Access compartment having inwardly opening magnetic closure flap for carry case
A magnetic closure device for a compartment of a carry case, the compartment having an access opening, the access opening having at least one first predetermined dimension. The flap is attached to the carry case and positioned inside the compartment, the flap having at least one dimension greater than the corresponding first dimension of the access opening to retain the flap inside the compartment and to thereby prevent movement of the flap outside the opening. The flap is hingedly attached at one end to the carry case and is arranged to move inwardly to provide access to the compartment through the opening. Mutually magnetically attractable devices are respectively attached to a wall portion of the compartment and to the flap in correspondingly opposed positions to retain the flap in engagement with the wall portion of the compartment to provide closure to the compartment, whereby the flap is manually movable inwardly to provide user access to the compartment. A carry case incorporating such flap is also disclosed, as well as a method of opening and closing the flap.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to innerwardly opening flaps for compartments of carry cases such as articles of luggage and the like, wherein the flap is structurally and magnetically biased toward the closed position to facilitate automatic closing movement of the flap when released by the user.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of magnetically attractable devices for providing closures in conjunction with various articles such as ladies handbags, satchels and other personal containers is well known. For example, it is well-known to use magnetically attractable fasteners as closures, latches or the like for handbags. One example of a magnetic fastener for use with handbags is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,874 to Chen which relates to a magnetic closure device adaptable for use with such handbags or other enclosures. Another example is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,796,344 to Chen, et al., which relates to a handbag having functional devices secured by magnetically attractable devices.
Up to the present, although it has been known to utilize magnetically mutually attractable devices to provide closure and to assist latches for such closures on handbags, satchels, luggage, suitcases and article carrying devices in general, the use of mutually magnetically attractable devices to assist in the closing movement of such closure devices, as well as to retain a flap-type closure of such carry cases in the closed position, is not known, particularly as disclosed herein.
The present invention elates to a closure device for a compartment of a carry case, wherein the compartment has an access opening and an inwardly movable flap which is held in the closed position by a pair of magnetically attractive devices, and in particular, a pair of magnets.
In particular, the flap of the present invention is so constructed and attached to the carry case, so as to receive an inherent initial assist toward the closed position, as well as to retain it in the closed position when the respective magnets come into close relation with each other.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA magnetic closure device for a compartment of a carry case is disclosed, the compartment having an access opening, the access opening having at least one first predetermined dimension, which comprises a flap attached to the carry case and positioned inside the compartment. The flap has at least one dimension greater than the corresponding first dimension of the access opening to prevent movement of the flap outside the opening. The flap is attached at one end to the carry case and is arranged to move inwardly to provide access to the compartment through the access opening. Mutually magnetically attractable devices are respectively attached to a wall portion of the compartment and to the flap in correspondingly opposed positions to retain the flap in engagement with the wall portion of the compartment to provide closure to the compartment, so that the flap is manually movable inwardly to provide user access to the compartment. The flap is preferably constructed of an outer woven material layer which is complementary to the outer material layer of the carry case. Furthermore, the outer material layer is preferably woven polyester or nylon.
The flap further comprises an inner lining and an intermediate non-woven fibrous mat material sandwiched between the outer woven material layer and the inner lining. The widthwise dimension of the flap is greater than the corresponding widthwise dimension of the compartment opening to prevent exiting of the flap from the compartment.
The flap is attached along an upper end to the carry case to form a bead-type hinge, the hinge including a coiled metal spring-like member extending over the widthwise dimension of the flap, the spring-like member being encased within a resilient generally tubular member, which is in turn, positioned within a woven material layer. The hinge is thus structured and dimensioned to bias the flap outwardly toward an outer wall of the compartment.
The resilient generally tubular member is preferably polyvinyl chloride (i.e., PVC), and the flap preferably includes a magnet attached at the free end thereof. A correspondingly mutually magnetically attractive material is attached to the adjacent outer wall of the compartment to thereby retain the flap in engagement with the adjacent wall to close the compartment.
Preferably the respective magnetic materials on the flap and the outer wall are mutually magnetically attractive magnets, preferably rare earth magnets such as neodymium.
The flap includes an inner woven material liner, and the outer woven material liner of the flap combines with the bead-type hinge to bias the flap outwardly toward the closed position with respect to the compartment opening.
In an alternative embodiment, the invention further comprises at least one spring-like resilient flat material strip embedded therein along a dimension generally perpendicular to the widthwise dimension, and extending from the flap hinge toward the free end of the flap, to bias the flap toward the closed position. Preferably, at least two of such resilient material strips are positioned in generally spaced apart parallel relation with each other. The spring-like members may be of any resilient material such as spring steel, plastic or the like.
In another embodiment, the flap comprises at least one resilient material coil spring embedded therein along a dimension generally perpendicular to the widthwise dimension, and extending from the flap hinge toward the free end of the flap, to act as a spring to bias the flap toward the closed position. At least two of such resilient material coil springs may be used, and positioned in generally spaced apart parallel relation with each other.
A carry case is also disclosed having an accessible compartment for storage of articles or the like, the compartment having at least one first dimension, and including a magnetic closure device which comprises, a flap attached to the carry case and positioned inside the compartment, the flap having at least one dimension greater than the corresponding first dimension of the access opening to prevent movement of the flap outside of the opening. The flap is attached at one end to the carry case and arranged to move inwardly to provide access to the compartment through the opening. Mutually magnetically attractable devices are respectively attached to a wall portion of the compartment and to the flap in correspondingly opposed positions to retain the flap in engagement with the wall portion of the compartment to provide closure to the compartment. The flap is manually movable inwardly to provide user access to the compartment. Two or more of such accessible compartments and magnetic closure flaps may be provided.
A method is disclosed for opening and closing a closure device for an accessible compartment of carry case, the compartment having a pivotable closure flap positioned normally therein, the compartment also having a dimension which is greater than a corresponding dimension of the closure flap to prevent exiting of the closure flap therefrom. The closure flap is hinged at one end and structured with the carry case to bias the closure flap outwardly toward a closed position in engagement with an outer wall of the compartment, the closure flap further having attached at the free end portion thereof, a magnetic material device, and the adjacent wall of the compartment having a magnetically attractive material device attached thereto in opposed relation with the magnetic material of the closure flap, to retain the closure flap in a closed position with respect to the compartment. The method comprises applying inward force to the flap to break the magnetic contact and to cause inward movement of the flap into the compartment for gaining access to the inside of the compartment, and releasing the flap to permit it to return toward the closed position under the natural resilient bias of the flap until the mutually opposed magnets enter their respective magnetic fields to complete the closure of the flap when the flap engages the corresponding adjacent wall of the compartment.
The magnetically attractive material device on the flap is preferably a magnet, and the magnetically attractive material device on the adjacent outer wall of the compartment is preferably a magnet of opposite polarity to the magnet on the flap. The magnets are preferably rare earth magnets. Furthermore, the rare earth magnets are preferably neodymium.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described hereinbelow with reference to the drawings, wherein:
Referring to the drawings, and initially to
The non-woven fibrous material inner layer 26 adds stability to the woven polyester outer layer and assists in providing bending resistance to the flap 14. In particular, it provides a degree of resilience to the flap 14 so as to assist the flap 14 in beginning its outward closing movement when in use, by providing a degree of stability and resilience to the flap 14 at the joint 28. In addition, the inner lining 30 of the flap, as well as in the remaining portions of the carry case, wherever appropriate, is made of a woven material such as polyester or the like. Other lining materials such as rayon or the like are contemplated.
Referring again to
The position and configuration of the bead 38 also assists in providing resilient movement to the flap 14, so that when the flap 14 is pushed inwardly by the user to insert an article into compartment 36, and thereafter released, the initial movement of the flap towards the closed position is partially assisted by the resiliency of the construction as described hereinabove, as well as by the presence of the extruded strip 39 of piping and the coiled metal member 40 positioned therein. In addition, the tightly woven outer fabric layer 24 is placed in tension when the flap is pushed inwardly, and thereby also provides resilient resistance to bending of the flap at joint 28. This resistance to bending of flap 14 at joint 28 provides the uniquely produced initial movement of the flap 14 according to the present invention.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The flap is of generally greater dimensions than the dimensions of the opening of the respective compartment along both directions to retain it inside the compartment. In
In
In particular,
As can be seen in
It is noted that in other respects the embodiment and structure of the flaps shown in
It should be understood that alternative materials for the construction of the carry case and the flaps can be used, such as woven polyester, leather and the like. In addition, the pair of magnets 42, 44 can alternatively be replaced by a single magnet on the flap or on the compartment wall, and a magnetically attractable material such as iron or steel, or other, on the opposite member, so that the magnetic attraction is provided in a manner similar to a pair of magnets as shown.
While any type of magnetic materials are contemplated. Rare earth magnetic materials such as neodymium and the like can provide substantial magnet force to complete the closure of the flap.
Claims
1. A magnetic closure device for a compartment of a carry case, the compartment having an access opening, said access opening having at least one first predetermined dimension, which comprises:
- a) a flap attached to said carry case and positioned inside said compartment, said flap having at least one dimension greater than said corresponding first dimension of said access opening to prevent movement of said flap outside said opening, said flap being attached at one end to the carry case and being arranged to move inwardly to provide access to said compartment through said opening; and
- b) mutually magnetically attractable devices respectively attached to a wall portion of said compartment and to said flap in correspondingly opposed positions to retain said flap in engagement with said wall portion of said compartment to provide closure to said compartment, said flap being manually movable inwardly to provide user access to said compartment.
2. The magnetic closure device according to claim 1, wherein said flap is constructed of an outer woven material layer which is complementary to the outer material layer of said carry case.
3. The magnetic closure device according to claim 2, wherein said outer material layer is woven polyester or nylon.
4. The magnetic closure device according to claim 3, wherein said flap further comprises an inner lining and an intermediate non-woven fibrous mat material sandwiched between said outer woven material layer and said inner lining.
5. The magnetic closure device according to claim 4, wherein the widthwise dimension of said flap is greater than the corresponding widthwise dimension of said compartment opening to prevent exiting of said flap from said compartment.
6. The magnetic closure device according to claim 5, wherein said flap is attached along an upper end to said carry case to form a bead-type hinge, said hinge including a coiled metal spring-like member extending over the widthwise dimension of said flap, said spring-like member being encased within a resilient generally tubular member, which is in turn, positioned within a woven material layer, said hinge thereby being structured and dimensioned to bias said flap outwardly toward an outer wall of said compartment.
7. The magnetic closure device according to claim 6, wherein said resilient generally tubular member is polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and said flap includes a magnet attached at the free end thereof, and a correspondingly mutually magnetically attractive material device is attached to the adjacent outer wall of said compartment to thereby retain said flap in engagement with said adjacent wall to close the compartment.
8. The magnetic closure device according to claim 7, wherein said magnetic material is positioned on said flap and said mutually magnetic material device on said adjacent outer wall of said compartment is a mutually attractive magnet.
9. The magnetic closure device according to claim 8, wherein said magnets are rare earth magnets such as neodymium.
10. The magnetic closure device according to claim 9, wherein said flap includes an inner woven material liner, and said outer woven material liner of said flap combines with said bead-type hinge to bias said flap outwardly toward the closed position with respect to said compartment opening.
11. The magnetic closure device according to claim 10, wherein said flap further comprises at least one spring-like resilient material strip embedded therein along a dimension generally perpendicular to said widthwise dimension, and extending from said flap hinge toward said free end of said flap, to bias said flap toward the closed position.
12. The magnetic closure device according to claim 11, wherein said flap further comprises at least two of said resilient material strips positioned in generally spaced apart parallel relation with each other.
13. The magnetic closure device according to claim 10, wherein said flap further comprises at least one resilient material coil spring embedded therein along a dimension generally perpendicular to said widthwise dimension, and extending from said flap hinge toward said free end of said flap, to act as a spring to bias said flap toward the closed position.
14. The magnetic closure device according to claim 13, wherein said flap further comprises at least two of said resilient material coil springs positioned in generally spaced apart parallel relation with each other.
15. A carry case having an accessible compartment for storage of articles or the like, said compartment including a magnetic closure device; which comprises:
- a) a flap pivotably attached to said carry case and positioned inside said compartment, said flap having at least one dimension greater than said corresponding first dimension of said access opening to prevent movement of said flap outside said opening, said flap being attached at one end to the carry case and being arranged to move inwardly to provide access to said compartment through said opening; and
- b) mutually magnetically attractable devices respectively attached to a wall portion of said compartment and to said flap in correspondingly opposed positions to retain said flap in engagement with said wall portion of said compartment to provide closure to said compartment, said flap being manually movable inwardly to provide user access to said compartment.
16. The carry case according to claim 15, further comprising two or more of such accessible compartments and magnetic closure flaps.
17. A method of opening and closing a closure device for an accessible compartment of carry case, the compartment having a pivotable closure flap positioned normally therein, said compartment having a dimension which is greater than a corresponding dimension of said closure flap to prevent exiting of said closure flap therefrom, said closure flap being hinged at one end and structured with said carry case to bias said closure flap outwardly toward a closed position in engagement with a wall of said compartment, said closure flap having attached at the free end portion thereof, a magnetic material device, and said adjacent wall of said compartment having a magnetically attractive material device attached thereto in opposed relation with said magnetic material of said closure flap, to retain said closure flap in a closed position with respect to said compartment, comprising:
- a) applying inward force to said flap to break the magnetic contact and to cause inward movement of said flap into said compartment for gaining access to the inside of said compartment; and
- b) releasing said flap to permit it to return toward the closed position under the natural resilient bias of said flap until said mutually opposed magnets enter their respective magnetic fields to complete the closure of said flap when said flap engages the corresponding adjacent wall of said compartment.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said magnetic material on said flap is a magnet, and said magnetically attractive material on said adjacent wall of said compartment is a magnet of opposite polarity to said magnet on said flap.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said magnets are rare earth magnets.
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said rare earth magnets are neodymium.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 13, 2009
Publication Date: Sep 3, 2009
Inventors: Lois Zaprzalka Sherr (Hong Kong), Adam Courter (Brooklyn, NY), Richard J. Krulik (Dix Hills, NY)
Application Number: 12/378,471
International Classification: A45C 3/00 (20060101); A44B 21/00 (20060101);