US2522322A

US2522322A - Bifurcated leg structure optionally supporting luggage sections in horizontal or in vertical and horizontal positions

Info

Publication number: US2522322A
Application number: US13628A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wallace Mattie Louise
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-03-08
Filing date: 1948-03-08
Publication date: 1950-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 1967-09-12

Description

P 1950 M. L. WALLACE 2,522,322

v BIFURCATED LEG STRUCTURE OPTIONALLY SUPPORTING LUGGAGE sEc'rIoNs IN HORIZONTAL on m VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL POSITIONS Filed March' 8, 1948 i 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

M47775 Zoo/:6 h44 Ac Arraewsy 'Fild March 8, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 12, 1950 M. WALLACE 2,522,322

BIFURCATED LEG STRUCTURE OPTIONALLY SUPPORTING LUGGAGE SECTIONS IN HORIZONTAL OR IN VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL POSITIONS INVEN TOR.

Marne- (awash 4424c: BY

W Arraewey Patented'Sept. 12, 1950 BIFURCATED LEG STRUCTURE OPTIONAL- .LY SUPPORTING LUGGAGE SECTIONS IN HORIZONTALOR IN VERTICAL AND HORI- ZONTAL POSITIONS Mattie Louise Wallace, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 8, 1948, Serial No. 13,628

1 Claim.

This invention relates to baggage, and more particularly'to an article of luggage which is convertible into an alternative form capable of afiording convenience as a table.

Other features include the provision of detachable and longitudinally adjustable legs for said container which may be collapsed and stored or carried within the container when the latter is in folded position. Another advantage resides in the provision of aligned socket members in the opposite sections of the foldable container, which sockets extend into the interior thereof without being in communication with the interior of the container so as to allow the insertion therein of collapsible and detachable legs without leaving any openings in the containers outer walls through which contents of the container otherwise might be lost and through which dust and moisture otherwise might enter.

A further object in this connection is so to design and arrange the sockets, as well as the portions of certain ones of the detachable supporting legs, that they operate to support the container optionally in either of two alternative positions of adjustment, one of which is with both its sections arranged horizontally, so that they co-operate with each other in serving as a flat-topped table, and the other of which is with one section horizontal and the other extending upwards from one edge of the horizontal section, thus affording convenience for use as a dressing table or make-up stand.

The invention is here illustrated by its embodiment in a suitcase orsimilar container and the provision of such a novel travelling bag is also among the purposes of the present invention which, however, is not to be limited in its scope to such embodiment.

Other objects and advantages of the invention' will be apparent from the following descript on and claim, the novelty consisting in the features of construction, combination of parts, the unique relations of the members and the relative proportioning, disposition, and operation thereof. all as more completely pointed out in the appended cla m. r y

In the drawings, which form part of the present specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a foldable case or container embodying the principles of my invention.

' 1 Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container shown in open position and mounted upon its detachableand adjustable legs. 1

Figure 3 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken through the supported container along the line 33 of Figure '2. Flgure 4 is an end elevational' view drawn to' reduced scale and showing the container supported in a half-open or L-shaped position.

Figure 5 is a detail, fragmentary view in perspective, particularly showing the arrangement of the mounting sockets in adjacent corners of two halves of the container.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the foldable case shown mounted upon its detachable legs in open position and provided with several separate compartments in each half of the case.

' Figure 7 is a perspective view of the individual compartments of one side of the case, shown removed therefrom.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Figure '7 and showing the manner-of engagement of aremovable compartment lid with an adjacent wall of its compartment.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 99 of Figure 7, particularly showing the finger slot for lifting the closure lid of one of the compartments.

' Figure 10 is a perspective view showing the lid of one of the side compartments of the group shown in Figure 7.

As illustrated, there is provided a generally rigid container ll here shown as having the general form of a conventional suit case and comprising a pair of similar and confronting sections l2 and I4, hingedly connected along a common longitudinal edge It, preferably each section being provided with a longitudinal, juxtaposed handle [8 and 20, respectively, along the outer face of the edge 2| opposite the hinged edge It. The hinges 22 and 24 are disposed so thatthe bottom sides 26 and 28 of the two sections of the container will abut against each other when the case is opened to a horizontal position, in such position the upright walls of the two halves of the case serving thus to define a corresponding pair of open topped receptacles 30 and 32, as shown in Figures '2 and 3.

Formed. integral with or attached to the ads jacent side walls of the respective case sections I2 and M, are three parallel socket members 34, 35,36, and 31, 38, 39, respectively, opening to the outside and extending approximately the depthor height of the respective receptacle 30, 32. The first two of each trio of sockets aredisposed at opposite ends of the respective bottom wall 26 or 28 so as to be located in downwardly opening, vertical position when the case is opened to a horizontal position as illustrated. The third any danger of losing artic es from the container ll therethrough, as well as entry of dust or moisture into the containers interior through any of the sockets.

Four collapsible legs are provided for insertion in the six sockets. 44 for the sockets 35 and 39 associated with the containers top walls are interchangeable with each other. These legs 42 and M are individually constructed of a pair of longitudinally telescoping members, of which the upper tubular member 46 has an outer diameter which permits its upper extremity to be detachably inserted more 'orless snugly within the socket 36 or 39, while the lower, usually solid rod 48 is of an external diameter corresponding generally-to the inside of said tube so as to be slidable therein, being .secure-lyheld at the :desired position of.- emens'ion by means of a set screw 56 threadediy mounted in the upper member.

lhe other two legs are also interchangeable with each other and areprovided with a biifurcate upper portion 52 so thateach'leg may be inserted jointly in two adjacent sockets. The parallel ends 5 and 560i these legs above the baseof the fork are thus 'adap'ted'to be inserted simultaneously'into the juxtaposed'sockets 3d and 3 5,01 '35 and 38, as the case may be. The lower rodportion 58 is telescopically mounted wl t'hin' th'e tube '52 and retained at the desired location therealong by a set screw-fill similar to the assembly of the single legs. By this construction, the two upper arms 54 and fifi'serve to brace the two sections 42 and I l of the case in their open position withrespect to each other. 1

In the alternative, 'as illustrated in Figure-4, when only one arm of the bifurcated -supportiz is inserted in its socket, the adjacentparallel end may serve to support the opposite section 4 2 or i l in an upright-position by contact at its upper end with the outer face of the bottom wall Zliso that the two sections are supported approximately=at right-angles to each other or in a generally L-shaped position. Such arrangement may be-of particular value, forexample, on conservingspace in a room or closet while still positioning the case inan opener-accessible position. In other words, the upright section could be located against the side wall of a roomor closet in thisposition and both sections would still be easily accessiblefor inserting and withdrawing articles as needed. When so arranged, the case wouldafford convenience as a dressing table or make'up stand. I When the two sections l2 and Marc both sup= ported -in horizontal position, provision of a flat surface across their open top readily makes them useable as a serving table or stand. One such arra'ngementis illustrated in Figures '6' to 10, inclusive, wherein the two sections of the container are each provided with multiple compartments having individual fiat covers for the several compartments. The section M is here shown .provided with threeindividual receptacles or trays 62, 6-4 and 'fifiadapted to be nested within the cavity 32' and being generally rectangular except forcurved portions adapted to conform to the outer curvature of an adjacent corner or median leg socket. Ihe end trays 652 and 5B areprovided with shallow dimples or recesses 68 along their inner surfaces adjacent their upper edge, while the lid member 1-0 is provided with correspondingly positioned lugs 12 adapted to seat within the recesses 68. In addition, the lid is provided with a sunken recess M in its upper face, undercut at on'e side-thereof so as to enable the user to The two straight legs 42 and 4 insert a finger under the same and lift the lid thereby. The lids ll! may, if desired, be provided withone ormorespringepressed'detents 8i! adapted to-se'at in the-adjacentsocket 53.

It will be apparent that, particularly with this latter construction, individual compartments or trays may be used to store and transport a variety of articles whichof course, are in no wise necessarily limited to clothing. For instance, the present construction be employed in providing food containers for picnics or the like, or again several compartments may be used to store -difierent games, cooking utensils, other apparatus such as physicians implements, or infants clothand accessories.

It will thus be evident that I have produced a. foldable case of igreat "adaptability which can be quickly and-easily set up-at any de'sireddocationas well as readily adjusted f'ora variety-of elevations.

While I have shown and described in some detail a presently-preferred 'emb'odiment cf my foldable case,-1t is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the construction and operation thereof within'the scopeof the subsequently claimed-invention which is toibe construed broadly and {limited only by the prior art.

lclaim:

An extensible container "comprising a "pair of hingedly interconnected sections, each oitsaid-sections having top, bottom, end, and side walls which form a receptacle shell, said-sections being ahingedly connected along adjacent edges of said bottom walls so asto be movable from 'a closed, vertical position to either awfully open position, in whichthe side -wall' ofeach of'said sections assumes a hori-zontal'position and said top, bottom andend wallsextend upwards from said side walls, or to a half open positionpin which one of said sections remains vertical-and the other of-sai'd sections is pivoted from 'a vertical to a horizontal positiomsocketslocatedhdjacent -each-of said bottom walls and adjacent at least one of sam -top walls' of the "case and Opening downwards when each-section is horizontally disposed, and detachablelegs 'adapted to be inserted in said socketsso as to support the open container in a-n elevated position, said legs including at least-one bifurcate l'eg one 0f-said leg furcations being insertable in one-of 'said-bottorn wall sockets, and the other furcation being selectively insertable in the adjacent bottom wall socket "when said. sections have assumed a fully open position, or disposed "against "the outside surface of'the bottom wall or that-section which remains vertical when said sections assume a half-open-position MATTIE -LOUISE WALEACE.

I REFERENCES -.CI.'I.ED

The following references are of record inthe file of this patent;

UNITED STATES'PA IENTS' Number Name Date 661,194 Rothsc'ltlld et'al. "NOV. 6, 1990 873,855 Goldin Dec."1'7,"1907 1,176,473 Lorin'g Mar. 21,1916

1,211,829 Eades Jan. 9, 191"? 1,533,494 l3illburg "Apr. 14,1925 FOREIGN. PATIENTS Number Country Date 394,195 FrZan'ce Nov. 20, 1908