US2609073A

US2609073A - Portable accessory case

Info

Publication number: US2609073A
Application number: US156655A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bernard A Mclaughlin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-04-18
Filing date: 1950-04-18
Publication date: 1952-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 1969-09-02

Description

p 1952 B. A. MLAUGHLIN PORTABLE ACCESSORY CASE Filed April 18, 1950 IN VEN TOR.

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ERNARD A. MCLAUGH ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,609,073 menses ACCESSORY oAsri sears A.McLa1ighlin, sari Fraiiei'ct; caiii'. Application April 18, 1950, Sal-aim 1515;655-

This invention relates to a man'ually portable accessory case and moreparticularly to such a as or kit which provides an ext dable pl form therein, and compartments for accessories.

The general utility of such-.a'caseor kit resides in its use for some particular purpose. Whil e the invention is not limited to a particular use, it is herein illustrated anddescribedwith I813: tion to a manually portable case providing a platform for supporting an infant while performing the usual attentions which are required, and providing receptacles and compartmentsto receive the required accessories. -Everyone who has had the responsibility of carin for an. .11 fant while temporarily away from the usual conveniences at home realizes the advantages of having available a convenient platform on which the infant maybe placed for necessary attentions, I and having h equally convenient the necessary accessories forsuch a purpose, If the case is employed for attending the needs of an infant, manifestly the accessories in the; cornpartments would beselected for that particular purpose, thoughmanifestly if the casewere to lg s d fieren pu o e. he. ac ssories in the compartments may be appropriately varied- Broadly the inventioncomprises a rnanually portable case substantially of the hand luggage type, having a platform and a plurality of un derlying compartments arranged to support the overlying platform, and a telescoping enclosing cover member hinged in the plane of the platform whereby the cover member may be swung on the hinge so that its planar top is coplanar with the platform and provides an extension thereof, the case having'means to support the cover in such coplanar position. Ancillary to such platform and cover, certain of the compartments may have therein trays hingedly mounted at one end to swing from their normal position underlying the platform to a position underlying the opened cover, and to serve as the support means for the cover when the cover is swung back coplanar with the platform.

The objects of the invention are to provide an interfolding accessory case convenient for manual transport and having a platform therein enlargeable upon opening a coverforthe case. 7 H I A further object is toprovide in manually portable inter-folding case having a platform therein, hingedly mountedtray compartments to receive accessories, and adapted for swinging to a supporting position for -a. .ooplanar'extension-of the platform. 7 g a sci-ear. (01. 190-11) Another. object is Q- rov e a: manu l n w able accessory, case having a platform therein and a, p ur i of. o se l. m artm t 1 es n thereunder, and a cover member I having its planar top. i d t em ti o v t e ,p atiqrm and havi s e p nel o tele o i ly @910 m t c m a t en a resti g rays therein nt over selosed. ov t e platfermg Q e o m'n wh h he nventi m y e g -1 bo ed sdescr ed. h r a i u ted. i m anyin drawi s ihbfii' g unde t var ation of d a ls-m yb r so t o W u departing from the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

lnt dr wm a i Y Big lis a perspectiveview or the case in" closed s ti -c a 1 a, 215 a r rect ve ew. l t a e i a open position, and tray members at a swun ck:P s t o PP9 net i.Q r-..

Fig. :3 isa perspective view of the case in an open position, with trays nested vvithin the case.

p ig a is a fragmentary perspective view of the ar-wall p i l fa, -.I .1-

.ise e redia c e 'iti gl n fi i of F -lei a ra men a ,en a s i lan i of the rear end of one tray and shows its hinge connection to t he rearwall of thecase, an overv r nl fQrmm mw be em ved Il a 1 a er pa s t on-9 e area Referring to the drawing in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts'iir the several views, the manually portable case of the invention generallyiindicatedl 9 is provided with a bottom ecti generally indicated 1'0 in which I] ista planar v-bottoin wall extendingsubstahtially th length and width of the ottom section. A platform t2 overlies the bottom in spaced parallel relation and is substantially of similar shape and area as the'bottom. The platfoi m'is'supported insu'chspaced relation by suit,- able perpendicular Supp rtin walls which provide storagespace between the bottom wall and e Pla ormjvP r weete e s cev i divided into several compartments in which event tl e platform may be supportedby aL pa-ir of relatively .spaced longitudinal central walls [3 eachof'which is 'spacedinwardly from a side edge of the bottom wall. Further support for theplats rm, s re i 'et t a y t an v e wall I4, andrat the frontby vertical front wall portions !5, the latter extending from therelar tively spaced longitudinal walls 1 31 to the adjacent idee se the perimete -of bottom H a im tform [2. Thusy'there are provided between the bottom wall and the platform three compartments of the longitudinal depth of the bottom section I9. These compartments are designated a central compartment I6 open at the front wall and closed at its sides and rear by the respective longitudinal walls I3 and rear wall I4, and an elongated side compartment at each side of the central compartment, designated respectively, I! and I8.. The side compartments I1, I8 are each closed at front by front walls I5, at rear by rear wall I4 and along the inner elongated side by one of the longitudinal central walls I3, the side compartments each being open at their outer longi-' tudinal side opposite the central wall I3. At the open side of one or more of the compartments, there may be provided a conventional edge retaining strip Ilia to prevent articles from falling from the compartments.

However, as an additional advantageous feature in the present invention, it is preferred to provide in the side compartments II, I8, trays generally indicated I9 and 20, which are hinged for-"swinging intoand out of the side compartments. These trays are of a size to fit snugly slidable intothe side compartments II, I8 of the bottom section. The trays I9, are provided with'a bottom wall 2I,

end walls

22, 23, one side wall 24, and an edge retaining strip at the opposite side, the end walls and the one side wall 24 preferably being substantially the height of thecompartment, slidable clearance being allowed, and the edge strip being of lesser height. The trays are therefore open at the top, and also at one side above the retaining strip 25 whereby easy access may be had to the trays. When the trays are nested within the side compartments I7, I8, the side wall 24 provides a closure wall for each of the side compartments II, I8 flush with the corresponding side edge of the bottom wall and platform. The partially 'open side of each tray confronts one of the central compartment walls. Y

In this connection it is to be noted that if the trays are employed, it is preferred that'the rear wall I4 of thebottom section shall be of lesser length than the entire width of the bottom section, and therebyhave its opposite ends terminating short of the side edges, as at 26, 21, to the extent of the width of one leaf of each of the butt hinges 28, 29-which are mounted at said opposite ends of the "rear Wall, One leaf of each hinge is secured to the respective opposite ends of the rear wall and the other leaf is secured to the end Wall 22 of one of the trays I9, 20. The pintles of the hinges are thus inset by the leaves from the higher elongated side wall of the tray,-'and are similarly inset from the corresponding side of the bottom section. In order that the end wall 22 of the tray may snugly conform to the plane of the corresponding confronting end portion of the rear wall, the end wall of the tray may be deformed by a planar ofiset 22a, or, if desired, the end wall 22 may be in a right plane and a furring strip may be inserted between the hinge leaf and the tray end wall.

A hinged cover member generally indicated 30 is provided for telescopically enclosing the platform and the sides and front of the bottom section when the case is closed. The cover member has the usual planar top 3| of suflicient size and appropriate'shape to cover the platform I 2, as Well as having side strips 32, and front strip 33, of slightly greater height than the height of the bottom section, the rear side of the cover member being open to provide a rear edge of the cover top which is hingedly mounted at the rear edge of the platform, as by hinge 34, the hinge axis of which substantially coincides with the rear edge of both cover and. platform and with the upper edge of the rear wall of the bottom section. One leaf of hinge 34 may therefore be connected to either the rear edge of the platform or to said upper edge of the rear wall, the latter being preferred, and mayextend substantially the entire length of said rear edge betweenthe

tray hinges

28 and 29, and is thus substantially in the plane of the platform I2, so that when the cover is swung back degrees from its closed position, the inner face of the planar top is an extension of, and coplanar with the platform I2.

While the cover hinge 34 as Well as

tray hinges

28, 29 are herein illustrated and described as having leaves, it is contemplated that such leaves may be an integral part of the member to which they are shown to be attached, such constructionbeing well known in the sheet metal art by tubularly forming spaced-ear portions at the edge of one sheet and similar ears spaced alternately at the confronting-'edg'e'o'f another part, the tubular ears, when interengag'ed, providing a tube for a pintle. 3

Means are provided for supporting the cover member at such coplanar swung-back position. As hereinafter described, the trays may be employed to provide such support. However, in cases where the hingedt'r'ays are not employed in the device, or in the event that access is not desired to the trays, such support for the cover at its coplanar position maycomprise a bracket 35-extending' along the outer face'of the'front strip 33 of the cover and having arms 36 extending along the side-strips 32 and pivotally connected thereto, the lengthof the arms 36 being substantially similar to the height of the bottom section,whereby,"when the cover is hinged back to a co-planar position 'andthe bracket 35 is swung perpendicular thereto, theplanar top of the cover is supported at the same level as the platform I2. Any suitable stop member. 31, preferably a spring latch type, may limit movement of the bracket beyond the center of its arcuate swing, and thus insure against its collapse at itssupportin Position. i f

However, in those devices in which the hingedly mounted trays are employed and it is desired to have access 'to the trays, the trays may be swung rearwardly on the

tray hinges

28, 29 so that the side closure wall 24 underlies the swungback cover, in which case the inset of the pintle of the tray hinge Permits the side wall 24 of the tray to swing inwardly under the plane of the cover to the extent of the previously described inset of the hinge pintles. In any normal size of manually portable case an inset of approximately one inch is a sufl'icientinset for the hinge pintles. Manifestly, if the open opposite side wall 25 of the tray which confronts a central wall I3 when in a compartment IT or I8, is swung around to an opposite position, such open side and top of the tray are exposed outwardly when the tray is in such swung-back supporting position. The contents of the tray are therefore accessible. In order thatthere may be no slippage of the tray from its supporting position under the swungback cover, a lug, pin or other upraised member 38 may be provided adjacent the edge of the cover to engage the side wall of the tray upon which the cover rests. 4

A conventional suitable handgrip strap 39 is provided on the front strip of the cover, and a locking strap may be extended from the bot tom section to engage the closed cover. a

While the case may be employed for numerous purposes where both a platform and storage space are desirable, when employed for attention to infants, it is desirable to provide means on the platform and the cover extension thereof for holding a blanket, or a pad thereon. Such means may comprise triangular anchor plates 4| at opposite corners of the platform and underface of the cover top, one edge of the anchor being secured to the respective plates, and the opposite angle portion being frege'of and slightly spaced from the inner face of the cover top, whereby a tape on the pad or blanket may be slipped thereover. If the securing means of the anchors in the cover comprises rivets, th head of the rivets may protrude from the opposite face of the planar top and provide the lug 38 for stabilizing the positioning of the trays as supports for the swungback cover. Due to the anchors coming in contact when the case is closed and the carrying of a folded blanket on the anchors, the cover member is of slightly greater height than the bottom section as previously stated.

When the cover top is swung back coplanar with the platform, the infant may be placed on the extended platform to change diapers, bathe, feed or clothe the infant, or for a temporary crib, the side and end strips of the cover providing walls around the planar cover portion of the extended platform to provide an effective guard rail for safety, while the platform portion [2 is free of such walls and permits operation free of interference in handling the infant.

In use, any desired accessory materials may be placed in the compartments, such as diapers or blankets in compartment 16, and nursing bottle, powder and oil, toys, etc. in the side compartments Or in the trays. Or, if employed for an automobile traveling case, a thermally insulated bottle may be carried in each of the side compartments, or in the trays and food may be packed in the compartment [6; and when the case is open, the platform [2 may be employed for a table while food may be placed in the swungback coplanar cover portion and shielded against displacement by the side and front strips of the cover, which thus serve as guard rails.

It is believed obvious that when the case is assembled for portability the cover member would be at a closed position. At such closed position the cover top overlies the platform l2, the side strips close the side compartments ll, l8, and hold trays therein if the latter are employed, and the front strip of the cover closes the open front end of the central compartment It, thus providing a closed case of the hand luggage type readily portable by the handgrip 39.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and patentable is:

1. A manually portable accessory case including a bottom compartment sectionhaving a compartment provided with an access opening in the vertical height dimension of said bottom section, a platform overlying the plane of said bottom section and providing a fixed top wall for said compartment, a cover member having a planar top mounted hingedly at its rear edge to the bottom section substantially in the plane of the platform and selectively swingable on the hinge connection from a position overlying the platform to a swung-back position coplanar with the platform, said cover having side strips and a front strip perpendicular to the planar top, said strips closing-:theopening of said compartment of the bottom section when the cover is at a closed position.

2. Anaccessory case of the class described, having'the elements of claim 1, and inwhich the bottomsection has a plurality of compartments each of which has an access opening in the vertical height dimension of the perimeter of said bottom section, and in which the side strips and front strips of the cover close the openings of the compartments when-the cover is at a closed position;

"3. An accessory case of the class described, having the" elements of claim 1, and in which there is provided a support means having substantially'the height of the bottom section and adapted for supporting the cover member at such swung-back coplanar position.

4. A manually portable accessory case includ ing a bottom section having a side compartment at each of its opposite sides and a central compartment therebetween, said compartments each having an access opening in the vertical height dimension at the perimeter of said bottom section, a platform overlying the plane of said bottom section and providing a fixed top wall for the compartments therein, a cover member having a planar top mounted hingedly at its rear edge to the bottom section substantially in the plane of the platform and selectively swingable on the hinge connection from a position overlying the platform to a swung-back position coplanar with the platform, said cover having side strips and a front strip adapted for closing the openings of the compartments of the bottom section when the cover is at a closed position, and a support means having substantially the height of the bottom section adapted for supporting the cover member at such swung-back coplanar position.

5. A device of the character described and having the elements of claim 4, and in which the side compartments are open at the opposite sides of the bottom section and the central compart ment is open at the front thereof.

6. A manually portable accessory case comprising a bottom section having a side compartment at each of its opposite sides and a central compartment therebetween, said compartments being open at the vertical height dimension of the perimeter of the bottom section, a platform overlying the plane of the bottom section and providing a fixed top wall for the compartments therein, a cover member having a top mounted hingedly at its rear edge to the bottom section substantially in the plane of the platform and selectively swingable on the hinge connection from a position overlying the platform to a swung-back position coplanar with the platform, said cover having side strips and a front strip perpendicular to the planar top adapted for closing the compartment openings of the bottom section when the cover is at Closed position, and tray members hingedly mounted to the rear wail of the bottom section and adapted for nesting in the said side compartments of the bottom section and swinging on said hinges to a supporting position underlying the swung-back cover.

7. An accessory case of the class described having the elements of claim 6, and in which the pintles of the tray hinges are inset from the opposite ends of the rear wall, whereby the trays may be swung from said side compartments to a supporting position underlying the swung-back cover.

8. A device of the character described having the elements of claim 6, and in which the tray members are open at the top and at one side and are closed at other walls, and in which the trays are hingedly mounted whereby when the tray is within a side compartment the open side of each tray faces inwardly, and when swung to support the open cover, the open side wall faces outwardly.

9. A device of the character described having the elements of claim 6, and in which the pintles of the tray hinges are inset from the opposite ends of the rear wall whereby the trays may be swung from said side compartments to a supporting position underlying the swung-back cover, and the tray members are open at the top and at one side, whereby when the tray is within a side compartment the open side of the tray faces in- The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 509,197 Clark Nov. 21, 1893 823,778 Herbeck June 19, 1906 FOREIGN PATENTS 15 Number Country Date 21,031 Great Britain Sept. 27, 1902