US3371757A - Attache cases and the like containers - Google Patents

Description

March 5, 1968 JAMISON ETAL 3,371,757

ATTACHE CASES AND THE LIKE CONTAINERS Filed June 28, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q Q, 30 3/ 37 f -V' II v Z0 22 I G 2 INVENTORS m .amsuw' 2 If If- VERA/l BY ATTQkA K March 5, 1968 H, JAMlSON ET AL 3,371,757

ATTACHE CASES AND THE LIKE CONTAINERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 28, 1966 Z x r 8 I I II I I I,

Mm w mg M M m m N Y Y B H. IJAMISON ET AL 3,371,757

ATTACHE CASES AND THE LIKE CONTAINERS March 5, 1968 Filed June 28, 1966 s Shets-Sheet s INVENTORS RALPH M. VER/V/ United States Patent 3,371,757 ATTACK-[E CASES AND THE LIKE CONTAINERS Harry Jamison, Beechhurst, and Ralph M. Verni, Baldwin, N.Y., assignors to The Jamison Plastic Corporation, North Bellmore, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed June 28, 1966, Ser. No. 561,276 11 Claims. (Cl. 190-49) This invention relates to attach cases and the like containers.

An object of this invention is to provide a case of the character described which may be made from a relatively small number of different molded parts and in which two case sections may be molded from the same mold.

Another object of this invention is to provide a case of the character described in which the two case sections are spaced at the bottom when the case is open, but are provided with means to close the bottom of the case when the two sections are closed.

Still another object of this inveniton is to provide a case of the character described in which a bezel comprising a top portion and side arm portions, has a through groove at one side receiving and attached to edges of one case section and a symmetrical through groove at its opposite side, into which edges of the other case section snugly fit when the case is closed, and said bezel carrying latches each having a pair of lock fingers adapted to pass through openings in said case sections, when said case is closed, to hold the case sections in closed condition.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a case of the character described in which said latches have means to make clicking sounds when the latches move into locking condition, to indicate that the latches have operated, and to retain the latches in locked condition against accidental opening.

A further object of this invention is to provide a case of the character described in which the case sections are provided with integral legs and with integral hinge sleeves so arranged that the sleeves of one case section will interfit with the sleeves of the other case section.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a I case of the character described in which said bezel is connect said handle to said bezel. When the bezel is thereafter fixed to one of said case sections, the top portion of the bezel must remain straight and the handle cannot come 01f its hinge pins.

Yet a further, object of this invention is to provide a case of the character described comprising means to limit the angle of opening of said sections and comprising links hinged to said cases on hollow rivets, and being interpivoted to each other. With such construction, a cross-wire may have its ends inserted into a pair of opposed hollow rivets on one case section, to removably mount said crosswires within said case and to hold an envelope within one of said case sections, and the solid ends of said rivets holding the wire from moving endwise.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged and durable attach case of the character described which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which shall comprise few and simple parts, which shall be easy to assemble, easy to open and close, which 3,371,757 Patented Mar. 5, 1968 shall be light in weight and yet practical and efiicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangrnent of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown an illustrative embodiment of this invention,

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an attach case embodying the invention, and showing said case in closed condition; and with parts broken away and in cross-section;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the case shown in FIG. 1, with parts broken away and in cross-section;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 33 7 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the case of FIG. 1, with parts broken away and in cross-section;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, detailed view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 1, including one of the snap latches;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the case in closed condition, with the top wall broken away to show the upper side of the bottom of the case;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the hinged end of the case, opened up; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line ll1-11 of FIG. 10.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates an attach case embodying the invention. Said case comprises a pair of identical case sections 11 which may be molded in the same mold, of suitable synthetic plastic material such as high impact polystyrene.

Each case section 11 comprises an outer flat wall 12 from the lower end of which extends an integral bottom wall 13 which tapers downwardly toward the midsection of the case, integral end walls 14 which taper outwardly toward the midsection of the case, and a top wall 15 which tapers upwardly toward the midsection of the case. The top and bottom walls interconnect the end walls. End walls 14 have end edges 14a. Top wall 15 has an end edge 15a. Bottom wall 13 has an end edge 13a. Said bottom wall has, along its end edge 13a, a gradually thickened portion 13b and a projecting longitudinal flange 13c (FIGS. 8, 9), Flange 13c and thickened portion 13b of each bottom wall extend from about the longitudinal middle of the edge 13a to a point 13d spaced from wall 14. Since the case sections 11 are identical, the flanges will be located in tandem as shown in FIG. 8 of the drawing.

Each bottom wall 13 is provided at one end with an integral pair of spaced hinge sleeves 20 adjacent one end and with a single hinge sleeve 21 adjacent the opposite end of said bottom wall. Said sleeves 2t), 21 have a common axis located below the bottom wall and in a vertical plane at the longitudinal midsection of the case. The sleeves 20,21 are so located that when two case sections are assembled, the sleeve 21 of each will fit between the sleeves 20 of the other, in registry or coaxially therewith. Metal hinge pins or rivets 22 pass through each interfitted sleeve 20, 21, to hinge the case sections together. When the case sections are closed, edges 13a of the two case sections will almost touch. The outer ends 13d of flanges 130 are located near the sleeves 20. When the case is closed, the flange 13c of the bottom wall of one case section overlaps the edge 13a of the bottom wall of the other case section. Thus, while the bottom walls 13 are spaced apart when the case sections are swung open, the bottom of the case is closed when the case sections are closed up.

It will be noted that end edges 14a of end walls 14 are spaced apart in parallel relation when the case is closed, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Also, end edges 15a are spaced apart when the case is closed. End edges 14a, 15a of each case are in a common plane.

Integrally formed with each bottom wall are a pair of spaced legs projecting below the sleeves 20, 21 so that the case, when closed, may stand on said legs when the closed case is placed on a horizontal surface.

Attached to one of said case sections 11 is a bezel having a top horizontal portion 31 from which extend a pair of parallel arms 32 at right angles to said top portion. Said bezel is symmetrical about a longitudinal plane passing through its longitudinal mid-section, and is formed on both sides with through grooves 33 in the top part 31 and in the arms 32. Thus the bezel 30 is of H-shape transverse cross-section.

The bezel may be made of suitable molded plastic such as Acrylic Butydine Rubber. The edges 14a, 15a of one case section fit into the groove 33 on one side of the bezel and is attached thereto by means of a solvent or adhesive or by heat fusion. One solvent that may be used to attach the bezel to one case section is ethylene dichloride. Thus, end edge 15a fits into the groove 33 in straight portion 31, while end edges 14a fit into grooves 33 in arms 31. The bezel is made of a flexible resilient plastic for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

The end edges 14a, 15a of the other case section 11 nest or fit into the groove 33 on the other side of the bezel when the case is closed. The web 30a of the bezel between grooves 33 fills the spaces between the end edges 14a, 15a of the two case sections.

The central part 35 of the upper flange of the top portion 31 of bezel 30 may be made wider than the ends of said top portion, for strength. Said central top part 35 may have curved outer longitudinal edges 36.

Integrally formed with said central part 35 are a pair of spaced upwardly extending posts 37 provided with horizontally aligned, inwardly extending integral pivot pins 38. Swung on said pins is a handle 40 which may also be molded of suitable plastic. Said handle 40 comprises a top part 41 from which arms 42 extend downwardly. The lower ends of said arms are formed with outwardly openings holes 43 in which the pivot pins 38 are rotatably received. Arms 43 are located just inside of posts 37.

The handle is assembled with the bezel before the bezel is attached to one case section 11. To assemble said handle with the unattached bezel, the top portion 31 of the bezel is flexed by pressing the ends thereof down, and the central part up, thus causing the posts 37 to spread and the pivot pin 38 to spread apart. The handle 40 can then be placed in such position that when the top portion of the bezel is allowed to go back to normal position, the pins 33 will enter the openings 43. When the bezel is thereafter aflixed to one case section 11, the top portion 31 of the bezel remains straight and the handle cannot come off the pivot pins 38. The posts 37 are located well inside the ends of the widened part 35 of the bezel, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing.

Latch means is provided to hold the case in closed condition. To this end, top wall 15 of each case section 11 is formed with a pair of spaced, longitudinal, aligned, short slots 50 adjacent to, but spaced from, edges 15a of said top wall. Slots 50 are located adjacent the outer ends of central part 35 and outwardly of posts 37. The upper flange of the top part 31 of the bezel is formed with pairs of notches 51 registering with slots 50 when the case is closed. The lower flange of the top portion 31 of the bezel is widened as at 52 and formed with pairs of slots 53 registering with slots 50 of the case sections, when the case is closed and also registering with said pairs of notches 51.

Integrally formed with said upper flange of the top part 31 of bezel 30 and located inwardly of notches 51, are pairs of parallel, upwardly extending ears 55 formed with coaxial bearing openings 56.

Also, integrally formed with the top portion 31 of bezel 30, are upwardly extending resilient fingers 57 located outwardly of ears 55 and therebetween. Each finger 57 has an inwardly extending top lip 58. Fingers 57 are located at the outer ends of notches 51 and therebetween.

Pivoted to each pair of ears 55 is a latch 60 having axles 61 journalled in bearing openings 56. Latch 60 has a longitudinal slot 62 extending to its inner end, thus forming spring arms or fingers 63 which may be pressed together to get axles 61 into bearings 56. Each latch 60 has an opening '64 near its outer end to receive the upper end of a spring finger 57. The lower inner edge of opening 64 is curved as at 65, so that as the latch is pressed down, curved edge 65 will engage lip 58 and push the upper end of the spring finger 57 outwardly. When the lip 58 passes beyond the upper end of opening 64, the spring finger will snap inwardly and produce a clicking sound, as the lip 58 overlaps a portion of the latch inwardly of opening 64. The click tells the operator that the case is closed, as will appear hereinafter, and the lip 58 keeps the latch down.

Each latch 60 is provided with a pair of parallel, downwardly extending tongues 67 which move down through notches 51, slots 50 and slots 53, to lock the case sections together.

Means is provided to retain said casing sections from opening up beyond a predetermined angle. To this end, there is pivoted to the end walls 14 of the case section to which the bezel 30 is attached, by means of inwardly opening hollow rivets 70, a pair of metal links 71, each formed with an outer V-shaped portion 72 formed with an outwardly pressed bump 73. At the apex of portion 72 is an outwardly bent stop finger 74.

Pivoted to the end walls of the other case section 11, as by inwardly opening hollow rivets 75, are links 76 interpivoted by rivets 77 to links 71 inwardly of said portion 72 thereof. The pivots 70, 75 are so located and the lengths of the links 71, 76 are such, that the case sections may be opened only to about a 90 angle, as shown in FIG. 10.

A long spring wire or rod 80 has its ends projecting into the hollow rivets 75 (FIG. 11), to support an envelope or folder 81 within one of the case sections.

The outer ends of links 71, 76 are otfset as at 70a and 76a of the bezel, so that the jointed portion of said links are in parallel planes. The holes for receiving the hollow rivets 70, 75 in the case sections may be drilled after said sections are molded.

The slots 50 and notches 51 may be formed during the molding operation of the case sections.

A plate 80a may be attached to the top wall of one case section, by drilling holes 81a in said top wall and inserting pins 82 extending from said plate into said holes and riveting said pins.

Bumps 73 of links 71 press links 76 to keep the case opened up.

It will thus be seen that there is provided an apparatus in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A case comprising a pair of case sections, each having an outer wall, top and bottom walls extending therefrom, and end walls extending from said outer wall and connecting said topand bottom walls, hinge sleeves integrally formed with said bottom walls, the hinge sleeves of one case section registering with and being coaxial with hinge sleeves of the other case section, the axis of said sleeves being disposed below said bottom walls and in a vertical plane passing between said sections when the case is closed, hinge pins passing through said registering sleeves, a bezel having a top portion and downwardly extending side arm portions and formed with grooves on opposite sides, the end edges of the top and end walls of one case section being received in the groove of one side of the bezel and fixed thereto throughout the length of the bezel, and the end edges of the top and end walls of the other case section being adapted to snugly fit into the groove on the opposite side of said bezel when the case sections are closed, said case sections being capable of being molded from a common mold, and said bezel being symmetrical about a vertical plane passing through its longitudinal midsection.

2. The combination of claim 1, said bottom walls having end edges substantially touching when the case is closed and being separated when the case is open, and each bottom wall having a longitudinal flange overlying the other bottom wall when the case is closed, said flanges being disposed in tandem when the case is closed.

3. The combination of claim 1, a pair of posts extending up from and integrally formed with the top portion of said bezel, aligned hinge pins extending from said posts in opposite directions, and a handle having a top part and side arms, said arms being formed with holes rotatably receiving said pins to swingably mount said handle on said pins, and said bezel being made of flexible resilient material, whereby the top part of said bezel may be flexed, before attaching said bezel to one of said case sections, to allow said pins to be inserted into said handle openings, and whereby after said bezel is fixed to said case section, said pins remain in said holes.

4. The combination of claim 1, the top walls of said case sections having pairs of slots adjacent the end edges of said top walls, a pair of latches, means to pivot said latches to the top portion of said bezel each latch having a pair of tongues insertable downwardly into a pair of said slots, one in one top wall and one in the other top wall, to retain said case in closed condition.

5. The combination of claim 4, said top portion of said bezel having cut-away portions registering with each of said slots, through which said tongues pass when the latches retain said case in closed condition.

6. The combination of claim 4, each latch having an opening, and spring fingers on said bezel adapted to pass through the openings in said latches, and said fingers having lips to snap over edges of said openings in said latches to produce a clicking sound and to retain said latches against accidental opening.

7. The combination of claim 4, said means to pivot said latches to said top portion of said bezel, comprising pairs of cars extending up from said top portion and formed with aligned bearing openings, and each latch having a portion slotted to form a pair of spring arms provided with axles rotatably received in said bearing openings.

3. The combination of claim 1, pairs of links, means to pivot each pair of links to the end walls of said case sections, means to pivot the links of each pair of links to each other, said means to pivot said pair of links to said end walls comprising a pair of hollow rivets and a spring rod having its ends inserted in said pair of hollow rivets.

9. The combination of claim 1, and legs integrally formed with said bottom walls and projecting down below said sleeves.

' 10. The combination of claim 1, each hinge pin passing through a pair of sleeves on one case section on opposite sides of a sleeve on the other case section, there being two hinge sleeves at one end of the bottom wall of each case section and a single sleeve at the opposite end of said bottom wall of said case section.

11. The combination of claim 1, said bezel being of H-shaped transverse cross section and having a web portion between the end edges of the top and end walls of said case sections, when the case is closed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,010,552 11/1961 Davidson --41 3,295,713 1/1967 Optner 220-31 DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A CASE COMPRISING A PAIR OF CASE SECTIONS, EACH HAVING AN OUTER WALL, TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS EXTENDING THEREFROM, AND END WALLS EXTENDING FROM SAID OUTER WALL AND CONNECTING SAID TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS, HINGE SLEEVES INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH SAID BOTTOM WALLS, THE HINGE SLEEVES OF ONE CASE SECTION REGISTERING WITH AND BEING COAXIAL WITH HINGE SLEEVES OF THE OUTER CASE SECTION, THE AXIS OF SAID SLEEVES BEING DISPOSED BELOW SAID BOTTOM WALLS AND IN A VERTICAL PLANE PASSING BETWEEN SAID SECTIONS WHEN THE CASE IS CLOSED, HINGE PINS PASSING THROUGH SAID REGISTERING SLEEVES, A BEZEL HAVING A TOP PORTION AND DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING SIDE ARM PORTIONS AND FORMED WITH GROOVES ON OPPOSITE SIDES, THE END EDGES OF THE TOP AND END WALLS OF ONE CASE SECTION BEING RECEIVED IN THE GROOVE OF ONE SIDE

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