Carrying Case with Pressure Relief Valve

Abstract

A carrying case made of mating case sections with a principal seal and equipped with a latching device serving as part of a pressure relief valve for opening the interior of the carrying case to the atmosphere. The latch further includes a sealing means in contact with the external edge when the latch is opened to allow passage of air through the opening when the latching device is opened and the sealing means is no longer in contact with the external edge of the opening.

1 . A carrying case comprising:
 mating case sections connected for relative movement between open and closed positions, said mating case sections cooperatively defining a case interior when disposed in the closed position, at least one of the mating case sections having an opening in communication with the interior   a principal seal interposed between the mating case sections when disposed in the closed position;   a latch connected to one of said mating case sections and connectable in snap-fit relation with one other of the mating case sections; and   scaling means carried by the latch to seal the opening when the latch is connected to said one other of said mating case sections, wherein the sealing means includes a back portion and a ductile front portion projecting from said latch.   
   
   
       2 . (canceled) 
   
   
       3 . The carrying case of  claim 1 , said sealing means having an adhesive-free interface between the back portion and the ductile front portion by overmolding of the ductile front portion over the back portion. 
   
   
       4 . The carrying case of  claim 1 , further comprising an inner liner, and a principal seal comprising an upper edge of the liner. 
   
   
       5 . The carrying case of  claim 4 , wherein the liner includes an aperture aligned with the opening. 
   
   
       6 . A carrying case comprising:
 mating case sections connected for relative movement between open and closed positions, said mating case sections cooperatively defining a case interior when disposed in the closed position;   a principal seal interposed between the mating case sections when disposed in the closed position to seal the interior at a mating interface of the mating case sections; and   a pressure release valve including an opening in one of the case sections and a resilient seal movable between a sealed configuration in contact with the opening and an open configuration distant from the opening, and a single piece latch with a through bore, the through bore filled by the resilient seal, the single piece latch connected to one of the mating case sections and having a connectable edge in snap-fit relation with the other of the mating case sections.   
   
   
       7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . The carrying case of  claim 6 , wherein the resilient seal includes a resilient back portion and a ductile front portion in sealable contact with the opening when the pressure relief valve is in the sealed configuration. 
   
   
       9 . The carrying case of  claim 6 , wherein the ductile front portion is overmolded to the back portion. 
   
   
       10 . The carrying ease of  claim 6 , further comprising an inner liner having an aperture aligned with the opening and having upper edge acting as the principal seal. 
   
   
       11 . A carrying case comprising:
 mating case sections connected for relative movement between open and closed positions, said mating case sections cooperatively defining a case interior when disposed in the closed position;   a principal seal interposed between the mating case sections when disposed in the closed position to seal the interior at a mating interface of the mating case sections; and   a pressure release valve including an opening in one of the case sections and a resilient seal movable between a sealed configuration in contact with the opening and an open configuration distant from the opening, and a single piece latch with an internal face and an external face where the resilient seal is in contact with the internal face and the external face, the single piece latch connected to one of the mating case sections and having a connectable edge in snap-fit relation with the other of the mating case sections.   
   
   
       12 . The carrying case of  claim 11 , wherein the portion of the resilient seal in contact with the internal face includes a lip resting on the internal face. 
   
   
       13 . The carrying case of  claim 12 , wherein the resilient seal includes a resilient back portion and a ductile front portion in sealable contact with the opening and in contact with the lip when the pressure relief valve is in the sealed configuration. 
   
   
       14 . The carrying case of  claim 11 , wherein the ductile front portion is overmolded to the back portion. 
   
   
       15 . The carrying ease of  claim 11 , further comprising an inner liner having an aperture aligned with the opening and having upper edge acting as the principal seal.