US1224250A - Wardrobe-suitcase. - Google Patents

Description

G. H. WHEARY WARDROBE SUITCASE.

' APPLICATION FIL'ED APR. 29,1914. I 1,2%,25B Patented May1,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- W/T/VE 5555 j A TTUFNEYE e. H.- WHEARY. WARDROBE SUITCASE.

\ APPLICATION FILED.APR. 20. 1914. 134 5 Patented May1,1917. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 W/TNEEEEE m M V A TTUFQNE Y5.

e. H. WHEARY.

WARDROBE SUITCASE. W APPLICATlON FILED APR.20. 191 4.

Patented May 1, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A TTUFR'NE Y5.

GEORGE HENRY wnnmmor RACINE, WISCONSIN.

WARDROBE-SUITCASE.

Specification of Letters I atent.

Patented Ma 1, 191?.

Application filed April 20, 1914. Serial No. 833,065.

v of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wardrobe- Suitcases, of

which the following is a description, refer- I ence being had to the accompanying drawings. which are a part of this specification. This invention relates to improvements in wardrobe suit-cases.

In many parts of the world the traveler is compelled to pay excess charges on the total weight of baggage carried and consequently many travelers will not travel with trunks, the expense being too great, and instead they use large size valises or hand baggage, which need not be checked and can be carried into the compartments of the conveyance in which they travel.

In the ordinary valises or hand baggage now in use, the garments are tightly folded and packed into the compartments thereof andnaturally become badly wrinkled and have to be pressed before they are in suitable condition to be again worn.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to overcome the before mentioned objectionable features and provide a valise or wardrobe suit-case so constructed as to possess all of the advantages of the modern wardrobe trunk and still be of a size and weight to be conveniently carried as hand baggage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wardrobe suit-case having a ward robe section for garments of outer wear and another section divided into a number of compartments for containing smallerarticles of wearing apparel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a Wardrobe suit-case of such size and weight as to permit a number of cases being carried into the state rooms of steamships and railway cars and which will occupy but little space and will enable the traveler to have all of the conveniences in his sleeping compartment as he would have in a hotel and while traveling with a trunk.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wardrobe suit-case which is also adapted for use as a sample case in which agents can properly and conveniently display samples of articles to be sold to customers while in the case, and the agents can easily carry the case from store to store and display the articles in perfect condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wardrobe suit-case in which the wardrobe section may be swung to a vertical position and is provided with garment supporting means which may be pulled out of the section while supporting garments to permit easy access to the garments carried thereby.

A further object of. the invention is to provide a wardrobe suit-case in which the portion of the suit-case which covers the wardrobe section maybe swung to closed position while the wardrobe section is in open or upright position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wardrobe suit-case having a wardrobe section provided with garment hangers and extensible hanger tracks which may be swung outwardly from the section to permit the garment hangers being pulled out- Wardly to positions of easy accessibility.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wardrobe suit-case in which the Wardrobe section of the case is provided with means for retaining the garments in the position in which they are placed in the case whereby they are securely held against disarrangement While the suit-case is closed and is being moved about.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wardrobe suit-case in which the wardrobe section thereof is .provided with a hinged and padded end to permit convenient access to the garments supported on the hangers and to also yieldingly bind and hold the hangers and the garments supported thereon in position upon the hanger tracks.

A further object of the invention is to provide a Wardrobe suit-case which is of simple construction, is light in weight and strong and durable and is Well adapted for the purpose described;

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists of the improved wardrobe suit-case and its parts and combina-- tions as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference charactei's indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of theimproved wardrobe. suit-case shown in open position;

Fig.2 is an end viewthereof in .the same -posltlon a portion of the retainer bar and one of the side members which is engaged by the bar, v

the said member being shown as spaced from the bar; and

Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view of the retainer bar.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 10 indicates the improved wardrobe valise or suit-case which is of rectangular form and is divided lengthwise to form the body portion 11 and the cover portion 12 hinged thereto. The case is preferably formed of very, light weight ply board covered with any suitable light weight material to give an ornate appearance to the case and is provided with a handle 13 and the usual locking fixtures and reinforcing parts.

The body portion is subdivided by parti tions 14 into a number of compartments 15 which are adapted to receive various articles of wear and toilet articles.

The end wall 16 of the body portion of Y the case terminates at a point below the upper edge of the said portion and a panel 17 hinged to the upper edge portion of said end serves to close the open portion of said end. The panel carries a tray 18 which is adapted to be swung into and out of the body portion of the case and when within the said portion, the tray rests upon the upper edges of the compartment partitions. The tray when within the body portion projects upwardly therefrom and into the cover portion and its side and end walls 19, 20 and 20' are overlapped by the side and end fianges 21 of the cover. The tray is so mounted on the panel that when the wardly to open position and serve to prevent the tray from swinging beyond a vertical position. 'A gravity dog 25, pivoted to the inner side of the front wall of the body portion of the case. and adjacent to the inner end of the arm 23 of the front bracket 22, is provided with a shoulder 25 which is adapted to drop beneath the end of the arm and lock the tray to which the bracket is connected in upright position. In order to close the tray it is only necessary to swing the dog out of engagement with the arm and swing the tray to closed position within the body portion of the case. The lower edge portion of the shoulder 25 is rounded so that when the tray is swung to open position the dog will automatically engage the arm and lock the tray in its open position.

Fixed wardrobe hanger tracks or rails 26 mounted in the upper or unhinged end portion of the tray are provided with extensible ends 27 which are hinged to the outer ends of the fixed rails in a manner to permit their being swung horizontally out of the tray and in longltudinal alinement with the fixed rails. The fixed tracks project outwardly froma U-shaped reinforcing bar 28 which is secured to the inner surfaces of the upper edge portions of the back or bottom and side walls of the tray. The

outer end portions of the fixed. tracks are 7 also connected tothe side walls of the tray and to the side stems 29 of the reinforcing bar 28 by. 'U-shaped brackets 30. Garment hangers 31 slidably mounted on the'tracks are provided with upper straight edge portions 31 which extend substantially from one track to the other and are adapted to embed into a pad 32 interposed between the said hangers and the end wall 20 of the tray and preferably carried by said end wall. The rear edge portion of the endwall is hinged to the rear or bottom wall of the tray so that when the end wall or cover is swung upwardly to open position, the garment hangers are released and may be slid outwardly on the extensible tracks.

When garments are draped over the upper edge portions of the hangers they will also embed into the pad and be firmly held in posltlon without-injury to the garments.

The tray is also provided with a clothes retainer bar 33 which extends transversely of the tray and its opposite ends are provided with guide plates 34 which engage guide bars 35 mounted on the opposite side walls of the tray. The "guide plates are provided with T-shaped slots 34' to receive the guide bars 35 and form the overlapping shoulders 36 which extend around the upper and lower edges of the guide bars and to the outer sides thereof, the bars being spaced from the side walls of the tray to accommodate the shoulders'36. The forward end spacing bends 35 of the guide bars are of less width than the guide portions to permit the guide plates to easily slip off the ends of the said guide bars. Rod bolts 37 mounted on the front face of the pressure bar extend to the outer ends of said bar and are adapted to enter bolt openings or perforations 38 formed in the guide bars 35 to lock the pressure bar in adjusted position. The outer end portions of the rod bolts are guided in the plates 34 and the inner ends extend to a medial portion of the retainer bar and are guided in a slotted guide plate 39 mounted on the said retainer bar. The said inner ends of the rod bolts are bent at right angles to form operating fingers 40 and extend through the slots 41 of the slot ted guide plate 39. The operating fingers 40 extend sufficiently close to one another to be grasped by the thumb and forefinger of the user, and a coiled spring 42 mounted in the slotted plate and interposed between the inner ends of the rod bolts is adapted to yieldingly hold the said rod bolts in looking position. The outer ends of these bolts are beveled or cut oil" at an angle as indicated by the numeral 43 to provide for the automatic engagement of the bolts with the locking apertures when the pressure bar is forced inwardly against the garments supported by the hangers.

In order to lock the end cover 20 of the wardrobe section in closed position the outer ends of the extensible rods are provided with angular members 44 which engage the looped plates 45 mounted on the inner face of the forward edge portion of the end cover when the extensible ends are swung to closed position.

The suit-case cover 12 is limited in its upward movement and is held in open position by a slotted link 46 which is pivoted to the cover flange and has a slidable engagement with the body portion of the case.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the Wardrobe valise or suit-case provides a hand baggage which is of simple construction and possesses substantially all of the advantages of a wardrobe trunk.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A wardrobe valise or suit-case, comprising a casing formed of a body portion having a cover hinged thereto, a wardrobe section having one of its end portions hinged to one of the end portions of the body and adapted to be swung to an upright position,

said wardrobe section having an open end provided with a hlnged end cover, a pair of garment hanger tracks mounted in the Wardrobe section adjacent to the wardrobe section cover, garment hangers removably mounted on said tracks, and a pad interposed between the wardrobe section end cover and the hangers and into which the hangers embed.

2A wardrobe valise or suit-case, comprising a casing formed of a body portion having a cover hinged thereto,'a wardrobe section having one of its end portions hinged to one of the end portions of the body and adapted to be swung to an upright position outside of the casing, said wardrobe section having an open end provided with a hinged end cover, a pair of fixed garment hanger tracks mounted within the wardrobe section, extensible tracks hinged to swing out of the wardrobe section and to aline with the fixed tracks, garment hangers slidably mounted on the tracks, a retainer bar adjustably mounted within the wardrobe section and adapted to engage garments supported on the hangers, and a pad interposed between the hangers and the wardrobe section end cover and into which the hangers embed.

3. A wardrobe valise or suit-case, comprising a casing formed of a body portion section and adapted to engage garments supported on the hangers, and a pad inter- 'bar adjustably mounted within the wardrobe posed between the hangers and the wardrobe section end cover and into which the hangers embed.

4. A Wardrobe valise or suit-case, comprising a casing formed of a body portion having a cover hinged thereto, a wardrobe section having one of its end portions hinged to one of the end portions of the body and adapted to be swung to an upright position outside of the body portion to permit the cover being swung to closed position while the Wardrobe section is inv upright position, said Wardrobe section having an open end, a hinged end cover for said end, a pair of fixed hanger tracks mounted within the wardrobe section adjacent to the open end, extensible tracks hinged to the outer ends of the fixed tracks and adapted to swing outwardly and to aline with the fixed tracks, garment hangers slidably. Y

mounted on the tracks, a retainer bar adjustably mounted within the wardrobe section being provided with a plurality of partitions and with a hinged end panel adapted to "swing outwardly, the partitions approximately corresponding in height to the height of the end wall to which the panel is connected, a wardrobe section having one of its end portions connected to the panel and said section adapted to swing with said panel and when within the casing to rest upon the partitions, stop means for limiting the movement of the wardrobe section to a vertical position, means for locking the wardrobe section in vertical position, tlie free end portion of said wardrobe section being open and having an end cover hinged to the bottom or rear wall of the said section, fixed tracks mounted within the wardrobe section, extensible tracks hinged to the outer ends of the fixed rails and adapted to be swung horizontally outwardly to aline 3 with the fixed tracks and to be swung inwardly to lock the top cover in closed position, and garment hangers mounted on said tracks.

6. A wardrobe valise or suit-case, comprising a casing formed of a body portion having a cover hinged thereto, the body portion being provided with a plurality of partitions and with a hinged end panel adapted to swing outwardly, the partitions ap- 40 proximately corresponding in height to the height of the end wall to which the panel is connected, a wardrobe section having one of its end portions connected to the panel and said section adapted to swing with said panel and when within the casini g to rest upon the partitions, stop means or limiting the movement of the wardrobe section to a vertical position, means for locking the wardrobe section in vertical position, fixed tracks mounted within the wardrobe section, extensible tracks hinged to the outer ends of the fixed rails and adapted to be swung horizontally outwardly to aline with the fixed tracks and to be swung inwardly to lock the top cover in closed position, and

garment hangers mounted on said tracks.

7. A. wardrobe valise' or suit-case, comprising a casing formed of a body portion and a cover hinged thereto, a handle con- 6o nect-cd to a medial part of one of the side walls of the body portion, a wardrobe sec tion mounted within the body portion and adapted to be moved to an upright position outside of the casing, said wardrobe section having an open end provided with a hinged end cover, a garment hanger support mounted within the wardrobe section adjacent to the open end, garment hangers mounted on said support, and a pad interposed between the garment hangers and the wardrobe section end cover.

8. A wardrobe valise or suit-case, comprising a casing formed of a body portion and a cover hinged thereto, a handle connected to a medial part of one of the side walls of the body portion, a wardrobe section mounted within the body portion and adapted to be moved to an upright position outside of the casing, said wardrobe section having an open end provided with a hinged end cover, means for holding the wardrobe section in upright position, fixed garment hanger tracks mounted within the wardrobe section'adjacent to the open end, garment hangers slidably mounted on the tracks, extensible tracks hinged to the outer ends of the fixed tracks and adapted to be swung horizontally out of the section and into alinement with the fixed rails, means carried by the extensible tracks for locking the wardrobe section cover in closed position, and a pad interposed between the garment hangers and the wardrobe section end cover and into which the garment hangers embed.

9. A wardrobe valise or suit-case, comprising a body portion, a handle connected to a medial part of one of the side walls of the body portion, a wardrobe section hinged to one end part of the body portion and movable to a position into the body portion and through the open top to a vertical position outside of the body portion, said wardrobe section being in the form of a tray wheniwithin the body portion and having a bottom portion with side and end portions connected thereto and movable therewith and an open top, said open top facing outwardly from the body portion when in vertical position and said tray bottom serving to support wearing apparel suspended within the section when said section is in closed position, one of the end portions of the tray having a hinged connection with the tray bottom and serving as an end cover for said tray, hanger tracks mounted within the tray adjacent to the end cover, garment hangers mounted on sa d tracks for supporting the wearing apparel when the tray is in vertical position, a pad interposed between the-garment hangers and the tray end cover and into which the hangers embed, and a cover hinged to one side of the body portion and adapted to cover the open part of the body portion and the tray, said section when in a vertical position being out of the path of movement of the body portion cover.

10. A wardrobe valiseor suit-case, comprising a body portion.a handle connected to a medial part of one of the side walls of on body portion, a wardrobe section hinged to one end part of the body portion and movable to a position into the body portion and through the open top to a vertical position outside of the body portion, said wardrobe section being in the form of a tray when within the body portion and having a bottom portion with side and end portions connected thereto and movable therewith and an open top, said open top facing outwardly from the body portion when in vertical position and said tray bottom serving to support wearing apparel suspended within the section when said section is in closed posi tion, one of the end portions of the tray having a hinged connection with the tray bottom and serving as an end cover for said tray, fixed hanger tracks mounted within the tray adjacent to the end cover, extensible tracks hinged to the outer ends of the fixed tracks and adapted to be swung horizontall out of the section and into alinement wit the fixed tracks, locking means carried by the extensible tracks for engaging and locking the end cover in closed osition, garment hangers mounted on said tracks for supporting the wearing apparel when the tray is in vertical position, a pad interposed between the garment hangers and the tray end cover and into which the hangers embed, and a cover hinged to one side of the body portion and adapted to coverthe open part of the body portion and the tray, said section when in a vertical position being out of the path of movement of the body portion cover.

11. A wardrobe valise or suit-case, comprising a body portion, a handle connected to a medial part of one of the side walls of the body portion, a wardrobe section hinged to one end part of the body portion and movable to a position into the body portion and through the open top to a vertical position outside of the body portion, said wardrobe section being in the form of a tray when within the body portion and having a bottom portion with side and end portions connected thereto and movable therewith and an open top, said open top facing outwardly from the body portion when in vertical posi tion and said tray bottom serving to support-wearing apparel suspended within the section when-said section is in'closed position, one of the end portions of the tray having a hinged connection with the tray bottom and serving as an end cover for said tray, fixed hanger tracks mounted within the tray adjacent to the end cover, extensible tracks hinged to the outer ends of the fixed tracks and adapted to be swung horizontally out of the section and into alinement with the fixed tracks, locking means carried by the extensible tracks for engaging and locking the end cover in closed position, arment hangers mounted on said tracks or supporting the wearing apparel when the tray is in vertical position, a pad interposed between the garment hangers and the tray end cover and into which the hangers embed, a retainer bar adjustably mounted within a medial portion of the tray and extending transversely thereof, and a cover hinged to one side of the body portion and adapted to cover the open part of the body portion and the tray, said section when in a vertical position being out of the path of movement of thebody portion cover.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE HENRY WHEARY.

Witnesses:

CLINT D. FRAzELL, EMMA 'RASMUSSEN-

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