US1741009A - Bill fold - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 24, 1-929. v w. R. QBUXTON 1,741,009

BILL SOLD Original Filed larch 26. 1926 2 shimsnm 1 INVENTOR.

BY rZ M.

A TTORNEYS.

Dec. 24, 1929. w. R. BUXTON 1,741,009

BILL FOLD Original Filed March 26. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. m

A TTORNEYS.

- 25 in the following description and will be Patented 24, 1929 I PATENT OFFICE WABNER'R. Borrow, or LONGMEADOW, massacnnsnrrs BILL FOLD Application filed March 26, 1928, Serial No. 9 7,636. Renewed September 27, 1929.

This invention relates to an improved flexible pocket receptacle adaptedtocarry bills,

cards and the like and commonly known as a.

bill fold. p

An object of the invention is to provide a billfold with improved provisions for relative longitudinal movement between the inner and outer walls of the bill receiving com partment, whereby when the bill fold is doubled or otherwise folded upon itselfto fit the pocket, it will fold into substantially fiat,

- compact form even'whe'n a number'of bills are in said compartment, without buckling or irregular folding of the flexible material particularly with respect to said inner wall.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bill fold which can be made up from a single piece of flexible material folded in an improved way and interlocked in folded relation without stitching. F The attainment of these objects separately or together results in an improved bill fold structure of small bulk.

Other objects and advantages will appear pointed out in the'ap'pended claims.

The invention will be disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawings, in

Fig.1 is a plan view of the blank from which one form of a bill fold embodying the invention, is made; v

Figs. 2 and 3 areviews showing successive stages in the positioning of the bill fold walls and locking tabs of the blank shown in Fig. 1 Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevational View showing the locking tabs in position to hold the walls in pocket forming relation; I

- Fig. 5 is a perspctiveview of the bill fold whm folded along the'line' 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig.6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

' Fig. 7 an enlarged fragmentary elevational View showing a'detail of construction; Figs. 8 and 9 are full size fragmentary end elevational views showing the bill fold closed and open, respectively;

F g. 10 is aplan view of a blank from which anotner form of bill fold, embodying the invention, is made; 7

Fig. 11 is an enlarged elevational View showing the completely formed bill fold, as madde up from the blank shown in Fig. 10; an

Figs. 12 and Bare top plan and elevational views of the bill fold, when folded to fit the pocket.

Referring to these drawings; the. bill fold may be and desirably is made up from a single piece of suitable material, such as leather or the like, cut out and slotted in the form shown in Figs. 1 or 10. Considering the blank shown in Fig. 1, the sections of the bill fold are positioned by successive folding operations followed finally with simple tab tucking operations which interlock certain sections and maintain all the folded sections in folded relation. The first folding operation on the blank causes the sections to take the positions as shown inFig. 2. At the end of the second folding operation, the sections occupy the positions shown. in Fig. 3. The article shown in Fig. 3 is then by two folding operations and four tab tucking operations converted into the finished form shown in Fi 4. L The blank shown in Fig. 1,.includes an outer wall section 10, of an area slightly larger than that of one of the bills to be car ried and an inner wall. section 11, somewhat smaller in length and width than the outer wall section for a special purpose which will appear. The sectionslO and 11 are disposed in parallel 'but'spaced relation and the adja-' cent side edges of eachwall section 10 and 11 are connected by two intervening flap sections or tabs 12 of a width about equal to the'width .Of the outer wall section 10. The flap sections 12 are laterally spaced,-an opening 13 being cutout of the blank for this purpose. The opening 13 is preferably trapezoidal in shape so that the adjacent end edges of the flap sections 12 diverge away from their hinge, line connection 1a with the outer wall 10 and toward the'hinge line connection 15 with the inner wall 11. The'opposite end edges of flap sections 12 lie parallel with the corresponding ends of the outer wall section 10 butpreferably somewhat nearer together.

Connected to the ends of the outer wall section by a hinge line connection 16 are end flaps 17 each having upper and lower tabs 18 and 19, respectively, adapted for insertion in slits 20 and 21, respectively, formed in the flap sections 12. The lengt and 19 is greater than that of the slits 20 and 21, through which they are respectively passed, and each is connected to the body of flap 17 by a narrow neck, such as 22. Thesenarrow necks ride in the slits so that they can move laterally back and forth therein.

This will be clear from Fig. 7.

1 insertion or removal of bills.

' and 21, thus interlocking the the various sections in folded relation. The seetions are then posi-. Fig: 4, and the bill fold is ready The blank is preferably scored along the lines 14, 15 and 16', or otherwise formed so that the blank readily folds along these lines.

The end edges 23 ofthe inner wall section- 11 preferablydiverge away from the hinge line connection 15.

The sections of the blank, above described, are positioned mg manner; The inner wall section 11 is first foldedalong the line 15 up, over and the flaps 12. Theseflaps, aside from the flex-Q. .ible connecting function, just alluded to, form in cooperation with the inner wall 1.1 pockets 23 on the outside of the inner wall 11 for;

the reception of cards and the like. Exce t for this additional result flaps 12 could 9 made of smaller area. The next step is to secure the folded sections in folded relation and at the same time close the otherwise open ends of the continuous bill compartment 24 formed between the walls 10 and 11 aswell as the otherwise open ends of the pockets 23'.

While this object may, according to some features of the invention, be accom lished in any suitable manner, it is prefera ly accomlished, as shown, by

the flaps into superposed relation are then inserted in their respective slits 20 aps 12 and 17 and thereb -holding tioned, as in for use. i a a The complete bill fold in form for use, is, shown in open position in Fig. 4 ready for the When not in use, the bill fold maybe folded alon a central transverse line of fold 25 so t at one half thereof is superposed upon the other as shown in Fig. 5, the folded article being of suehsize and shape as to be conveniently car- 'ried in the pocket. 'If it-is desired to omit h of the tabs 18 into a bill fold in the followthe hinge line connection 14. then occupy the positions shown tively to folding over the end aps 17 along the hinge line connections 16,

- bringing with the flap sections 12. The tabs 18 and 19 the extra pockets formed by flaps 12 with the inner wall 11 such flaps and flaps 17 may be madewith the sole purpose of interlocking and to close the bottom and ends of the bill compartment just enough to preve'ntthe bills from falling out.

- In folding the bill fold from. open to closed position as used, the inner wall 11 necessarily lrasto bend about a smaller' radius than the outer wall and the difference in theseradii increases as the compartment2 iis filled with bills. This-will be readily apparent: from Fig. 8. Now, unless provlsion is made for relative longitudinal shifting movementbetween the innerand outer walls, the inner wall must-necessarily buckle near its central portion and this buckling of-the innerwall prevents the bill fold, when closed, from lying in smooth flat and compact form.

I am aware that provision has been made heretofore to take careofthis cr'ampifi action between the inner andouter wa s' ofb1ll folds as, for example,- that'shown' in British patent to 'Brooks 'No. 103,416. But

the provision made according 'to the present invention consists in a distinctly better provision for the purpose in view. I

p The bill fold construction herein described in characterized by peculiar provisions for the relative-shifting of the inner and outer walls when the bill fold is moved from open to closedposition and vice: versa.. The inner wall is free from adirect. connection with the outer wall and is connected thereto solely by a flexible connection comprising the flaps 12. ,The flaps 12, it is true, also have a flexible connect-ion with the outer wall by means of the flaps 17. This connection between flaps 12 and 17, however, is of a'loose nature so that flaps 12, particularly neartheir upper edges canmove longitudinally back and forth relaflaps 17 For example, either flap 12 (Fig. 4) can be pushed outwardly unt l the inner end of its slit 20 abutsthe adj acent part of the narrow tab 22 on fla 17 or until .an outer end edge of flap 12 a uts the end.

closure of the billfold defined by the hinge line 16. Said outer 'end edges offlaps 12 are cut back from the corresponding ends of: outer wall 10.,sufiiciently to permit this freedom of movement of flaps 12. The inner wall 11,

while attached to flaps 12 at its upper edge and'necessarily moving therewith at such location, is free from theseflaps along its lower edge and can move longitudinally back and forth relatively thereto. This is permitted because the connection between the walls 10 and His a flexible one, consisting of the flaps 12, which can warp or twist somewhat and enable enough 'rnovemen'tlof wall 11 relatively to wall 10 for the stated purpose; For example, onecan grasp the member '11. near its upper edge and shift it back and forth relatively to the outer wall 10 over .an appreciable distance without noticeablywarping the bill fold. Inso doing, the flaps 12 move with the inner wall 11 nearthe upper ends since freedom for this movement is permitted by the slits 20. Obviously, these flaps 12 cannot, at their lower edges, move longitudinall relatively to the outer wall 10 to which they are fastened but they do nevertheless yield enough for the function but without appreciably distorting the bill fold. The flaps 12, as member 11' is moved back and forthseem to pivot at their outer lower corners and their lower edges can, if examined closely, .be seen to roll up or down somewhat accordingly as the member -11' is pushed outwardly or inthe pivot points at the outer corners to the inner lower-corners.

When the bill 'fold is moved from open to :0 closed position, the central line of fold of inner wall 11 remains substantially stationary and the inner wall 11 pushes outwardly in opposite'directions relatively to the outer wall 10, or stated more accurately,

' 25 the outer wall actually moves in sliding relation to the inner wallu- The relative action between the walls is analogous to that above described where member 11 was pushed outwardlytoward an endwall of the bill told by hand. When the bill fold is again opened, the member 11 slides in relatively to the outer wall, or to put it another way, the latter slides ,outwardly on the inner wall. The relative 5 bill fold into more than-two sections, an additional connecting fiap between the outerand inner walls-is provided for each additional section desired. For example, if the bill fold is to be folded into three sections an-additional flap 30 (Figs. 10 and -11) is provided toconnect the central portion of the lower edge of the outerwall to the-corresponding portion of the upper edge of the inner wall andthe flaps 12 are reduced in 7 shown, with the object of making the several flaps 12 and30define' in'an approximateway the several sections into which the bill fold is to be folded. The flap 30 is spaced from the adjacent flaps12' so that the hill 1 fold will naturally fold along lines which extend' through the spaces between these flaps.

Oneparticular way of accomplishing the object-gust set forthflis shown ,in Figs. 10

. to 12. The blank is shown in Fig. and

Wardly. This rolling action of the lower edges of flaps 12 increases progressively from widthand modified slightly in shape, as

it is formed in the same general manner as that shown in Fig. 1 and corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals primed. The flaps 12' have been made narrower to permit the. addition of flap 30 and at the-same time leave spaces 31 between flap 30 and the adjacent flaps 12. The construction is otherwise similar to that of Fig. 1 and the blank is folded in the same manner to produce the bill fold shown in Fig. 11. The completed bill fold may be folded along the lines 32, which pass through spaces 31, into the form shown in Figs. 12 and 13, thus resulting in three superposed sectionsv instead of two as heretofore.

The provision of flap 30 makes possible the provision of an additional pocket, if desired. A strip 33 is superposed on the back, of fia 30 and stuck thereto along three edges as in icated at 34,'thereby affording a pocket between the parts 30 and 33. Such pocket may be used for an automobile registration or membership card which may be rendered visible while in the pocket by a transparent section 35 provided in flap 30.

The bill fold, just described, embodies the same provisions for relative longitudinal movement between its outer and inner walls as that shown in Fig 1. The action is essentially the same except that there is substantially no relative longitudinal movement between the inner and outer walls at their central portions vover an area commensurate with and defined by the flap 30.. When the .end portions of'the bill fold are folded over upon the central portion, the end portions ofthe outer wall push outwardly in opposite directions, starting from-locations defined by the side edgesof flap 30. Otherwise,

the action is the. same as that already de-- scribed.

Aside fromv the important advantage, re-

latingto provisions for relative longitudik nal movement between the inner and outer walls ofsthe bill fold, which follows from theimproved constructions disclosed, the invention afiords desirable manufacturing ad-' vantages adapting it to quantity production at low unit cost. Either form of blank can (be formed at and by one single stamping operation, in which the lines of fold may also be suitably defined. Havingtlie blanks thus formed, the only other necessary labor to score the fold lines apart fromthe stampin-g operation. v

Thus, I have provided an improved bill fold which not only possesses important advantages from the point of view of the manufacturer but also possesses'adv'antages which are important from the'users point of view inasmuch as the bill fold, even when filled with many bills, is adapted to fold into com- .paratively flat, smooth and compact form,

adapting it to be comfortably carried in the ,pocket by very simple means.

That feature of the invention relating to the one piece construction 'oi-the'bill fold,

' tion 'is concerned. That is to say, that tea-- while desirable and important by reason of the manujacturing advantages fincident thereto, is not necessarily essential in so, far as the other distinctive feature of the inventure characterized by; an arrangement which permits relative longitudinal shifting of the inner and outer walls, does not depend on the onepiece construction although that'is now thought the bestand most desirable form.

The 'same action would be obtained at least to a substantial degree if the various sections were not integral and were fastened together by other means. Either feature ofthe'invention may be used independently of the other and, when so used, some of the advantages pointed out herein will be obtained. A structure. utilizing. either of these -features orfbothtogetheris' considered'within the them a bill receiving compartment, flexible means connecting one side edge of the first named means to the opposite. and non-adj acent side edge of the second named means' and closing a portion of the bottom of said.

compartment, and flexible means connecting ,the first-and third named means and closing th'eends of said compartment. v I v 2. A bill fold, made up from flexible -material and harm ng outer and inner 'walls con nect'ed by flaps which extend from one side.

edge 'of one wall to the opposite and non ad acent side edge of the other wall, and end flaps connecting the first named'flaps and outer wall. and permitting limitedlongi tudinal' shifting of the jfirst named-1 flaps relatively to the outer wall.

3. A bill fold, comprising, outer and inne'r'wallsdefining the bill compartment, flexi ble means connectedto' one side edge of the euterwall andto the opposite and non-adacent'sideedge of the inner wall and 'forming a snfiicien't closure for the bottom of said ooinpartmentto prevent escape of the coninnts thereof, and flexible means connecting, the first named means. and outer wall and the ends ofsaid compartment. 4

.wall and closing theends billfold, comprising, outer and ii ner walls defining the bill compartment, flexible means connected to one side edgeof the outer wall and to the opposite and non-adjacent side edge of the inner wall and substantially closing the bottom of'said compartment, and flexible means connecting the first named 'means and outer walland closing the ends of said compartment, the connection afforded by said last named means permitting limited longitudinal movement of the firstnamed' means and said inner wall relatively to the outer wall.

5. A bill fold, comprising, outer and inner walls, end and intermediate flaps arranged in longitudinally spaced relation and each connected to one side edge of the outer wall and to the opposite. and non-adjacent and end flaps for side edge of the inner wall, connecting the outer wall to said first named endflapsp 6. A bill fold, comprising-outer andinner walls, end and intermediate flaps arrangedin longitudinally spaced relation and each connectpd to one side edge of the outer wall and ex ending over the outer surface" of the inner' wall and-conn'ectedto the opsame, and end flaps for connecting the outer .wall to said first named end flaps, the connection between said named and I last named longitudinal shifting movement between the same. Y

7. A bill foldcomprising, outer; and inner walls of. flexible materialof an area substanend flaps permitting'limited relativeposite and non-adjacent side edgerof the .tially commensurate with that of a bill to be carried, flaps offlexible materialserving to connect said outer and inner walls and foldably connected in longitudinallyspaced 'relation to the lower edgeof the outer wall'and extending over the outer surface of the inner wall. and-foldablyconnectedto the ,upper 1 edge of the same, and flexible flaps for conneeting the first named flaps and the outer of the bill compartment formed between said outer. and inner Walls.

' 8. A bill fold comprislng, outer and inner walls offlexible material of an area substantially commensurate with that of a bill to be carried, flaps of flexible material for 'connecting the outer and inner walls together,

said flaps being foldably connected in longitudinally spaced relation to the lower edge of surface of the inner wall and 'foldably-connected to .the upper edgeof the same,' and flexible flaps for connecting the first named flaps and the outer wall and closing the ends of the-bill compartment formed between said outer and inner walls, said last named con-' nection a permitting relative longitudinal movement betweenthe connected parts? I 9.. A bill fold comprising, outer and inner walls of flexible material of an area substair the outer :wall and extending over the outer tially commensurate with that of a bill to be carried, flaps of flexible material foldably connected in longitudinally spaced relation to the lower edge of the outer wall and extending over the outer surface of the inner walland foldablyconnected to the upper edge of the same, said flaps serving as the connection between the outer and inner wall and permitting relative longitudinal movement between the same, and flexible flaps foldably connected to the ends of the outer wall section and overlapping the first named flap sections and connected thereto.

10. A bill fold comprising, outer and inner walls of flexible material of an area substantially commensurate with that of a bill to be carried, flaps of flexible material serving as the only connections between said outer and inner walls and foldably connected in longitudinally spaced relation to the lower edge of the outer wall and extending over the outer surface of the inner wall and foldably connected to the upper edge of tne same, and flexible flaps foldabl connected to the ends of the outer wall section and overlapping certain of the first named flap sections,

and interlocking means provided on said overlapped flap sections for connecting them together with freedom for limited relative longitudinal shifting movement.

11. A one piece bill fold made up from a blank of flexible material having an outer wall section, flap sections foldably connected at longitudinally spaced points to one side edge of said outer wall section. an inner wall section foldably connected to the free ends of said flap sections, end flap sections foldably connected one'to each end of said outer wall section, said inner wall section adapted to be folded in superposed relation upon the first namedflap sections, and the latter with the inner wall section superposed thereon adapted to be folded into superposed relation with the outer wall section to bring the inner and outer wall sections in contiguous relation, said end flap sections adapted to be folded inward- 1y over the first named sections and connected thereto. r

12. A one piece bill fold made up from' a blank of flexible material having an outer wall section substantially commensurate in area with that of a billto be carried. flap sections of a height substantially equal 'to that of the outer wall section foldably connected at longitudinally spaced points to one side edge of said outer wall section, an inner wallsection of a height not greater than that of said flap sections foldably connected to the free ends of said flap sections, end flap sections foldably connected one to each end of said outer. wall section, said inner wall section adapted to be folded in superposed relation upon the first named flap sections, and the latter with the inner wall section superposed thereon adapted to be folded into superposed relation with the outer wall section to bring the inner and outer wall sections in contiguous relation, said end flap sections adapted to be folded inwardly over the first named sections, and interlocking means provided on the end flap and first named flap sections for detachably holding them together and permitting relative longitudinal shifting movement therebetween.

13. A complete bill fold made from one piece of flexible material comprising, inner and outer walls connected solely by integral flaps someof which are directly connected to both walls and some of which are directly connected to only one wall, said last mentioned flaps being slidably connected to the first mentioned flaps by tab and slot connections, all constructed and arranged for relative movements of the inner and outer walls permitted by' the flexibility of the flaps connecting them.- a

i 141A bill fold comprising, an outer wall and a superposed inner wall, a pair of flapsconnecting one edge of the inner and one edge 15. A complete bill fold made from one piece of flexible material, comprising, outer and inner walls, flaps connecting said walls and extending from one side edge of one wall to the opposite and non-adjacent side edge of the other wall, and means connecting each end of the outer wall to the outer end of the ad- 16. A bill fold, having flexible outer-wall forming means and flexible inner-wall forming means,the walls thus formed being substantially rectangular and afiording between them a bill receiving compartment, flexible means'connecting one side edge of the first named means to the opposite and non-adjacent-side edge of the second named means and closing a portion of. the bottom of said.

compartment, and means connecting the ends of the first and third named means forclosing the ends of said compartment. v.

In testimony whereof'I have 'aflixed my signature. I

-. WARNER R. BUXTON.

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