US2074843A - Bag frame - Google Patents

Description

March 23,v 1937. c. HQERING 2,074,843

BAG FRAME FiledfNoV. 29, 1935 INVENTOR n n :a

Patented Mar. 23, 1937 U N l T ESD S T-AT ES PATENT orti-:cle:l

BAGI FRAME Y Ware .Application Nocember .29, .1935, serialNo. 52,108

comms. (c1. 15o- 42) This 4invention l relates to-ihand bagarand `more particularly .to an automaticfself-closing :frame foruse in such bags.

Heretofore, it has been `necessary to provide 5 latches for holding handbag frame l"members together. The provision of latches obviously increases the cost `of manufacturing the frames; and after a certain amount of use the latches become worn and loose and do not function -properly to hold the frame members in a closed position. Clearly suchafsituation is objectionable as it enables pickpockets v.and other` Vunauthorized persons to surreptitiously open the hand bags. Also, theuser of thebag is always apprehensive l5 0ft losing the contents thereof due to a faulty la ch.

It is an object of this .invention to provide a frame for hand bags which is so constructed that it is automatically self-closing and requires no 20 latches.

A further object is the provision of an automatically self-closing frame for hand bags which is of simple construction, positive in operation, requiring'a relative low cost of manufacture, and

25 which can be readily and conveniently provided in various ornamental shapes.

These and other advantageous objects, which will later appear, are accomplished by the simple and practical construction and arrangement of 30 parts hereinafter described and exhibited in the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof, and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a frame embodying my invention in an open position.

35 Fig, 2 is a top plan view of the frame when closed, v

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the frame,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view,

` partly in section,

40 Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the frame when in a closed position, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a spring element used in a modified form of the invention.

45 Referring to the drawing, the frame is shown to comprise a rigid arcuate frame member formed from a metal strip 1 having at one edge thereo-f a right angularly directed flange bent back upon itself and beyond the strip 1 to provide an oppo- 50 sitely directed flange 9 so that the upper edge of the frame member is substantially T-shaped. The lower edgel of the strip 1 is provided with a right angularly directed flange Ill having a plurality of spaced tabs I I, provided with weakening 55 apertures I2 to enable them to be conveniently bent upwardly to` clamp 'ftothe `frame member "a channeled inlay I3 to which is attached thebag covering material I4.

The bag covering material is first clinched in the inlay I3 and then the inlayis inserted between the flanges 9 and I0 after which the tabs I I -arebent upwardly, as indicatedin Fig. 4.

Each end of thestrip 1 is provided with a bearing I5 formed yfrom a portion of the strip, and the anges 8 andll extend beyond the end of'the main bodyof the strip 1, said flanges-being provided withzapertures registering with the `bearings I5.

Positioned between the flanges 8 and 9 and the bearing I5 is a bearing I6 integral with a flat spring strip- I1. Pins I8 pass through the bearings I6 and I5 and pivotally connect the flap spring strip I1 to the rigid arcuate frame member having the strip 1. Bag covering material is smoothly attached t0 the spring strip I1 which comprises a frame member cooperating with the arcuate rigid frame member. The spring strip I1 is substantially the same length as the arcuate strip 1.

In operation, the spring strip I1 normally tends to assume a straight position, and when it is drawn to either side of the line connecting the ends of the arcuate rigid frame member having the strip 1, it willremain in the position to which it is drawn until an appreciable force is applied to again move it to the other side of the line joining the ends of the strip 1. It will be noted that the strip I1 is of subsantially the same length as the strip 1 and when the bag is in a closed position, as shown in Fig. 2, the spring strip I1 forceably engages and lits snugly against the strip 1. When in an open position, as shown in Fig. 1, the spring strip I1 naturally tends to remain in a position to maintain the hand bag open.

From the above description it will be seen that a hand bag embodying a frame member as above described must either be fully opened or tightly closed, as the spring strip I1 will not permit of an intermediate position such as a partly open hand bag or a loosely closed bag. It is, therefore, apparent that there is no possibility of a hand bag being surreptitiously opened without some sort of a warning signal being given to the person carrying the bag, as an appreciable force is required to move the spring strip I1 from a closed positon, whereby it tightly engages the rigid strip 1, to an open position as shown in Fig. l.

In Fig. 6 is shown a modied form of the invention in which the spring strip 21 is provided with a longitudinal slot 28 along the center line thereof which enables the spring strip 2l to be moved to an open or closed position with somewhat less force than is necessary with the spring strip I1.

A hand bag provided with a frame as herein described obviously requires no latches and may be conveniently closed with a minimum of effort; in fact the closing of the bag is automatic. Also, the arcuate shape of the frame member when closed lends itself to a variety of ornamentations which is of considerable importance in the sale of hand bags to the public.

The foregoing disclosure is to be regarded as descriptive and illustrative only, and not as re strictive or limitative of the invention, of which obviously an embodiment may be constructed including many modifications, without departing from the general scope herein indicated and denoted in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a hand bag frame, a rigid arcuate metal strip forming a member of the frame, a channeled inlay having bag covering material attached thereto, means on one edge of the metal strip for holding the channeled inlay in position on said member, and a, spring strip of substantially the same length as said rigid arcuate strip, said spring strip having its ends pivotally connected to the ends of the arcuate strip, said spring strip having a slot extending along the longitudinal center line thereof to points short of the ends of the strip.

2. In a hand bag frame, a frame member comprising a rigid arcuate metal strip having at one edge thereof an inwardly directed right angular ange bent back upon itself to provide an outwardly directed right angular flange, so that said member is substantially T-shaped in cross section, a plurality of spaced tabs attached to the lower edge of said strip, said tabs being bendable upwardly to clamp bag covering material to the strip, and a spring strip having its ends pivotally connected to the ends of the arcuate strip, said spring strip being of substantially the same length as the arcuate strip, said spring strip having a slot extending along the longitudinal center line thereof, to points short of the en-ds of the strip.

3. In a hand bag frame, a frame member comprising a rigid arcuate metal strip having at one edge thereof an inwardly directed right angular flange bent back upon itself to provide an outwardly directed right angular flange so that said member is substantially T-shaped in cross section, said inwardly directed right angular flange extending beyond the ends of said strip, a plurality of spaced tabs on the lower edge of said strip, said tabs being bendable upwardly, the ends of said strip'being cut and bent to form hinge members, a spring strip having its ends cut and bent to form hinge members cooperating with the hinge members on the arcuate strip, said spring strip being of substantially the same length as the arcuate strip, andV hinge pins passing through said hinge members and the ends of the inwardly directed right angular flange.

v WILLIAM C. HIERING.

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