US2919017A - Telescopic carrying case - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 29, 19.59 F. H. WEBER TELESCOPIC CARRYING CASE:

Filed Oct. 51, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Lyin far 5cm/v //'n H /fl/ebef* 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 29, 1959 F. H. WEBER TELESCOPIC CARRYING CASE Filed om. s1, 1957 TELESCOPIC CARRYING CASE Franklin H. Weber, Cicero, Ill.

Application October 31, 1957, Serial No. 693,698

4 Claims. (Cl. 206-1) The present invention relates to improvements in telescopic carrying cases and more particularly concerns novel means for adjustably securing the relatively telescopically related tubular members of the case.

Telescopic carrying cases comprising a pair of tubular members with one of the members slidably disposed withnited States Patent() in the other of the members are especially useful for carrying fishing tackle and more especially valuable rods or other elongated devices which should be protectively incased for transportation or storage purposes. Inasmuch as such elongated articles are of various lengths, telescopic carrying cases are desirably readily adjustable as to over-all length so that one standard of length in the telescopic tubes comprising the case will enable adjustment within a large range from a predetermined maximum extension or relative protraction of the tubular members of the case to a minimum over-all length wherein the members of the case are relatively collapsed or retracted. In any preferred or adjusted over-all length determined by the length of the articles to be incased the carrying case members should be capable of relatively fixed securement to maintain the desired adjusted length.

It is accordingly an important object of the present invention to provide a telescopic carrying case having impoved means for securing the relatively telescopic tubular members thereof in fixed adjustment.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel combination adjustment securing and carrying means for telescopic carrying cases.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for effecting relative adjustment of telescopic carrying case members by means of a novel releasable clutch device including an expansible and contractible wall portion of the outer of the carrying case tubes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved clutch structure for telescopic carrying cases carried by and comprising entirely means on the outer of the carrying case tubes while the inner of the tubes is entirely free from and infinitely adjustable relative to the clutch means within the substantial range of tele- ;scopic ladjustments possible with the members of the particular carrying case.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a carrying case embodying features of the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of that portion of the carrying case assembly indicated by the line Il-II of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on the line Ill-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail View `taken substantially on the line IV-IV of Figure 3;

2,919,017 Patented Dec. 29, 1959 ICC Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on the line V-V of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified combination clutch and carrying device on a tubular carrying case; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken substantially on the line VII--VII of Figure 6.

Agtelescopic carrying case 10 (Fig. l) embodying the present invention comprises a pair of tubular elongated members 11 and 12 which are of predetermined differential diameter to enable the tube 12 to be slidably adjusted longitudinally within the tube 11. The combined length of the tubes 11 and 12 enables the carrying case to be adjusted as to length throughout a wide range from the fully relatively extended or protracted condition of the tubes 11 and 12 while yet slidably interengaged, to a relatively short case wherein the tube 12 is substantially retracted or slidably telescoped into the outer tube 11. At the distal or remote ends thereof, the tubes 11 and 12 are provided with respective end closure caps 13 and 14. At least the closure cap 14 on the smaller diameter or inner of the carrying case tubes 12 may be detachable if preferred so that after the tubes have been relatively adjustably secured or locked in a predetermined case length relationship contents can be inserted and removed through the distal end of the tube 12 by removing the end cap 14.

The carrying case tubes 11 and 12 may be made from the same or different materials. While lightweight metal tubing such as aluminum tubing may be used for either or both of the carrying case tubes 11 and 12, cardboard or other fiber material or plastic material or combination fiber and plastic material tubing may be used.

According to the' present invention, quick releasable friction clutch means are provided for retaining the carrying case tubes 11 and 12 in selected telescopically related relative positions of adjustment determinative of the overall length of the carrying case. To this end, a split draw ring 15 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4) is assembled about the proximal or inner end mouth portion of the larger or outside tube 11. In a preferred form, the draw ring 15 is constructed from suitable sheet or strip material, preferably metallic and possessed of at least limited resiliency. The width of the draw ring 15 is such as to overlap the outer side of the margin of the inner mouth end of the tube 11 throughout a substantial width, with a narrow radially inwardly turned flange 17 along one edge of the draw ring affording resilient stiffness therefore and an edge finish at and overlapping the edge of the tube 11, but with the flange 17 preferably shorter than the thickness of the material of the tube 11 as best seen in Figure 4. Opposite the split ends thereof, the draw ring 15 is secured to the tube 11 as by means of one or more rivets 1S (Fig. 3), leaving the remainder of the ring free from attachment but encompassingly, grippingly engageable with the outer marginal perimeter of the outside tube 11.

Normally the clamping ring 15 tends to spring resiliently open to a slightly larger diameter than the outside tube 11 as best seen in dash outline in Fig. 3. Thereby, flexible friction clutch segments or fingers 19 into which the ring-encompassed margin of the tube 11 is uniformly sub-divided by longitudinal slots 20 (Figs. 3 and 4) are free for longitudinal sliding adjustment of the inner case tube 12 relative to the outer of the case tubes 11. At their inner ends, the slots 20 are preferably provided with enlargedv blind ends 21 as best seen in Figure 4 so as to render the clutch fingers 19 more flexibly yieldable. On the other hand, the slots 20 are preferably as narrow as practicable so as to afford for the clutch lingers 19 as large frictional engaging area as practicable. It may also be noted that preferably the total length of the slots 20 inclusive of the enlarged blind ends 21 thereof is' so ference of theouter case tube 11, and means are provided for drawing the separated ends of the ring toward one another until .the desired rm clamping action has been attained. For this purpose, `a toggle type draw latch or `buckle Aassembly 22 is connected to and between the separableends ofthe Vdraw ring. This includes a lever member 23 pivotally'mounted on a bracket 24 secured as by means of a rivet 25 to lone ofthe ring end portions. Pivotally connected in overcenter toggle relation to the lever 23 is a toggle link 27 pivotally attached to a bracket 28 `secured as by means of a rivet 29 to the remaining end portion of the ring. In the closed condition of the buckle 22 as seen in Figures 2 and 3, the ends of the ring member 15 are drawn toward one another to draw the ring into slightly smaller diameter than the normal circumference of the tube 11 for thereby cramping and snugly clamping the clutch fingers 19 against the encompassed pen'meter of the inner case tube 12. Yet, by snapping the latch or buckle lever 23 open into the dash line position shown in Figure 3, release of the draw ring 15 is quickly effected and it springs open to release the clutch fingers 19 from their gripping engagement with the tube 12 so that .the case tubes can be separated or readjusted.

Conveniently, the same rivets 18 that connect the draw ring 15 to the outer tube 11 of the case are used for securing, at least in part, a carrying handle 30 to the carrying case. To this end, a bearing loop bracket 31 has opposite end portions thereof secured to the outer face of the draw ring 15 as best seen in Figure 3,while the loop of the bearing bracket engages a journal end 32 of the handle. At its opposite end, .the 'handle 30 is secured pivotally by means of a looped beating bracket 33 engaging an end journal 34 thereof to a continuous handle attaching band 35 as by means of rivets 37. The band 35 is .of an inside diameter to more or less snugly engage about the perimeter'of the outer of the case tubes 11 as best seen in Figures 1 and 5. Through this arrangement, the handle 30 is located at approximately the center of weight in a substantially balanced manner for ease in carrying the case.

VIn the modification shown in Figures 6 and 7, the structure and operationaldetails of the carrying case are preferably substantially ythe `same as described in connejction with the carrying case 10 and therefore primed reference numerals indicate substantially identical parts for which the description need not be here repeated. However, in this form of the invention, the draw ring band is provided with `a somewhat wider or stabilizing extension portion 38 -in line with the central or intermediate portion of the ring that Vis secured by the rivets 18' .to the :case vtube 11 Y.so asto accommodate a bearing bracket 39 which'is of a -width to support pivotally in effective stable manner a looptype carrying handle 40 having Aa journal portion 41 pivotally lengaged within the `bracket 39. Through thislarrang'ement, the secondhandle attaching band such -as the band ,35 iin Figure-1 ,is/eliminated. Nevertheless,zthe same rivets by which the draw iband lor ring is attached to the outer tube of the case are used for attachingfthe handle Vin the assembly.

It zwill be understood thatmoditications Yand variations may be effected Without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my'invention:

1. In a telescopic carrying case, a pair of telescopically related tubes, the larger of the tubes having an end portion encompassingly disposed about the smaller of the tubes, a draw ring about said end portion and having means for crampingly engaging it about said end portion, a handle, and commonv means securing said handle and said draw ring to said end portion.

v2. ln a telescopic carrying casea pair of telescopically related tubes, the larger of the tubes having an end portion encompassingly disposed about the smaller of the tubes, a draw ring about said end portion and having means for crampinglyengaging it about said end portion, a handle, and common means securing said handle and said draw ring to said end portion, said handle having additional connecting means on the larger of the tubes spaced from said draw ring and disposed in axially fixed relation to `said larger tube by said common means.

r3. ln a telescopic carrying case, a pair of telescopically related tubes, the larger of the tubes having an end portion encompassingly disposed about the smaller of the tubes, a draw ring about said end portion and having means for crampingly engaging it about said end portion, a handle, and co-mmon means securing said handle and said draw ring to said end portion, saidr handle having additional connecting means on the larger of the tubes spaced from said draw ring and disposed in axially iixed relation to said larger tube by said common means, said additional means comprising a second `ring .encircling the larger of the tubes in permanently closed relationship therearound. Y

4. In a telescopic carrying case, a pair of tubes each having an end closure at one of its ends and its opposite end open, one of said tubes having an inside diameter fo-r slidingly receiving the second of said tubes, said one tube having the margin of its open end uniformly subdivided by longitudinal slots of predetermined length into a plurality of iiexible friction clutch` fingers, a split resiliently flexible draw ring band of a width substantially equal to the length of said -iingers encompassing the ingers and closing the slots and normally springing open to a larger diameter than the outside diameter of said one tube, a liange, shorter than the thickness of the iingers, along one edge of the ring, `substantially contacting the end of the fingers and substantially closing the ends of the slots, means permanently securing said draw ring band intermediate its ends, to at least one of Vsaid fingers, the open end portion of said one tube telescopically engaging about the open end portion of said second tube and being relatively longitudinally slidably adjustable to vary the length of the'case provided by the combined tubes, and a quickly releasable draw latch assembly connected to and between ythe ends of said draw ring band and operable to draw said draw ring band endstoward one another and thereby tighten the draw ring bandabout said lingers and uniformly frictionally press said lingers throughout their length against said second tube and to clutch and hold the tubes in adjusted longitudinally adjusted case length relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 736,328 Wilson Aug. 11, 1903 1,346,636 Cottle July 13, 1920 1,713,129 Hope May 14, 1929 1,816,545 Porter July 28, 1931 1,975,925 Compo s Oct. 9, 1934 2,409,532 Bentley Oct. 15, 1946 2,427,138 Hamilton f Sept. 9, 1947

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