Improvements in Trunks, Boxes, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Nov., 1897-Accepted, 18th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Trunks, Boxes, and the like.
We, EDWARD DAVIS BEAN, Manufacturer, of 33, Appleton Street, and
EDWARD PAYSON WHITE, Merchant, of 18, Florence Avenue, both of Arlington,
in the County of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement:--
My invention relates more particularly to trunks, but applies also to cases and
boxes of all kinds that have covers that are adapted to be removed and replaced;
and consists in the construction and arrangement of the cover and its connections;
it also consists in certain details, which may be best understood by reference to
the drawings and specification.
My improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a view in perspective, showing trunk open.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of a part of the trunk, the cover being represented
as closed.
Figure 3 is a cross vertical section showing, in section, the cover in its open
position.
Figure 4 shows in perspective one of the upper rear corner pieces.
Figure 5 shows in perspective one of the upper front corner pieces.
Figure 6 shows in perspective (looking from under) one of the lower corner
pieces.
Figure 7 shows in vertical section (taken on line X-X of Figure 2), the
manner of connecting the cover to the ends of the trunk, so that it may be free
to slide back and forth.
I have chosen for illustration, a trunk; but my improvement will apply equally
is to be repeatedly removed and
well to any box or case of which the cover
replaced.
In the drawings, the body of the trunk is represented by A, B, which may be
made of any style, shape and size and may be divided into compartments and
provided with trays and other accessories, as may be desired.
The cover is shown in position in Figure 2 and consists of the parts C, D, E, F,
which are hinged together, the part F being hinged to the back of the trunk
see Figure 3.
The cover, when being closed, slides under the end overhanging clips NN,
and the front edge of the member C, slips under the clip M M', its corners being
held by the overhanging corner pieces H H H H H H as shown. The parts C,
D, E, F, that form the cover, may be re-inforced by strips C2E2 D2 for instance.
The number of members that together form the cover, may be varied without
changing the character or scope of the invention.

page_text: In the trunk illustrated I use two locks P, one at each end of the trunk. The
hasp of the lock is shown at Pi. The lock may be of any desired kind, simple or
complex, as the user may require.
The central piece D of the cover, is made narrow and is provided with a metal
clip R, Figure 7, which engages with a clip S, attached to the inside of the end of
the trunk, so that the said part 1), can freely slide from front to rear, the clip S
is also shown in dotted lines in Figure 3.
One of the rear corner pieces of my trunk is shown in Figure 4. These corner
pieces are used on the rear part only and the boss K' is not undercut, as it only
serves as a strengthening guard and as a friction piece, when the trunk is dragged
on its edge or upside down.
The front corner pieces H H¹ H2 (Figure 5) are undercut as indicated at H
and serve as clips to hold down the corners of the cover of the trunk, the rounded
parts H of the corner pieces serve as bosses to drag the trunk upon and also as
guards for protecting the trunk.
The lower corner pieces L, one of which is shown in perspective in Figure 6,
are made as shown and are each provided with bosses L' and L2. The boss L' is
on the outer corner, as shown in Figure 1 and 6, and serves as a guard and also
to reduce friction in dragging the trunk on its side or edges. The boss L³ is
located directly under the trunk and takes the place of a caster or roller to admit
of moving the trunk on the floor or carpet, without injury.
To open my trunk, the hasps PI P¹ of the locks P, P, are released by unlocking
by the key, this action released the pieces E and F and as the hinges E' that
connect these parts are provided with springs which have a tendency to throw
up the parts E, F, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2, the said parts E and F
will rise so as to lift the catch of the hasp out of connection with the lock, so that
the user can push the members C and D back under, and free them from the
clips N, and into the position shown in Figures 1 and 3; thus opening the trunk.
The trunk can be closed by turning the member C down and sliding it forward
under the clips N N, this will cause the other parts of the cover to follow, a slight
pressure at the junction of the members E, F, will force them down and cause
the catch of the hasp to engage with the locking device, so that the cover is closed
and locked.
Instead of having the hinges E' provided with springs, springs may be placed
in the ends of the trunk near the locks and serve the same purpose; or springs
may be omitted altogether and the members E, F, lifted by hand so as to draw
the catch of the hasps out of the locks.
It will be observed that the novelty of my invention is principally embodied in
the cover of the trunk and its adjuncts. The cover consists of four distinct parts,
which may be referred to as follows: first, a rear part F, hinged to the rear of the
trunk; second, a folding part E, (hinged to the rear part F', and also to a sliding
part D,) and adapted to fold against the rear part; third, a sliding part D, adapted
to be moved back and forth, and when the trunk is closed to engage with the over-
hanging clips N N, which, in connection with the locks P P, hold the cover
securely in place; fourth, the part C, which is hinged to the sliding part D, and
forms the front part of the cover.
The front corner pieces, one of which is shown in perspective in Figure 5, have
a part H2, which projects over the inner angle of the sides, as shown, so that when
placed on the trunk, the part H2 rests directly upon the upper edges of the wall
pieces of the trunk, at their corner junctions; this construction ensures the corner
pieces against being forced downward by any weight or blow, that they may be
subjected to.
The rear corner pieces K also have a projecting part K¹ that rests upon the
corner junctions of the side pieces. In fact if the trunk be turned upside down,
so as to lie in that position on the floor, the corner pieces will prevent the top of
the trunk from injury.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1st. In a trunk or similar receptacle, a cover consisting of a rear member F,
hinged to the back of the trunk, a folding member E, hinged to the said rear
member, a sliding member D, hinged to the said folding member and holding it,
over-hanging clips N N, adapted to engage with and hold the said sliding member;
a front folding member C, hinged to the said sliding member and an overhanging
clip M, adapted to engage with and hold the said front member, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. In a trunk or similar receptacle, a cover consisting of a rear member F,
hinged to the back of the trunk; a folding member E, hinged to the said rear
member; lock hasps P1 P¹, attached to said folding member, locks P P; a sliding
member D, hinged to the said folding member and holding it, overhanging
clips NN, adapted to engage with and hold the said sliding member; a front
folding member C, hinged to the said sliding member, and an over hanging
clip M, adapted to engage with and hold the said front member, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
3rd. In a trunk or similar receptacle, a cover consisting of a rear member F,
hinged to the back of the trunk, a folding member E, hinged to the said rear
member, a sliding member D, hinged to the said folding member and
holding it, clips R and S respectively attached to the sliding member
and to the walls of the trunk, whereby the said sliding member is
held from being lifted or raised up, yet free to slide, over hanging
clips NN, adapted to engage with and hold the said sliding member;
a front folding member C, hinged to the said sliding member, and an over-
hanging clip M, adapted to engage with and hold the said front member, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4th: In a trunk or similar receptacle, a cover consisting of a rear member F,
hinged to the back of the trunk; a folding member E, hinged to the said rear
member; spring hinges connecting the rear and folding members; a sliding
member D, hinged to the said folding member and holding it; over-hanging
clips NN, adapted to engage with and hold the said sliding member; a front
folding member C, hinged to the said sliding member and an overhanging clip M,
adapted to engage with and hold the said front member; substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
5th: In a trunk or similar receptacle, having a flat top, corner pieces having
projecting members, adapted to over-lie and be supported by the corner junctions
of the walls of the trunk. Substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6th In the cover of a trunk or similar receptacle, in combination, a rear
member hinged to the back of the trunk; a folding member hinged to said
rear member; a sliding member hinged to said folding member; a front folding
member hinged to said sliding member; mechanism adapted to prevent the said
sliding member from lifting from the trunk, but to allow it to slide laterally;
and suitable locks and fastenings for securing the folding members, when the
cover is closed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.