US3912141A

US3912141A - Adjustable handle

Info

Publication number: US3912141A
Application number: US452534A
Authority: US
Inventors: Emma Appel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-03-19
Filing date: 1974-03-19
Publication date: 1975-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-14

Abstract

An adjustable handle for use with a receptacle, such as a purse, having a strap or belt traversing two movable loops to form three layers, whereby movement of the loops adjusts the length of the handle. Fasteners may be provided to prevent movement of the layers after adjustement.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Appel [451 Oct. 14, 1975 1 ADJUSTABLE HANDLE [76] Inventor: Emma Appel, 37 Shahal St., Givat Mordechai, Jerusalem, Israel 22 Filed: Mar. 19, 1974 211 App]. No.: 452,534

[52] US. Cl. 224/46 R; ISO/33 [51] Int. Cl. A45C 11/00 [58] Field of Search 224/46 R, 45 P, 45 R, 45 S, 224/55, 48, 57, 54, 49, l A, 1 R, 5 R;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 649,832 5/ 1900 Furnivall 224/55 1,639,574 8/1927 Reiter 190/57 1,725,093 8/1929 Maksik 150/33 2,745,524 5/1956 Plotkin 190/57 3,035,746 5/1962 Hayes 224/1 A 3,259,285 7/1966 Bush 224/46 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 296,657 9/1928 United Kingdom 150/33 619,351 3/1949 United Kingdom 224/55 Primary Examiner-Frank E. Werner Assistant Examiner-Kenneth Noland Attorney, Agent, or FirmFidelman, Wolffe & Leitner [57] ABSTRACT An adjustable handle for use with a receptacle, such as a purse, having a strap or belt traversing two movable loops to form three layers, whereby movement of the loops adjusts the length of the handle. Fasteners may be provided to prevent movement of the layers after adjustement.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures ADJUSTABLE HANDLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This is an invention which relates generally to handles and more specifically to an adjustable handle in combination with a receptacle or purse.

2. Description of the Prior Art Adjustable handles have been provided for receptacles such as suitcases, valises, purses, etc. The adjustable handles have generally included two straps independently secured to the receptacle with their other two ends interacting to provide the adjustment. Typically, the unsecured ends of the straps would have attached thereto two rings. The attachment is generally invol ed with overlapping the free end around/through the ring and securing back onto itself by stitching. A typical example of this type of adjustment handle is found in US. Pat. No. l,5l5,29l. Another type of adjustable handle includes a strap which is secured at one end through a receptacle, with the other end interlocking with two rings secured to the other side of the receptacle. The strap is generally through the center of the two rings and over the top of the second and goes back through the interior of the first ring to provide a lock. As is the previous type of device, the two rings are generally encompassed by two other straps which are secured to the receptacle. A typical example of this two ring device is found in US Pat. No. 2,394,782. 7

These adjustable handles of the prior art are unduly complicated and expensive in that they require additional manufacturing steps to secure the rings to use the end of the straps or to the receptacle. Similarly, this concept of one or both sides of the adjustable handle being affixed or secured to the receptacle prevents the use of a detachable and/or interchangeable, replaceable handle, as exemplified by the various examples in US. application Ser. NO. 308,699, filed Nov. 22, 1972, by the same applicant as this case and incorporated herein by reference. I

, SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an adjustable, handle for use with receptacles such as purses, suitcases, valises wherein a strap or belt which composes the handle transverses the two movable loops to form a three-layer adjustable handle. The ends of handles, or at least one of the handles, removably attached to the receptacle. The length of the handle is adjustable by movement of the loops'relative to each other. The three layers form a generally Z-shaped pattern with two of each of the layers transversing the interior of each ring. A securing device, such as snaps, are provided to prevent the layers from moving relative to each other after the adjustment.

' oBJEcrS OF THE INVENTION An object'of the present invention is to provide an adjustable receptacle handle for use with purses, valises and suitcases. v

Another object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive handle which is adjustable.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable handle which. is removabley attached to the receptacle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle with adjustable handles at shoulder length;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an adjustable handle prior to forming the adjustment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the adjustable handle after forming the adjustable interrelationship;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the adjustable handle including securing means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A description of the preferred embodiment shows FIG. 1 illustrating a preferred embodiment of the adjustable handle 10 removably attached to a receptacle (shown as a purse) 12. The receptacle 12 has loops l4 and 16 made of material which may be the same or any other desired material, such as metal rings, as the purse and extending from the sides thereof. The ends of a strap l8-are fed through the

loops

14 and 16 and are secured to

buttons

20 and 22, which are sewn to the body of the strap 18. The

buttonholes

24 and 26 are provided for the

buttons

20 and 22 so that a small adjustment in the length of the strap or handle may be made, depending upon the selection of the buttonhole. Handle 10, as illustrated in FIG. 1 is a handle of shoulder bag length having both sides removably attachedto the purse so that it may be changed or interchanged with other types of removable handles.

. 38 and 40 are provided for cosmetic purposes, but may be used to receive the ends of the straps. The strap in FIG. 2 will be folded so as to form the Z-shaped strap as shown in FIG. 3 having three layers A, B and C. It should be noted that the Z would appear correct-if viewed from the opposite side of FIG. 3.

To achieve the formation of FIG. 3, end 42 of strap 32 is moved over the top of loop 30 and through loop 28. This provides basic layer A and B. Loop 30 is then rotated so as to appear in FIG. 3 and end 42 is then moved back over the top of loop 28 and through loop 30 to form layer C as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, the strap as shown in FIG. 3 is ready for attachment to the purse or receptacle as shown in FIG. 1.

The specific length of the handle may be adjusted by moving

loops

28 and 30 relative to each other. To be more specific, to shorten the length of the strap,

loops

28 and 30 would be moved away from each other so that more of the strap 30 is occupied in the area between the two loops. To lengthen the strap, the two loops are moved closer together.

Another way of forming the generally Z shaped adjustable handle of FIG. 3, starting with the handle as shown in FIG. 2, is to move end 42 of strap 32 over the top of loop 30 and through loop 28. This is accomplished and then end 44 may be moved to go under the bottom of loop 28 and through loop 30. This will provide the Z shape inverted from that shape shown in FIG. 3.

Even though this or the previously described method may be used to provide the three layer generally Z shaped configuration of FIG. 3, it should be noted that the present adjustable handle has the Z completely confined within the interior of the loops. The Z begins above the bottom of loop 28 and ends below the top of loop 30, with two layers traversing the interior of each loop, or the strap 32 traverses the interior of the loops twice. By providing free moving loops or closed curves, new and additional manufacturing costs arent involved and time consuming steps of providing an adjustable handle and costly materials are eliminated.

The

loops

28 and 30 may be made from leather, metal, plastic or other materials and decorative as well as functional. The Z-shaped strap may be formed and the

buckles

34 and 36 subsequently added. If the

buckles

34 and 36 are attached to the strap before forming the Z, the

loops

28 and 30 must be large enough to admit the buckles therethrough.

' FIG. 4 shows another type of belt or strap 46 having a

combination lace

48 and 50 with

eyelets

52 and 54. As with the two previous types of straps, the

straps

48 and 50 are used to secure the end of the strap to itself after transversing

loops

14 and 16 of a receptacle. A securing device including two male snappers 56 and 58 (one in the interior of

loops

28 and 30, respectively) is provided. Two

female snappers

60 and 62 are located towards the center of the belt and two female snappers 64 located towards the center of the belt and two

female snappers

64 and 66 are located near the end of the belt for

male snappers

56 and 58, respectively. When the Z is adjusted for shoulder length,

female snappers

60 and 62 are used. When the Z is used to shorten the length of the handle,

female snappers

64 and 66 are used. These snaps restrain the layers AB, C and the

loops

28 and 30 from moving relative to each other after the handles have been adjusted by movement of the

loops

28 and 30. Though shown only as one pair of female snapers for each male snapper, a plurality of female snappers may be provided so that the securing device may be used for any of a multitude of adjustable lengths of handle. Many other types of commercially available securing or fastening means may be used as, for example, a hook-and-eye or any other such means.

It is obvious that with the present invention, one end of an adjustable receptacle handle using any of the strap configurations, may be permanently affixed to a receptacle with the other end being removably secured to the receptacle. To use such a handle would require formation of the three-layer generally Z-shaped adjustable shaped handle using the first described method. Similarly, the Z shape may be formed and the handle permanently affixed at bottom ends to the receptacle. Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only. The description is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable handle in combination with a receptacle comprising:

a single belt having its two ends attached to said receptacle;

two retention means, each movable on said belt for slidably receiving on said belt;

said belt traversing said retention means to form a generally Z-shape, whereby the length of said handie is adjusted by moving said retention means relative to each other; and

means for securing said retention means to said belt to prevent movement after said adjustment.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said belt traverses the interior of each retention means twice.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said retention means are loops and said securing means are snaps for securing said two loops to said belt.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said two ends of said belt each includes a buckle and a plurality of apertures whereby said belt being removably attached to said receptacle.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said two ends of said belt each includes a button and a plurality of apertures whereby said belt being removably attached to said receptacle.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said two ends of said belt each includes a pair of laces and a plurality of pairs of apertures whereby said belt being removably attached to said receptacle.

7. A combination of an adjustable handle and a receptacle comprising:

a strap having at least one end removably attached to said receptacle;

two substantially closed curves, each m ovably received on said strap;

said strap traversing said closed curves to form three layers of said strap between the interior of said closed curves, whereby the length of said handle is adjusted by moving said substantially closed curves; and

means for securing said curves to said strap to prevent movement after adjustment.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said strap traverses the interior of each curve twice.

Claims

1. An adjustable handle in combination with a receptacle comprising: a single belt having its two ends attached to said receptacle; two retention means, each movable on said belt for slidably receiving on said belt; said belt traversing said retention means to form a generally Zshape, whereby the length of said handle is adjusted by moving said retention means relative to each other; and means for securing said retention means to said belt to prevent movement after said adjustment.

7. A combination of an adjustable handle and a receptacle comprising: a strap having at least one end removably attached to said receptacle; two substantially closed curves, each movably received on said strap; said strap traversing said closed curves to form three layers of said strap between the interior of said closed curves, whereby the length of said handle is adjusted by moving said substantially closed curves; and means for securing said curves to said strap to prevent movement after adjustment.