US2510643A - Plastic suitcase sections having embedded-hinge and meeting-edge gasket - Google Patents

Description

June 6, 1950 A. L. LONG PLASTIC SUITCASE SECTIONS HAVING EMBEDDED HINGE AND MEETING EDGE GASKET Filed Feb. 1, 1946 INVENTOR. Hal/" an A. Long HTTORA EY Patented June 6, 1950 PLASTIC SUITCASE SECTIONS HAVING EM- BEDDED HINGE AND MEETING EDGE GASKET Adrian L. Long, Spokane, Wash. Application February 1, 1946, Serial No. 644,855

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a plastic suit case, it being understood that while it is shown and described as a suit case it may be of any dimensions desired and used for carrying articles other than clothing.

An object of the invention is to provide a suit case having sections hinged to each other for opening and closing movement and provided along meeting edges of their walls with a packed joint to prevent gaps between the sections when closed, and the sections having bottom walls formed with upwardly offset portions carrying hinges for connecting the sections, the offset portions forming a recess along the bottom of" the suit case when closed and permitting it to be set upon the floor without the hinges becoming bent by contact with the floor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a suitcase which is of simple construction and may be manufactured at small cost.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the improved suit case.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken transversely through the suitcase along line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view upon an enlarged scale taken transversely through the bottom of the suit case.

This suit case is formed of plastic which is of light weight and of such nature that it is strong and not liable to crack or become broken if the suit case is dropped or otherwise roughly handled.

The two sections l and 2 forming the suit case are of equal length and width but the section 2 is of less depth than section I as section I forms the body of the suit case and section 2 forms a cover or closure for the same. It will be understood that the section 2 may be of the same depth as section I if so desired. Each section is moulded as a single unit and has a side wall 3, end walls 4, and top and bottom walls 5 and 6. Outstanding ribs I extend along the side walls with their end portions extending partially across the end walls 4 and serve very efiectively to reinforce the walls and prevent cracking along edges between the side walls and the end walls.

In order to connect the two sections I and 2 and allow opening and closing movement there has been provided hinges 8 which have their leaves 9 embedded in adjoining edge portions of the lower walls 6. The ears or sleeves ll] of the hinges project downwardly and edges ll of the bottom walls are spaced from the hinge ears so that the section 2 may be swung to the opened position without interference by the hinged ears. Attention is called to the fact that the portions l2 of the bottom walls are upwardly ofiset and inwardly thickened so that ample material will be provided to receive the hinge leaves and also provide the suit case with a recess 13 along its bottom and prevent contact oi the hinge ears or sleeves with a floor or other surface when the suit case is set thereon. Therefore the sleeves of the hinges will not be bent and the portions of the bottom walls in which the hinges are embedded will not be subjected to blows which would be liable to crack them and cause the hinges to be broken loose.

Inwardly extending ribs M which are arcuate in cross section are formed along meeting edges of the walls of the two sections 1 and 2 and provide channels to receive a strip of packing I5. This packing strip or gasket is secured in one channel by glue so that it will be firmly held in place and is of such diameter that it projects from the channel a sufficient distance to fill the other channel when the suit case is closed. A tight joint will thus be formed between the closed sections of the suit case. Locks I9 of a conventional formation are provided to hold the sections i and 2 closed and in order that the suit case may be conveniently carried there has been provided the usual handle I! carried by section l.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A suit case comprising companion side sections, each side section being formed of plastic and being open at its inner side and having an outer side wall and end walls and top and bottom walls integral with the side wall and each other, the bottom walls of said sections having upwardly offset portions of less width than the remaining portions of the bottom walls and extending their full length and disposed in abutting edge to edge engagement with each other when the suit case is closed, hinges extending transverseiy of the bottom walls and embedded in the ofiset portions thereof and hingedly connecting said sections for movement to opened and closed positions, abutting marginal portions of said top, bottom, and end walls of each section being inwardly thickened and formed with registering channels, and a packing mounted in the channel of one section and fitting into the channel of the other section to form a tight joint when the sections are in closed position.

ADRIAN L. LONG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 61,157 Cantel -l Jan. 15, 1867 455,612 Farmer July 7, 1891 1,681,032 Fuller Aug. 14, 1928 2,158,641 Stenberg May 16, 1939 2,357,037 Wheary Aug. 29, 1944 2,377,717 Reilly June 5, 1945 2,429,962 Reilly Oct. 28, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 493,031 Great Britain Sept. 30,1938

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