US2274045A - Extensible luggage - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 24, 1942. H.:DERMAN EXTENSIBLE LUGGAGE INVENTOR /M/M'r fmM/V Patented Feb. 24, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT g OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to luggage wherein the front and bottom walls o-f a rectangular case maybe moved from a closed position to a fully extended position with the bottom and front walls arranged in common alinement with each other and in alinement with the back wall; and the object of the invention is to provide a case of the character described comprising relatively fixed top, b-ack and side walls with a downwardly extending front'ange portion at the forward edge of the top wall with a bottom wall hingedly joined to the lower end of the back wall and a front wall hingedly joined to the forward end of the bottom wall for the full and flat extension of the back, bottom and front wall portions of the case, whereby garments may be hung infully extended position within said case; a further object being to provide the upper end portioniof the case with means, preferably concealed within said top front flange, for detachably mounting garment hangers in connection with the case for supporting a number of garments within the case, said' means also serving to reinforce and stiifen the upper corner portions of the case; a further object being to provide the forward edges of the side walls 'of the casel with inturned flanges with means thereon and on the side edges of the front wall for coupling the front wall to the side Walls intermediate upper and lower edges thereof when the case is in closed position; a further object being to provide means for reinforcing predetermined edgie portions of rth'e case and in langing said reinforcements kbetween the upper edge of the front wall land the lower edge of the front top flange to provide a rain-proof joint between said lcase parts; and with these and other objects in view, which will be more rfully hereinafter set forth, the invention consists in a device of the class and for the purpose specified, which is simple in construction, eliicient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of` my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. lis a front view of a case made according to my invention with part of the construction broken away and in section.

l Fig. 2 is a broken section substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper end portion of the vcase as shown in Figs.; 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a partial and broken section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of a part of the construction as sh'own in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 showing only a part of the construction and showing a modification, the section being substantially on fthe line 6-6 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is a partial section on the line 'I-'I of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is an 'enlarged sectional view of a part of the construction as shown in Fig. 2.

Thel construction forming the subject matter of this application is related to .fthe structure as disclosedvin my prior application, Serial No. 218,312, led July 9, 1938, having since issued as Patent'l #2,163,116, dated June 20, 1939, and differs generally from the structure shown in the earlier application in providing relatively fixed side and top walls which form what might be termed a garment protecting hood portion. However, the front wall and bottom wall are foldalble with respect to each other and to the back wall to fully extend in alinement with the back wall when the case is in open position rto facilitate the placement of garments upon the walls of the case prior to folding the walls to close the case so as to maintain the garments in a neat noncreasing or wrinkling position within the case when fully closed, and also to allow the garments to hang fully extended and freely from the top hood portion through the open bottom of the hood portion when the case is fully open.

For the purpose of illustrating one adaptation of my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawing a case consisting of a top wall I0, back wall I l, bottom wall I2, front wall I3 and front downwardly extending ange portion I4 at the forward edge of the top wall I0. The parts Ill, II, I2, I3 and I4 in the construction' shown are made from a single sheet, of material. In the more economical form of device, this material may consist of a sheet of fibre board, corrugated. board or the like, painted or covered with a fabric to produce any vdesired vappearance or effect upon the outer surface from Fig. 1 of the drawing solely from the standpoint of simplifying the complete illustration.

The separate wall portions are scored to form the hinge connections between the parte as will be apparent.

Secured. to the side edges of the top and back walls I and I| and the front flange I4, are side walls I preferably in the form of wood strips which are also characterized or faced to correspond with the facings of the oth'er wall portions of the resulting case. The side walls I5 have at the forward edges thereof, flanged strips IS which are also faced and characterized, as will be appa-rent. From the foregoing, it will appear that the back, top and side walls including the front flange I4 will form a rigid non-extensible frame, or what might be termed a hood portion, whereas the front wall I3 and bottom wall I2 may be extended ina position in alinement with the back wall II, as indicated partially in dotted lines at X in Fig. 2 of the drawing, in which position of the parts, the front of the case and -the bottom of the case will be open.

" The side walls I5 are arranged within the edges of the walls I0, II, I2 and I3 and flange I4, and the ends of the bottom wall have angular metal reinforcing strips II which' overlap the outer edges of the side walls I5 to reinforce the case at the lower side corner portions thereof. The strips I'I also support domed feet I8 for supporting the case upon a surface.

The side edges of the front wall I3 are provided with U-shaped reinforcing metal strips I9 which reinforce and stiffen the edges of the case. The upper edge of the front wall is provided with a U-shaped reinforcing strip 29 including an upwardly extending flange portion 2|, note Fig. 5, engaging or arranged beneath a downwardly eX- tending flange portion 22 on a similar reinforcing strip 23 secured to the lower edge of the flange I.4. The overlapped flanges 2| and 22 form a rain-proof joint between the upper edge of the front wall of the cover I3l and the flange I4, and also provides means for rmly supporting the upper edge of the front wall I3 throughout the width of the case when the front wall is in closed position.

Centrally of the front wall portion of the case is provided a suitable coupling device consisting of a part 24 secured to the ange I4 and a part 25 secured to the wall I3. These parts have interlocrking portions for securely coupling the same together while at the same time drawing the wall I3 in the direction of the wall I4.

In order to maintain the desired finish throughout the case, the side edges of the flange I4, the top wall IB and back wall I I are covered with fabric edging strips 21'. However, in more expensive type of cases, 'other types of finishing stripsy may here be employed. In this connection it will be understood that while in the present illustration, I have shown my invention as adapted to the, more economical form of construction, that I am not necessarily limited in this respect to thev details of construction herein shown and described.

. The flanges I6 are each provided substantially centrally thereof with key-hole plates 28 with large apertures 29 of the plates extending downwardly and the narrow apertures 3U extending upwardly so that when the front wall or cover I3 is in closed position, the shanks 3| of headed pins 32 will be disposed in the reduced apertures 30 withthe heads of the pins disposed in recesses 33 formed in ther strips or flanges I3. It will thus appear that when the front wall or cover I3 is in a. partially closed position, for example as indicated at X2 in dot and dash lines, Fig. 2, the heads of the pins 32 will pass through the large apertures 29, each simply pressing inwardly upon the adjacent portions of the front Wall I3, and then by sliding the wall upwardly, the pins 32 will be moved into locked position which will retain the side edges of the front wall against outward flexing in the event that the case is packed to capacity. The foregoing movement of the front wall is also essential in coupling the parts 24, 25; in other words, to detach the front wall I3 or to disengage the flanges 2| and 22, it is essential to move the front wall downwardly to a slight degree, and this movement will automatically unlock the headed pins 32 from the key-hole plates 28.

Centrally of the top wall I9 of the case is attached a suitable handle 34, the supporting brackets 35 of which are riveted or otherwise secured to the top wall. At 36 is shown a case supporting loop pivoted to the upper edge of the back wall to provide means for hanging the case upon a supporting nail or hook when the same is in a fully extended position. In this way, garments may be maintained within a travelling case and the case may be used as a supporting means for the garments and readily packed whenever desired.

' In the Construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, I have shown a reinforcing and garment hanger supporting strip 3`| secured to the side walls I5 adjacent the top wall I0 so as to form in conjunction with the top and side walls, channels 38 in which the top cross rods 39 of garment hangers 4U are free to slide forwardly and backwardly in the case. 'I'he rods are removable from the case through the opening as at 4I formed by terminating the strips 3'! short of the front flange I4. It will appear that the strips 31 are substantially concealed within the iiange I 4.

It will appear from a consideration of Fig. 3 of the drawing that the rails 39 are preferably provided with dove-tailed recesses 39a to engage flanged washer plates 35a secured in position by the rivets 35h employed to retain the brackets 35 in position. The flanged plates form means to interlock the rails 39 with the top Wall I0 so that the weight of the garments within the case may be directly suspended from the handle 34 thus relieving the strain on the top wall Ill. With this construction the rails will be maintained in close proximity to the top wall of the case to provide a strong and sturdy construction.

It is also preferred that garment retaining straps 42 be provided between the side walls I5 of the case adjacent the bottom wall thereof, that is to say, across the inner surface of the back wall II; whereas other stra-ps or ribbons 43 are provided on the inner surface of the front wall I3 to securely retain garments in connection with the front and rear wall portions. These straps are placed in position when the case is in fully opened position.

In Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawing, I have shown a slight modification of the structure shown in the other figures, which consists in substituting for the single strips 3l, channelled strips 31a which will provide a stronger reinforcement for the upper corner portions of the case. 'I'he lower wall or flange 44 of the channelled strip 3'I will be cut away adjacent the front flange Illa similar to the flange I4 as seen at45 in Fig. 7, so that the rails 39D of hangers may be inserted into and removed from the channels of the strips 33a. With this construction it will appear that the top of the rails 39h will be spaced from the top wall Ina, thus the recesses as at 39a, Fig. 3, need not be employed in the rails 39h. Otherwise, the construction shown in Figs. 6 and '7 will be the same as that shown in the other figures.

claim `as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, ist` 1. A luggage case of the character described comprising relatively xed top, back and side walls forming a hood structure, a narrow front wall portion at the top of the hood and xedly secured to the top and side walls, a bottom wall hingedly joined to the lower edge of the back wall, a front wall hingedly joined to the forward edge of the bottom wall whereby both bottom and front walls are extensible in a plane continuous and in alinement with the back wall, cleats on inner surfaces of the side walls below the top wall and inwardly of said narrow front wall, the forward ends of the cleats being spaced from said front wall portion, a pair of spaced dovetailed rails centrally of the inner surface of the top wall and extending from the back wall to a position short of said narrow front wall portion, and means for securing the hinged front wall in closed position.

2. A luggage case of the character described comprising relatively fixed top, back, side, and front walls, the front wall extending downwardly from the top wall a short distance thereby forming of said relatively fixed walls a hood-like structure open at the front and bottom of the case, a bottom wall rhinged to the lower edge of the back Wall, a cover wall hingedly joined to the forward edge of the bottom wall'whereby both the bottom and cover walls are extendable into a plane continuous and in alinement with the back wall, the side edges of the narrow front wall overlying the forward edges of the side walls and being attached thereto, the lower edge of the front wall having a reinforced flange extending the full length thereof and spaced. with respect to the forward edge of the side walls, the free upper edge of the cover wall having a flange insertable beneath the front wall flange in retaining the cover wall in closed position, and means coupling the front wall and cover wall to support the same in closed position.

3. A luggage case of the character described comprising relatively fixed top, back, side, and front walls, the front wall extending downwardly from the top wall a short distance thereby forming of said relatively fixed walls a hood-like structure open at the front and bottom of the case, a bottom wall hinged to the lower edge of the back wall, a cover wall hingedly joined to the forward edge of the bottom wall whereby both the bottom and cover walls are extendable into a plane continuous and in alinement with the back wall, the side edges of the narrow front wall overlying the forward edges of the side walls and being attached thereto, the lower edge of the front wall having a reinforced flange extending the full length thereof and spaced with respect to the forward edge of the side walls, the free upper edge of the cover wall `having a flange insertable beneath the front wall ange in retaining the cover wall in closed position,I

means coupling the front wall and cover wall to support the same in closed position, side edges of the cover wall overlying the forward edges of the side walls, and means at side edges of the cover wall cooperating with means on the Having fully described my invention, what I forward edges of the side walls retaining the cover wall against .displacement from the side walls intermediate upper and lower ends of the cover wall.

4. A luggage case of the character described comprising relatively fixed top, back, side and front walls, the front wall extending downwardly from the top wall a short distance thereby forming of said relatively fixed walls a hood-like structure open at the front and bottom of the case, a bottom Ywall hinged to the lower edge of the back wall, a cover wall hingedly joined to the forward edge of the bottom wall whereby both the bottom and cover walls are extendable into a plane continuous and in alinement with the back wall, the side edges of the narrow front wall overlying the forward edges of the side walls and being attached thereto, the lower edge of the front wall having a reinforced flange extending the full length thereof and spaced with respect to the forward edge of the side walls, the free upper edge of the cover wall having a flange insertable beneath the front wall flange in retaining the cover wall in closed position, means coupling the front wall and cover wall to support the same in closed position, side edges of the cover wall overlying the forward edges of the side walls, means at side edges of the cover Wall cooperating with means on the forward edges of the side walls retaining the cover wall against displacement from the side walls intermediate upper and' lower ends of the cover wall, said said last named means comprising keyhole plates on the side walls engaged by headed pins on the cover wall.

5. A luggage case of the character described comprising relatively fixed top, back, side, and front walls, the front wall extending downwardly from the top wall a short distance thereby forming of said relatively fixed walls a hood-like structure open at-the front and bottom of the case, a bottom wall hinged to the lower edge of the back wall, a cover wall hingedly joined to the forward edge of the bottom wall whereby both the bottom and cover walls are extendable into a plane continuous and in alinement with the back wall, the side edges of the narrow front wall overlying the forward edges of the side walls and being attached thereto, the lower edge of the front wall having a reinforced flange extending the full length thereof and spaced with respect to the forward edge of the side walls, the free upper edge of the cover wall having a flange insertable beneath the front wall flange vin retaining the cover wall in closed position,

means coupling the front wall and cover wall to support the same in closed position, said front, top, back, bottom and cover walls comprising a single sheet of material, and means reinforcing the coupling between the botto-m and side walls when the case is in closed position.

6. A luggage case of the character described comprising relatively xed top, back, side, and front walls, the front wall extending downwardly from the top wall a short distance thereby forming of said relatively fixed walls a hoodlike structure open at the front and bottom of the case, a bottom wall hinged to the lower edge of the back wall, a cover wall hingedly joined to the forward edge of the bottom wall whereby both the bottom and cover walls are extendable into a plane continuous and in alinement with the back wall, the side edges of the narrow front wall overlying the forward edges of the side walls and being attached thereto, the lower edge of the front wall having a reinforced flange extending the full length thereof and spaced with respect to the forward edge of the side walls, the free upper edge of the cover wall having a flange insertable beneath the front Wall flange in retaining the cover wall in closed position, means coupling the front wall and cover wall to support the same in closed position, means within theupper portion of the case and substantially concealed by said front wall for detachably supporting garment hangers in connection with the case, said last named means comprising cleats o-n inner surfaces of the side walls adjacent the top wall and terminating short of said front wall toy provide clearance for engagement o hangers with said cleats.

7. A luggage case of the character described comprising relatively fixed top, back, side, and front walls, the front wall extending downwardly from the top wall a short distance thereby forming of said relatively xed walls a hood-like structure open at the front and bottom of the case, a bottom Wall hinged to the lower edge of the back wall, a cover wall hingedly joined to the forward edge of the bottom wall whereby both the bottom and cover walls are extendable into a plane continuous and in alinement with the back wall, the side edges oi the narrow front Wall overlying the forward edges of the side walls and being attached thereto, the lower edge of the front wall having a reinforced flange extending the full length thereof and spaced With respect to the forward edge of the side Walls, the free upper edge of the cover wall having a iiange insertable beneath the front wall flange in retaining the cover wall in closed position, means coupling the front wall and cover wall to support the same in closed position, means within the upper portion of the case and substantially concealed by said front wall for detachably supporting garment hangers in connection with the case, said last named means comprising cleats supporting hanger rods adjacent and longitudinally of the top Wall, means centrally of the top wall securing a handle thereto, and said last named means including means interlocking with the hanger rods for suspending garment hangers directly from said handle.

HARRY DERMAN`

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