Patent Publication Number: US-7581625-B2

Title: Case with hinge edge frame arrangement

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The present invention relates to a case, and more particularly to a hinge edge frame arrangement for a case, wherein a first edge frame and a second edge frame are extended from a utility edge of a displaying surface of the case for detachably clipping an object on the displaying surface. 
   2. Description of Related Arts 
   A conventional case usually comprises a case body defining a receiving cavity, and a case cover pivotally mounted on the case body to selectively enclose the receiving cavity for secure storage of personal belongings in the receiving cavity. Very often, the conventional case further comprises a lock unit operatively coupled on the case body and the corresponding position of the case cover for selectively locking up the case cover with respect to the case body. 
   Very often, people who use this kind of conventional case need to carry it from one place to another. For example, they may use it for business purpose, so that they will put all the documents into the receiving cavity and retrieve any of them therefrom whenever necessary. A typical scenario is that the user needs to take out some documents from the receiving cavity for writing down some information or actually creating some formal documents. The user may need to issue hand-written invoices to customers or create temporary contracts with his or her clients. Where such scenario occurs, the user needs rigid support for him to write clearly on the documents which he has taken away from the receiving cavity. 
   An obvious rigid support is the outer hard cover of the case. The user may simply lay down his or her case and put the required documents on top of an outer surface of the case. A major disadvantage of such a practice is that since the user will only use this method when other rigid support (such as a table) is not available, it is very likely that the user is in outdoor environment. As a result, the user will have to hold the document carefully so as to prevent accidental loss of any of them. For example, when the user is writing in a windy environment, he or she has to prevent the documents from being blown away from the outer surface of the case. It is extremely inconvenient for the user to put an additional paper weight on the documents while he or she is writing, for the very reason why the user puts the documents on top of the outer surface of the case is that simply of convenience. 
   SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   A main object of the present invention is to provide a case comprising a hinge edge frame arrangement, wherein a first edge frame and a second edge frame are extended from a utility edge of a displaying surface of the case for detachably clipping an object (such as a piece of document) on the displaying surface. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a case comprising a hinge edge frame arrangement, wherein the second edge frame is capable of pivotally folding with respect to the first edge frame for clipping on a wide variety of objects on the displaying surface of the case. In other words, the present invention facilitates widespread application thereof. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a case comprising a hinge edge frame arrangement which is light in weight and securely attached on a utility edge of the case so as not to interfere with a normal operation of the case, while allowing a user to securely clip an object onto the displaying surface for, say, temporary working on the documents. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a case comprising a hinge edge frame arrangement which does not involve any complicated and expensive components, so as to minimize the manufacturing cost of the present invention. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a case comprising a hinge edge frame, wherein no pin or axle is needed in the pivot connection of first and second edge frame, so as to prevent the pin or axle from being broken, which is the major and the easiest broken part of the conventional hinge structure. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a case which can be embodied as a wide variety of cases. For example, the present invention can be embodied as a suitcase or a photo case as an alternative. 
   Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a case for holding an object at an exterior thereof, comprising: 
   a case body having a receiving cavity and a utility edge, and comprising a utility panel having a displaying surface extended from the utility edge; and 
   a hinge edge frame arrangement, which comprises: 
   a first edge frame extended along the utility edge of the case body to retain the utility panel in position, wherein the first edge frame comprises an elongated outer wall and an elongated inner wall defining an elongated holding slot between the outer and inner wall along the utility edge, wherein the outer wall has a closed stopping surface formed at an opening end of the holding slot and an opened stopping surface formed at a closed end of the holding slot; 
   a second edge frame comprises an elongated pivot arm, having an enlarged end portion, pivotally received in and extended along the holding slot of the first edge frame and a clipping member extended from the pivot arm, wherein the clipping member is adapted to fold between a clipping position and a releasing position, wherein at the clipping position, the clipping member is rested on the displaying surface of the utility panel along the utility edge that the enlarged end portion of the pivot arm is slid in the holding slot to stop at the closed stopping surface thereof, and at the releasing position, the clipping member is pivotally lifted up from the displaying surface of the utility panel that the enlarged end portion of the pivot arm is slid out from the holding slot to stop at the opened stopping surface thereof; and 
   a resilient element coupling with the second edge frame for applying a clipping force to the clipping member to retain the clipping member at the clipping position, such that the clipping member of the second edge frame is adapted for securely holding the object on the utility panel of the case body along the utility edge thereof. 
   These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a case according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2C  are section side views of a hinge edge frame arrangement according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of the case according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating that the case is opened. 
       FIG. 4  is an alternative mode of the case according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of the alternative mode of the case according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2A ,  FIG. 2B ,  FIG. 3  of the drawings, a case, such as a suitcase, for holding an object at an exterior thereof according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, in which the case comprises a case body  10 , and a hinge edge frame arrangement  20 . 
   The case body  10  has a receiving cavity  11  and a utility edge  12 , and comprising a utility panel  13  having a displaying surface  14  extended from the utility edge  12 . 
   The hinge edge frame arrangement  20  comprises a first edge frame  21 , a second edge frame  22 , and a resilient element  23 . The first edge frame  21  is extended along the utility edge  12  of the case body  10  to retain the utility panel  13  in position, wherein the first edge frame  21  comprises an elongated outer wall  211  and an elongated inner wall  212  defining an elongated holding slot  213  between the outer and inner wall  211 ,  212  along the utility edge  12 , wherein the outer wall  212  has a closed stopping surface  214  formed at an closed end of the holding slot  213  and an opened stopping surface  215  formed at a opening end of the holding slot  213 . 
   The second edge frame  22  comprises an elongated pivot arm  221 , having an arc-shaped body portion  2212  and an enlarged end portion  2211 , pivotally received in and extended along the holding slot  213  of the first edge frame  21 , and a clipping member  222  extended from the pivot arm  221 , wherein the clipping member  222  is adapted to fold between a clipping position and a releasing position, wherein at the clipping position, the clipping member  222  is rested on the displaying surface  14  of the utility panel  13  along the utility edge  12  that the enlarged end portion  2211  of the pivot arm  221  is slid in the holding slot  213  to stop at the closed stopping surface  214  thereof, and at the releasing position, the clipping member  222  is pivotally lifted up from the displaying surface  14  of the utility panel  13  that the enlarged end portion  2211  of the pivot arm  221  is slid out from the holding slot  213  to stop at the opened stopping surface thereof  215 . 
   The resilient element  23  couples with the second edge frame  22  for applying a clipping force to the clipping member  222  to retain the clipping member  222  at the clipping position, such that the clipping member  222  of the second edge frame  22  is adapted for securely holding the object on the utility panel  13  of the case body  10  along the utility edge  12  thereof. 
   According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the case body  10  further comprises an elongated rear panel  15  and two side panels  16 , wherein the rear panel  15  and the utility panel  13  are securely connected by the hinge edge frame arrangement  20  for forming the receiving cavity  11  within the rear panel  15 , the utility panel  13  and the two side panels  16 . 
   In other words, the case body  10  further comprises the side panel  16  extended from the utility edge  12  to transversely align with the utility panel  13 , wherein the first edge frame  21  further comprises two panel connectors  219  securely connecting corresponding edges of the utility panel  13  and the side panel  16  so as to connect the utility panel  13  and the side panel  16  in an edge-to-edge manner along the utility edge  12 . 
   Each of the panel connectors  219  comprises two spaced apart edge connecting walls  2191 , wherein the edges of the utility panel  13  and the side panel  16  are securely mounted to the panel connectors  219  between the edge connecting walls  2191  so as to substantially connect the utility panel  13  and the side panel  16  in an edge-to-edge manner. 
   Accordingly, the first edge frame  21  may further comprises two retention holders downwardly and longitudinally extended from the elongated outer wall  211  and the elongated inner wall  212  to connect with a rear edge of the utility panel  13  and a top edge of the elongated rear panel  15  respectively wherein the utility edge  12  is formed on the utility panel  13 , and the second edge frame  22  is allowed to pivotally fold between the clipping position and the releasing position at the utility edge  12  of the case body  10 . 
   Each of the elongated outer wall  211  and the elongated inner wall  212  has an arc-shaped cross section of a predetermined radius of curvature for forming the elongated holding slot  213  having two curved sidewalls as the elongated outer wall  211  and the elongated inner wall  212  respectively, wherein the elongated pivot arm  221  of the second edge frame  22  is adapted to pivotally fold between the clipping position and the releasing position in such a manner to follow the radius of curvature of the elongated outer wall  211  and the elongated inner wall  212 . In other words, the elongated pivot arm  221  has a corresponding radius of curvature as that of the elongated inner wall  212  and the elongated outer wall  211  for pivotally moving between the clipping position and the releasing position, wherein the enlarged end portion  2211  is arranged to be pivotally moved to bias against the opened stopping surface  215  when the second edge frame  22  is at the releasing position. 
   The enlarged end portion  2211  of the pivot arm  221  has two opposed end surfaces forming a first biasing surface  2213  and a second biasing surface  2214  respectively and arranged in such a manner that when the clipping member  222  is folded at the clipping position, the first biasing surface  2213  of the enlarged end portion  2211  of the pivot arm  221  is biased against the closed stopping surface  214  of the holding slot  213 , and when the clipping member  222  is folded at the releasing position, the second biasing surface  2214  of the enlarged end portion  2211  of the pivot arm  221  is biased against the opened stopping surface of the holding slot  213 . 
   The second edge frame  22  further comprises a retention arm  224  integrally and outwardly extended from a lower end of the body portion of the pivot arm  221  to define an arc-shaped supporting slot  225  between the pivot arm  221  and the retention arm  224 , wherein the outer wall  211  of the first edge frame  21  is shaped and sized to slidably fit in the supporting slot  225 , wherein the retention arm  224  has an inner retention surface  2241  and a pivot end  2242  extended from the retention surface  2241  to bias against the outer wall  211  such that the pivot end  2242  of the retention arm  224  forms a pivot point of the second edge frame  22  with respect to the first edge frame  21  to guide the pivot arm  221  to slide within the holding slot  213  while the retention surface  2241  of the retention arm  224  is biased against an outer surface of the outer wall  211  when the clipping member  222  is folded to rest on the displaying surface  14  of the utility panel  13 . 
   In other words, the holding slot  213  has a predetermined curvature to define a traveling distance between the opened stopping surface  215  and the closed stopping surface  214  of the holding slot  213  that allows the pivot arm  221  sliding along that traveling distance between the clipping position and the releasing position of the second edge frame  22 . 
   Moreover, the elongated pivot arm  221  further has a curved outer surface  2212  having a curvature same as a curvature of the elongated inner wall  212  in such a manner that the outer surface  2212  of the pivot arm  221  is fittedly sliding on the inner surface of the inner wall  212  in a frictionally and slidably movable manner. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  of the drawings, the hinge edge frame arrangement  20  further comprises two holding rims  218  provided at the inner wall of the first edge frame  21  and the clipping member  222  to securely engage with the urging edges of the resilient element  23  respectively so as to retain the resilient element  23  in position. In other words, the holding rims  218  are extended from the elongated inner wall  212  wherein the resilient element  23  has one urging edge mounted on the second edge frame  22 , and another urging edge mounted on the holding rim  218  of the first edge frame  21  which is spacedly apart from the second edge frame  22  for normally exerting a urging force towards the second edge frame  22  so as to normally pull the clipping member  222  towards the displaying surface  14 . In other words, the second edge frame  22  is normally kept at its clipping position, wherein an outward pivotal force has to be applied to the clipping member  222  for moving it from the clipping position to the releasing position. 
   Accordingly, the resilient element  23  comprises a spring clip having two urging edges coupling at the inner wall of the first edge frame  21  and the clipping member  222  respectively for applying the clipping force to the clipping member  222 . 
   The clipping member  222  has an elongated main portion  2221  extended from the elongated pivot arm  221 , and a clipping rim  2222  downwardly extended along an inner edge of the elongated main portion  2221  to form a substantially L-shaped structure for defining a clipping cavity  2223  between the elongated main portion  2221  and the clipping rim portion  222 , wherein a portion of the object (e.g. the top portion of a piece of paper) is arranged to be retrievably retained within the clipping cavity  2223  when the second edge frame  22  is at the clipping position. 
   It is worth mentioning that the case body  10  may comprise a plurality of first and the second edge frames  21 ,  22  provided at sides of the case body  10  for clipping the objects on the displaying surface  14 . The operation of the present invention is as follows: the second edge frame  22  is normally retained at the clipping position. When the user wishes to clip something on the displaying surface  14 , he or she has to pivotally move the clipping member  222  from the clipping position to the releasing position, and when the clipping member  222  is at the releasing position, the clipping cavity  2223  is exposed to be accessed by the user, so that the user is able to put some objects, such as head portions of documents on the displaying surface  14  at a position aligning with the clipping cavity  2223 . Afterwards, the user can simply release the clipping member  222  for allowing it to be pivotally driven by the resilient element  23  to move from the releasing position and the clipping position. The documents are then securely yet detachably clipped on the displaying surface  14 . The user is then able to write something thereon with the support of the rigid displaying surface  14 . 
   The hinge edge frame arrangement  20  further comprises a lighting unit  40  provided in the case body  10  for providing illumination towards the displaying surface  14 . Accordingly, the utility panel  13  is preferably made of material which is capable of admissible visible light so as to allow illumination of the documents placed on the utility panel  13 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2C  and  FIG. 3  of the drawings, it is noteworthy that the case further comprises a case cover  30  pivotally connected to the case body  10 , wherein the pivotal connection between the case cover  30  and the case body  10  is accomplished by the hinge edge frame arrangement  20  as mentioned above. As a result, the case cover  30  is adapted to move between a closed position and an opened position, wherein in the closed position, the case cover  30  is pivotally moved to close the receiving cavity  11  of the case body  10 , wherein in the opened position, the case cover  30  is pivotally moved away from the case body  10  so as to expose the receiving cavity  11  to be accessed by the user of the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4  of the drawings, an alternative mode of the hinge edge frame according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The alternative mode is similar to the preferred embodiment except the case body  10 ′. According to the alternative mode, the case is embodied as a photo case so that the case body  10 ′ further comprises a main frame panel  11 ′ and a frame support  12 ′ movably mounted at a rear side of the picture frame  11 ′ for supporting a picture shown by the hinge edge frame arrangement  20 . As a result, a user able to detachably insert a photo  80 ′ and possible a transparent protective panel  90 ′ when the clipping member  222  is at the releasing position. After the photo  80 ′ and the protective panel  90 ′ have been placed onto the displaying surface  14 ′ of the case body  10 ′, the clipping member  222  will return to the clipping position for securely clipping the photo  80 ′ and the protective panel  90 ′. 
   In other words, the case body  10 ′ comprises the main frame panel  11 ′ wherein the hinge edge frame arrangement  20  is operatively provided along the utility edge  12  of the case body  10 ′ to form a photo case of the present invention adapted for holding a photo  80 ′ as the object, wherein the clipping member  222  is adapted to move between the releasing position and the clipping position for selectively holding the photo  80 ′ on the displaying surface  14 . 
   As a slight alternative, the case can be hanged onto a surface, such as a wall, for optimally displaying the photo  80 ′ on the wall. Accordingly, the case further comprises two frame connecting members  81 ′ extended from the case body  10 ′ for being mounted onto the wall by two connectors respectively. As a result, the case can be securely mounted onto the wall for displaying the photo  80 ′, yet it can conveniently replaced by the user from a front side of the case. 
   One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting. 
   It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. Its embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.