Expansible suitcase

Abstract

A suitcase ( 1 ) expansible on wheels comprising wheels ( 2 ), a handle ( 3 ) which can be lengthened and a pair of half-shells a first half-shell thereof ( 5 ) arranged substantially horizontally and perpendicularly to said handle ( 3 ) and a second half-shell ( 6 ), substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the handle ( 3 ) too, with its own cavity faced downwards; means ( 9; 12 ) for translating said second shell ( 6 ) vertically in the direction defined by the handle ( 3 ); at least a wall ( 10; 12 ) with variable extension apt to join the edges of said two half-shells ( 5, 6 ), the second half-shell ( 6 ) translating according to a direction defined by the telescopic extension of the handle ( 3 ), the upper half-shell ( 6 ) having on the rear side a slot ( 7 ) wherein the bars ( 8 ) of the telescopic handle ( 3 ) are inserted, the bars ( 8 ) acting as guides for the second half-shell ( 6 ) and said slot ( 7 ) being defined by a handle-like portion of the second half-shell ( 6 ) which can be used to raise or lower manually the half-shell itself.

1 . An expansible suitcase ( 1 ), comprising wheels ( 2 ), a handle ( 3 ) which can be lengthened for the dragging thereof and a pair of half-shells forming the casing of the suitcase and which can be separated for opening and expanding the suitcase itself, comprising:
 a first half-shell ( 5 ) thereto said wheels ( 2 ) are associated and connected to said handle ( 3 ), apt to assume a substantially horizontal configuration, perpendicular to said handle ( 3 ), with its own cavity faced upwards when the suitcase is resting;   a second half-shell ( 6 ) apt to be connected to the first half-shell ( 5 ) on the respective edges and apt to assume a substantially horizontal configuration, perpendicular to said handle ( 3 ), with its own cavity faced downwards when the suitcase ( 1 ) is resting;   means ( 9 ;  12 ) for translating said second shell ( 6 ) vertically with respect to said first shell, in the direction defined by the extension of said handle ( 3 ); and   at least a wall ( 10 ;  12 ) with variable extension apt to join the edges of said two half-shells ( 5 ,  6 ) when the second half-shell ( 6 ) is translated,   
       wherein the second half-shell ( 6 ) translates according to a direction which is parallel and it is defined by the telescopic extension of the handle ( 3 ), the upper half-shell ( 6 ) having on the rear side a slot ( 7 ) wherein the bars ( 8 ) of the telescopic handle ( 3 ) are inserted, the bars ( 8 ) acting as guides for the second half-shell ( 6 ) and said slot ( 7 ) being defined by a handle-like portion of the second half-shell ( 6 ) which can be used to raise or lower manually the half-shell itself. 
     
     
         2 . The suitcase ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said half-shells ( 5 ,  6 ) substantially have a squared and flattened basin-like shape, with a cavity and edges configured to cooperate with respective edges of the other half-shell the edges being manufactured with a stiff or half-stiff material, with shock-proof, scratch-resistant and burglar-resistant features. 
     
     
         3 . The suitcase ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , further comprising a seal between said half-shells ( 5 ,  6 ). 
     
     
         4 . The suitcase ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said translating means comprises a pantograph-like system having a pair of articulated pantographs ( 9 ) arranged inside the suitcase ( 1 ) between said half-shells ( 5 ,  6 ), the arrangement of the pantographs ( 9 ) being so as to not to obstruct the inner portion of the suitcase ( 1 ) and so as to raise and lower the upper half-shell ( 6 ) by keeping it parallel to the first half-shell ( 5 ). 
     
     
         5 . The suitcase ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said extensible wall comprises a continuous and tubular single wall ( 10 ) with variable extension, configured to join the edges of said two half-shells when the second half-shell ( 6 ) is translated upwards. 
     
     
         6 . The suitcase ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein said continuous wall ( 10 ) extends elastically from the inner corners of the first half-shell ( 5 ) being implemented with at least one of: a bellows-like structure, a stretch material, or a tear-resistant elastic tissue. 
     
     
         7 . The suitcase ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein said continuous wall ( 10 ) comprises a hinge ( 11 ) of the divisible type, joined to a wall portion connected inside the second half-shell ( 6 ). 
     
     
         8 . The suitcase ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for translating and said extensible wall comprise a pair of half-stiff panels ( 12 ) folded-back inside the first half-shell ( 5 ), placed down on the bottom thereof, constrained on the inner sides of the lower half-shell ( 5 ) and divided into three re-foldable portions to form both the side walls and the front and rear ones, the edges of said panels ( 12 ) being able to be constrained to the top wall of the second half-shell ( 6 ) and therebetween by means of special hinges. 
     
     
         9 . The suitcase ( 1 ) according to  claim 8 , wherein the panels ( 12 ) are comprised of multiple layers, with two outer layers ( 13 ), on opposite faces of the panel ( 12 ), implemented in a burglar-resistant tissue, therebetween being comprised a stiff layer ( 14 ) coupled to an air gap ( 15 ) containing a fluid to reduce shocks, coming back then to an extended configuration.