US2343763A - Traveling case - Google Patents

Description

March 7, 1944. A. FRlDoLPH 2,343,763

TRAVELJNGy CASE Original F'ledAug. 20, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 vA. FRIDQLPH 2,343,763

TRAVELING CASE March 7, 1944.

original Filed Aug. 20, 193e 'zsheets-sheet 2 Hte/Wega.

Patented Mar. 7, 1944 TRAVELING CASE Annette Frdolph, New York, N. Y.

Original application August 20, 1936, Serial No. 97,035. Divided and this application March 26, 1941, Serial No. 385,255

3 Claims.

This invention has to do with a traveling case and more particularly with a traveling case that is relatively compact and light but still has the general functions of a wardrobe trunk.

This application is a division of a co-pending application, Serial No. 97,035, filed August 20, 1936.

Modern methods of travel such as by airplane, high-speed automobiles and the like, present many problems vand difliculties in the proper packing and shipping of Wearing apparel and traveling necessities. Wardrobe trunks and the like are usually too large and heavy and the use of a plurality of smaller traveling bags and the like makes both packing and shipping difficult.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a traveling case that may be easily handled by one person, which is light and strong, but which will still accommodate the complete traveling necessities for an extended trip. The traveling case embodying the features of the present invention is particularly suitable for use in air travel and for the packing and shippingof womens clothes. Important features of the case include a tray slidably but securely held in position by the top ofthe case proper and operating in combination with another tray, positioned in the top of the case, the first named tray being slidable to a lposition whereby it registers with the second named tray when the case is closed. Another feature of the slidable tray is that it may be slid, back and forth along the top of the case proper to permit access to the contents of the casewithout removal of the tray. ther features have to do with a hanger guide and support formed as a part of one or more side walls of the case proper; such guide and support being constructed to receive the heads ofy a plurality of vertically slidable garment hangers whereby the garments may be packed 'horizontally in the main storage compartment of the case, the guide and support retaining the garment hangers in proper position.

Other features have to do with details of construction and arrangement as will be more clearly set forth in the specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a traveling case embodying the features of the present invention, and showing particularly the main tray positioned at the front of the case proper.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the main tray and showing the fastening studs adapted to cooperate with grooves formed in the top of the main compartment.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating one form of connecting member between the tray and the case.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective viewof the inside of my traveling case and showing particularly the garment hanger guide and support.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of one position of the guide and support.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 5 and showing particularly the embossed portions formed as a part of the guide and support for properly retaining the garment hangers in position.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to Fig. 5 but illustrating a modified form of retaining members.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the traveling case is made up of a main compartment 2, and an auxiliary compartment or lid 3. It-will be understood that the main compartment 2 may vary in depth and in some cases may be of approximately thevsame depth as the compartment 3; thelgeneral idea being that the entire depth'of the compartment 2 may be utilized for storage purposes;

A main tray unit generally designated 4 is designed to be ilush with the top edges 5 of the main compartment 2. This tray unit 4 preferably extends the length of, but of less width than the compartment 2. Each end of the tray unit 4 is preferably provided with a plurality of stud members B having enlarged heads. The turned over edges 5 at the top of the compartment 2 are provided with longitudinal slots 'l and such slots 1 are provided with spaced openings 8 of a size adapted to receive the heads of the studs 6. The openings yS are preferably positioned adjacent the back or hinged side of the compartment 2 so that the stud members 6 may be Yinserted through the openings 8 and then the tray 4 slid forwardly towards the position shown in Fig. 1. When slid forwardly, it will be obvious that the tray mem'- ber 4 will be held securely in positionas a temporaryiixed part of the compartment 2.

The tray member 4 preferably consists of a small compartment or box 9 for the storage of articles of the type most frequentlyused. This box 9 may have the usual cover or in its preferred form, the top wall l0 of the compartment 3 will form a closure for the compartment 9. The extension of the tray 4 is preferably provided with a. plurality of apertures I2 for receiving strap members or the like to hold shirts and other similar articles in position on the top oi the tray. By making the strap members adjustable or by varying their length, it will be Seen that it would be possible to stack shirts or similar articles on the top of the tray 4 to a height equivalent to the depth of the compartment 3.

The compartment 3 is provided with an auxiliary compartment or box I3 which box may be divided up into a plurality of small compartments and an auxiliary drawer or drawers as best shown in Fig. l. An important feature of this box I3 is that it opens upwardly when the lid 3 is swung to the position shown in Fig. 1. 'I'he box I3 is preferably fixed in position and is of such a length or height that when the tray 4 is moved to its forward position, and the lid 3 closed relative to the compartment 2, the top edge I4 will be positioned closely adjacent or even touching the wall I5 of the box 9. As the height of the box 9 and the depth of the box I3 are preferably the same, it will be seen that the wall I5 of the box 9 forms a cover for the open ends of the small compartments forming a part of the box I3. Thus when the lid 4member 3 is inclosed position all the space in the one half of the compartment 3 will be completely taken by the two auxiliary compartments or boxes 9 and I3, the box I3 serving to reinforce or lock the box 9 in position.

It will be obvious that when the lid member 3 is in open position as shown in Fig. l, the tray member 4 may be slid back and forth to permit access to the contents of the main compartment 2. It will further 'be understood that the length of the compartments or boxes 9 and I3 may vary considerably, particularly if the portion II of the tray 4 is not used for shirts and the like.

Cooperating with the slidable and flush tray member 4 are hanger guide and support members generally designated I6, preferably positioned centrally of each end wall of the main compartment 2. In Fig. 4 I have shown one hanger guide and support member as being secured to the end wall I 1.

As best shown in Fig. 6, the member IS is hollow in cross-section and is provided with a slot I8 extending longitudinally thereof. At spaced intervals along the slot I8 are formed openings I9 adapted to freely receive head members 2U formed as a part of a garment hanger such as illustrated as at 2I, the heads 20 being connected to the main part of the garment hanger by means of a neck 22 of a size adapted to slide in the slot I8.

Embossed portions 23 are preferably formed in the wall of the member I6 adjacent the openings I9 so that the head 20 of the hanger lmay be inserted through the opening I9 and then moved past the slightly resilient embossed portions 23 so that the hanger is normally retained some place between adjacent openings I9. Thus in first placing garments in the main compartment 2, one would place the head of the hanger carrying the garment in one of the openings I9 adjacent the bottom of the compartment. Using a slight pressure, the head 20 will be forced past the embossed portions 23. Garment hangers may then be inserted through such openings I9 until the space between that opening and the next lower opening shall be substantially filled with garment hangers. After this, the head of the next garment hanger may be inserted in the next above opening I9. Or, if desired, the hangers may be alternately arranged in opposite guide members I6 at the respective ends of the compartment 2, so that adjacent garments overlap. In this manner, it will be seen that the main compartment may be packed very easily and compactly. Furthermore, because of the spaced openings I9, it becomes relatively easy to remove a garment which was originally positioned in between other garments. The tray member 4 being flush with the top of the main compartment allows for complete filling of the main compartment and, furthermore, by sliding the tray back and forth, access may be had to the garment hangers guided and supported by the member or members I6 In Fig. 7 I have shown a modified form of retaining means for the garment hanger in that pivoted retainer clips 24 are positioned adjacent each opening I9, such clips being swung around to the position shown in the upper part of Fig. to permit entrance of the hanger heads and then being movable to the position shown at the bottom of Fig. 7 to retain the hangers within the guide and support.

What I claim is:

1. A traveling case comprising a main com. partment and a hanger guide and support member formed as a part of one of the Walls of said compartment, said member including relatively thin plate means spaced from said Wall of the compartment, said plate means being provided with a slot and a plurality of spaced openings, and a hanger member having a neck portion and an enlarged head, said head being insertable in, or removable through, any one of vsaid openings and slidable along said slot, and means located adjacent each opening adapted to retain the head of the garment hanger selectively between any two apertures of said support member.

2. A traveling case comprising a main compartment and one or more guide members on one or more walls of said main compartment, said guide members having openings at spaced intervals for receiving a portion of a garment hanger whereby garment hangers may be laterally inserted and movable within said guide members, and embossed portions adjacent each of said openings to retain said garment hangers between any two openings in the portion of the guide members in which they are inserted.

3. A device for supporting fabrics, garments and other like articles, which comprises a supporting panel, a T-slot formed as a part of said panel having a plurality of enlarged apertures in the slot spaced from the end thereof and available from the open side of the slot, means slidably received by said slot through one of said enlarged apertures, locking means for said last named means directly adjacent each of said apertures to maintain the same within said T-slot, article supporting means, and means connecting said slidable means and said article supporting means.

ANNEITE FRIDOLPH.

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