Abstract:
A carrying case made of mating case sections with a principal seal and equipped with a latching device serving as part of a pressure relief valve for opening the interior of the carrying case to the atmosphere. The latch further includes a sealing means in contact with the external edge when the latch is opened to allow passage of air through the opening when the latching device is opened and the sealing means is no longer in contact with the external edge of the opening.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to a carrying case, and in particular, to a carrying case equipped with a latching device serving as part of a pressure relief valve and the latch closing opposite mating case sections while scaling the interior of the case. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Carrying cases store and transport different types of goods. Some cases are designed to protect their content from hostile environments in addition to allowing for the transportation and storage of the goods. For example, thick shell polycarbonate cases can be used to store electronic equipment such as phones and BlackBerrys during camping trips. The protection from humidity and water often requires the use of seals on the case at junctions of the different surfaces that are opened to access the interior of the case. Some polymer-based seals serve to hermetically or hydraulically seal mating case sections. 
         [0003]    Once sealed from the exterior, cases may sometime encounter environmental conditions where barometric pressures vary. Sealed containers, such as carrying cases with an interior volume at partial vacuum, can be problematic to open. At a full vacuum, external pressures of up to 15 lbs per square inch must be overcome to open the case. For example, if the case is placed in the depressurized baggage compartment of an airplane for an extended period of time, air in the interior of the case, initially at atmospheric pressure, will slowly leak until the interior reaches equilibrium with the depressurized compartment. Once the plane lands, sudden external forces may compress (he seal between the mating case sections and prevent the equilibrium of the internal pressure with the atmosphere. Another example of depressurization happens when the internal air is somehow heated and cools once the case is closed. 
         [0004]    Some cases are equipped with tabs to increase the opening leverage, while other cases may be equipped with pressure relief valves to equilibrate pressures. U.S. Pat. No. 6,955,381 describes such a case equipped with a pressure relief valve placed on the external shell. The valve is manually operated. The problem with these types of valves is the need to create an additional opening in the case, which often serves as a leak path upon failure of the valve. If these valves are left open by the operator, the entire purpose of the sealed case is defeated. In addition, if these types of valves are designed with a membrane or other dynamic segment to seal liquids while allowing the passage of air, the valves lose much of their efficiency in permanent contact with a liquid or condensed humidity. These valves are also vulnerable to shock and can be damaged easily if the case is dropped. 
         [0005]    What is needed is a case equipped with a pressure relief valve placed at a location protected from shock and capable of sealing both gasses and liquids within the case where the valve cannot be mishandled or left in an inoperative position. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    This invention discloses a carrying case made of mating case sections with a principal seal and equipped with a latching device serving as part of a pressure relief valve for opening the interior of the carrying case with the atmosphere. The latch further includes a sealing means in contact with the external edge when the latch is opened to allow the passage of air through the opening when the latching device is opened and the sealing means is no longer in contact with the external edge of the opening. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. However, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings, wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the carrying case equipped with a handle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the carrying case of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an elevation view as shown along cut line  3 - 3  on  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an elevation view as shown along cut line  4 - 4  on  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5A  is a detail view of the latch and valve mechanism as shown along cut line  5 A- 5 A on  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5B  is a detail view of the latch mechanism as shown along cut line  5 B- 5 B on  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a animated detail view of the latch and valve detail view of  FIG. 5A  where the latch is in an open orientation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    The present invention is not limited to the particular details of the device depicted, and other modifications and applications may be contemplated. Further changes may be made in the device described herein without departing from the true spirit of the scope of the disclosure. It is intended, therefore, that the subject matter of the above depictions should be interpreted as illustrative, not in a limiting sense. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the carrying case  100  equipped with a handle  3  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The carrying case  100  includes mating case sections  1 ,  2 , connected for relative movement between open and closed positions. A latch  4 , when clipped open as shown on  FIG. 6 , allows for the mating case sections  1 ,  2  to open for access to the interior  30 . What is shown in  FIG. 1  is the carrying case  100  in the closed position.  FIG. 3  shows how a pivot  6  molded in a back side of both mating ease sections  1 ,  2 , allows for the mating case sections  1 ,  2  to open when used in tandem with the latch  4  opening at a back hinge. 
         [0017]      FIG. 3  also shows how the mating case sections  1 ,  2  can be reinforced by ribs  5 ,  8  or by curved ribs  10 ,  11  placed on or within a flat surface to reinforce any portion of the carrying case  100 . What is disclosed and contemplated is the use of any built-in structural element, either on the interior or the exterior surface of the carrying case  100 , or the use of rounded edges created to reinforce the carrying case  100  having any basic case geometry defining an interior  30 . What is also disclosed is the use of any secondary storage, grasping, or manipulation system, such as a handle  3  or a wrist strap (not shown) placed on the exterior surface of the carrying case  100 . 
         [0018]    The carrying case  100  is also equipped with mating case sections  1 ,  2  cooperatively defining a case interior  30 . At least one of the mating case sections  1 ,  2  also includes an opening  22  as shown in  FIG. 5A  in communication with the interior  30 . In the preferred embodiment, the opening  22  is a small, circular hole of approximately 1 mm in radius placed below the outer peripheral edge of the bottom mating case section  2 . In  FIG. 1 , the mating case sections  1 ,  2  are of rectangular geometry where one side is adapted for mating with the other case section at a midheight section. In one preferred embodiment, the case is made of strong polycarbonate plastic, and one of the mating case sections  1 ,  2  is transparent to allow visual inspection of the interior  30 . While one possible geometry is shown, what is contemplated is the use of any two mating case sections  1 ,  2  with mating geometry. The handle  3  as shown is allowed to pivot from a stored position to a perpendicular position (not shown) by lifting the handle manually. In the embodiment shown, the handle also serves to protect the latch  4 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a an elevation view shown along cut line  3 - 3  on  FIG. 2 . A principal seal  44  as shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B, and  6  is interposed between the mating case sections  1 ,  2  when disposed in the closed position as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . A latch  4  is connected to one of said mating case sections  1  or  2 . In the embodiment shown, top mating case section  1  is connectable in snap-fit relation with one other of the mating case sections. Snap fitting, as a mode of closure, is only one of a plurality of possible methods of closure of the latch  4  over the mating case sections  1 ,  2 . A snap-fit is achieved using rigid yet slightly deformable structures that are allowed when pushed to snap into place. In  FIG. 6 , a ledge  32  located in a tab  40  is placed in contact with a lower edge  41  of the rim of the lower mating case section  2 . The latch  4  is then pushed into a closed position as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . 
         [0020]    In the closed position, the ledge  32  pushes up against the lower edge  41 , transferring the force needed to snap-fit the latch  4  across the lower edge  41  into a compression force of the first mating case section  1  against the second mating case section  2 . In the closed position, the ledge  32  also pushes forward against the lower edge  41 , pulling the latch  4  as close as possible until a sealing means  24  carried by the latch  4  seals the opening  22 . Air or liquid from the interior  30  of the case  100  is then blocked by the sealing means  24  from leaking out of the case  100 . What is shown is a latch  4  equipped with a sealing means  24 , such as ductile polymeric material in the form of a T. What is also contemplated as a sealing means  24  is the use of any material, adhesive, part, element, or brace capable of being installed or fixed on the latch  4  and connecting against the external edge of the opening  22  when the latch is in a closed position. Commonly known examples of reinforced snap-fit latches are found in the ski boot technology using V-shaped latches, strip pulled latches, etc. 
         [0021]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the sealing means  24  includes a back portion  42  and a ductile front portion  43  projecting from latch  24 . In  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B, and  6 , what is shown is a dual portion sealing means  24  having an adhesive-free interface illustrated by a small C-shaped portion between the back portion  42  and the ductile front portion  43  by a process such as overmolding where the ductile front portion  43  is molded over the back portion  42 . While the preferred embodiment shows a sealing means  24  with a dual portion, what is contemplated is the use of a single material sealing means  24 , the use of a small seal placed inside the body of the latch  4 , or a system where the latch  4  includes a small portion that comes into contact with a seal glued onto the bottom mating case section  2  to close an opening in the sealing means. 
         [0022]    The case  100  also includes an inner liner  20  made in the shape of the bottom mating case section  2  covering the internal surface of the bottom mating case section  2 . The principal seal  44  is made at the upper edge of said liner  20 . The liner  20  includes an aperture  21  aligned with the opening  22  in the bottom mating case section  2  as shown in  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B, and  6 . The structure shown in  FIG. 3  also discloses support feet  12  located at the outer edges of the external surface of the bottom mating case section  2  for placing the case  100  on a flat surface. The liner  20  is also housed completely at its upper end as the principal seal  44  inside of a groove  45  made on the external edge of the bottom mating case section  2 . The height of the inner lip  29  of the groove  45  allows for the placement of the principal seal  44  on top of the lip  29  so the upper surface of the principal seal  44  remains above external edge  46 . The principal seal  44  is then allowed to rest against the inner surface  28  of the top mating case section  1 . In  FIG. 6 , double ended arrows  50 ,  60  demonstrate the possible flow of air from within the carrying case  100  to the exterior when the latch  4  is lifted and the sealing means  24  is no longer in contact with the opening  22 . 
         [0023]    What is disclosed is a carrying case  100  with mating case sections  1 ,  2 , connected for relative movement between open and closed positions. The mating case sections  1 ,  2 , cooperatively define a case interior  20  when disposed ill the closed position as shown  FIG. 1 . The principal seal  44  interposed between the mating case sections  1 ,  2 , when disposed in the closed position, seals the interior  20  at a mating interface of the mating case sections  1 ,  2 . A pressure release valve shown in the latch  4 , when used in association with the bottom mating case section  2 , includes an opening  22  in one of the case sections  1 ,  2  and a resilient seal  24  movable between a sealed configuration in contact with the opening  22  shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  and an open configuration distant from die opening  22 . 
         [0024]    While specific embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification, the invention is not limited to the exact construction shown and described. Variations in the construction and arrangement of parts and components are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.