US4694940A — Carrying case with a hinged lid and closure member

Claim 1

Independent Claim 390 words

A carrying case, which comprises a body (1) and a closure member (3); where the body includes a well-shaped compartment (14) in the body; characterized in that: the closure member (3) includes a main-portion (7) and a flap-portion (8), the portions being connected by a connecting means (10) which permits relative movement therebetween; the flap-portion (8) is smaller than the main-portion (7); the main-portion (7) is rigid; and the closure member (3) can be set selectably to all these positions relative to the body: (a) a closed position, in which the said two portions (7, 8) of the closure member (3) lie over respective parts of the well-shaped compartment (14), the closure member (3) being so shaped and dimensioned as to substantially close at least a major part of the well-shaped compartment (14) when set in the closed position; (b) a wide-open position, in which both portions (7, 8) are displaced away from the well-shaped compartment (14), leaving the well-shaped compartment wide open; (c) and a partially-open position where the main-portion (7) lies over, and substantially closes, a part of the well-shaped compartment (14), and where, simultaneously, the flap-portion (8) lies open enough relative to the body (1) to permit access into the wall-shaped compartment; where the case is provided with a lid (2), where the lid is separate from the closure member (3), and where the lid is attached to a back wall (12) of the body (1) and is pivotable relative to the back wall (12); where the lid (2) includes a lid-flap-portion (21) and a lid-main-portion (24) the portions (21, 24) being connected by a lid-flap-connecting-means (25) which permits relative movement therebetween; where the lid (2) can be set selectably to all these positions relative to the body (1): (a) a closed position, in which the said two portions (21,24) of the lid (2) lie over the corresponding portions (8,7) of the closure member (3); (b) a wide-open position, in which both portions (21, 24) of the lid are displaced away from the closure member (3), leaving the closure member, in substance, wide open; (c) and a partially-open position, where the lid-mainportion (24) lies over, and substantially closes, the main-portion (7) of the closure member (3), and where simultaneously the lid-flap-portion (21) lies open enough relative to the closure-member (3) to permit access into the lid-flap-portion (21).

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 390 words

A carrying case, which comprises a body (1) and a closure member (3); where the body includes a well-shaped compartment (14) in the body; characterized in that: the closure member (3) includes a main-portion (7) and a flap-portion (8), the portions being connected by a connecting means (10) which permits relative movement therebetween; the flap-portion (8) is smaller than the main-portion (7); the main-portion (7) is rigid; and the closure member (3) can be set selectably to all these positions relative to the body: (a) a closed position, in which the said two portions (7, 8) of the closure member (3) lie over respective parts of the well-shaped compartment (14), the closure member (3) being so shaped and dimensioned as to substantially close at least a major part of the well-shaped compartment (14) when set in the closed position; (b) a wide-open position, in which both portions (7, 8) are displaced away from the well-shaped compartment (14), leaving the well-shaped compartment wide open; (c) and a partially-open position where the main-portion (7) lies over, and substantially closes, a part of the well-shaped compartment (14), and where, simultaneously, the flap-portion (8) lies open enough relative to the body (1) to permit access into the wall-shaped compartment; where the case is provided with a lid (2), where the lid is separate from the closure member (3), and where the lid is attached to a back wall (12) of the body (1) and is pivotable relative to the back wall (12); where the lid (2) includes a lid-flap-portion (21) and a lid-main-portion (24) the portions (21, 24) being connected by a lid-flap-connecting-means (25) which permits relative movement therebetween; where the lid (2) can be set selectably to all these positions relative to the body (1): (a) a closed position, in which the said two portions (21,24) of the lid (2) lie over the corresponding portions (8,7) of the closure member (3); (b) a wide-open position, in which both portions (21, 24) of the lid are displaced away from the closure member (3), leaving the closure member, in substance, wide open; (c) and a partially-open position, where the lid-mainportion (24) lies over, and substantially closes, the main-portion (7) of the closure member (3), and where simultaneously the lid-flap-portion (21) lies open enough relative to the closure-member (3) to permit access into the lid-flap-portion (21).

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 63 words

Case of claim 15, where the lid (2) is secure-able to the body (1) by means of a zip fastener (22, 23) and where the zip fastener (22, 23) is so arranged that the lid-flap-portion (21) is movable to the said partially-open position at the same time as the lid-main-portion (24) remains secured to the body (1) by the zip fastener (22, 23).

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 272 words

Carrying case, which comprises a body (1) and a closure member (3); where the body includes a well-shaped compartment (14) in the body; characterized in that: the closure member (3) includes a main-portion (7) and a flap-portion (8), the portions being connected by a connecting means (10) which permits relative movement therebetween; the flap-portion (8) is smaller than the main-portion (7); the main-portion (7) is rigid; and the closure member (3) can be set selectably to all these positions relative to the body: (a) a closed position, in which the said two portions (7,8) of the closure member (3) lie over respective parts of the well-shaped compartment (14), the closure member (3) being so shaped and dimensioned as to substantially close at least a major part of the well-shaped compartment (14) when set in the closed position; (b) a wide-open position, in which both portions (7, 8) are displaced away from the well-shaped compartment (14), leaving the well-shaped compartment wide open; (c) and a partially-open position where the main-portion (7) lies over, and substantially closes, a part of the well-shaped compartment (14), and where, simultaneously, the flap-portion (8) lies open enough relative to the body (1) to permit access into the well-shaped compartment; where the case is provided with a lid (2), where the lid is separate from the closure member (3), and where the lid is attached to a back wall (12) of the body (1) and is pivotable relative to the back wall (12); and where the main portion comprises a tablet (7) and includes a paper-retaining-well (18), which is so dimensioned as to receive snugly a pad of paper.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 272 words

Carrying case, which comprises a body (1) and a closure member (3); where the body includes a well-shaped compartment (14) in the body; characterized in that: the closure member (3) includes a main-portion (7) and a flap-portion (8), the portions being connected by a connecting means (10) which permits relative movement therebetween; the flap-portion (8) is smaller than the main-portion (7); the main-portion (7) is rigid; and the closure member (3) can be set selectably to all these positions relative to the body: (a) a closed position, in which the said two portions (7,8) of the closure member (3) lie over respective parts of the well-shaped compartment (14), the closure member (3) being so shaped and dimensioned as to substantially close at least a major part of the well-shaped compartment (14) when set in the closed position; (b) a wide-open position, in which both portions (7, 8) are displaced away from the well-shaped compartment (14), leaving the well-shaped compartment wide open; (c) and a partially-open position where the main-portion (7) lies over, and substantially closes, a part of the well-shaped compartment (14), and where, simultaneously, the flap-portion (8) lies open enough relative to the body (1) to permit access into the well-shaped compartment; where the case is provided with a lid (2), where the lid is separate from the closure member (3), and where the lid is attached to a back wall (12) of the body (1) and is pivotable relative to the back wall (12); and where the main portion comprises a tablet (7) and includes a paper-retaining-well (18), which is so dimensioned as to receive snugly a pad of paper.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 255 words

Carrying case, which comprises a body (1) and a closure member (3); where the body includes a well-shaped compartment (14) in the body; characterized in that: the closure member (3) includes a main-portion (7) and a flap-portion (8), the portions being connected by a connecting means (10) which permits relative movement therebetween; the flap-portion (8) is smaller than the main-portion (7); the main-portion (7) is rigid; and the closure member (3) can be set selectably to all these positions relative to the body: (a) a closed position, in which the said two portions (7,8) of the closure member (3) lie over respective parts of the well-shaped compartment (14), the closure member (3) being so shaped and dimensioned as to substantially close at least a major part of the well-shaped compartment (14) when set in the closed position; (b) a wide-open position, in which both portions (7, 8) are displaced away from the well-shaped compartment (14), leaving the well-shaped compartment wide open; (c) and a partially-open position where the main-portion (7) lies over, and substantially closes, a part of the well-shaped compartment (14), and where, simultaneously, the flap-portion (8) lies open enough relative to the body (1) to permit access into the well-shaped compartment; where the case is provided with a lid (2), where the lid is separate from the closure member (3), and where the lid is attached to a back wall (12) of the body (1) and is pivotable relative to the back wall (12); and where the flap-portion (8) includes a loose-article-well (16).

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 255 words

Carrying case, which comprises a body (1) and a closure member (3); where the body includes a well-shaped compartment (14) in the body; characterized in that: the closure member (3) includes a main-portion (7) and a flap-portion (8), the portions being connected by a connecting means (10) which permits relative movement therebetween; the flap-portion (8) is smaller than the main-portion (7); the main-portion (7) is rigid; and the closure member (3) can be set selectably to all these positions relative to the body: (a) a closed position, in which the said two portions (7,8) of the closure member (3) lie over respective parts of the well-shaped compartment (14), the closure member (3) being so shaped and dimensioned as to substantially close at least a major part of the well-shaped compartment (14) when set in the closed position; (b) a wide-open position, in which both portions (7, 8) are displaced away from the well-shaped compartment (14), leaving the well-shaped compartment wide open; (c) and a partially-open position where the main-portion (7) lies over, and substantially closes, a part of the well-shaped compartment (14), and where, simultaneously, the flap-portion (8) lies open enough relative to the body (1) to permit access into the well-shaped compartment; where the case is provided with a lid (2), where the lid is separate from the closure member (3), and where the lid is attached to a back wall (12) of the body (1) and is pivotable relative to the back wall (12); and where the flap-portion (8) includes a loose-article-well (16).

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 38 words

Case of claim 4, where the loose-article-well (16) in the flap-portion (8) is provided with a cover (17), which is so dimensioned and disposed as to act as a retainer for loose articles placed in the loose-article-well (16).

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-09-21	1991-03-23	1991-09-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-09-21	1995-03-23	1995-09-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-09-21	1999-03-23	1999-09-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Carrying case with a hinged lid and closure member

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