US1599652A - Bather's box - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 14 1926. 4 1,599552 I A. CRANSTON BATHER'S BOX Filed April 22; 1925 INVENTOR fizThQ/E CF/IMSTUA/ ATTORNEY required for it either in the container body Patented Sept. '14, 1926.

1 UNITED STAT-ES .ARTHU-R CRANSTON, ATLANTIC CITY NEW JERSEY.

BATHERS BOX.

Application filed April 22, 1925. Serial m. 24,990.

My invention relates to boxes, or portable containers, especially adapted for outdoor use by sportsmen and bathers.

The general object is to provide a container which is usually of moderate size and which may be easily opened and closed, and which will enclose articles of convenience or utility, such for example as cigarettes or other tobacco, matches, jewels, paper money and other things which it is convenient or necessary to guard against loss and more especially to protect from moisture. container is referred to as a bathers box because use by bathers represents the most severe service of a waterproof container; but evidently the invention is not limited in utility, and the containers may be employedby any persons or in any locations where a watertight and secure receptacle of this class is needed.

Briefly described, the invention as physically embodied consists of a hollow container body, which is usually relatively shallow, of moderate width, and somewhat greater length, provided with suitable interior compartments or equipment for holding or separating different articles, and having a movable or removable cover co-operating with a watertight seal or asket to render the container waterproof w en the cover is properly secured. An improved hinge is provided, which may be used when desired to movablysecure the cover to the body without interference with the proper closing of the cover and tight sealing of the container. An improved fastener is also provided, which may be quickly andeasily operated to tightly secure the cover in position or to release the cover for opening, and this astener is so devised that no aperture is orcover, and therefore the fastener does not interfere with the complete tight seal provided between the cover and the body.

The accompanying drawings show one representative embodiment of the invention. After considering this example, skilled persons will understand that many variations maybe made without departing from the invention, and I contemplate the employment of any structures that are properly within the scope of the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying the invention in one form, with the cover closed and fastened.

Fig. 2 shows the cover in open position.

The

3 is a longitudinal section.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section at 4.4, Figure 1.

The container consists mainly of a body B and a cover C. Evidently the form or relative dimensions of the container may be varied greatly, since the sealin means, hinge, andfastener are not depemfient upon any specific shape or contour of the container. Evidently, as shown, the body B may. be relatively low or shallow to avoid undue bulk or projection from the body of the user, of moderate width, and usually of substantially greater length, and with rounded vertical corners 1, as shown. Since it will usually be more convenient for sportsmen to attach such a container to a belt, and since it is practically necessary for bathers to attach it to the belt of the bathing suit, the bottom of the body is usually provided with belt loops 2. These may be omitted if the container is intended for pocket use..

To contain a suitable packing or gasket 3,

a continuous channel or pocket 4 is formed at the periphery of the ody wall.

smooth vertical contour, and the channel 4 is formed by providing an inwardly projecting horizontal flange 5 and a vertical flange 6, to form the deep channel 4 in the bottom of which the gasket 3 is located. The gasket is usually of rubber or a suitable rubber Desirably, the outer face of the body wall has aplaced on the body and pressed down tight,

the gasket is deeply "compressed and provides' an absolutely .watertlghtseal for the complete protection of the container contents.

Various locking or fastening devices may be provided. Preferably the fastener is so devised that it does not require the formation of any aperture in the body or cover, and does not interfere with the smooth or continuous contour of the gasket channel, or the gasket-compressing flange 11. Specifically, in the present embodlment the fastener comprises two parallel, slidable bolts 14, movable between parallel flanges 15 formed on the cover top. Relatively opposite ends of the bolts co-operate with the sockets 17 formed in lugs 18 which are preferably integral with the side walls of the body, or however formed, project above the cover to properly confront the bolt ends 16. These lugs and their sockets 17 need be only long enough to accommodate the respective bolt ends, but for the sake of symmetrical appearance may be somewhat longer, so that the lugs are opposite and of the same length. A central portion of each bolt at its inner side is cutaway to form a recess 20, and these confronting recesses combine to form an opening around a screw 21 secured to the cover. In the specific example shown, the inner end of the screw is shown riveted tightly in a hole in the cover, so that no moisture can gain entrance at that point and therefore the cover is, in effect, unapertured. Otherwise, the screw may be inserted in a lug formed in the cover, or may be cast in place, so that there is actually no aperture through the cover for the reception of the screw. -Pivotally mounted about the screw upon the bolts is an operating lever 25, one

or both ends of which project somewhat beyond the ribs 15 to form convenient finger pieces or handles 26. The lever is provided with slots or sockets 27 to accommodate pins 28 set in' the respective bolts. A thumb nut 30 is engaged upon the screw above the lever.

hen the cover is positioned on the body and forced down to sufficiently compress the gasket, the bolt ends 16 are moved into their sockets 17 by manipulation of the lever pins 26, and secured by screwing down the nut 30, and the bolts then retain the cover tightly in position. It is sufficient in some cases to so form or arrange the bolts that they have a simple locking or retaining action Without leverage effect. This is suflicient to retain the gasket in proper compre ion when the cover is forced down by finger pressure a proper distance, and the sockets 17 are properly located with respect to the bolts. But preferably, the bolts are devised to also have a leverage eifect,-thus, the main portion or shank of each bolt is arranged, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, to have a slight clearance from the cover surface, and adjacent the locking end 16 the under face of the bolt has a slightly depressed, rounded or camlike surface 35 in contact with the cover surface. The downward curvature of the cam portion 35 is considerably exaggerated in t e drawing, and in some cases it is only necessary to properly curve the cover top, and the leverage effect will then be obtamed by the contact of straight bolts of uniform thickness with this slightly curved cover formation. With the particular arrangement shown, when the nut 30 is turned back sufficiently, the locking ends 16 of the bolts are slightly depressed as they are moved into the sockets 17, and then when the nut is turned .down, the main portions. or shanks ofthe bolts are pulled down toward the cover, and the locking ends 16 are at the same time moved forcibly upward in relation to the cover and by co-operation with the tops of the sockets force the cover positively down and tightly compress the gasket and at the same time of course, the bolts are locked against inadvertent retrac tion. The upper end of the screw may be slightly peened or upset to prevent accidental removed of the nut.

It is unnecessary for some purposes to provide any hinge or definite connection between the cover and the body. But in some cases such a connection is desirable, and one is provided of an improved form, so that it does not interfere with, but facilitates the. proper location of the cover and its flange with relation to the gasket and the gasket channel, and also provides for the easy movement of the cover to a wide-open position. In the present embodiment, the connection consists of a sliding-pivot hinge, comprising a substantially rectangular yoke 40 secured near the top of one of the body .end walls and including side portions 41 provided with longitudinal slots 42, in which a hinge pin 43 is located. This pin passes through and istightly secured witha press fit or otherwise in the downwardly curved head 44 of a hinge lug 45 extending from the adjacent end of the cover. Thesliding location of the hinge pins in the slots 42 permits the cover as it is closed, to be properly located in a longitudinal direction in relation to the body, in a way which will be clear in Fig. 3; and when the cover is released andopened, the pin may slide inward in its slots to prevent any jamming of the cover against body walls or the outer end of the yoke 40, and to afford a very wide open location of the cover entirely free from the body, as sufficiently indicated in Fig. 2.

Interior fittings, or the arrangement or equipment of the container may vary greatly, in accordance with its intended use. The body may be divided into one or more compartments and one or more compartments or individual containers may be located on the cover, such interior arrangements are sulficiently indicated in the present example by an inner box 50. formed in. the cover C. This inner box has a slide cover 51 fitting in grooves in the sides and end wall of the inner 'box and provided with an easily accessible handle portion 52 which has afingernail notch 53. This inner box may be used suggest themselves to persons familiar with the needs of sportsmen and other users of such appliances.

I claim:

1. A box for use of bathers and for analogous purposes, comprising a substantially long and flat body portion having a deep continuous circumferential gasket recess and a compressible gasket therein, a cover having a deep continuous approximately peripheral flange adapted to fit within the recess and deeply compress the gasket to insure water tightness of the box, a hinge member projecting from the body at one end and a hinge member projecting from the adjacent end of the cover, said hinge members having a sliding, pivotal connection to permit easy and wide opening of the cover and proper location of the cover flange in the gasket recess to uniformly compress the gasket when the cover is closed.

2. A box of the class described comprising a body having a gasket recess and a gasket therein, a cover having a flange to fit in the recess and compress the gasket, lugs'at opposite sides of the body, projecting upward and having locking recesses, parallel bolt guides on the cover, parallel bolts slidably located side by side between said guides, op-

posite ends of the respective bolts being dein projected position and force the adjacent portions of the bolts toward the. cover whereby the ends of the bolts engaging in the locking recessesand the cam'formation's exert forcible pressure on the cover to lock it in position and tightly compress the gasket, preventing access of moisture to the box interior.

Signed at Atlantic City in the county of Atlantic and State of New Jersey this 8th day of April A. D. 1925.

ARTHUR CRANSTON.

a screw secured in the cover and pro- 4

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