Patent Publication Number: US-2006011641-A1

Title: Shockrack case

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to cases, such as rigid cases for transporting and/or storing products such as electronics and musical equipment. In particular, the invention relates to a case with a compound hinge system that allows the door to be removed entirely or to swing out and completely around to lie flat against the side of the case. The invention also relates to molded platforms integrated into the interior of the case having inserts that are adapted to engage a support frame or shockrack frame system.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Durable cases for electronics, musical equipment and other equipment including a support frame or shockrack frame are well known in the art. Current cases require a user to detach multiple latches, usually about eight latches, in order to open and/or remove the one or more doors. This results in a large amount of time being spent to access the contents of the case. When two or more cases are stacked on top of each other, the latches may be inaccessible making displacement of the door impossible. In addition, for systems in which the door is secured by a hinge, the door is unable to swing entirely out of the way. This results in the door interfering with access to the contents of the case and prevents a user from placing cases in close proximity to each other. Accordingly, a lockable case that includes a compound hinge system which reduces the number of latches necessary to open and/or remove the door of the case would be considered useful. In addition, a hinge that allows the door of the case to swing entirely out of the way would be considered useful.  
      Current support frames and shockrack frames are secured to the case by a metal frame platform which adds additional weight to the case. The cost of production of the case is increased in such systems because of the need to manufacture the metal platforms. In addition, attaching the frame to the metal platform may be cumbersome and require many steps. Accordingly, a case which includes molded platforms integrated into the interior of the case to facilitate use of a frame system and reduce the weight and cost of the case would be considered useful.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is directed to a compound hinge system and integrated platform molding embodied in a relatively rigid case. The case comprises a body and a door which are removably coupled by one or more latches and one or more compound hinge systems. The compound hinge system comprises a hinge and a plurality of pins which connect the hinge to the door or body of the case. The compound hinge system allows the door to swing within a range of about 270 degrees such that the door of the case may rest against a side wall of the case. In addition, the door may be easily removed by a user by lifting up on the door and/or hinge when the door is open. This results in displacement of the pins which were inserted into the body of the case. The door can be reinstalled by lowering the pins into the openings disposed on the body of the case.  
      The interior chamber of the case comprises molded platforms having inserts integrated into the corners of the case which are configured to be connected with a support frame such as a shockrack frame system. Each molded platform includes one or more inserts adapted to receive a shock absorber or snubber. The shock absorber can be screwed into or otherwise attached to the molded platform inserts and then a shockrack frame can be attached to the shock absorber.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the top and exterior face of the door of a case and the compound hinge system of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing an open door and the interior of the case.  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the case of the present invention with the door completely open such that it lies against a side wall of the body of the case.  
       FIG. 4A  is a plan view of the compound hinge system of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4B  is a plan view of an equipment case comprising two compound hinge systems.  
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the compound hinge system of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6A  is a view of the interior of a case.  
       FIG. 6B  is an enlarged perspective view of the corner of a case.  
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of the corner of a case.  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a case including a front and rear door. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      The drawings illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention. The drawings show the case with a specific shape and style, but persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the case may take various shapes and styles without affecting the inventive concepts herein.  
      Turning now to the figures, the case  50  of the present invention comprises a door  100 , a body  200 , an interior chamber  205  and a compound hinge system  300  which connects the door  100  and the body  200  ( FIG. 1 ). The door  100  and body  200  of the case  50  may be molded plastic or any suitable material known in the art. The case  50  may include a single door  100  to allow a user to access the equipment controls (not shown). In other embodiments, the case  50  may include a second door  102  allowing access to the jacks or connectors on the various pieces of equipment ( FIG. 8 ).  
      The case  50  may include one or more compound hinge systems  300  which removably and rotatably couple the one or more doors  100  to the body  200  of the case  50  ( FIG. 1 ). An individual door  100  may be attached to the body  200  by a single compound hinge system  300  or multiple compound hinge systems  300  ( FIGS. 4A and 4B ). Each compound hinge system  300  comprises a hinge  310  and a plurality of pins  320 ,  330 ,  340 . The hinge  310  may be made of any substantially rigid material such as metal, hardened plastic or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the hinge  310  is made of metal. The height H A  of the hinge varies depending on the size of the case  50  and whether a single or multiple hinge systems  300  are used, but the height H A  generally is in the range of about 4 to 30 inches.  
      The hinge  310  includes a middle region  312 , a side region  314  and a pair of lateral extensions  316 . The side region  314  includes a substantially straight vertical edge  315  which is positioned adjacent to the door  100  of the case  50 . The lateral extensions  316  are disposed on the opposite side of the hinge  310  from the side region  314 . The lateral extensions  316  are configured to be received within recesses  210  disposed in the body  200  of the case  50  as described further below. Preferably, the lateral extensions  316  extend approximately ½ to 1 inch beyond the middle edge  318  of the hinge  310 . The total width W A  of the hinge is typically in the range of about 2 to 5 inches.  
      The thickness or depth D A  of the hinge may be uniform or non-uniform and generally ranges from approximately ¼ inch to about ¾ inch ( FIG. 5 ). The depth D A  of the hinge  310  may vary depending on the application. In a preferred embodiment, the depth of the middle region  312  of the hinge  310  is less than the depth at either end region  314 ,  316  of the hinge  310 . In other words, the depth of the hinge  310  at the lateral extension  316  may be greater than the depth of the middle region  312  of the hinge  310 . Likewise, the depth of the hinge  310  may be increased at the side region  314  of the hinge  310 . Alternatively, the depth D A  of the hinge  310  may be uniform.  
      The compound hinge system  300  further comprises a plurality of pins  320 ,  330 ,  340  ( FIGS. 4A and 4B ). One or more of the pins  320 ,  330 ,  340  may be integrated into the hinge  310  itself. Alternatively, the hinge  310  may include one or more channels or slots  345  configured to receive a pin  320 ,  330 ,  340 , and the pin  320 ,  330 ,  340  can be fixedly coupled with the channel  345  ( FIG. 5 ). In a further embodiment, one or more of the pins  320 ,  330 ,  340  may be fixedly coupled with the door and/or hinge and inserted into channels or slots  345  disposed on the hinge configured to receive a pin  320 ,  330 ,  340 . The lateral extensions  316  of the hinge  310  each comprise one or more body pins  320  which extend downwardly from the horizontal walls  317  of the lateral extensions  316  ( FIGS. 4A and 4B ). When the hinge  310  is attached to the body  200  of the case  50 , the body pins  320  engage body pin receiving channels or openings  230  disposed within the body  200  of the case  50  as described further below.  
      The hinge  310  also comprises two or more door pins  330 ,  340  disposed on the upper end  344  and lower end  334  of the side region  314  of the hinge  310 . Preferably, both doorpins  330 ,  340  extend vertically with the upper door pin  340  extending upwardly and the lower door pin  330  extending downwardly ( FIG. 4A ). In a preferred embodiment, either the upper  340  or lower door pin  330  is inserted into a cut-out channel  360  configured to receive a pin and the other door pin is either integrated into the hinge  310  or fixedly coupled to the hinge  310 . The cut-out channel  360  facilitates attaching the hinge  310  to the door  100 . In a preferred embodiment, the lower door pin  330  is fixedly attached to the hinge  310  and the upper door pin  340  is inserted through the cut-out channel  360 . In such an embodiment, in order to attach the hinge  310  to the door  100 , the fixed lower door pin  330  is inserted into the complimentary lower door pin channel or opening  140  disposed on the door  100 . The hinge  310  is then positioned such that the opening for the cut-out channel  360  is aligned with the upper door pin opening  150 . The upper door pin  340  is then inserted into the cut-out channel  360  and moved upwardly to enter the upper door pin opening  150 . Preferably, the cut-out channel  360  is configured to fixedly couple the upper door pin  340  to the hinge  310  when the upper door pin  340  is inserted.  
      The body  200  of the case  50  comprises two or more recessed portions  210  configured to receive the lateral extensions  316  of the hinge  310  ( FIG. 4A ). For example, for a case  50  having two compound hinge systems  300 , two pair of recesses  210  are disposed on the body  200  of the case  50  ( FIG. 4B ). A side wall  214  and a back wall  218  of the recessed portion  210  preferably form a right angle ( FIG. 5 ). In this configuration, the hinge  310  may rotate relative to an axis defined by the body pins  320  in approximately a 90 degree angle when the body pins  320  are inserted into the body pin openings  230 . Alternatively, the angle of the recessed portion  210  may be varied to allow the hinge  310  to rotate in a larger or smaller range. The bottom wall  220  of each recessed portion  210  of the body  200  comprises a receiving channel or body pin opening  230  configured to receive the body pin  320  disposed within the lateral extensions  316  of the hinge  310  ( FIGS. 4A and 4B ). Preferably, the height H B  of the recessed portions  210  disposed on the body  200  are greater than the combined height H C  of the lateral extension  316  of the hinge  310  and the exposed portion of the body pin  320 . As described further below, this allows a user to raise the door  100  and disengage the door  100  from the body  200 .  
      The door  100  comprises one or more recessed portions  130  configured to receive the hinge  310  ( FIG. 3 ). In a single compound hinge system  300 , the recessed portion  130  extends from an upper door region  134  to a lower door region  136 . The door  100  also comprises two or more pair of door pin receiving channels or openings  140 ,  150  configured to receive the door pins  330 ,  340  disposed within the side region  314  of the hinge  310  ( FIGS. 4A and 4B ). Preferably, the two door pin openings  140 ,  150  are oriented in opposite directions such that the lower door pin opening  140  extends downwardly and the upper door pin opening  150  extends upwardly. Securing the door pins  330 ,  340  within the pair of door openings  140 ,  150  fixes the hinge  310  to the door  100 , and allows the door  100  to rotate relative to an axis defined by the door pins  330  approximately 180 degrees relative to the hinge  310 . Thus, by combining the axes of rotation of the two hinge connection points, the door  100  may rotate approximately 270 degrees relative the body  200 . In cases having two compound hinge systems  300 , an intermediate door region  170  protrudes from two recessed portions  130  and includes a pair of door pin openings  175  each configured to receive door pins  330 ,  340  ( FIG. 4B ).  
      In a preferred embodiment the door  100  and body  200  comprise one or more complimentary latch systems  400  disposed on the side opposite the compound hinge  300  ( FIGS. 1-3 ). The latch systems  400  may be of any form known in the art. Preferably, one or more of the latch systems  400  include a lock (not shown) for securing the door  100  to the body  200 . If two or more cases  50  have been stacked on top of each other, the latch systems  400  can be engaged or disengaged as necessary without the need to unstack the cases. By requiring only one or two latch systems  400 , the case  50  can be rapidly opened by a user allowing for rapid deployment and quick access to the contents of the case.  
      In a further embodiment, the door  100  may comprise means for securing the door  100  to the body  200  when the door  100  is in the full open position and lies flat against the side  204  of the case  50  as shown in  FIG. 3 . For example, the door  100  may comprise a catch, cord, protrusion or the like that can be removably coupled with a complimentary structure such as a hook, catch or slot (not shown) on the body  200 . The securing means (not shown) may be disposed at the end of the door  100  or may be disposed on the exterior face  104  of the door  100 .  
      The interior chamber  205  of the case  50  comprises molded platforms  250  disposed at the each of the corners  260  of the case  50  ( FIGS. 6A, 6B , and  7 ). The platforms  250  comprise a raised portion of the walls  255  of the interior chamber  205  and include one more inserts  275  ( FIG. 6B ). In a most preferred embodiment, the platforms  250  are angled at about a 45 degree angle relative to the horizontal wall  280  of the interior chamber  205 , but the angle of the platforms  250  may vary from about 30 to 75 degrees relative to the horizontal wall  280  ( FIGS. 6A and 7 ).  
      The molded platform  250  reduces the amount of space necessary for the frame connection  500  as compared to current systems which require use of a metal platform. In addition, the molded-in format reduces the overall cost of the case  50  in comparison to use of a metal frame connector. The use of a molded plastic platform  250  rather than a metal frame connector also decreases the weight of the case  50  and facilitates use a support frame or shockrack frame  500  within the case  50 .  
      The platform  250  may comprise two or more inserts  275  disposed at each of the eight corners  260  of the case  50  to allow the frame  500  configuration to be modified based on the needs of the user ( FIG. 6B ). The inserts  275  are configured to engage a shock absorber or snubber  600 . The inserts  275  may comprise female threaded layers  272  that receive a male threaded end  610  of a shock absorber  600 . In alternative embodiments, the insert  275  may comprise other forms of connectors to secure a shock absorber  600  or frame  500  to the platform  250 .  
      The shock absorber  600  used in conjunction with the platform  250  may be of any type known in the art. Preferably, the shock absorber  600  has a cylindrical body  620 , a male threaded end  610  and a female threaded end  630 . The male threaded end  610  is configured to be removably coupled with the insert  275  of the platform  250 . The female threaded end  630  is configured to be removably coupled with a shockrack frame or other form of support frame  500 .  
      The door  100  and body  200  of the case  50  may further comprise complementary grooves and/or protrusions  190 ,  290  configured to engage one another when the door  100  is closed against the body  200  ( FIGS. 2-3 ). The complementary grooves and protrusions  190 ,  290  create a seal to prevent dust, water, other contaminants from entering case  50 . The case  50  may also include other features known to those in the art such as handles  700 , mating grooves for stacking cases  800 , and the like ( FIGS. 1-3  and  8 ).  
      In operation, a case  50  includes a body  200  and a door  100  with the door  100  being secured to the body  200  by one or more compound hinge systems  300  and one or more latch systems  400  ( FIGS. 1-3 ). If the case  50  is in the closed position, the latch systems  400  are engaged and may be locked. To open the case  50 , the user unlocks the case  50  and disengages the latch systems  400 . Once the one or more latches  400  are disengaged, the door  100  may be swung in the direction indicated by the arrow in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the door  100  may be swung such that the exterior face  104  of the door  100  is adjacent to the side  204  of the body  200 . In this position, the door  100  rests along the side  204  of the body  200  and does not obstruct access to the interior chamber  205  of the case  50 . In addition, the door  100  does not obstruct a user from placing other cases or equipment in close proximity to the side  204  of the case  50  because the profile of the door  100  is reduced. When the door  100  is fully opened such that the door  100  lies flat against the side wall  204  of the body  200 , the door  100  may be secured to the body  100  if a securing means is present.  
      If desired, the user may remove the door  100  and hinge  310  from the case  50  when the door  100  is open. The door  100  and hinge  310  may be removed by lifting on the door  100  and/or hinge  310  to displace the body pins  320  from the body pin openings  230  ( FIGS. 4A and 4B ). Once the body pins  320  have been removed from the body pin openings  230 , the hinge  310  and door  100  can be moved out and away from the body  200  of the case  50 . Removal of the door  100  facilitates use of the contents of the case  50  and creates additional space for use of other equipment. In order to close the case  50 , the door  100  may be reattached by placing the body pins  320  in the body pin openings  230  and then swinging the door  100  to the closed position. The latch systems  400  can then be engaged and the case  50  can be locked if desired.  
      While the invention is susceptible to various modifications, and alternative forms, specific examples thereof have been shown in the drawings and herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the particular forms or methods disclosed, but to the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.