US943333A - Suit-case. - Google Patents

Description

B. .F. BECKER.

sun: CASE. APPLIGATIOH FILED JUNE 24, 1909.

Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

QSHEET 1.

2 SHEETS \IIIIII B. P. BECKER. SUIT CASE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1909.

943,333. Patented Dec. 14, 1909..

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2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JIM/er??? BENJAMIN F. BECKER, OF GLENCOE, ILLINOIS.

SUIT-CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

Application filed June 24, 1909. Serial No. 504,030.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. Bnonnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Glencoe, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suit-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that type of receptacle packing case or valise which is commonly called a suit case; and the invention has for its object to provide a construction of suit case or the like which shall economize both labor and material without sacrificing strength or attractiveness of appearance.

More specifically one of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a metal frame for the body of a suit case or like receptacle, having an overlapping cover,

which shall simplify the making of the bevel, that is, the off-set or reduced part of the body which is overlapped by the cover.

Another principal object of the invention is to provide a sheet metal frame for the body of such a character that the material forming the body of the case,leather, paper, straw fabric or the like, may be effectively attached thereto without stitching or riveting.

The invention has for further objects such other new and improved constructions and arrangements of the parts of a suit case or the like as will be described herein and particularly set forth in the claims appended hereto.

The invention in a preferred embodiment, and in a modification thereof, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a suit case, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 a section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 a similar view on line 33 of Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and 5, views in perspective illustrating one construction of respectively, the cover and body frames. Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of a cover frame of very similar construction to that of Fi 4 but made of one piece of metal. Fig. is a section on line 77 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig.8 is a view in perspective of a construction of body frame made from a single piece of metal; and Fig. 9 is a sec tion on line 99 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 15 represents the body of the suit case which may be of leather, paper, straw or any other fabric, and 16 the cover. These parts may be of usual form, the cover being hinged to the body and overlapping its upper or outer edge. The frame for the body is preferably formed of a strip of sheet metal 17, the inner edge 18 of which is bent outwardly at an angle so as to form an abutting rib or bead which bears against the inner surface of the body. If desirable, the metal may be folded over, as at 19, to give a smooth rounded edge. The outer edge 20 of the strip 17 is bent over so that it incloses and overlaps the edge of the body. This frame may be constructed as shown in Fig. 8 with the binding edge 20 standing some little distance out from the rest of the strip, and the edge may afterward be bent down upon the body sufiiciently to engage the same. In Fig. 8

the frame is made of one piece of metal, one I end of which is provided with a tab 21 secured by the rivet 22 to the other end. It is obvious that the frame could be made in two, three or four pieces if desired, the pieces being joined together at the corners. In Fig. 5 the joint at the corner between the strips or frame members 23 and 24 is made by the angle plate 25. In this construction the edge 26 is turned over instead of under. That is a matter of no moment.

The cover frame consists of the strip of sheet metal 27, the outer or lower edge of which 28 is bent around and down upon the edge of the cover 16. The inner or upper edge 29 of the strip may be folded over to form a finished edge. If the suit case is provided with the usual lock 30 and latches 31, 31, the rivets 32, which. secure the parts of these devices located on the cover, will extend through frame 27 and hold the frame to the cover. The cover frame may be made in one piece as shown in Fig. 6, the ends of the strip being secured together at one of the corners by the tab 21 and rivet 22 or the frame may be constructed in two or more sections, joined together in this way, or by means of the angle plates 25 as shown in Fig. 4.

It will be seen from Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, that the main portion of the sides of the body are in substantially the same planes with the rim portions of the cover, the edge of the body being off-set as shown at 33. This off-set, which is commonly called the bevel, is a feature of the suit case which in previous constructions has involved considerable time, care and material in its manufacture. The bevel has been produced in various ways. My device is, so far as I am aware, far simpler than any of them. Moreover, the body is secured to the frame without the use of stitching or rivets. The edge of the body is bent out of line over the projecting rib or bead 1S, and consequently, a secure enough engagement between the body and the frame is made by simply pressing the overturned edge 20 of the frame down upon the edge of the body. The frame in this way constitutes a binder for the edge of the body. The rib or bead 18 gives strength and rigidity to the frame, which are increased by the relation between the frame and the body. It will be seen that it is not necessary to drill the frame. The rivets 34 which secure the parts of the lock and the latch to the body (see Figs. 2 and 3) come below or inwardly of the frame. This simplifies and cheapens the manufacture of the case.

It will be seen that the strips of metal forming the bevel frame of the body of the case lie in planes substantially perpendicular to the plane of the edges of the body part so that the ends of the strips, or the bends where the frame is made of one piece of metal, are on lines perpendicular to the edges of the strip or strips. This rectangular form of frame simplifies the manufacture very considerably in comparison with that type of bevel forming frame in which the bevel is formed by the inclination of the strips. In frames so constructed the strips have to be cut at oblique angles at the ends and fitted together with considerable care or otherwise there are likely to be irregulari ties which spoil the shape of the frame. A frame which is out of true is practically useless. The beveled portion of the edge of the receptacle, it will be seen, extends diagonally across the space between the main portion of the strip and the rib 18. This gives opportunity for the overlapping cover to adjust itself even though the parts do not lit with perfect accuracy. The edge of the cover is not compelled to fit down upon a definite meeting edge but can slide over the bevel of the body as far as need be.

A suit case is, of course a rectangular box, and, therefore, while, I have described my invention as an improvement upon the construction of suit cases, it is obvious that, if desired, the devices of my invention might be employed in the manufacture of boxes or receptacles other than those intended to be used as suit cases.

I do not limit myself to the particular devices, constructions and arrangements shown,

as modifications might be devised which would come within the scope of my invention as defined by theclaims.

I claim:

1. In a receptacle the combination with a body part of 'fiexible material, of a rigid frame to give a bevel to the edge of said body part, the sides of said frame being perpendicular to the plane of its outer edge relative to the receptacle, means at said outer edge of said frame for securing thereto the edge of the body part, and a projection on the frame inwardly thereof, the edge of said body part extending diagonally across the space between the sides of the frame and the projection so as to form the bevel.

, 2. In a receptacle the combination with a body part of flexible material, of a sheet metal frame to give a bevel to the edge of said body part, said frame being perpendicular to the plane of the outer edge thereof relative to the receptacle, and the metal at the outer edge of said frame being turned over so as to engage the edge of the body part; and a projection on said frame inwardly of the outer edge thereof, the edge of said body part extending diagonally across the space between the sides of the frame and the projection so as to form the bevel.

8. In a receptacle the combination with a body part of flexible material, of a sheet metal frame to give a bevel to the edge of said body part, the sides of said frame being perpendicular to the plane of the outer edge thereof relative to the receptacle, and means at the outer edge of the frame for securing thereto the edge of the body part; the inner edge of said frame being bent outwardly so as to constitute a rib, the edge of said body part extending diagonally across the space between the sides of the frame and the projection so as to form the bevel.

4:. In a receptacle the combination with a body part of flexible material, of a sheet metal frame to give a bevel to the edge of said body part, the sides of said frame being perpendicular to the plane of the outer edge thereof relative to the receptacle, the metal at the outer edge of said frame being turned over so as to engage the outer edge of said body part and the inner edge of said frame being bent outwardly so as to constitute a projecting rib the edge of said body part extending diagonally across the space between the sides of the fram'e and the projection so as to form the bevel.

5. In a receptacle the combination with a body part of flexible material, of a sheet metal frame to give a bevel to the edge of said body part, the sides of said frame being perpendicular to the plane of the outer edge thereof relative to the receptacle, the metal at the outer edge of said frame being turned over so as to engage the outer edge of said body part, and the inner edge of said frame being bent outwardly and back upon itself so as to constitute a rib having a smooth edge, the edge of said body part extending diagonally across the space between the sides of the frame and the projection so as to form the bevel.

6. In a receptacle the combination with a body part of flexible material, of a sheet metal frame to give a bevel to the edge of said body part, the sides of said frame being perpendicular to the plane of the outer edge thereof relative to the receptacle, the metal at the outer edge of said frame being turned over so as to engage the outer edge of said body part and the inner edge of said frame being bent outwardly so as to constitute a projecting rib which forms the corner of the bevel, the edge of said body part extending diagonally across the space between the sides of said frame and said rib; and an overlapping cover for said receptacle.

7 In a receptacle, the combination with a body part of flexible material, of a rigid rectangular frame to give a bevel to the edges of said body part, comprising strips of metal Which lie in planes substantially perpendicular to the plane of the edge of said body part, the outer edges of said strips being overlapped upon the edge of said body part and the inner edges of said strips being bent outwardly so as to constitute ribs which form the corners of said bevel, said strips being formed atthe ends With tabs, and

means for securing the tabs to the adjoining strips.

BENJAMIN F. BECKER. Witnesses P. H. TRUMAN, E. L. BREIDERT.

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