US3904003A

US3904003A - Combination carrying case and traveling desk

Info

Publication number: US3904003A
Application number: US444129A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles Margerum
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-02-20
Filing date: 1974-02-20
Publication date: 1975-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-09

Abstract

A combination carrying case and desk convertible from one configuration to the other. In one embodiment, a side wall is pivotable from an upright position to a lowered position for converting the article from a carrying case to the desk. An upper flap is pivotably associated with the pivotal side wall, to provide access inside the article when in either configuration.

Description

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,904,003 Margerum Sept. 9, 1975 [5 1 COMBINATION CARRYING CASE AND 2,190,707 2/1940 Feldman 190/11 ux TRAVELING DESK 2,410,987 1 H1946 Mevi 2,555,778 6/1951 B1ume..... [76] Inventor: Charles Margerum, 5108 S. 3,232,397 2/1966 McCoy Woodlawn Ave., Chicago, 111. 60615 3,259,217 7/1966 Platt [22] F d F b 20 1974 3,330,388 7/1967 Stein 190/48 [21] Appl. N .1 444,129 Primary ExaminerDona1d F. Norton Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jerome Goldberg [52] US. Cl. 190/11; 190/48; 190/51;

3 12/241 [57] ABSTRACT 9 g l l Search 190 In 48 43 A combmatlon carrymg case and desk convemble 5' 108/14 i 34 from one configuration to the other. In one embodiment, a side wall is pivotable from an upright position 56] References Cited to a lowered position for converting the article from a carrying case to the desk. An upper flap is pivot-ably UNITED STATES PATENTS associated with the pivotal side wall, to provide access 476,598 6/1892 Bancroft 190/51 X i sid the article when in either configuration 893,694 7/1908 Al1enson.... 190/11 X 1,689,416 10/1928 Wood 190/51 X 13 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures COMBINATION CARRYING CASE AND TRAVELING DESK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a combination carrying case and desk, and more particularly relates to a combination carrying case and desk having a side wall pivotable from an upright position to a lowered position for utilizing the inside surface thereof as a desk.

Carrying cases convertible to a desk have been used in the past. Many of these prior cases included an inside panel for converting the article to a desk. This panel took up considerable space that could otherwise be used for storage. Other prior cases did utilize a pivotal side wall when converting the'carrying case to the desk. Some of these only provided access therein when converting the article into a desk. Other of these type articles had one storage section when used as a case and a completely separated second storage section when used as a desk. Thus, in the event it was desired to retrieve files or other material in the second section, it was frequently required to lower the side wall merely to derive access and not to use it for a desk.

The subject invention, on the other hand, provides a combination carrying case and desk constructed to maximize storage space, and afford substantial common access when used either as a case or desk.

Accordingly, it is a primary object to provide a combination carrying case and desk, which is convertible from one to the other configuration.

It is another object to provide a combination carrying case and desk, which includes storage areas which are easily accessible when in either configuration.

Another object is to provide a holder for folders or files, which is easily accessible in either configuration.

Another object is to provide a storage area particularly suitable for a tape recorder or mini-computer.

Another object is to provide a storage area for pens, clips, staplers, etc.

Another object is to provide a combination carrying case and desk including a pivotal side wall which is lowered from an upright to a lowered position for converting the article into a desk.

Another object is to provide an upper flap which is pivotally associated with the pivotal side wall, and both flap and side wall are pivoted when converting the article from one configuration to the other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 7 Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination carrying case and desk, shown as a case, and embodying the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is the device in FIG. 1 shown in the desk configuration;

FIG. 3 is another embodiment of the invention which includes a pouch attached to the upper flap, for storing a tape recorder, mini-computer, etc.;

FIG. 4 illustrates the position of the pouch in FIG. 3 when the pivotal side wall is lowered;

FIG. 5 illustrates the position of the pouch prior to converting the article into the carrying case; and

FIG. 6 illustrates the position of the pouch when the device is used as a case.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the reference numeral 10 indicates generally a combination carrying case and traveling desk device or article. The article 10 when used as a carrying case as shown in FIG. 1, has a rectangular box like configurationincluding

end walls

12, 14,

side walls

16 and 18, a bottom wall 19 and

top cover flaps

20 and 21. Side wall 16 and flap 20 swing outward when converting the device 10 from a carrying case to a traveling desk (FIGS. 1 and 2).

The cover flap 20 is connected to the side wall 16 and pivotable along a hinge 24. Similarly, the cover flap 21 is connected to side wall 18 and pivotable along a hinge 26.

A handle 28 is attached to flap 21 and is received within a slot 30 formed in the flap 20. Flap 21 is larger than flap 20. When the case is closed as shown in FIG. 1, flap 21 rests on the upper edges 31 of

end walls

12, 14 and flap 20 is positioned on top of flap 21.

The bottom wall 19 is integrally formed to side wall 18, and connected to side wall 16 along a bottom hinge 32. When converting the article 10 from the case to the desk and vice versa, side wall 16 is lowered or raised by pivoting at the hinge 32.

A snap-lock arrangement or other suitable means may be used for securing side wall 16 to

ends walls

12, 14 when the device 10 is used as a case. A pair of tabs 34 depend inward from the side edges of side wall 16, as may be seen in FIG. 2. Each tab 34 includes a recessed member 36 to snap on prongs 37 projecting inward from

end walls

12, 14.

A partition wall 38 is spaced from and parallel with sidewall 18, and divides the inside of the article 10 into

sections

39 and 40. A platform 41 spaced upward and parallel with bottom wall 19 further divides the section 40. The section 39 is particularly suitable for containing large objects such as books etc.

An accordian type holder 42 having a plurality of deep pockets 43 is mounted on the platform 41, between the

end walls

12 and 14. A tab 44 is attached to outer side 45 of the outermost pocket 43. When tab 44 is secured on a stub 47 protruding inward from end wall 12, the holder 42 is compressed toward the partition wall 38. A slit 46 formed in tab 44 may be used for encircling the stub 47. Upon dis-associating the tab 44 from the stub 47, the pockets fan outward. Holder 42 may be manually pulled further outward for better access from the open side when the article is used as a desk. However, when the holder 42 is secured with the tab 44 and stub 47, the pockets 43 are still easily accessible from above, and thereby permitting papers or folders to be inserted or removed in the case configuration for the article 10.

A pair of

drawers

48, 49 positioned one over the other, are mountedd between platform 41 and bottom wall 19.

Drawers

48, 49 open laterally outward, when side wall 16 has been lowered, and afford convenient storage for clips, bands, erasures, lead etc. The open area 50 between the

drawers

48, 48 and end wall 14 may be used for holding a pen 51, stapler, etc.

Pockets 54 may be attached to the inside surfaces of the

cover flaps

20, 21, which are convenient for inserting notes. The

cover flaps

20, 21 are secured by a pair of spaced apart conventional locking means 56, and

each may include an apertured part to receive a ring member, with the ring being locked inside the apertured member when a spring controlled tongue passes through the ring.

The items stored in

drawers

48, 49 and area 50 may be specifically for use when the article is converted to a desk. On the other hand, the items stored in section 39 and holder 42 could be commonly used and easily accessible when in either configuration. I

Instead of using the

hinges

24, 26 and 32, creases could be formed in the connecting areas between the various parts of the case 10 that require to be pivoted or rotated. Thus, flaps and 21 may be pivoted respectively from

side walls

16 and 18 by a connecting crease in the material between

flaps

20 and 21 and

walls

16 and 18. Similarly, side wall 16 could be pivoted from the bottom wall 19 by a crease in the connecting material.

Turning now to FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, another embodiment of a combination carrying case and desk device indicated generally by the reference numeral 60, is shown. The parts of device 60 similar to case 10 are identified by the same numeral except for a suffix a. Case 60 includes,

top flaps

62, 64 pivotable respectively from

side walls

16a and 18a along the hinges 24a and 323.. A handle 66 is attached to flap 62, to pass through a slot 68 formed in flap 64.

A pouch or container 70 (FIG. 3) is attached to the bottom side of flap 62, which may function as a convenient storage area for a tape recorder machine, minicomputer or calculator etc. The pouch 70 is shown having a rectangular

shape including sides

72, 73 and ends 74, 75. A cap 76 which may also be attached to hinge 24a closes the pouch 70. A tab 78 having a circular cutout 79 extends out from cap 76 for attaching on to the stub 80 projecting out from side 73. A divider 82 is positioned inside the pouch 70, to divide it into two

compartments

83, 84.

The pouch 70 is shown underneath sidewall 16a in FIG. 4, when the device 60 may be used as a desk. The pouch 70 may be rotated to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 4 which is the position for the pouch 70 prior to rotating side wall 160 inward to the uprightposition. The phantom position for the pouch 70 may also be suitable when the side wall 16a is used as a desk top.

FIG. 5 illustrates, the pouch 70 and side wall 16a being rotated to the upright-position, and the pouch 70 is also shown in phantom just underneath the upper edge 31a of end wall 12a, and flap 64 is shown in phantom being lowered so that slot 68 receives handle 66.

FIG. 6 shows the pouch in an outward position when side wall 16a is in an upright-position, to permit access into the pouch or inside the device 60 when in the case configuration.

It is also within the contemplation of the subject invention that the device have an outward appearance similar to a conventional attache case. This could be achieved by decreasing the width of

end walls

12, 14, so that the side wall 18 is in the position where the partition Wall 38 is now shown. In such a configuration space 39 would be deleted.

It will be appreciated that numerous other changes 1. A combination case and desk device comprising: a substantially box-like configuration including a pair of side walls, end walls, a bottom wall, an upper flap being associated with one of said side walls and positioned inward and toward the other side wall when closing the top of the device, said flap being pivotable from said inward position to an outward position when said one side wall is in the uprightposition, said one side wall being movable from the upright-position to a lowered-position for converting the device from a case to a desk, said flap also moving to said lowered-position with said one side wall.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a holder means having a plurality of pockets is positioned inside the device, said holder means being constructed to expand outward toward the side opening caused when said one side wall is in said lowered-position.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein a partition wall is positioned between said other side wall and said holder means.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein a platform is spaced above said bottom wall for supporting said holder means.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein at least one drawer is positioned in the space between the platform and the bottom wall.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprises a second upper flap and one of said flaps including a handle and the other of said flaps including a notch for receiving to the inside of said flap.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said flap is pivotally associated with said one side wall and the device fur ther includes:

a second flap pivotally associated with the other of said side walls; and

a handle extending outward from the outside of said first-mentioned flap and a notch being formed in said second flap to receive said handle when said flaps extend inward to close the upper end of the device.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said flap is pivotally associated with said one sidewall, said flap being pivotable from an inward to an -outwardposition to permit access inside said pouch when said one side wall is in the upright-position.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said one side wall includes an upper end adjacent said flap and a lower end adjacent said bottom wall, said flap being pivotable at said upper end and said one sidewall being pivotable at said lower end.

11. A combination case and desk device comprising: a container including side walls, end walls, a bottom wall and a top cover movable from a closedposition to an open-position to provide access into the device, one of saidside wallsbeing movable from an upright-position to a lowered-position for convertingthe device from a case to a desk; and securing means for attaching said one side wall in the uprightposition, said securing means being accessi ble from the inside of the device. 12. A combination case and desk device comprising: a substantially box-like configuration including a pair of side walls, end walls, a bottom wall, an upper sible from the inside of the device.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said securing means includes:

a prong extending inward from one of said end walls;

and

a tab for attaching on to said prong to maintain said one side wall in the upright-position.

Claims

1. A combination case and desk device comprising: a substantially box-like configuration including a pair of side walls, end walls, a bottom wall, an upper flap being associated with one of said side walls and positioned inward and toward the other side wall when closing the top of the device, said flap being pivotable from said inward position to an outward position when said one side wall is in the upright-position, said one side wall being movable from the upright-position to a lowered-position for converting the device from a case to a desk, said flap also moving to said lowered-position with said one side wall.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein: a holder means having a plurality of pockets is positioned inside the device, said holder means being constructed to expand outward toward the side opening caused when said one side wall is in said lowered-position.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprises a second upper flap and one of said flaps including a handle and the other of said flaps including a notch for receiving said handle.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein a pouch is secured to the inside of said flap.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said flap is pivotally associated with said one side wall and the device further includes: a second flap pivotally associated with the other of said side walls; and a handle extending outward from the outside of said first-mentioned flap and a notch being formed in said second flap to receive said handle when said flaps extend inward to close the upper end of the device.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said flap is pivotally associated with said one side wall, said flap being pivotable from an inward to an outward-position to permit access inside said pouch when said one side wall is in the upright-position.

11. A combination case and desk device comprising: a container including side walls, end walls, a bottom wall and a top cover movable from a closed-position to an open-position to provide access into the device, one of said side walls being movable from an upright-position to a lowered-position for converting the device from a case to a desk; and securing means for attaching said one side wall in the uprightposition, said securing means being accessible from the inside of the device.

12. A combination case and desk device comprising: a substantially box-like configuration including a pair of side walls, end walls, a bottom wall, an upper flap being associated with one of said side walls and positioned inward when closing the top of the device, said one side wall being movable from an upright-position to a lowered-position for converting the device from a case to a desk, said flap also moving to said lowered-position with said one side wall; and securing means for attaching said one side wall in the upright-position, said securing means being accessible from the inside of the device.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said securing means includes: a prong extending inward from one of said end walls; and a tab for attaching on to said prong to maintain said one side wall in the upright-position.