US3371771A

US3371771A - Emergency safety kit

Info

Publication number: US3371771A
Application number: US561604A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward T Bugyi
Original assignee: Edward T. Bugyi
Current assignee: EDWARD T BUGYI
Priority date: 1966-06-29
Filing date: 1966-06-29
Publication date: 1968-03-05
Anticipated expiration: 1985-03-05

Description

March 5, 1968 E. "r. BUGYI 3,371,771

EMERGENCY SAFETY KIT Filed June 29, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .2. w m am m .9 m 4% A% F u. MW 4 w 7w H .B u

March 5, 1968 E. T. BUGYI 3,371,771

EMERGENCY SAFETY KIT Filed June 29, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4H av 64 5; 4 7% 2 f /10 i 22) \/26 44 a? I J: k ja MHIHIH I INVENTOR.

United States Patent ()fiice 3,371,771 EMERGENCY SAFETY KIT Edward T. Bugyi, 190 Knollwood Drive, Stratford, Conn. 06497 Filed June 29, 1966, Ser. No. 561,604 7 Claims. (Cl. 206-16) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An emergency kit of generally rectangular cross section having a hinged front with the hinge displaced upwardly from the bottom edge to form a tray when the kit is open. A receptacle is built into the top of the kit to receive an article, such as a lantern. An opening in the case receives a fire extinguisher which is secured by a bracket and strap.

This invention relates to a safety kit and, more particularly, to such a kit which is especially designed to be carried in vehicles, such as automobiles and boats.

It is highly desirable for motorists, boaters, and other vehicle operators to carry with them certain pieces of equipment for use in emergencies. This equipment should include, among other items, a first aid kit, an electric hand lantern, a fire extinguisher, and flares. The major difiiculty in the past has been that the few operators who carry such equipment generally stow it rather haphazardly, for example in the trunk of a car, Where metal parts are subject to corrosion and where its existence may be completely forgotten. A fire extinguisher, for example, may very rarely be required. Unless it is stowed in such a manner as to be readily and repeatedly observable, its presence may be completely forgotten in the event of a serious emergency.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved safety kit wherein the most important items of emergency equipment are secured in an exposed and readily available fashion. Other objects are to provide such a kit which provides convenient and accessible storage space for various items of emergency equipment. The manner in which these objects are achieved will be more apparent from the following description, the appended claims, and the figures of the attached drawings wherein:

F1631 is a top view, partially broken away, of a safety kit in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the kit of FIG. 1 partially broken away to illustrate its internal construction;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross section taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 2 showing the kit in its open position; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross section taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 2 showing the manner in which the kit may be hung on a bulkhead or other vertical surface.

The objects of this invention are achieved by an emergency kit which comprises a case of generally rectangular cross section. The case includes front and back side walls, first and second end walls, a bottom wall and a top wall, the top wall defining first and second openings. Portions of the front side wall, the end walls, and the top wall form a closure which is hingedly secured to the lower portion of the front side wall along a line which is displaced from, and parallel to, the bottom wall. Latch means are selectively engageable with the case and the closure to retain the closure in a closed position. Receptacle means are mounted in the top wall communicating with the first opening. An electric hand lantern is removably positioned in the receptacle and lantern securing means on the top wall secure the lantern in the receptacle. A fire extin- 3,371,771 Patented Mar. 5, 1968 guisher is removably positioned in the second opening and the case includes means for securing the extinguisher in the second opening.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated an emergency safety kit comprising a case 10 of generally rectangular cross section including a bottom wall 12,

end walls

14, 16, side walls 18, and top wall 22. The side wall 20 forms the front of the case and a portion 20, together with portions 14, 16' of each end wall and a portion 22' of the top wall, forms a closure which is hingedly secured to front wall 20 by means of a piano-type hinge 24. Hinge 24 is parallel to bottom wall 12 but displaced therefrom, as is shown most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4. This permits the closure to be opened, as shown in FIG. 3, to provide access to the interior of the case while the bottom of the case forms a tray for retaining articles therein, even in the open condition. The top and sides of the closure opening are encircled by a flange 26 which mates with the interior surface of the closure. A latch 28 mounted on the top of the case serves to retain the closure in its closed position. A handle 30 mounted on the top wall makes the case easily portable.

The top wall defines a rectangular opening 32 and a circular opening 34 at opposite ends of the handle 30. Mounted within the rectangular opening 32 is a boxshaped receptacle 36 which depends downwardly from the top wall into the interior of the case. The receptacle is mounted against the top wall by means of horizontally extending flanges 38 secured by screws 40 or other suitable means. The receptacle 36 is designed to receive the battery portion of an electric hand lantern L which is held in place by means of a strap 42 which is secured at one end to back side wall 18 by means of suitable rivets 44 and at the other to top wall 22 by means of a snap 46. Mounted within the case 10 and against the end wall 16 by means of screws 48 is a spacer block 50. The inner side of the block 50 is substantially aligned with circular opening 34. A vertical bracket 52 is mounted against the block 50 and extends upwardly through the opening 34. Secured to the bracket 52 is a flexible metal band 54 having two free ends which are interengageable by means of a catch 56. A resilient foamed rubber cushion 58 is positioned on the bottom wall 12 below the opening 34. A fire extinguisher E is positioned within the circular opening 34, its base resting against cushion 58. The band 54 and the catch 56 secure the extinguisher to the bracket 52. Mounted within the front side wall portion 20' forming the hinged closure are a plurality of spring clips 60 which retain three flares F for easy accessibility. A sheet 62 of emery cloth or other high friction material is cemented against the inner surface of the side wall portion 20' to provide a striking surface for the flares or for friction matches.

Due to the placement of the hinge 24 along a line which is displaced from the bottom wall 12, opening of the case as shown in FIG. 3 does not permit the escape of articles contained therein. This feature is of particular value when the case contains a number of small items or when used in an unstable environment such as a boat or airplane. Articles such as a first aid kit K and a rotating beacon B may be included among the contents of the case. This feature whereby the bottom of the case is a closed tray, even when the case is open, is of particular value when the case is hung from a wall, bulkhead or other vertical surface as breakage of articles rolling or falling from the case is prevented. The size of this invention is provided with a pair of angled hanging rings 64 which permit the case to be hung on a vertical support S by means of suitable hooks 66.

It is believed that the many advantages of this invention will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. It

3 will also be apparent that a number of variations and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the foregoing description is to be construed as illustrative only, rather than limiting. This invention is limited only by the scope of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An emergency kit for motorists and the like which comprises: a case of generally rectangular cross section including front and back side walls, first and second end walls, a bottom wall, and a top wall defining first and second openings therein; closure means formed by portions of said front side wall, said end walls, and said top wall, said closure means being hingedly secured to the lower portion of said front side wall along a line displaced from, and parallel to, said bottom wall; latch means selectively engageable with said case and closure means to retain said closure means in a closed position; receptacle means depending into said case from said top wall and communicating with said first opening; securing means on said top wall for securing a removable article in said receptacle; a substantially vertical bracket extending upwardly from said to wall adjacent said second opening; and strap means on said bracket for encircling and clamping a fire extinguisher thereto and in said second opening.

2. The kit of claim 1 wherein said receptacle means comprises an open top box extending downwardly into said case a distance less than the depth of said case, the open top of said box coinciding with said first opening.

3. The kit of claim 2 wherein flare-supporting spring clip means are mounted onthe interior of said closure means.

4. The kit of claim 2 wherein an electric hand lantern is removably mounted in said receptacle means.

5. The kit of claim 2 wherein handle means are mounted on said top wall intermediate said first and second openings.

6. The kit of claim 5 wherein said first opening is substantially rectangular and said second opening substantially circular.

7. The kit of claim 6 wherein a substantially cylindrical fire extinguisher is removably disposed in said case, extending outwardly through said second opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 904,545 11/1908 Madeira 206-16 2,645,392 7/1953 Gottsegn et al. 2,982,392 5/1961 Bossone 20616 FOREIGN PATENTS 764,061 12/1956 Great Britain.

WILLIAM T. DIXSON, 111., Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,371,771 March 5, 1968 Edward T. Bugyi It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 66, for "size" read case column 3, line 24, for "to" read top Signed and sealed this 15th day of July 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. JR.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents