US2545262A - Identification device for luggage - Google Patents

Description

L. B. COLEMAN IDENTIFICATION DEVICE FOR LUGGAGE Filed June 6, 1946 March 13, 1951 H 7% m t. Z W 1 ,25. 4,/N 27 7l, w E

Patented Mar. 13, 1951 satz 2,545,262 y IDENTIFICATION DEVICE Fon LUGGAGE Lester B. Coleman, New York, N. Y. i

Application June 6, 1946, Serial No. 677,360

' s Claims. (01.40-61) The present invention relates to improvements Ain identification devices, and more specifically, to a new and improved identification holder for luggage, handbags, brief cases, and the like.

It is well known to attach identification tags, which bear the owners name and address, to suitcases, trunks, or brief cases. However, these hitherto'used identification devices can easily be torn off or lost, which is highly objectionable. Moreover, they display openly the name and address of the owner thus subjecting him possibly to undesired solicitations or invasions of his privacy.

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the character described which is firmly secured to and embedded into the suitcase or other object to be identied, so that it cannot be removed inadvertently regardless of to how rough a treatment said object may be subjected.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the character described which has its identification card normally covered by a lid and which is flush with the surface of the suitcase or the like and is of inconspicuous appearance, so that it-when said lid is closedhardly can be noticed and does not appear as an identification device.

Still another object of the present invention is'the provision of a device of the character described Ywhich is simple in construction, so that it can be manufactured and sold at a very reasonable price, and which is also sturdy and durable as well as easy to manipulate.

Yet a still further. object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the character Adescribed which can be attached 'to any existing pieces of luggage or the like Without substantial alterations, and which is likewise well adapted to be attached t new objects while they are being manufactured.

Further objectsof the instant invention reside in any novel feature of construction or operation or novel combination of parts present in the embodiment of the invention described and shown in the accompanying drawing whether within or without the scope of the appended claims and irrespective of other specific statements as tothe scope of the invention contained herein.

In the drawing;

Figure 1 is a top elevation of a suitcase which is provided with a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 yis a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of my invention as it appears before it is attached to a suitcase or the like and being shown with its`1id open and drawn in an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the embodiment of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional View on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 showing the device with its lid about half open;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 2 showing the device with its lid closed; and

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the embodiment of Figure 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawing the numeral I denotes an entire embodiment of my invention comprising an open casing 2 of metal, plastic material,` wood or the like which has a back wall, side walls and-end walls which are flanged at the front, and which is adapted to be arranged in a recess in the object to be identified in such a manner that the top, portion of the casing is flush with the surface of said object as indicated in Figure 4. The casing 2 is preferably rectangular, and an identification card 9 bearing the 'namev and address of the owner is placed upon theback Wall of the casing 2. In order to prevent any possible tampering with the identification card 9,1 prefer to protect the same by means of a transparent plate'y 4, which is above the card 9 and whose edges engage grooves 3 thatare provided in the end and side walls of the casing 2 (Figure 4, 5, and 6)..

A lid 5, preferably consisting of 'thevsame material as the casing 2, is pivotally arranged in the upper portion of the casing 2 in such a manner that ite-when closed-is ush with the outwardly flanged extremities at the front of the side and end walls of the casing 2. I prefer to carry out this feature of my invention in the manner shown in the drawing, where it will be seen that a pin 6 is extended throughthe lid 5 and is in spaced relation to the latters left longitudinal side, andiboth end portions of the pin 6 are extended through the end walls of the casing 2 as well as through lugs l (Figs. 5 and 6). When the lid 5 is closed it covers the entire otherwise visible surface of the transparent plate 4, so that the identification card 9 cannot be seen. In order to open the lid 5, one presses slightly upon its right longitudinal edge, whereupon it will assume the position illustrated in Figure 4.

In order to prevent any protruding of my new and improved identification holder I (when the lid 5 is closed) over the surface of the suitcase CFFTCE I0, I prefer to provide said surface with a recessed portion in which rests the outwardly flanged portions of the side and end Walls of the casing 2, and to extend the major portion of the latter into the suitcase l0, as shown in Figure 4. The casing 2 itself can be secured to the object l by any suitable means preferably by means of tongues 8 which are driven through yand anchored in the Wall ofthe object L0 `(Figure .4) and which are formed fas a unit with the outwardly anged portions ofthe side Walls of the casing 2.

In order to facilitate the insertion and the removal' of the identification card 9, I prefer 'to provide one of the end wallsfozthe casingZ with a slot 2l) (Figure 5), which is long and wide enough to pass the card 9 therethrough. Specifically for facilitating the removal v:of an :identification card, for instance in case of a change in ownership of the object l0, there may iaise gbe provided another slot '2J in the opposite shorter fsideiwailliof'itheieasing. `This slut 2i! .isiof :such is 'placed in such a Vimanrier `:that tthe transparent plate 4 can be pushed therethrough. arrangement vfof fthe :slots lEL" and 2.1 imakes it practically impossible to interchange 'rid'enitiie :nation .fcamds fS -uriiess ttl-1e suitcase :lili Eis fopen, so ,that any *tampering -With -the identification card 9 can be prevented almost entirely bygkeeping Vthe object '|50 flocked.

v".'Ilhe Icolor iand outer fappearance iof zthe ,entire holder l is preferably chosen so thatiit willpblen'd fwiihhefutherittingstofthe object h,thus;;1nak ing the device highly inconspicuous. The il-id .a5 :closed -zexceptfumen neuessary "to .open it .for positive identication.

sinueffcertainiohangesmaybe'made-inthevabove .mfticle .fand dierent embodiments 4:oi .the zinvenitun :conld :be made Without departing from :the scope athereof, it isntendedthat .allfmatter con- 1:tained ,fin ithe :above description .fori/shown .fin fthe Zam:ompanying drawing shall be interpreted :as :illustrative l:and fnat Ain a limiting sense.

It as :also :to he @understood :that the ffoilowing tolaims `areintendedifto .coverall :of the genericand spexzinifeaturesfo'theinventionihereinidescribed,

fand :all `:statements -of :the -scope of ,the invention 5:ulrich `as ia matter tof `language might fbe zsaid ato Vifall :therebetween Having `thusgsiully .described myfsaid invention,

.Whatjzclainnasznew andzdesireito secure 4by Lety.said casing, a transparent plate resting upon said card and having its edges received in said grooves iin'tlieendiandside :walls of said casing, an opaque lid inserted in the upper portion of said casing VAin such a marmer that it is normally iush With thev'outwardly .flanged portions at the front and side walls, and a pin extended through said lid nat -sometdistance from its edges and through the end walls of said casing, said casing being ern- ?:bedded sin the gobjectito ibe :identified iin such a manner :thehunt 'of said :outwardly anged -side twail aisiush l,with the :surfacepf said object, and at .least :one .of 'fsaidwallshavingpa horizontal ,slot adapted for :passing -said icard therethrough. 3. ...An identificati-on holder :comprising -,an open :rectangular :casing having sa fback hWall land side fandlend Wallswhich are sprovidedwith grooves sat ytheirinn-er',sideszand salidgside'wallsbeing:anged routwardlyfat 'the VTfront,1an identificati-on cardrrest- ,ing uponfthe fback'wall Aof Ysaid casing, a transaparent plate :resting upon :said card :and having its edges received in said grooves in the side'aand -end .Wails of fsaid casing, an npaqueflid zinserted inzthe :upper portionpff-,saidicasing in suchiaiman :ner thatit :'isenorm-ally flush .with :outwardly flanged :extremities of sai-d `side walls, and :Ka pin extended fthrough the iupper portion of :the end walls vof 'said casing .andzthrough :,saidlid :and vbeing parallel to and ,.infspaced V-Jrel'a'tion topne `uf fthe iside :walls :of said xcasing, saidicasing iheing adapted .'.to zbe farranged in a irecess in the object =to ihe 'identified inxsuch .afm'anner that the front portion of the-:casing Ais lush '.wlith :the isurface oisaidiobjieet, fand one of the :end wallshaving ,a `@horizontal -slot adjacent :said fcard.

LESFI'ER 57B. COLEMAN REFERENCES zomED Thejfollowingreferences are of record in fthe iilie4 of this i patent:

' UMTED STATES. vPAri.t1i.\r,1's

Number Name @Date 2887?;692 Reynolds May `12, '1908 1153503275 Ganowitz -Aug.` 1.'7., 1920

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