Patent Publication Number: US-8985385-B2

Title: Sealed protective case with liner and latch

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/153,076, filed Jun. 14, 2005, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,533,782, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/719,309, filed Nov. 21, 2003, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,953,126, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/001,652, filed Oct. 31, 2001, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,608, all herein incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     This invention relates in general to a protective case. In particular, it is concerned with a case which permits for effective shock absorbance to components contained in the case. 
     Many different carrying cases are known for containing and protecting components. The different cases have different characteristics, each with different limitations. These cases do not have an effective closure and latching characteristics operable in a useful and easy manner, and do not necessarily provide for effectively sealing the container in an easy manner. 
     The present invention is directed to providing a suitable protective case for securely and sealingly carrying components. The case also permits for relatively straightforward and positive latching with components which are easier to use than latches in known cases. The case seeks to overcome the limitations of known cases. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to the invention, there is provided a carrying case which includes a body having two mating components and a peripheral area for mating engagement to ensure a relatively sealed relationship when the components are closed. A liner material conformingly fits in the space formed by the components. The liner material has a conforming fit and preferably provides a sealing component for the peripheral area between the two mating components. The peripheral edge of the liner is arranged for location in the peripheral area between the two mating components. 
     An elongated latch is provided which extend substantially across about half of the length of the front of the case. The latch includes a face member extending at least about half the length of the front. There are two spaced locking members for releasably engaging interlocking elements mounted on one of the components, and the latch is hingedly mounted on the other component. 
     The two elements of the body are mating upper and lower components. Each is made of relatively rigid material, and each has a peripheral formation to engage the mating peripheral formation of the other component. Two spaced hinges are located along the back to permit opening and closure. A handle is located on one of the elements at a side between the front and the back of the case. 
     A purge valve permits for ingress and egress of pressure to equilibrate the pressure between the inside and the outside of the body. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which makes reference to several drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned features and objects of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one form of a case according to the invention with a base component and a top component shown in closed relationship. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the different components of the case showing a liner insert which fits within the case separate from the two components of the case. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the case. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the case at the location in the middle of the latch. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the sealing formations between the top and the bottom portions of the case. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form the part thereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration of specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     A carrying case  20  includes two mating components  22  and  24  which form surrounding material for the case. The top component  24  includes a peripheral lip  26  extending around the periphery for mating engagement with a peripheral slot  29  on the bottom component  22  to ensure a relatively closed relationship when the components  22  and  24  are closed. The opening and closure of the components  22  and  24  provide access to a space defined by the surrounding material or closure to the space. The two components  22  and  24  are each made of a relatively rigid polycarbonate plastic material. A pair of hinges  28  and  30  are located along a first side, namely the back side,  51 , to permit opening and closure. 
     A liner material  32  fits in the space in the surrounding material formed by the components  22  and  24 . The liner material  32  has a base  34  and an inner peripheral wall  36 . The liner material  32  is shaped to conform substantially to the inside of one of the components  22 . 
     There is a peripheral edge  33  around the liner  32  which fits snuggly into the peripheral slot  29 . 
     The peripheral edge  33  has two legs  60  and  62  which are spaced apart so that there is a space  64  between legs  60  and  62 . When the lip  26  engages and forces down on the face  66  of the edge  33  there is a deformation which is achieved, and the extra space  64  can thereby become smaller. 
     This interaction creates an effective sealing interengagement. There is a bringing lateral portion  68  between the edge portion  33  and the walls  36  of the insert  32 . 
     There is a single latch  38  to secure the two compounds  22  and  24  together in a closed relationship. The latch  38  includes a single face member  40  which extends to at least about, and preferably more than half the length of the front  41  of the case. There are a pair of locking members  42  and  44  which are spread apart towards the ends of the face hook like formations  49  on the opposite component  22 . This latch structure  38  by extending over a large length of the front of the case is easy to operate both to open or close. The two locking elements  42  and  44  at the end are spaced apart sufficiently to give an effective locking pressure appropriately distributed over the interface of the components on the front of the case. 
     The latch  38  is located on element  24  and permit hook latching with mating component on element  22 . Effectively, the single face  40  for the latch  38  is user friendly and is easier to use than separate latch elements. Only a single motion or step to move the face  40  is necessary to effect the double latching  42 - 49  and  44 - 49 . Prior art cases require each latch to be activated to closure or disengagement separately. 
     A handle  50  for pulling or carrying the case is located on one of the components  22  on a side between the back  51  and the front  41 . The handle  50  is suitably molded as part of component  22 . 
     A purge valve  52  permits for ingress and egress of pressure to equilibrate the pressure between the inside and the outside of the case. The purge valve in the body permits equilibration of pressure. The valve is “mounted” in one wall of the component  22 , and preferably inhibits passage of moisture through the valve, while permitting passage of air. A purge knob  54  is also provided to cooperate with valve  52 . 
     Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. For instance instead of the tight sealing arrangement of the components using the liner edge  33 , there can instead be an O-ring which is used to conform to the space between the end of the lip  26  and the peripheral slot  29  in a manner to provide sealing between the components. The liner hereby forms a double function, not only as a protective liner, but it also acts as part of the sealing arrangement. 
     Instead of the liner  32  being molded to fit snuggly with the entire perimeter outer walls of the case, the liner insert  32  may only be in part of one component of the case, namely where the liner  32  is used at the peripheral edge. There could be several separate components making up the liner  32 . Also, in some situations, the purge valve may not be used in every embodiment of the case. In other situations there may be only a single latch and a different hinge formation, for instance a piano hinge. 
     By having a fairly rigid outside component structure to the case, together with a liner removal insert conforming to whole or part of the interior there is provided an effective protective case with a high level of sealing closure to house components. The shape of the interior of the liner can be formed to effectively accommodate different elements to prevent undue movement of the elements to be earned. One or more additional inserts to prevent shock absorbance can be provided inside the liner insert. The outer components can be transparent, translucent, opaque or colored as required. The liner can be similarly formed with different colors and/or transparency or translucency characteristics. 
     On the side of the case there is also provided means  60  for anchoring a movable ring  62  to permit the case to be carried in a different manner. The foregoing is a description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. 
     While the apparatus and method have been described in terms of what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. The present disclosure includes any and all embodiments of the following claims.