US3313101A

US3313101A - Instrument case

Info

Publication number: US3313101A
Application number: US497109A
Authority: US
Inventors: Shirley B Carroll
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-10-18
Filing date: 1965-10-18
Publication date: 1967-04-11
Anticipated expiration: 1984-04-11

Description

Apri| l1, 1967 s. B. CARROLL 3,

INSTRUMENT CASE Filed Oct. 18, 1965 ZSheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR 2 r SHIRLEY B- CARROLL BY BGMW v ATTORNEYA;

April 11, 1967 s. B. CARROLL INSTRUMENT CASE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 18, 1965 SHIRLEY B. CARROLL ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,313,101 INSTRUMENT CASE Shirley B. Carroll, Box 372, Narrows, Va. 24124 Filed Oct. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 497,109 Claims. (Cl. 58ll05) This invention relates to instrument cases generally,

and more particularly to a new and improved instrument case for watches, compasses and similar instruments.

"In many instances, it is impossible for a person to wear a wrist watch, wrist compass, or other instrument of the type which is normally worn externally. The environmental conditions prevalent with many forms of endeavor, such as, for example, certain vocations, sports activities, etc., make it impossible for a participant to safe- 1y wear or carry an instrument externally. However, many people are reluctant to carry pocket watches or pocket instruments due to the damage risks involved.

In recent times, a great need has arisen for an efiicient instrument case which would facilitate the safe, damagefree maintenance of an instrument carried randomly within a pocket, purse, or similar container by a person. Ideally, such a casing should provide easy access to the instrument mounted therein, but conversely should prevent accidental exposure of such instrument when the casing latch is not intentionally actuated.

In the past, many casing structures have been designed for the protection of a watch, compass, or similar instrument. Many of these casings are employed only during the shipment and display of the instrument, and are of no useful benefit once the instrument is placed in use. Such casings are therefore subsequently discarded. Other instrument casings, although suited for protecting an instrument under various use conditions, are not designed to provide easy access to the instrument or to prevent accidental exposure thereof. For example, many of such casings include a latching unit which is activated by inward pressure toward the casing, and such units are often accidentally activated within the pocket of user or when the casing is dropped or subjected to shock. Additionally, many of the latch mechanisms employed with such casings cannot be easily activated, and require the use of two hands by the user with a large expenditure of time and effort before the instrument is exposed.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved instrument case of simple construction designed to provide enhanced protection for a watch, compass, or a similar instrument.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved instrument case which is not subject to accidental opening. through impact or frictional contact.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved instrument case incorporating an improved latch construction which facilitates rapid opening or closing of the case by a user employing only a single hand.

Another object of this inevntion is to provide a novel and improved instrument case incorporating an improved latch construction which permits a user to easily open the case with either the right or the left hand.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved instrument case incorporating a novel instrument shock-resistant mounting structure capable of absorbing shock in all directions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved instrument case having an improved latch structure which also functions as a shock-resistant mount for an instrument.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved instrument case incorporating an improved latch structure which is operated by closing the case cover .a watch, compass, or similar instrument.

3,313,191 Patented Apr. 11, 1967 pended claims, certain embodiments in details of con struction of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned plan view of the instrument case of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially sectioned view in side elevation I p of the invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the latch unit employed in the invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the housing for the latch assembly. of the invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partially sectioned perspective view of an embodiment of the'invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a partially sectioned plan view of an embodiment of the invention of FIG. 1; and.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a connecting bar employed in the embodiment of FIG. 6.

Basically, the novel instrument case of the present invention is formed by a casing base which, in combination with a casing cover pivotally secured thereto to form a closure member, provides a shock-resistant enclosure for The casing base includes an improved latch assembly which maybe moved along the periphery of the casing thereof to release the casing cover but which resists accidental actuation and cover release upon impact. Such latch assembly may also function as a shock resistant instrument mount.

The improved structure of the present invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein the instrument case indicated generally at 10 includes a cup-shaped casing base 12 which cooperates with a casing cover 14 to form an enclosed central chamber 16. The casing cover 14 is pivotally mounted for movement toward and away from the casing base 12 by a spring loaded hinge 18. This spring loaded hinge may be formed by any hinge of conventional construction which is operative to bias the cover 14 toward an open position, as shown in FIG. 1, away from the casing base 12.

The inner surface of the casing cover 14 is provided with two diametrically opposed

grooves

20 and 22 formed adjacent the peripheral edge of the casing cover.

Grooves

20 and 22 operate in combination with a casing latch in a manner to be subsequently described to lock the casing cover 14 in a closed position against the casing base 12.

Opposed

rectangular solts

24 and 26 are cut through the sides of the casing base 12 on opposite sides thereof.

These slots are formed with upwardly projecting

shoulders

28 and 30 at the outer ends thereof and similar shoulders 3-2 and 34 at the inner ends to retain but per- .mit lateral movement of a latch assembly indicated generally at 36 within each of the

slots

24 and 26. A

from either side Mounted for limited movement within the central chamber of the housing 38 is a latch 46 having an upper leg 48 and a lower leg 58 which extend in substantially parallel relationship from a connecting web 52. A rectangular to 54 is formed through the upper leg of the latch 46 and is designed to receive a pin 56 which extends into the chamber 40 from the housing 3 8. The pin 56 retains the latch within the housing, but the slot 54 permits the latch to move laterally within the housing. When the housing 38 is in place within the

slots

24 and 26, an outer end 58 of the upper leg of the latch 46 extends outwardly beyond the confines of the housing, as illustrated in'FIGS. 1 and 2. The latch is biased to normally maintainthe end 58 of the upper leg in this outwardly projecting position by a leaf spring 66 which is positioned behind the latch within the housing.

The leaf spring 60 is positioned within the housing 38 between the latch 46 and a mounting bar 62 which is secured to a watch or other instrument 64 to be mounted within the casing 10. This mounting bar is inserted into the. housing at the end opposite the actuator knob 44,

and to enhance shock resistance, this end of the housing may be provided with a groove 66 extending about the inner surface of the housing to provide a seat for a shockresistant mounting pad 68. The shock-'. :sistant mounting pad may be formed from rubber cork, or similar shock-resistant material, and although such pad is designed to hold the mounting bar 62 within the central chamber of the housing 38, the pad is dimensioned to permit longitudinal movement of the mounting bar relative to the housing. It may, therefore, be noted that the leaf spring 60 tends to force the latch 46 and the mounting bar 62 outwardly from the housing 38.

When identical latch assemblies 36 are mounted within the

slots

24 and 26, the housings 38 thereof are free to slide along slots between the

shoulders

28, 30, 32 and 34, and the actuator knobs 44 move along the casing base 12 in the slots 24a and 26a. Normally, the housings 38 are maintained in a' central position within the

slots

24 and 26 by opposing leaf springs 70 and 7 2. These opposing leaf springs are positioned within the

slots

24 and 26 on either side of the housings 38.

In the operation of the instrument case 10, the housings 38 of the latch assemblies 36 are maintained centrally positioned within the

slots

24 and 26 by the

leaf springs

70 and 72. The leaf springs 60, Within the housings 38, bias the opposed latches 46 outwardly from the casing base so that the ends 58 of the latches extend beyond the outer extremity of the housing above the actuator knob 44.

When the casing cover 14 is moved to a closed position against the casing base 12, additional tension is applied to the spring hinge 18. Also, as the cover is moved to the closed position, the edge surfaces of the cover adjacent the slots and 22 engage the outer ends 58 of the latches 46 and force the latches inwardly of the casing base into the housings 38 against the bias of the leaf springs 60. The slots 54 in the latches permit sliding movement of the latches about the pins 56, and when the cover 14 moves to a position where the

slots

20 and 22 are aligned with the ends 58 of the latches, the leaf springs 60 move the latches outwardly to permit the ends thereof to enter the

slots

20 and 22, and securely lock the cover against the casing base 12.

With the cover 14 in the closed, locked position, theinstrument 64 is completely protected by the instrument case 10 from damage which might result from shock or vibration applied to the instrument case. springs 60 press outwardly against the mounting bars 62 for the instrument, and absorb shock forces which result in movement of the mounting bars inwardly or outwardly of the housings 38. Additionally, the mounting pads.

68 within the housings pad the mounting bars 62v and absorb shock in the remaining directions.

When the instrument case 10 is closed and locked, the

The latch v 'of accidental opening. The case is not opened by inward movement of the actuator knobs 44, for the actuator knobs are integral with the housings 38 which in turn are precluded from inward movement relative to the casing base 12 by the

shoulders

28, 30, 32, and 34. Although these shoulders permit the housings 3-8 to move laterally within the

slots

24 and 26 against the bias of the

springs

70 and 72, accidental movement of the housings is prevented by positioning the actuator knobs 44 within the slots 24a and 26a. Thus the actuator knobs are maintained within the peripheral confines of the casing base 12 and therefore are not subject to accidental snagging or movement through frictional contact with surfaces which the case may touch.

The instrument case 10 may be easily and rapidly unlached by the user through the use of only one hand by pressure applied by the thumb or finger of either the left or right hand to an actuator knob 44 of either of the opposed latch assemblies 36. During the unlatching. operation, the case 10 may rest in the hand of the user, and the hand employed to unlatch the case will determine whether the actuator knob 44 of the housing 38 con- I tained in the slot 26 will be activated or whether the connected for simultaneous movement by the mounting.

bars 62 and the instrument 64.

To operate either of the latch assemblies 36, the actuator knob 44 thereof may be moved in either direction along the casing base from the central position illustrated in FIG. 1. As one latch assembly 36 moves in one direction about the periphery of the case 10, the opposite latch assembly moves about the periphery of the case in the opposite direction. This movement of the latch assemblies moves the projecting ends 58 of the latches 46 until these ends move out away from the ends of the

slots

20 and 22. When the ends 58 of the latches reach the terminal portions of the

slots

20 and 22, the latches are forced back into the housings 38 against the bias of the leaf springs 60. At the same time, the bias exerted upon the casing cover 14 by the spring hinge 18 causes the cover to snap to the open position illustrated in FIG. 1. Once the cover has opened, the actuator knob 44 may be released and the latch assemblies 36 will be returned to the central position by the

leaf springs

70 and 72, so that the cover may be subsequently moved again to the closed and latched position.

The structure of the instrument case 10 may be modified in various manners to adapt the case for use with instruments of different types. For example, the case may be made in various shapes and sizes, as may the housings 38 and the mounting bars 62. Also, the mounting bars 62 may be secured directly to the instrument 64 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 by any suitable means, or other means for removably connecting the instrument to the mounting bars may be employed. This is aptly illustrated by FIG. 5, which shows a modification for mounting a conventional wrist watch within the instrument case 10. To mount a wrist watch, the mounting bars'62 may be provided with an opening 74 extending through the mounting bar at the end adjacent the instrument. This opening is designed to receive the conventional mounting pin 76 which extends between projections 78 generally formed on most wrist watches to cooperate with the pin 76 in attaching a watch strap to the watch. The pin 76 may be secured to the projections 78 in the normal manner to attach the mounting bars 62 to the watch 64. The mounting bars are then inserted into the housings 38 and function in the manner previously described.

Also as indicated by FIG. 5, the latch-46 of FIG. 3

leg 48 having the end 58 extending outwardly from the casing 38 above the actuator knob 44, but the connecting Web 52 and lower leg 50 of FIG. 3 are replaced by a U-shaped spring section 80 connected to the upper leg 48. The spring section 80 of the latch may be formed integrally with the upper leg 48, and may comprise spring metal or similar material. This spring section operates in a manner identical to the spring 60 of FIG. 2, and biases 'both the mounting bar 62 and the latch 46 outwardly from the housing 38. V

In some instances, it may not be desirable for the instrument 64 to rotate within the instrument case upon actuation of latch assemblies 36, but instead it may be preferable for the instrument to be immovably mounted within the instrument case. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the inner surface of the casing base 12 may be provided with cutout portions 82 designed to receive the mounting bars 62 which are attached to the instrument 64. These cutout portions operate as mounting seats for the mounting bars 62, and may be lined with shock-absorbing material as indicated at 84 to provide a shock-resistant mount for the instrument 64.

With the instrument 64 mounted in an immovable shock-absorbing mount, additional means must be provided to interconnect the opposed latch assemblies 36. This connecting means is illustrated in FIG. 7, and includes a connecting bar 86 arcuately formed to conform to the inner configuration of the casing base 12. Secured to each end of the connecting bar 86 are laterally projecting studs 88 which are designed to replace the mounting bars 62 of FIGS. 1 and 2, and fit into the ends of the housings 38 of the latch assemblies on either side of the casing base.

To prevent the connecting bar 86 from interfering with the instrument mounted in the case 10, the inner surface of the casing base 12 may be provided with a groove indicated at 92 which receives the connecting bar. The connecting bar is in turn provided with a slot 90 which receives one of the mounting bars 62. This slot permits the connecting bar 86 to move about the inner periphery of the casing base 12 within the slot 92 when either of the actuator knobs 44 is activated.

The operation of the instrument case of FIG. 6 is similar to that previously described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2 with the exception that the instrument 64 does not move relative to the casing base 12 upon actuation of an actuator knob 44. Instead, when the actuator knob is moved causing corresponding movement of one of the latch assemblies 36, the connecting bar 86 causes a corresponding movement in the opposite direction of the remaining latch assembly. Otherwise, the latch assemblies of FIG. 6 operate in a manner identical to that previously described.

It will be readily apparent to'those skilled in the art that the present invention provides a novel and improved instrument case which provides effective protection to a watch, compass, or similar instrument, and which may easily be operated by a user. The arrangement and types of components utilized within this invention may be subject to numerous modifications while within the purview of this inventor who intends only to be limited to a liberal interpretation of the specification and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An improved instrument case comprising casing base means, casing cover means attached to said casing base means and adapted to engage said casing base means to form an enclosed inner chamber, said casing cover means including fixed latch receiving means, and latch means mounted on said casing base means for engagement With said latch receiving means, said latch means being mounted for limited movement along the periphery of said casing base to permit disengagement thereof with said latch receiving means.

2. The improved instrument case of claim 1 wherein said latch means includes two latch assemblies mounted on opposite sides of said casing base means, and means interconnecting said latch assemblies for simultaneous Y movement.

and adapted to engage said casing base means to form an enclosed inner chamber, said casing cover means including fixed latch receiving means, mounting means connected between said instrument and said casing base means, said mounting means being adapted to mount said instrument within said inner chamber, and latch means mounted on said casing base means for engagement with said latch receiving means, said latch means including two latch assemblies mounted on opposite sides of said casing base means for limited movement along the periphery thereof and means interconnecting said latch assemblies for simultaneous movement to permit disengagement of said latch means with said latch receiving means.

4. The improved instrument case of claim 3 wherein said mounting means includes mounting units connected to said instrument and extending laterally therefrom, receiving means provided upon said base for receiving said mounting units, said receiving means being adapted to provide a shook-absorbing seat for said mounting units.

5. The improved instrument case of claim 4 wherein said means interconnecting said latch assemblies comprises a connecting bar secured to each of said latch assemblies and extending therebetween about the periphery of said inner chamber.

'6. An improve-d instrument case for mounting a small, pocket-sized instrument comprising casing base means, casing cover means adapted to engage said casing base means to form an enclosed inner chamber, said casing cover means including fixed latch receiving means, connecting means mounting said cover means upon said casing base means for movement toward and away from said casing base means, and combined latch and shook mount means movably mounted on said casing base means for engagement with said latch receiving means, said combined latch and shock mount means including two latch assemblies mounted on opposite sides of said casing base means for limited movement along the periphery thereof to permit disengagement of said latch assemblies with said latch receiving means. a

7. The improved instrument case of claim 6 wherein each said latch assembly includes a housing enclosing a central chamber with openings at both ends thereof, actu ator means secured to one end of said housing and extending outwardly therefrom, a latch unit movably mounted within said central chamber of said housing and extending outwardly therefrom through the opening adjacent said actuator means, a mounting unit secured to said instrument and received within the opening of said housing opposite to said actuator means, and biasing means within said housing to bias said latch unit and mounting unit outwardly therefrom.

8. The improved instrument case of claim 7 wherein said casing base is provided with elongated openings extending through opposite sides thereof, said openings being adapted to receive and permit movement of said latch assembly housings along the periphery of said casing base, and biasing means mounted within said openings to .bias said housings to a central position within said openings.

9. The improved instrument case of claim 8 wherein said connecting means between said casing base and casing cover pivotally mounts said casing cover upon said casing base and biases said cover away from contact with said casing base.

10. An improved instrument case for mounting a small pocket-sized instrument comprising casing base means, casing cover means connected to said casing base means 7. and adapted to engage said casing base means to form an enclosed inner chamber, said casing cover means including fixed latch receiving means, and combined latch and instrument mounting means movably mounted on opposite sides of said casing base for limited movement along the periphery thereof, each said latch and instrument mounting means including a latch unit for engagement with said latch receiving means, said latch unit being movable With the latch and instrument mounting means along the periphery of said casing base to permit disengagement thereof with said latch receiving means, and an instrument mounting unit connected to said instrument and mounting said instrument within said inner chamber in spaced relationship to said casing base, said instrument mounting unit being movable with said latch unit and operative With said instrument upon movement of one of No references cited.

10 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

M. L. LORCH, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

10. AN IMPROVED INSTRUMENT CASE FOR MOUNTING A SMALL POCKET-SIZED INSTRUMENT COMPRISING CASING BASE MEANS, CASING COVER MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CASING BASE MEANS AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID CASING BASE MEANS TO FORM AN ENCLOSED INNER CHAMBER, SAID CASING COVER MEANS INCLUDING FIXED LATCH RECEIVING MEANS, AND COMBINED LATCH AND INSTRUMENT MOUNTING MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID CASING BASE FOR LIMITED MOVEMENT ALONG THE PERIPHERY THEREOF, EACH SAID LATCH AND INSTRUMENT MOUNTING MEANS INCLUDING A LATCH UNIT FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LATCH RECEIVING MEANS, SAID LATCH UNIT BEING MOVABLE WITH THE LATCH AND INSTRUMENT MOUNTING MEANS ALONG THE PERIPHERY OF SAID CASING BASE TO PERMIT DISENGAGEMENT THEREOF WITH SAID LATCH RECEIVING MEANS, AND AN INSTRUMENT MOUNTING UNIT CONNECTED TO SAID INSTRUMENT AND MOUNTING SAID INSTRUMENT WITHIN SAID INNER CHAMBER IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID CASING BASE, SAID INSTRUMENT MOUNTING UNIT BEING MOVABLE WITH SAID LATCH UNIT AND OPERATIVE WITH SAID INSTRUMENT UPON MOVEMENT OF ONE OF SAID LATCH AND INSTRUMENT MOUNTING MEANS TO CAUSE SIMULTANEOUS MOVEMENT OF THE REMAINING LATCH AND INSTRUMENT MOUNTING MEANS.