US2123454A - Container - Google Patents

Description

C. DOPPELT July 12, 1938.

CONTAINER Filed April 13,-1936 Patented July 12`, 1938 yUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application April 13,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to containers, and more particularly to those which are used as utility bags or the like.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a utility container which is neat and compact in appearance and which provides the full capacity of compartment space.

Another object is to provide a utility bag which presents a distinctive and symmetrical appearance and which is characterized by a body which is collapsible and extensible to vary its depth.

Another object is to provide a utility bag wherei in the foldable closure sections are self-retained in an open or unfolded position during the filling i5 of the container.

Another object is to provide a utility bag which has a waterproofed interior and which is economical and easy to manufacture.

More specifically, though without limitation, I provide a container for use as a utility bag which has a collapsible and extensible body formed of rigid and flexible sections and has oppositelyspaced foldable top sections adapted to form the closure which when folded extend in a plane substantially parallel with the base of the container.

In the drawing: Figure l is a view showing a perspective of my invention;

Figure 2 is a view of an end elevation, partly cross section; Figure 3 is a perspective view, broken off', showing my container in open position; and

Figure 4 is a view in cross section of a modified form of container. 4

Itwill be seen that my container indicated generally at I0, is provided with a base I I. having side Walls I2 and I3 and end walls I4 and I5, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive. Since both side walls and both end walls are similarly constructed, a description of one of each of such walls will suffice. The side and end walls are formed of two substantially rigid sections I2a and I2b and I4 and I4, respectively, with intervening flexible or bellows-shaped sections I6 and I1. Since the body of the container is all preferably made of the same material throughout, such as leather, or the like, which would have the same pliability, I provide supporting strips I8 and I9 formed of fibre or cardboard which are secured adjacent to the side and end walls to provide the substantially rigid sections. Each of these strips can be of a length suiflcient to extend around the interior walls of the container and can be secured thereto by glue or the like. Instead of fibre or 1936, Serial No. 73,995

(Cl. 19o-48) cardboard I can use metal strips to form the supporting members.

Formed integrally with the side walls and `extending upwardly thereof. are oppositely positioned foldable flaps or top sections 2Il and 2|, which form the lclosure for the container. These top sections have continuing sections 22 which form part of the end Walls when the flaps are in opened position as shown in Fig. 3 and which are bent to assume an over-lapping position 23 to overlap the side wall, when the container is closed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The edges of the top sections are supported by bracing bars 24, which are suitably covered'with a leather covering 25, and which are stitched as at 2B to the edges of the top sections. The opposite ends of the bracing bar are bent at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of the bar and diverge slightly outwardly. The ends of the bar are of a length so that when-they are secured to the container they will terminate in the continuing section as at 21, short of the center thereof. It will be noted that the' bracing bars terminating at points 21 in the upper end sections tend tosupport the flap sections in an open position when the flap sections 20 and 2| are swung upwardly and that as the flaps are folded downwardly to their closing position the continuing sections 22 will be moved downwardly and outwardly to assume the overlapping position 23 of the end walls. With this overlapping arrangement the end walls of the body of the container are not pushed or crowded inwardly, thereby preserving the full capacity of compartment space normally defined by the side and end walls.

Also suitably secured to the edges of the top flaps adjacent to the bracing bars are webs 28 which support interlocking fastener elements 29 and which by the actuation of a coacting slide 30 are adapted to be secured together as shown in Figs. land 2. To facilitate opening of the top sections, I provide a pair of gripping flaps 3l which are secured thereto.

Interiorly of the container I provide a lining of waterproof fabric 32. which is secured adjacent to the bracing bar as at 33. Secured to the bottom of this fabric is a. layer of stiffened cardboard which rests against the bottom of the container.

It will be seen that when the top sections are folded and are in fully closed position they are positioned in a plane substantially parallel with the base, .thus providing a neat, compact, symmetrical container.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 4, I

provide a container similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 3, save that instead of forming a plurality of substantially rigid sections, I provide a single rigid section 35 and a flexible bellowed section 36.

It will be understood that instead of providing walls formed both of substantially rigid and ilexible sections, I can provide walls formed entirely oi one or the other without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a structure of the character described comprising a base, collapsible and extensible side walls. end walls, a pair of oppositely positioned closure iiaps formed as a continuation of said side walls and adapted when folded to lie in a plane substantially parallel with said base, said ilaps having foldable continuing end sections adapted to form the upper part o! the end walls, supporting bars secured to each of said flaps and said continuing end sections and adapted to cooperate with said continuing end sections to maintain said flaps in an open position, means determining a fold-line between said end walls and said end section at the plane of the top, said flaps being of such width that as said ilaps are moved to closing position the supporting 4bars will force said continuing end sections outwardiy around said fold-line to exteriorly overlap the end walls, interlocking fastener elements secured adjacent each said supporting bar, and a co-acting slide adapted to interlock said Iastener elements when said flaps are in closed position.

2. In a bag of the character described having rigid side and end walls, ilexible closure flaps including flexible end sections, and U shaped bars lining the jaws of the bag, the aps being of such width to require the ends of the U bars to overlap the rigid end sections and force the flexible lend sections in overlapping relation therewith.

3. In a bag ot the character described comprising a base and side and end walls, a pair of oppositely positioned closure flaps formed as a continuation of said side walls adapted when folded to lie in a plane substantially parallel with said base, said closure aps having flexible continuing end sections adapted to form the upper part of the end walls, and U-shaped supporting bars lining the jaws of the bag and said continuing end sections and adapted to cooperate with said continuing end sections to maintain said closure ilaps in an open position, said endwalls at the plane of the top being constructed to prevent distortion and determine a fold line for said continuing end section, and said closure ilaps being of such width that as said flaps are moved to closing position the supporting-bars will force said ilexible continuing end section around Vsaid fold-line into overlapping relation with said end walls exteriorly of said end walls.

CHARLES DOPPELT.

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