US1717801A - Folding case - Google Patents

Description

Patented June 18, 1929.

U N-ITQED S TA TES )PATENT ,.oFriicE.

ALPHA/ H. METCALF, OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, .ASSIGNORTOSAART BROTH- ERS COM'PANY, A CORPORATION OF RHODEISAND.

7 FOLDING GASE.

r)implication filed August 23, 1928. SorialffNm 3015550.

MyV invention relates `to a foldable case or container i'lor automobile registration certificates, drivers licenses,'and` other flexible documents.

The essential objects of ymy invention` are compactncss; convenience of transportation; protectionfof the contents against creasing and'froni the elements; 'facility oit opening and closing thev case; ease et insertion. and removal of contents; security against accidental escape of thev lat-ter; and simplicity and inexpensiveness ofconstruction.

To the above ends primarily my invention consists Ain such parts and -in such cembinations oil parts as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part oi this specification Figure 1 is affrontr perspective-viewV of' a case embodying my invention,

'Figure 2, a perspective-view of the same inail open posit-ion, showing in broken lines a document retained therein,

Figure 3, a section Yof the case' taken `on line 3-8 olFigure 1,

F igure4 and 5, fragmentary sections oi" the case taken on line 4-4ofV Figure 1 showing the releasing pin-in two different radial positions,and

Figure 6, a section taken on `line 6 6 of Figure 2.

Lilie reference characters indicate like parts throughout theviews.

As herein shown my case comprises a rectangular front plate or section* 10 of thin metalprovided with top and bottom lflanges l2, and .with interspaced lateral hinge sleeves 13 and 14 integral respectivelyr with opposite edges and directedinwardly therefrom at right angles thereto.

A foldable plate or section 16, also of thin metal and of rectangular shape, and of din'iensions which permit it to lit within the yflanges 12, has integral with its inner edge interspaced horizontal hinge sleeves 18 alternating with the sleeves 14.

A rear plate or section 20 of rectangular outline and composed of thin metal has top and bottom flanges 22. Formed upon its inner lateral edge are forwardly directed interspaced hinge sleeves 24 alternating with the sleeves 13. Integral with its opposite lateral edge the plate 20 has va 14 and 1-8 is a pintle r'od 82' provided upon y its upperextremity with a flat linger piece 534 provided with an opening 85. Near the top and bottoni of the rod are lateral pins or projections 37 projecting loosely through hor-i'fxmtally disposed larcuate slots 38.

Integral with the lower edge of the plate 1G,fand with the lower flange 22, are vertically disposed resilient lingers or clips 4() and 41 respectively, having their respective lower portions 42 yand 48 inclined. Centrally of the vlower flange 12 is a broad resilient vertically disposed and .inclined clip 44 with. spacedv projecting upper cn'd y portions 4G, and pressing against the plate.

In using my device, the parts being open,

`as shown in Figure 2, the document positioned as shown Aat 48 is downwardly inserted between the ilangesf22,`10, vand 16, and the clips 41, 44, and 40 where `it held by-spring pressure against 'the plates 20, 10 and 16. The plate or wing 1G is then inwardly :folded againstthe 'back of platey 10, and next the pla-te or wing 20 is forwardly folded tliereover and vvmanually pressed suf'- ficiently to permit the curved resilient flange 25 to snap overfand clasp portieri of the rounded side ol the case termed by the hinge sleeves`14'and 18. Eachportion 28 of theZffla-nge overlaps a portion ci the adjacent s101388, and the case with its contents are thus lir'mly held against unfolding, land the contents protected.

In order to unclasp the parts the operator grasps the finger piece 34 between his thumb and finger .and partially rotates the rod 32 Ibringing fthe pins 37 against the flange portions `28 as shown in Figure 4. 4Continued pressure of the pins snaps the flange portions out of engagement with the hinge sleeves, as shown in F igur@ 5. The case may now be unfolded and the document will be disclosed uncreased and intact.

It is obvious that changes in details of construction within the spirit of my invention may be made. The description of the device has been given in detail merely for elearness of understanding, and no undue limitation should be understood therefrom.

I clainul, In a folding case, a plate, a resilient clip carried by the plate, a second plate connected with one side of the first plate, a resilient clip carried by the second plate, a third plate hingedly connected with the other side of the first plate, and a clip carried by the end of the third plate, said clips all being arranged on the same side of the case when opened and arranged to cooperate with theirrespective plates to hold a document in the case.

2. In a folding case, a plate, hinge sleeves upon one side of the plate, a second plate, lateral hinge sleeves upon the second plate interengaging with the first sleeves, a hinge rod in the sleeves of both plates, a third plate hingedly connected with the other side of the first plate, and a resilient lateral flange upon the third plate for embracing the sleeves of' the first plate.

3. In a folding case, a plate, hinge sleeves upon one sidevof the plate, a hinge rod in the sleeves, a second plate pivotally mounted upon the rod, a third plate hingedly connected withthe other side of' the first plate, marginal clips upon all the plates, and a resilient flange upon the third plate for embracing the sleeves.

Ll. In a folding case, a plate, rearwardly directed flanges upon the ends of the plate, hinge sleeves upon one side of the plate, a hinge rod in the sleeves, a second plate foldable within the flanges and pivotally engaging the rod, a third plate hingedly connected with the side of the first plate opposite the sleeves, forwardly directed flanges upon the ends of' the third plate, and a resilient lateral flange upon the third plate for engaging the sleeves, and a yresilient marginal clip supported upon one end of the first plate.

5. In a folding case, a plate, hinge sleeves upon one side oftheplate, a second plate,

Vlateral hinge sleeves upon the second plate interengaging the first sleeves, a hinge rod in the sleeves of `both plates, hinge sleeves upon the other side of the first plate, a third plate, lateral hinge sleeves upon the third plate engaging the second mentioned sleeves upon the first plate, a pintle in the interengagingsleeves of the first plate and third plate, flanges upon theends of both the first plate and third plate, marginal clips carried by the plates, and a resilient lateral flange upon the third plate for embracing the first mentioned sleeves of the first plate.

6. In a folding case, a plate, flanges upon the ends of the plate, a resilient clip carried by the plate, rearwardly directed hinge sleeves upon one side of the plate, a second plate foldable between the flanges, aclip upon the second plate, horizontally disposed hinge sleeves upon the second plate, a hinge rod in the sleeves of bot-h plates, a. third plate, flanges upon the ends of the third plate, a clip supported by the third plate, rearwardly directed hinge sleeves upon the second side of the first plate, forwardly directed lateral sleeves upon the third plate, a pintle in the last mentioned sleeves and in the second mentioned sleeves of the first plate, and a transversely curved resilient lateral flange on the third plate for embracing the first mentioned sleeves of the first plate, all of said clips arranged to cooperate with their respective plates to hold a document in the case.

` 7. In a folding case, a plate, hinge sleeves upon one side of the plate provided with horizontal arcuate slots, a second plate, lateral hinge sleeves upon the second plate, a hinge rod rotatably mounted in the hinge sleeves of both plates, a finger piece upon the rod extending beyond the ends of the plates, projections upon the rod extending loosely through the slots, a third plate hingedly connected with the other side of the first plate, and a resilient lateral flange upon the third plate for embracing the first mentioned sleeves and partially overlapping the slots in the path of the projections.

8. In a folding case, a plate, rearwardly directed flanges upon the said plate, hinge Vsleeves upon one side of the plate provided with horizontal arcuate slots, a second plate, an intermediate lateral hinge sleeve upon the second plate, a hinge rod rotatablyV mounted in the sleeves of both plates, a finger piece upon the rod extending beyond the plates and provided with a hole, projections upon the rod extending loosely through the slots, a third plate hingedly connected with the other side of the Erst plate, forwardly directed flanges upon the ends of the third plate, and a curved resilient lateral flange upon the third plate for engaging the first mentioned sleeves and partially overlapping the slots in the path of the projections.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

ALPHA H. METCALF.

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