US2823723A

US2823723A - Container

Info

Publication number: US2823723A
Application number: US476447A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur D Cohn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-12-20
Filing date: 1954-12-20
Publication date: 1958-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 1975-02-18

Description

A. D. COHN Feb. 1s, y1958 CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Deon 20, 1954 IN V EN TOR.

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A. D. CCHN Feb. 18, 195s CONTAINER Filed Dc. 2o. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HrJrur D. Cohn 4 @Mama s. 5TM/M Alg-f.

United States Patent O CONTAINER Arthur D. Cohn, New York, N. Y.

Application December 20, 1954, Serial No. 476,447

3 Claims. (Cl. 150-10) The present invention relates to containers. More particularly, the present invention relates to containers adapted to hold loose articles such as keys, coins, and the like.

Known containers of this type have several defects. For example, in order to remove an article from the container it is necessary to use both hands so that if the user has bundles in one hand and his other hand is free, it is nevertheless necessary to put down the bundles in order to get at an article within the container. Also, known containers of this type are quite bulky and weighty so that they are not comfortably carried about in the pocket vof an article of clothing, for example. Furthermore, known containers of this type include as a general rule several rigid metallic parts of substantial dimensions which undesirably increase the cost of manufacture as well as render the known containers bulky and weighty.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a container which may be operated with one hand to gain access to articles within the container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container which is extremely light and which maintains .a substantially flat shape even when articles are within `the container.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a container with a chain for holding keys or the like and capable of collapsing into an extremely small space so that the container is not undesirably bulged by the chain.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a container which automatically closes itself whenever the container is released by the user.

With the above objects in view the present invention mainly consists of a container which includes a first ilexible sheet material portion having an edge folded back upon land joined to itself to form a tubular portion extending along a part of the periphery of the sheet material portion. A second sheet material portion identical with the rstis located next to the same with the tubular portions thereof overlying each other and with the folded back edges located between the sheet material portions. These sheet material portions are joined together at their outer peripheries along a path extending from one end of the tubular portions to the opposite end thereof. A pair -of leaf springs are respectively located within and substantially till the tubular portions, these leaf springs having a length slightly shorter than that of the tubular portions. A pair of clips are respectively connected to the ends of the tubular portions for closing these ends. A flexible chain capable of collapsing into an extremely small space is connected at one end to the container at the interior thereof, and this chain. is formed at its free end portion into a loop which may support keys or the like.

The novel features which are considered as chara`" teristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both las l0 its construction and its method of operation, to-

2,823,723 Patented Feb. 1s, i958 gether with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a container constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the container of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of Fig. l in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of part of the container taken along line 4--4` of Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of part of the container taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a partly broken away view of the container showing the manner in which a chain for holding keys: or the like is connected to the container;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating how structure of the invention is used;

Figs. 8 and 9 are views corresponding to Figs. 4 and 5 of a different embodiment of the invention, Figs. 8 and 9 being taken along lines 8--8 and 9--9, respectively, of Fig. l0; and

Fig. l0 is a sectional elevational view illustrating the manner in which the structures of Figs. 8 and 9 cooperate.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. l shows one of the sheet material portions 11 of the container 10 of the invention. This sheet material portion 11 is identical with a second sheet material portion 12 which is aligned with the sheet material portion 11 and located behind the same, as viewed in Fig. 1. As is evident from Fig. 1 these sheet material portions, which are flexible and made of any suitable plastic, fabric, leather, or the like, are substantially rectangular in shape. As is shown most clearly in Fig. 3 the edge 13 of each sheet material portion is folded back upon and joined to the sheet material portion by stitching or the like 14 to provide each of the

sheet material portions

11 and 12 with a tubular portion 15 along its upper edge, as viewed in Figs. l and 3. The two

sheet material portions

11 and 12 are joined to each other by stitching or the like 16 which extends along the peripheral edges of the

portions

11 and 12 from one tubular portion end to the other end of the tubular portion. If desired this stitching 16 may extend across the ends of the tubular portions and close these ends, although it is also possible to leave these ends open.

In any event, before the ends of the tubular portions 15 are closed, a pair of leaf springs 17 are respectively located therein, these leaf springs 17 extending along almost the entire length of the tubular portions 15 and substantially filling the same, as is evident from Figs. 1 and 3. A pair of clips 18 are located at the ends of the tubular portion. As is evident from Figs. l and 2, each clip 18 is in the form of a tube which is split along its entire length and which has the edges defining the split in clamping engagement with the

sheet material portions

11 and 12 at the ends of the tubular portions 15. rl`he advantage of the clips 18 is not only that they provide an exceedingly simple means for holding the ends of the tubular portions together and as is most clearly evident from Fig. 2 when the clips 1S are pushed toward each other they will transmit the force of the lingers acting on clips 18 directly to the leaf springs 17 to cause these leaf springs to bulge outwardly away from each other and thus give access to the interior of thercontainer 10. When the user releases pressure on the clips 18 the springs 17 automaticallysnap the tubular portions 15- back into engagement withl each other in the position shown'most clearly in Fig. 2. Although the maintenance of tubular portions 15 in e'n-j gagement with each other by leaf springs'17 closes the Vcon tainer 10, itmight nevertheless .be possible for some very thn'articlesto slip outofthe container, and in order to avoid Nthis "undesirable result, the 'sheet Y'material portion 12 is provided next to the tubular portion 15 thereof with aexible fabric strip 19 .which is ,fastened to the sheet Tmatei'al'jp'orti'on f12 andwhich 'hasthereon a raised elongated portion '20nra'defor example of jstitching of a rubberized thread orthe like. .This `structureis -shown most clearly in Fig/'4. Fig. 5'shows vhow'thesheet material 'portion '11 is similarlyprovided next tothetubular portion thereof with Na fabric vstrip v21 joined Aby stitchingorthelike tothe :sheet material jportion 11 and having thereon a 'raised portion 122 made. of stitches of rubberized thread, for example. As is cvident'from Fig. 3, the raise'dportions 20 ..an'd..`22 arelocated at the' faces ofthe' strips"19 and'21 which confront each other. 'The tubular vportions 15 are substantially identical and the raised portion 22 is located nearer tothe tubular portion'lS ofthe sheet material portion '12"than the raised portion 20. Y As a result, when the container is closed, the raised portion 22 will become located 'between raised portion'20 andtubular portions`15 so 4as to securely close the container and prevent relatively thin. loose articles therein from falling out of the container 4without the knowledge of the user.

A particularffeature of theV invention resides in the manner in which the. container 10 is adapted to have keys connectedthereto to" be`located therein. As is'shown most clearly in Fig. 6, a strip 23 of any flexible material isfolded upon itself tdform a loopi 24, andthe free ends of the strip/23. arerstitchedJ between the sheet material portions y1`1 and 12 at the edges'thereofwhichare distant from the tubular portions 15. A ring is located within the container 10, andthe loop 24 passes through this ring 25.so thatin this Way the strip 23 serves to' x the ring 25Sto the interior ofthe container 10. v A chain 26 is` fixed to and extends from the ring 25. -This chain 26 is `made up` of aplurality of identical links 27 which are made of a fairly tine wire. 'As a result, it is possible for the chain 26 to collapse i'nto an extremely small space as indicated roughly in Fig. 3. NThe end of thechain26 distant from ring 25 is connected to a ring 28, and thisring 28 carries a resilient hookvmember 29. Furthermore aring is connectedfto one ofthe links 27 at a part of the chain between its ends, so that when the hook 29` engages the ring 30 al loopis formed. This loop. may .extend through the holes of keys r.orthe like so thatin ,this way such -keys fareconnectedto the chain 26. When the keys together withthe key chain ,arelocatedwithin the ycoutainer 10,.the loop permits the keys to lie at between the sides .of the containerand since .the chain itself is .extrernely exible .and .made .up of ,small links whichare ollapsiblentoa.small. space,. it is possible` to. maintain the substantially flat shape fof the container.

`4`'l't is. evidentthat withthe above described varrangement the'chainldoes.. not provide a bulky weighty'mass-'and it iscollapsible intoy an. extremelyJ small. space so that: even with-keys -connected to. thechain the `entire container with" the keys.and.chaintherein will lstill be substantially flat. n'Furthermore it will be noted that it is possible for the userto get at the keys within the container with only one hand. QTo do this it is only necessary to hold-.the mouth.of.the container formed by tubular portions 15 in a downwardly directed position and to press the clips18 toward each other in themanner illustrated in Fig. 7 so as to open the mouthv of theeontainer, `whereupon the chain and vkeys .will tall. fromuthevinterior of the container by gravity,the` strip. 23 maintaining ,connection between the chain .26 andl container y10.

, .Eigsf 8-:10 show `azzditerent embodiments ofthe inventon-.accordinglto whichrfabricv strips 21.'.;and .19 are-proxridedwith apluralityA ofraisedtportions `22 and .12W-Which v are similarito .thef raised ..portions,.:22-,;and v2l). and er.; are

.made of tlexible material; for example. of;stitching. of ,rubberized"` thread :or ;,the.like... As issevident from Fig- 10, `vlltentlreisheenmaterialt*portions.flltandtlZft of; ,F.igs. 8

land 9 are assembled to make the nished container, as

`shownvin 1Fig. l0, the vflexible raised portions `20beeome located between the raisedvportions 22 to interlock as shown and the raised portions or interlocking members provide thereby a very effective seal for the container. If coins are kept in the container, then the space between the interlocking raised portions is kept to a distance smaller than the diameter I.ofthe smallest coin.

It will be noted thatwith thestructure of the invention described above it is unnecessary to place the keys on steel hooks which are ditlicultto open. Instead with the structureofthe invention it is only necessarylto separatehook 29 from ring 30, which is adjacent the center of the vchain 26, slip the hookg,2,9ring,2r8, andchain26 through the keys and then connect hook 29 again with ring 30, the arrangement being that shown in Fig. 7. With this arrangement not only is it possible to have access to keys simplypby pressingthe clipsm18 toward each other, but

in ,addition the keys lare on a flexiblel member and are therefore very easy to .grasp ,and manipulate wit Athe full hand. v i LIt ,will be vunderstood that. each of the `elernents`described ,above, or ,two orl more together, may, also find/Ka useful application in other types of containers fvdilfering from 'the -types `described above. 4

.Whle the invention` has been Yillustrated and described as embodied in key .containers,. itvis not in'tenfded'tolbe limited to the details shown, since] variousfmodications and-'structural changesy may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of thepresentinvention.

",Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal 'the gist of `the present invention 'that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for`various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential ycharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and ran'gefof equivalence of the following claims.

lkWhat is claimed as new and desired to be secured'by Letters Patent is: 'v

l. A container comprising, in combination, a first ilexible sheet material portion having'v an edge folded back upon and joined to itself to form a tubular portion extending along a part of the periphery of said sheet material portion; asecond sheet material portion-identical with said first sheet material portion located next to the same with said .tubularportions 'overlying each other and with :said edges locatedbetween said-sheet material portions, said sheet material portions being joined together at their outer peripheries lalong apath extending from one end of said tubularportions -tortheopposite end` thereof; a pair of leaf springs respectively located within and substantially lfilling saidttubular portions, Vsaidvleafsprings having a length slightly.-lessthanr thatl of said tubular portions; a pair-lof clips-'respectively connected-torand-closing the ends of' said tubular portions; apair-of vllexiblestrips located between andrespectively .fixed to saidvsheet material portions next to-.said tubular portionsthereof; a plurality of flexible interlocking v members.trespectively fxed to said Vpair of strips; Atheinterlocking,members-fixed to oneof-.s'aid strips projecting `towardf the interlocking..members .fixed tothe Othen ofsaid strips ,sothat-. said interlocking members close theinteriori of v the containenwhensaid tubular portions are :located next to each other;along,their.entire length.

2 ...A3C9ntainen comprising,- in `combination, ka rstflexible;r sheet; material; portion having.,l an edge folded back upon and joined ,to :itself fto form atubular `portion ,extendingfalong apart `of the periphery., of `-said sheetma'terial portion; a :second Asheet .material portion identical with saidirstheet. material portion`y located Ynext tosthe; same with said tubular portions overlying each other and with sidy :edges loeatedrbetween said sheetma'terial-.portins saidlsheet.I material portionsbeing joined.. together atltheir outer peripheries along a, patlrt'extending. fromsone mnd of. said. ,tubular portions. to the opposite endl thereof; alpair of leaf springs respectively located within and substantially filling said tubular portions, said leaf springs having a length slightly less than that of said tubular portions; a pair of clips respectively connected to and closing the ends of said tubular portions; a pair of flexible strips 1ocated between and respectively fixed to said sheet material portions next to said tubular portions thereof; a plurality of substantially parallel interlocking members fixed to each strip and extending along the face of said strip which is directed toward the other strip, the interlocking members on one of said strips being located at different distances from the tubular portion of said one strip than the interlocking members on the other of said strips and the interlocking members of one strip being located between and alternating with the interlocking members of the other strip when the container is closed.

3. A container comprising, in combination, a first ilexible sheet material portion having an edge folded back upon and joined to itself to form a tubular portion extending along a part of the periphery of said sheet material portion; a second sheet material portion identical with said first sheet material portion located next to the same with said tubular portions overlying each other and with said edges located between said sheet material portions, said sheet material portions being joined together at theirouter peripheries along a path extending from one end of said tubular portion to the opposite end, thereof;

a pair of leaf springs respectively located within and substantially filling said tubular portions, said leaf springs having a length slightly less than that of said tubular portions; a pair of clips respectively connected to and closing the ends of said tubular portions; a pair of flexible strips located between and respectively xed to said sheet material portions next to said tubular portions thereof; a plurality of flexible interlocking members respectively fixed to said strips and distributed at the faces thereof, said interlocking members being respectively directed toward each other so that said interlocking members close the interior of the container when said tubular portions are located next to each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,658,294 Lewis Feb. 7, 1928 2,041,190 Kuhlke May 19, 1936 2,232,888 Schimelmitz Feb. 25, 1941 2,514,750 Dobbs et al. July ll, 1950 2,629,251 Schwalberg Feb. 24, 1953 2,646,096 Knee et al July 2l, 1953 2,666,466 Sharat Jan. 19, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 10,310 Great Britain May 1, 1912