Four ply fold-up display and carrying case

• US 4,998,616 A
• Filed: 07/05/1989
• Issued: 03/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alltrade Tools LLC
• Original Assignee: Alltrade Tools LLC
• Inventors: Hillinger, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Foster, Jimmy G.
• Application Number:
  US07/375,599
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 190/16, 190/17, 190/117, 220/6, 220/7, 220/20, 220/22, 220/520, 206/44.11, 206/45.11, 206/372
• US Class Current: 206/748
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 7/0054 comprising a plurality of hinged panels to be unfolded in one plane for access purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 9/00 Purses, Luggage or bags convertible into objects for other use sacks or packs carried on the body and convertible into other articles A45F4/02; trunk-wardrobes A47B61/06; trunk-beds A47C17/82
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/023 movable relative to one another for access to their interiors

Abstract

A four ply fold-up display and carrying case. The case has four plies which are hinged together. The outer plies are hinged at the bottom, and the inner plies are hinged both at the bottom and the top so that the case opens up in an accordion-like manner so that all four plies have an upwardly facing compartment.

Claims

1. A four ply fold-up display and carrying case comprising:

a first ply comprising a generally rectangular, open compartment having an open side, an outer side, a bottom, two edge sides and a top side, each of said bottom, edge and top sides having an edge at the open side, said first ply having hinge means along the edge of the bottom;

a second ply comprising a generally rectangular, open compartment having an open side, an inner side, a bottom, two edge sides and a top side, each of said bottom, edge and top sides having an edge at the open side, said second ply having bottom hinge means along the edge of the bottom which are hingedly attached to the hinge means of said first ply, and said second ply having top hinge means along the intersection of the inner side and the top side;

a third ply comprising a generally rectangular, open compartment having an open side, an inner side, a bottom, two edge sides and a top side, each of said bottom, edge and top sides having an edge at the open side, said third ply having top hinge means along the intersection of the inner side at the top side, which top hinge means are hingedly attached to the top hinge means of the second ply, and said third ply having bottom hinge means along the edge of the bottom;

a fourth ply comprising a generally rectangular, open compartment having an open side, an outer side, a bottom, two edge sides and a top side, each of said bottom, edge and top sides having an edge at the open side, said fourth ply having hinge means along the edge of the bottom, which hinge means are hingedly attached to the bottom hinge means of the third ply;

a first pair of latch means to latch said inner sides of said second and third plies together; and

a second pair of latch means to latch the first and fourth plies together over the second and third plies whereby said case may be opened so that all plies are facing upwardly thereby displaying the contents of each ply and said case may be closed into a folded configuration and wherein the top sides of the first and fourth plies extend over the top sides of the second and third plies when the carrying case is in a folded configuration.

2. The four ply fold-up display and carrying case of claim 1 wherein said top sides of said first and fourth plies have a center portion and said edge sides of said first and fourth plies extend upwardly past the center portion of said top sides of said first and four plies, and a carrying handle is supported between the extended portions of said edge sides.

3. The four ply fold-up display and carrying case of claim 2 wherein two small compartments are formed between said carrying handle and said extension of said edge sides.

4. The four ply fold-up display and carrying case of claim 3, wherein said carrying handle is formed in two symmetrical halves, one of said halves being held by said first ply and the other of said halves being held by said fourth ply.

5. The four ply fold-up display and carrying case of claim 1 wherein said first pair of latch means are positioned on said, edge sides of said second and third plies.

6. The four ply fold-up display and carrying case of claim 1 wherein said second pair of latch means are positioned on the edge sides of said first and fourth sides.

7. A four ply fold-up display and carrying case comprising:

a first ply comprising a generally rectangular, open compartment having an open side, an outer side, a bottom, two edge sides and a top side, said top side having a center portion, each of said bottom, edge and top sides having an edge at the open side, said first ply having hinge means along the edge of the bottom, and said top side extending past the edges of said edge sides, and said edge sides extending upwardly past the center portion of said top side;

a second ply comprising a generally rectangular, open compartment having an open side, an inner side, a bottom, two edge sides and a top side, each of said bottom, edge and top sides having an edge at the open side, said second ply having bottom hinge means along the edge of the bottom which are hingedly attached to the hinge means of said first ply, and said second ply having top hinge means along the intersection of the inner side and the top side;

a third ply comprising a generally rectangular, open compartment having an open side, an inner side, a bottom, two edge sides and a top side, each of said bottom, edge and top sides having an edge at the open side, said third ply having top hinge means along the intersection of the inner side at the top side, which top hinge means are hingedly attached to the top hinge means of the second ply, and said third ply having bottom hinge means along the edge of the bottom;

a fourth ply comprising a generally rectangular, open compartment having an open side, an outer side, a bottom, two edge sides and a top side, said top side having a center portion, each of said bottom, edge and top sides having an edge at the open side, said fourth ply having hinge means along the edge of the bottom, which hinge means are hingedly attached to the bottom hinge means of the third ply, and said top side extending past the edges of said edge sides and said edge sides extending upwardly past the center portion of said top side;

a first pair of latch means to latch said inner sides of said second and third plies together;

a second pair of latch means to latch the first and fourth plies together over the second and third plies whereby said case may be opened so that all plies are facing upwardly thereby displaying the contents of each ply and said case may be closed into a folded configuration; and

handle means supported between the portions of the top sides of the first and fourth plies which extend upwardly past said center portion of said top sides of said first and fourth plies.