Carrying case for dual instruments

A compartmentized case for dual instrumentalities such as a compass and thermometer providing a recessed base and cover hinged together along corresponding end edges, and including a clasp-like structure for securing the case in either a closed or open condition upon a belt or other piece of wearing apparel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to an improvement in a carrying case providing 
individual compartments for housing selected instruments, with the case 
having a construction whereby it may be readily attached to a support such 
as a belt or other edge portion of a user's wearing apparel. Furthermore, 
the construction of the case permits convenient pivoting of each portion 
of the case relative to each other and its support, so as to place the 
instrumentalities in either portion of the case in a line of sight of the 
user without detachment from its support. 
Belt holders for watches or other instrumentalities such as that disclosed 
in U.S. Pat. No. 1,479,008, are well known in the art. However, these 
holders provide only one instrument support and are functional only to 
display the single instrument. See also U.S. Pat. No. 1,961,066; U.S. Pat. 
No. 2,509,428; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,214,685 for single instrument carrying 
cases. 
Other highly complicated constructions relating to receptacles for watches 
and the like are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,201,332. This device has 
extensive internal linkage by which the instrument carried thereby, such 
as a watch as shown, is pivoted into a viewing position upon the opening 
of the case. 
The present invention is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, 
and convenient to use. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A principle object of this invention is to provide a convenient carrying 
case for a plurality of instruments, with the case divided into separate 
compartments, one each in the cover and the base portions of the case. 
The case, in addition to being compartmentized, provides a means for 
attachment to a belt or other article of apparel. This attachment means 
may consist of a clasp-like structure, hingedly attached to the case in 
such a manner that the case may be conveniently pivoted into selected 
positions relative to its attachment as well as to the support to which it 
is attached, so as to readily position, in a convenient line of sight, 
each or both instruments contained in the case without detachment from the 
support. 
The case and its detachable clasp-like securing means are so constructed 
that in their closed position they will lie flat against the wearer in an 
inconspicuous manner, yet be readily available when the wearer wishes to 
inspect the instruments therein. 
By the novel construction, hereinafter more fully described, the case 
provides a base to which is hingedly connected a cover. Both the base and 
cover are adapted to house separate instrumentalities such as a compass 
and a thermometer in such a manner that such portions of the case may be 
angularly positioned relative to each other with the instrumentalities in 
either the base or cover placed in an unobstructed line of sight.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
As clearly shown in the drawings, particularly FIG. 1, the case 10 
comprises a cover 11 and a base 12 with each of them providing an internal 
compartment 13 and 14, respectively. Each of the compartments 13 and 14 
are concaved so as to provide relieved areas that can receive the housings 
for the respective instrumentalities such as a compass 15 and a 
thermometer 16. 
The cover 11 and base 12 are joined along one end edge by a hinge structure 
17. This hinge structure 17 consists of a pair of spaced-apart hollow 
bosses 18 formed in a projecting peripheral flange 19 of the cover 11. A 
mating hollow boss 20 is formed on a corresponding edge of the base 12, 
such that when the hollow bosses 18 and 20 are placed in axial alignment, 
they will receive a hinge pin 21, thus completing the hinge structure 17. 
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the base 12 provides a forwardly extending 
flange 22 that is recessed as at 23 to form a receptacle for a 
corresponding fingered tab 24 formed on the forward end of the peripheral 
flange of the cover 11. The fingered tab 24 is so designed and dimensioned 
that it will frictionally fit within the recess 23 so as to releasably 
latch the cover 11 onto the base 12 in a closed position as shown in FIGS. 
4 and 5. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the inner wall of the recess 23 has projecting 
therefrom a latch strip 25 that is adapted to be overridden by a latch 
keeper 26 provided by the trailing edge 27 of the fingered tab 24 of cover 
11, when the cover 11 is pivoted into a position so as to close the case 
10. 
A clasp-like structure 28 is provided by which the case 10 may be removably 
mounted in a supported position upon a belt or other edge portion of 
apparel. This clasp-like structure 28 consists of a relatively thin 
rectangularly-shaped body 29 that has a reduced arcuated extension 30 
extending upwardly and out of the normal plane of the body 29. This 
extension 30 terminates into an elongated integral circular transverse rod 
31. The circular rod 31 is adapted to be slidably frictionally fitted into 
a circular recess 32 formed on the underside 33 of the base 12. As shown 
in FIGS. 2 and 3, the clasp may be projected beyond a belt 34 or any other 
edge portion of the apparel of the user of the instrument, in such a 
position that the case 10 may be pivoted into varying positions placing 
the compartments 13 and 14 into a convenient line of sight. 
To permit full pivotal movement of the case relative to the secured 
clasp-like structure 28, the forward edge portion of the underside 33 of 
the base 12 is notched as at 35 so as to accommodate the arcuated 
extension 29 when the case is placed in the position as shown in FIG. 3. 
When it is desirable to view the compass 15 contained in the cover 11, the 
wearer will merely insert a finger beneath the fingered tab 24 of the 
cover 11 and exert outward pull upon the same. This movement will cause 
the cover 11 to pivot about the hinge structure 17 while the base 12 is 
retained by the clasp-like structure 28 upon the belt 31 as viewed in FIG. 
2. The finger pressure will be sufficient to withdraw the latch keeper 26 
off the latch strip 25, thus permitting the case to be opened. 
In the event the user wishes to view the thermometer 16 as housed in the 
base 12, all that need be done is to then pivot the base 12 about the 
transverse rod 31 of the hinge structure 17 away from the belt 31 and into 
the position shown in FIG. 3. In the event that the article is not to be 
carried, the clip-like structure 28 may be readily removed merely by 
sliding the circular rod 31 out of the circular recess 32 formed in the 
underside 33 of the base 12. In such a condition, the device may 
conveniently be placed and sit upon a flat surface. 
It is, of course, understood that it is within the spirit of this invention 
to modify or change the above specifically described structure within the 
scope of the claims, in order to adapt the device to various designs and 
material which may be used, and to any other desired articles which are to 
be carried by a person and held in a convenient place for ready inspection 
.