The present invention relates to a suitcase, more particularly a suitcase comprising articulated rigid shells that are designed to be connected together by a zipper, having a removable internal lining.

These known rigid suitcases have two mutually hinged plastic shells, which are designed to be closed by a zipper to define an internal useful space. Usually, suitcases of this type comprise an internal lining, generally made of fabric, which are laid substantially over the entire internal surface of each shell. The internal lining has both an aesthetic purpose, i.e. to conceal the inner surface of the shells, and a hygienic purpose, i.e. to allow the material that contacts the garments in the suitcase to be washed.

In a first type of suitcases, linings are glued to the shells and a layer of polyurethane foam may be possibly interposed between the shell and the lining, for the interior of the suitcase to be soft to the touch. Each portion of the zipper that closes the two shells is glued or sewn to the edge of its respective shell. While this type of suitcases may be fabricated at low cost and have a low sales price, they cannot meet the hygienic requirements of users. This is because the internal lining cannot be removed from the shells, and cannot be washed.

In a second type of suitcases the above drawback is obviated, as disclosed in WO2012/107389, i.e. with each lining designed to be removable from its shell. Particularly, a plastic bead is sewn to the free edge of the lining, and is designed to be slidably fitted into a groove formed in a plastic frame that is rigidly joined to the shell. The frame is sewn to a soft ribbon, which is in turn sewn to the free edge of the shell. A respective portion of a zipper is also sewn to the free edge, such that the shells may be closed against each other. As the bead is slid off the groove, the lining can be removed from the suitcase.

While this second type of suitcases allows removal of the lining, it involves high fabrication costs, because a great number of parts are required to join the lining to the shell and a great number of sewing (or gluing) operations must be carried out. This reflects in high manufacturing costs for the suitcase, due to the great number of parts to be purchased and especially to the time required to carry out the great number of sewing and gluing operations (which inherently require the human work of skilled personnel) .

Furthermore, the final aesthetic aspect is not always satisfactory, mainly for two reasons. The first reason is that the bead and the groove, which are made of plastic, do not go well together with the (much more refined) fabric material of the lining. The second reason is that the relative rigidity of the plastic groove and bead (which is required to prevent the bead from accidentally coming off the groove) causes puckering and/or curling at the corners of the suitcase, in the frame with the groove and/or the lining at its junction with the bead. Furthermore, removal and insertion of the lining is not very easy, because the bead must be slid in the groove until the bead comes out of a free edge of the frame with the groove. During such operation, the lining shall translate with the bead, and will thus tend to pucker and in the worst cases to tear.

Therefore, the technical purpose of the present invention is to provide a suitcase with a removable internal lining which is free of the prior art drawbacks.

Particularly, the present invention has the object of providing a suitcase with a removable internal lining that can be fabricated in an easy, quick and cost- effective manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a suitcase with a removable internal lining that has a superior final aspect and continuity between the materials of the lining and the shell of the suitcase. Yet another purpose of the present invention is to provide a suitcase with a removable internal lining that affords very easy removal and insertion of the lining.

The above mentioned technical purpose and objects are substantially fulfilled by a suitcase with a removable internal lining that comprises the technical features as disclosed in one or more of the accompanying claims.

Further characteristics and advantages of the suitcase of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of a few preferred embodiments thereof, which are given by way of illustration and without limitation with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

- Figure 1 is a partially broken away view of a shell of a suitcase with a removable internal frame of the present invention;

- Figure 2 shows the suitcase of Figure 1 in its closed configuration;

- Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a detail of the suitcase of Figure 1;

- Figure 4 shows a detail of the enlarged view of Figure 3;

- Figure 5 shows an enlarged view of an alternative embodiment of the detail of the suitcase of Figure 1; and - Figure 6 shows a detail of Figure 5.

Referring to the accompanying figures, a suitcase with a removable internal lining of the invention has been generally designated by numeral 1.

The suitcase 1 comprises a first shell 2 and a second shell 3, which are articulated to close and open the suitcase. In the embodiment of the accompanying figures, the two shells 2, 3 have been shown as substantially identical for clarity. Nevertheless, the two shells 2, 3 may have non-identical shapes to meet functional and/or aesthetic requirements of the suitcase. Each shell has a respective free edge 2a (the free edge of the first shell 2 has been only shown in the accompanying figures) which delimits the side walls 4 of the shell, such walls being in turn connected to a respective bottom wall 5. The free edges of the shells 2, 3 may have respective edge stiffening frames (not shown) which are attached to their respective shells by gluing or are co-molded therewith.

The two shells 2, 3 are closed against each other using a zipper 6. Particularly, the zipper 6 has a first portion 7 connected to least one zone of the free edge 2a of the first shell 2 and a second portion 7, connected to at least one zone of the free edge of the second shell 3. The first portion 7 and the second portion 8 of the zipper 6 extend along at least three quarters of the entire perimeter of each free edge. Preferably, the zipper 6 covers the whole extent of the free edges of each shell. The first portion 7 and, the second portion 8 of the zipper 6 have respective first teeth 7a, 8a engaged by a first sliding clip 9 of the zipper (Figure 2) Preferably, two first sliding clips 9 are provided to more easily open and close the suitcase. The first portion of the zipper 6 comprises a first tape 10 placed on an outer surface of the free edge 2a of the first shell 2 and a second tape 11 placed within the first shell 2. The first teeth 7a are placed at respective first ends of the first tape 10 and the second tape 11, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The first tape 10 and the second tape 11 are joined together at their respective first ends, from which the first teeth 7a extend. Alternatively, the first tape 10 and the second tape 11 form a single body from which the first teeth 7a protrude and divide such single body into the first and second tapes.

Likewise, the second portion 8 of the zipper 6 comprises a first tape placed on an outer surface of the free edge of the second shell 3 and a second tape placed within the second shell 3. The first teeth 8a are placed at respective first ends of the first tape and the second The first tape 10 of the first portion 7 of the zipper 6 is sewn on the free edge of the first shell, such that the first teeth 7a protrude away from the free edge. Likewise, the first tape of the second portion 8 of the zipper 6 is sewn on the free edge of the second shell, such that the first teeth 8a protrude away from the free edge. Preferably, also the second tape 11 of the first portion 7 and the second tape of the second portion 8 are sewn to the respective free edge of the first 2 and second shells 3, such that the zipper 6 is firmly connected to the above mentioned free edges of the shells. It shall be noted that the first and second tapes of the first portion 7 or second portion 8 of the zipper 6 may be sewn to the respective free edges with a single seam that extends throughout the thickness of the free edge. Thus, a single seam is used to attach each portion 7, 8 of the zipper 6 to the free edge of its respective shell. In one embodiment of the invention, only the first tapes of the first portion 7 or the second portion 8 of the zipper 6 are sewn to their respective free edge, whereas the second tapes are not sewn to the free edge. In this case, each zipper portion is joined to its respective shell only by the respective first tape (the second tape being in any case joined to the first tape) . The suitcase 1 also comprises at least one lining 12 placed within the suitcase. Preferably, there are two linings 12, i.e. one in the first shell and one in the second shell (the accompanying figures only show the lining in the first shell 2) . Preferably, each lining 12 lies substantially parallel to the bottom wall 5 of its respective shell and the side wall 4 thereof, to cover the interior of the shell (see Figure 1) . The lining 12 comprises an opening 12a and preferably means for retaining the content while the suitcase 1 is being closed. The lining 12 is one of the fabric accessories that typically equip a suitcase, and may be also configured as an internal partition.

Advantageously, the first portion 7 of the zipper 6 comprises second teeth 13 engaged by coupling members 17 which are in turn operative on the lining 12 such that the latter and the first shell 2 are removably connected to each other.

It shall be noted that the second tape 11 extends substantially from the first teeth 7a to the second teeth 13. In other words, the first and second teeth are supported by the same piece of material.

In the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6, the coupling members 17 comprise a pair of opposed projections 18 with a cavity 19 defined therebetween (see Figure 6) . The projections 18 are designed to encircle the second teeth 12 to hold them in the cavity 19, as shown in Figure 5. The projections 19 are joined by an arched bottom wall 20. It shall be noted that the projections 18 are not identical; one projection 18 being greater than the other projection 18 to encircle the second teeth 13 and slide relative to them. The bottom wall 20 is joined to a hem 21 which is rigidly joined to the lining 12.

The projections 18 and the bottom wall 20 are made of a rigid plastic material with a hardness D as measured in the Shore scale. The hem 21 is made of a soft plastic material with a hardness A is measured in the Shore scale .

In the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, the coupling members 18 comprise a second sliding clip 14 which in turn engages third teeth 15 rigidly joined to the lining 12. Thus, the lining 12 and the first shell 2 are removably connected to each other. In ^' -, other words, the zipper 6 that closes the two shells against each other also connects the lining 12 to the first shell 2. The second teeth 13 are placed on the second tape 11 of the first portion 7 of the zipper 6 and engage, by the second sliding clip 14, the third teeth 15 that are connected to the lining 12, as shown in Figure 3. Particularly, the second teeth 13 are placed at a second end of the second tape 7 which is opposite to the first end thereof, where the first teeth 7a are placed. The third teeth 15 are carried by a third tape 16, which is rigidly joined (e.g. sewn) to the lining 12. Preferably, the third tape 16 is attached to the entire free edge of the lining 12, such that the latter is entirely surrounded by the tape 16 and the third teeth 15.

The first tape 10 and the second tape 11 are made of a flexible material, such as cotton fabric or a plastic fabric. Furthermore, at least the second tape 11 of each portion 7, 8 of the zipper 6 may be made of fabric, with a weft having some or all of its yarns made of an elastic material. Thus, due to their flexibility, the tapes may follow the edge of the shell without puckering or curling at the corners of the shell, thereby imparting a superior appearance to the interior of the suitcase. The third tape 16 is also made of a flexible material, such as a cotton fabric or a plastic fabric, such that it may be continuously coupled to the second tape 11 of the zipper 6.

If a second lining is provided, in association with the second shell, the second portion 8 of the zipper 6 has the same structure as the above described first zipper portion 7.

According to the above description, a zipper 6 is used which has, as mentioned above, two substantially identical portions 7, 8, each associable with a free edge of a respective shell. Each portion 7, 8 of the zipper 6 has two series of teeth 13, which are designed to be engaged by respective sliding clips (or similar means), with both series of teeth being carried by a single tape (the second tape 11). An additional (first) tape extends from the second tape over the free edge of a suitcase shell to provide a stable joint of the zipper portion to the shell. The third tape of the zipper 6, which is designed be joined to the second tape by means of their respective series of teeth is sewn to the lining to join and if needed release the latter to and from the suitcase 1.

Therefore, a single zipper 6 may be used to close the two suitcase shells and removably insert one or two linings into the suitcase in a simple, inexpensive and reliable manner and with a superior aesthetic effect.

While the suitcase 1 has been disclosed hereintofore as a rigid suitcase having the shape of a parallelepiped, the suitcase 1 may be also a soft suitcase having a shape that may be even substantially other than a parallelepiped.

The above disclosure clearly shows that the invention fulfills the intended objects. Those skilled in the art will obviously appreciate that a number of changes and variants may be made to the suitcase of the invention as described hereinbefore to meet specific needs, e.g. by equipping the suitcase with a pull-out handle and/or a plurality of wheels for transportation, without departure from the scope of the invention, as defined in the ^' following claims.