Briefcase having shock-absorbing function

• US 6,073,770 A
• Filed: 10/13/1998
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sang Jun Park
• Original Assignee: Sang Jun Park
• Inventors: Park, Sang Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, LUAN KIM
• Application Number:
  US09/170,403
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 206/522, 206/523, 206/586, 206/591, 206/592, 206/594, 206/576, 206/320, 206/305, 383/3
• US Class Current: 206/522
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/02 Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/021 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2013/025 for holding portable computers or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/00 Rigid or semi-rigid luggage collapsible or extensible luggage, bags or the like A45C7/00

Abstract

A briefcase having shock-absorbing functions includes a plurality of shock-absorbing air pads 70 each of which comprises an inner skin 76 and an outer skin 78. A pair of foaming elements 82 are intervened between the inner skin 76 and the outer skin 78 such that they are spaced apart by a distance. The pair of foaming elements 82 define a first shock-absorbing section 72 and a second shock-absorbing section 74 in the shock-absorbing air pad 70. The first shock-absorbing section 72 and the second shock-absorbing section 74 are filled with an air of a predetermined pressure, and the first shock-absorbing section 72 and the second shock-absorbing section 74 are connected to each other by a connection part 84 which is composed only of the inner skin 76 and the outer skin 78. An air passage 86 is defined in the connection part 84 for communicating the first shock-absorbing section 72 and the second shock-absorbing section 74 which are filled with the air.

Claims

1. A briefcase for receiving an article comprising;

a body;

a cover, each said body and said cover having a bottom wall and a side wall; and

a plurality of air pads, each said air pads being detachably attached to a corner portion of a side wall of the body and cover for absorbing an impact force applied to the side wall, each said air pad comprises

an air-impermeable outer skin detachably attached to the side wall,

an air-impermeable inner skin integrally coupled to the outer skin,

a pair of foaming elements intervened between the outer skin and the inner skin so that the foaming elements are spaced apart by a distance thereby defining a first shock-absorbing section and a second shock-absorbing section at both sides of the corner portion, respectively,

a connecting part defining an air passage to connect the first with the second shock-absorbing sections to allow the first and second shock-absorbing sections to communicate with each other.

2. A briefcase for receiving an article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foaming element is bonded to the outer skin and the inner skin by an adhesive.

3. A briefcase for receiving an article as claimed in claim 1, wherein each foaming element comprises a first foaming piece having a ductility for primarily absorbing the impact force applied to the side wall, a second foaming piece stacked onto the first foaming piece and having a rigidity larger than that of the first foaming piece for secondarily absorbing a portion of the impact force not absorbed by the first foaming piece, and a third foaming piece stacked onto the second foaming piece and having another rigidity larger than that of the second foaming piece for thirdly absorbing another portion of the impact force not absorbed by the second foaming piece.

4. A briefcase for receiving an article as claimed in claim 1, wherein an upper surface and a lower surface of each foaming element are formed with a plurality of grooves, respectively, into which an air of a predetermined pressure is filled so that the impact force applied to the side wall is sequentially absorbed by the foaming element and the air filled into the plurality of grooves.

5. A briefcase for receiving an article as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the bottom wall and the side wall comprises an outer shell and an inner shell, and wherein the briefcase further comprises first air supplying means for supplying air between the outer shell and the inner shell thereby defining a first air layer between the outer shell and the inner shell.

6. A briefcase for receiving an article as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

air supplying means for supplying air between the outer skin and the inner skin of the air pad thereby defining an air layer between the outer skin and the inner skin.

7. A briefcase for receiving an article as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of the first and second air supplying means comprises a pump and a check valve, whereby air pressures in the first and second air layers can be adjusted as occasion calls.

8. A briefcase for receiving an article as claimed in claim 2, wherein each foaming element comprises a first foaming piece having a ductility for primarily absorbing the impact force applied to the side wall, a second foaming piece stacked onto the first foaming piece and having a rigidity larger than that of the first foaming piece for secondarily absorbing a portion of the impact force not absorbed by the first foaming piece, and a third foaming piece stacked onto the second foaming piece and having another rigidity larger than that of the second foaming piece for thirdly absorbing another portion of the impact force not absorbed by the second foaming piece.

9. A briefcase for receiving an article as claimed in claim 6, wherein the air supplying means comprises a pump and a check valve, whereby air pressures in the first and second air layers can be adjusted.

10. A briefcase for receiving an article as claimed in claim 5, wherein the outer skin and the inner skin composing the air pad are made from urethane, and the outer shell and the inner shell composing the bottom wall and side wall are made from a combination of cloth and urethane.

11. A briefcase for receiving an article as claimed in claim 5, wherein edges of the outer skin and the inner skin composing the air pad, and edges of the outer shell and the inner shell composing the bottom wall and side wall are fused to each other, respectively, by an ultrasonic wave to prevent air from leaking.