JP2603901B2 - Baggage bag with intelligent opening mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

Attache cases and business cases in general typically have a portfolio section for organizing papers and a main packing section. Depending on the needs of the user, these portions can be selectively closed off. However, it is best that these sections are relatively accessible depending on whether the case is opened from the vertical position or whether the case is opened from the horizontal position. Accordingly, applicant has provided a portfolio catch system which, depending on the orientation of the case (10), holds the portfolio (20) in a closed position where the front (22) of the portfolio is attached to the lid portion (11) of the case (10), or in the alternative, if the case (10) is opened from the vertical position, the panel (22) is held to the base (14) of the case (10), thus preventing the contents of the base (14) from spilling and automatically permitting ready access to the contents of the portfolio (20). Also disclosed is a series of lid containers (13) and base containers (15) arrayed along the upper edge of the lid (11) and base (14) shells at the upper side of the case (10). These containers (13, 15) are readily accessible in all conditions of the case (10), and are especially accessible when the case is opened from the vertical position wherein access to the contents of the portfolio (20), as well as these lid and base containers (13, 15), can be readily had.

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to baggage cases, such as business or attache cases. More specifically, the present invention has two main compartments for carrying and, in some cases, organizing packed personal and business-related items, wherein the compartments are internally hinged. A case separated from each other by a separated partition panel.

Such cases generally belong to two groups. The first group is soft side cases, which are generally made of large envelope shapes and often unstructured fabric or leather-like materials.
Another common class of cases comprises a rigid outer structure or jacket divided into a lid shell and a base shell hinged together along the bottom edge. The base shell is usually equipped with a handle for carrying on the upper surface. The lid shell and the base shell are typically selectively closed to each other by a latching device.
In the business case, including a document compartment containing a number of vertically aligned flexible dividers attached to a divider panel hinged along the lower inner edge of the lid shell Is very common. The entire document compartment is held on the left and right by flexible gusset panels that allow the divider panel and the intermediate divider behind it to hinge out. This exposes paper, documents, etc. for easy access.

The base shell generally provides a large compartment for carrying clothes, bundles of paper, books and other items. An example of such a briefcase is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,756,639, assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Here, in addition to exhibiting the features described above, the case is provided with a detent 41 responsive to gravity that prevents the operation of the latch lever 17 in the event that the case is to be opened in an overturned state. This prevents the documents held in the main shell from being spilled as shown in FIG. 2 of that patent. U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,286 to Yamamoto, also assigned to the present inventor, shows an attache case with other gravity sensitive features. However, Yamamoto provides gravity-sensitive means to control the degree of opening of the lid shell instead of preventing the case from being opened at all if the case is incorrectly oriented. .
In particular, when the case is level, a ball bearing detent located in the slot of the lid stay allows the case to be completely opened. However, if the case is opened from a vertical position,
The ball drops into the slot and acts to shorten one arm of the stay. The lid shell is completely prevented from opening, so that the contents in the main shell of the case will not fall out of the case. However, at least some of the contents of the main shell will fall to the bottom of the case, even if their contents were prevented from falling completely out of the case.
When the lid is only partially open, it is difficult to close the lid because the contents (paper, pencil, tape recorder, etc.) are deposited on the bottom of the case.

One solution to this is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,11,2017. That patent shows an attache case having a divider panel hinged to the bottom wall of the base shell. If the divider is clipped in place, the contents of the base shell are hidden from view and generally prevent the contents from falling out of the case even if the case is opened other than in a horizontal position. Is done. The divider panel provides a writing surface and the case can be used as a desk. However, the partition panel must be moved from one position to another after the case is opened. Therefore, when trying to remove a shirt or the like, open the case and pull the partition pad from the position where it is latched over the shirt or the like,
The holding device must then be clipped to hold the divider pad in a vertical position within the lid. In this way, these conventional cases are designed so that the contents of the main part of the attache case are not spilled out of the case or moved to the bottom of the case, while retaining the contents to the contents of the paper compartment. There is no means for automatically permitting access. All of the above conventional cases automatically allow access to the document compartment of the case when the case is opened from a vertical position and the base of the case when the case is opened from a horizontal position. It does not provide a means to allow access to the contents in the shell.

Also, these conventional attache cases do not have a way to organize small items, such as pencils, sunglasses, etc., to allow easy access when the case is only partially open. One conventional case has something like a pencil box,
The boxes are arranged along the hinged side of the case, and the user must fully open the case to easily access these small items. Many attache cases also have small pockets for air tickets, business cards, etc. along the front of the paper compartment panel. Again, in order to access these relatively small and flat articles, the case is opened substantially completely, exposing the base shell or allowing such contents to drain and The case must be prevented from completely closing again.

There are external zippered pockets to access internal and external compartments, etc. on the soft and hard sides, business cases with extra pencils and luggage. Such extra compartments allow selective access to the contents of the case, i.e., keep the parts of the case closed while opening these extra compartments. However, such extra access openings complicate the construction of the case and separate locks and latches must be provided if security compensation is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, Applicants have provided a base shell and a lid shell, and a document compartment that is normally carried within the lid shell, the document compartment along the bottom edge thereof. Hinged front panel, means for holding the front panel in the open or closed position relative to the lid shell, and flexible means for attaching the front panel side and the lid shell side. Invented a case with gussets.

The lid shell has a height dimension, and the front panel of the paper compartment extends over a portion of the height from the hinged side of the shell toward the upper edge of the shell. Means are provided at the upper edge of the divider panel for releasably attaching the divider panel to the lid shell or to the base shell, thereby allowing the lid shell from the base shell to be hinged. Preferably, the degree of opening is limited by the degree to which the divider compartment panel of the document compartment can be opened when the divider panel is attached to the base shell. The means for securing includes projection means disposed on the front panel of the document compartment, first means carried on the base shell for releasably retaining the projections, and releasable projection means. Second means are carried on the lid shell for holding.

A lid shell and a base shell, and means for selectively holding the lid shell and the base shell together in the form of a latch, wherein the lid shell is hinged to the base shell; Cases are also provided where the shell defines a lid compartment and the base shell defines a main compartment. Inside the case is located an internal panel for closing the main compartment and lid compartment. First means are provided for automatically holding the panel in a first position where the panel closes the main compartment when the case is opened from a generally vertical position. The means also retains the panel in a second position where the panel closes the lid compartment when the case is opened from a substantially horizontal position.

Also provided is a case comprising a lid shell, a base shell, hinges along the joining edges of these shells, and means for selectively holding the lid shell and the base shell together to close the case. Is done. The lid shell defines a lid compartment, and the base shell defines a main stuffing compartment.
You. The lid compartment usually carries a paper compartment. The paper compartment includes a panel defining its front face, and a bellows gusset extending between the sides of the panel and the interior of the lid shell. Means are provided for holding the panels in alternating positions, the means operative to hold the panels in a first position in the lid shell or a second position in the base shell;
This selective positioning is based on the lid shell and base
Acts while the shell is in the closed position. The means for this operation comprises a first hook pivoted on the lid shell, the hook for positioning the hook in engagement with the front panel when the case is in the horizontal position. A pendulum for sensing the direction of gravity pull and releasing the panel when the case is in the vertical position, said means further comprising a second hook positioned and carried by the base shell. I have. This second hook senses the direction of gravity and positions the hook to engage the panel when the case is in the vertical position, but provides a pendulum means for releasing the panel when the case is in the horizontal position. I have it.

The first and second hook means are positioned with respect to each other to engage with each other when the case is in the vertical position. More specifically, the second hook forces the first hook out of engagement with the panel when the second hook rotates in response to gravity when the case is in the vertical position. And leg means for causing it to move.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows an attache case according to the invention in an open position.

FIG. 2 shows a broken portion of the case of FIG. 1 with the lid shell opened from a horizontal position.

FIG. 3 shows the case of FIG. 1 after being opened in a vertical position.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway view of details of the attache case of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the case after opening in a vertical position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The attache case 10 has an overall shape and structure similar to a conventional attache case. As in its conventional case, this case comprises a lid shell 11 defining a lid compartment 12 defined by a space contained within the lid shell. This case further comprises a base shell structurally similar to the lid shell. This base shell 14
It defines a volume that makes up a main compartment 17 that is usually larger than the lid compartment 12. The lid shell 11 and the base shell 14 are hinged to one another along their lower joining edges 24 in a known manner. The lid shell and the base shell are selectively held together by a latch hook 18 selectively received in a latch hook receiver 19 in the base shell. The latch hook 18 is actuated by a pivotally mounted latch lever that rotates it out of a locked engagement in the receptacle 19. The latching mechanism may include a locking device such as a conventional key lock or perhaps a combination lock as is known in the luggage art. The base shell includes a carrying handle 21 shown here installed in the cavity along the top side of the base shell. More conventional handle mechanisms having a handle or shoulder strap attached to the top surface of the base shell are also contemplated.

The lid shell compartment comprises a divider panel 22 which is typically made of a thin but rigid and aesthetic material,
It is mainly occupied by paper compartments with bellows gussets made of flexible cloth, leather, three or leathery material. These bellows gussets have a generally triangular overall shape, which can pivot the panel 22 around a lower edge at the lower edge of the lid compartment to show the contents of the lid compartment .

On either side of the paper compartment there is a hinged stay 25 of known construction. This limits the range of pivoting of the lid shell about hinge 24.

A pair of rod members 36 and 36 are attached along the upper horizontal edge of panel 22. These rod members 36
Form corresponding projecting ends projecting from their sides. The upper edge of the panel defines a paper compartment height that is substantially less than the overall height of the lid shell 11 and the lid compartment defined therein. Panel 22
One or more lid containers 13 are present in the space between the upper edge of the shell compartment and the upper edge of the shell compartment.
While these lid containers can take many forms, such as zippered pouches made of leather or fabric, in a preferred embodiment they are hinged around the lower edge to allow access to compartment 13. It is defined by a box with a simple moving spring loaded hinged door. The importance of this new configuration is described below.

Similarly, main compartment 17 may include one or more base compartments.
The container 15 is provided. Like the lid container 13, these containers can take many forms, but generally have hinged lids that pivot about the bottom edge (when the case is in a vertical position). It is shown as defined by a box-like structure. Once again, these compartments or containers and their location within the base shell will be shown in more detail.

The panel 22 is held in the position shown in FIG. 1 by a pair of paper catches 30 which engage the protruding end of at least one of the rods 36.

Referring to FIG. 2, details of this configuration are shown. The catch 30 includes a box 31 holding a first pivot member 32 for relatively free pivoting about the illustrated axis. The first pivot member is a first hook which can selectively engage rod member 36 as shown.
Contains 32a. The first pivot member further includes a pendulum portion 33 that responds to gravity pull. In the position shown in FIG. 2, the pendulum member 33 applies a counterclockwise rotational torque about the axis, causing the hook member 32a to securely engage the protruding end of the rod 36. The second box 38 is constructed similarly to the box 31 and is positioned directly opposite the base compartment 17 and
Attached to the inner side wall of shell 14. The first box and the second box have mating surfaces 35 to help align the box and the members contained therein when the lid shell and the base shell are closed together. May be included.

The second pivot member 34 is pivotally mounted inside the second box 38 for free rotation. This second pivoting member is formed by a second pendulum part 39 integral with the second pendulum part 39 which also responds to the pull of gravity by orienting itself by gravity.
Has a hook 34a. Projecting arm 40 is pendulum part 3
Forming part of nine. As will be described, this protruding arm 40 engages the first pivot member 32 under certain conditions and through its gravitational force on the pendulum member 34
Can be rotated. Second box
38 has a semi-cylindrical recess for receiving and precisely positioning the rod member 36 when the lid shell and base shell are closed together.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
Is held in the closed position by the hook portion 32a of the first pivot member 32. In this way, the paper case catch 30 and
Its counterpart 30 on the other side of the case can be manually released from the case when the case is brought to the condition of FIG. 1 to allow access to the contents of the case. Of course, the contents of lid container 13 and base container 15 can be easily removed by flipping and opening their doors using the illustrated finger holes.

When the lid shell and base shell are closed from each other and moved from the horizontal position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to the vertical closed position shown in FIG. 3, the first and second pivot members are moved. Engaging with each other and simultaneously releasing the first rotary member 32 from the end of the rod member 36 from its locked engagement state;
Then, the second hook member 34a is engaged with the second rod member 36. This is best seen with reference to FIG. Here, the second pivot member 34 has moved clockwise with respect to the case. The engagement surfaces 35 of the first and second boxes are precisely positioned relative to each other on all parts, and the semi-cylindrical notch of the second box 38 allows both rods 36 and 36 to be precisely aligned with the various hook parts. It is held in a state of alignment. The second pivot member 34 rotates to move the projecting arm 40 to the pendulum portion 33 of the first pivot member 32.
Note that it is engaged with. The pendulum member 33 tends to stay in the position shown in FIG. 2, but is overpowered by the larger mass of member 34 when the protruding arm 40 is engaged. Therefore, the first hook
32a comes off the end of the rod 36. When the case is opened from the vertical position where the second pivot member 34 and its corresponding hook 34a engage the rod 36, the configuration of FIG. 5 results. In particular, panel 22 is retained by second pivot member 34 so as to close most, if not all, of the base compartment of base shell 14. At the same time, bellows gussets 23 are pulled to their open position to expose the contents of the paper compartment. Gusset 23 is sized to allow the lid shell to be opened substantially but to a limited extent. Therefore, the degree to which the lid shell pivots out of its vertical orientation and opens
Limited by bellows sides, not by 25.

In this way, the contents of the main compartment 17 are held in place, so that the contents do not spill out and make it impossible to completely close the case again. In the position shown in FIG. 5 also, access to the contents of the document compartment was made very convenient with the various parts of the document compartment arranged so that the user could access it from the top of the case. Also, the contents of the lid container 13 and the base container 15 can be easily arranged because they are arranged along the upper edges of the lid and the base shell which stand on the side of the opened and arranged contents of the document holding area. Can access.

In this way, the disclosed attache case automatically and immediately responds to different requests of the user, depending on whether the case is opened from a horizontal position or whether the case is opened from a vertical position. It has been made to be. This new feature eliminates the need for the user to first open the case and determine whether the main stowage compartment should be closed for access or inspection, or whether the paper compartment should be opened for inspection. Done. In this way, the disadvantages of the prior art case are successfully overcome. In each case, when the case is opened from the vertical position, the contents of the main compartment 17 are substantially prevented from being inadvertently spilled or visible.

It should be understood that other configurations are contemplated by the present invention. Although a pair of rods having protruding ends 36 and 36 are shown, other configurations are readily possible if hooks 32a and 34a need to alternately engage only one rod. This is because the projecting legs 40 are slightly biased and pivoted to allow the hook portions to pass through each other and engage different portions of the same rod 36.
This can easily be done if 32 and 34 are offset from each other. Also, although a simple pendulum weight is shown, other gravity-sensitive means are also contemplated. A mercury switch or some type of orientation sensing means may be adapted to control the electromagnetic catch to achieve the same operation.

Also, while the orientation of the case has been used to trigger various functions of the paper compartment latch member, other means are within the scope of the invention. For example, a separate latch operable from the outside before the case is opened to secure the panel to the base shell or to the lid shell is clearly possible. Also, other attachment or locking functions may be triggered by the carrying handle 21. For example, when the handle 21 is in the vertical position as shown in FIG. 5, the paper compartment is held in the base shell as shown, and the mechanical A linkage may be provided. But,
When the handle 21 is in the position shown in FIG. 1, the panel is held in the closed position on the lid shell.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of a business case, the teaching is that the outer pocket or access panel is inadequate or not provided, but the user will be able to use the contents of the case lid when the case is in a vertical position. And / or could be readily applied to other types of luggage that would like to access the contents of a small compartment arranged along the upper part of the case.

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. A base shell, a lid shell hinged to the base shell along one bottom side, a handle on an upper side of the case, and positioned between the base shell and the lid shell. A lid panel hinged near the bottom side of the base shell inside the case and means for holding the partition panel in an open or closed position relative to the lid shell; The shell has a height dimension, and the partition panel extends a part of the height dimension from the hinged side of the lid shell toward the upper edge of the case; At least one closable pocket is disposed inside the shell at least one between the upper edge of the case and the partition panel.
A case wherein means for holding the shell in an open or closed position relative to the shell is located at or below the upper edge of the partition panel. 2. A case according to claim 1, wherein said partition panel is attached to said lid shell by means of a flexible means, and said partition panel is attached to said lid shell or said base shell.
Means at the upper edge of the divider panel for releasable attachment to the shell, the degree of opening of the lid shell from the base lid about the hinged side flexibly attaches the divider panel. Said case adapted to be defined by means. 3. A case according to claim 2, wherein said means for releasably mounting comprises: projecting means arranged on said partition plate; first means for holding said projecting means on a base shell; Said case comprising second means carried by the lid shell releasably holding the means to the lid shell. 4. The case of claim 3 wherein said means for releasably mounting comprises means for sensing the orientation of said case, and wherein said case is opened from a generally vertical orientation. The case wherein the first means holds the projecting means, and wherein the second means holds the projecting means when the case is opened from a generally horizontal orientation. . 5. A lid shell and a base shell,
Means for selectively holding the lid shell and the base shell together, wherein the lid shell comprises a base shell;
Interior hinged to the shell, with the lid shell defining the lid compartment, and the base shell defining the main compartment, and located within the case to close the main and lid compartments A panel and a lid that automatically holds the panel in a first position that closes the main compartment when the case is opened from a generally vertical position and the case is opened from a substantially horizontal position. A case with means for automatically holding the panel in the second position to close the compartment. 6. A case according to claim 5, wherein the case is an attache case, and the panel is a front panel of a document holder attached to a lid panel.
The front panel is dimensioned to allow the panel to hinge out of the lid compartment when the means for automatically retaining does not hold the panel in the second position. Said case secured to the lid compartment by bellows gussets extending between the front panel and the sides of the lid compartment. 7. A lid shell, a base shell, hinges along a joining edge of these shells, and selectively holding the lid shell and the base shell together in a closed position for closing the case. A latch shell means, a lid shell defining a lid compartment, and a base shell defining a main compartment, further comprising a paper compartment normally carried within the lid compartment; The paper compartment includes a panel defining its front, a flexible gusset extending between the panel and the sides of the lid shell, and means for holding the panel in an alternating position. The means is operable to selectively hold the panel in a first position in the lid shell or in a second position for selectively holding the panel in the base shell. And, both the selection holding operation of said means the case where the lid shell and base shell are adapted to be performed when in the closed position. 8. The case of claim 7, wherein the holding means senses the direction of gravity and releases the panel when the case is in the horizontal position and releases the panel when the case is in the vertical position. Comprising a first hook carried on the lid shell with a pendulum portion for positioning the hook so that the means further comprises a second hook carried on the base shell; The second hook having a pendulum portion that senses the direction of gravity and engages the panel when the case is in the horizontal position and releases the panel when the case is in the vertical position. 9. The case of claim 8, wherein the cases are positioned relative to each other to selectively engage with each other depending on whether the case is in a vertical position or a horizontal position. 10. The case of claim 9, wherein the second hook contacts the first hook when the second hook rotates in response to gravity when the case is rotated to a vertical position and the second hook contacts the first hook. The case comprising leg means for pushing the hook of one of the two to release the panel from the engaged state.