US3205530A - Hinge device - Google Patents

Description

SePf- 14, 1965 H. s. VAN BUREN, JR 3,205,530

HINGE DEVICE Filed Aug. 30, 1962 IAZ/ nio?" Inve vawBurenJz.;

Harold 21H ff-d United States Patent O 3,265,530 HINGE DEVICE Harold S. van Buren, Jr., Cambridge, Mass., assignor to United-Carr Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 30, 1962, Ser. No. 220,363 4 Claims. (Cl. 16-15(l) This invention relates to a new and improved hinge construction.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive hinge device of new construction whereby two relatively movable portions are connected by an integral flexible connecting member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a onepiece hinge construction of flexible synthetic molding material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a onepiece 'hinge construction including two socket-like portions connected by a flexible member to permit relative movement of the socket-like portions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple hinge construction of injection molded plastic material for use in connection with so-called brief case, bag, or purse frames.

In the drawings which illustrate one particular form of the invention:

FIG. l is, more or less, a sketchy perspective broken away view of a brief case with which the improved hinge construction may be used;

FIG. 2 is an end view of a portion of the brief case shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an edge View of the construction shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the right hand side thereof;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the parts hinged partly open;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the hinge as originally molded before being placed in use;

FIG. 6 is an edge view of the hinge shown in FIG. 5, as viewed from the right hand side thereof, partly in section; and

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the hinge shown in FIG. 5.

Heretofore, hinges have been manufactured as separate pieces that had to be assembled by the use of rivets, hinge pins, etc. Those constructions have been expensive, had a tendency to loosen and posed problems for their uses by manufacturers.

The hinge of the present invention is simple, easy to use and labor-saving both in its manufacture and by the manufacturer of handbags, purses, brief cases, etc.

Referring now to the specic embodiments of the invention illustrated by the drawings there is shown a hinge particularly useful in a brief case construction. This particular hinge, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, is formed as an injection molded part in a manner that will be understood by anyone skilled in the molding art.

It will be noted that the illustrated hinge is formed as a single unitary one piece molded construction of any suitable material that is strong, flexible, and will have a long life when subjected to frequent operation. The hinge shown has two socket portions 1 and 2 each having a pocket 3 and open at one end only. The socket portions 1 and 2 are connected by a narrow connecting member 4 which is flexible for the purposes hereinafter described. The arrangement of the socket portions 1 and 2 relative to each other may vary depending upon the use of the hinge but when used with a brief case they are preferably in upset planes so that they may pass each other in face to face relation. This arrangement is easily taken care of by the connecting member l (FIG. 6) during the molding operation.

As an illustration of a use of the hinge of the invention there is shown, in FIG. 1, an upper corner portion only of a brief case. The brief case has the usual bag portion 5 with a top opening that may be closed by the usual two co-operating frame members 6--6 enclosed within covering material 7 and having their ends exposed in adjacent relation at the ends of the bag (only one end being shown), as will be understood by anyone skilled in the bag or brief case manufacturing art.

An e-nd of one frame member 6 is fitted into the socket portion 1 and an end of the other frame member 6 is fitted into the socket member 2 (FIG. 4). The sockets 1 and 2 may be secured to the frame ends by cement as the easiest and least expensive method. l

To assemble the sockets 1 and 2 to the ends of the frames 6-6 the socket would have to have been twisted from the arrangement shown in FIG. 5 and placed on the ends of the frame members 6 6. This operation usually takes place after the bags are completed and the material 7 covers the frames leaving edges 8 against which the sockets 1 and 2 are abutted to finish the bag and com.- plete the covering of the frame ends.

The flexible connecting member 4 assumes a twisted shape (FIGS. l, 2, 3, and 4) and holds the ends of the frames 6--6 and the sockets 1 and 2 in the desired positions relative to the brief case bag member 5.

It will be understood that the color of the plastic material of the hinge may be such as to match the color of the bag material 5 or to harmonize therewith as desired.

The hinge of the invention is neat, simple, holds the bag frame ends in proper relationship; and the connecting member 4 is strong, flexible, and maintains proper relationship of the parts in open or closed position of the brief case.

The offset relation of the socket members 1 and 2 permits the bag frame members 6--6 to nest with each other in the usual manner and, while the offset arrangement of the sockets 1 and 2 is provided for in the molding of the hinge, the sockets could be molded in a non-Offset arrangement and formed into offset arrangement during assembly of the frame members 6 6 if desired. In some bag constructions the offset arrangement may not be desired.

While the drawings and description have concentrated on disclosing a hinge for a brief case it will be understood, by anyone skilled in the art, that the hinge of the invention will have other uses and the sockets, connecting member and arrangement may be varied without departing from the invention which is best defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A frame engaging hinge device yfor use in the construction of a briefcase, bag, purse and the like frame, said hinge device being constructed of la single piece of molded synthetic plastic material having two relatively movable, laterally offset socket portions each having a frame receiving open-end pocket, and a readily twistable, flexible connecting member, securing the socket portions together, to permit movement of one socket portion relative to the other while holding the socket portions in proper offset relationship.

2. A hinge device according to claim 1 wherein the socket portions are arranged with the open ends of the pockets each facing away from opposite ends of the socket portions to which the connecting member is secured.

3. A frame engaging hinge device according to claim 1 wherein the socket portions are arranged with the open ends of the pockets each facing away from opposite ends of the socket portions to which the connecting member is secured and the oilset socket portions are arranged to pass each other in close proximity when the hinge device is in operating position upon a frame.

4. A frame engaging hinge device according to claim 1 wherein the connecting vmember securing the socket portions together is of vless width than said socket portions References Cited bythe Examiner vUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,240,729 5 41 Von Palmenberg 16--149 2,346,556 4/ 44 Colegrave 15 0-29 2,350,243 5 44 MacKy 1 6-149 X 2,687,157 8/54 Cowan.

2,690,861 10/54 Tupper.

9/57 Lifton 150-29 4/58 Sweem 16-150 9/ 5 8 Motley.

1 1/ 6 1 Bodner. 2/ 62 Stinson.

FOREIGN PATENTS 8/56 France.

DONLEY I. STOCKING, Primary Examiner.

M. VHENSON WOOD, JR., Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A FRAME ENGAGING HINGE DEVICE FOR USE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BRIEFCASE, BAG, PURSE, AND THE LIKE FRAME, MOLDED, SYNTHETIC PLASTIC MATERIAL HAVING TWO RELATIVELY MOVABLE, LATERALLY OFFSET SOCKET PORTIONS EACH HAVING A MOVABLE, LATERALLY OFFSET SOCKET PORTIONS EACH HAVING A FRAME RECEIVING OPEN-END POCKET, AND A READILY TWISTABLE, FLEXIBLE CONNECTING MEMBER, SECURING THE SOCKET PORTIONS TOGETHER, TO PERMIT MOVEMENT OF ONE SOCKET PORTION RELATIVE TO THE OTHER WHILE HOLDING THE SOCKET PORTIONS IN PROPER OFFSET RELATIONSHIP.

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