US3809231A

US3809231A - Harp trunk

Info

Publication number: US3809231A
Application number: US00174392A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Palma; H Christiansen
Original assignee: LYON AND HEALY Inc
Current assignee: LYON AND HEALY Inc
Priority date: 1971-08-24
Filing date: 1971-08-24
Publication date: 1974-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 1991-05-07

Abstract

A harp trunk comprising two tub-like sections which open in clam-shell fashion to receive or disgorge a harp. The trunk sections each comprise vacuum formed or molded plastic shells having vertically elongated depressions formed therein. The depression bases are horizontally corrugated. The depressions rigidify the shells. Skid rails encircle three sides of the trunk and mount wheels at its bottom. Rollers are recessed in one section wall. Resilient members within the sections grip the harp within the trunk.

Description

United States Patent 91 Palma et a1.

11] 3,809,231 [451 May 7,1974

[ HARP TRUNK [75] Inventors: Joseph Palma, Wheaton; Henning Christiansen, Oak Lawn, both of 111.

[52] U.S. C1. ....206/3 14,1 90l ;A 2 Q 6 21 6 [51] Int. Cl B6Sd 85/54, A45c 5/14 [58] Field of Search 206/13; 190/18 A, 18 R,

[ 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 81,143 8/1868 Cook 220/72 3,313,382 4/1967 Rosing et a1.. 220/72 3,342,316 9/1967 Erlewine 206/1 1,352,814 9/1920 Kirk 206/13 3,326,359 6/1967 Katz 206/13 Thomas 190/18 A UX 6/1935 Grabler 206/1 R UX 3,357,625 12/1967 Malmgren 229/25 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2,929 2/1912 Great Britain 190/25 Primary Examiner-Leonard Summer Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hume, Clement, Brinks, William, Olds & Cook, Ltd.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A harp trunk comprising two tub-like sections which open in clam-shell fashion to receive or disgorge a harp. The trunk sections each comprise vacuum formed or molded plastic shells having vertically elongated depressions formed therein. The depression bases are horizontally corrugated. The depressions rigidify the shells. Skid rails encircle three sides of the trunk and mount wheels at its bottom. Rollers are recessed in one section wall. Resilient members within the sections grip the harp within the trunk.

9 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures 1. HARP TRUNK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to the container art. It deals, more particularly, with a container for transporting a large musical instrument, specifically a harp.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved container for transportinga harp, particularly a harp of the size normally used in'concert performances and the like. Itisano'ther object to provide such a container, referred to hereinafter as aharp trunk, which is simple in construction, light and easy to handle in its own right, relatively inexpensive, yet sturdy and durable. Still another object is to provide such a harp trunk which readily facilitates moving and storing the harp in either an upright position,-on one of its edges, or on its side. I

The foregoing and other objects are realized in accord with the invention by providing a harp trunk including a body fabricated in two substantially mirrorimagev body sections'These body sections, each of which includes a shell formed of a suitable molded plastic, are hinged together along one longitudinal edge. They open in clam-like fashion to receive the harp and, once closed around the harp, are latched together with latches disposed on their opposite edges.

With the harp trunk standing in the upright position, each of the body sections has, extending along itsgenerally vertical sides andits horizontal bottom, a channel-shaped rail which acts as a skid. At eachlower corner ofeach body section,-a'wheel is secured to a corresponding rail. The trunk is normally moved on these wheels while upright.

The wall of each body shell incorporates a vertically elongated depression which acts as a stiffening rib for the body section. The base of each of these stiffening ribs is, in turn, corregated on horizontal axes to provide a transverse stiffening of the rib itself. The overall effect is to rigidify the body sections.

One of the body sections has, recessed in its surface, a plurality of rollers journalled on axes extending perpendicular to the axes of the aforementioned wheels at the base of the trunk. These rollers are recessed in the wall of the body section shell to' the extent that they protrude only slightly outwardly from its surface. The harp is normally rolled into low-overhead transport, such as a station wagon, with the trunk lying on its side rollers.

The harp is firmly, but resiliently, fixed inside the trunk by strategically placed plastic foam or spongerubber blocks secured within the body sections. These blocks engage the harp as the harp trunk is closed and latched.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention, including its construction and mode of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, is illustrated more or. less diagrammatically in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the harp trunk embodying features of the invention, with a concert style harp shown in dotted lines within the trunk;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the harp-trunk illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a base wheel mounting of the trunk, with parts broken away;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the wheel mounting illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view through a skid at a wheel mounting position;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view of one of the side roller mountings on the harp trunk, with parts removed;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8--8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken through the roller illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 2.

' DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to. the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. l-3, a harp trunk embodying features of the invention is illustrated generally at 10. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the trunk 10 comprises .two body sections 11a and 11b, formed substantially in mirror-image of each other, and adapted to mate on corresponding parting edges 13a and 13b toform the trunk body. Each of these body sections 11a and 11b is generally tub-shaped and, as viewed from either edge of the trunk in upright position (see FIG. 2), tapers outwardly from a relatively narrow profile at its top to a relatively wide one at its bottom.

Since the body sections 11a and 11b are virtually identical in construction and arrangement, although mirror-images of each other, a detailed description of one will suffice to an understanding of boty. Accordingly, only section 11a is described specifically while corresponding components of section 11b are identified by corresponding reference numerals with the suffix b rather than the suffix b. The section 11b does have, according to the invention, one feature not found in the body section 11a, but this is best described after the basic (identical) construction of both body sections 11a and 11b is described.

The body section 11a comprises a shell 20a molded of plastic by conventional molding techniques. Formed in the wall 21a of the shell 20a is a vertically elongated depression 24a. The depression 24a is wider at it's uppermost extremity 25a than it is at its lowermost extremity 26a, tapering generally in conformance with the shape of the harp H to be stored in the trunk 10, as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 1.

The depression 24a serves to rigidify and strengthen the shell 20a. In turn, the base 280 of the depression 24a is corrugated in a horizontal pattern, as at 32a, from adjacent the lower extremity of the base over about 75-80 percent of its vertical expanse. Thus, ap-

proximately the upper one-quarter (1 /4) of the depres-- sion base 28b is flat; 1.8., remains uncorrugatedf The horizontally oriented corrugations 32a serve to rigidify and strengthen the depression 24a itself. Thus, the depression 24a and, in addition, the configuration of the depression base 28a provides the shell 24a with substantial structural rigidity.

The shell 20a has a continuous side 33a extending perpendicularly from its wall 21a and terminating in the parting edge 13a. Secured to the side 33a and extending parallel to the edge 13a is a channel-shaped rail 40a. The rail 40a is continuous with the side 33a along its bottom and vertical extents, as seen in FIG. 1, and is secured to the shell by conventional bolt and washer assemblies. In this light, for an enlarged illustration of the rail configuration, attention is directed to FIG. where the rail 40b for the body section 11b is illustrated. The outer flange of each

rail

40a and 40b is grooved, as illustrated, for gripping fiat surfaces upon which the trunk 10 is rested.

At each of the two bottom corners of the trunk section 11a (with the trunk 10 upright), secured to both the shell a and the rail a, is a wheel assembly a. Referring to FIGS. 4-6, the wheel assembly 45a comprises a cast metal mounting block 47a of irregular configuration. The mounting block 47a is shaped to conform to the shape of the shell 20a in this corner location and is secured to the shell by a mounting plate and screw arrangement 48a. The block 47a is shaped to fit snugly against the rail 40a and the flanges of the channel shaped rail 40a arecut away in the area of the mounting block 47a to accommodate it.

Recessed in the outer surface 50a of each mounting block 47a is a wheel well 51a. Journalled in the wheel well 51a is a rotatable axle pin 52a carrying a small wheel 53a. The function of the wheel assemblies 45a are hereinafter discussed in relation to the use and operation of the harp trunk 10 according to the invention.

The wall 21b of the shell 20b in the harp trunk section 11b has, embedded in its surface, four roller assemblies 60, positioned at its corners as best illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 1. The roller assemblies 60, one of which .is shown in detail in FIGS. 7-9, include segmentally cylindrical recesses 61 formed in the wall 21b of the shell 20b. At the opposite ends of each recess, journal bearing units 63 of conventional construction mount the rotatable shafts 64 of cylindrical plastic rollers 66. The diameter of the plastic rollers 66 are such that they protrude slightly less than half their diameter outwardly of the surface of the wall 21b. The function of these roller assemblies will, as with the wheel assemblies 450, be discussed on detail hereinafter in relation to the use and operation of the harp trunk 10.

Formed inside the bottom of each section 11a and 11b of the harp trunk 10 (referring again for purposes of description to section 11a) are a series of ribs 70a (three, as seen in FIG. 1) arranged in generally a fanshaped pattern so that they radiate outwardly from adjacent each other next to a corresponding edge to a relatively wide spacing at the corresponding wall 21. The upper surfaces of the ribs 70a, together with the upper surfaces of the corresponding ribs 70b in the trunk section 11b, support a one-piece, generally rectangular plywood platform 72. The platform 72 is fastened to only the ribs 70a (by screws, not shown). It is on this platform 72 that the harp H stands with the trunk 10 in its upright position, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

To transport a harp H in the trunk 10, for example, the trunk is placed upright, resting on the wheel assemblies 45a and 45b. Latches 80. of conventional construction, which secure the trunk in closed relationship along the parting edges 13 and 14 at the'front of the trunk, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, are opened. Section 1 lb of the trunk is pivoted away from section 1 1a about the conventional hinges 81 secured to the two trunk sections 11a and 11b along the parting edges 13 and 14 at the back of the trunk, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The harp H is then set in the trunk section 11a, resting against plastic foam blocks 82a, glued to the inside of the shell 20b and positioned and shaped to gently and firmly support the harp. The base of the harp rests on the plywood platform 72. I

The section 11b of the trunk is then closed onto the section 11a and the latches locked. In this position, the resilient blocks 82a and 82b in the sections 11a and 11b, respectively, grip the harp snugly but firmly between them. In this light, it will be noted that the resilient foam blocks 82a are positioned in precisely the same position in the shell 20a as the blocks 82b are in the shell 20b. The trunk 10 can then be moved about at will. If it mustbe loaded through low-overhead doors into a station-wagon, for example,-.it is rested on side roller assemblies 60 and moved on these.

While the embodiment described therein is at present considered to be preferred, it is understood that various modifications and improvements may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and improvements as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is desired to be claimed and secured by letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A trunk for storing and transporting a harp, comprising:

a. a' trunk body having first and second body sections adapted to mate and separate along parting edges,

b. each of said body sections including a molded plastic shell formed in tub-like configuration and having a wall with sides extending generally perpendicular from said wall, l

c. means inside each of said body sections for holding the harp relatively immobile in the trunk with the body sections mated,

d. a relatively deep depression formed in the wall of each body section and vertically elongated with the trunk in its upright position to stiffen said body sections, e. each of said depressions having sides and a base with said sides extending generally perpendicular to a corresponding wall so as to provide a hand' a. said base is corrugated only along a lower portion of its vertical extent.

3. The trunk of claim 1 further characterized by and v including:

a. wheel means mounted on said shells at each lower corner of said body sections with the trunk in an upright position, and

b. roller means seated in at least one of the shell walls.

4. The trunk of claim 3 further characterized in that:

a. said roller means are positioned at four comers of 0 a. said wheel means are positioned adjacent to and supported by corresponding rail means.

7. The trunk of claim 1 further characterized by and including:

a. rib means formed in each shell so as to extend inwardly of said shell sides from the bottom of corresponding trunk sections with the trunk in upright position.

8. The trunk of claim 7 further characterized by and including:

a. platform means normally disposed on said rib means for supporting a harp with the trunk in upright position.

b. said platform means being fastened to only one of said shellsv 9. The trunk of claim 1 further characterized in that:

each of said body sections.

Claims

1. A trunk for storing and transporting a harp, comprising: a. a trunk body having first and second body sections adapted to mate and separate along parting edges, b. each of said body sections including a molded plastic shell formed in tub-like configuration and having a wall with sides extending generally perpendicular from said wall, c. means inside each of said body sections for holding the harp relatively immobile in the trunk with the body sections mated, d. a relatively deep depression formed in the wall of each body section and vertically elongated with the trunk in its upright position to stiffen said body sections, e. each of said depressions having sides and a base with said sides extending generally perpendicular to a corresponding wall so as to provide a hand hold for manually handling said trunk, f. said base in each depression being corrugated on horizontal axes and the corrugations being disposed within corresponding depressions and not extending outwardly of said depressions, and g. means mounted on at least one of said body sections so that said trunk can be rolled.

2. The trunk of claim 1 further characterized in that: a. said base is corrugated only along a lower portion of its vertical extent.

3. The trunk of claim 1 further characterized by and including: a. wheel means mounted on said shells at each lower corner of said body sections with the trunk in an upright position, and b. roller means seated in at least one of the shell walls.

4. The trunk of claim 3 further characterized in that: a. said roller means are positioned at four corners of the trunk in only one of said walls.

5. The trunk of claim 4 further characterized by and including: a. rail means fastened to the bottom and upstanding sides of each shell in a corresponding trunk section with the trunk in upright position, b. said rail means extending generally parallel to the wall of each shell.

6. The trunk of claim 5 further characterized in that: a. said wheel means are positioned adjacent to and supported by corresponding rail means.

7. The trunk of claim 1 further characterized by and including: a. rib means formed in each shell so as to extend inwardly of said shell sides from the bottom of corresponding trunk sections with the trunk in upright position.

8. The trunk of claim 7 further chaRacterized by and including: a. platform means normally disposed on said rib means for supporting a harp with the trunk in upright position. b. said platform means being fastened to only one of said shells.

9. The trunk of claim 1 further characterized in that: a. said gripping means include blocks of resilient material secured to the inside of the plastic shell in each of said body sections.