Suitcases

Abstract

A suitcase is described which has a novel construction that allows for a light, yet spacious piece of luggage that is sufficiently strong to act as an occasional seat. In one aspect, a removable storage box is provided in an upper portion of the suitcase, and in another aspect two pairs of wheels are provided in a lower portion of the suitcase. An example of the suitcase combines the storage box with the wheels arrangement.

1 . A suitcase comprising:
 a case body having:   a lower portion defining a lower face of the suitcase;   an upper portion spaced apart from the lower portion and defining an upper face of the suitcase;   first and second side portions which extend from respective ends of the lower portion to respective ends of the upper portion;   a rear portion which extends from a rear edge of the lower portion to a rear edge of the upper portion, and from a rear edge of the first side to a rear edge of the second side, and which provides a rear face of the suitcase;   front portion which extends from a front edge of the lower portion to a front edge of the upper portion, and from a front edge of the first side to a front edge of the second side, such that the lower and upper portions, the first and second sides, and the front and rear portions define an inner volume therein, the front portion defining an access aperture therethrough, thereby providing access to the inner volume; and   a closure member mounted on the case body and having a first position in which the closure member closes the access aperture, and a second position in which the access aperture is open; and   a storage box that defines a storage volume therein, the storage box being releasably located in the upper portion of the suitcase, and being removable from the upper portion of the suitcase when the closure member is in the first position, and retaining means for retaining the storage box in the upper portion of the case body, the retaining means including a resiliently biased member.   
     
     
         2 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the storage box includes a storage box body defining the storage volume, and a lid portion having a closed configuration in which the storage volume is closed, and an open configuration in which the storage volume is open. 
     
     
         3 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the storage box includes a storage box body defining the storage volume, and a lid portion having a closed configuration in which the storage volume is closed, and an open configuration in which the storage volume is open, and wherein the lid is rotatably attached to the storage box body. 
     
     
         4 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the storage box includes a storage box body defining the storage volume, and a lid portion having a closed configuration in which the storage volume is closed, and an open configuration in which the storage volume is open, and wherein the lid is adapted to seal against the storage box body in the closed configuration, thereby substantially to prevent ingress of water into the storage volume of the storage box. 
     
     
         5 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the storage box includes a storage box body defining the storage volume, and a lid portion having a closed configuration in which the storage volume is closed, and an open configuration in which the storage volume is open, and wherein the lid is adapted to seal against the storage box body in the closed configuration, thereby substantially to prevent ingress of water into the storage volume of the storage box, and wherein the lid and storage box body provide releasable engagement means operable to retain the lid in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         6 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the storage box includes a storage box body defining the storage volume, and a lid portion having a closed configuration in which the storage volume is closed, and an open configuration in which the storage volume is open, and wherein the lid is adapted to seal against the storage box body in the closed configuration, thereby substantially to prevent ingress of water into the storage volume of the storage box, and wherein the lid and storage box body provide releasable engagement means operable to retain the lid in the closed configuration, and wherein the engagement means are provided on an outer surface of the storage box body and on the lid. 
     
     
         7 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lid of the storage box is adapted to provide a seat surface for a user. 
     
     
         8 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the lid of the storage box is adapted to provide a seat surface for a user, and wherein the lid includes strengthening features. 
     
     
         9 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the lid of the storage box is adapted to provide a seat surface for a user, and wherein the lid includes strengthening features provided by a plurality of spaced apart rib features that extend from an underside surface of the lid into the storage volume when the lid is in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         10 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising locking means for locking the storage box in the upper portion of the case body. 
     
     
         11 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising locking means for locking the storage box in the upper portion of the case body, wherein locking means includes a resiliently biased member. 
     
     
         12 . A suitcase comprising:
 a case body having:   a lower portion defining a lower face of the suitcase;   an upper portion spaced apart from the lower portion and defining an upper face of the suitcase;   first and second side portions which extend from respective ends of the lower portion to respective ends of the upper portion;   a rear portion which extends from a rear edge of the lower portion to a rear edge of the upper portion, and from a rear edge of the first side to a rear edge of the second side, and which provides a rear face of the suitcase;   front portion which extends from a front edge of the lower portion to a front edge of the upper portion, and from a front edge of the first side to a front edge of the second side, such that the lower and upper portions, the first and second sides, and the front and rear portions define an inner volume therein, the front portion defining an access aperture therethrough, thereby providing access to the inner volume; and   a closure member mounted on the case body and having a first position in which the closure member closes the access aperture, and a second position in which the access aperture is open; and   a pair of trolley wheels attached to the lower portion of the case body for rotation about a first axis which extends substantially parallel to the rear face of the suitcase; and   a pair of inline wheels attached to the lower portion of the case body for rotation about respective second and third axes which are substantially parallel to one another, and each of which extends substantially perpendicular to the first axis,   wherein the trolley wheels extend outwardly from the rear face of the suitcase, and the in line wheels extends outwardly from the lower face of the suitcase, wherein the second and third axes are spaced apart along the lower portion in a direction parallel to the first axis, and wherein the inline wheels are located substantially centrally on the lower portion.   
     
     
         13 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the suitcase has a first position in which the trolley wheels engage a surface, and in which the inline wheels are spaced from that surface, a second position in which the inline wheels engage a surface, and in which the trolley wheels are spaced apart from that surface. 
     
     
         14 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the suitcase has a first position in which the trolley wheels engage a surface, and in which the inline wheels are spaced from that surface, a second position in which the inline wheels engage a surface, and in which the trolley wheels are spaced apart from that surface, and wherein the suitcase has an intermediate position in which neither the trolley wheels nor the inline wheels engage a surface. 
     
     
         15 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the suitcase has a first position in which the trolley wheels engage a surface, and in which the inline wheels are spaced from that surface, a second position in which the inline wheels engage a surface, and in which the trolley wheels are spaced apart from that surface, and wherein the suitcase has an intermediate position in which the trolley wheels and the inline wheels engage a surface. 
     
     
         16 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a storage box that defines a storage volume therein, the storage box being releasably located in the upper portion of the suitcase, and being removable from the upper portion of the suitcase when the closure member is in the first position.   
     
     
         17 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a storage box that defines a storage volume therein, the storage box being releasably located in the upper portion of the suitcase, and being removable from the upper portion of the suitcase when the closure member is in the first position, wherein the storage box includes a storage box body defining the storage volume, and a lid portion having a closed configuration in which the storage volume is closed, and an open configuration in which the storage volume is open. 
     
     
         18 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a storage box that defines a storage volume therein, the storage box being releasably located in the upper portion of the suitcase, and being removable from the upper portion of the suitcase when the closure member is in the first position, wherein the storage box includes a storage box body defining the storage volume, and a lid portion having a closed configuration in which the storage volume is closed, and an open configuration in which the storage volume is open, wherein the lid is rotatably attached to the storage box body. 
     
     
         19 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a storage box that defines a storage volume therein, the storage box being releasably located in the upper portion of the suitcase, and being removable from the upper portion of the suitcase when the closure member is in the first position, wherein the storage box includes a storage box body defining the storage volume, and a lid portion having a closed configuration in which the storage volume is closed, and an open configuration in which the storage volume is open, wherein the lid is rotatably attached to the storage box body, wherein the lid is adapted to seal against the storage box body in the closed configuration, thereby substantially to prevent ingress of water into the storage volume of the storage box. 
     
     
         20 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a storage box that defines a storage volume therein, the storage box being releasably located in the upper portion of the suitcase, and being removable from the upper portion of the suitcase when the closure member is in the first position, wherein the storage box includes a storage box body defining the storage volume, and a lid portion having a closed configuration in which the storage volume is closed, and an open configuration in which the storage volume is open, wherein the lid of the storage box is adapted to provide a seat surface for a user. 
     
     
         21 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a storage box that defines a storage volume therein, the storage box being releasably located in the upper portion of the suitcase, and being removable from the upper portion of the suitcase when the closure member is in the first position, wherein the storage box includes a storage box body defining the storage volume, and a lid portion having a closed configuration in which the storage volume is closed, and an open configuration in which the storage volume is open, the suitcase further comprising retaining means for retaining the storage box in the upper portion of the case body. 
     
     
         22 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a storage box that defines a storage volume therein, the storage box being releasably located in the upper portion of the suitcase, and being removable from the upper portion of the suitcase when the closure member is in the first position, wherein the storage box includes a storage box body defining the storage volume, and a lid portion having a closed configuration in which the storage volume is closed, and an open configuration in which the storage volume is open, the suitcase further comprising retaining means for retaining the storage box in the upper portion of the case body, wherein retaining means includes a resiliently biased member. 
     
     
         23 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a storage box that defines a storage volume therein, the storage box being releasably located in the upper portion of the suitcase, and being removable from the upper portion of the suitcase when the closure member is in the first position, wherein the storage box includes a storage box body defining the storage volume, and a lid portion having a closed configuration in which the storage volume is closed, and an open configuration in which the storage volume is open, the suitcase further comprising locking means for locking the storage box in the upper portion of the case body. 
     
     
         24 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a storage box that defines a storage volume therein, the storage box being releasably located in the upper portion of the suitcase, and being removable from the upper portion of the suitcase when the closure member is in the first position, wherein the storage box includes a storage box body defining the storage volume, and a lid portion having a closed configuration in which the storage volume is closed, and an open configuration in which the storage volume is open, the suitcase further comprising locking means for locking the storage box in the upper portion of the case body, wherein locking means includes a resiliently biased member. 
     
     
         25 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion is integrated with the side portions and/or front and/or rear portions. 
     
     
         26 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion is removable from the side portions, and/or front and/or rear portions. 
     
     
         27 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the lower portion is integrated with the side portions and/or front and/or rear portions. 
     
     
         28 . A suitcase as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the lower portion is removable from the side portions, and/or front and/or rear portions.