U.S. patent application number 10/829017 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-07 for tube case.
This patent application is currently assigned to SKB Corporation. Invention is credited to Sanderson, David B..
Application Number | 20040195125 10/829017 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33100718 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040195125 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sanderson, David B. |
October 7, 2004 |
Tube case
Abstract
There is disclosed herein a tube case having first and second
sections wherein the open ends of the two sections can be slid
together to provide a carrying case for elongated items, such as
fishing rods, rifles, golf clubs, golf bags and the like. One
section is smaller in cross-section than the other such that the
closed end of that section can be inserted into the open end of the
other section to provide a more compact assembly for storage and
shipment. The sections of the tube case are designed so that a
portion or an edge at the open end of the outer case abuts a
shoulder on a latch plate or bracket on the other case to both
provide a stop when the open ends of the two sections are placed
together for carrying an article, and further to properly orient
the ends of the two sections so that latches can be readily and
simply engaged and latched to lock together the two sections.
Inventors: |
Sanderson, David B.; (Villa
Park, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ORRICK, HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE, LLP
4 PARK PLAZA
SUITE 1600
IRVINE
CA
92614-2558
US
|
Assignee: |
SKB Corporation
|
Family ID: |
33100718 |
Appl. No.: |
10/829017 |
Filed: |
April 20, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10829017 |
Apr 20, 2004 |
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10216116 |
Aug 8, 2002 |
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6729489 |
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10216116 |
Aug 8, 2002 |
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29161632 |
May 30, 2002 |
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D479398 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/315.3 ;
206/315.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 7/0031 20130101;
A45C 7/0072 20130101; A63B 71/0036 20130101; A01K 97/08 20130101;
A45C 7/0036 20130101; A63B 60/62 20151001; A63B 55/10 20130101;
A45C 5/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/315.3 ;
206/315.2 |
International
Class: |
A63B 055/00; A63B
053/00 |
Claims
1. A tube case comprising first and second sections each having an
open end and a closed end, the first section being larger in
cross-section than the second section to allow the open end of the
second section to fit within the open end of the first section to
thereby provide a tube case for containing and supporting therein
an elongated article, the second section including a latch bracket
with a shoulder thereon and a slot therein near the open end
thereof, the first section having a portion thereof at the open end
thereof for engaging the shoulder on the latch bracket to provide a
stop and proper positioning of the open end of the second section
within the open end of the first section, and the first section
including a latch with a member adapted to engage the slot in the
latch bracket.
2-12. (Cancel).
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending application
Ser. No. 10/216,116, filed Aug. 8, 2002, which is a
continuation-in-part of design application Ser. No., 29/161,632,
filed May 30, 2002, each of which prior applications is
incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth
herein
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to cases, such as rigid cases
for transporting and/or storing products. In particular, it is
directed to an elongated two-section case wherein one section fits
or telescopes within the other, and the sections of the cases are
formed of a relatively rigid material, such as roto-molded
polyethylene.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Numerous forms of cases have been devised over the years,
including soft sided cases and rigid wall cases. The most familiar
forms of cases are suitcases, briefcases, roll-on carrying cases,
golf club cases and golf club traveling cases, and the like. A need
exists for a relatively strong and lightweight case for
transporting elongated items, such as fishing poles, golf clubs,
rifles and various and sundry other elongated devices that need
protection from the elements and from damage, such as while being
transported in the baggage compartment of an airplane.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention relates to a relatively rigid case
formed in two telescoping sections wherein the end of one section
fits within the end of another section to form the overall
elongated case. A relatively simple latching assembly is provided,
along with the manner in which the two case sections are
configured, to allow an end of one section to abut against a latch
plate affixed to the other section to act as a stop or stops, and
to enable the two sections to be simply, efficiently and strongly
latched together. In this manner, the two sections overlap thereby
providing a strong central section to the assembled case. Another
aspect of the present invention is that the closed end of the
smaller section is configured to almost totally fit within the open
end of the larger section to provide a relatively compact case
assembly for shipment, storage, warehousing and the like.
[0005] More specifically, according to an exemplary embodiment,
each section has a closed end and an open end. In assembling the
case for use, to contain or hold an article, such as a fishing rod,
golf clubs or the like, the two open ends are mated in the manner
noted above and latched together to provide an elongated carrying
case for the article. On the other hand, in the case of just
storage and/or shipment of the case itself, the closed end of one
section is inserted into the open end of the other section, with
the two sections telescoped together thereby resulting in a
relatively compact assembly only slightly longer than one of the
sections.
[0006] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide an improved form of case.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
relatively rigid and lightweight elongated carrying case having a
simple latching mechanism for securing together sections of the
case for carrying a product or products therein.
[0008] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
tube case having two sections, one of which can be stored in the
other for relatively compact storage and shipment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] These and other objects and features of the present
invention will become better understood through a consideration of
the following description, taken in conjunction with the drawings
in which
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a tube case
according to the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a partial elevational view showing in phantom
lines how the open end of one section fits within the open end of
the other.
[0012] FIG. 3 is an end view of the sections showing the triangular
configuration thereof and the location of the latch brackets.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a partial elevational view particularly
illustrating the placement of latch bracket.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of one section illustrating
the placement of a latch.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a detailed partial cross-sectional view of the
latch plate bracket.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a detailed cross-sectional view illustrating the
manner in which the open ends of the two sections fit together and
one latch and latch bracket cooperate to lock the sections
together,
[0017] FIG. 8 is a side elevational view showing the two tube
sections telescoped together for shipment or storage.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another, larger embodiment
of tube case such as for transporting a golf bag and golf
clubs.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] Turning now to the drawings and first to FIG. 1, a first
embodiment of a tube case is generally illustrated including a
first outer section 12 and a second inner section 10. These
sections preferably are substantially triangular in cross-section
(note FIG. 3). As will appear subsequently, the second section 10
is slightly smaller than the first section 12 such that the open
ends at 14 and 16 can mate together wherein the end 16 of section
10 is slid into the end 14 of section 12 to provide the composite
case as seen in FIG. 1. First and second latches 18 and 20 are
affixed to the larger outer section 12 to mate through openings in
section 12 with latch brackets or plates (not shown in FIG. 1) in a
manner to be described subsequently. The section 12 preferably
includes a handle 22, and hooks 24 and 26 can be provided on the
respective sections 12 and 10 to which a strap (not shown) or other
carrying device can be affixed. The sections 12 and 10 have
respective closed ends 14a and 16a.
[0020] Each of the tube sections 10 and 12 is preferably
roto-molded of polyethylene which has a natural lubricity that
enables the ends 14 and 16 of the tube sections to readily slide
together and apart. A tube case of the type shown in FIG. 1 is
particularly useful for fishing rods, but can also be used for
microphone stands, rifles, and other elongated articles, and a
larger version as will be described later (FIG. 9) can be used as a
golf bag/golf club case or the like.
[0021] Turning now to the more detailed FIGS. 2 through 8, and
first to FIG. 2, the latter illustrates the two sections 10 and 12,
and particularly shows in dashed lines 30 how the open end 16 of
tube section 10 fits within the open end 14 of the slightly larger
tube section 12 and extends therein to the vicinity of the latch
20. An arrow 32 generally illustrates how the tube section 10 is
axially moved with respect to the tube section 12 in and out to
either form the closed tube case as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 or to
allow the section 10 to be removed from Section 12 so that the
closed end 16a of section 10 can be inserted into the open end 14
of section 12 to provide a compact case assembly for storage and
shipment (FIG. 8).
[0022] Of particular importance is the manner in which a "stop" is
provided when the open ends 16 and 14 of the sections 10 and 12 are
brought together so that the ends of both sections are properly
placed to enable the latches 18 and 20 to secure together the two
sections. Basically, the inner tube 10 has at the open end 16
thereof a pair of latch brackets or plates 36 that each provides a
shoulder 38 as best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 against which a pair of
edges 40 near the open end 14 of the larger tube section 12 abut,
only one edge 40 of an indented area 42 having an aperture 44 being
seen in FIGS. 5-7. Thus, the edges 40 on two sides of the
triangular cross-section of the larger outer tube section 12 abut
the respective shoulders 38 of the latch brackets 36 on the mating
two sides of the triangular inner section 10.
[0023] The outer section 12 includes the pair of latches 18 and 20
affixed thereto at the indented areas 42, and the latch brackets 36
each have an aperture 36a (FIGS. 6-7) into which a finger 20a of
latch 18 or 20 fits to lock the two sections 10 and 12 together as
seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, to provide the closed and latched
elongated carrying case. This provides a very simple arrangement
whereby the open end 16 of the smaller tube section 10 can be
simply inserted into the open end 14 of the larger tube section 12
and slid down to where the bracket shoulders 38 on the two sides of
the section 10 engage or abuts the edges 40 of section 12 to simply
provide a stop for properly mating the open ends of the two
sections 10 and 12 and to provide a proper placement of latch
brackets 36 with respect to the fingers 20a of the latches so that
these fingers can engage the apertures 36a of the respective latch
brackets 36 to readily and simply latch the two sections 10 and 12
together.
[0024] Although not shown, any suitable form of padding can be
provided within one or both sections 10 and 12, and particularly at
the insides of the closed ends 14a and 16a thereof.
[0025] FIG. 8 shows the two sections 10 and 12 slid together with
section 10 within section 12 for storage or shipment of the
case.
[0026] FIG. 9 illustrates a second embodiment of a tube case
according to the present invention and which is relatively larger
inside so as to hold and carry large items, for example, a golf bag
with golf clubs in the bag. The structure thereof with regard to
the latches and latch plates, as well as the manner in which an
edge at the open of the outer tube engages a shoulder on the latch
plates of the inner tube is the same as shown and described above.
Significantly, and particularly because the case in this embodiment
is larger, it preferably includes a pair of wheels 58 disposed at
the bottom 60 of the outer section 62. The smaller section 64
preferably includes an indented area 66 at the top thereof forming
a handle 68 to enable the overall tube case of FIG. 9 to be simply
moved on two wheels 58 much like with a conventional hand
truck.
[0027] Furthermore, the lower end 60 of the larger section 62
includes an indented area 70 providing a "foot hold" 72. The
purpose of this is to allow the user's foot to be placed on the
foot hold 72 as the smaller section 64 is pulled upwardly or
separated from the larger section 62. In all other respects, the
structure and design of this embodiment of the tube case, including
material and method of construction, are the same as for the
previous embodiment.
[0028] In both embodiments, it should be noted that where the two
tube sections slide together there are thus two layers of plastic,
essentially in the middle of the overall tube case. This provides a
particularly strong and sturdy case design because of the double
thickness of the case in the middle forming a strong "band."
Furthermore, the ability to slide the smaller section 10 into the
larger section 12 for storage and shipment is particularly
important from the standpoint of required storage space as well as
to reduce the bulk of the case for shipment. It will be appreciated
that if the cases of the present invention could only be stored and
shipped when assembled together and latched as seen in FIGS. 1 and
9 that the required storage space and shipping space would be
approximately double what is involved with the present design
wherein the closed end of the smaller tube is inserted into the
open end of the larger tube as seen in FIG. 8.
[0029] While embodiments of the present invention have been shown
and described, various modifications may be made without departing
from the scope of the present invention, and all such modifications
and equivalents are intended to be covered.
* * * * *