Luggage case having hinged lid with auxiliary access door to file compartment therein

Abstract

The disclosed luggage case has a box-like body and a hinged lid thereon, with an auxiliary access door having a hinge connection to the lid to afford access to a file container mounted within the lid. The file container comprises an inner panel having gussets connected between the inner panel and the hinged door. When the lid is open, the file container is accessible from the inside of the lid. When the lid is closed, the auxiliary hinged door may be opened to afford access to the file container. Thus, papers or the like can be removed from and inserted into the file container by opening the auxiliary door, without the necessity of opening the lid. Latching means are provided to hold the lid closed on the body, and to hold the door closed on the lid. Locking means may be provided to lock the latching means for both the lid and the door. Stop means may be provided on the inner panel of the file compartment to limit the outward movement of the file compartment when the door is open.

Description

This invention relates to a new and improved luggage case of the general type having a box-like body which is fitted with a box-like lid having a hinge connection to the body. One or more latches may be provided to secure the lid in its closed position on the body. A luggage case of this type is sometimes provided with a file pouch, envelope or container mounted within the lid. Access may be had to such file container when the lid is open.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved luggage case having an auxiliary hinged door in the lid, to afford access to such a file container when the lid is closed. Auxiliary latching means may be employed to hold the door in its closed position on the lid.

A further object is to provide such a new and improved luggage case in which both the lid and the auxiliary door may be locked in their closed positions.

Another object is to provide such a new and improved luggage case in which the file container is mounted on the auxiliary door and is swingable therewith to afford great convenience in giving access to the file container when the door is open.

Thus, the luggage case of the present invention preferably comprises a box-like body, a box-like lid having a first hinge connection to the body, first latching means for securing the lid in its closed position on the body, an auxiliary access door having a second hinge connection to the lid and constituting at least a portion of the end wall of the lids and a file container mounted within the lid and having an opening which is accessible from the inside of the lid when the lid is open, such opening being accessible from the outside of the lid when the auxiliary door is open.

The file container is preferably mounted on the auxiliary door and may be provided with an inner panel having flexible gusset means between the inner panel and the door. Stop means may be provided on the inner panel to limit the movement of the inner panel when the door is open. Such stop means may take the form of a stop bar which is mounted on the inner panel and is engageable with the lid to limit the opening movement of the door. Locking means may be provided to lock the latches for both the lid and the auxiliary door.

The provision of the auxiliary hinged door makes it possible to gain access to the file compartment when the lid is closed. Thus, papers or the like can be withdrawn from or inserted into the file container through the opening afforded by the hinged door, without any need to open the lid, so that convenient access may be had to the file container without any danger of spilling the larger quantity of papers or the like which can be carried within the body of the luggage case. The auxiliary door can easily be opened and closed with one hand, in a confined space, when the case is in an upright position.

Further objects, advantages and features of the present invention will appear from the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an attache case to be described as an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the attache case being shown with the auxiliary access door swung open.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but with the auxiliary access door in its closed position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the attache case, with the lid swung to its open position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view showing the details of one particular latching arrangement for the attache case.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing additional details of the latching arrangement.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a modified latching arrangement.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing still another latching arrangement for the attache case.

As just indicated, FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a briefcase 10 of the type commonly known as an attache case, comprising a box-like body 12, preferably fitted with a carrying handle 14. The body 12 may comprise an end wall 16 which serves as a bottom wall when the attache case is in the position shown in FIG. 3. The body 12 also has four side walls 17, 18, 19 and 20 extending from the perimeter of the end wall 16. In this case, the handle 14 is mounted on the side wall 18.

The attache case 10 has a box-like lid 22 with one or more hinge connections 24 to the body 12. The illustrated lid 22 has an end wall 26 and four side walls 27, 28, 29 and 30. In this case, the hinge connections 24 are provided between the side wall 20 on the body 12 and the side wall 30 on the lid 22.

One or more latches 32 are provided to secure the lid 22 in its closed position, as shown in FIG. 2. The lid 22 is shown in its open position in FIG. 3.

The attache case 10 is provided with a file container 34 which is mounted within the lid 22. The file container 34 has an opening 36 which affords access to the file container from the inside of the lid 22 when the lid is in its open position, as shown in FIG. 3.

In accordance with the present invention, the attache case 10 also comprises an auxiliary access door which affords access to the file container 34 when the lid 22 is closed. The auxiliary door preferably constitutes at least a portion of the end wall 26 on the lid 22. In this case, the auxiliary door constitutes the entire end wall 26, and thus will be referred to as the door 26. It will be seen that the door 26 has a hinge connection 38 to the lid 22. In this case, the hinge connection 38 is connected between the door 26 and the side wall 30 on the lid 22. The door 26 is shown in its open position in FIG. 1, and in its closed position in FIG. 2.

Latching means are provided to secure the door 26 in its closed position. As shown in FIG. 1, the door 26 is fitted with latching elements 40 adapted to be secured to the lid 22 by the latches 32.

The file container 34 is preferably mounted on the inside of the door 26. As shown in FIG. 3, the file container 34 preferably includes an inner panel 42 having a hinge connection 44 to the inside of the door 26. The hinge connection 44 may comprise a flexible portion of the inner panel 42. In this case, the inner panel 42 is connected to the door 26 by side wall means 46 which preferably take the form of pleated gussets.

When the lid 22 is open, as shown in FIG. 3, the gussets 46 permit the inward movement of the inner panel 42 so as to enlarge the opening 36, through which papers and other items may be inserted into and removed from the file container 34.

FIG. 1 shows the situation in which the lid 22 is closed, while the auxiliary door 26 is open. The gussets 46 permit the outward swinging movement of the door 26 so that the opening 36 is accessible from outside the attache case 10. Thus, papers or other items can readily be removed from or inserted into the file container 34.

Shoulders or ledges 50 may be provided on the lid 22 to act as stops so as to limit the closing movement of the door 26. The inner panel 42 is also preferably provided with stop means to engage the ledges or stop elements 50, so as to prevent the inner panel 42 from swinging out of the lid 22. Such stop means may take the form of a bar 52 secured to the inner panel 42 along its free or upper edge, as shown in FIG. 3. The bar 52 has projecting ends 54 which are engageable with the ledges or stops 50.

When the access door 26 is open, as shown in FIG. 1, the projecting ends 54 of the stop bar 52 engage the ledges 50 so as to retain the inner panel 42 within the lid 22. Thus, the opening of the door 26 is limited to the width of the gussets 46. When the door 26 is open, it is easy to remove papers or other items from the file container 34. However, the inner panel 42 prevents any accidental spilling of papers or the like from the box-like body 12 of the attache case 10.

It is desirable to provide a latching arrangement whereby the lid 22 and the door 26 can be opened separately. The latching arrangement preferably includes locking means whereby both the lid 22 and the door 26 can be locked in their closed positions.

FIG. 4 illustrates details of a particular latching arrangement 60. It will be seen that a swingable latching arm 62 is mounted on the body 12 of the attache case 10 and is spring biased toward its unlatched position. The arm 62 carries a tongue or prong 64 which is movable into an opening or slot 66 in a housing 68 on the lid 22. The prong 64 has a slot or recess 70 therein, adapted to receive a latching bolt 72 which is slidable in the housing 68. The bolt 72 may be spring biased into its latching position.

To provide for the manual operation of the bolt 72, a slidable operating button 74 is connected to the bolt 72 and is slidable along the outside of the housing 68.

To provide for the locking of the latching arrangement 60, the button 74 is formed with a key slot 76 adapted to receive a locking key, which can be turned to lock the bolt 72 and the button 74 against sliding movement. The key is adapted to turn a locking lobe or finger 78 which blocks the sliding movement of the bolt 72.

In this case, the access door 26 is adapted to be secured in its closed position by a pair of latching fingers 80, one of which is shown in FIG. 4. The latching fingers 80 project laterally from a slidable operating bar 82, mounted in the lid 22.

It will be seen that the finger 80 is formed with a generally L-shaped lip or hook 84 which is adapted to interlock with a generally L-shaped flange 86 on the upper edge of the door 26. The flange 86 is adapted to slip past the lip 84, so as to become interlocked therewith, when the door 26 is closed. The finger 80 and the bar 82 are adapted to flex and rock sufficiently to allow the flange 86 to slip past the lip 84.

The door 26 can be unlatched by sliding the bar 82 longitudinally, to the right as shown in FIG. 4, so as to move the finger 80 into alignment with a notch or opening 88 in the flange 86. To provide for such movement of the bar 82, a manually operable slider 90 projects out of the housing 68. A member 92 is provided to connect the slider 90 to the bar 82.

When the locking key is turned to lock the bolt 72, the slider 90 is also locked against movement by means of a lobe 94 which is rotatable with the lobe or finger 78. Thus, both the lid 22 and the access door 26 can be securely locked in their closed positions.

FIG. 5 shows the other end of the bar 82 and the second latching finger 80. There is also a second flange element 86 to interlock with the lip 84 on the second latching finger 80. A second notch 88 is provided in the flange 86 to receive the latching finger 80 when the access door 26 is to be opened.

As shown in FIG. 5, there is also a second latching arm 62 which is formed with a prong 64 adapted to be received in a slot 66 formed in a second housing 68. A second operating button 74 is slidable along the outside of the housing 68 to release the latching arm 62. The operating button 74 is also provided with a key slot 76, as before.

Various other latching arrangements may be employed. Thus, FIG. 6 illustrates a modified latching arrangement 100, utilizing a swingable latching arm 102 on the lid 22. The arm 102 carries a prong 104 which is movable into a slot 106 in a housing 108, mounted on the base 12 of the attache case 10. A bolt 110 is slidable in the housing 108 to interlock with a slot or opening 112 in the prong 104 so as to retain the latching arm 102 in its latched position. a spring 113 may be provided to bias the bolt 110 into its latched position. To provide for the manual operation of the bolt 110, a slide button 114 is connected to the bolt 110 and is slidable along the outside of the housing 108.

As before, one or more latching fingers 118 are provided to latch the door 26 in its closed position. Each latching finger 118 has a lip 120, adapted to interlock with a flange 122 on the door 26. A notch or opening 124 is formed in the flange 122 to receive the finger 118 when the door 26 is to be opened.

Each latching finger 118 extends laterally from an operating bar 126 which is slidable in the lid 22. In this case, the bar 126 is provided with a finger 128 which extends laterally into the housing 108 when the lid 22 is closed. The finger 128 is adapted to be received in a slot 130 formed in a bar or member 132 which is slidable in the housing 108. A slide button 134 is connected to the slide member 132 and is movable along the outside of the housing 108 to provide for manual movement of the slide member 132. The member 132 may be biased to its latching position by means of a spring 136.

The latching arms 102 for the lid 22 can be released by operating the slide buttons 114, one of which is shown in FIG. 6. It will be understood that another latching arm 102 and another slide button 114 are preferably provided at the opposite end of the attache case 10. By operating the slide button 134, the latching fingers 118 for the access door 26 are moved into the slots 124 so as to release the door 26.

As shown in FIG. 6, a single locking cylinder 140 is rotatably mounted on the housing 108. A key slot 142 is provided in the locking cylinder 140 to receive a locking key, which may be inserted to rotate a locking lobe 144. In this case, the locking lobe 144 can be rotated into a position in which it blocks the movement of both the bolt 110 and the slidable member 132. Thus, both the lid 22 and the door 26 are securely locked in their closed positions.

FIG. 7 illustrates a modified attache case 210 involving a modified latching arrangement 260. Some of the components of the attache case 210 correspond to certain components of the attache case 10 shown in FIG. 4. To that extent, the components of the attache case 210 have been given the same reference characters as used in FIG. 4, increased by 200.

Thus, the attache case 210 of FIG. 7 includes a box-like body 212 having a hinged lid 222. A hinged access door 226 is mounted on the lid 222. In this case, the access door 226 comprises only a portion of the end wall or top of the lid 222. The illustrated body 212 and lid 222 are of the molded type.

The door 226 is adapted to be latched in its closed position by one or more latching fingers 280, projecting laterally from a longitudinal slidable bar 282, mounted in the lid 222. The illustrated finger 280 has a lip 284 adapted to interlock with a flange 286 on the door 226. When the door 226 is to be opened, the bar 282 is moved longitudinally to the right, so as to bring the finger 280 into alignment with a slot 288 in the flange 286.

In this case, the latching arrangement 260 is of the well known type having a toggle lever 300 which is swingable away from the body 212 to unlatch the lid 222. The slide bar 282 is adapted to be operated by a similar toggle lever 302 which is swingably mounted on the lid 222 and is adapted to be swung away from the lid to release the latching fingers 280. A toggle link 304 is connected between the lever 302 and a member 306 extending laterally from the slide bar 282. The lever 302 is swingable about a pivot 308.

When the lever 302 is swung away from the lid 222, the toggle link 304 pulls the slide bar 282 to the right against the force of a biasing spring 310. In this way, the finger 280 is moved opposite the slot 288 so that the door 226 is unlatched. When the lever 302 is swung against the lid 222, the slide bar 282 is returned to the left by the link 304, with the assistance of the biasing spring 310.

To provide for the locking of the levers 300 and 302. a lock cylinder 312 is rotatably mounted in the lever 300. The lock cylinder 312 has a key slot 314 adapted to receive a locking key. By turning the key, a locking finger or lobe 316 can be moved through aligned slots 318 in the lever 302 and also in a frame member 320 on the body 212 of the attache case 210. Thus, both of the latching levers 300 and 302 are locked in their latched positions.

While the invention has been disclosed in connection with an attache case, it will be understood that the invention is also applicable to all types of luggage cases and carrying cases generally, including full size luggage.

The new luggage construction of the present invention is very convenient and highly advantageous, in that the auxiliary access door can be opened and closed with one hand, while the luggage case is being held by the other hand. Thus, papers can be inserted into and removed from the file container, by opening the auxiliary access door, without any need to lay the case down on a supporting surface. When the case is in an upright position, it is safe to open the auxiliary access door, without any hazard of spilling papers and other items from the main body of the case. Such a hazard is present if the lid is opened when the case is in an upright position.

It is more convenient to open the auxiliary access door than it is to open the main lid, when the case is in a confined space. The auxiliary access door can be easily be opened when the case is in a space which is so small that the case cannot be laid down flat on a supporting surface.

Various other modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents may be employed, as will be evident to those skilled in the art.

Claims

I claim:

1. A luggage case,

comprising a box-like body having an end wall and four side walls mounted thereon,

a box-like lid having a first hinge connection to said body for closing said body,

said lid being swingable between open and closed positions relative to said body,

said lid having an end wall member and side wall members mounted thereon,

an access door having a second hinge connection to said lid and constituting at least a portion of said end wall member on said lid,

said door being swingable outwardly from said lid to an open position and being returnable inwardly against said lid to a closed position,

first latch means for disengageably holding said lid closed on said body,

second latch means for disengageably holding said access door closed on said lid,

and a container mounted on the inside of said lid and having an opening accessible from the inside of said lid when said lid is open on said body while said door is closed on said lid,

said opening of said container being accessible from the outside of said lid when said door is open on said lid while said lid is closed on said body.

2. A luggage case according to claim 1,

in which said container comprises an inner panel on the inner side of said lid,

and a pair of end panels connected between said inner panel and said door.

3. A luggage case according to claim 1,

in which said container comprises an inner panel on the inner side of said lid,

and a pair of flexible end gussets connected between said inner panel and said door.

4. A luggage case according to claim 1,

in which said container comprises an inner panel on the inner side of said lid,

a pair of flexible gussets connected between said inner panel and said door,

and means on said container for limiting the outward movement of said container when said door is open.

5. A luggage case,

comprising a box-like body having an end wall and four side walls mounted thereon,

a box-like lid having a first hinge connection to said body for closing said body,

said lid having an end wall member and said wall members mounted thereon,

an access door having a second hinge connection to said lid and constituting at least a portion of said end wall member on said lid,

first latch means for disengageably holding said lid closed on said body,

second latch means for disengageably holding said access door closed on said lid,

and a container mounted on the inside of said door and having an opening accessible from the inside of said lid when said lid is open,

said opening of said container being accessible from the outside of said lid when said door is open on said lid,

said container comprising an inner panel on the inner side of said lid,

a pair of flexible gussets connected between said inner panel and said door,

and stop means on said inner panel and engageable with said lid to limit the outward movement of said container when said door is open on said lid.

6. A luggage case,

comprising a box-like body having an end wall and four side walls mounted thereon,

a box-like lid having a first hinge connection to said body for closing said body,

said lid having an end wall member and side wall members mounted thereon,

an access door having a second hinge connection to said lid and constituting at least a portion of said end wall member on said lid,

first latch means for disengageably holding said lid closed on said body,

second latch means for disengageably holding said access door closed on said lid,

and a container mounted on the inside of said door and having an opening accessible from the inside of said lid when said lid is open,

said opening of said container being accessible from the outside of said lid when said door is open on said lid,

said container comprising an inner panel having a third hinge connection to said door on the inner side of said lid,

a pair of flexible gussets connected between said inner panel and said door,

and a stop bar mounted on and extending across said inner panel for engaging said lid to limit outward movement of said container when said door is open on said lid.

7. A luggage case according to claim 6,

including locking means for locking both of said latching means to prevent the opening of both said lid and said door.

8. A luggage case according to claim 1,

including locking means for locking both of said latching means to lock both said lid and said door in closed positions.

9. A luggage case according to claim 6,

including locking means for locking both of said latching means to lock both said lid and said door in closed positions,

said locking means including a single rotatable key cylinder having means operable thereby for locking both of said latching means.

10. A luggage case,

comprising a box-like body having an end wall and four side walls mounted thereon,

a box-like lid having a first hinge connection to said body for closing said body,

said lid having an end wall member and side wall members mounted thereon,

an access door having a second hinge connection to said lid and constituting at least a portion of said end wall member on said lid,

first latch means for disengageably holding said lid closed on said body,

second latch means for disengageably holding said access door closed on said lid,

a container mounted on the inside of said door and having an opening accessible from the inside of said lid when said lid is open,

said opening of said container being accessible from the outside of said lid when said door is open on said lid,

and locking means for locking both of said latching means to lock both said lid and said door in closed positions,

said locking means including a single rotatable key cylinder having means operable thereby for locking both of said latching means.