US2617217A - Panel-supporting frame - Google Patents

Description

NOV. l1, 1952 l- BEHR PANEL-SUPPORTING FRAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 26, 1946 Nov. 11, 1952 l.. J. BEHR PANEL-SUPPORTING FRAME 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. 26, 1946 Fail? INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Iwall I2.

ed, as indicated at I3, to give an improved and Patented Nov. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PANEL-SUPPORTING FRAME Leo Joseph Behr, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application December 26, 1946, Serial No. 718,553

2 Claims.

This invention relas to a portable chest, and has for an object to provide a compact, light weight chest, attractive in appearance, adapted to carry a large number of'articles, and to carry them in such a way that they are easily accessible, so that practically any article can be removed and used without disturbing the other articles, and especially a chest to carry a large number of such articles as one may use While travelling or away from home.

Another object is to provide a chest which will not only be ornamental, and in which not only treasured articles, such as photographs, service ribbons, various other insignia, and the like, may be carried, but also a large number of useful articles, such, for example, as writing paper, envelopes, stamps, pencils, pens, everything required for writing; various games, such as cards, checkers, dice and the like; various toilet articles, such as shaving paraphernalia, compacts, lipsticks, and smoking articles, such as cigarettes, lighters, and so forth.

A further object is to provide a device which is easily portable, which has means, either as a part of the device or as a removable element, for conveniently holding a writing pad or sheet of paper while writing, and will furnish illumination so that it may be used when the usual lighting is cut off, or in camp, for example.

With the foregoing and other objectsv in view, I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood the invention is not limited to the specific details of construction andar-rangement shown, but may embody various changes and modications within the scope of the invention.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved chest with the front and top closures, open to l show the interior, and parts broken away to mor clearly show the construction; v

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view;

Fig. 4 is a view with the secondary front closure removed, and also an inner frame removed;

Fig. 5 is a front View of this inner frame;

Fig. 6 is an edge view thereof looking from the right of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a cross section substantially on line f -l of Fig. 5.

The device comprises a `chest or container I including a rear wall, side walls II, and Va front Preferably the front corners are A,roundmore attractive appearance and a more streamlined eifect. These walls form an inner space closed at the bottom by the bottom wall I4 and which space is divided up into various compartments. The whole device may be supported on suitable cushioned feet I5 at the four corners, of any suitable material, such as rubber or the like. The chest may be made of wood, molded plastic, fiber or cardboard, light metal, or any other suitable material, but should preferably be of light weight.

Spaced backwardly from the front wall is an upright dividing wall I6 spaced at its lower edge Il above the bottom I4, and extending rearwardly from this lower edge to the rear wall of the container is a horizontal wall I8 forming with the rear wall and the wall I6 a compartment I9 open at the top, and with the bottom wall I4 under this wall I8 a compartment 2l) open at the front. In this upright wall I6, and extending downwardly from its upper edge, is a substantially V-shaped recess 2|, so that the side edges 22 are inclined. Mounted in this recess is a frame 23, shown more in detail in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. This frame comprises substantially U-shaped side members 24 connected at the bottom at 25, with their open sides facing inwardly, and these sides are inclined substantially the same as the inclined edges 22 of the opening in the upright wall i6, and therefore this forms a substantially V- shaped frame open at least on one side, and preferably open on both sides. Within the framel is a preferably black pillow or pad 26 of preferably fibrous material, as felt or cloth covered felt,.on

i which may be mounted various articles orv in-` signia, such, for example, as service ribbons 2l,-

which may be pinned to this pad or pillow, theedges of which extend into and are supported by the U-shaped frame members 24. These may also be connected at the top by a transverse piece 28. Other articles, such, for example, as photographs 29, may be mounted on the pad, and then these articles may be covered and protected by.

transparent sheets 30 of suitable plastic or other similar material, also extending at their edges into the U-shaped frame members 24. Fory mounting this device in the opening 22 inA the, upright wall I6, they are provided on at leastv grooves 33 along the edges of the frame which of the opening in the upright wall or partition I6 may receive and seat over the inclined edges 22 to mount this device in this opening. By providing members 32 on both sides of the frame it may be supported and reversed with either side facing toward the front. In this way, diierent articles may be mounted on the opposite sides of the pad 26, and either held concealed or turned for display, as desired. This frame when removed, with the photographs and other articles in it, may be used as an ornamental display device by itself and mounted in a plastic frame or stand or other device to hold it in an. upright position on a dresser, table, shelf or the like.

Mounted on the front face of the upright wall or partition I6 are holders for various articles, such, for example, as holders 34 for postage stamps 35, a thermometer 3B, holder or frame 31 for a calendar 38, means for mounting a barometer 39, and other articles, as. desired. Within the large compartment between the upright Wall lr6 and the rear wall may be placed suchy articles as-writing paper and envelopes 41, a memorandum and address book 4|, postcards 42, Christmas. seals 43, and a largenumber oi. other. articles, as desired. In the lower compartment 25J opening to the front may be placed packages M ofplaying cards, cigarettes and the like, or there may be placed in this aseries of upright boxes or containers [i in which. may bel placed various articles in the nature of games, such as cards, dice, checkers and the like: toilet articles, such as razors, razor blades, lipsticks, compacts, and the like; any one of which containers may be readily removed to makeall the articles easily accessible.

As will be seen in Fig; la, the upright wall i6 is spaced rearwardlyv from the front wall l2. Inv thisfront wall is an opening, which may ce closed by a closure i5 preferably hinged atr its lower edge so that it may be swung downwardly and outwardly. This closurey forms a convenient support for a pad or writing paper 4l', and may be provided. with a transverse bar or strap S on which the cardboard back 49 cf the writing pad may be inserted, as shown in Fig. i, to support the pad on this closure in convenient writing position. The chest may be held on the lap with. this closure down to hold the paper sheets in convenient position for writing.

- At the opposite sides of the opening the front walls I2 are extended backwardly and inwardf ly, as indicated at 5B, providing spaces between the front wall and the upright wall I6 on opposite sides oi the opening. These walls 50 do not extend back to the Wall IS, but are spaced forwardly from it, as shown. In one side, preferably the left handY side, is mounted a small lamp 5l, which throws light between the rear edgeof the wall 58 and the upright wall IS, to illuminate the various articles in the chest, and also, by indirect illumination, the pad il for writing purposes. battery lamp operated by small dry cells in the chest itself, or it could be a type of lamp to be operated from any house` wiring system. For this purpose an extension conductor cord 52 may be provided connected with the lamp and extending outwardly through the bottom wall I3 on the underside of which may be fastened one or more straps or spring clips 53 on which the cord may be wound, as shown in 3, when not in use, and the cord may have the usual attachment plug cap 511 to plug into the This light may be a small accessible and removable for use.

4 usual outlet receptacle in the house wiring system, and the lamp may be controlled by any suitable type of switch 55.

On the opposite side of the front opening between the front wall l2 and the upright wall l5 may be provided suitable holding devices for writing tools, such as pencils 56, pens, and the like, and to make them more readily accessible they are supported in a suitable elevator, comprising a cup 51 supported on an upright extension 58 having a lateral extension or grip 59 extending through a vertical slot 60, where it is accessible for raising the cup 51 and the pens, pencils, or similar articles supported therein, to carry them upwardly where they are easily An angular guide and support El may be provided above the cup 51 to prevent the articles from falling out ofv the cup.

On the inner sides of the inwardly extending walls 5!! is. aguideway 62, one .on each side. This. isv preferably formed by a pair of spaced strip members. 63 secured at their outer edges to the walls. Theseprovide vertical guideways for the opposite edges of a secondary or inner closure 84. This. closure may be a frame. carrying certain ornamental articles or a mirror,` or it could be a frame for photographs 65 with. al transparent or similar cover G6 over it, andy it. preferably has a rigid. back 61 which willform. asupport for a writing pad or a sheet, ofpaper. As this frame or closure is easily removable. from. the chest. by. simply sliding it upwardly.. and out the top of the. guides E2, it may be, used independently and separately from the, chest, and. thus used, for example, `by an invalid. in a bed, as a tray or support for his writing paper', or held in the lap. by onev sitting inA a chair, so that it is not necessary to, hold the. entire chest in his lap or on a support near him, as would be the case in using the front closure 46. The articles in this frame 64 are easily removable. Thus, if. a red pane of glass which absorbs actinic rays is inserted in this frame instead of theother articles. this whole chest could be used as a darkroom lamp in developing lms or prints from films, or, if preferred, a red transparent cylinder 68 could be placed around the lampl 5l to absorb the actinic rays, to permit the use of the, device as a darkroom lamp. The whole upper part of` the chest may be closed by a suitable. closure or cover 69 in the inner side of' which may be mounted a mirror 10. preferably hinged to the upper edge' ofv the rear.l wall of the chestand preferably has peripheral side walls 1l to enclose and seat` on a rabbeted or reduced upper. edge 12 of the body of, the chest, so that when closed it forms a continuous outer surface for a better and more attractive appearance. Any suitable catch 13 is provided for the top and front closures to hold them 1n the closed position.

It will be apparent from the above that this novel construction and arrangement provides a very attractive compact chest, in which a large number of various types of articles may be packed for easy transportation and use as desired. Various writing articles, such as paper, pens, pencils, rulers, blotters, and so forth, may be easily carried where they are readily accessible, and various toilet articles, such as lipsticks, compacts, razors and other shaving necessities, combs, nail files and `other toilet accessories, also variousgames, such as checkers, cards, dice and so forth; and if desired, the outer surface of theback wall This closure is of the chest may be provided with the squares of a checkerboard. Not only may various useful articles, as enumerated, be carried in this chest, but various ornamental articles as well, such, for example, as photographs or certain prized pictures, military ribbons and various insignia, as described. As a matter of fact, it makes a substantially all-purpose chest which is readily carried, and in which any of the numerous articles contained in it are always accessible without disturbing the other articles. It may be carried by a hand strap provided over the top (not shown) or a longer strap to go over the shoulder in the manner common in carrying cameras, ladies handbags, and the like. As it has a lamp of its own, various articles in the container are illuminated so that they may be readily located in the dark, and this lamp can also be used for illuminating writing paper while being used. It will be understood that only a small number of the various articles that can be placed and carried Y in this chest have been mentioned, and that an valmost unlimited number of other articles may be provided, those mentioned being noted merely by way of example.

It is especially adapted for use by travelers in trains, airplanes and the like, invalids in bed or in hospitals, soldiers in camp, sailors on ships, or people in homes.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a substantially V-shaped frame comprising side members provided with longitudinal outwardly yopening grooves in their outer side edges adapted to receive the similarly inclined edges of an opening in an upright wall to be supported thereby, land said side members also being provided with inwardly facing grooves in their inner side edges to receive a support in the frame adapted for mounting various articles.

2. In a device of the character described, a substantially V-shaped frame comprising side members of substantially U-shaped cross section arranged with their open sides facing inwardly, a support extending between the side members with its opposite side edges extending into and supported in said open sides of the U-shaped members and adapted to mount various articles, and a member extending along at least one side of each of said side members and spaced from -them to form grooves with their open sides facing outwardly and adapted to receive the similarly inclined side edges of an opening in an upright wall to support said frame therein.

LEO JOSEPH BEHR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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