US3347346A

US3347346A - Attache case-portable bar combination

Info

Publication number: US3347346A
Application number: US514810A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jesse R Young
Original assignee: A AND J Mfg CO IND Inc
Current assignee: A AND J Mfg CO IND Inc
Priority date: 1965-12-20
Filing date: 1965-12-20
Publication date: 1967-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 1984-10-17

Description

Oct. 17, R YOUNG ATTACHIE] CASE-PORTABLE BAR COMBINATION INVENTOR. JESSE R YOUNG BY ATTOPNEMS Filed Dec. 20, 1965 United States Patent 3,347,346 ATTACHE CASE-PORTABLE BAR COMBINATION Jesse R. Young, Hawthorne, Califi, assignor to A & J Manufacturing Company Industries, Inc., a corporation of California Filed Dec. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 514,810 6 Claims. (Cl. 190-42) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination attach-briefcase which also includes a beverage storage and serving capability. The beverage handling portion is removable from the attach case but may be used in cooperation therewith whereby when the case is opened the beverage unit containing a plurality of beverage bottles may be pivoted upright and a rigid front closure panel may be folded forwardly resting on the side Walls of the attach case body to provide level support therefor. The beverage unit may be left flat when the case is opened and provide a rigid fiat work surface as a portable desk.

This invention relates to carrying cases genera-11y of the character of luggage and more particularly to such cases having the form of attach cases and to the combination therewithin of a beverage storage carrying and servin cabinet.

Although the present invention finds particularly useful application in the field indicated above, and although in the cause of clarity and brevity of presentation, much of the following discussion and description of examples of the invention are directed theretoward, it is to be understood that the advantages of the invention are equally Well manifest in other fields where it may be desirable to store, carry and otherwise handle or dispense such goods.

Many traveling people, particularly businessmen, find it highly desirable as Well as convenient, economic, and useful to carry with them the liquor ingredients for cocktails and other drinks, often, but not necessarily alcoholic, when traveling away from home. The beverages are then served after business conferences or in the relaxing privacy of the travelers room during leisure time.

If, on the contrary, the beverages must be ordered and be served by a waiter, the cordial and relaxing atmosphere otherwise existent may be lost or otherwise destoyed by the necessity of going to a serving lounge, by the delay in service, by the loss in part, of a host-guest relation, and by the inherent intrusion by an outside person.

In the past, it has typically been possible for one to carry a single bottle of beverage ingredient; but, at best, it was awkward and inconvenient, and the selection of possible drinks was inherently very limited. Furthermore, if one were to carry a plurality of different bottles in addition to his briefcase, it became extremely awkward and so inconvenient as to be totally impractical.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a combination portable bar-attach case which is not subject to the limitations and disadvantages of the techniques and structures of the prior art.

It is another object to provide a combination serving or dispensing cabinet and attach case which permits, in one attach type case, a conveniently removable storing and carrying capability for goods and merchandise combined with a storing and carrying capability, in the nature of a briefcase, for documents.

It is another object'to provide such a combination the liquor carrying and serving capability of which is unobvious when it is desired to utilize the structure as a brief or attach or samples case.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a combination the different components of which cooperate to function as a portable, serving bar when opened and placed upon a table or other horizontal surface.

It is another object to provide such a combination the liquor carrying and serving compartments of which may be removed to form an attach case.

It is another object to provide such a system which includes a readily removable briefcase for the carrying and handling of documents and other paper work.

It is another object to provide such structure which serves also as a substantial, portable working and writin desk top.

Briefly, these and other objects of this invention are achieved in accordance with the structural aspect of one example of the invention which includes an outer, attach type case having a lower or base member and an upper or top member, the two being hingedly interconnected along a common rear edge and having a latching means and a carrying handle on a front edge for respectively, securing the two component parts or portions together into an integral case and for carrying the same, in a substantially conventional manner. 7

A beverage storing and dispensing cabinet unit is disposed within the case and its sidewalls are pivotally affixed, removably, to those of the cabinet unit whereby the cabinet unit may lie flat within the bottom portion of the case for storage and carrying or may be pivoted degrees to stand up therewithin for serving. The cabinet unit includes, in this example, a divided frontal closure panel disposed over a compartment and bottle storage interior cabinet portion. The two portions of the closure panel include a lower portion afiixed rigidly to the cabinet unit and an upper portion which is hingedly connected to the lower portion such that when the unit is in its upright disposition, the upper portion of the closure panel folds downwardly forwardly and rests supportinglyf-rom its hinge and across the front edge of the lower portion of the outer case to form a cantilevered serving shelf in front of the exposed bottles in a manner described more fully herein-below.

A removable briefcase is in this example afiixed within the top portion of the case such that when the case is open, with the cabinet unit lying flat and horizontally within the bottom or base part thereof, the briefcase is exposed and excessible for use while the rear panel member of the cabinet unit forms a horizontal substantial desk-, top work surface.

Further details of these and other novel features and their operation as well as additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and be best understood from a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which is presented by way of an illustrated example only and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an. example of a portable-bar attach case combination, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, showing the combination in an opened briefcase-working desk top configuration;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the structure of FIGURE 1 shown in an open, beverage serving configoration;

FIGURE 3, FIGURE 4 and FIGURE 5 are each perspective views of a separated portion of the structure of FIGURE'Z.

With specific reference now to the figures in more detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and structural concepts of the invention. In this regard no attempt is made to show structural details of the apparatus in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawing making it apparent to those skilled in the arts of luggage design and construction how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. Specifically, the detailed showing is not to be taken as a limitation upon the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims forming, along With the drawing, a part of this specification.

Referring to FIGURE 1 the combination of the illustrated example of the invention is seen to include an overall attach case body which includes a lower or base member 12 and an upper or top member 14. These two component portions of the case body 10 are formed by substantially conventional thin-walled side portions 16, front wall 18 and rear wall 20 of the base member 12 and by side walls 22, front wall 24, and rear wall 26 of the upper or top member 14. The lower edge of the rear wall 26 and the upper edge of the rear wall 20 are hingedly interconnected'by a set of hinges 28; and the

frontal walls

18, 24 may be releasably latched together to form an integral parallelepiped attach case body by means of a set of latching members 30. A pair of tension supporting folding braces 32 may be affixed as shown between the associated side walls of the base and top members for purposes of holding the top member in a substantially upright position with respect to the lower or base member 12.

A removable briefcase 34 is disposed within the confines of the top member 14 and is securely therewithin by a pair of flexible fastener members 36 which each include a pressure sensitive snap fastener having mated parts on the flexible fastener and on the frontal surface of the briefcase 34.

A beverage storage and carrying cabinet unit 38 is shown disposed within the base member 12 and includes a rear desk top work-surface 40, side walls 42, and top wall 44. The desk top work surface of this example of the invention is shown in a configuration as used typically for work while one is travelling as by airplane, train, bus, or the like. As may be seen, books, documents, and other working materials may be supported upon the rigid and substantial surface while having readily accessible the storage space of the briefcase 34.

Referring to FIGURE 2, the structure of FIGURE 1 is shown in enlarged detail with the cabinet unit 38 pivoted 90 degrees into an upright position with respect to the base member 12 of the case body 10. It may be noted that the structure of FIGURE 2 differs slightly from that of FIGURE 1 in that a tension supporting brace member 46 is shown affixed removably between associated ones of the sidewalls 42 of the cabinet unit 38 and the sidewalls 22 of the case top member 14. The members 46 may be utilized, as desired, to draw automatically, the cabinet unit 38 into its disposition shown whenever the top member 14 is opened. In this view again the briefcase 34 is shown emplaced removably within the confines of the top member 14 with the fastener members 36 snapped in place.

The beverage storage and cabinet carrying unit 38 is seen in FIGURE 2 to include in addition to its rear, desk top work surface 40 and its sidewalls 42 and its top wall 44, a compartmentizing means including a plurality of dividers 48 between adjacent pairs of which may be emplaced, as shown, conventional Vs-quart beverage bottles.

In addition, the compartments formed may be utilized for carrying accessories such as serving glasses 5t} and thermos type containers for the storage and dispensing of ice or pre-mixed cooled drinks, the cabinet unit 38 also includes a frontal closure panel 52 which includes a lower portion 54 which is rigidly affixed to the remainder of the cabinet unit, and an upper panel portion 56 which is hingedly afiixed thereto by a set of hinges indicated at 58. It may be noted that the dividers 48 and the lower closure panel portion 54, in cooperation with the remainder of the cabinet unit 38, form very stable securing wells for holding the bottles and acessories therewithin as shown.

The height of the lower portion 54 of the frontal closure panel 52 is approximately equal to the height of the front wall 18 of the base member 12 so that when the panel portion 56 is in its folded downwardly and forwardly disposition, it is supported by the hinges 58 and the top edge of the front wall 18 thusly to form a stable and rigid mixing and serving shelf. It may be noted that in this configuration the space within the base member 12, forwardly of the cabinet unit 38 and below the panel portion 56 provides a convenient storage space for additional bar accessories such as stirring utensils, used glasses, wiping cloths, serving napkins and the like. When the upper panel portion 56 is in its enclosed position it may be secured by a pair of flexible snap fastening members 60 which are affixed to the side walls 42 of the cabinet unit 38.

The pivotal means which secures the cabinet unit 38 within the base member 12 in either a flat disposition as shown in FIGURE 1 or in an upright position as shown in FIGURE 2, comprises in this example a short metal strap 64 pivotally affixed to the sidewall 16 of the base member 12 by means of a snap fastener 66 and to the associated side wall 42 of the cabinet unit 38 by a similar snap fastener '68. The snap fasteners, one only shown in the figure, th'usly permits the indicated pivotal rriotion while at the same time securing, as desired, the cabinet unit 38 within the attach case body 10. In this example the metal strap 64- is removable by operation of the pressure sensitive snap fasteners 66, and 68 so that as indicated in FIGURE 3 the cabinet unit 38 may be as an integral unit removed from the attach case body 10, either for purposes of providing separate storage or to provide additional carrying space for other materials within the attach case body 10.

With further reference to FIGURE 3 the cabinet unit 38 is seen to include the metal straps 64, one only shown in this figure, the dividers 48, and the closure panel 52, the latter including the lower portion 54 and the upper panel portion 56 which is hingedly aflixed to the lower portion by the hinges 58 and removably snap fastened to the side walls 42 of the cabinet unit by the fastener members 60.

Referring to FIGURE 4 the attach case body 10 and its component parts, base member 12 and top member 14 hingedly affixed together along a common rear edge by the hinges 28, is shown separately form the other component elements of the combination of this example of the present invention; and its usefulness and utility as a substantially conventional attach case is apparent.

With further reference to FIGURE 4 and with first reference to FIGURE 5 the briefcase 34 is shown removed from its flexible fastener members 36 to provide still further carrying and storage space within the attach case body 10 as well as to illustrate the utility of the removable briefcase 34 as a separable and independent unit when desired.

There have thus been disclosed and described a number of structural aspects of an example of a portable bar-work desk top-attach case which achieve the objects and exhibits the advantages discussed hereinabove.

What is claimed is:

1. Portable bar-attach case comprising:

attach case body including a substantially thin-walled base member and a substantially thin-walled case top member hingedly afiixed thereto and including latch means for releasably closing together, along a common perimeter, said base and top members in an integral attach case body configuration,

said base member having side and front Walls having a substantially common predetermined height;

combination bottle storage and beverage serving unit having side Walls and being of the character to be houseable and carryable totally within said integral case body,

said unit including compartmentizing means and a frontal substantially rigid closure and serving panel member extending thereover and being pivotally affixed thereto, for holding removably a plurality of beverage bottles therewithin; pivotal fastener means carried by said side Walls of said base member and of said unit for removably securing said unit within said base member,

said pivotal fastener means being of the character permitting said unit to lie fiat Within said case body when the latter is closed and to stand at substantially right angles thereto when the latter is opened.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in Which said storage and serving unit comprises a lower panel portion which is atfixed across the frontal bottom of said unit and which has a width approximately equal to that of said side walls of said base member, said frontal member being pivotally affixed to said lower panel portion, and saidfrontal member extending across said bottle compartmentizing means for holding said bottles therewithin, said frontal member having a width such that it extends, when open and folded forwardly, substantially horizontally over the top edge of said front wall of said base member whereby said frontal member is supported from its connection with said lower panel portion and by the top edge of said front wall, said frontal member forming, when open, a substantially level serving surface.

3. The invention according to claim 2 in which said storage and serving unit includes a rigid back panel member which forms a desk top work surface when said case body is open, said frontal member is closed, and said unit is disposed to lie flatly within said base member.

4. The invention according to claim 2 which further includes a briefcase disposed Within said case top member and detachable fastener means carried by said top member for removably securing said briefcase therewithin.

5. The invention according to claim 2 which further includes at least one tension supporting member removably secured to one of said sidewalls of said storage and serving unit and to said case top member for causing the pivoting about said pivotal fastener means, of said storage and serving unit to its upright position with respect to said base member when said top member is in its open disposition.

6. The invention according to claim 3 which further includes fastener means carried by said storage and serving unit for releasably securing said frontal member closed thereagainst.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,966,351 7/1934 Lewis. 2,775,342 12/1956 Smith 312276 X 2,782,890 2/1957 Powell et al l-51 2,937,728 5/1960 Kofiler -51 3,136,398 6/1964 Platt 190-51 3,263,779 8/1966 Bialer 19051 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. DONALD F. NORTON, Examiner.

Claims

1. PORTABLE BAR-ATTACHE CASE COMPRISING: ATTACHE CASE BODY INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY THIN-WALLED BASE MEMBER AND A SUBSTANTIALLY THIN-WALLED CASE TOP MEMBER HINGEDLY AFFIXED THERETO AND INCLUDING LATCH MEANS FOR RELEASABLY CLOSING TOGETHER, ALONG A COMMON PERIMETER, SAID BASE AND TOP MEMBERS IN AN INTEGRAL ATTACHE CASE BODY CONFIGURATION, SAID BASE MEMBER HAVING SIDE AND FRONT WALLS HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY COMMON PREDETERMINED HEIGHT; COMBINATION BOTTLE STORAGE AND BEVERAGE SERVING UNIT HAVING SIDE WALLS AND BEING OF THE CHARACTER TO BE HOUSEABLE AND CARRYABLE TOTALLY WITHIN SAID INTEGRAL CASE BODY, SAID UNIT INCLUDING COMPARTMENTIZING MEANS AND A FRONTAL SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID CLOSURE AND SERVING PANEL MEMBER EXTENDING THEREOVER AND BEING PIVOTALLY AFFIXED THERETO, FOR HOLDING REMOVABLY A PLURALITY OF BEVERAGE BOTTLES THEREWITHIN; PIVOTAL FASTENER MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SIDE WALLS OF SAID BASE MEMBER AND OF SAID UNIT FOR REMOVABLY SECURING SAID UNIT WITHIN SAID BASE MEMBER, SAID PIVOTAL FASTENER MEANS BEING OF THE CHARACTER PERMITTING SAID UNIT TO LIE FLAT WITHIN SAID CASE BODY WHEN THE LATTER IS CLOSED AND TO STAND AT SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGLES THERETO WHEN THE LATTER IS OPENED.