US1342677A - Handle for suitcases and the like - Google Patents

Description

E. c. HORSTMAN. HANDLE FOR SUITCASES AND- THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2. 1916.

Patented June 8, 1920.

I/VI/EA/TOB.

I I I l I l I l I l I I I 1 ATTORNEY,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HANDLE FOR SUITCASES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed October 2, 1916.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it .known that 1,.EDWARD C. Hons'r- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Handles for Suitcases and the like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to handles, and more particularly to handles for suit-cases, satchels, and like articles.

The object of my invention is to provide a grip portion of a handle with a metallic reinforcement terminating in hooked ends adapted to pass through the ears of the handle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a metallic reinforcement for handles terminating in hooked ends for connecting ears with the ends of the grip portion of the handle.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the special features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts, as will be more fully described hereinafter, and finally pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of my improved handle attached to the wall of a suit-case.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of one of the hooked ends of the metallic reinforcing element.

Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of one of the hooked ends of the reinforcing element as it appears connected to one of the ears.

Fig. 5 is a view partly in sectional elevation of the modified form of my improved handle.

Fig. 6 is a plan view thereof.

Referring to the drawings, reference character 1 designates the wall of a suitcase, or other valise; 2 designates the usual keepers for holding the ears of the handle to the wall of the suit-case or other valise.

In accordance with my invention the grip portion of the handle is provided with a sheet or rod metallic reinforcement which is extended at its ends to form hooks adapted to pass through the ears of the handle,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1920.

Serial No. 123,219.

and for this purpose the handle as a whole is constructed, as follows:

In carrying out the aim of my invention, I employ a metallic reinforcing element 3 preferably, although not necessarily, of a resilient or elastic nature. The reinforcing element 3 is preferably arched, as shown in Fig. 2, and terminates at each end in a longitudinally disposed hooked end 4. Each hooked end 4 is adapted to pass vertically through a laminated or solid ear 5, and the parallel walls of the hooked ends 4.- are adapted to engage the lower and upper surfaces of the ears 5, connecting the ears 5, when formed independently of the handle proper, to the ends of the grip portion of the handle, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The grip portion of the handle which is arched as usual in handle constructions comprises abody portion consisting preferably of small pieces of cardboard or similar fibrous filling 6 pressed together and adapted to surround the arched portion of the reinforcing element 3. This filling 6'is confined with a fabric casing 7, which casing terminates at each end in an ear 8 which is preferably tacked, as at 9, to the lower wall 10 of the hooked ends 4 and to the ears 5 to prevent the filling from any cause from working out through the ends of the casing 7.

If desired, the filling 6 which is preferably composed of small pieces of cardboard or similar fibrous material pressed into form, may be made into a pulp 'and pressed, molded, or otherwise formed around the arched portion of the reinforcing element 3.

It will be understood from the drawings that the upper wall 11 of the hooked ends 4 are held in engagement with the under face of the keepers 2, and preferably, although not necessarily, project into the handle proper, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, thus obviating the necessity of employing rivets or similar fastening devices for holding the upper wall of the hooked ends in engagement with the upper face of the reinforced laminated or solid ears 5. The hooked ends 4 serve to reinforce the ears 5, and particularly reinforce the handle at thejunction of the ears with the handle. It will be observed that the heavier the load upon the handle the more tightly the upper wall of the hooked ends 4 grip the upper surface of the ears 5 and the inner face of the keepers 2.

tion of. the hooked ends 4: and the arched portion thereof of a part of the load strain on the handle at said junction points of the reinforcing element.

Referring to the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 it will be observed that the reinforcing element 3 is in the form of a rod or wire. The upper portion 13 of the body of the handle proper terminates in an ear 14 at each end of the handle, thereby forming ears integral with the handle. This portion 13 of the handle may be of a laminated material or solid, as may be desired. The under portion of the handle is filled with a suitable filler 6, as described in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that I have formed a handle which is comparatively cheap in manufacture, neat in appearance, resilient in construction, strong, durable, and, at the same time, easy to assemble, the whole being made practically fromthe waste materials of various industries.

I am aware that various slight changes as to proportions, shape and similar minor details of construction may be made, hence I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction illustrated, but reserve the right to make any such changes as may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

l. A handle comprising a grip portion, a pair of ears, a keeper spanning each car, a reinforcing element passing through the gripportion of the handle and terminating in hooked ends, a filler surrounding the reinforcing element at the grip portion of the handle, said hookedends being adapted to pass upwardly through said ears, and the upper fold of the hooked ends being adapted to pass under said keepers and be held in engagement with the upper face of said ears.

2. As an article of manufacture, a handle, ears for said handle, a fabric casing for said handle, a metallic reinforcing element having an arched portion running through and concealed in said'handle, a hook formed at each end of said reinforcing element and integral therewith adapted to be connected to said ears by passing upwardly through the same and one fold thereof adapted to engage the upper face of the ears, and keepers spanning said ears and said upper folds of the metallic reinforcing element, said keepers adapted to be fixed to a wall of a suit-case or other article.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to the specification.

EDWARD C. HORSTMAN.

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