US2937680A

US2937680A - Purse

Info

Publication number: US2937680A
Application number: US746550A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frances L Dumas
Original assignee: GEORGE A HARRISON JR
Current assignee: GEORGE A HARRISON JR
Priority date: 1958-07-03
Filing date: 1958-07-03
Publication date: 1960-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 1977-05-24

Description

F. L. DUMAS May 24, 1960 PURSE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 3, 1958 Frances L. Dumas INVENTOR.

May 24, 1960 F. L. DUMAS 2,937,630

PURSE Filed July 3, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Frances L. Dumas 1 N VEN TOR.

United States Patent PURSE Frances L. Dumas, Burbank, Califi, assignor of fifty percent to George A. Harrison, Jr-., Denton, Tex.

Filed July 3, 1958, Ser. No. 746,550 Claims. (Cl. 150- -35) This invention relates to a ladys purse.

An object of the invention is to provide a'ladys purse with a built-in compartment shaped to form one side or end of the purse. The compartment has walls anda bottom that also-constitutes at. least a part of the end or side wall of the purse, and the compartment opens out from the purse on a hinge returned by spring action. The spring action holds the compartment in a closed position, but yieldingly so that the compartment can be pulled open in order to have access to the various spaces in the compartment. In this way the various items and articles carried bya purse may be held separate from each other, eliminating scrambling in the bottom of the purse for loose items. All of the items and articles that are 'sufiiciently small and that are ordinarily carried in the purse can be separated and held neatly and orderly by the compartmented containerthat forms an integral part of the purse.

A further object of the invention is to provide a purse with a source of illumination capable of shining on the face of the owner of the purse when the compartment is in the open position. This is to enable the owner to inspect her face for possibleflaws in make-up or even to originally apply make-up or straighten disheveled hair or perform the many other lady's make-up activities with the aid of the illumination.

A purse constructed in accordance with the inven-' tion provides a compartment that issub-divided to ac-' commodate miscellaneous small items. The purse, then, maintains the small items readily removable or replaceable in the sub-divided compartment Without fitting them into any special holders, clips or the like. The compartment is maintained separate from the main body of the purse within which articles such as a ladys wallet, gloves and the like may be maintained. The construction of the purse is such that a dividing panel separates the main body of the purse from the compartment and also functions as a closure for the sub-divided parts of the compartment to assure that the small items, keys, lipstick, etc., are retained in the sub-divided compartment.

The compartment when open, displays all of the small items and places them at the finger-tip of the owner. The compartment when in a closed position completely conceals the source of illumination, but when open exposes the source of illumination so that it can be directed on the face of the owner and in an emergency directed in other places. For instance, should the lady drop her keys and fail to recover them at once, the lady may use the purse source of illumination as a flashlight to find the keys in the darkness, or to'find the keyhole within which to place the key in this hypothetical situation.

One of the features of the invention is in the arrangement of the switch for the source of illumination. The switch is a normally opened switch requiring a lifting action on a lever, button or the like to close the switch and energize the source of illumination. The switch operator is located in the path of hinged movement of the main closure of the purse. so that when the main "ice Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the purse in Figure 1 but showing the purse in the fully closed position. Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the rear part of the partition or dividing wall in the purse and particularly, the arrangement of electrical wiring for the battery operated source of illumination.

Figure 4 is a sectional vi'ew'taken .on the line '4--4 of Figure 1 and in an enlarged scale.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of the battery case of the source of illumination.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a part of the hinge construction for the compartment of the'purse. Inthe accompanying drawings there is-a ladys purse 10 constructed to exemplify the principles of the invention. The purse has two end walls 12 and'14, a rear wall 16 and a partition or panel 18 that rises from the bottom '20 of the purse and terminates a slight distance from the closure 22. The closure 22 is a panel connected by hinge 24 to the upper edge of the rear wall '16 of the purse. Partition 18 is located inwardly a slight distance from the front edge of the bottom 20 of the purse and from the lower portion 28 of the front wall of the purse.

The upper portion 30 of the front wall of the purse serves a double purpose. It isnot only a partof the front wall of the purse but also the bottom of a compartment 32.

The compartment 32 is sub-divided by dividers "34 and 36 and has side walls or panels '38 and '40 together with end walls or panels 42 and 44' which are se'curedto the The sub-dividing illustrated bottom of the compartment. in Figure 1 and described herein is a suggested arrangement with possible variations in the partitioning being within the purview of the invention. The same holds) true of the external configuration and ornamentation of the purse. This may be varied and will be varied in accordance with styles,'market demands, etc. Therefore strap 41 attached to the

ends

14 and 12 of thepurse is optional. Spring-loaded catch 43 which engages striker 46 on the upper portion 30 ofthe front wall of the purse is a'fur'ther easily alterable part of the purse.

The space between partition 18, lower part 28 of the front wall and the bottom 20 of the purse, and beneath the side 38 of the compartment serves as additional storage space 50 for other items whose selection is left within the prerogative of the purse owner. Storage space 50defined above, is closed when the compartment is in the closed position (Figure 2) and kept isolated from the main body 52 of the purse;

Hinge 54 is attached to the confronting edges of the

portions

28 and 30 of the front wall of the purse thereby hingedly mounting the compartment so that it can be swung to an open position (Figure 1) and to a closed position (Figure 2). One or more springs "56 are attached to the two

portions

28 and 30 of the front wall of the purse, for instance by attaching to the hinge plates of hinge 54 (Figure 7). The purpose of the hinge spring is to maintain the compartment in the closed condition but enable the compartment to be pulled open for'access to the interior thereof and the interior of space 50. 1

When the compartment is open, a source of illumination, for instance light bulb 60 is exposed to view. The light bulb is carried by a socket 62 in holder 64 that is mounted on the upper edge of partition 18. The holder has a battery case 66 with a closure 68 at one open end thereof so that flashlight batteries can be inserted and removed. The closure can be frictionally held in place within the battery case or on the battery case and the holding action enhanced by indents 70 that engage each other and that are formed in the battery case 66 and closure 68. A channel 72 formed by a pair of

parallel plates

73 and 74 depending from battery case 66, form a downwardly opening pocket within which the upper edge of the partition 18 is adapted to be fitted. A clamping action that results holds the holder in place on the partition 18. The light bulb 60 is passed through an opening 78 in,the upper part of the partition 18 so that the glass envelope is on the compartment side of partition 18, while the socket 62 and majority of the battery case 66 is on the opposite side of partition '18. A shade 80 constructed of a part of plate 73, extends over the top part of the envelope part of the light bulb 60.

As shown in Figure 4 closure 68 is of electrically insulating material and has conductor 84 passed through it. A contact 85 is at the end of the conductor and adapted to contact one of the poles of the batteries 86 in the battery case 66. The conductor extends to the socket 62. The battery case is used as a ground connection for the batteries 86 and therefore switch 88 is at the end of battery case opposite from the closure 68. The switch has a switch operator 90, in the form of a plunger with a button 91 on its upper end. The plunger slides upwardly and downwardly with respect to the purse partition 18 and has a sliding contact 92 attached to it. The sliding contact is adapted to bridge one of the battery casings and a part of casing 66 to establish a ground path for energizing light bulb 60. The sliding contact 92 can be made of spring metal, for instance, brass or copper. A detent or indent 94 latch to establish an off position for the switch and to maintain that off position, is operatively connected with the switch operator. The indent can be formed on the end wall 95 of the battery case and engage a recess or corresponding indent in the switch operator. Accordingly, the switch operator has to be lifted until the sliding contact 92 bridges one of the batteries and the battery case to establish a ground path for the source of illumination to become energized. Therefore, should the lady forget to open the battery circuit, closing the closure 22 will automatically achieve this inasmuch as the battery operator is in the path of travel of the closure 22.

Mirror 98 is attached to the inside surface of closure 22 and becomes exposed to view when the closure is elevated to an open position. In this position, the light rays from light bulb 60 will strike the face of the user when she lifts the purse to inspect her face.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A purse for ladies, said purse having end walls, side walls, a bottom, a closure attached to one of said side walls and adapted to be swung between the open and closed positions, the other of said side walls having a lower part and an upper part, means hingedly connecting said upper part to said lower part so that said upper part is swingable to an open position with respect to said lower part, said upper part having sides panels and end panels projecting therefrom and dividers projecting therefrom and forming a sub-divided compartment which is exposed to view when said upper part is hingedly moved to the open position, a partition wall in said purse and adjacent to the edges of said side panels and end panels of said upper part when said upper part is swung to a position approximately coplanar with said lower part whereby said partition constitutes a closure for the sub-divided compartment and retains the items captive within said sub-divided compartment, a source of illumination on the upper part of said partition and facing in the direction of said other side wall, said source including a battery case, a socket for a light bulb, and means having a channel provided with a pocket embracing a part of said partition for supporting said battery case on said partition.

2. A purse for ladies, said purse having end walls, side walls, a bottom, a closure attached to one of said side walls and adapted to be swung between the open and closed positions, the other of said side walls having a lower part and an upper part, means hingedly connecting said upper part to said lower part so that said upper part is swingable to an open position with respect to said lower part, said upper part having side panels and end panels projecting therefrom and dividers projecting therefrom and forming a sub-divided compartment which is exposed to view when said upper part is hingedly moved to the open position, a partition wall in said purse and adjacent to the edges of said side panels and end panels of said upper part when said upper part is swung to a position approximately coplanar with said lower part whereby said partition constitutes a closure for the sub-divided compartment and retains the items captive within said sub-divided compartment, 21 source of illumination carried by said partition wall and including a light bulb facing forwardly of said partition whereby the light rays from said light bulb are projected forwardly of the purse when said upper part and compartment are moved to the open position, said source of illumination including a switch that has a switch operator, a battery case mounting said switch operator for movement, said switch operator located in the path of travel of said purse closure and adapted to be actuated by said purse closure when said purse closure is moved to the purse closing position thereby automatically opening the circuit of said source of illumination when said purse closure is in the closed position.

3. A purse for ladies, said purse having end walls, side walls, a bottom, a closure attached to one of said side walls and adapted to be swung between the open and closed positions, the other of said side walls having a lower part and an upper part, means hingedly connecting said upper part to said lower part so that said upper part is swingable to an open position with respect to said lower part, said upper part having side panels and end panels projecting therefrom and dividers projecting therefrom and forming a sub-divided compartment which is exposed to view when said upper part is hingedly moved to the open position, a partition wall in said purse and adjacent to the edges of said side panels and end panels of said upper part when said upper part is swung to a position approximately coplanar with said lower part whereby said partition constitutes a closure for the sub-divided compartment and retains the items captive within said sub-divided compartment, a source of illumination carried by said partition wall and including a light bulb facing forwardly of said partition whereby the light rays from said light bulb are projected forwardly of the purse when said upper partand compartment are moved to the open position, said compartment located above the bottom of said purse, a portion of said partition, said lower part and a portion of the purse bottom constituting an additional compartment isolated from the first mentioned compartment, one of the walls of said first mentioned compartment constituting a closure for said addi tional compartment when said first mentioned compartment is in the closed position.

4. A purse for ladies, said purse having end walls, side walls, a bottom, a closure attached to one of said side walls and adapted to be swung between the open and closed positions, the other of said side walls having a lower part and an upper part, means hingedly connecting said upper part to said lower part so that said upper part is swingable to an open position with respect to said lower part, said upper part having side panels and end panels projecting therefrom and dividers projecting therefrom and forming a sub-divided compartment which is exposed to view when said upper part is ln'ngedly moved to the open position, a partition wall in said purse and adjacent to the edges of said side panels and end panels of said upper part when said upper part is swung to a position approximately coplanar with said lower part whereby said partition constitutes a closure for the sub-divided compartment and retains the items captive within said sub-divided compartment, a source of illumination carried by said partition wall and including a light bulb facing forwardly of said partition whereby the light rays from said light bulb are projected forwardly of the purse when said upper part and compartment are moved to the open position, said compartment located above the bottom of said purse, a portion of said partition, said lower part and a portion of the purse bottom constituting an additional compartment isolated from the first mentioned compartment, one of the walls of said first mentioned compartment constituting a closure for said additional compartment when said first mentioned compartment is in the closed position, with the main compartment of the purse isolated by said partition from said first mentioned compartment and said additional compartment, and yielding means operatively connected with said portions of said walls of said purse for opposing the pivotal movement of said upper portion of said Wall in one direction and yieldingly maintaining said compartment in the closed position.

5. The purse of claim 1 wherein said channel has a shade for directing the light rays from the source of illumination, and a face mirror carried by said purse closure for inspecting the face of the purse user on which light rays from said source of illumination are directed at least in part by said shade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 702,403 Chapman June 17, 1902 757,661 Jacob Apr. 19, 1904 904,545 Maderia Nov. 24, 1908 1,014,853 Russell Jan. 16, 1912 1,612,342 Alstrand Dec. 28, 1926 1,964,615 Williams June 26, 1934 2,218,396 Hallbauer Oct. 15, 1940 2,331,428 Selezneff Oct. 12, 1943 2,334,079 Feinberg Nov. 9, 1943 2,611,573 Young Sept. 23, 1952 2,630,362 Bass Mar. 3, 1953 2,816,628 Garfield Dec. 17, 1957