Folding instrument container

Claim 2

A portable apparatus comprising: a. a carrying case having at least two storage sections joined by at least one hinge, each said storage section having an inner display surface containing means for retaining instruments, and an outer surface, wherein said storage sections can be folded apart on at least one said hinge to open said case and expose said display surfaces, and wherein said storage sections can be folded together on at least one said hinge to close said case; b. a sleeve including a recess defined by facing, generally parallel side walls and a closed binder edge, said recess having a mouth, the side walls of said sleeve being spaced to admit said case through said mouth only when said case is closed and to prevent said case from being opened while said case is within said recess; and c. support means on said sleeve for supporting the said storage sections of said case at an angle between zero and 90 degrees with respect to a generally horizontal support surface when said case is opened outside said sleeve.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising support means on said sleeve for supporting the said storage sections of said case at an angle between zero and 90 degrees with respect to a generally horizontal support surface when said case is opened outside said sleeve.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of said storage sections comprises an upright wall having an edge which is effectively closed by a longitudinally disposed carrying handle.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a means for maintaining said portable carrying case in a closed and embraced position.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said means for maintaining said portable carrying case in a closed and embraced position comprises one of said side walls of said support sleeve having a portion of said side wall removed to form a recess and one said outer surface of said storage sections having an outward locking projection of a raised shape complimentary to said support sleeve recess, said locking projection mating with said recess and forming a frictional lock.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a means for guiding said portable carrying case into said support sleeve.

Claim 10

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said means for guiding said portable carrying case into said support sleeve comprises said closed binder edge of said support sleeve having a projection extending between and parallel to the said side walls of said support sleeve from a position near said pivot means on said binder edge of said sleeve, said projection acting in concert with a case binder member joining said storage sections and having a portion of said case binder member removed to form a matable recess to guide said projection and said portable carrying case into the closed carrying position.

Claim 11

An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said projection also acts as a means for engaging said portable carrying case in an open position.

Claim 12

An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said projection has bevelled lip which engages said recess in said case binder member.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said projection is fin-like in shape.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said support means comprise said support sleeve having a portion of said side wall material removed, creating rims angling back from said pivot means.

Claim 15

An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said means for retaining instruments includes on each of said inner surface of said storage sections a plurality of vertical recesses and a securing member running along the inner side of said storage section walls between the bound and unbound edges of each storage section wall.

Claim 16

An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a means for securing an instrument sharpener.

Claim 17

An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said means for securing an instrument sharpener comprises two projections constructed so as to embrace said instrument sharpener, said projections being on said inner surface of one of said storage sections between said longitudinally disposed carrying handle and said hinge.

Claim 18

An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a means for maintaining said portable carrying case in a closed and embraced position, a means for guiding said portable carrying case into said supporting sleeve, a means for engaging said portable carrying case in an open position, a means for supporting said portable carrying case in an open display position, a means for retaining instruments within said portable carrying case, and a means for securing an instrument sharpener.

Claim 21

An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a means for maintaining said portable carrying case in a closed and embraced position, a means for guiding said portable carrying case into said supporting sleeve, a means for engaging said portable carrying case in an open position, a means for supporting said portable carrying case in an open display position, a means for retaining instruments within said portable carrying case, and a means for securing an instrument sharpener.

Claim 22

An apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a means for maintaining said portable carrying case in a closed and embraced position, said means comprising one of said two side walls of said support sleeve having a portion of said wall removed to form a recess and one the outer surfaces of said storage sections having an outward locking projection of a raised shape complimentary to said support sleeve recess, said locking projection mating with said recess and forming a frictional lock, a means for guiding said portable carrying case into said support sleeve with said binder edge of the support sleeve having a fin-like projection extending between and parallel to said side walls of said support sleeve, said fin-like projection acting in concert with said case binder member having a portion of said portable carrying case binder member removed to form a matable recess to guide said fin-like projection and said portable carrying case into the closed carrying position, a means for engaging said portable carrying case in an open position in which said fin-like projection comprises a bevelled lip which engages said recess in said case binder member, a means for support of said portable carrying case in an open position comprising said support sleeve having a portion of said side wall material removed creating rims angling back toward the edge opposite the handle edge of the support sleeve, said angled rims providing support for the portable carrying case when the portable carrying case is in the open display position, a means for retaining instruments within said portable carrying case including on each of the storage sections a plurality of U-shaped vertical recesses and a securing member running along the bottom of the inner side of each said storage section wall between the bound and unbound edges of each said storage section wall, and a means for securing an instrument sharpener comprising two projections constructed so as to embrace the said instrument sharpener, said projections being on the inner surface of one of said storage sections between said longitudinally disposed carrying handle and said case binder member.

Claim 23

An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said storage sections comprises an upright wall having an edge which is effectively closed by a longitudinally disposed carrying handle.

Claim 24

An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a means for maintaining said portable carry case in a closed and embraced position.

Claim 25

An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said means for maintaining said carrying case in a closed and embraced position comprises one of said side walls of said support sleeve having a portion of said side wall removed to form a recess and one said outer surface of said storage sections having an outward locking projection of a raised shape complementary to said support sleeve recess, said locking projecting mating with said recess and forming a frictional lock.

Claim 26

An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a means for guiding said portable carrying case into said support sleeve.

Claim 27

An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said means for guiding said potable carrying case into said support sleeve comprises said closed binder edge of said support sleeve having a projection extending between and parallel to the said side walls of said support sleeve from a position on said binder edge of said sleeve, said projection acting in concert with a case binder member joining said storage sections and having a portion of said case binder member removed to form a matable recess to guide said projection and said portable carrying case into the closed carrying position.

Claim 28

An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said projection also acts as a mean for engaging said portable carrying case in an open position.

Claim 29

An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said projection has a bevelled lip which engages said recess in said case binder member.

Claim 30

An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said projection is fin-like in shape.

Claim 31

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said support means comprise said support sleeve having a portion of said side wall material removed, creating rims angling back from said pivot means.

Claim 32

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for retaining instruments includes on each of said inner surface of said storage sections a plurality of vertical recesses and a securing member running along the inner side of said storage section walls between the bound and unbound edges of each storage section wall.

Claim 33

An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a means for securing an instrument sharpener.

Claim 34

An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said means for securing an instrument sharpener comprises two projections constructed so as to embrace said instrument sharpener, said projections being on said inner secure of one of said storage sections between said longitudinally disposed carrying handle and said hinge.

Claim 35

An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for securing a sheet to said storage section.

Claim 36

An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said sheet is a template.

Claim 37

An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each of said storage sections comprises an upright wall having an edge which is effectively closed by a longitudinally disposed carrying handle.

Claim 38

An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a means for maintaining said portable carrying case in a closed and embraced position.

Claim 39

An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said means for maintaining said carrying case in a closed and embraced position comprises one of said side walls of said support sleeve having a portion of said side wall removed to form a recess and one said outer surface of said storage sections having an outward locking projection of a raised shape complementary to said support sleeve recess, said locking projecting mating with said recess and forming a frictional lock.

Claim 40

An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a means for guiding said portable carrying case into said sleeve.

Claim 41

An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said means for guiding said potable carrying case into said sleeve comprises said closed binder edge of said sleeve having a projection extending between and parallel to the said side walls of said sleeve from a position near said pivot means on said binder edge of said sleeve, said projection acting in concert with a case binder member joining said storage sections and having a portion of said case binder member removed to form a matable recess to guide said projection and said portable carrying case into the closed carrying position.

Claim 42

An apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said projection also acts as a means for engaging said portable carrying case in an open position.

Claim 43

An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said projection has a bevelled lip which engages said recess in said case binder member.

Claim 44

An apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said projection is fin-like in shape.

Claim 45

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means for retaining instruments includes on each of said inner surface of said storage sections a plurality of vertical recesses and a securing member running along the inner side of said storage section walls between the bound and unbound edges of each storage section wall.

Claim 46

An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a means for securing an instrument sharpener.

Claim 47

An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said means for securing an instrument sharpener comprises two projections constructed so as to embrace said instrument sharpener, said projections being on said inner surface of one of said storage sections between said longitudinally disposed carrying handle and said hinge.

Claim 48

An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising means for securing a sheet to said storage section.

Claim 49

An apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said sheet is a template.

Claim 50

An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for securing a sheet to said storage section.

Claim 51

An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said sheet is a template.