US2891592A

US2891592A - Theft-proof wallet

Info

Publication number: US2891592A
Application number: US468789A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vaca Humberto
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-11-15
Filing date: 1954-11-15
Publication date: 1959-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 1976-06-23

Description

June 23, 1959 H, VACA v 2,891,592

THEFT-PROOF WALLET Filed Nov. 15. 1954 2 vSheets--Sheet 1 Arme/vers. Y,

June 23, 1959 H. VACA 2,891,592

THEM- PROOF WALLET Filed Nov. 15. 1954 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. HuMEe 70 V4 cn ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent THEFT-PROOF WALLET Humberto Vaca, Detroit, Mich.

Application November 15, 1954, SerialNo. 468,789

12 Claims. (Cl. 150-47) This invention relates to wallets ofv the type carried in garment pockets and has specialv `application to mens billfolds.

Men' usually carry' their billfolds or wallets'in trouser hippockets or suit coat pockets or the like'where they arey accessible for theft byy pickpockets.y Wallets and billfoldsI are relatively flat: and smooth surfaced and extractionfthereofy fromaI garment pocket is relatively easy for` a skilled pickpocket.

An object of this invention is to provide a wallet structure difficult for anyone but the owner to extract from a garment pocket. According tothe invention tine'means are provided on the wallet for catching a' garment pocket interior-to prevent removal of the wallet therefrom, the tine means being easily manipulable-by the owner to inoperative position to facilitate removal-of the vwallet from the pocket; In the drawings:

Fig. l is a generally elevational- View of a billfold according to this invention in unfolded condition with the tines in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary generally elevational view of the Wallet showing the tines in inoperative position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary generally elevational view illustrating a modilied form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 4 showing another modification of the invention. K

Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 4 showing lathird modified form of the invention.

The wallet shown in the drawings has an outer wall 10, an inner wall 11 and intermediate walls such as those shown at 12 and 13 folded and secured in laminar relation to each other to forman elongate pocket for receivingV bills or currency whose opening is indicated at 14V and to form other pockets for cards and the like whose openings are indicated at 15, 16, 17 and 18; The walls are preferably made of a flexible' material such as leather or a thermo-plastic material and the wallet is foldable at a central transverse portion generally indicated at 19.

A U-shaped spring'wire element 23v is secured by such means as stitching 24 in a concealed position between the walls of the billfold with the legs 25 of the U generally adjacent and parallel' to the edges of the billfold and with the base ,portion 26 of the U generally" adjacent and parallel to one end. Each leg' 25 ofthe U terminates in a return bend 27 disposed generally adjacent fold 19 and which continues in a tine 28 biased angularly outwardly'from'the edges'29 and 30 of the billfold. Legs 25 have 'curviform' portions 31 lying in the plane of the U for a purpose to be described. The end portion of each' tine 28 i's preferably formed into a loop V33 to provideI abluntcatch for engaging a garment pocket interior and each loopv preferably has an attractively appearing coverY 34 which may be' made of the same material as thewalls ofthe billfold.

Each-tinehas aprojection 35l formed therein and a wallsuch as wall.1-1 `fortuin-gian innertsurface when-'the "ree billfold is in folded condition is slotted as at 36 for receiving projections 35; Slots 36 are' preferably V- shaped as shown. Each tine also preferably has an outward projection 37 forming a finger hold to facilitate shifting the tines to inoperative position;

In use, the billfold in` folded conditionlisinserted into a garment pocket with fold' 19' extending downwardly or inwardly of theV pocket and with tines 28`projecting outwardly of the edges of the Wallet in oper-ativeposition as shown in Fig. 1. The" outwardly biased tines engage the exible material of the garment pocket interior and provide resilient struts impeding or preventing extraction of the billfold. through the pocket opening by a pickpocket and preventingaccidental loss. The'blunted and covered ends of theI tines engage the fabric offv the pocket interior without cutting or tearing it. Tol remove thev billfold from his pocket the owner merely squeezes the tines inwardly adjacent edges 29 'and'30,` as by pressing on finger holds 37', and' withdraws the billfold in the usual manner. The curviformities 31 lessen the tendency of legs 25 tobow inwardly when the tines are pressed toward each other.

The wallet may' be unfolded; folded and' utilized in the normal manner without interference: from thev tines andmay be-restored to the'owners pocketv as described. Thetines may be secured in inoperative'position adjacent the interfold surfaces of the wallet by distorting them inwardly and inserting projections 35 into slots or openings 36 in wall 11. The tines return resiliently to operative position when projections 35 are disengagedffrom openings 36.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modied form'ofl the invention similar to the principal fonn with like parts havingJ like reference characters. ln this form tines 40 comprise the legs of a generally U-shaped spring Wire element 41 whose'base is fashioned into two clip portions 42-and 43 removably engaged over opposite edges of one of the walls of the billfold such as edges 44 and. 45 of intermediate wall 13. Clips 42 andv 43' are normally positioned adjacent central fold 19 andk grip wall 1-3v sufficiently tightly to remain in that position during Vnormal use. The ends 46 of tines 4@ are preferably looped and covered as in the principal form-of the. invention. The tines are shown in operative position in solid lines and one tine is shown in inoperative position in dotted lines with a straight portion thereof yhooked under the ap formed by notch 36.'V Operation of this form of the invention is similar to that of the principal: form.

The vmodified form of the invention shown in Fig;y 5 is similar to the principal form with like parts having like' reference characters. In this form tines 50 comprise the legs of a U-shaped spring element 51 withfthe base portion 52 of the U permanently secured generally parallel and adjacent-to central fold 1-9 of the billfold by such means as a strip 53 stitched transversely on Wall .12. Base 52 of the spring element has a port- 5.4-v secured atly against wall 12 by strip 53 to fix the tines against rotation relatively to the walls. Tines 5l) may have projections 55 formed therein for engagement Vwith.slots 36 to secure the tines in inoperative position and end portions 56 of the tines are preferably '-loopedand'covered asin the principal form. Operation of this formof theV invention is similar to that of the principal form.

Fig. 6 shows another modification of the invention similar to the principal form wherein like parts lare identified by like reference characters. This form liasa single tine 6i)V formed of a stifening element 61 andone end portion 62 of a spring wire element 63 securedkwitliin ay covering element 64 such as by stitches 6:5. The other end portion 66 of the wire element comprises a' pintle secured. rotatably in a concealed position betweenzthe `walls-,ofthe billfold-asy by-stitehing67. End portions '62 aangaan e9 and 66 of the wire element are interconnected by a resilient portion 68 which may comprise a convoluted portion of the spring and which lies generally adjacent the central fold 19 of the billfold.

Pintle 66 lies generally adjacent and parallel to an edge 29 of the bill-fold. Cover 64 preferably is made of the same material as the walls of the billfold. Operation of this form of the invention is similar to that of the principal form except that tine 6@ is shifted between its operative position shown in solid lines and its inoperative position shown in dotted lines by rotation on pintle 66.

I claim:

l. A billfold comprising, means forming a plurality of walls, said walls being disposed in generally laminar relation and defining a pocket, said pocket being adapted to receive paper currency, said billfold having end portions and edges, said walls being flexible for folding at a generally central transverse portion, a spring wire element, said element having a U-snaped portion secured between two of said walls with the legs thereof adjacent said edges and the base thereof adjacent one of said end portions, said element having two tine portions, each tine portion having a proximal end connected to one leg of the U in a return bend generally adjacent said transverse portion of the walls and having a distal end` said tine portions being biased angularly outwardly from the edges of said walls so that said distal ends catch the interior of a garment pocket in which said billfold is adapted to be carried, thereby `impeding removal of the billfold therefrom, said tines being resiliently distortable for shifting said distal ends to inoperative position adjacent said walls, and means releasably engageable with said tines for holding the same in inoperative position.

2. A billfold comprising, means forming a plurality of walls, said walls being disposed in generally laminar relation and defining a pocket, said pocket being adapted to receive paper currency, said billfold having end portions and edges, said walls being flexible `for folding at a generally central transverse portion, a spring wire element, said element having a U-shaped portion secured between two of said walls with the legs thereof adjacent said edges and the base thereof adjacent one of said end portions, said element having two tine portions, each tine portion having a proximal end connected to one leg of the U in a return bend generally adjacent said transverse portion of the walls and having a distal end, said tine portions being biased angularly outwardly from the edges of said walls so that said distal ends catch the interior of a garment pocket in which said billfold is adapted to be carried, thereby impeding removal of the billfold therefrom, said tines being resiliently distortable for shifting said distal ends to inoperative position adjacent the sur- "face of a wall forming an inner surface of the billfold when in folded condition, and means releasably engageable with said tines for holding the same in inoperative position.

3. A billfold comprising, means forming a plurality of walls, said walls being disposed in generally laminar relation and defining a pocket, said pocket being adapted to receive paper currency, said billfold having end portions and edges, said walls being exible for folding at a generally central transverse portion, a spring wire element, said element having a U-shaped portion secured between two of said walls with the legs thereof adjacent said edges and the base thereof adjacent one of said end portions, said element having two tine portions, each tine portion having a proximal end connected to one leg of the U in a return bend generally adjacent said transverse portion of the walls and having a distal end, said tine portions being biased angularly outwardly from the edges of said walls so that said distal ends catch the interior of a garment pocket in which said billfold is adapted to be carried, thereby impeding removal of the billfold therefrom, said tines being resiliently distortable for shifting said distal ends to inoperative position adjacent the surface of a wall forming an inner surface of the billfold when in folded condition, each tine having a lateral projection formed thereon, the last said Wall having slots therein, said projections being engageable within said slots `for holding said tines in inoperative position, each tine having another lateral projection forming a finger hold facilitating shifting thereof to said inoperative position.

4. A billfold adapted to be carried in a garment pocket comprising, means forming a plurality of adjacent walls, said walls defining a pocket, said billfold having generally rectangular shape with ends and sides, a spring wire element having a generally straight central portion, said straight central portion being secured on said means generally parallel to said ends of said wallet, said spring wire element having two tine portions, each tine portion having a proximal end generally adjacent said means and having a distal end, said tine portions being biased angularly outwardly from the edges of said sides of the Wallet so that said distal ends catch the interior of a garment pocket in which said billfold is adapted to be carried thereby impeding removal of the billfold therefrom, said tines being resiliently distortable -for shifting said distal ends to retracted position adjacent said walls and means releasably engageable with said tines for holding the same in retracted position.

5. A wallet adapted to be carried in a garment pocket comprising, means forming a plurality of adjacent walls, said walls defining a pocket, said wallet having generally rectangular shape with ends and sides, a spring wire element having a central portion, means securing said central portion to one of said walls with said central portion extending generally parallel to said ends of said wallet, said spring wire element including two tine portions, each tine portion having a proximal end generally adjacent said means forming said walls and having a distal end, said tine portions being biased angularly outwardly from the edges of said sides of the wallet so that said distal ends catch `the `interior of a garment pocket in which said wallet is adapted to be carried, thereby impeding removal of the wallet therefrom, said tines being resiliently distortable for shifting said distal ends to retracted position adjacent said walls, and releasable means operable to hold said tines in said retracted position.

6. A wallet adapted to be carried in a garment pocket comprising, means forming a plurality of adjacent walls, said walls defining a pocket, said wallet having generally rectangular shape with ends and sides, a generally U- shaped spring wire element, means securing said spring wire element to said wallet with the base of the U extending generally parallel to an end of said wallet, said spring wire element including a pair of tine portions at opposite sides of the U, each tine portion having a proximal end generally adjacent said means forming said walls and having a distal end, said tine portions being biased angularly from the edges of said sides of the wallet so that said distal ends catch the interior of a garment pocket in which said wallet is adapted to be carried, thereby impeding removal of the wallet therefrom, said tines being resiliently distortable for shifting said distal ends to retracted position adjacent said walls, and releasable means operable to hold said tines in said retracted position.

7. A wallet adapted to be carried in a garment pocket comprising, means forming a plurality of adjacent walls, said walls defining a pocket, said wallet having generally rectangular shape with ends and sides, said walls being exible for folding at a generally central portion along a line generally parallel to said ends, a spring wire element, said spring wire element including tine means, said spring wire element having a generally central portion, means securing said central portion of said element adjacent said means forming said walls with one end of said tine means generally adjacent said central portion of said wallet, said tine means projecting at an angle outwardly of an edge portion of said wallet and at an angle away from said central portion of said wallet with the other end of said tine means being free of said walls for catching the interior of a garment pocket and impeding removal of said Wallet therefrom, said tine means being free of external restraint between said one end and said other end thereof when said other end projects outwardly of the wallet edge, said tine means being selectively shiftable so that said other end thereof can be moved to retracted position adjacent said walls of said wallet so facilitate removal thereof from a garment pocket.

8. The wallet defined in claim 7 wherein said spring wire element has a generally straight pintle portion extending away from said central portion thereof, said means securing said central portion adjacent said means forming said walls including means holding said pintle portion rotatably adjacent said walls with said pintle projecting at an angle to the direction of extent of said tine means, so that said tine means can be swung about the axis of said pintle portion to and from said retracted position.

9. A wallet adapted to be carried in a garment pocket comprising, means forming a plurality of adjacent Walls, said walls defining a pocket, said Wallet having generally rectangular shape with ends and sides, a spring wire element having a central portion, means securing said central portion to one of said walls with said central portion extending generally parallel to said ends of said wallet, said spring wire element including two tine portions, each tine portion having a proximal end generally adjacent said means forming said walls and having a distal end, said tine portions being biased angularly outwardly from the edges of said sides ofthe wallet so that said distal ends catch the interior of a garment pocket in which said wallet is adapted to be carried, thereby impeding removal of the wallet therefrom, said tines being resiliently distortable for shifting said distal ends to retracted position adjacent said walls.

10. The wallet defined in claim 9 wherein said central portion of said spring wire element is detachably secured by said securing means to a portion of said wallet which is generally centrally located between said ends of said wallet.

11. The wallet deiined inl claim 9 wherein said central portion of said spring wire element is permanently secured by said securing means to a portion of said Wallet which is generally centrally located between said ends of said wallet.

12. The wallet dened in claim 9 wherein said central portion of said spring wire element is formed with clips, said means securing said central portion to said one Wall including said clips.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,121,465 Brown Dec. 15, 1914 1,161,782 Macdonald Nov. 23, 1915 1,225,692 Willis May 8, 1917 1,404,278 Davis Jan. 24, 1922 1,423,539 Palmer July 25, 1922 1,446,293 Gihnore Feb. 20, 1923 1,581,645 Laporte Apr. 20, 1926 1,610,382 Jeiries Dec. 14, 1926 2,129,018 Martini Sept. 6, 1938 2,312,100 Ketcik Feb. 23, 1943 2,437,566 Stonebraker Mar. 9, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 352,224 Great Britain July 9, 1931