GB2519583A

GB2519583A - Instrument case

Info

Publication number: GB2519583A
Application number: GB1318945.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Babatope Agbeyo
Original assignee: CORNFIELD TRANSNAT Ltd
Current assignee: CORNFIELD TRANSNAT Ltd
Priority date: 2013-10-28
Filing date: 2013-10-28
Publication date: 2015-04-29
Also published as: GB201318945D0; WO2015063586A1; AP2016009237A0; ZA201603738B

Abstract

An instrument case, especially for use by students in examination conditions. The instrument case comprises a lid 2 which locates over a base 6 formed with side walls 8 to define a shallow receptacle for receiving various drawing and/or geometrical instruments 12. The lid 2 of the instrument case is formed at least partially from a transparent material whereby at least parts of the interior of the instrument case are visible when the lid is closed.

Description

INSTRUMENT CASE

This invention relates to a closable instrument case for retaining inter ails a calculator and various drawing and other instruments used paroicularly by students and more especially to such a case for use by students in examination conditions.

Closable instrument cases, often referred to as pencil cases, for retaining a variety of drawing and geometric instruments are well known. Typically, many of such instruments are used by students during the course of examinations together with calculators, these being taken by students into examinations in closable instrument cases typically produced from a metallic or opaque plastics material. The use of such materials for producing instrument cases means that the contents of such cases are not visible externally. This has led to problems caused by students bringing unauthorised material and devices into examinations hidden within such instrument cases.

This problem is overcome, or at least alleviated, with instrument cases in accordance with the invention.

According to the present invention in one aspect there is provided an instrument case, especially for use by students in examination conditions, which comprises a lid which locates over a base formed with side walls to define a shallow receptacle for receiving various drawing and/or geometrical instruments, the lid being formed at least partially from a transparent material whereby at least parts of the interior of the instrument case are visible when the lid is closed.

The lid of the instrument case may be entirely produced from a transparent plastics or other material. The walls of the instrument case may also or alternatively be produced from a transparent plastics or oiher material.

The instrument case may include a calculator secured to the internal or external surface of the lid of the instrument case.

The calculator may be secured to the internal surface of the instrument case lid with the keys of the calculator exposed only when the lid is open.

The surface of the calculaor may comprise a touch screen for operating the keys of the computer.

In another aspect, the invention is directed to a closable instrument case constructed, at least partially, from a transparent material.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view fran above of one embodiment of an instrument case in accordance with the invention when open; Figure 2 is a plan view from above of the instrument case illustrated in Figure 1 when closed; Figures 3 and 4 are respectively side and end views of the instrument case shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figures 5 to 7 are respectively a plan view from above, a side view and an end view of an alternative instrument case in accordance with the invention; and Figures 8 to 10 are respectively a plan view from above, a side view and an end view of a still further instrument case in accordance with the invention.

The instrument case illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 comprises a lid 2 connected through hinges 4 to a base 6 formed with side and end walls 8, 10. The base defines a shallow receptacle to receIve a plurality of drawing and geometrical or like instruments 12. The instruments present in the case could be different from those shown, the instruments 12 only being illustrated as indicative of the species of instruments which might be present in the case. The instruments are typically positioned within suitably shaped depressions formed within a plastics holder 14.

Secured to the underside of the lid 2 is a calculator 16.

As will best be seen from Figure 2, the lid 2 is produced from a transparent material to enable the instrument case interior to be visible through a section 18 not covered by the calculator when the lid 2 is closed. In this embodiment, the key pad of the calculator is accessible only when the lid 2 is open.

The calculator may be secured to the underside of the lid by an adhesive or by screws. Indeed any conventional way of securing the calculator to the lid may be employed.

As shown, the lid 2 is produced entirely from a transparent material with the calculator secured to the under surface of the lid. Alternatively, the exposed surface of the lid 2 may comprise in combination, the under surface of the calculator 16 and a section of suitably dimensioned transparent material.

In the instrument case illustrated in Figures 5 to 7 the calculator 16 is positioned on the outer surface of the lid 2 so enabling its key board to be accessed when the instrument case is closed.

As shown in Figure 6, the calculator is upstanding from the surface of the lid. In an alternative arrangement, the lid is recessed to receive the calculator. In this alternative arrangement, only the keys of the keypad of the calculator are upstanding from the surface of the lid.

Turning now to the instrument case illustrated in Figures 8 to 10, in this embodiment of the invention the calculator 16 is built into the lid of the case with its upper or undersuface of the lid defining a touch screen2o for the calculator.

In a preferred embodiment the calculator is a non-programmable computer having in excess of 400 functions and is manufactured with examination and/or learning situations in mind. Such a computer, particularly one for use in examination conditions, will be silent with no audio or noisy keys, cordless in the sennse of not being dependent on a mains power supply, and inoluding dry non-programmable batteries. The computer will preferably have no facility for a magnetic card input or plug-in modules of program instruction.

In an unillustrated embodiment, the instrument case includes no calculator secured to or built into its lid.

In this embodiment, the entire upper surface of the instrument case is transparent. The side walls and base of the instrument case may also, or alternatively, be transparent.

As mentioned previously, one main advantage of instrument oases in accordance with the invention is that they assist invigilators in preventing examinees from carrying into an examination unauthorised items which could provide unacceptable assistance to the examinee to answer examination questions. The transparent lid of such an instrument case will either discourage items being brought into an examination or make such items more apparent to invigilators.

The transparent lid also has the advantage of enabling a student to recognise if an important item is missing from his or her instrument case.

It is envisaged that instrument cases in accordance with the present invention containing only instruments relevant to the examination to be undertaken will be handed to examinees as they enter an examination venue, no other instruments being permitted to be brought to the respective examination by the examinees.

It will be understood that the foregoing is merely exemplary of instrument cases in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made without departing from the invention as set out in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An instrument case, especially fcr use by students in examination conditions, which comprises a lid which locates over a base formed with side walls to define a shallow receptacle for receiving various drawing and/cr geometrical instruments, the lid being formed at least partially from a transparent material whereby at least parts of the interior of the instrument case are visible when the lid is closed.
2. An instrument case as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lid of the instrument case is entirely produced from a transparent plastics or other material.
3. An instrument case as claimed in claim 1 or claim2 wherein the walls of the instrument case are also or alternatively produced from a transparent plastics or other material.
4. An instrument case as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein it also includes a calculator secured to the internal or external surface of the lid of the instrument case.
5. An instrument case as claimed in claim 4 wherein the calculator is secured to the internal surface of the instrument case lid with the keys of the computer exposed only when the lid is in its open position.
6. An instrument case as claimed in claim 4 wherein the exposed surface of the calculator comprises a touch screen for operation the keys of the computer.
7. A closable instrument case constructed at least partially from a transparent material.