US2851284A - Wallet construction - Google Patents

Description

Sept- 9, 1958 E. H. coPl-:N #2,851,284

wALLET'coNsTRUCu/ION Filed April 2e, 1955 @new Li nited States Patent i WALLET CONSTRUCTION Edward H. Copen, New York, N. Y.

Application April 26, 1955, Serial No. 503,980

1 Claim. (Cl. 282-1) This invention relates generally to the pocketbook or wallet art, and more particularly to an improved form of wallet construction of a type which may be constructed from synthetic resinous materials, and with a complete absence of stitch means. The invention lies in the specific details of structure set forth hereinbelow.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide improved folding wallet or billfold construction which may be of a relatively compact form, while yet offering large capacity for the holding of bills, cards and similar planar articles, and preserving the same in safe condition.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved billfold construction in which bills may be placed in such a manner as to be instantly available in selective fashion, it being possible to withdraw any desired bill of any particular denomination without disturbing the position of bills remaining within the billfold.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of wallet or billfold construction possessing the above advantages, in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, with consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of a novel method of stiffening certain planar portions of the device with respect to otherportions, to facilitate withdrawal of individual bills, as desired.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of novel means whereby the purchaser of the device may imprint his individual signature upon the outer surface of the device in a precious metal imprint, which metal is protected from subsequently rubbing olf during use by a transparent layer superposed thereon.

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that bills may be withdrawn from the same while remaining in a folded condition, thereby permitting the user to withdraw a single bill without disclosing lthe entire contents of the wallet.

These features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will become more clearly apparent during the course of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

On the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a view in elevation, partly broken away to show detail, of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a second view in elevation of the embodiment, partially broken away to show detail, but showing the side disposed opposite that shown on Figure l.

Figure 3 is a view in elevation partly broken away to show detail showing the side illustrated on Figure 2, but in a closed or folded condition.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 4 4 on Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing the withdrawal of bills from the device when in a folded condition.

Patented Sept. 9, 1958 Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 6-6 on Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing the formation of an impression of the signature of a user.

Figure 8 is a view in elevation showing the withdrawal of pressure-sensitive means after the completion of the formation of the desired indicia, to permit the same to be viewed against a background of different color.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 9--9 on Figure 2.

Figure l0 is a similar vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 10-10 on Figure 8.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 20, comprises broadly: a first pocket element 22 which may incorporate indicia transfer means 23, a second pocket element 24, and a third pocket element 26.

The rst pocket element is best seen on Figure l of the drawing, and includes an outer planar member 30 which extends over the second and third pocket elements 24 and 26, as well, and an inner laminated planar member 32. As may be seen on Figure 6, this inner planar member includes a first lamina 29, a second lamina 31 and a stiftening member 33 disposed between the laminae 29 and 31. The laminae 29 and 31 are interconnected at the side edges 34 and 36, as well as the bottom edge 38 with the outer planar member 30 and are interconnected with each other at a free edge 40 to enclose the stiiening member 33. Where the device is made from synthetic resinous materials, these edges may be heat sealed, and where leather is employed, such edges may be stitched and bound in well-known manner (not shown). The free edge 40 may be provided with a finger indentation 42 to permit the contents of the pocket element 22 to be more easily emptied, as desired.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the outer planar member 30 is formed of laminated construction, including an inwardly disposed lamina 44, which is heat sealed at the edges thereof to an outwardly disposed lamina 46, the outwardly disposed lamina 46 preferably being of somewhat heavier gauge material. A rectangular slotted opening 48 having a Window 50 of clear flexible material is formed in the outer lamina 46, as best seen on Figures 9 and 10, while the inner lamina 44 is provided with a small slit 49 of length slightly greater than the width of the slotted opening 48.

The indicia transfer means 23 is best seen on Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10, and includes a base member 52 of coated cellophane or similar material having thereon a pressuresensitivetransferring media, as for example, beaten gold, or similar substance. The base member 52 is originally positioned in the interstice between the inner and outer laminae 44 and 46. A portion of the base member S2 projects through the slit 49. To afix a signature, it is necessary only to sign ones name in the manner shown on Figure 7 using a pointed instrument 56, e. g. a pencil or ballpoint pen, upon the window member 50. The pressure-sensitive media will transfer itself to the inner surface of the window 50, after which the base member 52 may be withdrawn by grasping that portionof the same which projects from the slit 49. The traced portion 57, as may be seen on Figure 8, becomes permanently afxed and is outlined by the darker background formed by the inner surface of the inner lamina 44. Since the traced portion 57 is disposed on the inner surface .of the window 50, it is not subject to being worn off during continuous use of the device.

The second pocket element 24 is best seen on Figures l, 4 and 6, and includes an inner planar member 5S having two free substantially rectilinear edges 60 and 62, as well as two adjacent interconnected edges 64 and 66 positioned adjacent `correspondingledges on the outer planar member 30.

The third pocket element 26 is generally similar to the second pocket element 24, although somewhat smaller in over-alll con'g'uration. The `A'element 26-inc1udesan inner planar member 68, free edges 70 'and 72, as well as-interconnectededges l74 and'76.

While the inner planar'memberA of the-thirdpocket element V426 is Vpreferably of unlaminated'constructin, the'l second pockety element 24is formed toinclude A'an inner)l lamina 78and an outerl-laminaSO, between'whih is positioned astiffening member82,preferably formed of thin cardboard, or-the like. The laminae78-'82-are preferably heat sealed at the 'edge-portions thereof" to form the inner planarv membenSS` (seefF-igu'res 4 and 6) The free edge 62 thus presentsafrelativelyunyielding line to` stresses-exertedwithin'the' plane of themer'n'b'er 58, the vpurpose of which"will become 'more -:apparent hereinafter.

yReferring `to FiguresZ, v3, 5fand6, they outer planar member 30 is provided with a curvilinear-slit portion'v84 which extends through both the inwardlyI disposed lamina 44 and the outwardly disposed lamina'46, the two laminae being preferably interconnected along the line" forming the'slit 84.

Bills are normallystoredwi-thin the device in-`such manner that portionsof the 'same' extend to ll both the second and third pocket'v elements 24'and'26. As-"ma'y be seen on Figure y6, upon folding'the deviceZO, the

bills, generally indicated by reference characte'f88,`ssurne al folded-condition. Byturningbackwardly the foldable portion 86 adjacent the slit 84, the'cornersofthe bills which'normallyY bear an indication oftheirvalue may'v be exposed tothe viewer. Upon selectionofaf' singleb'ill, and grasping the same atthe exposedcornent maybe withdrawn from the device while thesamdisstill 'in folded condition, `as indicated on 'Figure 6. Owing'to the factI that the edge 62 isstiffenedby the *rnernbe1-"'82, the bills are caused to remain in-srnooth` conditionlw'hile a single bill is being withdrawn, the static? friction 'between the bills and with the exposed surfaces of the inner lplanar member 58 being sufficient to maintain all oflthe'in in position with the'exception of thefbill being withdrawn. Successive bills may bel-withdrawn in a-similar-rnnner until'all Yof thesamerha'vebeen'withdrawn through the slot-84, Yin each easeonly thefde'siifed bill moving out- Wardlyas withdrawn.

-Tofacilitate the folding ofthe `device,`the` foldv lines 92 and 94 may beV performed-by lheat` sealing lin a well-known manner, so as to clearly dei-lne the-pocket'elementsauntil the vdeviceA has been used sufficiently to'form naturali fold lines.

It is to be noted that the 'width of the stifeningmembers 33 and 82 are preferably greater than that of the i bills V88, to preventl binding of the same within the device `causedby-inadvertentlyr grasping the device at the edges thereof to result in distorting the shape of the pocket elements 24 and 26.

It may thus be seen that I have invented novel and highly useful improvements in folding wallet construction, in which there has been provided a device which is simple to manufacture, as Well as to use. Owing to novel constructional features, it is possible to singly and selectively remove'lbills from the device while in a folded condition, thereby making it possible to conceal the contents of the wallet while so doing. Means is provided Vwhereby/the Aowner may place his-signature thereupon to be exposed on the outer surface of the device, thereby permitting the same to be personalized by the owner himself when desired. The cost of manufacturing the device is materially reduced by the use of synthetic resinous planar stock, sewing operations being eliminated, where-desired by heat-sealing interconnected edges.

YI"wish it tol berunderstood -that'I -do'not'fconsiderfthe invention limitedto theI exact details of structure lshown and` SetrforthV in -this specification, forobvious modifications will-occur'to those-skilled in thefart'towhich the present invention pertains.

'Wallet `Torf similar construction comprising: 'an outer lain-ina landlan inner lamina'- of opaque material, said outerV andjinnerla'minae being at leastpartially interconnee'td @at thefedge @portions thereof; one of said'fla'mir'lae having a narrow slotted opening, flexible 'transparent planr-lmeansfuredly` 'disposed' within? said slotted' opening; neof--saidlaminae having va slit disposed adjacent o'ne l'end-of 'said slotted opening; a IStripofpreSSu'resensitive transferring' means narrower'than said slit'dis-` posed beneath said transparentplanar means with one end"` projecting -at-lea'st partially through said slit;` whereby upon -theexertion-of localized pressure upon said flexible planar means, saidlpressureisensitive transferring means mayv transfer material to an adjacent surfacey of onel of said-#laminaeafterwhich said strip of transfer*l means may be withdrawn through said slit to permit said transfe'rred materialto be visible through said transparent planarfmeans.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 1,467,680 Oda Sept. 11,`1923 2,114,083 MOVUS Apr. 12, 1938 2,315,702 4'Helbener `Apr. 6, 1943 2,511,533 Hyman L June 13, 1950 2,520,077 Wolowitz 1. Aug. 22,1950 2,670,971 Johnson `Mar. `2, 1954

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