Improvements in Trunks, Knapsacks, Valises, and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMI LEIE DI DUIFICATION.
Improvements in Trunks, Knapsacks, Valises, and the like.
I, ARTHUR WILLIAM MCLEOD KEEN, of No. 83 Ottawa Street, in the City of
Montreal, District of Montreal and Province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada,
Inventor, 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 following statement :-
This invention has for its object to produce a trunk, knapsack, valise or like
receptacle, which shall be stronger, cheaper and more durable than those at present
in use, from the nature of the material employed in its construction and from the
form of such construction itself, which, in addition, is such as to allow of the more
convenient or ready access to the interior of the trunk or receptacle, and, further-
more, dispenses with the use of hinges which are always liable to be easily broken
or damaged.
The invention consists in making the five sided trunk body of a single metal
casting (aluminium being the preferable metal), and providing such body either
with a hinged lid of the usual type (though of metal the same as the body), or with
sliding doors, which latter would render the trunk or receptacle especially useful for
travellers having goods to display.
For full comprehension however of the invention, reference must be had to the
annexed drawings forming a part of this Specification, in which like symbols indicate
corresponding parts, and wherein Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of two
forms of trunk constructed according to my invention and provided with sliding
doors, Figures 3 and 4 being respectively transverse and longitudinal vertical
sections of the same.
The body of the trunk is formed of a single metallic casting (preferably of
aluminium), about one quarter of an inch in thickness, comprising the back or
bottom piece A, two sides B B, end pieces C C¹ and partitions D D¹ D² dividing
the interior into compartments E, E', É² and E³.
The trunk shown in Figure 1 is made more after the usual trunk form, while that
shown in Figure 2 is a novel form which will be especially useful for commercial
travellers and others having goods to display, or be found a most convenient
construction for a knapsack.
In Figure 1 the whole top side or door space is of the same level and the usual
runners or castors a a are on the opposite or bottom side, while in Figure 2 the
compartments E3 E³ are extended frontward by projecting the end piece C¹ and the
partition D¹ forward, and by placing the runners b b on the end piece c', the trunk
assumes a cupboard like form, the partitions D D¹ serving as shelves therein.
The doors F F F F are also formed of single metallic castings and arranged to
slide in the grooves fff"¹¹ in the end pieces C C' and the partition D¹, the
partitions D and D' serving as effective supports for the doors when closed and
preventing any inward bulging of same.
Suitable stops 9 9 are arranged centrally of the grooves ƒƒƒ ƒ and the
doors F F F F are notched, as at 91 9', to fit such stops in order that the
movement of the doors will be properly limited.
If desired a hat box can be cast in one with the bottom or back piece of the
trunk body, as indicated at H. Figures 3 and 4, and a suitable strap be used for
holding the hat in place.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A trunk or like receptacle having its body and lid or cover formed of separate
single metallic castings as set forth.
2. A trunk or like receptacle formed of aluminium.
3. A trunk or like receptacle of oblong form containing transverse partitions, and
adapted to be set upon its end in order that said partitions may be used as shelves
for the purpose set forth.
4. A trunk or like receptacle having its body formed of a separate single metallic
casting and provided with sliding lids as set forth.
Dated thin 10th 1
1000
ARTHUR W. M. KEEN,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.