PERFECTED LINED ARTICLE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a perfected lined article provided with layers of lining that can be associated with the article at least to preserve its integrity over time and to confer upon it a particular esthetic value.

Possible applications of the present invention, although not exclusive, can be for articles that define a containing compartment such as, merely by way of example, a case to contain objects, for example makeup and/or cosmetics, although applications for containing other objects such as crayons, coloring pencils or felt-tip pens or other are not excluded. Here and hereafter in the description, the word "case" shall include cases as such, and also handbags, clutch bags, bags, pouches, wallets, purses, pockets, haversacks, suitcases, spectacle cases, costume jewelry cases and in general containers for the most varied uses.

Other applications of the present invention can be provided for articles like furniture such as chairs, armchairs, sofas, deck chairs, or linings for furnishing elements or street furnishing elements or other seating elements, such as the seats of vehicles, or articles of clothing such as clothes, hats, shoes or suchlike.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to associate with articles linings which have not only a protective function but also the function of containing objects in general.

For example cases or bags are known, provided with a casing that generally defines the overall shape of the case.

The casing defines a containing compartment in which objects are placed.

Examples of such cases or bags are described, merely by way of example, in documents US-A-201 1/182532, US-A-2009/194541, US-A-2007/089818, US-A- 2014/140643 and CA-A-2.254.687.

In the field of cosmetics, cases are also known, provided with a layer of lining disposed inside the containing compartment and that functions as a protective layer against wear and dirt for the internal surface of the casing. The layer of lining is interposed between the casing and the objects contained inside the case. The layer of lining is generally attached to the casing non-removably, for example by gluing, heat-welding or stitching, and serves to waterproof the whole case. By the term non-removably we mean that the layer of lining cannot be removed from the casing except by reciprocally damaging them.

It is also known that the layer of lining gets dirty easily, and in some cases it is very complicated to clean it, for example because some articles, such as cosmetics for example, are water resistant, or because some casings by their very nature cannot be subjected to cleaning treatments without being damaged.

In the field of cosmetics, the case described in US-A-2009/0194541 is also known, in which the layer of lining is associated with the casing with removable attachment elements, which enables the layer of lining to be separated from the casing.

In this solution, however, it is particularly complicated for the operator to replace or restore the layer of lining.

In the first case the operator must have other layers of lining that are outside the casing and therefore must be purchased for the purpose or, if they are supplied at the moment the case is purchased, they must be preserved over time in different places for subsequent use.

In the second case, restoration may require washing operations or stain removal on the layer of lining, which in some cases can be particularly complex and at times can damage the layer of lining itself.

Articles of furniture are also known, such as chairs, armchairs, sofas, used in the domestic, medical or hotel field or other, and which are lined with a lining in order to preserve the integrity of the article over time.

The lining is usually associated removably, so that it can be removed from the article and can for example be replaced or washed or restored. These operations are particularly complex and burdensome, at least in terms of time.

Consequently, the lining is left in use for a long time, even when it is dirty and/or contaminated by use by many people.

There is therefore a need to perfect a lined article that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to obtain a perfected lined article in which the integrity of the article, both in terms of structure and of quality and also for example in terms of hygiene, can easily be restored over time, also increasing its duration over time.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a lined article which can be kept clean.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a lined article in which the external appearance can easily be modified, for example in order to modify the esthetics thereof.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a lined article, such as a case to contain objects, which allows to keep the containing compartment always clean.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a lined article, such as a case to contain objects, which has a long working life.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a lined article, such as a case to contain objects, which preserves its level of presentability and practicality for an extended time.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a lined article, such as a case to contain objects, which is simple and easy to make.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, a perfected lined article is provided with at least one casing and at least one layer of lining associated with the casing.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the lined article comprises a plurality of layers of lining disposed one on top of the other and, in their turn, each attached to the casing in a selectively removable manner.

Each layer of lining can therefore be selectively removed from the casing for example when it is dirty and/or at the user's discretion. Below the layer of lining, another layer of lining is left in place, which restores the integrity of the article and confers for example a particular esthetic value upon it, or for example restores its condition of cleanliness.

Indeed, the user can decide to replace the casing with another casing that is already disposed under the casing that is removed, or can decide to leave the visible surface of the casing directly in view, if it is the last layer of lining that is removed.

One advantage of the present invention is therefore the hygienic aspect, because by removing the layer of lining it is possible to restore the article in question, substantially as new, so that it can be re-used, while maintaining, as we said, the hygienic aspect.

According to a possible form of embodiment, the layers of lining can have different characteristics, for example colors, textures and finishings, and the user, removing the layers of lining, can decide which to leave in use.

These solutions allow to increase the overall working life of an article and to preserve at least the casing from wear, which can be made of precious material, such as for example leather, artificial leather or other materials. Furthermore, as we said, a considerable advantage is obtained in terms of hygiene.

Other forms of embodiment described here concern a method to produce a perfected lined article provided with at least one casing and at least one layer of lining associated with said casing. According to one form of embodiment, the method provides to make a plurality of said layers of lining disposed one on top of the other and to attach them, in their turn, each to said casing in a selectively removable manner.

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood with reference to the following description, drawings and attached claims. The drawings, which are integrated and form part of the present description, show some forms of embodiment of the present invention, and together with the description, are intended to describe the principles of the disclosure.

The various aspects and characteristics described in the present description can be applied individually where possible. These individual aspects, for example aspects and characteristics described in the attached dependent claims, can be the object of divisional applications.

It is understood that any aspect or characteristic that is discovered, during the patenting process, to be already known, shall not be claimed and shall be the object of a disclaimer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some forms of embodiment, given as a non- restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is an overall perspective view of a lined article according to the present invention;

- figs. 2-1 1 are partial sectioned perspective views of forms of embodiment of a lined article according to the present invention;

- figs. 12-15 show other variant forms of embodiment of a lined article according to the present invention.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one form of embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other forms of embodiment without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME FORMS OF EMBODIMENT

We shall now refer in detail to the various forms of embodiment of the present invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawing. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one form of embodiment can be adopted on, or in association with, other forms of embodiment to produce another form of embodiment. It is understood that the present invention shall include all such modifications and variants.

Before describing these forms of embodiment, we must also clarify that the present description is not limited in its application to details of the construction and disposition of the components as described in the following description using the attached drawings. The present description can provide other forms of embodiment and can be obtained or executed in various other ways. We must also clarify that the phraseology and terminology used here is for the purposes of description only, and cannot be considered as limitative.

Forms of embodiment of the present invention concern a lined article 10 comprising at least a casing 12 and a plurality of layers of lining 15 associated with the casing 12.

In particular, according to the present invention the layers of lining 15 are disposed one on top of the other and, in their turn, are attached to the casing 12 in a selectively removable manner.

With reference to figs. 1-1 1, possible forms of embodiment are shown of the lined article, in this case a case 10, to contain objects.

The case 10 comprises the casing 12, which in this case defines a containing compartment 13 inside which the objects are placed.

The casing 12 can have any shape whatsoever, for example cylindrical, spherical or parallelepiped.

The casing 12 can be defined by a single layer suitably shaped to define the containing compartment 13 or, in other forms of embodiment, it can be obtained by the reciprocal connection of several layers, for example connection by stitching, gluing or other connection methods.

The casing 12 can be made of flexible material, merely by way of example a polymer material, a textile material, leather, imitation leather, non-woven fabric or other types of material suitable for the purpose.

According to some forms of embodiment, the casing 12 can be provided with an aperture 1 1 to allow access to the containing compartment 13 defined by the casing 12.

Opening/closing means 19 can be associated with the aperture 1 1 , configured to selectively open/close the containing compartment 13 and to allow to introduce and/or extract objects therein/therefrom.

The opening/closing means 19 can be chosen from a group comprising at least a zip (fig. 1), a clip, Velcro, buttons or other similar or comparable means suitable for the purpose. In some forms of embodiment the layers of lining 15 are located inside the containing compartment 13 and attached to the casing 12 in a selectively removable manner.

The user can therefore remove the layer of lining 15 that needs cleaning, without necessarily cleaning and/or washing the whole case 10.

According to a possible form of embodiment, the layers of lining 15 line substantially the whole internal surface of the casing 12 defining the compartment 13 containing the objects. In this way, the layers of lining 15 can be disposed one on top of the other resting on the casing 12 and therefore, in this case, against the whole containing compartment 13.

According to possible forms of embodiment, the layers of lining 15 are attached to the casing 12 in correspondence and peripherally to said aperture 1 1. In this way, the containing compartment 13 is completely lined by the layers of lining 15 and the objects are put directly resting on one of the layers of lining 15, preserving the integrity and cleanliness of the internal surface of the casing 12.

Each layer of lining 15 can be attached in correspondence with an end edge.

The layer of lining 15 can be made of flexible material, for example any one of a textile material, a polymer material, a non-woven fabric, natural fibers or artificial fibers.

According to the forms of embodiment shown in figs. 1-3, at least one of the layers of lining 15 is attached to the casing 12 by stitches 21.

According to one possible solution, the stitches 21 can be made in correspondence with and peripherally to the aperture 1 1 of the casing 12.

According to a possible solution (figs. 2 and 3), precuts 23, also intended as lines with a simplified breakage or incisions, can be made in the layer of lining 15 according to a closed-ring path which, during use, surrounds the aperture 1 1 of the casing 12. The layer of lining 15 can be torn along the precuts 23 for the selective removal thereof.

According to a possible form of embodiment shown for example in fig. 2, the stitches 21 define the precuts 23 or holes in the layer of lining 15, along which the layer of lining 15 can be torn to be selectively removed, leaving the stitches 21 in place. In particular, it is provided that during the stitching operations, the needle used for stitching perforates the layer of lining 15, generating said precuts 23.

According to a variant of fig. 3, the layers of lining 15 can be attached to the casing 12 directly or indirectly, using attachment techniques other than stitching, for example heat-welding, gluing, ultrasound welding or other techniques. In this case the layer of lining 15 is removed by tearing it along the precut lines 23, or simplified breakage lines.

According to a variant, at least one of the layers of lining 15 is attached to the casing 12 by one or more heat- welding lines.

In this case the heat- welding lines act as precuts 23 and/or simplified breakage lines in order to remove the layer of lining 15. The heat- welding lines determine a localized weakening of the layer of lining 15, thus allowing easy tearing.

According to a variant, shown in fig. 3 for example, the precuts 23 can be made in the thickness of the layer of lining 15 in an offset position, or distanced from the position where the layer of lining 15 is attached to the casing 12.

According to the form of embodiment shown in fig. 3, the precuts 23 are made offset toward the inside of the containing compartment 13 with respect to the stitches 21.

Once one of the layers of lining 15 has been removed, between the stitches 21 and the precuts 23 a residual portion 22 of the layer of lining 15 is generated, which remains fixed inside the casing 12.

According to one solution, the layers of lining 15, or at least one of them, are made of a polymer layer, not of fibers. This type of material avoids creating residues during the traction of the layer of lining 15 and facilitates the tearing operations of the latter, so it can be selectively removed.

According to a possible form of embodiment, an actuation element 20 or tongue can be attached to each layer of lining 15. In this way, by exerting a traction on the actuation element 20 it is possible to generate a tearing of the precuts 23 to selectively remove the layer of lining 15.

In such forms of embodiment, once the actuation element 20 has been pulled, a tearing is created in the precuts 23, obtaining a definitive removal of the layer of lining 15. By definitive removal we mean that the layer of lining 15 removed cannot be attached again to the casing 12. Consequently the layer of lining 15 is eliminated definitively.

According to the forms of embodiment shown in figs. 2 and 3, the actuation element 20 is attached to the respective layer of lining 15 in proximity to said precuts 23 or lines of simplified breakage. In this way a direct action is obtained on the removed portion of the material. According to another form of embodiment, shown in fig. 6, the actuation element 20 can be attached to the layer of lining 15 in correspondence with the bottom of the containing compartment 13. In this case the actuation element 20 is actuated with an upward traction of the whole layer of lining 15 which is to be removed, to generate the subsequent tearing of the layer of lining 15.

According to another form of embodiment, shown in fig. 7, the actuation element 20 can be attached to the layer of lining 15 at two attachment zones distanced from each other, for example opposite. The attachment zones can be provided in proximity to the stitches 21 or the precuts 23, on opposite sides of the layer of lining 15.

According to another form of embodiment, shown in figs. 8 and 9, the actuation element 20 is attached to the respective layer of lining 15, and extends peripherally according to a closed-ring path in proximity to the connection zone to the casing 12.

According to the form of embodiment shown in fig. 8, the actuation element 20 is attached on the external surface of the layer of lining 15, that is, the surface visible from inside the containing compartment 13.

The actuation element 20 can include a free terminal end 33 to allow the traction of the actuation element 20.

According to the form of embodiment in fig. 9, the actuation element 20 is attached on the internal surface of the layer of lining 15, that is, the surface facing toward the casing 12. In this way the actuation element 20 is not visible to the user during normal use of the case 10. According to this form of embodiment, the layer of lining 15 is provided with an eyelet 32 through which a terminal end 33 of the actuation element 20 protrudes so that it can be gripped by the user. According to the variant in fig. 8, the actuation element 20 is attached to the layer of lining 15 by means of stitching, and the stitches 21 define the precuts 23 along which the layer of lining 15 can be torn.

In the variant shown in fig. 9, the actuation element 20 is attached to the layer of lining 15 using substantially known methods, for example gluing, heat- welding or other, and the precuts 23 or incisions are made between the connection zone of the layers of lining 15 to the casing 12 and the actuation element 20. In this way by acting on the actuation element 20, the tearing of the respective layer of lining 15 is generated along the precuts 23.

According to the form of embodiment shown in figs. 8 and 9, the actuation element 20 can be chosen from a group comprising a cord, a strip, a wire, or any material suitable for the purpose.

In forms of embodiment shown in figs. 2, 3, 6-1 1 and which can be combined with all the forms of embodiment described here, the layers of lining 15 are disposed one inside the other and, in turn, are each attached to the casing 12 in a selectively removable manner.

According to a possible form of embodiment, all the layers of lining 15 can be attached to the casing 12 by the stitches 21. In this form of embodiment, once one layer of lining 15 has been removed, the user can use the case 10 with the clean layer of lining 15, under the one removed and eliminated. In these forms of embodiment, the working life of the case 10 depends on the number of layers of lining 15 that are provided inside the containing compartment 13. In particular, the more layers of lining 15 are provided inside the containing compartment 13, the longer the life of the case 10 will be.

According to a possible form of embodiment, shown for example in figs. 10 and 1 1, if there is more than one layer of lining 15, they comprise a connection band 29, in proximity to their terminal edge, connected during use to the casing 12 and on which the precuts 23, incisions or simplified breakage lines are made. The layer of lining 15 is attached to the respective connection band 29 using any attachment technique, for example gluing, heat- welding, ultrasound or stitching.

The connection band 29 can be attached to the casing 12 by stitching as shown in fig. 10, or other attachment techniques. According to a variant in fig. 10, the stitches 21 provided to connect the connection band 29 to the casing 12 define the precuts 23 along which it is possible to remove the layer of lining 15.

According to a variant of fig. 10, the precuts 23 or incisions can be made directly in the connection band 29.

According to the variant of fig. 1 1 , the actuation element 20 is attached in the connection band 29, in an intermediate position between its joining zones with the casing 12 and the layer of lining 15, in substantially the same way as described with reference to figs. 8 and 9.

In the variant of fig. 1 1 , the actuation element 20 is attached to the connection band 29 by stitches 21 which define the precuts 23.

According to a variant, the actuation element 20 is attached to the connection band 29 in substantially known manner and the precuts 23 are provided between the actuation element 20 and the connection zone of the connection band 29 to the casing 12.

According to possible solutions, the connection band 29 can be provided with a free end 28, not connected to the casing 12, which allows the user to act upon it in order to generate the tearing of the layer of lining 15.

The solutions described above relating to the presence of a connection band 29 allow to make the layer of lining 15 of any material whatsoever, even if it is not easily tearable, such as for example a fabric or any material that has fibers.

According to a possible form of embodiment, shown for example with reference to figs. 4 and 5, the layer of lining 15 can be attached to the casing 12 by attachment elements 17.

The attachment elements 17 can comprise at least one of either a zip (fig. 4), Velcro (fig. 5), clips or other attachment elements suitable for the purpose.

With reference to fig. 4, the layer of lining 15 is attached to the casing 12 by a zip 24.

In particular, the zip 24 comprises a first toothed strip 24a attached to the casing 12 in correspondence with the aperture 1 1, a second toothed strip 24b attached in correspondence with an end edge of the layer of lining 15 and a slider 25 able to be selectively activated to connect the first toothed strip 24a and the second toothed strip 24b. By activating the slider 25 it is therefore possible to de-couple the first toothed strip 24a from the second toothed strip 24b, thus allowing to de-couple the layer of lining 15 from the casing 12.

The removal can be temporary, because the layer of lining 15 removed, once cleaned and/or washed, can be attached again to the casing 12.

Consequently, the case 10 can be re-used with the layer of lining 15 removed and cleaned, or with a new layer of lining 15, to be attached to the first toothed strip 24a.

In other forms of embodiment, the attachment elements 17 comprise a strip of Velcro 26 interposed between the layer of lining 15 and the casing 12, as in fig. 5, and/or between the different layers of lining 15, if a plurality thereof is provided.

The Velcro 26 can comprise a first strip attached to a perimeter edge of the casing 12 and a second strip attached peripherally to the end edge of the layer of lining 15, and able to be selectively coupled with the first strip.

For the forms of embodiment shown in figs. 4 and 5 too, the case 10 can comprise a plurality of layers of lining 15 disposed in the containing compartment 13, each of which can be attached to the casing 12 with its own attachment elements 17.

Figs. 12-15 show other variant forms of embodiment of the lined article 10 according to the present invention.

In particular, fig. 12 shows a possible application of the lined article 10 applied to articles of clothing.

The lined article 10, in this case a pocket, comprises a casing 12, for example at least a part of fabric of an article of clothing to which the layers of lining 15 are associated.

The layers of lining 15 are disposed one on top of the other and connected to the casing 12 by one or another of the forms of embodiment described above.

According to the solution described in fig. 12, the casing 12 also comprises an aperture 1 1 for access to a containing compartment 13 and the layers of lining 15 are attached to the casing 12 in correspondence with the aperture 1 1. Fig. 13 shows another application of the present invention, in which the lined article comprises a hat, and the casing 12 in this case has a structural function and in practice defines the structural body of the hat.

The casing 12 also defines the containing compartment 13 and the layers of lining 15 are attached in the latter according to one of the methods described above.

Fig. 14 shows another application of the present invention to a lined article 10 which in this case comprises an article of footwear.

The casing 12 defines the upper and the bottom of the article of footwear, for example functioning as a sole.

In this case too, the casing 12 defines a containing compartment 13 into which a user's foot is inserted.

The layers of lining 15 are associated with the casing 12, located one on top of the other and attached to the casing 12 according to one of the connection methods described above.

Fig. 15 shows another solution of a lined article 10 which in this case comprises an article of furniture, that is, a chair, an armchair, a sofa or suchlike. In the same way, the invention can also be applied to street furnishing elements or other seating elements, such as automobile seats.

The lined article 10 in this case comprises a structural body 34 provided with at least one peripheral surface that defines the casing 12.

According to this solution, the layers of lining 15 are disposed above the peripheral surface and are connected to the latter by at least one of the connection methods described above.

In particular, it can be provided that the layers of lining 15 are positioned resting on and adhering to the structural body 34, one on top of the other, and line at least one surface portion thereof.

With this solution, every time that a layer of lining 15 is removed, leaving the underlying layer of lining in place, the conditions of the lined article can be restored, and therefore a clean article can be obtained, with different esthetic properties from the previous ones. It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the lined article as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of lined article, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.