidity because of the presence of webs 43 which connect their lugs together and which thus increase the strength of the hinge.

Naturally, elements 31 and 32 could be formed by the shells of a case or document case, by the bottom and lid of a pen-box of a document case or any box whatsoever.

Claims

1. A piece of luggage such as a suitcase or document case, comprising at least one hinge formed from elements hinged with respect to one another by means of a hinge-pin bearing on supports provided on each of the two elements, characterized in that each of the supports is formed from at least two lugs disposed after one another in the direction of the hinge-pin these lugs being staggered angularly with respect to each other about the hinge-pin and each comprising a face having a longitudinal recess letting the hinge-pin pass therethrough, the recess of one of the lugs defining, with that of the adjacent lug, a channel whose section is equal to or slightly greater than the section of said hinge-pin.

2. The piece of luggage as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the recessed faces of the lugs of the supports of each element are situated in or substantially in a median longitudinal plane of the pin their recess being semi-cylindrical and having a diameter equal to or slightly greater than that of said hinge-pin.

3. The piece of luggage as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the lugs of each support are connected together by means of webs projecting upwardly from the walls of their longitudinal recesses.

4. The piece of luggage as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the webs extending upwardly the walls of the same longitudinal recess have parallel internal faces and external faces situated in the extension of the external face of the adjacent lug(s) and having the same form as said external face.

5. The piece of luggage as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that each support comprises three lugs, the angular stagger between two adjacent lugs being 1 800.

6. The piece of luggage as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that each support comprises three lugs, the angular stagger between two adjacent lugs being 900.

7. The piece of luggage as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supports of one of the elements are inserted between those of the other element.

8. The piece of luggage as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hinge-pin is surrounded, over at least a section between two successive supports, by a helical spring whose ends bear respectively on the two elements so as to return one of these latter to one of the endmost pivoting positions.

9. The piece of luggage as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two elements of the hinge are formed by the bottom and the lid of a plastic material box, more especially of a pen-box, provided inside the piece of luggage.

10. The piece of luggage as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is formed from two plastic material shells hinged with respect to one another and in that the two elements of the hinge are formed by the two shells.

11. The piece of luggage substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.