GB295247A - Improvements in expanding suit-cases, trunks, boxes and the like, and extensible fastenings suitable for use therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

295,247. Winning, J. F. F., Torr, F. P., and Hilton, A., (trading as Bag Frame & Components Co.). May 6, 1927. Fastenings for suit cases.-Relates to extensible fastenings for suit-cases, trunks, boxes, &c. of the kind comprising a main portion closed at the bottom, an intermediate portion open top and bottom and slidable within the main portion, and a lid adapted to close on to the intermediate portion. Four extensible fastening devices are employed, one disposed in each comer of the case. Each device comprises members 8, 9, Figs. 5, 6, in telescopic engagement, the former secured at 10 to the main portion 1 of the case and the part 9 secured at 11 to the intermediate-portion 2. The tubular portion 9 carries a detent or pawl adapted to engage with the part 8 which is in the form of a rack, and pawl-controlling members 12 on the parts 9 are connected together in pairs at the ends of the case by link bars 13, also shown in Fig. 4. Within the channel formed by the outwardly-extending flanges 19 on the part 9 is arranged on a guide rod 21 a spring 20 normally tending to separate parts 8 and 9. Part 9 also carries a slide 22, Fig. 6, with outwardly-extending flanges 23, these parts being secured together and to the case part 2 by rivets passing through the flanges 19, 23. The part 9 carries the pivoted detent 24 shown enlarged in Fig. 8, and comprising a plate with a bifurcated stepped finger 26 and a bifurcated eye 28 between the parts of which a coiled spring 29, Fig. 5, is fitted to urge the fingers 26 into engagement with perforations 30 provided in the face of the member 8, preferably by a number of equally-spaced saw-cuts and constituting the teeth of the rack. The bifurcated tooth of the detent finger is curved on one side at 31 to afford a one-way ratchet effect. The pawl-controlling member 12, which slides longitudinally within the channel member 22 within which it is retained by punched-out tongues 32, 39, the latter acting as stops for the detent, carries a slender finger 34, Fig. 7, with a T-shaped extremity 35. The, finger passes between the detent-teeth 26 the extremity lying boneath the flat-main portion 25, so that when the member 12 is moved upwardly, its extremity will act in wedge-fashion to raise the detent as it passes beneath the stepped part 27 thereof. With the detent thus raised the fingers 26 are held free from the teeth of the rack. In addition to the finger 34 the part 12 has two tongues 38 adapted to slide over the parts 27 of the detent fingers and to lock them in positive engagement with the rack. It is formed with a central slot 40 within which engages a tongue 41 punched from the part 8 and extending through a corresponding slot in the member 22. The member 12 extends upwardly beyond the part 9 and is pivotally attached at 43 to on.e end of the link bar 13, the other end of which is similarly attached to an identical device 7 at the adjacent corner of the case. The part 8 has secured to it a bracket portion 44 formed with attachment flanges 45 adapted to be secured to the main portion of the case. To maintain the main and intermediate portion of the case portions in engagemert a slotted plate 70, Figs. 4, 9, may be secured to the intermediate case port 2 and a channel 72 formed in the wall for the reception of the head 73 of a stud 74 secured in the wall of the main portion of the case. The operation of the device is as follows :-Assuming that the case is set adjusted to smallest capacity and that it is desired to pack other articles, the lid is opened and the link members 13 are engaged by the fingers and pulled upwardly; the detents are thereby released and the intermediate case portion can be raised to the required extent and packed. If the space now available is too great the intermediate case part can be depressed again to adjust the capacity. The link members 13 can then be pressed down to lock the detents with the rack. The operating members 12, or preferably the link members 13, are so disposed that they will be engaged by the lid in the closed position so ensuring that the intermediate case part will be automatically locked in position when the case is closed. The Specification states that the detent may be operated from different positions from those described above, for example from the exterior of the case.