IMPROVEMENTS IN TRUNKS AND PORTEMANTEAUS
Year: 1884

page_text: I FRANK WIRTH of the firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors of
Frankfort on the Main in the Empire of Germany do hereby declare the nature of
the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRUNKS AND PORTEMANTEAUS" to be
as follows:
This Invention consists of a sectional travelling trunk or case whose capacity can
be varied according to requirements so that it may be used either as a hand trunk
or portmanteau or as a heavy goods or sample trunk at will.
•
The trunk comprises top and bottom sections and intermediate sections of which
the two former may be fitted together directly or with the interposition of one or
more of the latter according to the carrying capacity required. The sections
correspond in shape and dimensions and each has a bottom, the top one alone
having also a hinged lid, which is secured by a hasp and lock. The lower
and intermediate sections have cach a flange or lip on all four sides, projecting
upwards from the internal edge and adapted to fit within the four sides of the
superposed section the sides of each of these sections extending below the bottom
for the purpose of receiving the same, and the upper and each of the intermediate
sections has a flange or lip on its four sides projecting downwards from the external
edge and adapted to fit over the four sides of the section below the joints between
the sections being thus overlapped or covered both internally and externally.
These flanges or lips are strips of metal secured to the sides of the sections. The
lower and intermediate sections have each an internal upwardly projecting ear on
each of the four sides which project above the internal flange above mentioned and
when the sections are fitted together pass through corresponding apertures in the
bottom of the section above and have cross pins or rods passed through them which
lie on the bottom of the said section and thus securely lock the two superposed
sections together. Any required number of sections may thus be united to form a
rigid structure or other means of connecting the sections may be adopted.
When a number of sections are thus united the whole may be further secured by
an encircling strap passing through staples.
Each section has projecting ears at the sides and the upper one has the same on
the top for the attachment of hand-straps by means of snap hooks or otherwise.
Dated this 14th day of January 1884.

page_text: I, FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, of
Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany, do hereby declare the nature of
the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRUNKS AND PORTMANTEAUS," and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention consists of a sectional travelling trunk or case whose capacity can
be varied according to requirements so that it may be used either as a hand trunk
or portmanteau or as a heavy goods or sample trunk at will.
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a sectional trunk for samples or heavy.
goods.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same arranged as a hand trunk by
removing the intermediate sections.
"
Figure 3 is a side view of the upper section with the lid open.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of an intermediate section.
Figure 5. is a vertical section showing the mode of fastening the sections
together.
Figure 6 is an underside plan of an intermediate section.
Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10, represent a slight variation of the method of carrying the
invention into effect.
The trunk comprises top and bottom sections A B and intermediate sections C of
which the two former may be fitted together directly as in figure 2 or with the
interposition of one or more of the latter as in figure 1 according to the carrying
capacity required. The sections correspond in shape and dimensions and the top.
and each intermediate section has a bottom b the top one alone having a hinged
lid D which is secured by a hasp u and lock u, whilst the lower section has a closed
bottom b. The lower section B and the intermediate sections C have each a flange
or lip g' (figures 4 and 5) on all four sides, projecting upwards from the internal.
edge and adapted to fit within the four sides of the superposed section as shown in
figure 5 the sides of each of the sections A, C, extending below the bottom b for
the purpose of receiving the lip g¹ of the section below; and the upper section A
and each of the intermediate sections C has a flange or lip g on its four sides
projecting downwards from the external edge and adapted to fit over the four sides
of the section below, the joints between the sections being thus overlapped or
covered both internally and externally, as shewn in figure 5.-These flanges or
lips g g' are strips of iron or steel secured to the sides of the sections. The lower
section B and intermediate sections C have each an internal upwardly projecting
ear on cach of the four sides which ears k project above the internal flange g¹ and
wh the sections are fitted together pass through corresponding apertures S in the
bottom of the section (C or A) above and have cross pins or rods passed through
them which lie on the bottom 6 of the said superposed section and thus securely
lock the two sections together as shown in figure 5. Any required number of
sections may thus be united to form a rigid structure or other means of connecting
the sections may be adopted.
"
.
j
1
When a number of sections are thus united the whole may be further secured by
an encircling strap r passing through staples.
Each section has projecting cars e at the front side, and the sections A B have
the same on the top and bottom for the attachment of hand straps h by means of
snap hooks c or otherwise. In the trunk shown in figure 1` having one or more
5

page_text: intermediate sections, the handles are attached to the top and bottom of A B and in
the hand trunk shown in figure 2 they are attached side by side as shown so as to
be held in one hand.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1 A sectional trunk or case composed of a top and bottom' compartment
(provided the one with a lid) and one or more intermediate trays or receptacles the
several sections of the trunk being adapted to be fitted together substantially as
shown and described.
2nd In a sectional trunk composed of two or more superposed trays or
compartments as shown in figures 2 and 1 the peculiar mode of jointing and
uniting the several sections together substantially as described and shown in
figures 4, 5, and 6.