An Improved Trunk.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 7th June, 1890-Accepted, 12th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Trunk.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM BARKER, of 151 Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, (a communication to me from abroad by John M. Wolbrecht, of Tarrytown,
Westchester County, and State of New York, United States of America, Inventor)
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
The main part of my improved trunk is cylindrical, provided with one or more
cross-partitions dividing it into compartments, each provided with a door. By
revolving this any door can be brought to the top, and, being opened, affords access
to that compartiment, while the other compartments remain undisturbed.
This revolving part is mounted in an exterior casing of a generally rounded form.
It is provided at the mid-length with a sufficiently broad bearing at the bottom, to
allow it to stand reliably in the correct position. A portion of the top is fixed and
is provided with a fixed door. Another portion, also affording a considerable cavity
in which to store clothing or other goods, is hinged to the fixed part. The trunk is
opened by unlocking and turning back this movable part of the top. The movable
part of the top is hinged so far forward that it may be turned back while the trunk
stands touching the wall. When the movable part is thus turned upward and back-
ward, access may be had to it or to the other-the fixed portion of the top-and by
properly turning the revolving part and opening the proper door access may be
obtained to any desired compartiment therein.
The invention greatly lessens the trouble of reaching the contents of a trunk,
and reduces the chances of the trunk or its contents being injured during
transportation.
Each compartment being perfectly independent of the other. any one may be
packed or unpacked without disturbing any other part of the trunk. By having the
lid of the trunk open independently of the two ends of the trunk I avoid injury to
the hinges and locks while the trunk is being rolled on end.
Dated this 29th day of November 1880
FREDERICK WILLIAM BARKER.
By his Agents,
Horn & Son.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Trunk.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM BARKER of 151 Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, (a communication to me from abroad by John M. Wolbrecht, of Tarrytown,
Westchester County and State of New York, United States of America, 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 :-
The main part of my trunk is cylindrical, provided with one or more cross-partitions
dividing it into compartments, each provided with a door. By revolving this any
door can be brought to the top, and being opened, affords access to that compartment,
while the other compartments remain undisturbed. This revolving part is mounted
in an exterior casing of a generally-rounded form. It is provided at the mid-length
with a sufficiently-broad bearing at the bottom to allow it to stand reliably in the
correct position. A portion of the top is fixed and is provided with a fixed door.
Another portion, also affording a considerable cavity in which to store clothing or
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page_text: other goods, is hinged to the fixed part. The trunk is opened by unlocking and
turning back this moveable part of the top. The moveable part of the top is hinged
so far forward that it may be turned back while the trunk stands touching the wall.
When the moveable part is thus turned upward and backward, access may be obtained
to it or to the other-the fixed portion of the top-and by properly turning the
revolving part and opening the proper door access may be obtained to any desired
compartment therein.
The invention greatly lessens the trouble of reaching the contents of a trunk, and
reduces the chances of the trunk or its contents being injured during transportation.
Each compartment being perfectly independent of the other, any one may be packed
or unpacked without disturbing any other part of the trunk. By having the lid of
the trunk open independently of the two ends of the trunk, I avoid injury to the hinges
and locks while the trunk is being rolled on end.
The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, and represent what I
consider the best means of carrying out the invention.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the trunk closed. Figure 2 is an end view of
the same.
Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section showing the lid raised and one of the
compartments open. The remaining figures show details on a larger scale. Figure 4
is a longitudinal section. Figure 5 is an interior face view of a portion of the end.
Figure 6 is a horizontal section of a portion. Figure 7 is an elevation of the handle,
with a section of a portion of the adjacent end of the trunk.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where
they occur.
A is a cylindrical portion, having its axis prolonged by pivots a. Its interior is
divided into three compartments m³ m² m³ by partitions A and A. Access is obtained
to the several compartments through doors M M² M³, each hinged to the revolving
part A at one edge and secured at the other by one or more buttons or other convenient
fastenings. The bearings a are supported in corresponding holes extending part way
through the ovoid ends of an exterior casing B. The bottom of this exterior casing B
is semi-cylindrical in the interior and allows the cylinder A to revolve freely in it.
The exterior is provided with short feet B' B₁, which enable it to stand reliably on
a flat surface, as a floor. The casing B extends considerably above the cylinder and
affords room at the top for additional clothing or other goods beyond what is packed
in the revolving part.
B2 is a vertical partition. A large portion of the area of this partition is a door B³,
hinged at the upper edge and fastened by buttons or other convenient fastenings at
the lower edge. This partition B2 divides the considerable space in the trunk above
the cylinder A into two equal compartments c¹ c².
Dis a moveable portion. It is hinged to the stationary part at the upper edge,
and when closed may be secured by locks E E at the lower and front edge. Access
is obtained to the compartment c' through a door D', equipped with hinges and
buttons. The other compartment c³ is closed by a stationary portion of the casing B.
Access may be obtained to this compartment through the door B³ when the moveable
part D is raised.
The articles stored in each compartment may be removed and restored or exchanged
without disturbing the articles in the other compartments. The moveable portion or
cover D holds itself open by gravity. Opening the trunk by lifting and turning back
this moveable part D causes the latter to extend backward only to the same extent as
the trunk body. The trunk can be opened without moving it away from the wall
against which it may be standing. When the moveable portion is turned down and
fastened, the locks secure all the compartments. The ovoid form of the ends greatly
facilitates the handling of the trunk by rolling on the edge. There may be one or
more straps around the whole, and loops may be provided to insure the retention of
the straps. A coil spring 6 in each end presses upward against the corresponding
pivot a of the revolving cylinder. The pivots a are each held in a slot to allow a
little vertical motion. When the lid is closed, it presses the cylinder down, forming
a close contact between the lower half of the cylinder and the inside of the bottom

page_text: of the trunk. On opening the lid the springs b re-act, lift the pivots a, and consequently
the entire cylinder, and leave play enough between the cylinder and the trunk to allow
easy revolution of the cylinder. There is no space wasted for the sake of easy
movement of the mechanism.
The handles L are each fitted to revolve on a pivot l. The handle can be firmly
held in one hand while the trunk is being rolled on its edge by the other
hand.
I is a binding or tire, of iron or steel, applied round the edge of each end to
increase the strength and also to enable it to endure wear in being rolled on
the end.
The top of my trunk perforins two functions-storing clothing or other
articles, and protecting the revolving part below from pressure when other trunks or
other heavy articles are piled upon it.
I attach importance to the fact that the moveable part D is enclosed between the
fixed end pieces, so that the fixed binders or tires I efficiently protect the hinges or
lock when the trunk is rolled.
Modifications may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing
the advantages of the invention. There may be a greater or less number of the com-
partments m¹ m² m³.
The proportion of the compartments c¹ c² to the other
compartments may be varied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :
1. The revolving cylindrical case A, having one or more partitions A¹ A², and
doors M¹ M², adapted to revolve within a trunk-casing, in combination with a top
containing compartments c¹ c², performing the double function of storing articles and
protecting the revolving part, as herein specified.
2. The ovoidal casing B, having fixed end pieces extending up so as to protect
the moveable top, in combination with the latter, having compartments, one of which
is moveable by turning upward and backward from the centre of the top, and with
the cylindrical case A, capable of revolving in the lower portion and having two or
more doors M¹ M² and compartments m¹ m², as herein specified.
3. The trunk described, having the spring bacting under the pivots to raise the
cylinder for free motion and to allow it to be depressed and held in combination with
the revolving casing A divided into compartments and equipped with doors, and with
the ovoid casing B, having a portion moveable, all arranged to serve substantially as
herein specified.
Dated this 7th day of June 1890.
FREDERICK WILLIAM BARKER.
By his Agents,
Horn & Son.