US2560437A

US2560437A - Slide fastener brief case

Info

Publication number: US2560437A
Application number: US99382A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry J Guenther; George G Guenther
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-06-16
Filing date: 1949-06-16
Publication date: 1951-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 1968-07-10

Description

July 10, 1951 H. J. GUENTHER ETAL SLIDE FASTENER BRIEF CASE Filed June 16, 1949 :15? am I flE/V/PY J. 605N77/5/P," GEMGE maze-#777 5 Patented July 10, 1951 UNITED STATES Mar rrics SLIDE FASTENER BRIEF CASE Henry J. Guenther and George G. Guenther, New York, N. Y.

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to flap-closure type portable receptacles, including brief cases, pocketbooks, portfolios and the like, and which are commonly made of flexible material such as leather, imitation leather, fabric, rubberized fabric and similar materials. Such receptacles are usually relatively narrow in width but frequently are expansible to greater width for accommodating variations in thickness of content.

The general object of the invention is to pro- 1 vide a flap-closure type portable receptacle having a slide fastener for removably securing the closure flap to the body of the receptacle and which will not interfere with the ready opening and closing of the flap.

A further related object of the invention is to employ a slide fastener between the flap and body of a flap-closure type receptacle in an arrangement such that the slide is the only part of the slide fastener to be manipulated in order to permit free opening of the flap.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flap-closure receptacle of the expansible type with associated and cooperative slide fastener means for securing the closure flap and securing means for holding the receptacle against undesired expansion.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from a consideration of the attached drawings and annexed specification illustrating and describing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a frontperspective view of a device embodying the invention showing it in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front perspective View of the device in open position and with the flap-closure thrown back;

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of a portion of the device expanded relative to the showing in Fig. 2 and illustrating the means for preventing further undesired expansion thereof.

Referring now to the drawings the body ill of i the receptacle comprises front and rear walls I and I2, a bottom wall [3 and a top closure flan I4. The bottom wall I3 is preferably formed as a separate piece, secured to the front and rear walls in any suitable manner, as by stitching, and wide enough to permit expansion of the receptacle to the desired extent. The closure flap I4 is preferably formed integral with the rear wall l2 and has an intermediate portion l5 adapted to cover the top of the receptacle in its expanded or contracted position and a terminal portion. 56 extending outwardly over the upper edge of the front wall I I and downwardly therefrom to a point intermediate its height. The terminal portion 56 is adapted to be releasably secured to an intermediate portion of the front wall H, in a manner hereinafter described, to lock the receptacle in closed position.

The ends of the receptacle comprise bellowstype collapsible webs I'l secured to the inner side edge portion of the front and rear walls l I and I2 in any suitable manner, as by stitching, and having secured between the folds thereof a plurality of partition members is, preferably of relatively stiff material such as pressed fiber board or the like. As will be apparent the be1lows-type collapsible webs I! permit expansion of the receptacle from a minimum thickness dimension, as when empty, to a maximum thickness dimension, as when fully loaded.

In accordance with the present invention the closure flap M is releasably secured to the front wall ll, intermediate the height thereof, by a.

slide fastener !9 comprising interdigitating elements 2!) and 2| and a slide 22. The interdigitating elements 29 are carried by a strip of suitable material 23 such as cloth or the like. in known manner, which is secured to the terminal edge portions 2 of the closure flap H5. The interdigitating elements 2! are likewise carried by a strip 25' which is secured to the front wall ll of the receptable intermediate the height thereof as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. v

In a preferred form of construction the front wall H is formed of upper and lower sections 26 and 2'! which overlap at 28 and are secured together along their overlapping portions as by stitching 29, with the strip 25 positioned and secured therebetween. When the slide 22 is in closed position as shown in Fig. l the interdigitating elements 20 and 2| are securely locked together thus securing the terminal edge 24 of the closure flap to the front wall ll intermediate the height thereof and holding the closure flap 14 in place over the top and upper portion of the receptacle to close it.

At one side of the body portion l0 we provide a bifurcated member 30 having leg portions 3| and 32 secured respectively to a terminal side edge portion of the closure flap M, as at 33, and to an edge of the front wall I l at the overlapping portions 28 of the upper and lower sections 26 and 21, as at 34. The bifurcated member 30 is preferably made of the same material as the body portion l and is of a length such that the closure fiap l4 may be swung upwardly to open position as shown in Fig. 3 to allow full access to the interior of the receptacle through the top thereof.

In accordance with the present invention the bifurcated member 30 is designed to permit the flap M to be freely opened by manipulation of the slide 22 without disengagement thereof from the interdigitating elements and 2| and. for this purpose is provided with strips 35 and 36, secured thereto in any suitable manner, and carrying the interdigitating elements 31 and 38 which constitute continuations of the interdigitating elements 20 and 2|. Thus by moving the slide 22 into the bifurcated member 30 the bifurcations thereof may be separated to permit the flap [4 to be opened to its full extent. To close the flap [4 it is merely necessary to move the slide 22 to the right until it reaches the position shown in Fig. 1.

The bifurcated member 30 is also designed to hold the receptacle against undesired expansion and for this purpose is provided with a socket 39 adapted for snap fastener engagement with a stud 40 secured to the rear wall l2. To provide for variations in thickness of the receptacle caused by variations in the contents thereof additional studs 43 may be provided as desired.

In closed position the slide 22 is disposed at the extreme right of the body portion It with the interdigitating elements 20, 2| and 31, 38 in locked engagement and the bifurcated member 30 disposed around the end of the body portion and secured to the rear wall I2 by the snap fastener elements 39 and 40. When it is desired to open the flap M the snap fastener elements 39 and -30 are disengaged and the slide 22 moved to the left into the bifurcated member 30. The flap may then be opened to the position shown in Fig. 3 permitting access to the interior of the receptacle.

' Various modifications of the invention described and illustrated will most likely occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is indicated in the attached claims.

We claim:

1. A portable receptacle having opposite side members and end members and having atop opening defined by upper edges of one of the side members and the end members, a flexible closure flap secured to the second side member adjacent the top opening and adapted, when closed, to overlie the top opening and lie in overlapping relation with the upper portion of the first side member, said closure flap having a free longitudinal edge and free end edges, a flexible elongated bifurcated member having a free closed outer end and opposite leg portions secured at their open inner ends, one to one end of the closure flap adjacent the longitudinal edge thereof and the other to the corresponding end of the second side member at a point spaced downwardly from the top opening, said leg portions of the bifurcated member being free of connection with the adjacent end member and being of sufficient length that with spreading apart of said leg portions the closure flap can swing upwardly to open position, opposite coacting lines of slide fasteners, one of said lines being secured to the longitudinal edge of the closure fiap and one leg portion of said bifurcated member and the other said line of fasteners being secured lengthwise of the second side member in downwardly spaced relation to the top opening and to the second leg portion of the bifurcated member, and a slide coactive with the lines of fasteners having fastener opening movement in the direction of the bifurcated member and to the closed outer end of said bifurcated member.

2. A portable receptacle according to claim 1 further including fastener means for detachably securing the closed outer end of the bifurcated member to the first side member and across the adjacent end member.

3. A portable receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the end members are of bellows type to adapt the receptacle to expand to different widths, and further including fastener means adapted to detachably and adjustably secure the closed end of the bifurcated member to the first side member in different positions lengthwise of the side member and across the adjacent one of said end members.

HENRY J. GUENTHER. GEORGE G. GUENTHER.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Dec. 9, 1929 Great Britain Aug. 18, 1932 in the Number Number