US2555705A

US2555705A - Handbag with flexible spring tensioned sliding closure

Info

Publication number: US2555705A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wilmer H Schafer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-06-23
Filing date: 1948-06-23
Publication date: 1951-06-05
Anticipated expiration: 1968-06-05

Description

June 5, 1951 w SCHAFER 2,555,705

HANDBAG WITH FLEXIBLE SPRING TENSIONED SLIDING CLOSURE Filed June 25, 1948 4 4 Wilmer H. Sc/rafer 4 I INVENTOR.

Patented June 5, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIC HANDBAG WITH FLEXIBLE SPRING TENSIONED SLIDING CLOSURE Wilmer H. Schafer, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application June 23, 1948, Serial No. 34,627

2 Claims. 1

My invention relates to improvements in ladies hand bags, the principal object in view being to provide a semi-rigid hand bag of few parts and Simple construction with a flexible slide closure of a disappearing type spring actuated to open when released and uncovering an opening in the bag larger in comparison with the size of the bag than the openings provided in similar hand bags of commerce.

Another object is to provide a bag of the character and for the purpose above set forth which is light in weight, strong and durable, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other and subordinate objects, together with the precise nature of my improvements, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawing, accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawing:

Figure l is a view in perspective of my improved hand bag in a preferred embodiment thereof with the closure closed;

Figure 2 is a view in vertical transverse section drawn to a larger scale and with the closure closed;

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of one of the end frames with one of the end walls attached thereto and drawn to a larger scale, the frame being viewed from the inner side thereof;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken on'the line i i of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in front elevation, partly in section, drawn to a larger scale and illustrating the latch and a keeper plate in detail;

Figure 6 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 6-4: of Figure 2 and drawn to a larger scale;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken on the line l-'I of Figure 4 and drawn to a larger scale Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in vertical section tahen on the line 8-46 of Figure 3 and drawn to a larger scale.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, an exemplifying embodiment of my improved bag, as illustrated, comprises a semi-rigid body I of generally triangular form in cross-section with a bottom wall a similar inner back wall 3, a relatively shcrt front wall l, an outer back wall 5 spaced from the inner back fall 3 parallel therewith to form a hollow back for a purpose presently seen, and vertically elongated, substantially triangular, end walls *3 extending above the i front wall 4 and the

back walls

3, 5 with rounded upper portions I and front edges 8 inclining upwardly and rearwardly to said portions 1 from the top edge of the front wall A. As will be seen, the designated walls together with he crosssectional shape of the body I provide for said walls defining a comparatively large opening in the body I.

The body I includes end frames 9, it, of substantially rigid strap material and which are of the same shape as the end walls 5. The end frames 9, It are each formed on the inner sides thereof with a pair of laterally spaced, rear, vertical slots I I, I2, the last-named slots being open at the bottom of the frame, and in these slots the inner back wall 3 and the outer back wall 5 are inserted at side edges thereof and suitably fixed. As will. be seen the open bottom. ends of the rear vertical slots I2 provides for sliding the outer back wall 5 therein, th advantage of which will be manifest.

Each frame 9, It is also provided with a third slot I3 in the inner side thereof extending from the bottom of the frame intermediate the slots II, I2, around the upper end portion of the frame, and down the front of the frame and along the bottom of the same to the inner back wall 3. The front wall i and the bottom wall 2 are suitably secured at side edges thereof, in one piece, in said slots I3.

The slots I 3 are provided with widened portions I4 extending from the upper edge of the front wall i to within a short distance of the upper ends of the frames 9, It, and serving a purpose to be explained.

A bore I5 extends in each frame 9, I Ii upwardly at the rear side thereof opposite the slot 4 and outwardly of said slot from the bottom of the frame to the widened portion Id of the slot I3. The purpose of these bores will presently be clear.

Outer side edge slots I6 extend around the frames 9, Ill and in which the edges of the side walls 6 are tucked and suitably secured.

A flexible slide closure I'I, commonly designated a roll top type, with slats It hingedly connected together by a flexible backing'sheet I9 is slidably mounted at its side edges in the slots I3 to close the bag and complete the top and front of said bag, said closure being slidable in said slots I3 into open position in the space between the inner and

outer back walls

3, 5. The front slat I8 of the closure I? is longer than the others with ends, as at 26, extending beyond the side edges of the closure I l and into the widened portions M of the slots I3. 5

A pair of closure opening coil springs 2| extend through the bores I5 with front ends suitably connected, as at 22, to the ends 25 of said front slat l8 and having rear hooked ends 23 anchored by plugs 24 suitably fixed in said bores l5 at the bottoms 0f the frames 9, Ill.

The top edge of the front wall 4 is recessed, as at 25, to accomodate therein a hook-type latch 25 pivoted, as at 2?, and spring-pressed, as at 28, with a cam end 29.

The front slat l8 of the closure I1 is similarly recessed, as at 3!], to receive the latch 26 and a keeper plate 3| fastened to the slat l8 by a screw 32 to extend into the recess 35, engage the cam end 29 of the latch 26, and cam the latch to one side as the closure ll nears closed position, said plate then releasing the latch 26 for snapping over the keeper plate by the spring 28 to latch the closure l'i closed,

A hand-grip knob 33 on the latch 25 working in a slot 36 in the front wall It is operative to release the latch 25. A hand-grip knob 35 is suitably secured on the front slat it of the clo sure ii for use in closing said closures.

A handle strap 36 is suitably secured at its ends to the end walls 6 for use in carrying the hand bag.

Suitable rollers 31 may be provided in the upper ends of the frames 9, H) for supporting the springs 2| to obviate friction between the springs and the bores l5.

As will be obvious, when the latch 26 is released,

the closure il will slide open under the action of the springs 22 and disappear, in greater part, in the space between the inner and

outer back walls

3, 5 to uncover a comparatively large opening in the body I of the bag.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice to L impart a clear understanding of my invention, without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification, without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved I.

invention, what is spaced back walls, said grooves having longitudinal deepened portions at opposite sides of the opening, said frames having bores therein extending along opposite side edges of said back walls and communicating at one end with said deepened portions, a flexible. closure for said opening slidable in said grooves into the space between said back walls into open position and having a pair of side edge extensions projecting into said deepened portions, and coil springs in said bores extending along the same with corresponding ends extending into said deepened portions under tension and fixed to said extensions to slide said closure open intothe space between said back walls, said springs being fixed at the other ends thereof in the other ends of said bores.

2. A handbag comprising a pair of substantiallytriangular end frames, front, bottom and laterally spaced back walls connecting said frames, said frames and the front and back walls defining an opening, said frames having lateral inner side grooves therein extending along opposite sides of the opening and in between said spaced back walls, said grooves having longitudinal deepened portions at opposite sides of the opening, said frames having bores therein extending along opposite side edges of said back walls and communicating at one end with said deepened portions, a flexible closure for said opening slidable in said grooves into the space between said back walls into open position and having a pair of side edge extensions projecting into said deepened portions, ooilsprings in said bores extending along the same with corresponding ends extending into said deepened portions under tension and fixed to said extensions to slide said closure open into. the space between said back walls, and plugs in the other ends of said bores to which the other ends of said springs are anchored.

WILMER I-I. SCI-IAFER.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 457,581 Floyd Aug. 11, 1891 541,927 Goldman July 2, 1895 2,351,597 Burlin June 20, 1944 2,504,574 Orlin Apr. 18, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 59,301 Norway May 2, 1938