US2383058A - Portable container - Google Patents

Description

Aug.21,1945. H, J HANSQN 2,383,058

PORTABLE CONTAINER Filed March 10, 1944 Patented Aug. 21, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- 2,383,058 ronrsnnacon'ramaa Harley J. Hanson, Milwaukee, Wis, Application March 10, 1944, Serial No. 525,957- 1 Claim. (01. 206 -16) This invention relates to improvements in portable containers, and more particularly to a unitary carry-all equipped with movable carrying handles having trays and covers so associated therewith that when the handles are manipulated, the covers and trays are automatically moved to expose and provide ready access .to the interior of the container.

' A general object of the invention is to provide a hamper-like container adaptedfito carry or house various classes of paraphernalia or goods equipped with attached, movable carrying handles which may also be conveniently manipulated to open the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable container, including covers and,

trays, in which all of the parts are operatively attached to preclude their dropping oi! or becoming lost or mislaid.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable container which can be made of any available material and which can be shaped and decorated in a manner to enhance its appearance.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable container which can be conveniently manipulated with one hand to an open, expanded position, and which can be closed in the same simple manner with a reverse movement.

A further objectof the invention is to provide a portable container which is of very simple construction, which is tractive in appearance, and-which is well adapted for the purposes described.

With the aboveand other obiects'in view the.

strong and durable, which is compact and unitary, which is neat and atcomplementary, open top box-like trays s and 6'. As is shown in Fig. 3 the upper margin of the main section 5 is formed by rails l. V Adjacent the rails are secured longitudinal keeper strips 8 forming on the inner upper surfaces of the sides of the main section 5 shoulders 9 for the purpose hereinafter to be described.

' or move longitudinally therealong. The adjaduced flanges III which extend belowthe main cent end walls of said trays have depending resection keeperstrips 8. In the ends of said flanges in are outwardly projecting pins or nails which engage the shoulders 9 formed on the under surfaces of the keeper strips 8 and, while permitting longitudinal movement of the trays relative to the main section 5, prevent upward displacement of said trays.

Each of -'a pair of handle units is indicated.

generally by the numeral I2. Inasmuch as the handle units are identical and are merely attached to the container in oppositely extending directions, only one of the same will be described in detail. A handle unit comprises-a pair of laterally spaced eccentrically curved side arms i3 joined at their upper ends by a transverse bar H, The upper vertical portions of a pair of side arms extend above the top portion of a tray adiacent the inner end of the tray and are pivotally secured to the Opposite side walls of a tray by screws or studs it, there being washers It interposed between .theside arms and-,the tray surfaces. The lower ends of the side arms I! are curved toward an outer end of the container and engage outer side wall portions of the main section 5, being pivotally secured thereto by studs I! with washers ll being interposed between the attached portions of the side arms and the outer surface portions of the side walls of the main Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the closed container taken on line '3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing it will appear that the bottom or main section of the container is an open top box-like member indicated by the numeral 5. The open upper end of said main section 5, is adapted to be normally closed by a pair of endwise abutting,

section I. 1

From Figs. 1 and 2 it will be observed that one handle unit is attached to a tray I and to one outer end portion of the main section I, while the other handle unit I! is attached to the other tray I and to the opposite end portion oi the main section 5, it being noted that when the container is in its closed carrying condition the transverse bars ll of the pair of handle units are in abutment as are the vertical extents of the side arms, while the lower portions of a pair of adjacent side arms diverge downwardly away from each other.

The open upper ends of the trays 0 and I are adapted to be closed by shittsbl'e fiat covers I! and the longitudinal be rooted 2 and it. When the container is in its closed arrying condition each cover peripheral portion of its tray, in a flat horizontal condition. Each cover is, iurthermore, pivotally secured at its inner side edges to the side arms of the handle unit thereadiacent, said pivotal connections being indicated by the numeral 20.

When the portable container is in the closed condition shown in Fig. 1, the endwise abutting slidable trays B and 6' seat on and completely cover the main section 5. Likewise the covers I! and I9 seat on and tightly cover the trays 8 and 6'. when the container is to be carried the user merely grasps with one hand the abutting and complementary bars ll of the two handle units and the engagement of said bars prevents the two handle units from spreading relative to one another, so that the closed condition of the entire container is assured so long as it is being carried and so long as the complementary handle units are not pivoted or moved outwardly longitudinally relative to each other. To open the improved portable container to simultaneously expose the interior of either or both of the trays and the main section 5, it is only necessary to swing either or both of the handle units from the position of Fig. l to the position of Fig. 2'. When both the handle units are so operated the pivotal movement oi the same causes the trays 6 and 8' to slide away from one another longitudinally on the top rails I of the main section 5, thereby uncovering the maior'portion oi' the main section. Longitudinal movement of the trays 6 and 6' is limited and upward displacement of the same is prevented by the studs II which shiftably engage the under shoulders or the keeper strips I. Simultaneously with the outward swinging oi the operation of the trays, the tray covers. and It, which are pivotally attached' to the side arms oithe handle units, will from the flat covering positions of Fig. l to longitudinally tions of Fig. 2, exposing the trays.

The improved portable container may be designed and adapted for unlimited usages. container illustrated is primarily, although not necessarily, adapted for infants paraphemalia. It will tion oi the interior or the titted with an apertured sheli 2i which wllihold nursing bottles or other similar items. Thebal- .ance of the interior of the main section may be used ior any other necessary articles of aphandle units carrying be noted from Fig. 2 that a pormain section I may be seats on the upper I asaaoss parel and equipment, as may the trays 8 and 8' which could also readily be used for pins, toys. powder, smaller articles of apparel, etc. It is also obvious that the improved portable container could be arranged or used as a convenient form of hamper, and it may likewise be adapted for use as a tool kit or as a fishing tackle and equipment box. The recited possible usages are merely suggestive and the possibilities are unlimited.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that the improved portable container is arranged for easy carrying and transportation and when the companion handle units are in abutment the main section of the container and the trays are maintained in closed condition. A simple manipulation of the handles is eflective to open up the entire container, providing immediate access not only to the interior of the main section but to the trays which are provided with swingable covers. All parts of the container are attached together so that there is no danger or losing or mislaying any of the component units. The container is, furthermore, of simple construction, may be manufactured at a relatively small expense, and is well adapted for the purposes set forth.

What is claimed as the invention is:

A container, comprising a main section having an open upper end, a pair of smaller, endwise adjacent trays longitudinally movably mounted on the top of the main section in covering relation thereto, means slidably connecting the trays with the main section but preventing upward displacement of said trays, a cover movably mounted on and closing each trail, and a pair of complementary carrying and operating handles, each having an end portion pivotally mounted on an opposite outer end portion of the main section and converging at their other end portions beyond the trays, intermediate portions of each handle being pivotally attached directly to the adjacent tray shifted, raited and tilted osi- The at a point medially of the ends and adjacent the lower edge thereof and to an inner end of its cover, the points "or pivotal attachment of a handle with the main section, a tray and a cover being successively longitudinally inwardly removed from one another, the converging portions of the handles being swingable away from each other to slide the trays longitudinally outwardlyoi the main section away from each other and to simultaneously shift and tilt the covers relative to the trays with the covers pivotally moving directly on their respective handles.

' HARLEY J. HANSON.

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