Granted Patent B2

US 6,880,698 · App. 10/315,310 · Granted Apr 19, 2005

Abstract

Claims (41)

1. A case for storage and transportation of archery equipment, comprising:

first and second case sections connected for relative movement between open and closed positions;

the first and second case sections each including a wall cooperatively defining an interior compartment when disposed in the closed position;

the first and second case sections each including a set of reinforcing pillars affixed thereto which project into the interior compartment when the first and second case sections are disposed in the closed position;

each reinforcing pillar having a free end such that the free end of each reinforcing pillar affixed to the first case section is aligned with and in abutting relation to the free end of one of the reinforcing pillars affixed to the second case section when the first and second case sections are disposed in the closed position;

each set of reinforcing pillars on the first and second case sections including at least one reinforcing pillar having an engaging contour including a first element portion and a complementarily-shaped second element portion formed on the free end thereof such that when the first and second case sections are disposed in the closed position, each at least one first element portion disposed on the first and second case sections is aligned and in registry with at least one second element portion disposed on the first and second case sections.

2. The case as recited in claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing pillars are integrally molded with the first and second case sections.

3. The case as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second case sections are hingedly connected for pivotal movement between the open and closed positions.

4. The case recited in claim 1 , wherein each set of reinforcing pillars further includes at least one reinforcing pillar having a first contour formed on the free end thereof and at least one reinforcing pillar having a complementarily-shaped second contour formed on the free end thereof such that each first contour is aligned and in registry with one second contour when the first and second case sections are disposed in the closed position.

5. The case as recited as claim 1 , wherein the case further includes at least one comb member connected to at least one of the first and second case sections for removably mounting a plurality of arrows.

6. The case as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second case sections each further include a mating rim disposed at the free end of each wall wherein the mating rim of the first case section includes projecting elements formed thereon and the mating rim of the second case section includes receptacles formed therein such that the projecting elements are aligned and in registry with the receptacles when the first and second case sections are disposed in the closed position.

7. The case as recited in claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing pillars each extend from the wall to a height greater than the respective mating rim.

8. The case as recited in claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing pillars are substantially equal in height.

9. The case as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one comb member is disposed between any two adjacent reinforcing pillars in each of the first and second case sections oriented normal to a longitudinal axis of the case.

10. The case as recited in claim 1 , wherein each reinforcing pillar is elongated along a longitudinal axis of the case.

11. A case comprising:

first and second case sections connected for movement between open and closed positions and jointly defining an interior compartment when in the closed portion;

each of said case sections having a reinforcing pillar affixed thereto to project into said compartment when said case sections are in the closed portion;

each said pillar having a free end configured to define juxtaposed first and second element portions formed on the free end; and

the pillars of said sections being disposed and oriented such that, when said case sections are in the closed position, the respective free ends thereof are aligned and the first and second element portions are disposed in meshing registry.

12. The case as recited in claim 11 , wherein the reinforcing pillars are integrally molded with the first and second case sections.

13. The case as recited in claim 11 , wherein the first and second case sections are hingedly connected for pivotal movement between the open and closed positions.

14. The case as recited as claim 11 , wherein the case further includes at least one comb member connected to at least one of the first and second case sections for removably mounting a plurality of arrows.

15. The case as recited in claim 11 , wherein the reinforcing pillars are substantially equal in height.

16. The case as recited in claim 11 , wherein each reinforcing pillar is elongated along the longitudinal axis of the case.

17. A case comprising:

a first case section and a second case section joined together to move between an open position and a closed position;

said first and second case sections cooperatively defining an interior compartment when disposed in the closed position;

a plurality of pillars affixed to each of said first and second case sections to project into the interior compartment when said first and second case sections are disposed in the closed position;

each of said pillars having a free end portion;

said pillars disposed and configured such that each of the free end portions of the pillars affixed to the first case section engage one of the free end portions of the pillars affixed to the second case section to define a plurality of engaging pillar sets when said first and second case sections are disposed in the closed position; and

at least one of said plurality of engaging pillar sets including congruent pillars, each pillar having an engaging contour formed in a free end including complementary-shaped first and second element portions.

18. The case as recited by claim 17 , wherein said plurality of engaging pillar sets is odd in number.

19. The case recited by claim 17 , wherein said plurality of engaging pillar sets is even in number and at least two of said plurality of engaging pillar sets have both first and second element portions.

20. The case recited by claim 17 , wherein said plurality of engaging pillar sets having both first and second element portions are elongated along the longitudinal axis of the case.

21. The case recited by claim 17 , wherein at least one of said first and second case sections further includes an arrow holder connected thereto.

22. A case comprising:

a first case section and a second case sections joined together to move between an open position and a closed position;

said first and second case sections cooperatively defining an interior compartment when disposed in the closed position; and

at least one reversible latch assembly disposed on said first and second case sections, each reversible latch assembly including a pair of parallel bars and a latch removably connected to one of said bars, one of the bars is disposed on each of the said first and second case sections, said latch further including a latch element which is operatively connectable with one of said bars opposite the removable connection with the latch, to retain said first and second case sections in the closed position.

23. The case recited by claim 22 , wherein each of the first and second case sections includes a pillar affixed thereto projecting into the interior compartment when said first and second case sections are disposed in the closed position aligned and in registry such that the pillar affixed to the first case section engages the pillar affixed to the second case section.

Assignments (16)