US2004185A - Frame for bags, purses, and the like - Google Patents

Description

June 11, 1935. B. BLACHER FRAME FOR BAGS, PURSES, AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 1'7, 1954 Patented June 11, 1935 UNITED STATES FRAME FOR BAGS, PURSES, AND THE LIKE Benjamin Blacher, Providence, R. 1., assignor to Blacher Brothers, Providence, R. L, a partnership consisting of Benjamin Blacher and Harry Blacher Application February 17, 1934, Serial No. 711,763

3 Claims.

This invention relates to bag frames for handbags, purses and similar articles and consists of improvements in the construction of the same.

One object of the invention is to provide a bag frame of the type indicated comprising opposite hinged members for closing the mouth of the bag and protecting the folded edges of the leather, fabric or other covering material from which the bag is constructed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bag frame of the type indicated having complementary flanges on the opposite frame-members adapted to meet when the members are folded together to form a substantially continuous and unbroken covering for the edges of the mouth of the bag whereby to enhance the appearance and attractiveness of the article.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bag frame of the type indicated wherein the shielding flanges are constructed integral with the frame-members to render the complete article economical to manufacture by eliminating extraneous parts liable to become loosened and deranged.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bag frame of thetype indicated in which the clasping or locking means for maintaining the bag closed is formed on the adjoining ends of the flanges to simplify the construction of the frame by eliminating separate locking elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a bag frame of the type indicated an improved method of forming the bent leg portions of the frame-members to secure a more rigid and stronger joint at the bends whereby/to insure greater rigidity and guard against breakage at the corners.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred form of construction of the invention as illustrated by the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hand-bag embodying a frame constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end view of the improved bag frame showing its opposite sections in closed relationship;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the framesections swung into open position;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the frame showing its parts in position as illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the parts in position as illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a front view of the upper portion of the frame; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are transverse sectional views through the top of one of the frame-members illustrating the method of forming the covering and shielding flange.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a usual style of hand-bag or purse comprising a pouch 2, of leather or other flexible material, having its mouth closed by mating frame-members 3 and 4. 'As in the usual construction of bag frames of this type the members 3 and 4 are formed from strips of sheet-metal bent into channel shape in cross-section as shown in Fig. 8. The frame-members 3 and 4 are similar in shape and outline, being provided with a. horizontal top portion 5 with legs 6 bent downwardly at rightangles thereto. The terminal portions of the legs 6 are hinged together by suitable means such as the rivets 1 herein illustrated.

In the manufacture of the present type of frame-members in which the legs 6 project at right-angles to the top portion 5 it is the usual practice to out V-shaped openings in the side walls of the channel extending nearly to the edges thereof and then bend the stock with square corners. The edges of the cut-out portions meet in a mitre joint 8, see Fig. 6, and are usually soldered together to strengthen the structure. This method of bracing or strengthening the frame has not proved entirely satisfactory, however, since the solder is liable to crack and break under any strain tending to bend the legs. It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an improved means for securing the bent sections of the frame-members in fixed relationship.

Referring to Fig. 6 of the drawing, when the V-shaped openings are formed by cutting away the metal of the channeled strips, ears or tabs l9 areleft projecting from the bottom wall thereof. After each leg 8 is bent downwardly in the usual manner the ear I0 is folded over the corner thus formed and welded or otherwise permanently secured against the inner surface of the connecting wall of the leg. Through this means a particularly strong, rigid joint between the bent portionsof the frame is secured to resist strains and stresses tending to bend or twist the parts of the frame out of place.

According to the usual practice the edges of the pouch 2 of the bag are folded or tucked into the space between the channeled side walls of the frame-members 3 and 4 in the manner indicated by the dash lines in Figs. 2 and 3 and secured in place by bending the sides of the channel toward each other. In bags of the present type the edges of the covering material are bent closely around the relatively thin sharp edges of the frame-members and their sharp folds are subjected to considerable wear, especially at the mouth of the bag, so that the material is liable to I v the slit between the frame-members.

2 and serving to cover and protect this part of the leather or fabric.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawing, the inner side wall of the top portion 5 of each section of the frame is continued upwardly substantially half way along its length to provide longitudinally extending strips H and I2. Referring now to Fig. 8, the strip I2 is bent laterally of the side wall of the top portion 5 of the frame to overlie its channel, as indicated at i3, and then folded back upon itself at 14 to extend in the opposite direction beyond the side wall. The strip i2 is then folded or bent back to underlie its horizontal portion [4 thus forming a double or reinforced shield or cover 15 overlying the channeled portion of the frame member throughout one halfits length. 7

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5 when the two sections 3 and 4 are connected in hinged relationshipthe two flanged portions or shields i5 overlie portions of the sections at opposite sides of the center of the frame. Consequently, when the bag is closed the two flanged portions H and i2 aline to form a substantially unbroken shield bridging the top of both frame-members and t and covering the folded edges of the pouch material. In addition to covering and protecting the folded leather or fabric at the mouth of the bag, the shield 55 also serves as a guard for preventing thin articles from sliding out of the mouth of the bag through As a further novel feature of the present invention, the complementary flanges or shield portions 15 of the frame are constituted as the clasping means for the bag. The vertical portions of the shields I5 are cut away at their inner ends as indicated at It in Fig.6 and the overhanging ends thereof are formed with interengaging detent-means as next described.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the end of one shield I5-is formed with a substantially semi-circular notch or opening 1?, while the end of the opposite shield is provided with a similarly shaped projection or latch 18. When the frame-members 3 and 4 are closed together as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 the projection l8 snaps into the notch H to securely fasten the mouth of the bag against accidental opening. Suitable ball-members 2B are brazed or otherwise attached to the top of the frame-members 3 and 4 in spaced apart relationship to serve as a grip for the fingers in prying the members apart in opening the bag; the

' clasping means yielding for this purpose as the projection l8 disengages from the notch 51.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present invention provides a particularly strong, durable and conveniently operated frame for the mouths of hand-bags, purses and the like having means for protecting the folded edges of the flexibie pouch material. The frame-members may be struck up from sheet-metal by stamping operations and the complete bag frame may therefore be manufactured at relatively small cost.

The clasping means for holding the framemembers in closed relationship is incorporated in the flanged portions of the frame and thus the employment of separate locking elements such as spring-operated latches is avoided and the frame rendered more durable in use.

The shield at the top of the frame besides protecting the pouch material from wear, also serves to cover the slit or opening which usually exists between the two frame-members and thus the apscribed as embodied in a preferred form of construction, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the exact embodiment disclosed since various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a. frame for bags, purses and the like, the combination of a pair of frame-members constructed of channeled strips bent to form top portions with legs extending at an angle thereto, means for pivotally connecting the ends of the legs to adapt the frame-members to swing into open and closed position, and an integral strip on the side wall of the top portion of each framemember extending throughout substantially one: half its length and folded double across the top of the channel in said top member and then rearwardly therefrom with its end underlying the upper portion of the strip, said flanged strips being adapted to aline when the frame-members are closed together to provide at protecting shield extending across the top of the frame.

2. In a frame for bags, purses and the like, the combination of a' pair of frame-members constructed of channeledstrips bent to form top portions with legs extending at an angle thereto, means for pivotally connecting the ends of the legs to adapt the frame nembers to swing into open or closed position, an integral strip on the side wall of the top portion of each frame-member extending throughout substantially one-half its length and folded double across the top of the channel in said top portions and then rearwardly th refrom with its end underlying the upper portion of the strip, and interengaging means on the inward ends of said strips for clasping the framemembers in closed relationship, said flanged strips being adapted to align when the frame-members are closed together to provide a protecting shield extending across the top of the frame.

3. In a frame for bags, purses and the like, the combination of a pair of frame-members formed of channel-shaped strips, each framemember having a top portion and legs extending at an angle thereto, V-shaped notches in said strips adapted to form miteredjoints where the legs are bent with respect to. the top portion and with portions of the intermediate wallof the channel strip extending beyond the notches and bent downwardly to overlap the corresponding wall of the legs, means for pivotally connecting the ends of the legs to adapt the frame-members to swing int-o opener closed position, and an in: tegral strip on the side wall of the top portion of each frame-member extending throughout substantially one-half its length and-folded double across'the top of the channel in said top portion and then'rearwardly therefrom with its end underlying the upper portion of the strip, said flanged strips being adaptedto align when the frame-members are closed together; x

BENJAMIN BLACHER.

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