Patent US3756639A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3756639A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Orientation sensitive luggage latch
Assignee: Samsonite Corp
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Filing: 1971-10-27
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Granted: 1973-09-04
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Expires: 1991-10-27
Abstract
Abstract A luggage case latch mechanism has a gravity operated detent mechanism which operates when the case is wrongside-up to prevent unlatching.
Inventors
- 👤 J Wilkinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 02:14
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B65/00; E05B65/52; E05B65/5292; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/08; Y10T292/096; Y10T292/0999; Y10T292/1001; Y10T292/1014; Y10T292/1015; Y10T292/1022; Y10T292/1028; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/50; Y10T70/5009; Y10T70/5031; Y10T70/5035; Y10T70/5049; Y10T70/5058; Y10T70/5062; Y10T70/70; Y10T70/7153; Y10T70/7169
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A luggage case which can only be opened when it is disposed in a prescribed orientation, comprising: upper and lower luggage wall members pivotally related along an edge; a latch mechanism releasably interconnecting the wall members at another edge; and a locking pin slidably received within the latch mechanism which moves into obstructing relation with said latch mechanism when said luggage case is oriented with the upper wall member down thereby preventing releasing of the lAtch mechanism and opening of the case while said luggage case maintains said orientation; in which said latch mechanism includes a drawbolt slide which is substantially horizontally disposed when said luggage case rests on a horizontal surface on either the upper or lower wall members, said drawbolt slide being movable from an engaged position securing the upper and lower wall members together to a disengaged position releasing said wall members from one another; said locking pin including an elongated member received within an oversize opening in the drawbolt slide extending transversely thereof, said locking pin moving outwardly of the drawbolt slide opening when the upper wall member is down, the outwardly extending portion of said pin contacting means carried by one of said wall members thereby preventing movement of the drawbolt slide to the disengaged position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
A luggage case which can only be opened when it is disposed in a prescribed orientation, comprising: upper and lower luggage wall members pivotally related along an edge; a latch mechanism releasably interconnecting the wall members at another edge; and a locking pin slidably received within the latch mechanism which moves into obstructing relation with said latch mechanism when said luggage case is oriented with the upper wall member down thereby preventing releasing of the lAtch mechanism and opening of the case while said luggage case maintains said orientation; in which said latch mechanism includes a drawbolt slide which is substantially horizontally disposed when said luggage case rests on a horizontal surface on either the upper or lower wall members, said drawbolt slide being movable from an engaged position securing the upper and lower wall members together to a disengaged position releasing said wall members from one another; said locking pin including an elongated member received within an oversize opening in the drawbolt slide extending transversely thereof, said locking pin moving outwardly of the drawbolt slide opening when the upper wall member is down, the outwardly extending portion of said pin contacting means carried by one of said wall members thereby preventing movement of the drawbolt slide to the disengaged position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
182 words
An orientation-sensitive latch mechanism for releasably securing luggage case parts together, comprising: a clasp mounted onto one of said case parts; a housing mounted on said other case part and including an opening for receiving said clasp therein when the case halves are closed on one another; elongated bolt means slidably received within said housing and including a transverse opening therein; a hook carried by said bolt means, engageable with the clasp when said clasp is received through the housing opening; an actuator pivotally connected to said bolt means, said actuator being manipulable to move said hook into and out of engagement with said clasp; a pin slidably received within the bolt means opening and free to move under the action of gravity alone from a first position fully received within the bolt means to a second position where part of said pin extends outwardly of the bolt means; and means on said housing for intercepting said pin when it extends outwardly of said bolt means to prevent movement of said bolt means and hook by said actuator to release the clasp.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
182 words
An orientation-sensitive latch mechanism for releasably securing luggage case parts together, comprising: a clasp mounted onto one of said case parts; a housing mounted on said other case part and including an opening for receiving said clasp therein when the case halves are closed on one another; elongated bolt means slidably received within said housing and including a transverse opening therein; a hook carried by said bolt means, engageable with the clasp when said clasp is received through the housing opening; an actuator pivotally connected to said bolt means, said actuator being manipulable to move said hook into and out of engagement with said clasp; a pin slidably received within the bolt means opening and free to move under the action of gravity alone from a first position fully received within the bolt means to a second position where part of said pin extends outwardly of the bolt means; and means on said housing for intercepting said pin when it extends outwardly of said bolt means to prevent movement of said bolt means and hook by said actuator to release the clasp.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
174 words
A latch mechanism for releasably securing luggage case sections together, comprising: a clasp carried by one of said case sections; a housing mounted on said other case section and including an opening for receiving said clasp therein when the case sections are fitted together; an elongated drawbolt slidably contained within said housing and including a transverse opening therein; a hook carried by said drawbolt lockingly engaging the clasp when said clasp is received through the housing opening; a hand operated actuator pivotally connected to said bolt means and manipulable to move said hook into and out of engagement with said clasp; a pin slidably received within the drawbolt opening and free to move under the action of gravity alone from a first position fully received within the opening to a second position where part of said pin extends outwardly of the opening; and means on said housing for intercepting said pin when it extends outwardly of said bolt means to prevent movement of said drawbolt and hook by said actuator to release the clasp.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
174 words
A latch mechanism for releasably securing luggage case sections together, comprising: a clasp carried by one of said case sections; a housing mounted on said other case section and including an opening for receiving said clasp therein when the case sections are fitted together; an elongated drawbolt slidably contained within said housing and including a transverse opening therein; a hook carried by said drawbolt lockingly engaging the clasp when said clasp is received through the housing opening; a hand operated actuator pivotally connected to said bolt means and manipulable to move said hook into and out of engagement with said clasp; a pin slidably received within the drawbolt opening and free to move under the action of gravity alone from a first position fully received within the opening to a second position where part of said pin extends outwardly of the opening; and means on said housing for intercepting said pin when it extends outwardly of said bolt means to prevent movement of said drawbolt and hook by said actuator to release the clasp.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
183 words
An orientation-sensitive latch mechanism for releasably securing luggage case parts together, comprising: a clasp mounted onto one of said case parts; means mounted on said other case part and including an opening for receiving said clasp therein when the case halves are closed on one another; bolt means slidably received within said means mounted on said other case part and including a transverse opening therein; means carried by said bolt means and engageable with the clasp when said clasp is received through the first recited means opening; an actuator connected to said bolt means and manipulable to selectively move said means carried by said bolt means into and out of engagement with said clasp; a pin slidably received within the bolt means opening and free to move solely under the action of gravity from a first position fully received within the bolt means to a secOnd position where part of said pin extends outwardly of the bolt means; and means on said first recited means for intercepting said pin when it extends outwardly of said bolt means to prevent release of the clasp.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
183 words
An orientation-sensitive latch mechanism for releasably securing luggage case parts together, comprising: a clasp mounted onto one of said case parts; means mounted on said other case part and including an opening for receiving said clasp therein when the case halves are closed on one another; bolt means slidably received within said means mounted on said other case part and including a transverse opening therein; means carried by said bolt means and engageable with the clasp when said clasp is received through the first recited means opening; an actuator connected to said bolt means and manipulable to selectively move said means carried by said bolt means into and out of engagement with said clasp; a pin slidably received within the bolt means opening and free to move solely under the action of gravity from a first position fully received within the bolt means to a secOnd position where part of said pin extends outwardly of the bolt means; and means on said first recited means for intercepting said pin when it extends outwardly of said bolt means to prevent release of the clasp.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
100 words
A luggage case which can only be opened when it is disposed in a prescribed orientation, comprising: first and second luggage sections; a latch mechanism releasably interconnecting the luggage sections together; and a locking pin received within an opening in said latch mechanism and free to slide in said opening solely under the effect of gravity, said locking pin moving outwardly of said latch mechanism opening when the first luggage section is oriented to face downwardly, the outwardly extending portion of said locking pin contacting a portion of one of said luggage sections thereby preventing release of the latch mechanism.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
100 words
A luggage case which can only be opened when it is disposed in a prescribed orientation, comprising: first and second luggage sections; a latch mechanism releasably interconnecting the luggage sections together; and a locking pin received within an opening in said latch mechanism and free to slide in said opening solely under the effect of gravity, said locking pin moving outwardly of said latch mechanism opening when the first luggage section is oriented to face downwardly, the outwardly extending portion of said locking pin contacting a portion of one of said luggage sections thereby preventing release of the latch mechanism.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |