Improvements in or relating to expanding suit cases and like receptacles and extensible fittings therefor

摘要

329,665. Sokal, S. Feb. 20, 1929. Double hinges; attaching h i n g e members to articles adjustably. - In an expanding suitcase &c. having telescopic hinges and hasp fastenings arranged on the exterior thereof, each hinge or fastening comprises two telescoping members, an automatic clutching or fixing device for automatically fixing the two members a g a i n s t outward movement, means for throwing said device out of action and means for throwing it into action, the last means being operable by the relative longitudinal movement of the two telescoping members; the automatic clutching or fixing device may be thrown out of action by a manually-operated device for locking the two telescoping members in an adjusted position. As shown the pawl 9 of the automatic clutching or fixing device is loosely mounted on the shaft 6 in the outer telescoping member 1 and is normally forced into engagement with the rack 4 on the inner member 2 by a spring 14. The manually-operated locking device 7 is fixed to the shaft 6 which carries a projection 18 cooperating with a projection 19 on the spring pawl 9 and the device 7 carries a pin 8 which can be pushed through an aperture 17 in the member 1 to engage one of a series of apertures 3 in the inner member. When the pin 8 is removed from the apertures 3, 17 to change the capacity of the case, the shaft 6 and projection 18 are turned and, after a certain movement during which the unlocking of the device 7 does not affect the spring pawl, the projection 18 engages the projection 19 and moves the pawl 9 away from the rack; the projection 18 is then caught by a spring catch 11 and both the parts 7, 9 are locked with the pawl 9 out of engagement with the rack 4 so that the case can be extended and a lateral projection 15 on the pawl encounters a cam 16 on the inner member and moves the pawl further away from the rack when a projection 10 on the pawl trips the catch 11 and allows a spring 13 to move the projection 18 past it. The case is then adjusted downwards when the cam 16 releases the projection 15 and allows the spring 14 to move the pawl into engagement with the rack and the device 7 towards the outer member 1; when the case is adjusted, the pin 18 is pushed home in the apertures 3, 17. The catch 11 may be tripped by the cam 16 through an intermediate device and the device 7 may have lateral resilient lugs which engage the sides of the member 1 in the locking position and prevent accidental locking during the adjustment of the case.