Hand bag and reversible cover therefor

May 7, 1935. m.h. resnick 2,000,538

HAND BAG AND REVERSIBLE COVER THEREFOR Filed Feb. 23, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

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May 7, 1935.

Μ. H. RESNICK

2,000,538

HAND BAG. AND REVERSIBLE COVER THEREFOR

Filed Feb. 23, 1935

Sheets-Sheet 2

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ATTORNEY.

Patented May 7, 1935

2,000,538

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,000,538

HAND BAG AND REVERSIBLE COVER THEREFOR

Murray H. Resnick, New York, N. Y.

Application February 23, 1935, Serial No. 7,798

Claims. (Cl. 150—28)

This invention relates to devices such as handbags, and has particular reference to removable or reversible elements such as covers for foundation bags.

g One object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described having improved means for mounting an element such as a cover on a bag in a particularly simple, convenient and semi-automatic manner.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the nature set forth having improved means for removably rigidly mounting a cover on a foundation bag as by a simple movement of the cover in part longitudinal of the founlg dation bag and with the cover continuously and reliably secured to the latter.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a device of the type mentioned wherein the ends or corners of the cover are protectively retained, 20 and a neat, finished framed appearance obtained.

Other objects are to construct a device of the class alluded to wherein a handbag cover can be mounted at a minimum number of points; and wherein, if required, the foundation bag can be 25 used without the cover in a neat attractive emoodiment of a handbag.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the species described having relatively few and simple parts, and which is inexpensive 30 to manufacture and assemble, easy and convenient in use, rugged, durable, reliable and efficient to a high degree.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification pro35 ceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the Invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the sub⁴⁰ joined claims, and illustrated in the annexed drawings, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

. In the drawings:

^4o Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation thereof. .

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof.

₅₀ Fig. 4 is an isometric view of the foundation bag with the cover detached.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the broken line 5—5 of Fig. 6, with bag parts omitted to show the construction.

55. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a portion of the frame structure and showing a fastener means disclosed in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an isometric' view of the detached cover in folded position.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the cover, 5 on the line 8—8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view in flat position but on a somewhat reduced scale of a modified cover.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view with parts in section showing a modified movable fastener ele- 10 ment adapted to be incorporated in a mounting bar of a cover.

Fig. 11 is a side view of a modified mounting and attaching bar for a cover, and adapted for use as an external ornament. ₁₅

Fig. 12 is a sectional view thereof taken on line 12—12 of Fig. 11, but as applied to a cover.

Fig. 13 is a view in side elevation of a further modification of the invention.

Fig. 14 is a view in end elevation thereof. 20 Fig. 15 is a horizontal sectional view.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but useful devices may be 25 produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawings, there- 30 fore, are submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplification of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, ί 5 denotes a device embodying the invention. The same may include a foundation bag 16 and an external 35 preferably removably mounted means which may serve as an interchangeable or reversible ornament or cover, such as a cover 17.

The foundation bag 16 may be of any suitable or conventional design or construction, and may, 40 for example, comprise a flexible bag 18, of rigid or pliable material, and which may be leather, textile fabric or composition, and can be cheap or expensive as preferred. If the bag 18 be flexible, stiffening or frame means may be associated 45 therewith, if required, and by way of example, U-shaped channel frame members 19, 20 may be used extending along an opening of the bag and in which the marginal portions of the openings may be clamped in the usual manner. The frame 50 members may be pivotally interconnected at their opposite ends 2 ί for movement toward and away from each other to close and open the bag 18. Any suitable fastener, not shown, may be employed to releasably close the bag. 55

2,000,538

The cover IT may consist of one or more sheets of relatively flexible or pliable material which may afford different colors, appearances, or textures on opposite faces thereof, so that the cover is advantageously reversible in the well known manner. Hence the device 15 may be altered at will to suit the individual and to harmonize with the wearing apparel of the owner as may be preferred. The cover may be made of leather, textile, or composition materials. Since the cover is open at its end edges 22, the ends 23 of the foundation bag are visible at all times and may afford a pleasing contrast with the cover. Further, the end walls 23 of the bag 18 may be made of relatively durable, more expensive material than the side walls 24 of the bag, since the side walls may at all times be concealed by the cover IT.

When the cover 17 is applied to the foundation bag, it extends continuously under and alongside of the side walls of the foundation bag into proximity to the upper sections of the frame members 19, 20. To uniformly, evenly and reliably support the cover in this position, a supporting or stiffening means 25 may be secured to the cover along upper edges thereof. The means 25.may be releasably engageable with the frames 19, 20 at suitably spaced points, as by fastener elements or points 26. More specifically, the elements 26 may represent the ends of metallic rods extending along the adjacent edges of the cover, and channels 27 may receive the rods and said edges, said channels being clamped to securely engage said rods and said edges. The channels 27 are of such length that their ends coincide with the edges 22 of the cover, and the rods are longer to project therebeyond and afford the fastener elements 26. Since the rods lie at the backs of the channels they prevent mutilation thereof in the clamping of the channels, particularly if the latter be made of relatively light sheet metal or other material. Thus it is seen that the means 25 constitutes a strong reenforced structure continuously extending along the upper ends of the cover.

To secure the means 25 to the foundation bag 16, the latter may have fastening means mounted on the stiffened portions or frames 19, 20 thereof desirably at the ends of the bag so that the upper corners of the cover will be secured and housed at least partially, thus anchoring the cover at its most vulnerable points, obtaining neatness in appearance and preventing any tendency of the corners of the cover from catching on an obstruction. Also the cover may thus be fastened at a minimum number of points.

While various fastening arrangements can be used, 1 prefer to utilize one which acts longitudinally of the frames 19, 20; or at least utilizes a combined lateral and; longitudinal motion, as this affords maximum simplicity in construction and ease in attaching and detaching the cover when the device is manipulated by the ordinary person having little or no mechanical skill. To fulfill the various objects herein stated, I have provided the fastener elements 26, and on each of the frame members 19, 20 I use companion fastener elements such as 28, 29. Each fastener element 28 may consist of a plate soldered, welded or otherwise secured to a frame member near a corner thereof, for instance, along the outside or back as at an arm 30 of a frame member. The fastener element is correspondingly located on an opposed arm 31 of the companion frame member but is: movable relatively thereto.

Each of the fastener elements 28, 29 is provided with an opening for receiving a fastener element 26. To cause the cover 17 to snugly hug the sides of the bag 18, the elements 26 and the openings 32 may be irregular or oblong in form 5 to prevent relative rotation of the fastener means 25.

It will be seen that the fastener elements 28, 29 lie in the same transverse planes at the ends of the device 15, and project outwardly laterally so io as to receive the supports 25 therebetween, with the channels 27 in abutment between the elements 28, 29 to prevent any endwise movement of the cover. The elements 28 and 29 may be provided in diagonally opposite relations as 15 shown to assure reliability in the securement and to permit the use of duplicate parts at the different ends of the device. The fastener elements 28, 29 for each frame have their openings 32 in alinement. When the cover is mounted in posi- 20 tion, it fills out the space between the elements 28 and 29 so that a relatively smooth uniform structure is produced without projecting parts, and with channels 27 lying closely alongside of the channels 19 and 20, with the backs of the differ- 25 ent channels in the same horizontal plane.

If the fastener elements 29 are arranged for movement in the general longitudinal direction of the frames 19, 20, they may have correspondingly bent end lips 33, so that an element 26 30 may first be inserted into a member 28 and the opposite end element 26 pressed against the lip 33 in camming engagement to move the member 29 and spring into its opening 32. The provision of such end camming engagement which avoids 35 the necessity for too much; manual manipulation is of distinct advantage.

One manner of constructing and arranging the element 29 may include the provision of an angle or flange portion 34 having an. eye 35, insertable 40 through a slot 36 in the back of the channel arm 31. A wire torsion spring 37 in: said arm may be clamped in said eye and may have a toe portion 38 confined in the channel and bearing against a flange thereof so as to tend to move 45 the member 29 clockwise and at the same time constitute a pivot pin locking the member 29 securely to the channel and yet without obstructing the latter against insertion and clamping of an edge portion of the bag 18 in the channel. 50. In .order not to bring the eye 35 too close to the corner of the frame, so as to avoid obstruction thereof, the flange 34 and its eye project only from the lower portion of the member 29 as indicated by the offset at 39. 55

It will now be seen that the cover 17 may be quickly applied, in a semiautomatic manner to the foundation bag, at each side thereof, and may be readily released by finger pressure on the lips or cams 33, then reversed and again attached to 60 the foundation bag.

According to Fig. 9, the cover 17α may consist of two sheets or plies of material 49, 41, for instance, continuously adhesively secured togather and so interconnected as to provide end. 65 tubes or herns 42 therebetween, as by lines of stitching 43. Rods 26α may removably extend through said hems and may have alined pins 44 of reduced diameter to engage in the holes 32, with the shoulders on the rods abutting be-. 70 tween the fastener members 28, 29. This coveiis used in the same manner as the cover 17.

In Fig. 10 is shown a rod which may be like, that shown at 26 and 26α except that it may have an axial bore 46 at one end, receiving an expan- 75

2.000,538 3 sion coil spring. 47 acting against a head 48 of a pin fastener 49, and an annular end lip 50 engaging over said head to retain the same. The other end of the rod may. have a fixed axial pin -5 5i. The pins 49 and 5! may. act in the same manner as pins 26 and 44, except that the fastener members 29 may be immovable. It is noted that the locking engagement is effected in a lateral and longitudinal manner.

In Figs. 11 and 12 is shown a modification of the invention wherein a different lateral and longitudinal motion can be employed in engaging and detaching the cover. A different or correlated object is to furnish a device wherein the 15 foundation bag i 6 can be used without the cover as by preventing the members 28, 29 from acting as free projections. Thus I may provide, a rod or bar 52 generally analogous to that at 26, 26α and 45, except that it may consist of a resilient mate20 rial and having integral undercut shoulder forming alined end pins like those at 26 for engagement with fixed rigid members 28, 29 in the openings 32 thereof, by springing the member 52 laterally outward to shorten it and permit the end 25 pins to enter the openings 32. The pliable cover such as H can readily yield and flex with the member 52. Upon releasing the latter, the pins 53 are strongly secured in the holes 32 and the member 52 snugly holds the cover alongside the 30 frame of the bag !6. The pins 53 may be oblong in transverse cross section and to. prevent vertical flexure, the member 52 may consist of a strip of sheet metal lying in an upright plane. To increase the rigidity, the region of flexure may be 35 limited to one section, as by corrugating the member longitudinally at 54, and leaving the central area 55 plane for the desired spring action.

If the bag (8 is to be used without any cover, the member 52 may be withdrawn from the hem 40 56 of a cover i7b, and engaged with the fasteners 28, 29 in the manner described, at each side of the bag. Now the members 28, 29 do not project freely to any substantial degree. The member 52 may have ornamentation 57 engraved or otherwise 45 marked thereon, and the member as a whole may be painted, enameled, studded or otherwise suitably ornamented and may be used with a movable fastener element 29 if flexure of the ornamentation is to be avoided. Since the member 52 50 may have different ornamentation on opposite faces thereof, it will be seen that a variety of effects can be obtained.

In Figs. 13 to 15 is shown a modification of the invention including a device 60 comprising a 55 foundation bag 61 and a cover 62 therefor, the latter having the movable means for engaging the bag. The bag 6 i may be of the framed type, including V-shaped channel members 63 pivotally interconnected at 64 and having socket means or 60 oblong openings 65 in the backs of the channels and located preferably at the upper corners of the channels adjacent to the outer flanges thereof. The cover 62 may have hemmed portions 66 defined by lines of stitching 67 and adapted to re65 ceive the. rails or rods 68. The latter may have means at the ends thereof for releasably engaging the foundation bag, said means comprising for instance bent parallel portions 69 having inturned hooks 79 generally parallel to the main body of 70 each member 68 and releasably engageable in the opposed alined openings 65 of each frame member. To afford relative movability between the hooks of a member 68, the latter may be resilient, but it may be preferable to make the same ex75 tensible, as by providing transverse corrugations

71, therein. To avoid consequent undue thickness of the member, the same may consist of thin strip material throughout lying generally along an upright plane. With this construction the cover may be applied to the bag by pressing the portions 69, 78 toward the frames, causing the hooks 70 to snap into the openings 65. To remove the cover, one of the portions 69 of each member 69 is merely pufied outward, longitudinally of the member, whereby disengagement may be effected. 10 If the cover is to be reversed, the members 68 may be turned through an angle of 180 degrees in their respective hems 66. By locating the interengaging elements remote from inner flanges of the channels, any strain thereon is avoided, so that 15 the perfect uniform closing of the bag is not interfered with. A particular advantage of the device 63 is that the foundation bag can be used without the cover since the openings S5 are relatively inconspicuous. 20

It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may be made in the device as shown in the drawings, and that the same is submitted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense, the scope of the invention being defined in the follow- 25 ing claims.