Collapsible travel case

Aug. 5, 1947. _{A T GARNETT ETAL} 2,425,035

COLLAPSIBLE TRAVEL CASE.

Filed Sept. 5, 1945

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Patented Aug. 5, 1947

2,425,035

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,425,035

COLLAPSIBLE TRAVEL CASE

Arthur Thomas Garnett and Ernest Edward Langford, London, England

Application September 5,1945, Serial No. 614,453

In Great Britain September 20, 1944

Claims.

This invention relates to an improved travel case in which a traveller may pack clothes and other belongings for carrying them on journeys. With the conventional travel case of the suit case variety, the case occupies as much space when it is empty as when it is full and the space for storing or transporting a large number of such cases is very great. The object of this invention is to provide a practical and shapely case for normal use but which may be collapsed and folded flat for storage or transport when not in use.

According to this invention our improved travel case is constructed mainly of soft or flexible material provided with internal hinged flaps of relatively stiff or rigid material adapted to· be erected to stiffen and distend the sides of the case and also to form covers for the contents of each half of the case when It is required for use but which may be folded flat in the two halves of the case so as to allow the walls to collapse when it is desired to fold the case flat for storage or transport when not in use.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which—

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the travel case erected and packed ready for travelling.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the travel case with its two halves open ready for packing.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the travel case collapsed and folded flat so as to occupy a minimum of space for storage or bulk transport, and

Fig. 4 is an open perspective view illustrating a modified arrangement of internal stiffening flaps.

In the example illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the travel case is formed as two substantially similar halves I and 2 hinged together along the centre line 3 of the base 4 of the case. The sides and perimeter walls of the case are formed of waterproof fabric or other suitable flexible material and the edges and corners may be bound with leather or other suitable hard wearing material.

The end and upper and lower perimeter walls of each half of the case are stiffened with suitable fibre board or other suitable stiffening material incorporated between the waterproof fabric and the lining. Suitable triangular pieces are cut away from this stiffening material at the corners of some of the walls to allow the base 4 and upper perimeter walls 5 to fold outwardly and side perimeter walls 6 to fold inwardly so as to lie flat and substantially parallel with the outer main (Cl. 190—43) wall 7 of each half of the case. Each half will thus fold flat as shown in Fig. 3 and will occupy a space substantially equal to their area by the thickness of the material and may thus be stored ® in a relatively small space when not in use. Suitable hinge or crease lines are formed in some of the perimeter walls, for example, the upper and lower walls, to assist in correct folding of the materials.

ns In order to stiffen and distend the two parts of the case each is provided with a pair of stiff or relatively rigid internal flaps 8 having strips 9 along opposite edges thereof, the flaps being hinged by these strips in the junction (0 between the upper and lower perimeter walls 4 and 5 and the main outer wall 7 of each half of the case. When the case is folded flat and not in use, these flaps 8 also lie flat against the main outer wall 7 of the case. When the case is erected for use, 20 the flaps 8 are lifted up about their hinged strips 9 and the act of lifting these into position also serves to erect the perimeter walls of the case owing to the edges of the strips 10 engaging the perimeter walls 6. The flaps 8 then act as hinged covers to fold over the clothes or other articles packed in the case and serve to hold them in position when the two halves of the case are folded together. Suitable tabs ί i with snap button or other fastenings 12 secure the meeting edges of the flaps 8 together. Protective corner pieces 13 of leather or other suitable hard wearing material are fitted to the corners of the two halves of the bag.

The hinged flaps 8', in a modified arrangement 35 shown in Fig. 4, may be secured by their hinged strips 9' at the junction between the perimeter walls 6 and the main walls 7 at the outer end corners. ’In this latter position the flaps, when secured by fasteners 11' will meet along a line ⁴⁰ extending from top to bottom of the bag and the fold between the flaps and their hinged strips will afford a protection to prevent the contents from bulging out between the perimeter walls at their meeting edges at the ends of the case. When the ^a two halves of the bag are packed and folded together they are secured by suitable slidable clasp fastenings 16. These may be arranged in two sections extending round both ends of the case and a short distance along the top and bottom. ^e0 These firmly secure the two halves of the case together. The two sliding clasps 17 slide upwardly along the two sides for this purpose.

To facilitate carrying, the bag is provided with two straps 14 and a pair of handles 15.

Along the top of the case a flap extends over

2,425,035 the junction between the two halves of the case and also encloses and covers the free ends of the sliding clasp fastenings Π. The flap is secured by suitable locks 20 such as those usually provided on the conventional type of suit case. The flap has hinged hasps 19 adapted to engage and be secured in the locks 20.