US3083401A - Hinge for executive carrying case - Google Patents

Description

April 2, 1963 LIFTON 3,

HINGE FOR EXECUTIVE CARRYING CASE Filed Sept. 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 the scope United States Patent 3,083,401 I-HNGEFGR EXECUTEVE CARRYENG CASE Lewis Litton, I151 l1V.'26th.St., New YorigNfiL Filed Sept. 2, 195$,Ser. No. 758,252 7 Ciaiins. (Q1. 16*142) The present invention relates to an executive carrying case and itiparticularly relates to an executive carrying case which may be used bylawyers, travelers, businessmen and the like.

In executive cases the internal strut or hinge construction required to hold the case open is positioned on the interior of the cover and base enclosure portion and when the case is opened sufficient space must bele'ft for the swingingof the hinge or strut to hold the case open with its lid in elevated position and a similar amount of space must also be left within the case when the case is closed so that there will not be interference between the moving hinge and Sl'l'llli construction and the contents,

papers, clothing or toilet articles which may have'been positioned interior-1y of the executive case.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a novel executive carrying case of the character above described in which the hinge construction will be removed from and positioned outside of the interior of the case so as not to take space therewithin and also so thatit will be positioned upon the exterior of the case in an unobtrusive position without unduly increasing the bulk ,or weight .of the device and without affecting the desirable finish and appearance of the carrying case.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel carrying case of the executive type which will have a novel hinge construction which will serve't'o'hinge thecover and container or carrying case portion together while at the same'tirne holding the .cover in elevated position when access is desired to the interior of the carrying case of the executive type or'to-permit the case to be set up on atable with the carrying portion flat side down and the cover elevated to' give a semi-concealed filing cabinet from which papers may be removed or reinserted.

Another object of the present invent-ion is to provide a novel carrying case with a hinge structure of the character above described which will unobtrusively serve as a convenient firm supporting hinge and at the same time will hold the cover of an executive carrying .case in a predetermined elevated position to permit ready access to the interior contents thereof. I

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed descriptionis given by way of illustration and explanation only and notby Way of limitation, since various changes thereinrna'y'be made by those skilled in the art without departing from and spirit of the-present invention.

In accomplishingthe above'objects it has been found most desirable, according to one embodiment of the present invention, to provide two hingedly connected elementsof hollow channel-like stock with a'long'hin'ge element being attached to the carrying or, major case element and a short hinge element being attached to the cover element and with the ends of the hinge elements being provided with protuberances or support balls ,or domes formed integrally therein to act as legs-to support the case when closed'in elevated position.

Associated with the short hinged element will be a ridged follower provided with a resilient biassing membet.

The. biassing member may be a coiled flat spring'memher which is rounded in overlapping coiled positionor spiral position so that its edges will be below the side edges of. the channel-lil e or shell-likehinge element.

The longer hinge element may be provided with a hinge element, it is possible line 55 of FIG. 4, showing rounded integral hinge extension having a recessed portion or flatted portion which will cooperate with said follower.

This follower is pressed bya spiral leaf spring to hold the cover in a predetermined separated angular position so that the cover element will be automatically supported in elevated position away from the case portion to permit ready access to such case portion when the cover is opened.

By properly positioning one or more recesses or flatted portions on the circular or cylindrical hinge of the long to latch the open cover so as to cause said cover to latch-into one or more positions, depending upon whether the cover is to beheld in one la-tched position or heldadjustably in a series of latched positions.

Essentially, the primary feature of the present invention resides .in .providing a follower or cam member which will latch on to or into a ridge or groove in the hinge portion of the opposite hinge element.

This may be done by providing a single resilient member having a conformingridge orgroove which willpress itself against said ridgesorgroove-on the other hinge element.

However, in the preferred form of theinven'tion, there is a separate follower having a ridge or groove and a separate biassing spring pressing such ridge or groove against and toward the opposite hinge element until it latches or locks in one position or into a number of adjustedpositions.

The biassing member in the preferred form has a spring separate from the follower and desirably a leaf spring formed in coiled position with the follower being a similar bent strip of metal so that both may be conveniently lodged together insideof the short hinge member.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of, parts as'hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated-inthe accompanying drawings, whereinis shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to'be understoodthat change-s, variations and-modifications may'be resorted to which fall within the scope "of the claims hereunto appended.

In thedr'awings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is artopplan view of theoutsideface of the hinge construction with the two hingeelements in the same plane in the position when the coveriofthe. carrying case is closed.

FIG. 2 is an insideplan View uponian enlarged scale as compared'to FIG. 1 of the, short. hinge element, showing the biasing spring andthe follower element.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional viewupon ,the line 33 "of FIG. 2., showing'the action of the. ridge onsthe follower and the groove on the hinge portion of the long hinge element, when out of latched position.

FIG. 4 is an inside elevational view similar to FIG. 2, showing the elements whenin latched position.

FIG.'5 is a transverse vertical sectional view upon the the hinged elements in latched position, :as when the cover is elevated at an angle ofaway from the'case.

.FIG. 6-is a perspective view of thefollower member removed from the assembly of FIGS. 2 and 4.

FIG. 7 is a perspective View of the coiledspiral biasing spring removed from the assembly of FIGS. 2 and 4.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an exectuive type case in open position showing the-manner in-which the-hinge holds the lid so that the interior. of the case is available for inspection and'filling purposes.

FIG/9 shows the case in closed position withthe container and cover portion closed together and the hinge used to support the case upon a table or floor as the case may be.

FIG. is a rear view of the carrying case showing the lid in open position with the hinge holding the lid in such open position.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the hinge structure associated with the carrying case when the lid is held in open position.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, there is shown a hinge construction having a long hinge element A and a short fiat shallow box-like hinge element B.

The long hinge element A has a relatively flat outside face It) with openings 11 and 12 having dished peripheral portions 13 and 14 within which the heads of attachment elements may be received without undue projection. The end of the element receives the dome or ball element 15 formed integrally therewith as a leg element.

Referring to the inside face of the element A there are the side walls 16 so that the interior face 19 is positioned below the edges of the side walls 16.

The center portion of the hinge edge of the element A is turned over at the cylindrical portion 21 to form a recess for a hinge pin 17 or other hinge connection.

The short hinge element B has the two side openings 22 to receive fastening elements with the dished peripheral portions 23. The hinge edge portion has the integrally turned-over cylindrical extensions 2-4 which receive the same pin 17 which extends through the curled or cylin drical portion 21 of the element A.

The end of the short element B has the dome or rounded projection 25 which is of the same height as the projection 15 so that they will stand the case flat upon the tabletop or floor, as shown in FIG. 9. a

The inside face of the short element B has the side walls 26 and the end curved wall 27 so that the flat interior face will form the bottom of a recessed portion which receives the follower member Cand the spring presser member D.

The outside face of the short hinge portion B has a projecting lug element 29 to clear the cylindrical hinge portion 21.

Referring to FIG. 6, it will be noted that the follower member consists of a strip of metal having the base follower side 30, the side extensions 31 and the two oblique top portions 32, all of which fit securely within the recess formed by the side walls 26 and 2.7 of the short hinge element B.

The biasing overlapping coiled circular inside leaf spring element D consists of a leaf spring 33 overlapping at 34, which fits inside of the follower member C with the side edges being of the same width as the width of the sides of the bent follower strip C.

vReferring to FIGS. 3 and 5, it will be noted that the inside edges of the circular leaf spring element-D rest upon and contact the embossed portions 23 around the openings 22, and that they terminate a short distance, as indicated at 35 in FIGS. 3 and 5, inside of the edge 36 of the flanges 26 and 27 which form the side of the hinge element B. I I

The side portions of the follower member at 37 will be held in position by the indented or inturned edge portions 38 on the side walls 26 of the hinge element B.

Referring particularly to the perspective showing of the follower member of FIG. 6, there is shown a ridge 39 along the side 30 which acts as the latching element.

This latching element will cooperate with the recess 4% in the cylindrical portion 21 of the main long hinge element A.

When out of latched position, as indicated in FIG. 3, the ridge 39 will ride on the smooth surface of the cylindrical portion 21.

However, in latched position the ridge 39 will latch into or lodge into the recess 40 in the cylindrical portion 21. It will be noted that the two end portions 41 of the follower will normally contact each other right at the apex d 42 between the curved side flanges of the short hinge element B and directly inside of the dome 25.

The coiled follower spring D on the other hand will extend until its end portion 43 is lodged in the corner 44 of the follower member C.

The indentations 38 may also extend over, on to, and above the end portion 4-5 of the coiled spring to hold 1t in position, but normally its resiliency against the inside faces of the sides 3%, 31 and 32 of the follower member C will be suificient to hold it in position.

The edge 46 of the projecting portion "29 will act as a stop against the outside face 47 of the triangular projection or ridge 48 on the long hinge element A.

In actual usage, as indicated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the container or body portion E of the executive case has the cover element F and it may be closed and stood in elevated position as indicated in FIG. 9 with the domes 15 and 25 acting as legs.

Or it may be placed flat on a table with the cover F held in elevated position by the latch C, as indicated in FIG. 8, whereupon the interior is available for removing and filing papers and for inspection purposes.

The hinge A-B as shown is readily connected to the carrying case and when attached will not increase the bulk or the expense of manufacture and will readily hold the cover in one or more selected elevated positions and also hold the cover closed when the case is closed, as shown in FIG. 9.

As shown in FIGS. 8, l0 and 11, the cover extends upwardly at about right angles to the plane of the receptacle position, but the hinge structure of FIGS. 1 to 5 may be so constructed that the cover F will be at a greater or lesser angle to the plane of the container E than A number of said latch positions 39-4tl may be provided to give different adjustments of the elevated cover when open.

The essential feature of the present invention resides in the flat box-like element B which receives the leaf spring C of FIG. 6 inside of which is located the overlapping coiled flat leaf spring D.

The open side of the flat box B is closed by cylindrical hinge element 21 of the elongated structure A, and the boss 39 in the base of the spring C will latch in the recess 40 of the cylindrical extension 21 in the open posi tion of FIGS. 5, 8, 10 and 11.

While there has been herein described a preferred form of the invention, it should be understood that the same may be altered in details and in relative arrangement of parts within the scope of the appended claims.

As many changes could be made in the above executive carrying case, and many widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departure from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

1. An attache case having a deep rectangular container portion and a shallow rectangular cover portion, each having base rectangular portions with outer edge contacting bottom, side and top walls and a hinge structure mounted on said bottom walls having a fiat shallow receptacle box wtih three closed sides and one open side mounted on the bottom wall of the cover portion and an elongated hinge member with a curved cylindrical male hinge element projecting beyond the edge of the bottom wall of the container portion and mounted on said bottom wall, a hinge pin extending through said male hinge element and out and overturned cylindrical hinge pin holding portions integrally extending from the open side of the box and encircling and enclosing the ends of the hinge pin on each side of said male hinge element; an intermediate pentagonal shaped flat leaf spring positioned within said box with its side and end legs being pressed against the interior of the three enclosed sides and the base leg being pressed against said male heinge element on the open side and an inside circular overlapping coiled leaf spring positioned within and having its side portions tangent to the legs and of the pentagonal shaped spring and means to latch the container portion and cover portion in 90 open position.

2. The case of claim 1, said last mentioned means including an elongated projection on the base leg and a recess receiving said projection at said 90 open position of the male hinge element.

3. The case of claim '1, said circular leaf spring tangentially contacting the end and base legs of said pentagonal shaped spring and having one end projecting to and received in the corner between the base leg and one of the side legs of the pentagonal spring.

4. The case of claim 1, a portion of the box adjacent the open side being turned outwardly and obliquely upwardly and acting as a stop against said elongated hinge member in said 90 open position when the latching takes place.

5. The case of claim 1, the opposite closed side of said box being slightly divergent away from the hinge pin and having inturned edges adjacent the hinge pin to project over and hold said pentagonal spring in position in the box and inturned projections from the base of the box projecting inwardly inside of the circular leaf spring to hold said leaf spring in expanded position.

6. An attache case having a deep container and a shallow cover having rear hinge sides and hinge means to hold the shallow cover in 90 open elevated position when open comprising shallow receptacle members mounted in the rear hinge sides of the container and cover, a short receptacle member on said cover having a pentagonal outside spring having a straight base leg with an outwardly projecting ridge and side legs turned inwardly toward one another and contacting each other at the side of the short receptacle away from the hinge and a rotatable hinge member projecting away from the container engaging said ridge and having a latching means in respect to said ridge at its open position and an overlapping circular leaf spring inside of said pentagonal spring to bias said base leg and side legs outwardly.

7. The hinge means of claim 6, said rotatable hinge member consisting of a projecting coil portion of said container and a pin carried by said cover member extending through said rota-table hinge member and said straight base leg normally being biased up against said circular spring by said rotatable hinge member and said cover member having embossed portions locating said circular leaf spring and also having inturned edge portions holding said square spring in position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,083,140 Brantingson June 8, 1937 2,706,307 Anderson Apr. 19, 1955 2,874,401 Kotkins Feb. 24, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 362,528 Great Britain Dec. 10, 1931 377,508 Great Britain July 28, 1932

Claims (1)

1. 6. AN ATTACHE CASE HAVING A DEEP CONTAINER AND A SHALLOW COVER HAVING REAR HINGE SIDES AND HINGE MEANS TO HOLD THE SHALLOW COVER IN 90* OPEN ELEVATED POSITION WHEN OPEN COMPRISING SHALLOW RECEPTACLE MEMBERS MOUNTED IN THE REAR HINGE SIDES OF THE CONTAINER AND COVER, A SHORT RECEPTACLE MEMBER ON SAID COVER HAVING A PENTAGONAL OUTSIDE SPRING HAVING A STRAIGHT BASE LEG WITH AN OUTWARDLY PROJECTING RIDGE AND SIDE LEGS TURNED INWARDLY TOWARD ONE ANOTHER AND CONTACTING EACH OTHER AT THE SIDE OF THE SHORT RECEPTACLE AWAY FROM THE HINGE AND A ROTATABLE HINGE MEMBER PROJECTING AWAY FROM THE CONTAINER ENGAGING SAID RIDGE AND HAVING A LATCHING MEANS IN RESPECT TO SAID RIDGE AT ITS 90* OPEN POSITION AND AN OVERLAPPING CIRCULAR LEAF SPRING INSIDE OF SAID PENTAGONAL SPRING TO BIAS SAID BASE LEG AND SIDE LEGS OUTWARDLY.

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