US2782890A - Brief case - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 26, 1957 R. w. POWELL ET AL 2,782,890

BRIEF CASE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 1, 1955 Feb. 26,1957

Filed Sept. 1, 1955 R. w. POWELL ETAL 21,782,890

BRIEF CASE 2 Shets-Sheet 2 1 VENTORS Faber? MPawaIl Unite BRIEF CASE Application September 1, 1955, Serial No. 532,057

Claims. (Cl. 190- -51) This invention relates to brief cases and particularly pertains to a composite brief case unit having a multitude of uses and applications.

Thus, one principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved brief case unit which includes an outer case and an inner case which may be used separately or which may be united into a composite unit.

A further object is to provide a new and improved brief case unit which affords an outer box type case, usable separately, an inner underarm type case usable separately and also adapted to be retained within the outer case, and a composite fan file case resulting from union of the inn er and outer cases.

Another object is to provide a new and improved brief case unit of the foregoing character in which the outer case is arranged so as to be especially well adapted for use as a combination brief case and overnight case.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

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Figure 1 is a perspective view of a brief case unit constituting an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the outer case of the unit being shown in open position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the brief case unit with the inner case also shown in open position to reveal a fan file; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view through the lid of the outer case, generally along a line 3 -3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the outer case with the inner case removed therefrom and shown in phantom lines.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the inner case shown in partly open position.

If the drawings are considered in greater detail it will be seen that they illustrate a composite brief ease unit comprising an outer case 12 and an innner case 14. While the two cases 12 and 14 may assume various forms, the outer case 12 is shown as a box type case having a lower five-sided boxlike housing 16 and a five-sided boxlike lid or closure element 18. Hinges 20 are connected between the body housing 16 and the lid 18. It will be seen that interengageable locking elements 22 and 24 are provided on the body housing 16 and the lid 18 for disengageably securing the case in closed position. As illustrated, the outer case 12 is provided with foldable diagonal braces 2-6 which extend between the body housing 16 and the lid 18 to limit the extent to which the lid may be swung away from the body housing. In this instance, the braces 26 limit the opening of the lid 18 to approximately 90. Thus, the lid 18 is approximately vertical when in open position, assuming that the body housing is supported on a horizontal surface.

While the lid or closure 18 might assume various forms, it is shown with front and rear walls 28 and 30, a pair of side walls 32, and a top wall 34, the latter becoming a back wall when the lid is in open position. The lid 18 thus defines a space or cavity adapted to receive the inner case 14.

Although the inner case 14 might assume various forms, it is shown as an underarm type case having a pair of substantially flat wall portions 36 and 37 which preferably are made of leather, plastic or the like, so as to be somewhat flexible. In the illustrated case 14, the wall portions 36 and 37 are joined along one edge by a folded portion 38 which is integral with the elements 36 and 37. Flange elements 40 and 41 project inwardly from the wall portions 36 and 37 and are adapted to be joined by fastener means, shown as a slide fastener 42. The side wall portions 36 and 37 have edges 44 and 45 which are separable in opening the case 14.

It is preferred to provide a fan file 48 within the case 14. While the fan file might assume various forms, it is shown with a pair of flexible end members which extend between the wall elements 36 and 37 and are extensible and collapsible when the case 14 is opened and closed. A plurality of dividers 52 extend between the end members 50 and are arranged to fan open when the walls 36 and 37 are separated, as shown in Fig. 2.

it will immediately be apparent that the inner and outer cases 12 and 14 are usable separately to provide two types of brief cases especially Well adapted for various applications. The outer case is provided with a handle 54 for easy carrying in the hand, while the inner case may conveniently be carried under the arm.

The outer and inner cases 12 and 14 may also be united, in at least two different ways, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, to provide a convenient, composite unit. As shown in Fig. l, the inner case may be mounted in its closed position within the lid 18 of the outer case 12. The inner case will be retained within the lid 18, even when the lid is opened. Thus, the inner case will not interfere with independent use of the lower body housing 16.

For the purpose of disengageably retaining the inner case 14 within the outer case, the lid 18 is provided with a first retaining member in the form of a lug or bracket 56 which is mounted on the rear wall 30 of the lid and is arranged to project forwardly adjacent the lower edge of the rear wall. Thus, the lug 56 is adapted to overlap the folded edge portion 38 of the inner case so as to retain one edge of the case in the lid.

Adjacent the front wall 28, a second member 58 is mounted on the lid 18 for movement into and out of overlapping relation with the inner case 14, adjacent the separable edges 44 and 45. While the movable member 58 might assume various forms, it is shown as a bail having a pair of arms 60 supported on pivots 62 which are mounted on the side walls 32 of the lid 18. A bail rod 64 extends between the outer ends of the arms 60. It will be seen that the bail 58 is swingable into a retaining position, shown in Fig. l and in full lines in Fig. 3, in which the bail rod 64 extends across the outer wall 36 of the case 14 so as to prevent the case from being removed or dislodged from the lid 18. The bail 58 is swingable toward the forward wall 28, as indicated in dot-dash lines in Fig. 3 so that the bail rod 64 will be clear of the path of the inner case 14. By thus swinging the bail 58, the inner case is released for removal from the lid 18.

For the purpose of holding the movable bail 58 in its retaining position, the lid 18 is provided with locking means, which might assume various forms, but are illustrated as a pair of latching arms 66 connected by means of pivots 63 to brackets "it? which are mounted on the side walls 32. Each latching arm 66 is formed with an open slot 72 adapted to receive the bail rod 64. A spring 74 biases each arm 66 toward the front wall 28. will be seen that an inclined camming edge 76 is formed on each arm, outwardly of. the slot 72, so that the arm will be displaced downwardly, as shown on dot-dash lines in Fig. 3, when engaged by the bail rod 64.

Fig. 2 illustrates another manner in which the outer and inner cases 12 and 14 may be arranged. As shown, the slide fastener 42 is open and the edges44 and d5 of the walls 36 and 37 are separated to expose the fan file 48. The folded lower edge 38 of the inner case 14 is still retained between the lug 56 and the top Wall 34, but the bail 58 is now arranged to retain only the wall 37 within the lid 18. In other words, the wall 37 is insidethe bail rod 64 but the wall 36 is outside the rod so that the fan file may be swungopen as illustrated. The bail rod 6,4 retains the inner case 14 within thelid- 18 but permits the opening of the fanfile 48. Thus, the fan file may beused without removing the inner case 14 from the outer case 12. The outer case 12 may be closed with the inner and, outer cases in the relationship shown in Fig. 2. When this is done, the body housing 16 of theouter case 12 will close the inner case 12, at least partially, and will retain the contents of the fan file 48 within the inner case. When the lid 13. is opened, theinner case will automatically move into open position by gravity. In this way, the fan file 48 will immediately be accessible.

With the walls 36 and 37 ofthe inner case 14 moved into adjacent relation, the case 14 may be locked behind the bail rod 64, as shown in Fig. 1. The inner case 14 will be retained in this position whether or not the slide fastener 42 is closed. Thus, the arrangement which retains the inner case 14 in the lid 18 obviates any need for closing the slide fastener when theinner case is being used in conjunction with the outer case.

With the inner case 14 removed from the outer case 12, the latter will function advantageously as a combination brief case and overnight bag. Articles of clothing, such as shirts or the like, for example, may be mounted behind the member 56 and the bail rod64. The lower body portion 16 may then be used to hold papers or the like.

Alternatively, the inner case may be mounted in the lid 18 and employed to hold papers, while the lower body housing 16 of the outer case may be used to hold clothing and other personal effects.

Various modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents may beemployed without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as exemplified in the foregoing description and defined in the following a ms;

We claim:

1. In a brief case unit, the combination comprising a box type case having a boxlike body housing with an inverted boxlike lid hinged thereon, an inner underarm type case disengageably received in said lid and having a pair of opposed walls movably jointed along one edge-of said innercase and separable along theoppositeedge thereof, said inner case having slide fastener means disengageably interconnecting said walls, said lid having side, front and rear walls arranged in boxlike fashion and surmounted by a top wall, a retaining lug mounted on said rear wall, and projecting forwardly from the lower end portion thereof for engaging and retaining saidone edge of said inner case, a retaining bail having arms swingably mounted on said side walls and a bail rod element extending-between said arms, said bail being swinga'ule over the opposite edge of said inner case to retain said inner case in said lid when said inner case is closed, said bail being swingable away from said inner case to release the same, and disengageable latching means on said side walls for retaining said bail in position over said inner case, said inner case including a fan file housed therein and extending between said walls thereof, said fan file including flexible end elements extending between said walls of said inner case and divider means extending between said flexible end elements, said fan file being movd able into open position by separation of said walls of said inner case, said bail also being movable over the one of said walls of said inner case to retain said inner case adjacent said top wall of said lid in said lid when said fan file is open.

2. in a brief case unit, the combination comprising an outer case having a housing element with a closure element hinged thereon, an inner case having wall elements movably joined along one edge thereof and separable along the opposite edges thereof, fastener means for disengageably interconnecting said wall elements to close said inner case, said inner case having fan file means therein movable into open position by separation of said wall elements, means on said closure element of said outer case for disengageably retaining said inner case thereon, said means including a first member mounted on said closure element for overlapping said inner case adjacent said joined edges, a second member mounted on said closure element for movement into and out of overlapping relation to said inner case adjacent said separable edges with said inner case closed, and means on said closure element for disengagcably retaining said movable second member in overlapping relation to said inner case, said inner case being movable into open position with said wall elements separated and said fan file opened, said movable second member also being movable into overlapping relation to the one of said wall elements adjacent said closure element to retain said inner case thereon with said inner case open.

3. In a brief case unit, the combination comprising an outer case having a housing element with a closure element hinged thereon, an inner case receivable in said outer case and having movable opposed wall elements, said inner case having fan file means therein movable into open position by separation of said wall elements, means on said closure element of said outer case for disengage ably retaining said inner case thereon, said means including a first member mounted on said closure element for overlapping said inner case adjacent one edge, a second member mounted on said closure element for movement intoand out of overlapping relation to said inner case adjacent the opposite edge thereof with said inner case closed, said inner case being movable into open position with said wall elements separated and said fan file' retaining bail having arms swingably mounted on the forward-portion of said lid and a bail rodelement extend ing betweensaid arms, said'bail being swingable over the opposite edge of said inner case to retain said inner case; said bail being swingable away from said inner case.

to'release the same, and disengageable latching means on said side walls for retaining said bail in position over said inner case.

5. In a brief case unit, the combination comprising an outer case having a housing element with a closure element hingedthereon, an inner case receivable in said" outer case and having movable opposed wall elements, said inner case having fan file means therein movableinto open position byseparation of said wall elements, means on said "closure element of said outer case for disengageably retaining said inner .case thereon, said means including a member mounted on said closure element for overlapping said inner case adjacent one edge, a bail mounted on said closure element for swinging movement into and out of overlappingrelation to said innercase adjacent the opposite edge thereof with said inner case closed, said inner case being movable into open position with said wall elements separated and said fan filed opened, said bail also being movable into overlapping relation to the one of said wall elements adjacent said closure element to retain said inner case thereon with said inner case open.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Burehess Dec. 9, 1913 Feldman May 19, 1931 VanDevanter Oct. 25, 1932 Lifton Apr. 29, 1952

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