US3304978A

US3304978A - Purse

Info

Publication number: US3304978A
Application number: US529706A
Authority: US
Inventors: Guterman Isadore; Frost Norbert
Original assignee: Adam Steven Leather Goods Inc
Current assignee: Adam Steven Leather Goods Inc
Priority date: 1966-02-24
Filing date: 1966-02-24
Publication date: 1967-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 1984-02-21

Description

Feb.. 2l, 1967 Filed Feb. 24, 196e INVENTORS: ISADORE GUTERMAN NORBERT FROST I I I I l I T i I l I I fi I I I u I I l I I l l I I I 2 44 M; q/gww@ lIIIVIV5551555152r 5555 IIIIIIIIIIIIJIIIIIIIIIT I mr ,Il 2 `nl:

'III-I EIR ATTORN EYS Feb. 21, 1967 l. GUTERMAN ETAL PURSE mMT 2 NRS i .EEO e TR e0 hO NG S/ am m7 RE OBY S@ @WB 2F 5N 6 9 .m O O 0 f w wml 4/ 2 6 P 5 A 6 1 G. wm l 1 G .4' Il 2F b. e F d l l I l l I I I l l l I I I l l l I I l I i l I l l l I l l I I I l I Il e l .l F

THEIR ATTORNEYS `United States Patent() PURSE Isadore Guterman, Howard Beach, N.Y.. andvNorbert Frost, Tenally, NJ., assignors to Adam-Steven Leather sGoolcils, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New or Filed Feb. 24, 1966` Ser. No. 529,706

- 3 Claims. (Cl. 150-29) This invention relates in general to a new improved -ipurse which is suitable for being held in the hand and, more particularly, to a purse which has a plurality of compartments at least one of which is designed to expand .laterally to accommodate the storage of bulky items within the compartment.

More specifi-cally, the purse incorporating this inven- -tionhas a plurality of separate compartments each of which has a set .of flat interior and exterior side walls.

These compartments are arranged with their flat side surfaces in parallel planes and are attached together at positions which are spaced from t-he .lower or upper extremityor the side extremities of each of the attached compartments. Thus, the portions of the fastened side walls, which lie between these fastening means and the edges of the compartments, can move laterally away from each other thereby expanding the enclosure within the compartment and providing a storage area -for bulky items such as lipstick containers, compacts, and the like.

j The' user of the purse described herein need no longer vbe Lfaced witl1`.the choice between an attractive small purse with limited carrying capacity Tand the larger, bulky, 1

and for many occasions unattractive., handbag. When using the purse disclosed herein, it is possible to -enjoy `a far greater degree than heretofore possible by separatling the frequently used items '.from those less frequently used.

It is also envisioned that this multiple enclosure concept can be used in' combination with the expandable compartment concept in the clutch purse orhand purse disclosedherein. Thus, thel random disorder' normally associated withthe sin-gle compartment or enclosure hand bag canlbe avoided.`

lOther advantages and a fuller understanding of this invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE l1 shows a elevational side view of a purse `in which'the invention may be incorporated;

`FIGUR-E 2 is an elevational view ofthe opposite side of the purse shown in FIG. 1;

lFIGURE 3 illustrates a cross-sectional end view of the u purse shown in FIG; l in a closed position taken along the line 3 3;

` FIGURE 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the purse shown in FIG. 1 in an open position taken along the lines `3-3;

FIGURE 5 shows an elevational side View of a purse incorporating a second embodiment of the invention;

, FIGUREl 6 is an elevational side view of the purse Vshown in FIG. 5 with one compartment in an opened position; Y

` FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional end view of the purse 3,334,978 Patented Feb. 21, 1967 ICC shown in F-IG. 5 in a closed position taken along the lines 77; and

FIGU'RiE 8 is a cross-sectional end view of the purse shown in FIG. 6 in an opened position taken along the lines 8 8.

With reference to the drawing, the invention is illustrated as being incorporated in a purse indicated :generally lbythe `reference character 10. As illustrated, the purse 10 is composed olf a central compartment 12 having two relatively flat -wide side walls 14 yand 16. The side wall 14 has a rim 19 extending along its upper surface which defines the opening to the central compartment 12 and which has a locking element 18 attached to its substantially adjacent the center of the purse 10. Similarly, the side wall 116 has an upper rim 21 extending across its upper surface which also defines the o-pening to compartment 12 and which has a locking element 20 vattached to the central portion of its upper surface.

A central dividing wall 2.2 is fastened in a position between the

side walls

14 and 16 by hinges 26 thereby forming

enclosures

15 and 17 within compartment 12. The upper edge of the dividing wall 22 supports rim 23 to which locking post 24 is attached at its midpoint. Locking post 24 is positioned in such a manner that either locking

element

18 or 20, or both, can 'be snapped into lfri-ctional engagement with post 24 when one wishes to close

enclosures

15 and 17 of compartment 12.

In the irst embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5, a side compartment 28 is composed of two relatively tlat side wa-

lls

34 and 36 and isl attached to central compartment 1.2l iby stitches orfaStening means 30 and 32 which are 'spaced from the upper and lower extremities of t-he purse 12 respectively .and lby the two longitudinal rows of lstitches or fastening means 31 and 33 which are spaced from'the ends 39 an-d 41 of the purse 12 and from the

stitches

35 and 37 adjacent these

ends

39 and 41.

The inner chamber 43 of side compartment 28 may -be reached by opening flap 38 which contains a releasable snap 40 which is designed to be frictionally held in snap recess 42 which is located on the outer surface o-f side 36.

A third compartment 4, it attached to the opposite side of central compartment 12 and is composed of two relatively

llat side walls

46 and 48, connected along their side extremities by rows o-f

stitches

55 and 57. The side 46 of compartment 44 is attached to the outer surf-ace of wall 16 by stitching or fastening means 50 and 52 which .are spaced respectively from the lower and upper extremities of the

compartments

12 and 44. Similarly, the vertical stitching or fastening means 51 and 53 attach the wall 46 of compartment 44 to wall 16 of compartment 12 and are spaced from the side extremities or

ends

39 and 41 of the purse 10. As shown in FIG. 2 the wall 4S of compartment 44 contains a zippered opening 54 through which one may deposit items in or remove items from enclosure 56. It will be understood that the

compartments

28 and 44 may have zipper closure-s or flap closures, as desired.

Another embodiment of a clutch purse which incorporates this invention, is shown in FIGS. 5-8 and illustrated -generally by the reference character 60. The purse 60 is composed of a rst compartment 62 which, as shown in Athe closed position in FIG. 7, has two side walls 64 and 66. In addition, the compartment 62 has an extendable lower portion 68, as shown in FIG. 8, which is composed of

side walls

70 and 72. This extendable portion 68 is held in the folded position shown in FIG. 7 by fastening means 94 which is located on the outer surface of wall portion 70 and which is designed to engage and lock with the fastening element 92 on the inner surface of the closing flap 90.

When the purse 60 is in the opened position shown in FIG. 8 the chamber 74 is formed within the lining 76 which `is fastened to the upper portion of

walls

66 and 68. Similarly, a second chamber 78 is formed on one side by lining 82 which is fastened between the lower portion of intermediate wall 77 and the lower fastening means 87 and, on the other side, lby lining 80` which extends between the lower portion of side wall 66 and the lower fastening means 87. Finally, chamber 86 is formed lbetween lining 82 and the inner surface of the wall 72.

Chamber 86 may be reached through Zipper opening 88 and access to chamber 78 may be obtained through zipper opening 84 between

walls

66 and 77 whereas access to chamber 74 is obtained by separating rim 98, which extends across the upper surface of wall 66, from rim 102 which extends across the upper extremity of wall 64. A snap clasp member friction lock 96 is attached to the central portion of rim 98 and is designed to engage and disengage a snap clasp member friction lock 100 which is attached to the central portion of rim 102, thereby sealing or opening chamber 74.

A second compartment 104, which is composed of relatively flat side walls 6 and 108, is fastened to side walls 64 of compartment 62 by stitching or fastening means 110 and 112 which extend horizontally and are spaced from the lower and upper extremities respectively of the

chambers

66 and 104. Similarly, the stitching or fastening ymeans 114 and 116, which extend in a vertical direction as shown in FIG. 5, fasten wall 106 of compartment 104 to wall 64 of compartment 62, but are spaced from the side extremities or ends 125 and 127 of purse 60. Access to chamber 120 within compartment 104 may be obtained through the opening provide-d by zipper element 118. A fiap closure may, of course, be substituted for the zipper closure 118.

The first embodiment of the purse shown in FIGS. l-4 contains three

separate compartments

12, 28 and 44, all of which are easily expandable and capable of storing bulky items such as lipstick containers, powder cornpacts, key rings and the like. Thus, the woman who desires to carry a hand purse nolonger needs to forego carrying many of the necessary or desirable articles which she may have become accustomed to carrying when using a la-rge handbag.

T-he purse described herein maintains its overall lon- .gitudinal measurements but permits lateral expansion to accommodate the above enumerated items. This lateral expansion is achieved by fastening the three -compart- .ments together at positions which are spaced from the upper, lower or side extremities of each compartment. Thus, the fact that fastening means 32 which attaches compartment 28 to central compartment 12 is spaced substantially above the lower extremities of

compartments

28 and 12 permits the lower sections of

walls

14 and 34, which are located below fastening means 32, to separate and rotate outwardly away from each other and around fastening means 32 thereby permitting the expansion above the chamber 43 and .chamber 17. Similarly, the spacing of the longitudinal fastening means 31 from the edge or end 39 or the longitudinal fastening means 33 from the edge or end 41 permits the portions of walls '14 .and 34 |between the fastening means 31 or 33 and edges .39 or 41 to sepa-rate and rotate lin opposite directions .around fastening means 31 and 33I thereby also contributing to the expansion of

compartments

17 and 43. Finally, the spacing of the upper fastening means 30 below the upper edges of

compartments

12 and 28 also contributes to the lateral expansion of the

enclosures

17 and 43 and the separation of the upper portions of the

side walls

34 and 14, which lie between the fastening means 30 and the upper edges of

compartments

12 and 28, away from each other. Similarly, the spacing of

fastening surfaces

50, 51, 52 `and 53 away from the edges of compartments 12 land 14 provide for the lateral expansion of the extreme lower, upper and side portions of

side walls

46 and 16.

The second embodiment, shown in FIGS. 5 8, not only discloses the concept of an expandable compartment 104 which is attached to the main compartment 62 by internally spaced fastening means 110, 112, 114 and 116, but also discloses an extendablecompartment 62 containing a plurality of

separate chambers

74, 77 and 86 which provide the user of the purse with an extensive opportunity to organize the various articles which are being carried. In this second embodiment the enclosure of compartment 104 is designed to accommodate the bulkier items which have substantial dimensions in three directions whereas, for example, compartment 86 is suitable for holding a checkbook and

compartments

78 and 74 separate items which are substantial in only two dimensions.A In addition,

compartments

78 and 86 could contain the items which are less frequently used whereas

compartments

74 and 120 are placed in a more readily accessible position and designed to contain the more frequently used items. Thus, when using a purse incorporating this invention the user moves directly to the enclosure containing the desired item without searching through all of the contents of the purse.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, other embodiments are envisioned which fall within the scope of this invention. For example, the zipper fasteners described above are completely interchangeable with other fastening means such as snap fasteners and can be substituted for these fastening means in alternate arrangements not shown in detail herein. Thus, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereafter claimed.

We claim:

1. A purse suitable for being carried inthe hand and adapted to expand laterally in order to store bulky items comprising a first compartment having two fiat side walls joined at least partially around the edges thereof and form ing an enclosure having an access opening, first closure means for the access opening of said first compartment,

a second compartment having two flat side walls joined at least partially around the edges thereof and forming an enclosure having an access opening, second closure means for the access opening of said second compartment, and

means for fastening a panel-like portion of the oute surface of one of said flat side walls of said first compartment to a corresponding portion of the upper and outer surface of one of said fiat side walls of said second compartment, said fastening means being spaced inwardly from the lower extremities and the end extremities of said first and second compartments whereby the portions of said fastened side walls of said first and second compartments, which are located outwardly of said fastening means, can move laterally away from each other in order to expand at least the enclosure within said second compartment and permit the storage of bulky items therein, said first compartment being a foldable compartment which may be released and extended to a position substantially below the lower extremity of said second compartment, said first compartment having a plurality of individual closure means which may be opened and closed when said first compartment is in the said extended position.

2. A purse suitable for being carried in Athe hand and adapted to expand laterally in order to store bulky items comprising a first compartment having two fiat side walls each having upper, lower and end extremities and at least one of said walls having a panel-like portion with edges spaced inwardly from said extremities of said side walls, said lower extremities of said side walls being connected and said end extremities of said side walls being stitched directly together and forming an enclobeing connected and said end extremities of said side walls being stitched directly together and forming a third enclosure having an access opening, third closure means for said access opening of said third sure having an access opening, rst enclosure means 5 compartment, and for said access opening of said rst compartment, a second means for fastening said panel-like portion of a second compartment having two flat side walls each said one of said at side walls of said third comparthaving upper, lower and end extremities and at least ment Ito a panel-like portion of the Side wall of said one of said walls having a panel-like portion with rst compartment which is on the side opposite said edges spaced inwardly from said extremities of said second compartment, said second fastening means beside Walls, said lower extremities of said side walls ing spaced a substantial distance from the upper and being connected and said end extremities of said side lower extremities and the end extremities of said rst walls being stitched directly together and forming an and third compartments whereby the portions of said enclosure having an access opening, second closure fastened side walls of said rst and third compartmeans for said access opening of said second cornments, which lie outwardly of said second fastening partment, and means, can move laterally away from each other in means for fastening said panel-like portion of said one order to expand at least theV enclosures within said of said flat walls of said first compartmnt to said second and third compartments and permit the storpanel-like portion of said one of said at walls of age of bulky items therein. said second compartment, said fastening means being spaced inwardly a substantial distance from the upper References Cited by the Examiner and lower extremities and `the end extremities of said UNITED STATES PATENTS first and second compartments whereby the portions of said fastened side walls of said rst and second ehnan compartments, which are located outwardly of said 1939657 12/1933 Btem er fastening means, can move laterally away from each rosseau 15`0`30 other in order to expand at least the enclosure within References Cited by the Applicant ystcnriltsltcrrrlrtment and permit the storage of UNITED STATES PATENTS 3. A purse suitable for being carried in the hand and 1,390,049 9/1921 Langleb' adapted to expand laterally in order to store bulky items 1,434,92'6 11/1922 Sternberas defined in claim 2, further comprising 2,029,686 2/1936 Wehflera third compartment having two at side walls, each 2,068,058 1/1937 LeW1S- having upper, lower and end extremities and at least 2,827,093 3/1958 Sheneld et a1- one of said walls having a panel-like portion with 2,844,179 7/1958 Komtedges spaced inwardly from said extremities of said side walls, said lower extremities of said side Walls FRANKLIN T' GARRETT Primary Examine'.'

Claims

1. A PURSE SUITABLE FOR BEING CARRIED IN THE HAND AND ADAPTED TO EXPAND LATERALLY IN ORDER TO STORE BULKY ITEMS COMPRISING A FIRST COMPARTMENT HAVING TWO FLAT SIDE WALLS JOINED AT LEAST PARTIALLY AROUND THE EDGES THEREOF AND FORMING AN ENCLOSURE HAVING AN ACCESS OPENING, FIRST CLOSURE MEANS FOR THE ACCESS OPENING OF SAID FIRST COMPARTMENT, A SECOND COMPARTMENT HAVING TWO FLAT SIDE WALLS JOINED AT LEAST PARTIALLY AROUND THE EDGES THEREOF AND FORMING AN ENCLOSURE HAVING AN ACCESS OPENING, SECOND CLOSURE MEANS FOR THE ACCESS OPENING OF SAID SECOND COMPARTMENT, AND MEANS FOR FASTENING A PANEL-LIKE PORTION OF THE OUTER SURFACE OF ONE OF SAID FLAT SIDE WALLS OF SAID FIRST COMPARTMENT TO A CORRESPONDING PORTION OF THE UPPER AND OUTER SURFACE OF ONE OF SAID FLAT SIDE WALLS OF SAID SECOND COMPARTMENT, SAID FASTENING MEANS BEING SPACED INWARDLY FROM THE LOWER EXTREMITIES AND THE END EXTREMITIES OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND COMPARTMENTS WHEREBY THE PORTIONS OF SAID FASTENED SIDE WALLS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND COMPARTMENTS, WHICH ARE LOCATED OUTWARDLY OF SAID FASTENING MEANS, CAN MOVE LATERALLY AWAY FROM EACH OTHER IN ORDER TO EXPAND AT LEAST THE ENCLOSURE WITHIN SAID SECOND COMPARTMENT AND PERMIT THE STORAGE OF BULKY ITEMS THEREIN, SAID FIRST COMPARTMENT BEING A FOLDABLE COMPARTMENT WHICH MAY BE RELEASED AND EXTENDED TO A POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE LOWER EXTREMITY OF SAID SECOND COMPARTMENT, SAID FIRST COMPARTMENT HAVING A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL CLOSURE MEANS WHICH MAY BE OPENED AND CLOSED WHEN SAID FIRST COMPARTMENT IS IN THE SAID EXTENDED POSITION.