US2713925A - Convertible sample-carrying case and display-stand - Google Patents

Description

u y 1955 N. Y. ALEXANDER CONVERTIBLE SAMPLECARRYING CASE AND DISPLAY-STAND Filed 001;. 5, 1953 ATTY.

FIG. 5

INVENTOR NOLAN Y. ALEXANDER BY I 40 FIG. 4

FIG. 3

United States Patent Ofiice 2,713,925 Patented July 26, 1955 CONVERTIBLE SAMPLE-CARRYING CASE AND DISPLAY-STAND Nelan Y. Alexander, Akron, Ohio Application October 5, 1953, Serial No. 383,969 3 Claims. (Cl. 190-16) This invention relates to a sample-carrying case adapted to be converted to serve also as a display stand.

Its chief objects are to provide a device of this character corresponding closely in appearance and in construction to a standard or ordinary sample case and yet requiring very little time or effort to convert it to a display stand; to provide for conversion of the device by simple rearrangement of only parts which perform important functions in the assembly as a carrying case and also as a display stand, so that the need of special elements for conversion purposes is eliminated and excessive weight and awkward mechanisms are not required; to provide for a high degree of stability in the device as a display stand; to provide for full exposure of a display element without requiring it to have a long range of movement in relation to its support; and to provide economy of manufacture and strength and durability in a device of this kind.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention in its preferred form, the device, having substantially the appearance of an ordinary travelling case, but being set on one of its ends in readiness for conversion to a display stand, a part of the front wall of the case being broken away to show internal construction and the sample contained in the case.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device, from the right of Fig. l, but with one of the body members of the case serving as a stabilizing foot member and with the sample in elevated, exposed, position.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 2.

As the sample to be displayed, and demonstrated if desired, a window frame or sash is here shown in association with the assembly of parts, but my invention is not wholly limited to any particular type of thing to be displayed.

The container portion of the case comprises a boxlike major body portion 11 and 21 preferably shorter, complementary portion 12, which serves alternatively as a lid or closure member, as in Fig. 1, or as a stabilizing foot member, as in Fig. 2. The two can be provided by making a single, completely enclosed box and then sawing or otherwise cutting it in two at the plane A, Fig. 1, 2 or 3.

For holding the two-purpose member 12 in proper relationship in either of its uses it is provided on each of its opposite edge faces with latching means, preferably an over-center or toggle latch or clamp 13 as shown, the two being adapted to engage and tighten in relation to respective keepers 14, 14 mounted on the outer faces of the upper margins of the box member 11, as in Fig. 1, when the device is a carrying case and, alternatively, with keepers such as that shown at 15 in Fig. 2, suitably positioned on the lower part of the box member 11, when the device is used as a display stand, with the planar edge face that defines the opening of the box element 12 contacting a vertical outer face of the box element 11 at positions widely spaced horizontally and at positions widely spaced vertically.

To protect the adjacent latch and keeper when the device, as a carrying case, is set down with its handle, 16, uppermost, the box element 12 is provided with suitable rubber pads 17, 17 and the box element 11 with similar pads 18, 18.

When, as in the present embodiment, the device is adapted to contain and to display in exposed condition an assembly inclusive of a planar structure such as a window frame or sash, guide channels 19, 19 for the planar member are secured to the inner faces of the narrow lengthwise walls of the major box element 11 and they preferably project from the open end of that element to serve as telescopic guides and positioning members for the closure box element 12. The latter can be provided with pairs of spacer block 20, 20 secured to the inner faces of its narrower walls for embracing the respective projecting end portions of the guide channels 19 to give the assembly, as a carrying case, the

strength of telescopic relationship in a direction at right angles to that in which the structure is given strength by the telescopic engagement of the channels 19 with the respective narrow inner faces of the cover element 12. The spacer blocks 2%) are preferably rounded at their lower corners nearest the respective channel 19, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, for guiding of the cover element 12 into place upon the major box element 11.

At one or both vertical edges of the planar member 11) latching means is provided for holding the said member in elevated position when it has been slid upward in the guide channels 19, and a convenient type of latching means is a bullet detent device 21 as shown clearly in Fig. 5, which has sufiicient resistance to dislodgment from its keeper depression, in the member 11, to support the planar member but can be dislodged by suitable manual pressure simply applied to the planar member 10. The bullet detent is here shown as being mounted in the planar member 10, so that the box member 11 does not have to be formed with a socket for it, but the invention is not limited to this particular arrangement of latching means.

The manner of manipulating the parts, and the advantages set out in the above statement of objects, will be manifest from the foregoing description.

Modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A convertible sample-carrying case and displaystand comprising two completely separable, open-end box elements each of substantial depth from its open end, adapted to be associated with their open ends together to provide a unitary container, means for releasably holding them in that relationship, one of the said box elements being adapted to stand, with stability, upon its end opposite its open end, means mounted in that box element for vertically gliding, in sliding relative movement, an article to be displayed when the latter, within said box element, is bodily lifted in simple movement of translation, and latching means for holding the said article in the position to which it is thus lifted, the said guiding means projecting from the open end of the box element in which it is mounted, for extensive guiding and lateral support of the said article, and means on the other of the said box elements slidably fitting the projecting portion of the said guiding means in telescoped relation thereto, for strengthening the assembly, when the said box elements are associated with their open ends together to provide a unitary container.

2. A convertible sample-carrying case and displaystand comprising two completely separable open end box faces of the two finsh with each other to provide a hori- 1 zontally extensive footing for the assembly.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 in which the recited holding means comprises alternative means on one of the box elements and means on the other box element selectively engageable with the said alternative means for holding the box elements in the two relationships selectively.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 696,813 Harrison Apr. 1, 1902 1,166,988 Hinkson Jan. 4, 1916 1,521,310 Morna Dec. 30 ,1924 1,526,213 Humphrey Feb. 10, 1925 1,629,213 Hughes May 17, 1927 1,997,820 Govoni Apr. 16, 1935 2,673,783 Rahm et al. Mar. 30, 1954 mlwm

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