US1912787A

US1912787A - Trunk

Info

Publication number: US1912787A
Application number: US628031A
Authority: US
Inventors: Longinus A Neis
Original assignee: American Body & Cab Co
Current assignee: American Body & Cab Co
Priority date: 1932-08-09
Filing date: 1932-08-09
Publication date: 1933-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 1950-06-06

Description

June 6, 1933. A NHS 1,912,787

TRUNK Filed Aug. 9, 1932 2 Sheetsheet l L. A. NEIS June 6, 19133.

TRUNK Filed Aug. 9,- 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I llll I I I I l I I I L l l Il'ln'llllrell ici Patented June 6, 1933 l UNIT-,13D ES PATENT OFFICE LoNGINUs A.` NEIsoF DIXON, ILLINOIS, AssIerNoIt` 'ro `.armamenti BonY & can

COMPANY, oF DIXON, I nIiINoIs, A coItPonATIoN or ILLINOIS TRUNK Application inea August 9, 1932. serial Nqjezaoai.

This invention relates to a trunk "such as is particularly adapted fory mounting at the rear l of an automobile. It comprises a mounted iixed section to which is hinged a 5,l swinging section adapted, ywhen opened out,

toprovide with the lixed section an enclosure,`

open only at the top, with a relatively rlarge capacity. H N N N This invention which is concerned gener- 1p,l ally with a trunk of the kind mentioned, is

capable otwithstandi'ng hard and continuedr service. Other objectsV and advantageswill 25` appear more clearly hereinafter from the description and claims` taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein iS exhibited asuggestive embodiment of my invention in themanner following:`

Figure`1 is a perspective view of the trunk having-"its sections in `,closed relationship shown as mounted upon a ralckforV platform at the rear end oit an automobilegf K Fig. 2 is a view in perspective showing the swinging section ofthe trunk opened outto provide `an enclosure, open only at the top, of large capacity; l i I Y Fig. 3 isa`i?ragmentaryplan view showing the wall connections adjacent the back of the iixed section; N

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the trunk' with the swinging section opened lout almost to its limit; N f

Fig. 5 Aisua detail in section on line 5 of Fig. 6 which is a view similar to Fig. 5,

shows the swinging section moved to the,

` trunk, andmay be releasably secured in` this N is a detail in perspective, partly Nin,

section, exhibiting supporting hool;` connection between the hinged and side wallsof the trunk.

As illustrated, the trunk comprises. a section A adapted for fixed mounting as upon a 5,5,`

rack or platforml` extended atthe rear of an automobile, and aswinging sectionB which is,V hinged to the fixed section. rLhe trunk may conveniently befornied of plywoodl l() ex-` posed on the trunk interior, backed by plate GQN 11` of some such material` as sheet metal` and reenforced, desired, by metallic straps 12 which are extended along theedges of the walls and connected thereto as byrivets 13 which may extend through both the sheet and (15;V

plywood.` Such alconstruction is advantan geous inthat itis light and durable and am- Y ply strong to meet all requirements of service.

The iixed section comprises'a back 15 which upstands from the rear edge of a; bottom 16. '10,

Extending forwardly from opposite ends of the back are` vertical` flanges 17.` Connected to each flange, asby apiano hinge 18,.,is a

hinged wall 19, the vertical height of which is substantially the same as that of the back.

The two` hinged walls when folded, as shown in Fig. 3, may be extendedpast each other so as to occupy a minimum of space within the position by Na latch 14.

The swinging section comprises a front 20 to which are connected sides 21 and a top 22 all in fixed" relationship. Along the bottoni` of the front, connection ,is made as by a piano, hinge 23`with the forward edge of the bottom, 5,5 permitting theswinging section to be opened out through or thereabouts. When in closed position, as shown in Figl, the swing-1 ing section complements ,the fixed section tol provide a space, `enclosedon all sides, which 99 is adapted tofreceive and protect any articles `thatiare contained therein, As by means of hasp fasteners 2li, or other desired fittings, the one section may be locked securely tothe other.` y

f In the open position shown in 2, the two trunk sections provide anV enclosure; which is open at the top; The sides 21'which extend toward `the back onlyas far as the hinge 23 leave openings which areclosable by 109 the hinged walls 19 when swung out parallel with and adjacent to the sides, as shown. The bottom edges of the hinged walls are desirably cut away at 25 to a slight extent as shown, for a purpose which will presently apear.

p To sustain the swinging section in its opened-out position I provide dual supporting means both connected inseparably to the end flanges 17 of the back. One such means Consists of a pair of

jointed links

26 and 27 pivotally connected at 28, one having a pivotal connection at 29 with its associated fiange 17, and the other a pivotal connection 30 with the associated side 21, preferably adjacent its reenforcedtopedge. Onelinkisprovided with a shoulder 31 adapted to overlie the other when the two are brought into alignment, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby limiting unfolding of these links to a straight line position. The links are free to fold only in an upper direction, as indicated by full lines in Fig. 4. When straightened, as shown in Fig. 2, the links will effectively resist any endwise thrust which might bepoccasioned through a vertical lifting force applied to the swinging trunk section. Accordingly the links, of which a pair may be advantageously used at each end of the trunk, serve both to sustain the swinging section in its fully opened position, and to prevent closing of the swinging section, except when given a breaking motion in an upper direction.

The other means by which the. swinging section is sustained in its opened-out position comprises co-acting means on the sides 21 and hinged walls 19 transmitting tension through the latter to the back of the fixed trunk section. As shown, the hinged walls consist each of a metal sheet having its vertical free edge 35 reversely bent to provide a spaced two-ply reenforcement. The ply which faces the associated side 21 .is cut out at 36 to form an opening having a bottom edge 37;k and co-acting with this edge is a tongue 38 downturned from a plate 39 on the side 21, the tongue forming with the opening a hook connection which is effected by swinging the hinged wall over the tongue just prior to the swinging section reaching its fully opened-out position. With the tongue in a position to hook over the edge 37 the swinging section may be released to drop to its final position where it is sustained by both the hooks and the folding links. To facilitate the swinging movement of the hinged walls necessary for engaging and disengaging with the hooks, I have cut back the lower edge of each hinged wall, as at 25, a distance which permits the swinging section to be raised sufficiently for thisV purpose. It will be noted that the hookjconnections just described lie between the confronting faces of the interengaged walls so as to be concealed therebetweenr` Other features incorporated into the present trunk include an angle strap 40 extended vertically along the ends of the back, and another angle strap 41 extending beyond the ends of the bottom, the flanges of the straps facing forwardly and upwardly, respectively, so as to enc-lose the proximate edges of the sides 21 when the swinging section is in closed position. By some such means as this protection to the inside of the trunk is afforded from the exterior.

The construction herein described is of unusual strength, due to the co-operation of the several connecting walls. The horizontal length of the hinged walls is preferably equal to the fore and aft dimension of the bottom plus the vertical height of the front, whereby the free vertical edge of each hinged wall may be positioned adjacent the front wall when the swinging trunk section is extended outwardly, as shown.

The present structure provides an enclosure, open at the top, extending along the sides to a height substantially the same as that of the back, thereby enhancing the capacity of the trunk as well as the safety of the articles which may be carried therein. By the use of piano type hinges, a very strong pivotal connection is made between the two sections of the trunk, and also between the hinged wallsV and they forwardly facing flanges at opposite ends of the back. The value of such connections is realized through the utilization of the hinged walls as a"sustaining means for the swinging section when the latter is opened out to its extended position. Although the folding links, which constitute inelfect stay hinges, afford some support to the swinging section, I do not rely wholly upon such means, but rather upon the hinged walls which, when made of heavy steel plate, have ample capacity for sustaining the swinging section together with any load that may be carried in the trunk. The stay hinges serve adequately to resist any upward closing movement of the swinging section, thereby preventing disengagement of the supporting connection with the hinged walls.

I claim: Y

l. A trunk comprising two complementary hinged sections having, when opened out, overlapping walls with co-acting means concealed between the overlapping walls registering when the trunk sections are opened out nearly to their limit and interengageable when said sections are fully opened, and a folding support inseparably connecting the trunk sections and operable to prevent relative movement thereof with consequent disengagement of the co-acting means.

2. A trunk comprising two complementary hinged sections having, when opened out, overlapping walls with (3o-acting means concealed between the overlapping walls registering when the trunk sections are opened out nearly to their limit and interengaging when said sections are fully opened, a fixed mounting for one trunk section whereby the other section `is required to move relative thereto during opening and closing movements, and a toggle link support extending from an upper point on the fixed trunk section to a lower point on the other trunk section between the overlapping walls'thereof and operable to prevent relative movement of the trunk sections with consequent disengagement of the co-acting means.

3. A trunk comprising mounted fixed and swinging sections, the fixed section having a back and a bottom to the forward edge of which is hinged the bottom edge of a front forming part of the swinging section provided also with sides and a top thereby completing an enclosureV when the two sections are in closed relationship, forwardly extended fianges at opposite ends of the back, a wall hinged to each flange having a length substantially equal to the fore and aft dimension of the bottom plus the vertical dimension of the front, the swinging section when opened out to present its front horizontally in line with the bottom providing with the fixed section andhinged walls, when the latter are extended away from the back, an enclosed spaced open only at the top, and coacting means interconnecting the hinged walls with the sides upon relative vertical movement of the swinging section to fully open position to secure the hinged walls inextended position and support the swinging section in its fully open position.

4f. A trunk comprising mounted fixed and swinging sections, the fixed section having a back and a bottom to the forward edge of which is hinged the bottom edge of a front forming part of the swinging section provided also with sides and a top thereby completing an enclosure when the two sections are in closed relationship,.the swinging section `when opened out to present its front i horizontally in line with the bottom providing with the fixed section an enclosed spacel open only at the top and along the sides adjacent the back, and means for supporting the swinging section in opened-out position comprising a pair of walls each hinged vertically adjacent one end of the back and swingable forwardly to positions parallel with and adjacent to the sides of the swinging section, and coacting means on the sides and hinged walls registi-able when the swinging section is opened out nearly to the position aforesaid and interengageable upon relative movement of the swinging section to fully open position for hooking the swinging section on to the hinged walls whereby to sustain the former.

5.. A trunkicomprising mounted fixed and swinging sections, the fixed section having a back and a bottom to the forward edge of verticalY which is hinged the bottom edge of a front forming part of the swinging section provided also with sides and a top thereby completing an enclosure when the two sections are in closed relationship, the swinging section when opened out to present its front hori- Zontally in line with the bottom providing with the fixed section an enclosed space open only at the topl and along the sides adjacent the back, and means for supporting the swinging section in opened-out position comprising a pair of walls each hinged vertically adjacent one end of the back and swingable forwardly to positions parallel with and adjacent to the sides of the swinging section, and co-acting means on the sides and hinged walls registrable when the swinging section is opened out nearly to the position aforesaid and interengageablc upon relative vertical move- `ment of the swinging section to fully open position for hooking the swinging section on to the hinged walls whereby to sustain the former, the lower edges of the hinged walls being cut away to permit limited vertical swinging movement of the swinging section` sufficient for engagement or disengagement of the co-acting means.

6. A trunk comprising mounted fixed and swinging sections, the fixed section having a back and a bottom to the forward edge of which is hinged the bottom edge of a front forming part of the swinging section provided also with sides and a top thereby completing an enclosure when the two sections are in closed relationship, the swinging section when opened out to present its front horizontally in line with the bottom providing with the fixed section an enclosed space open only at the top and along the sides adjacent the back, and means for supporting the swinging section `in opened-out position comprising a pair of walls each hinged vertically adjacent one end of the back and swingable forwardly to positions parallel with and adjacent to the sides of the swinging section, and co-acting means on the sides and hinged walls registrable when the swinging section is opened out nearly to the position aforesaid and interengageable upon relative vertical movement of the swinging section to fully open position for hooking the swinging section on to the hinged walls whereby to sustain the former. the lower edges of the hinged walls being cut away to permit limited vertical swinging movement of the swinging section sufficiently for engagement or disengagement of the coacting means, and toggle means independent of the co-acting means for releasably holding the swinging section in fully opened-out position whereby to normally prevent disengagement of the co-acting means.

LoNGiNUs A. mais.