Improvements in connection with Travellers' Sample Cases, also applicable for Dressing Cases, Jewel Cases, Safes, Travelling Trunks, Portmanteaus, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1808
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Aug., 1899-Accepted, 4th Nov., 1899'
000
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Aug., 1899-Accepted, 4th Nov., 1899*
PROVIDIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in connection with Travellers' Sample Cases, also
applicable for Dressing Cases, Jewel Cases, Safes, Travelling
Trunks, Portmanteaus, and the like.
I, THOMAS AUGUSTUS SANDS, of May Villa, Ettington Road, Aston, near
Birmingham, Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention which is especially adapted for travellers sample cases (although
it will well apply for the other articles named above) consists in arranging a
series of trays or drawers the one above the other in a suitable case in such a
manner that upon pulling out the bottom one the others will follow by a kind
of telescopic movement. For my purpose I fit up a suitable case of leather or
other material with a lift up lid and fall down front to contain the trays or
drawers.
The top tray is a fixture in the case and attached to the lower part of each end
of this fixed tray is a metal plate (preferably) having a long slot in same from
back to front. At the top of the drawer beneath is fixed a stop screw or stud at
each back end which traverses the slotted plates, to the lower part of each end
of this drawer or tray similar slotted plates are attached with the stop screws in
the next succeeding one and so on according to the number of drawers or trays.
By opening the lid and letting down the front of the case, the act of drawing
forward the bottom drawer or tray to its fullest extent brings the stop screws
to the ends of the slots in the plates on the drawer above which is also in turn
drawn forward in the same manner and so on the one after the other until each
drawer or tray is pulled out.
Thus the contents can be expeditiously exposed and examined.
. The drawers or trays have glass lids or not as desired.
When the drawers or trays are pushed back in the case they lie compactly the
one above the other, the front of the case is then closed up and the lid locked
down. The case is provided with a handle or handles.
Instead of the metal plates being attached to the ends of the drawers or trays
upon the sides as it were they may be attached to the top. Or sometimes the
metal plates may be dispensed with by grooving the ends of the trays or drawers
and having fixed studs or stops attached to the trays above to run in said grooves.
A pocket is arranged upon the outside of the case preferably at the back to
contain a travellers accounts show cards and such like.
Sometimes the case may be made double that is to say I arrange two cases
constructed as above back to back so that they may close up as one case.
As previously stated for other purposes than travellers sample cases the
principle of my invention can be applied such as for dress boxes, travelling
trunks shirt cases, safes, jewel and dressing cases and the like.
If desired springs levers or other mechanical contrivances may be employed

page_text: and suitably attached so that the drawers or trays may be projected from the
case automatically as the front falls down.
Dated this 25th day of November 1898.
EDWD. J. PAYNE & SON,
Warwick Chambers, 104, Colmore Row, Birmingham,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in connection with Travellers' Sampie Cases, also
applicable for Dressing Cases, Jewel Cases, Safes, Travelling
Trunks, Portmanteaus, and the like.
I, THOMAS AUGUSTUS SANDS, of May Villa, Ettington Road, Aston, near
Birmingham, Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement reference being had to the drawings
accompanying this specification and to the figures and letters shewn therein.
My invention which is especially adapted for travellers sample cases is also
applicable for numerous other purposes such as the articles named above or for
other situations where a nest of drawers may be required and which can be
practically all withdrawn or projected by one movement which is the main
feature of my present invention, each drawer or tray governing the action of the
other.
I will proceed to describe my invention with regard to a traveller's sample
case by way of illustration. Figure 1 represents an open front elevation of the
case. Figure 2 a closed view. Figure 3 a top plan. Figure 4 represents in
side elevation the case shewing the drawers or trays pulled out. Figure 5 repre-
sents a part plan of same. Figure 6 shews one of the slotted metal plates.
Figure 7 shews an alternative catch arrangement for sliding out the drawers or
trays. Figure 8 shews an arrangement in which rollers are used for the same
purpose.
For my purpose I fit up a suitable case A of leather or other material having a
lift up lid and fall down front A' A² to contain a series of drawers or trays B
arranged the one above the other in such a manner that upon pulling out the
bottom one the others will follow by a sliding or telescopic movement. The top
tray B is preferably a fixture. Attached to the ends of this fixed tray are metal
plates C having long horizontal slots C¹ provided in same from back to front.
At the top of the drawer B next to the tray B¹ on each end is fixed a peg, stud
or screw D at the back of the drawer B which engages and traverses the slot C¹
on each end of the tray B. Upon the lower part of each end of the drawer
or sliding tray B similar slotted plates C are attached with the studs pegs or
projections I fixed in the next succeeding drawer and so on according to the
number of drawers or trays used. By opening the lid and letting down the front
of the case as in Figure 1, the act of drawing forward the bottom drawer or tray
by the finger piece or loop E to its fullest extent brings the studs or pegs D up
to the end of the slots C¹ in the plates C situated in the drawer or tray above
which also in turn is drawn forward in like manner and so on the one after the
other until each drawer or tray is pulled out in tiers the one above the other as in
Figures 4 & 5 when the contents can be readily exposed to view and examined.
Glass or transparent lids or covers may or may not be provided for the drawers
or trays as desired. When the drawers or trays B are pushed back into the
case A they lie compactly the one above the other the front of the case is closed
up and the lid locked down. A handle E¹ is provided.

page_text: As seen in Figure 7 instead of using the studs or pegs I employ a metal
flanged piece or catch D¹ on each end to engage and slide in the slotted plates C
and grooves formed in the ends of the drawers.
To enable the drawers to travel smoothly I sometimes use rollers or wheels
of rubber or other material which are suitably arranged and which may be used
in addition to the studs or pegs above described or may be used in lieu of same
as indicated in Figure 8 D2 in which case the said rollers can be made to travel
in the slot C of the plate C or upon ledges or rolling ways.
A pocket F is provided upon the outside of the case A to contain accounts
show cards and such like.
As a modification in the fitting up of the case, it may be made double. i.e. two
cases arranged back to back to close up as one case and the internal arrangements
duplicated.
For many other purposes than sample cases the principle of my invention
(viz.withdrawing a series of drawers or trays by one motion) will apply such
as for dress boxes, travelling trunks, shirt cases, jewel and dressing cases, safes,
cash boxes, or tills, and for analagous purposes.
In addition to the arrangements described if required suitable springs levers
or other mechanical contrivances can be employed in connection with the drawers
or trays so that they will be projected automatically by arranging two or more
spiral springs at the interior back of the case or box which bear against the
bottom drawer or tray thus when the front of the case is let down the springs
are released from their contracted position and in expanding shoot the lower
drawer or tray out which in turn draws out the others. Or the springs can be so
arranged as to act upon each drawer or tray individually for the purpose of pro-
jecting same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
I. In travellers sample cases and the like the general arrangements by which
a series of drawers or trays are withdrawn or projected from the case practically
simultaneously or by one motion consisting of the slotted plates attached to the
drawers or trays and the studs pegs metal catches or rollers attached to each
succeeding drawer or tray and engaging or working in said slotted metal plates
all in combination and operating substantially as and for the purpose described
and illustrated in the drawings.
II. In sample cases and other cases, travelling trunks, and the like and in
safes, cash tills, cash boxes, and for analogous uses, projecting a series of drawers
or trays by operating the lower drawer (or tray) said drawer travelling on studs
metal catches rollers or wheels working in slots or grooves in metal plates or
on ledges or rolling ways or similar devices all in combination and operating
substantially in manner described.
III. In sample cases, and for analogous purposes projecting a series of drawers
or trays automatically by means of springs or levers or other mechanical con-
trivances for operating said drawers or trays substantially as and for the purpose
described.