US3491909A - Partitioned carrying case - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 27, 1970 e. s. IKELH'EIMER PARTITIONED CARRYING CASE Filed April 25, 1968 INVENTOR- Gteqw S/kez wv/vae BY y; Mr%# 4r pm;

United States Patent 3,491,909 PARTITIONED CARRYING CASE Gerald S. Ikelheimer, 601 W. 26th St.,

New York, N.Y. 10001 Filed Apr. 25, 1968, Ser. No. 724,065 Int. Cl. B65d 25/06 US. Cl. 217-7 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A carrying case has partitioning members for forming compartments of any desired size or shape. The partitioning members terminate in flanges covered with Velcro hooks. The partitioning members, except for their ends, and the sidewalls of the case are all covered with looped fabric.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Carrying cases including partitions for purposes of forming interior compartments are known to the art. Such cases, however, have not had means for obtaining compartments of any desired size or shape at will. The partitions in carrying cases of the past were either immobile M and their positions could not be changed without affecting the interior construction of the case, or if mobile, could only be fitted into predetermined positions.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide means for obtaining flexible arrangements of compartments within the interior of carrying cases. Another object is to provide means for obtaining compartments of any desired size or shape. A further object is to protect articles of varying size from damage while the case is in transit. Still another object is to provide partitions of simple construction and manufacture for forming compartments in a flexible and variable manner within the interior of carrying cases. These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has now been found that compartments of varying size and shape may be obtained in a carrying case by means of partitions whose ends are provided with a plurality of closely spaced, short, stiff holding elements which are attached to engaging looped fabric on the side wall of the carrying case or along the side of another partition.

The invention is directed to a carrying case having partitioning means for forming compartments of variable sizes and shapes, the interior walls of the carrying case being at least partially covered with looped fabric, the partitioning means comprising a movable elongated member whose ends are at least partially covered with a plurality of closely spaced, short, stiff holding elements.

The invention is directed to such a carrying case wherein the interior walls are at least partially covered with looped fabric.

The invention is directed to such a carrying case wherein the movable elongated member has a flange at each end, the outer surface of the flange being provided with a plurality of closely spaced, short, stiff holding elements.

The invention is directed to such a carrying case wherein the movable elongated member is at least partially covered with looped fabric.

The invention is directed to such a carrying case wherein at least one side of the elongated member is covered with looped fabric.

3,491,909 Patented Jan. 27, 1970 "ice The invention is directed to such a method of forming partitions in a carrying case which comprises providing the ends of movable elongated members with a plurality of closely spaced, short, stiff holding elements, and abutting the ends against a member containing looped fabric.

The invention is directed to such a method wherein the member containing looped fabric is a sidewall of the carrying case.

The invention is directed to such a method wherein the member containing looped fabric is a movable elongated member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carrying case showing one possible arrangement of compartments of varying size.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the compartments of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of two joined partitions.

FIG. 4 is a detail showing the manner in which the partitions are joined.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a partitioning panel.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a sidewall in side elevation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In accordance with FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, the carrying case 10 in the form of an attache case, sample case, or similar means is provided with a plurality of partitions 11.

Each partition 11 consist of an elongated member 12, the ends of which are provided with flanges. The outer surface of the flanges is provided with a plurality of closely spaced, short, stiff holding elements in the form of hooks. These holding elements are known commercially as Velcro hooks.

The elongated member is formed of shape retaining material, for example, wood, metal, plywood, plastic, reinforced plastic, foamed plastic, etc. In the embodiment shown, elongated member 12 is formed of aluminum, and is reinforced by member 16 made of wood. The reinforcing member is optional, and may be omitted if desired. If

omitted, the partitioning means may be shaped to any desired configuration, including, for example, a right angle bend. Elongated member 12 is covered with looped fabric 13 adapted to receive the Velcro hooks.

The Velcro hooks 15 on the outer edges of flanges 14 grip the looped fabric 13 when the hooks 15 abut the looped fabric 13, as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a detail showing the manner in which hooks 15 grip fabric 13 by abutting the hooks and the fabric. A sheet of thin cardboard 17 is inserted between the hooks and fabric to enable the abutting members to be positioned. When this is done the cardboard is removed thereby permitting the hooks and looped fabric to engage. Because the elongated member 12 is covered with looped fabric on both sides along its entire length, hooks 15 of flange 14 of one partition will grip the looped fabric 13 of another partition at any desire point along the elongated member. Since the hooks grip the looped fabric immediately upon contact, it is not possible to Slip the elongated member down the side of a member covered with looped fabric. Hence, the partitioning member may be installed by bending the member to shorten it momentarily, or by inserting a material which does not engage the hooks, for example, a piece of stiff paper or cardboard, between the hooks and looped fabric, and removing the paper after the partitioning member is in the correct position.

Because the interior walls of the carrying case are also covered with looped fabric, an individual partition may be positioned between two sidewalls, or between a sidewall and another partition, or between two other partitions. As shown in the drawings, only a few partitions of varying size enable compartments of almost any desired size to be formed. This flexibility may be enhanced by adding additional partitions which differ in size from those already present.

It is also within the scope of the present invention to provide individual partitions of varying length, for example, by forming the elongated member of telescoping sections.

What is claimed is:

1. A carrying case having a flexible arrangement for compartmentation of the interior of the case comprising a case with interior Walls having looped fabric thereon, movable partitioning members of various lengths disposed in said case to provide flexible compartmentation, said partitioning members being elongated and having looped fabric thereon, the end portions of said members having flanges with loops for attachment to the looped fabric on said interior walls and on said partitioning members for flexibly arranging the compartmentation within said case.

2. The carrying case of claim 1 wherein said partitioning members have an elongated metal member with said flanges formed on the opposite ends of said metal member, and wherein a wooden reinforcing member is disposed adjacent said metal member and between said flanges.

3. The carrying case of claim 2 wherein said flanges extend transversally over the entire end portions of said partitions and wherein said flanges are formed with the ends of said elongated metal member bent back to extend over said wooden reinforcing member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,314,915 9/1919 Trullench 19051 X 1,674,352 6/1928 Adams 220'22 1,734,049 11/ 1929 Ritter 190-51 3,011,932 12/1961 Downing 161406 3,125,277 3/1964 Kozlowski.

3,275,053 9/1966 Kabana l5042 3,381,782 5/1968 Ikelheimer 22022 X 20 RAPHAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 190-51; 22022

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