US-12622494-B2 - Zipper structure, case body, mold for manufacturing case body, and mold operation method

US12622494B2US 12622494 B2US12622494 B2US 12622494B2US-12622494-B2

Abstract

A zipper structure, a case body, a mold for manufacturing a case body, and a mold operation method. The zipper structure is for connecting an upper housing and a lower housing of a case body. The zipper structure includes two zipper bodies, each zipper body including a zipper fabric and a keel; an end of the zipper fabric is arranged with first zipper teeth, and the other end of the zipper fabric is configured to be connected to a lining fabric of the case body; the first zipper teeth of one of the two zipper bodies are configured to be engaged with the first zipper teeth of the other of the two zipper bodies; the keel is connected to the zipper fabric; each zipper body is fixed to the case body by fixedly connecting the keel to the case body.

Inventors

Changjun Guo
Changyong Huang

Assignees

CHUZHOU YUJIAN TRAVEL PRODUCT CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20240328
Priority Date: 20231229

Claims (15)

1 . A zipper structure for connecting an upper housing and a lower housing of a case body; wherein the zipper structure comprises two zipper bodies, each zipper body comprising a zipper fabric and a keel; an end of the zipper fabric is arranged with first zipper teeth, and the other end of the zipper fabric is configured to be connected to a lining fabric of the case body; the first zipper teeth of one of the two zipper bodies are configured to be engaged with the first zipper teeth of the other of the two zipper bodies; the keel is connected to the zipper fabric; each zipper body is fixed to the case body by fixedly connecting the keel to the case body.
2 . The zipper structure according to claim 1 , wherein the other end of the zipper fabric, that is opposite to the end with the first zipper teeth, is arranged with second zipper teeth to be engaged with the lining fabric, and the keel is arranged between the first zipper teeth and the second zipper teeth.
3 . The zipper structure according to claim 1 , wherein the zipper fabric comprises two portions, and the keel is configured to connect the two portions; an end of the two portions away from keel is arranged with the first zipper teeth.
4 . The zipper structure according to claim 1 , wherein the keel and the zipper fabric are in a one-piece structure; or, the keel is fixed to the fabric through a lathe stitching or an adhesive.
5 . The zipper structure according to claim 1 , wherein the keel is of a one-piece hollow type.
6 . The zipper structure according to claim 1 , wherein the keel is a segmented keel comprising a plurality of segments, in a chain shape, a snap shape, or a pleated shape.
7 . The zipper structure according to claim 1 , wherein the keel is configured to be arranged on an outer periphery of the case body and is fixed to the case body by means of a fastener or an adhesive.
8 . The zipper structure according to claim 1 , wherein the zipper fabric has elasticity.
9 . A case body, comprising two housings and the zipper structure of claim 1 ; wherein for each of the two keels: the keel is fixedly connected to a corresponding zipper fabric; and the corresponding zipper fabric is arranged on a corresponding housing; the corresponding zipper fabric is arranged with first zipper teeth, for controlling an opening and closing of the corresponding housing; the corresponding housing defines a recess for accommodating the keel; the keel is fixed within the recess for fixing the corresponding zipper fabric to the corresponding housing.
10 . The case body according to claim 9 , wherein a decorative strip is arranged at an opening of the recess to cover the keel, and an outer peripheral surface of the decorative strip is flush with an outer surface of the case body.
11 . The case body according to claim 10 , wherein the decorative strip is arranged with a first snap portion and the keel is arranged with a second snap portion; the decorative strip is fastened by snapping the first snap portion to the second snap portion.
12 . The case body according to claim 9 , wherein the keel is fixed to the recess by means of an adhesive or a fastener.
13 . The case body according to claim 9 , wherein the keel is made of plastic, soft rubber, wood, metal, or leather.
14 . The case body according to claim 9 , wherein an inner wall surface of the recess is adapted to an outer wall surface of the keel.
15 . The case body according to claim 9 , wherein an end of the corresponding zipper fabric is arranged with the first zipper teeth, and the other end of the corresponding zipper fabric is arranged with second zipper teeth; the first zipper teeth are exposed from the case body and configured to be engaged with the first zipper teeth on the other of the two zipper fabrics; the second zipper teeth are configured to be engaged with third zipper teeth on a lining fabric inside the case body.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE The present disclosure claims priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 202311870755.2, filed on Dec. 29, 2023, and No. 202311870916.8, filed on Dec. 29, 2023, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to field of luggage technologies, and more specifically to a zipper structure, a case body, a mold for manufacturing a case body, and a mold operation method. BACKGROUND Currently, trolley cases on the market can be roughly divided into two types, one being a zipper case (i.e., with a zipper to control the opening and closing of the case), and the other being a snap-lock case (i.e., with a snap-lock mechanism to control the opening and closing of the case). Since the zipper case has a larger capacity and a lighter weight, it is more convenient to use and thus more widely applied. Therefore, the zipper case occupies a dominant position in the luggage market. In the production of existing zipper cases, the zipper and the case housing are fixed together through lathe stitching by a stitcher (commonly known as: stitching machine) almost always by manual means. This production means using manual stitching requires a high level of proficiency in employee skills, which leads to problems of high defective rates, low efficiency, and high labor costs. As the competition in the manufacturing industry is getting bigger and bigger, luggage enterprises are facing industrial upgrading. When the enterprises continue to adopt this traditional zipper assembly method, they will surely lose the competitive advantage in the industry, and it is difficult for the enterprises to go farther. Moreover, the traditional zipper structure is together with a leather strip, which is stitched on the case body (housing) by manual stitching. The stitching line of the zipper is under the leather strip. The specific operation sequence is: first bonding a lining fabric and the case, and then lathe stitching the leather strip together with the zipper on the case body, which is time-consuming and must be completed by very experienced masters of stitchers. Further, manual operation of the stitchers has higher labor costs. In addition, after the traditional zipper is assembled to the case body, the leather strip or frame may be higher than the case body about 2-5 mm, affecting the overall beauty of the case body. Moreover, the traditional zipper case is straight-sided at an opening of the case, such that the opening is less strong and easy to deform. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE In order to mitigate the problems of an existing zipper case, where the production cost is high, the leather strip or frame will be higher than the case body after assembly, the opening of the case body has a poor strength, the installation is required with fully manual stitching, the defective rate is high, and the labor cost is high, the present disclosure provides the following technical solutions. A zipper structure for connecting an upper housing and a lower housing of a case body; wherein the zipper structure includes two zipper bodies, each zipper body including a zipper fabric and a keel; an end of the zipper fabric is arranged with first zipper teeth, and the other end of the zipper fabric is configured to be connected to a lining fabric of the case body; the first zipper teeth of one of the two zipper bodies are configured to be engaged with the first zipper teeth of the other of the two zipper bodies; the keel is connected to the zipper fabric; each zipper body is fixed to the case body by fixedly connecting the keel to the case body. In some embodiments, the other end of the zipper fabric, is arranged with second zipper teeth to be engaged with the lining fabric, and the keel is arranged between the first zipper teeth and the second zipper teeth. In some embodiments, the zipper fabric includes two portions, and the keel is configured to connect the two portions; an end of the two portions away from keel is arranged with the first zipper teeth. In some embodiments, the keel and the zipper fabric are in a one-piece structure; or, the keel is fixed to the fabric through a lathe stitching or an adhesive. In some embodiments, the keel is of a one-piece hollow type. In some embodiments, the keel is a segmented keel including a plurality of segments, in a chain shape, a snap shape, or a pleated shape. In some embodiments, the keel is configured to be arranged on an outer periphery of the case body and is fixed to the case body by means of a fastener or an adhesive. In some embodiments, the zipper fabric has elasticity. A case body, including two housings and a zipper structure for connecting the two housings; wherein the zipper structure includes two zipper fabrics and two keels; for each of the two keels: the keel is fixedly connected to a corresponding zipper fabric; and the corresponding zipper fabric is arranged on a corresponding housing; the corresponding zipper