US1975292A - Luggage carrier - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 2, 1934. J, RITTER, JR 1,975,292

LUGGAGE CARRIER A Filed Nov. 25, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 2, 1934 TENT FFICE LUGGAGE CARRIER `ulius Ritter, Jr., Racine, Wis., assigner to Hartmann Trunk Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application November 25, 1933, Serial No. 699,703

1i) Claims.

This invention relates in general to improvements in the construction and operation of luggage carriers of the type wherein one or more garments may be readily'and effectively packed and concealed within a carrier case.

Generally defined, an object of this invention is to provide an improved luggage carrier for garments such as ladiesdresses or mens suits, which is simple and compact in construction, and which Y is moreover highly effective in use.

It hasheretofore been proposed to provide a luggage carrier consisting of hingedly connected main and cover sections and having within the cover section a set of fixtures for folding and storing a plurality of garments. In one of these prior luggage carriers, the garment supporting fixtures comprised a plurality ofgarment carrier bars removably mounted in an elongated bracket which was pivotally but removably supported within the cover section, and a garment folding frame independently and permanently pivotally supported in the cover section and cooperable with the bracket so-as to fold the garments carried by the bars and to simultaneously rotate the bracket when the frame was swung intothe cover. This particular prior device forms the subject of copending application Serial No. 651,264, filed Januay 12, 1933, Patent No. Y1,947,227 Feb. r13, 1934, and while the assemblageof elements operates quite satisfactorily, it is also relatively complicated by virtue of the rotation of the bar carrier bracket directly by the swinging movement of the frame whereby areleasable motion transmitting connection between the frame and bracket is required.

The present invention therefore contemplates the provision of a simpler, more compact and conveniently manipulable set of fixtures for luggage carrier cases ofthe above describedtype, whereby a durable assemblage may be produced at'minimum cost.' Y f Another object of `the present invention is to pro-vide an improved luggage carrier wherein a maximum number of relatively delicate garments 45 may be compactly stored in folded condition, without undesirably wrinkling or otherwise harmfully affecting the garments.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved garment folding and supporting fixture, adapted to neatly store a plurality of garments, and to lock the same within a carrier case, while at the same timepermitting rapid removal of the garments either individually or collec- 55 tively.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved garment support comprising a bracket and a plurality of garment receiving bars removably associated with the bracket, wherein the assemblage will always automatically assume 50 a predetermined position when unloaded, and in which the bars will not fall out of place.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of embodiments of the features constituting the present invention and of the mode of constructing and of manipulating luggage carriers built in accordance therewith, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views:

Fig. l is a front view of an open luggage carrier case showing the garment folding frame swung downwardly over themain section of the case preparatory to loading the garment supporting fixture, the cross-brace of the frame having been broken away for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through 80 the open luggage carrier case, likewise showing the garment folding frame positioned over the main section of the case preparatory to loading;

Fig. 3 is a similar vertical section through the open carrier case, showing the garment folding frame swung upwardly into the cover section with garments loaded thereon;

Fig. '4 is an enlarged front View of the garment supporting bracket showing the garment supporting bars detachably associated therewith;

Fig. 5 is an end View of the `bracket showing the bars therein;

Fig. 6 is an opposite end view of the bracket showing the bars therein;

Fig. '7 isa fragmentary enlarged sectional view 95 of the hinge portions of the main and cover Vsections of the carrier case, showing the garment folding frame swung ldownwardly and also showing the supporting bracket and bars in dot and dashlines, kin normal loading position;

Fig. 8 is av similarly enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the hinge portion of the main and cover sections of the carrier case, showing the folding frame swung into the cover section and also showing in dot and dash lines, the support- 105 ing .bracket'and bars in position preparatory to loading; and

Fig. 9 is a similarly enlarged fragmentary sec-V tion through the cover of the carrier case, showing a top view of a fragment of the folding frame 110 and also showing in dot and dash lines, a top View of the garment supporting frame and bars.

While the invention has been shown and de scribed herein as being applied by way of illustration, to a relatively small and light luggage carrier for ladies garments, it should be apparent that some of the novel features are more generally applicable to other types and classes of luggage carriers.

The improved luggage carrier specifically shown in the drawings comprises in general a carrier case consisting of a main section 15 having a cover section 16 pivotally attached thereto by means of a hingle 17; and a garment folding and carrying fixture of improved construction mounted entirely within the cover section 16 of the case.

The main section 15 of the carrier case may be provided with the usual carrying handle 18 and the cover section 16 may be swung into engagement with the main section 15 and locked thereto by means of the usual latches 19. The cover section 16 when open, is normally held in substantially upright position by means of retainers 20 of ordinary construction, and the main section may be additionally provided with partitions if so desired.

The improved garment folding and supporting fixture comprises generally a garment folding frame 21 permanently and swingably supported by means of pivots 22 upon the side walls of the cover section 16 near the main hinge 17 and having an integral transverse garment folding rod 23 connecting the side members of the frame 21 remote from the pivots 22; and a plurality of similar garment carrier bars 24 detachably associated with a supporting bracket 25 which is independently and removably pivotally supported in sockets 26 also secured to the side walls of the cover section near the pivots 22.

The garment folding frame 21 is shown in detail in Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive, and may be constructed of metal and has U-shaped formation, the medial portions of the side frames being inter-connected between the bar 23 and the pivots 22, by one or more braces 27. The only function performed by the frame 21 is to fold the garments intermediate their ends, and the crossbrace 27 serves the dual function of stifening the frame and of preventing the garments from sagging through the frame before being finally loa-ded within the cover section.

The supporting sockets 26 for the bracket 25, are likewise preferably formed of metal and have slots which open away from the hinged side of the cover section 16. The supporting bracket 25 is shown in detail in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, and comprises a pair of spaced side walls 28, 29 rigidly interconnected by cross members 30. The side wall 28 Aof the bracket 25 has therein an elongated opening 3l having closed opposite ends, and the other side wall 29 has therein a similar opening 32 one end of which is closed and the opposite end of which is open. The opening 32 has a widened portion 33 near the open end thereof, and the Wall 29 has rounded projections 34 which form detente on the opposite side of the main opening 32 as clearly shown in Fig. 6. The bracket wall 29 also has an outwardly bent upper end portion 35 which provides an upper open end for the slot 32, through which the adjacent ends of the bars 24 are removable as illustrated in Fig. 4. Each of the side walls 28, 29 of the bracket 25, is also provided with an integral lug 36, and these lugs are adapted to be inserted within the pivot sockets 26 through the narrow slots 37 formed in the upper portions of the sockets as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. When the bracket lugs 36 have been thus inserted within the sockets 26, the bracket 25 is freely rotatable within the circular openings of the sockets, and since the major portion of the weight of the bracket 25 is always below the pivotal axis, the bracket will automatically tend to rotate and to assume an upright position as disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6, at all times during displacement of the cover section 16. While the bracket 25 is freely vertically removable from within the sockets 26 when the cover section is open as in Figs. 7 and 8, as soon as the bracket 25 is rotated either due to loading of the fixture or by closing the case, the bracket will be automatically locked within the pivot sockets 26 by virtue of the movement of the lugs 36 out of alinement with the slots 37, and the bars 24 will also be simultaneously locked within the bracket when the open upper end of the slot 32 approaches the interior of the cover. The bracket 25 may also be provided with a hook 38 which is normally disposed as shown in solid lines in Fig. 4, but which may be adjusted to the dotand-dash position in order to permit hanging of the bracket 25 and bars 24 as a unit upon a hook when removed from the carrier case. The removable garment carrier bars 25 may be formed of wood and have reduced end portions 39 adapted to coact with the side wall slots 31, 32 Vso as to prevent rotation of the bars relative to the bracket 25, while permitting free removal of the bars whenever desirable.

The luggage carrier may furthermore be provided with a garment protecting and confining flap 40 made of fabric, one end of which is permanently attached to the interior of the cover section 16 near the main hinge 17, and the opposite end of which is freely movable and has a catch 41 adjustably associated therewith. The catch 41 is cooperable with a hook 42 permanently secured within the swinging end of the cover section 16, in order to confine the fixture and the garments associated therewith, within the cover section 16 as shown in Fig. 3. The main section 15 of the carrier case may also be provided with stop blocks 43 secured to the inner portions of the side walls thereof as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, in order to limit the forward and downward swinging motion of the folding frame 21.

When it is desired to load the improved luggage carrier with garments, the individual garments may first be folded over the carrier bars 24 which may then be inserted in the elongated slots 31, 32 of the bracket 25, in stacked relationship, as shown in Fig. 2. Such insertion of the bars within the bracket slots may be effected either while the bracket 25 is hanging on the hook 38, or while it is disposed within the luggage carrier case as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When the bracket 25 is thus disposed'within the luggage carrier case, this bracket will assume an upright position and will therefore permit free insertion or removal both of the bars 24 and of the entire bracket 25. After the lugs 36 of the bracket 25 have been disposed within the sockets`26 and the bars 24 have been inserted within the bracket 25 as shown in Fig. 2, the garments may be arranged as shown sothat the free ends of the garments will extend over the handle portion of the main section 15. The frame 21 may then be swung upwardly away from thestop blocks 43 to the position shown in Fig. 3, whereuponthe rod 23 becomes effective to fold the garments midway between the bars 24 and the free-ends of the garments. As the garments become taut due to the upward swinging movement of the bar 23, the bracket 25 will be swung into the position shown in Fig. 3 whereupon the several bars 24 will be locked 'against displacement from within the slots 31, 32 and the free `ends of the garments will swing into the cover with the frame 21 so as to compactly fold the entire garments and to conne the same entirely within the cover section 16. -The nap '4S may subsequently be positioned as .shown in Fig. 3 with the catch 41 engaging the hook 42, thus completing the loading operation and preventing-subsequent displacement of the garments from within the cover section 16 when the same is swung downwardly.

In order to effect subsequent removal of one Or more of the garments, it is rst necessary to remove the flap 40 and to-swing the folding frame 21 downwardly toward the lugs 43. When this has been done, either the entire bracket'25 together with the bars and garments carried thereby, may be removed from within the sockets 26, or as an alternative, the individual bars-24 may be removed from the confining slots 31, 32 without necessarily removing the entire bracket. It lwill be noted that when the cover section 16 has been swung away from the main section 15, and the folding frame 21 has been swung forwardly, the bracket 25 will automatically assume upright position so as to permit free removal of the bars 24, such automatic positioning of the bracket being due to the location of the lugs 36 above the center of gravity of the structure. The formation of the side wall 29 of the bracket 25 with the projections 34, effectively prevents the bars 24 from being accidentally displaced, but

,the detents adjoining the projections 34 do not interfere with free intentional removal of the bars 24. The formation of the bars 24 and of the rod 23, also prevents sharp creasing and possible cutting of frail garments, and the flap 40 prevents garments from being caught at the hinge 17, thus insuring complete protection of the garments.

From the foregoing description, it will be j apparent that the present invention provides a simple, compact and readily manipulable xture for permitting one or more full length garments to be effectively packed or conned within a container of relatively small dimensions. The independent pivoting of the frame 21 and bracket 25 within the cover section, reduces the fixture to its simplest form, and the peculiar construe.- tion of the bracket 25 with its pivotal axis above its center of gravity, always causes the bracket to assume proper loading position when the cover is open, irrespective of the position of the folding frame 2l. It is also to be noted that the frame 21 functions only to fold the garments which may be removed either individually or collectively as desired, and independently of the folding frame. When the luggage carrier is finally loaded, all parts are locked in position against possible accidental displacement, and the invention has proven highly practical in actual use.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction herein shown and described, for various modications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

Itis claimed and-desired to-secure by Letters Patent: l 1. A luggage carrier comprising, hingedly connected main and cover sections, a garment folding frame pivotally connected to one of said sections-and havingatransverse folding bar movable into and out of said section, an elongated bracket pivotally supported in said section near the pivot of said frame, said bracket being swingable-about its pivotal axis independently of said frame, and a plurality of garment carrier bars r3- movably associated with bracket, said frame being adapted to fold garments carried by said bars when said frame is swung into said section.

2. A-luggage carriercomprising, hingedly connected main land cover sections, a/garment foldingY frame pivotally connected to one of said sections and having a transverse folding bar movable into and out of'said section, an elongated bracket pivotally supported in said section near the pivot ofV said frame, said bracket having its center of gravity beneath its pivotal axis and being automatically swingable about its pivotal axis and independently of said frame by virtue of such disposition of the center of gravity, and a plurality l" of garment carrier bars removably associated with said bracket, said bars being removable from said bracket when saidbracketis in said predetermined position and said frame being adapted to fold garments carried by said bars when said frame is swung into said section.

3. A luggage carrier comprising, hingedly connected main and cover sections, a garment folding frame pivotally mounted within said cover section and having a transverse folding bar movable into and outl of said cover section, an elongated bracket pivotally supported in said cover section near the pivot of said frame, said bracket being swingable about its pivotal axis independently of said frame, and a plurality of garment carrier bars removably associated with said bracket, said frame being adapted to fold garments carried by said bars when said frame is swung into said cover section.

4. A luggage carrier comprising, hingedly connected main and cover sections, a garment folding frame pivotally mounted within said cover section and having a transverse folding bar remote from its pivot movable into and out of said cover section, an elongated bracket independently l pivotally supported in said cover section near the pivot of said frame, said bracket having its center of gravity offset from its pivotal axis and being swingable by virtue of such construction about its pivotal axis, and a plurality of garment carrier bars removably supported by said bracket, said frame being adapted to fold garments carried by said bars when said frame is swung into said cover section.

5. A luggage carrier comprising, hingedly connected main and cover sections, a garment folding frame having a folding bar movable into and out of said cover section, an elongated bracket pivotally supported in said cover section near the hinge connection between said sections, said iso able into and out of said section, an elongated bracket freely pivotally suspended within said section near the pivot of said frame, said bracket being swingable about its pivotal axis independently of said frame, and a plurality of garment carrier bars removably mounted in said bracket, said bars being removable independently of or with said bracket.

7. A luggage carrier comprising, hingedly connected main and cover sections, a garment folding frame pivotally connected to one of said sections and having a transverse folding bar movable into and out of said section, an elongated bracket pivotally supported in said Section near the pivot of said frame, said bracket being freely swingable about its pivotal axis, and a plurality of garment carrier bars removably associated with said bracket, said frame being adapted to fold garments carried by said bars when said frame is swung into said section and said bracket being movable by the garments coacting with said frame to lock said bars within said bracket.

8. A luggage carrier comprising, hingedly connected main and cover sections, a garment folding frame pivotally mounted within said cover section and having a transverse folding bar remote from its pivot movable into and out of said cover section, an elongated bracket pivotally supported in said cover section independently of said frame and near the pivot of the latter, said bracket being freely swingable about its pivotal axis and being removable only when said cover section is in open position, and a plurality of garment carrier bars removably supported by said bracket, said bars being locked in position when garments carried thereby are folded by swinging said frame into said cover section.

9. A luggage carrier comprising, hingedly connected main and cover sections, a garment folding frame pivotally connected to one of said sections and having a transverse folding bar movable toward and away from said section, an elongated bracket pivotally supported in said section, said bracket being swingable about its pivotal axis independently of said frame, and a plurality of garment carrier bars removably associated with said bracket, said frame being adapted to fold garments carried by said bars when said frame is swung about its pivot.

10. A luggage carrier comprising, hingedly connected closure sections, a garment folding frame pivotally connected to one of said sections and having a transverse folding bar movable in an arc about its pivotal axis, an elongated bracket pivotally supported in one of said sections, said bracket being swingable about its pivotal axis independently of said frame, and a plurality of garment carrier bars removably associated with said bracket, said frame being adapted to fold garments carried by said bars when said frame is swung about its pivotal axis.

JULIUS RITTER, JR.

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