US2290090A - Wardrobe case - Google Patents

Description

W. H. BRACKEN WARDROBHCASE July 14, 1942.

Filed July 3, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. M11405 f/ 3R4 (/(E/V Patented July 14, 1942 UEE STTES 2 Claims.

been known in the art but have been unsatisfaca tory for the reason that no suitable construction was devised to prevent water from entering the interior of the case, should it be left temporarily in the rain, and such cases were not dust-proof. In the event that a determined effort was made to form a dust-proof and Water-proof case in two disengageable sections, the parts fit so tightly that they could not be easily opened and disengaged. One of the principal reasons for the failure in this respect of the devices of the art was the belief that some type of hinge structure between the sections was believed to be necessary.

It is one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a case of this general type wherein hinges or structures that function or appear like hinges are eliminated entirely, and wherein the smaller of the two sections may be disengaged and removed from the larger section with a minimum of effort and may be assembled into the complete unit with equal facility.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a wardrobe case formed in two articulated or interfitted sections wherein means are provided to make a tight and positive seal between the meeting edges of the several sections, thus completely eliminating the possibility of dust, dirt or Water from entering the interior of the case.

To this end the preferred embodiment of the invention includes two portions, which, for convenience, will be called a body section and a cover section, respectively, although both are in fact body sections. The cover section is of lesser height than the body section, carries the single handle of the assembled case on its upper wall, and is formed with a closure flap or hinged cover on its inner surface so as to provide a complete article carrying unit in itself. It is particularly useful, for instance, for carrying needed articles from a Pullman berth to the washroom, or it may even be carried about from place to place as a complete though diminutive traveling case.

The body section includes a base portion of the full width of the assembled case, and an upper portion of substantially the same size and shape as the cover section. A space is thus provided in the base portion for carrying shoes, and in the upper portion for receiving a novel suit or dress supporting device which will enable one or more mens suits or ladies dresses, or both, to be carried free from wrinkling, and will enable either of the suits or dresses to be removed from the case without disturbing the other. The meeting marginal edges of the two sections are formed with novel complemental elements insuring a tight fit between the sections.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a case of this character wherein the two sections cooperate with each other to impart added strength and rigidity to the assembled structure.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a wardrobe case for carrying either mens or ladies body garments, or both, which is of simple construction and which is of relatively small dimensions to permit of hand transporta tion.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, there are two of such complemental elements which provide overlapping surfaces at the meeting marginal edges of the two sections. The lower longitudinal edge and the lower transverse edges of the cover sections are formed with downwardly extending flanges on valances adjacent to the outer surfaces thereof, and the adjacent meeting edges of the cut-out portion of the body section are formed with recesses to receive the valances. On the end and top walls of the body section the cut-out portion is provided with a rigid valence or flange which encloses the meeting marginal edges of the cover section. These side wall valances form a very convenient guide for the opposed side walls of the cover section when the parts are to be assembled.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective View showing the two sections in disengaged position.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the body section of the case showing a portion of the interior thereof.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a broken vertical section taken on line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a broken horizontal section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is similar to Fig. 6, but shows the relative location of the parts when the cover section is in place.

Fig. 8 is a broken vertical section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of the cover section showing the interior wall thereof.

Fig. 10 shows a modified construction of the cover section shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a broken section taken on line I of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a broken section taken on line |2| 2 of Fig. 10.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a body section l and a cover section II. Body section II] includes a base wall I2, end walls or gussets l3, and a top wall or gusset l4. The left-hand side of end wall l3, when viewed as in Figs. 1 and 2, extends the full height of the case. The right-hand side, however, is cut away at a point spaced from base wall I2 thereof. This cut-away section is preferably of a width substantially equal to the width of the left-hand section which extends to the top of the case. There is thus formed a substantially rectangular recess designated generally by the reference numeral |6 which receives the cover section II in a manner hereinafter to be described.

One side wall of the case designated by the reference numeral I8 is expansible to accommodate additional articles which may be placed in the interior of the body section. This expansible wall is formed with the usual bellows gusset I9, and the wall is normally urged in the direction of the interior of the case by means of straps 28 having cooperating buckles 2| (Fig. 4) The side wall 24 opposite expansible wall |8 extends the full length of the case, and its upper edge 25 is of the same height as edge 26 of end wall l3 which defines the lower end of recess l6.

Th interior of the body section II! may thus be generally divided into two sections 28 and 29, and in section 28 a plurality of body-garmentsupporting devices 30 for mens or womens garments may be inserted. These garment-supporting devices are substantially rectangular in shape and include vertical supports 3| and horizontal bars 32, the opposite terminals 33 of vertical supports 3| extending above and below the upper and lower horizontal bars 32, respectively. The lower horizontal bar may also be formed with a coat hanger portion 34. The garment-supporting devices 36 are maintained in vertical position by means of straps 36 having cooperating, detachable elements 31 at their inner ends, the outer ends being secured to the inner surfaces of the gussets I3. By providing the larger area 28 to receive the hanger structures 38, it will be readily appreciated that a suit carried on one of these structures may be easily removed from the case without disturbing the other clothes.

Area 28 is desirably formed of sufficient width to receive one or more of these garment-supporting devices 30 with the garments carried thereby, although. when extensible side wall I8 is let outwardly to its maximum position, three or more of such garment-supporting devices may be inserted therein. Area 29 at the lower end of the body section I8 is quite shallow, and is designed primarily for the carrying of shoes or other similar articles.

A valance strip 48 extends along the inner edge of the cut-out portion at each end wall I3, such valance strip having a portion 4| extending along the inner edge of upper wall or gusset M. It will be noted from an examination of Figs. 6 and 7 that the inner surface 43 of this valance lies on the same Plane as the outer surface of end wall l3 of the body section I0, such valance enclosing the outer surface of the marginal edges of cover section II. This cover section is substantially rigid in construction and includes a side wall 46, a top wall 41, and end walls 48, a conventional handle 49 being secured to upper wall 4'! adjacent to the inner edge 50 thereof. The cover section also includes a lower wall 53 formed with a valance or flange 54 extending downwardly at the lower edge of side wall 46, such valance being preferably flush with the outer surface of such wall 46. This valance extends around the lower edge of side walls 48, as shown at 55.

The upper edge 25 of inner side wall 24 of body section H1 is formed with a longitudinal cut-out portion or recess 56 which receives valance 54 in interfitting engagement. This recess extends along the upper edge 26 of end wall I3, as shown at 51. Thus, when the cover section is assembled with the body section, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the entire side wall of the case defined by walls 24 and 46 presents a smooth, unbroken appearance, except for line 58 defining the lower edge of valance 54 and the upper edge of the outer surface of wall 24. Lower wall 53 of cover section further includes a longitudinal rib 60 which is spaced inwardly from the inner surface of valance 54, thus forming a channel 6| which snugly receives the upper reduced portion of said wall 24. On its inner surface the cover section is formed with a wall member 64 formed preferably of flexible material and. being detachably joined to the end walls 48 by mean of a slide fastener element 65. A flexible closure flap 66 also hangs downwardly from upper wall 47.

When the case is to be assembled, the lower end of the cover section may be positioned just above the lower end of the cut-out portion and the lower inner corners designated at 52 (Fig. 2) of the cover section are inserted within the valances 46 at each end of the body section, such valances acting as a very convenient guide for assembling the parts. The end walls 48 of the cover section are now aligned wtih the end walls l3 of the body section and the cover section may now be moved downwardly until it comes to rest on edges 25 and 26 at the lower end of the cutout portion. The cover section is now moved inwardly until its forward edge 67 engages the edge 68 formed on upper wall l4 of section I0, as shown in Fig. 5. The cover section is now locked to the body section by means of cooperating looking elements 69 and 18 formed on cover section I! and body section I9, respectively. The valances 46 prevent sidewise movement of the lower section and the lower surface of upper valance 4| cooperates with the upper marginal edges of the cover section to rigidly support such section relative to the body section.

In the modification shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, cover section includes on its inner surface a relatively rigid wall 14 hinged at 75 to lower wall 53'. In this instance, th marginal edges of side walls 48 are recessed, as shown at 16, thus assuring a tight fit. In this modification, valance 54 and rib 60 are similar to the structure shown in Fig. 5, but adjacent to the rear edge of lower wall 53' another rib TI is formed to enable the cover section which may b carried completely independently of the body section to stand upright when desired.

It will be noted that there is formed along all the meeting edges of the two sections an overlapping surface which not only aids in assembling the two sections quickly but also renders the assembled case dust-proof and water-proof as well. If desired, this overlapping may be dispensed with on the lower transverse edge 26 of the body section and also the valance strips 40 and 4| could be secured along the meeting marginal edges of the cover section rather than th body section. Also complemental handle members may be secured to the upper Walls of both sections and either handle used independently when only one section is being carried.

These are only a few of the modifications which are fully within the scop of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. In other words, the embodiments illustrated and described are the preferred of many possible embodiments of the invention and are not to be considered in any limiting sense.

What I claim is:

1. A traveling case formed with a body section and a completely removable cover section of lesser height than the body section, the body section having a cut-outportion extending downwardly from its upper wall and corresponding in size and shape to that of the cover section, a valance strip secured on the upper wall of the body section along said cut-out portion and enclosing the upper marginal edge of the cover section when the two sections are in assembled relationship, such valance strip extending downwardly, along the marginal edges of the cut-out portion, substantially to the base of the body section and enclosing the adjacent marginal edges of the cover section, the lower marginal edges of the cut-out portion along the side and end walls of the body section having longitudinal recesses extending inwardly from the outer surfaces thereof, the lower marginal edges of the cover section having complemental flanges receivable in said recesses, and means secured adjacent to, but spaced from, the outer marginal edge of the lower Wall of the cover section, such means abutting against the inner surface of the adjacent side wall of the body section when the two sections are in closed-together relationship, and preventing disengagement of the lower end of the cover section from the body section.

2. A traveling case formed with a body section and a completely removable cover section, the cover section including a side wall extending the full length of the case, top and bottom walls and end walls of lesser height than the body section, a closure flap for the compartment formed by said walls, the body section having a cut-out portion extending downwardly from its upper wall to a point spaced from its base, and corresponding in size and shape to that of the cover section, a valance strip secured on the upper wall of the body section along said cut-out portion and enclosing and supporting the upper marginal edge of the cover section when the two sections are in assembled relationship, such valance strip also extending downwardly along the marginal edges of the cut-out portion to the base of the body section, the lower marginal edges of the cut-out portion along the side and end Walls of the body section having a recess extending inwardly from the outer surfaces thereof, the lower marginal edges of the cover section having a complemental flange receivable in said recess, a rib positioned adjacent to, but spaced from, the outer marginal edge of the lower wall of the cover section abutting against the inner surface of the adjacent side wall of the body section when the two sections are in closed-together relationship, and locking means for securing the two sections together at their upper ends,

WALLACE H. BRACKEN.

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