US2666227A - Luggage frame having locking hinge structure - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 19, 1954 STEIN 2,666,227

LUGGAGE FRAME HAVING LOCKING HINGE STRUCTURE Original Filed July 20, 1945 Patented Jan. 19, 1954 LUGGAGE FRAME HAVING LOCKING HINGE STRUCTURE Leo Stein, Chicago, Ill.

Original application July .20, 1945, Serial No. 606,084. Divided and this application March 17, 1951, Serial No. 216,175

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in luggage frames'and more particularly relates to suchframes having improved hinge structure connecting two similar frame members together for swinging into open or closed relative positions.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 606,084, filed July 20, 1945, Patent No. 2,545,501, dated March 20, 1951.

An important object of the present invention is 'to provide improved luggage frame structure 'means for automatically retaining the frame members in wide open position as an incident to swinging the frame members to such open position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved yieldable hinge locking means for luggage frames.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one type of luggage to which the present invention may be applied, showing a frame embodying the features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a luggage frame embodying the invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational View looking toward the inner side of the left hand luggage frame hinge structure as viewed in Figure 2 and taken substantially in the plane of line III-III;

Figure 4 is an outside elevational view of the left hand hinge structure of Figure 2 looking substantially in the direction of the arrows on the line IVIV; and

Figure 5 is a view looking toward the right side of the structure shown in Figure 4, substantially as indicated by the line VV with the exception,

however, that the hinged frame structure has been swung open as indicated in dash outline in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the bag frame as shown in Figure 4, with the frame members in an extended position;

5 the extremitiesof the frame members and which Figure 7 is a plan view of the device as shown in Figure 4, with the frame members extended and in the process of being unlocked.

In Figure 1 is shown, by way of example, a bag 10 in the form of a brief case having the usual side wall structure and expansible gussets I I connecting the same at the ends and bottom while a luggage frame I2 is carried by the upper edges of the side walls and gussets.

For details of the luggage frame l2 reference is invited to my application above-identified and to my Patent 2,200,972, dated May 14, 1940. Suffice it here to say that the frame comprises a pair of complementary, fairly rigid, generally inverted U-shaped members l3 and M. The frame members are arranged to be releasably locked by mechanism [5 (Fig. 2) including a carrying handle IT. The upper locking mechanism l5 may be of the kind to which the above-mentioned application is more particularly directed.

At the lower ends of the downturned arms or legs of the frame members [3 and M, they are pivotally connected together by combination hinge and yieldable locking means preferably in the form of substantially identical combination hinge and locking devices l8, and it is to this structure that the present application is especially directed.

Each of the hinge-lock structures it comprises a hinge plate I9 which is attached to the bag material at the corners of the bag opening and to which the adjacent ends of the frame members l3 and I4 are similarly loosely pivoted by means of respective rivets 20 andZl (Figs. 3 and 4). 'By preference the pivoting of the frame members 13 and M on the hinge plates !9 is in side-by-side relation so that each of the frame members is independently pivoted but in such relation that in the juxtaposed or closed condition of the luggage frame the frame members [3 and I 4 will be reasonably snugly mutually engaged.

In order to facilitate swinging open of the frame members l3 and M, the lower companion extremities of the frame members are preferably arcuately formed as indicated at 22. Thereby when the frame members l3 and M are swung open to a position as indicated in dash outline in Fig. 4, the arcuate extremity portions 22 can ride on one another or at least clear one another without interference until the frame has been swung to the fully open position as shown. In this fully open position, limit upon further opening is preferably accomplished by respective terminal shoulders 23 formed at the outer sides of 3 in the fully open position of the frame members abut one another and lock the frame members against further opening movement.

In order to relieve the rivets 20 and 2! of shear stresses imposed thereon by the frame members is and M. in the fully open position and wherein the limit shoulders 23. thrust against one another, the hinge plate is is provided with respective limit shoulders 24 at its opposite sides against which the frame members bear in the fully open position. By preference, the hinge plate limit.

shoulders 24 are provided at the upper ends of an inturned flange 25 on the margin of the plate;

It will be observed that the shoulder termini of the marginal flange 25 terminate below an upper hinge portion of the plate 19' so as to afford clearance for swinging of the frame members !3 and M.

For locking the frame I2, and thereby the bag if! to whichit isattached, in-open'position, means are provided whereby when'thee frame members is and M have been swung to-w-ide open position,, a locking mechanism automatically comes into operation to hold thev frame. in the open condition untit intentionally manually released for closing. To this end, the mechanism P8. includes a locking cam plate 2i. fixedly secured to one of the frame members, as for. example the frame member ts as by means-of a pair of screws 28. While the hinge plate l-Siis preferably carried by the outer sides of the frame members it and. Ed, the locking plate 21 is preferably carried at. theinnersides of the extremity portions of the frame members beyond the end of theattached leg of the frame member !3. and to overlap and projectboth. laterally and endwise beyond the adiacent extremity portion of the frame member Mi. Asthe frame member i3 is rotated or. swung between closed and open positions,v thelocking plate 2?: swings with it.

For effecting a connection of thezplate. 21 with the frame. member [-4, the pivot rivet ZI- extends throughan arcuate'slot. 29in the plate 2li through which. the shank of therivet slides as. the plate swings with the frame member !3 or when the frame member M is moved. relative to the frame member l3, while the head of the-rivet 2 maintains a loose connection of the locking plate and the frame member I4.

For locking purposes, the plate 21 has a locking shoulder 36 thereon behind which the frame member i i-is adapted to spring in the fully open relative positions of theframe members, substantially as shown in dash outline in Fig 4 and in full outline in Fig. 5. To facilitate sliding of the plate 2i past the frame member M toward the locked condition,. the outer face of the plate 21 is provided with a. cam. surface 3| leading to the shoulder 30 and opposing the frame member IA in the range of relative. opposition. from. the. fully closed condition of the frame members tov the fully open position of the frame members.

In-the opening relative movement-of the frame 1 members l3 and M, the frame members pivot about their respective pivots 2'0 and 21, the locking plate 2'! swings with the frame member [3 and relative to the frame member M, with the tapered cam surface 3! sliding along the opposing face of the frame member l4 until in the fully open position of' the frame members, the frame member [4 snaps in back of the shoulder 30 on the plate 21. In the assembly, the pivot pin or rivet 2.! is suflicientlylonger in thQshank The. locking plate 21 is constructedand arranged to extend substantially of the locking, plates 27.

portion thereof than the thickness of the members through which it passes to afford some end play or looseness to avoid binding of the plate 2'! and the frame member It. This facilitates the springing of the cam locking plate 2'! and the. frame member l4 relatively to effect the interlocked open condition.

As may be seen from a consideration from Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7, when the frame members 13 and [4 are opened to their fully extended position the natural rigidity of the frame member M" will maintain the bent-over ends of the frame in substantially parallel position and hence the frame It! will not pass back over the shoulder 31] without outside aid. However, since the: pivot pin. 21 is somewhat longer than the combined widths of the plate 27 and the frame member I4 when these two parts are positioned in the fully extended'position shown in Figure 5, .the frame member l imay be-sprung laterally asshown in Figure 7. When thus sprung in the direction of the arrow as shown in Figure 7, the frame member M will clear the shoulder 3t to permit the frame members [3 and [-4 to be collapsed into a closed position as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

It has been found that the natural resiliency of the frame members M will permit the necessary springing thereof at both sides of the bag simultaneously when locking plates are to be utilizedat both ends of the bag. Further, the natural resiliency of the frame members i l, in combination with the looseness of the pivot pin. El will permit the members t3 and Hi to collapse, springing around the-shoulders 30- when arelatively heavy closing pressure is manually exerted on the sideframes l3 and I4.

It will be understood. that either one or both of the. hinge devices. is. may be provided with one In the frame assembly as. shown in Fig. 2, both of the devices 58. are shownzas equipped with one of the locking; plates 21.. For. uniformity in operation, the locking plates l8 are preferably secured to the same frame member, namelythe frame member !3.

For additional firmness in the open condition of the luggage frame, the length of the arcuate slot 29 and the plate 21. may be such that the rivet 2| will engage the wall defining one extremity of. the slot in the fully open condition of the frame as shown in Fig. 4, thus supplementing the thrust shoulders 23 and the retaining shoulders 24.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novelconcepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1'. Ina luggage frame assembly, a pair of frame members, a hinged plate for securing said frame members together, first pivot means securing one of said" frame members to. said hinge plate, secondpivot means securing the other of said frame members to said plate whereby said frame members are rotatable on said pivots into an extended position or a closed position in which they lie immediately adjacent each other in substantially parallel relationship, a locking plate fixedly secured. to said one frame'm'ember and extending beyond the end thereof into overlapping relation with said other frame member, said locking plate lying in a plane generally parallel to the plane of said hinge plate and having an interference shoulder't-hereon adapted to spring over the edge of said other frame member whenv the. frame .5 members are in extended position, said second pivot being axially loose whereby said other frame member may be sprung relative to the locking plate to clear said shoulder and thereby permit movement of said frame members into said closed position.

2. In combination in a luggage frame assembly, a hinge plate having a pair of frames pivotally mounted thereon for movement between a closed position in which said frames are substantially parallel to each other into an open position in which the frames are in extended relation with each other, a locking plate fixedly secured to one of said frames and extending therebeyond into overlapping relation with the other frame, the pivot means supporting said other frame on said plate being axially loose whereby said other frame may be readily sprung laterally along said pivot relative to said locking plate, and laterally extending shoulder means on said locking plate for extension into the path of movement of said other frame to maintain said frames in an extended position when placed in such a position.

3. In combination in a luggage frame assembly of the character described, a pair of frame members, means pivotally connecting said frame members, one of said frame members having on the pivotally mounted extremity portion thereof a locking plate projecting beyond the extremity and overlapping the extremity of the other frame member, shoulder locking means on the locking plate for cooperation with the extremity of the other frame member, the pivotal connection of said other frame member to said means having looseness axially of the pivot whereby said other frame member may be deflected relative to said one frame member and said locking plate to permit its pivotal movement past said locking shoulder.

, frame members are in extended position relative to each other, an inclined cam surface connecting the portion of said locking plate immediately adjacent said one frame member to said locking shoulder whereby movement of said frame members, into extended position will cause said other frame member extremity portion to be deflected by said cam surface over said shoulder, the pivot means of said other frame extremity portion being axially loose whereby said other frame extremity portion may be deflected readily relative to said one frame extremity portion and said locking plate to thereby permit said other frame member extremity portion to pass back over said locking shoulder into close side by side relationship with said one frame member.

LEO STEIN.

References Cited. in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 284,446 Lieb Sept. 4, 1883 334,856 Finney Jan. 26, 1886 380,768 Reinisch Apr. 10, 1888 1,102,307 'Tueckmantel July 7, 1914 1,505,593 Fryer Aug. 19, 1924 1,639,977 Bellingrath 1 Aug. 23, 1927 1,862,665 Dvorak June 14, 1932 Sloane et a1 Feb. 10, 1942

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