US2531306A

US2531306A - Combined purse and billfold

Info

Publication number: US2531306A
Application number: US126976A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas William H St
Original assignee: St Thomas Inc
Current assignee: St Thomas Inc
Priority date: 1949-11-14
Filing date: 1949-11-14
Publication date: 1950-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 1967-11-21

Description

COMBINED PURSE AND BILLFOLD.

Filed Nov. 14, 1949 2' Sheets-Sheet 1 l 1 I l l I INVENT OR Mann [I fltmnns BY if-M ATTORNEYS Nov. 21,1950

Filed Nov. 14, 1949 w. H. s12: THOMAS 2,531,306

COMBINED PURSE AND BILLFOLD 2 Sh eets-Sh'et 2 INVENTOR Mama H ,j'r 74 7mm:

BY M -M ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 21, 1950 COMBINED PURSE AND BILLFOLD William H. St. Thomas, Gloversville, N. Y., al-

signor to St. Thomas Inc., a corporation of New York Application November 14, 1949, Serial No. 126,976

3 Claims.

This invention relates to pocketbooks and has more particular reference to an improved type of combination purse and billfold.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a combined purse and billfold of novel construction having an improved type of change pocket arranged for ready access within a billfold pocket or compartment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined purse and billfold, as characterized above, wherein a coin pocket and a bill pocket are accessible at one end of the billfold through a two-part hinged frame to afford ready access to the contents of both pockets when the frame members are opened.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the specification when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view showing one form of combined purse and billfold embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the lin 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the combined purse and billfold shown in Fig. 1, with the mouths of the coin pocket and bill pocket opened;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 3, showing a slightly modified form of coin pocket; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

The illustrated forms of the present invention embody certain improvements over the combination purse and billfold disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 766,590,.filed August 6, 1947, now U. S. Patent No. 2,488,444, issued November 15, 1949. The principal changes in construction reside in the constructions of the frame mouth and the coin pocket. Both inventions relate to what is generally known as a French purse having provision for inserting money bills laterally into the bill compartment and removing them endwise through a mouth of the purse, while the coin pocket is arranged in the mouth end of the billfold. In accordance with the present invention, the purse and bilifold is provided with a single mouth closure formed by a pair of hinged frames, and the construction is such that both the coin pocket and the end of the bill pocket are readily accessible when the hinged frame members are opened.

Referring to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the combined purse and billfold is illustrated as comprising a generally rectangular outer wall forming member it, which is preferably made of leather, and an inner substantially coextensive wall forming member II, which is conveniently made of a strip of fabric or cloth and stitched along its side edges and at its bottom end to the wall forming member I 0, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These walls provide an elongated bill compartment or pocket I! of such length as to accommodate money bills inserted therein. The upper ends of the two wall forming members Ill and II are secured to the cross bars and legs of a pair of hinged frame members l3 and [4, respectively, to provide a mouth opening in the upper end of the bill pocket. The frame members J3 and H are shown as being U-shaped and adapted to be held in closed position by cooperating snap elements l5 and 16.

In this example, the inner face of the outer billfold wall member I0 is lined with a cloth or fabric liner ll. While this liner may be co-extensive with the wall member l0 and stitched at its lower end to both of the wall members It and II, it is shown in Fig. 2, as terminating short of the hinge axis of the frame members. It is stitched along its side edges to the side edges of the wall members l0 and II. As shown, the liner covers 'a greater portion of the back wall of the bill pocket or compartment. In some instances, the cloth liner may be omitted. However, it enhances the appearance of the billfold and serves to confine the coin purse therein, as will presently be explained.

In this example, the fabric inner wall member II is provided with a generally rectangular facing l8 adjacent to one side edge, which is stitched to one side edge and the lower end edge of the wall members It and H, and fastened to one leg and a portion of the cross bar of the frame member ll, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. This facing and the fabric wall are provided with a cut out opening l9 extending from a point near the lower end of the wall member II to a point near the cross bar of the frame member II to provide lateral access to the billfold pocket and permit insertion and removal of money bills. In this 'example, the opening is adapted to be closed by an ordinary slide fastener 20.

A second billfold compartment or pocket may be provided on the inner face or wall member of the billfold. It is shown as being formed by a substantially rectangular wall forming member 2|, preferably made of leather and having its upper longitudinal edge below the slide fastener opening l9, as viewed in Fig. 1. It is secured at its lower end along its side edge to the lower end and side edges of the wall members It and II, and at its upper end portion to one leg and a major portion of the cross bar of the frame member II. This wall member, when made of leather, serves to cover the fabric portion of the wall forming member II, which is not covered by the leather facing l8. If desired, the wall forming member 2| may also carry a card pocket formed by a short wall forming member 22, as clearly extensive in width with the wall member 2| and stitched or otherwise secured along its sides and bottom end edge to the wa.l I I, as shown in Fig. 1.

The billfold is adapted to be folded transversely, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, and may be fastened in its folded position by snap fastener elements 23 and 24.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the purse or coin pocket is of the gusset type and is arranged in the upper end of the bill compartment or pocket, with its mouth opening adjacent to the cross bar of the frame member 13. The purse is formed by an outer wall forming member 25 and an inner wall forming member 26, stitched together at their bottom edges and connected along their side edges by generally triangular gussets 21, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

These walls and gussets are preferably made of leather. The bottom of the pocket extends well below the hinge axis of the frame members l3 and I4 and the upper edge of the inner side wall 26 terminates short of the cross bar of the frame member [3. To improve the appearance of the coin pocket, it is preferably covered with cloth on the outer faces of the inner wall 26 and the gussets. The upper edge of the inner wall member 28 is shown as being provided with a stifiening member 28, which may be in the form of a flexible strip stitched between the edge of the cloth cover and the edge of the leather wall 26, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The bottom end of the pocket is stitched to the upper end edge of the cloth liner II to hold it against the outer wall of the bill pocket. The gusseted form of pocket permits the weight of coins in the pocket to bulge it open at the mouth when the frame members are opened. Also, the frame members serve to close the mouth tightly when they are snapped closed, to prevent coins from spilling out of the coin pocket and falling over into the bill pocket. If desired,.the mouth of the gusseted pocket can be closed by any suitable fastening means. In the present example, it is shown as being adapted to be closed by means of a flexible flap or tab 29 carrying a, male snap fastener element 30 adapted to cooperate with a female snap fastener element 3| on the face of the wall forming member 26.

Referring to the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the coin purse is there shown as being i'ormed by an outer wall forming member 32 and an inner wall forming member 33, both preferably made of leather. The inner wall forming member 33 is somewhat wider than the wall forming member 32 to providefullness of the pocket, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The upper edge of the wall forming member 33 terminates short of the cross bars of frame members I3 and I4. Both side edges of these two wall forming members are also secured to the two legs of the frame member l3 and they are stitched together along the balance of their side edges below the hinged frame axis and at the bottom of the pocket, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. In this form, the liner member I1 is separated from the outer wall member ill at its upper end and covers the inside wall .33 of the bulging coin pocket. It is secured along its edges to the side edges of the wall forming members l9 and II in the same manner as was described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3. However, its upper end portion which covers the face of the coin .pocketwall 33 is provided with fullness to conform to the size and shape of the coin pocket wall, and its upper edge is stitched to the upper edge of thewall forming m mber 33. Thus,

the liner covers or conceals the bottom portion 4 of the coin purse and provides a smooth. uninterrupted surface for the insertion of bills in the bill compartment. The upper edge of the wall 33 may or may not be reinforced by a strip to make it bulge. This form. of purse pocket mayart, that the inner wall member ll of the bill pocket may be connected at only one side edge and its lower end to the outer wall forming member III, to provide the lateral access opening between the unsecured side edges of the two wall forming members, in which case the slitted opening through the leather facing strip and the inner wall-will be omitted. Also, either form of purse pocket may be formed by a single, inside wall forming member secured at its bottom edge to the outer wall forming member Ill and to the legs of the outer frame member, 'as shown, thereby omitting the separate, outer purse wall form-.

ing member.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A combination purse and billfold comprising two flexible, substantially rectangular inner and outer wall forming members connected together to form an elongated bill pocket open at one end and having a longitudinal access opening at one side to provide for lateral insertion and removal of money bills; two substantially ushaped inner and outer frame members hingedly connected together with each frame member secured to the open end of the corresponding wall forming member to provide a mouth closure; and a purse pocket within the open end of the bill pocket having an inner wall with its side edges secured to the legs of the outer frame member and with an upper free edge providing a mouth opening at one side of the open end of the bill pocket, said purse pocket being movable as a,-

unit with said outer frame member when the frame members are opened.

2. A combination purse and billfold. as set forth in claim 1, wherein said inner wall of the purse pocket is generally rectangular; and wherein said purse pocket has substantially triangular gussets at its opposite sides with the upper side edge portions of the gussets secured to the opposite legs of one of said frame members.

3. A combination purse and billfold, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the purse pocket has an outer wall with its side edges also secured to the legs of the outer frame member.

WILLIAM H. ST. THOMAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Num er