Combination handbag and toy, container and figurine, or the like

[57] ABSTRACT

A handbag or container combined with a toy or figurine for rendering the handbag or container attractive to a child or useful also as a base for the figurine. The structure includes a container portion and a closure portion connected to the container portion for closing and opening the same. One of these portions carries at least part of the toy or figurine so as to form a support for the latter.

Claims, 13 Drawing Figures

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PATENTED KB2 51975

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SHEET 1 OF 2

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PATENTED FE82 5 STS

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SHEET 2 OF 2

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FIG.I2

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FIG.I3

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COMBINATION HANDBAG AND TOY, CONTAINER AND FIGURINE, OR THE LIKE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ₅

The present invention relates to toys or figurines as well as containers.

More particularly, the present invention relates to toys or figurines supported by containers in the form of handbags of the type used by women for storing per- 10 sonal articles, brief cases, lunch boxes, or receptacles of any type.

Thus, it is well known that handbags are a great convenience in that they make it possible for women to have at hand various articles such as keys, cosmetics, 15 money, and the like, all of which can conveniently be located in a handbag so as to be accessible particularly during travel.

It is highly desirable to train little girls in the practice of carrying with them handbags of the above general 20 type so that such young children can be encouraged to develop habits of neatness, while at the same time avoiding an Undesirable habit such as forgetting necessary articles when leaving home. Thus, it is possible to provide a miniature handbag which has all of the attri- 25 butes of a handbag used by an adult, except for the size of the miniature handbag. Such a miniature handbag can be used by a young person in the same way as the handbag of an adult to encourage the desirable habits referred to above.

However, it has been found from experience that while a miniature handbag is highly attractive initially to a young person, this attraction soon wears off and young people soon forget to take the handbag with them with the result that the handbag is forgotten and usually becomes lost.

Moreover, while handbags have been specifically referred to above, it is clear that the Same problem is encountered with respect to other types of containers. For example young people may forget a lunch box or a brief case, and the same problems with respect to development of good habits in connection with such containers are encountered.

While problems of the above type are encountered in connection with relatively young people, these problems continue so that the development of good habits of the above type is important even with teenagers of individuals in their early twenties. In connection with adults in this latter general age group, moreover, a problem is encountered by their tendency to collect figurines which are considered as popular art objects. Such figurines may have a configuration simulating a popular musical performer, actor, or the like, and objects of this latter type are collected and generally remain at a location where they are on display but perform no useful function beyond the pleasure achieved from the appearance of such objects.

Thus, objects of this latter type take up space and generally gather dust and create an undesirable degree of clutter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly a primary object of the present in. vention to provide a construction which will avoid the above drawbacks.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to render a miniature handbag far more attractive to a

971 ' ² ' child than a conventional handbag so as to give the child more pleasure than would be received from a simple miniature handbag and nothing more, to encourage in this way the use of a handbag to an extent far greater than has hitherto been possible.

It is in particular an object of the present invention to combine a toy with a handbag in such a way that the toy will render the handbag far more attractive to a child than the handbag would be without the toy.

It is in particular an object of the present invention to combine a toy with a handbag in such a way that the toy does not interfere with the conventional use of the handbag.

Also, it is an object of the present invention to combine a toy with a handbag in such a way that the manipulation of the handbag during the normal use thereof will serve also to operate the toy so that the attraction of the entire assembly is greatly enhanced.

Thus, it is a general·object of the present invention to provide a construction according to which desirable habits will be developed by a child in a painless manner which is highly attractive to a child.

In this latter connection, it is a further object of the present invention to render all types of containers more attractive to young people so that the possibility of forgetting such containers will be reduced.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a construction which will give to art objects such as figurines a condition according to which they ³θ will not remain only at a fixed location, so that the undesirable clutter and lack of utility beyond pleasurable appearance will be avoided.

In particular, in this latter connection, it is an object of the invention to provide for such art objects or the ³³ like a supporting structure which has a usefulness beyond that of only supporting the art object.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a container which supports the figurine to form a base for the latter while at the same time the ⁴θ container is portable and can be carried about so that in this way an additional use is achieved for the structure which supports the figurine.

According to the invention the combined support and toy or figurine carried thereby includes a container ⁴⁵ means for containing relatively small articles and a closure means operatively connected with the container means for movement with respect thereto between a closed position closing the container means and an open position giving access to the interior of the con^G tainer means. A simulating means is provided for rendering the container means and the closure means connected thereto additionally useful, and the container means and closure means connected thereto form a 55 pair of means at least one of which carries at least part of the simulating means so as to form a support means for the latter. The simulating means has a configuration simulating that of a given entity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 6° The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of one possible embodi₆₅ ment of a structure according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse section of the structure of FIG. 1 taken along line 2—2 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

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FIG. 3 is a front elevation of another possible embodiment of a structure according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section of the structure of FIG. 3 taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse section of part of the structure of FIG. 4 showing how a block portion of a toy is fixed to a closure means of the assembly of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary partly sectional elevation showing another embodiment of a means for fastening part of a toy to a closure means of a handbag;

FIG. 7 is a sectional elevation showing the parts illustrated in FIG. 3 in a position different from that of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing another embodiment of a structure for fastening part of the toy to part of a handbag;

FIG, 9 is a front elevation of another type of container and figurine carried thereby;

FIG. 10 illustrates how a structure as shown in FIG. 3 but of different dimensions may serve a completely different purpose;

FIG. 11 is a front elevation of a figurine in the nature of an art object carried by a container which serves as a base for the figurine;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation of the structure of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 illustrates how a collection of structures of the type shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 may be arranged on a shelf or dresser top, for example.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is illustrated therein a combined handbag and toy assembly 10 in accordance with the present invention. This assembly 10 includes a container means 12 shown most clearly in FIG. 2. Thus, the container means 12 has a front wall 14, a rear wall 16, and a bottom wall 18. Extending upwardly from the bottom wall are a pair of side walls 20 and 22 which extend from the front wall 14 to the rear wall 16 and which extend upwardly from the ends of the bottom wall 18 so that in this way the container means 12 is closed except for its top open end 24.

This top open end of the container means 12 can be closed and opened by way of a closure means 26 which is hingedly connected to the top edge of the rear wall 16. The entire container means 12 can be made of a suitable sheet material such as a suitable plastic lined with fabric, for example. Thus a flexible vinyl may form the exterior of the container means 12 at all of the walls thereof, and this vinyl may be lined with a suitable fabric in a well known manner. The closure means 26 can simply form an integral extension of the rear wall 16 with the closure means 26 also being flexible and made of an outer layer of vinyl and an inner layer of fabric. Thus, the closure means 26 has an upper portion 28 which extends over and closes the open top end 24 of the container means 12 when the closure means 26 is in the closed position thereof shown in FIG. 2. In this closed position the closure means 26 has a front portion 30 which extends downwardly along and overlaps the front wall 14. This front wall 14 preferably carries a suitable release device for releasably holding the closure means 26 in its closed position. For example the front wall 14 may fixedly carry in any suitable way at its exterior a plate 32 on which a pin 34 is capable of being swivelled. Thus, the pin 34 can turn about an axis perpendicular to that of FIG. 1, having a suitable pin which extends into a bearing of the plate 32. The front portion 30 is formed at its lower end region with an opening 36, reinforced by a metal member 38 which is itself formed with an opening registering with the opening 36. This opening 36 is large enough to enable the pin 34 to pass through the opening 36 when the pin 34 extends horizontally, as viewed in FIG. 1. After passing through the opening 36 the pin 34 may be swung to its vertical position shown in FIG. 1 so as to retain the closure means 26 in its closed position.

As is well known, the pin 34 may be turned to its horizontal position in order to release the closure means for movement to its open position in which it is shown in FIG. 7. In this way the open top end 24 of the container means 12 is uncovered to give access to the interior of the container means. The front portion 30 of the closure means 26 may carry at its inner surface a suitable mirror, for example, which faces the user when the closure means is in the open position shown in FIG. 7.

The above-described handbag, which may be of a miniature size adapted to be used by a child, is completed by way of an elongated handle or strap 38 made of any suitable strip of flexible material and having its ends extending along the inner surfaces of the side walls 20 and 22, the opposed ends of the strap 38 being fastened to the upper portions of the side walls 20 and 22 in any suitable way as by rivets 40, one of which is shown in FIG. 7.

In order to render the handbag formed by the container means 12 and closure means 26 more attractive to a child, a toy means 42 is combined therewith. This toy means 42 is preferably carried by the closure means 26 so that the closure means 26 forms a base or support means for the toy means 42. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2 the toy means 42 simulates a living creature. Thus as may be seen from FIG. 2, the toy means 42 simulates the configuration of an elephant which has a body portion 44 and a head portion 46. The body portion 44 of the toy elephant 42 is in the form of a suitable sheet material which is fastened to an exterior surface area of the front portion 30 as by being glued thereto. In this way all of the toy 42 except the head 46 thereof extends along the front exposed surface of the front portion 30 of the closure means 26 up to the top end of the front portion 30 where the upper portion 28 of the closure means 26 is situated.

The head portion 46 takes the form of a block having the configuration of the head of an elephant in the illustrated example, so that in the closed position of the closure means 26, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the head of the elephant 46 appears to project upwardly above the body portion 44, thus forming the complete toy 42.

The block or head portion 46 of the toy means 42 can be fixed to the upper portion 28 of the closure means 26 in any suitable way. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the block portion 46 is rigidly fixed in any suitable way with a screw or threaded stud 48 which extends downwardly through a suitable opening formed centrally in the upper portion 28 of the closure means 26. At the underside of the upper portion 28 a wing nut 50 is threaded on to the threaded stud 48 in order to releasably hold the block 46 assembled with the upper portion 28 of the closure means 26.

Thus, the presence of the toy means 42 renders the entire assembly far more attractive to a child than

3,867,971 . 5 would be the case if the toy means were not included. In particular, the block portion 46 projects outwardly away from the closure means 26 so as to give an exceedingly realistic simulation of a toy. At the same time, the sheet material 44 is suitably colored and forms a layer which is distinct from the exterior surface of the front portion 30 of the closure means so as to enhance the effect of the toy to render the entire assembly even more attractive.

As may be seen from FIG. 7, where a block portion 54 of a different configuration is shown, when the closure means 26 is displaced to its open position, the front portion is swung approximately through 180° while the upper portion 28 is swung approximately through only 90°, with the result that the block or head portion 54 of the toy appears to have changed its position with respect to the body portion 44 by 90°. In other words, when the toy is viewed in the position of FIG. 7 particularly from the rear it appears that the head has turned up with respect to the body while when the parts have the position shown in FIG. 1 the head appears upright instead of extending at 90° with respect to the body portion 44. This gives the effect of movement to the toy which renders the entire assembly further attractive to a child.

Thus, FIG. 3 shows a different possible embodiment where the toy means 52 is carried by a container means 12 which is identical with that of FIGS. 1 and 2. In this case however the toy means 52 includes a head or block portion 54 simulating the head of a young lady while the sheet material portion 56 simulates the figure of a skater. In this way also a highly attractive toy is provided in combination with the handbag 12.

Moreover, the use of a screw and nut assembly is not essential. FIGS- 4 and 5 show how the block portion 54 has rigidly fixed therewith a pair of easily bendable sheet metal fastener portions 56 which after being passed through a suitable opening in the upper portion 28 can be bent flat against the inner surface of the upper portion 28. In this case a suitable rectangular sheet material 58 is adhered to the inner surface of the upper portion 28 covering the parts 56 so that they will not injure a child.

FIG. 6 shows yet another arrangement according to which a block portion 60 which may simulate the head of any desired living being is integrally fixed with a flexible resilient plastic body 62 of the tapered configuration shown. This body can simply be forced through an opening in the upper portion 28 of the closure means 26 and will then snap out to the position shown in FIG. 6 for providing the required fastening.

Thus, the elements 48 and 50 of FIGS· 1 and 2, the elements 56 of FIGS. 3-5, or the elements 62 of FIG. 6 form a fastening means for fastening the block portion of the toy means to the upper portion of the closure means of the handbag.

However, it is also possible to provide an arrangement as shown in FIG. 8 where a suitable ball member 64 is fixed to a fastening means formed by elements 56 which are extended through an opening in the upper portion 28 of the closure means 26 and then bent against the underside of the upper portion 28 and covered by a layer of adhesive sheet material 58 as described above in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5. In this case, the block or head portion 66 is made of a resilient plastic material formed at its lower region with a suitable opening which can receive the ball member 64.

Thus the resilient expandable material of the plastic block portion 66 is simply forced over the ball 64 to remain assembled therewith while at the same time the effect of a ball and socket joint is provided enabling the block portion 66 to be swivelled so that in this .way the head of the toy formed by the block portion 66 can be turned with respect to the body portion to achieve a further entertaining effect.

It is thus apparent that with all of the abovedescribed embodiments of the invention an exceedingly effective assembly of a handbag and toy is provided in such a way that a child is very happy and obtains pleasure from the use of the combination, thus developing highly desirable habits.

Of course, the invention is not limited to a miniature handbag and a toy carried thereby. Thus, FIG. 9 shows a lunch box 70 which may be a conventional lunch box having a container means 72 in the hollow interior of which the sandwiches or the like are situated. This container means 72 is capable of being closed by a closure means 74 hinged in a conventional manner to the container means 72 and capable of being releasably held thereon by a releasable fastener 76. The top wall of the closure means 74 carries a block 78 which forms part of a figurine simulating a schoolboy, for example. This block 78 corresponds to any of the above-described blocks 46, 54, 60, or 66, and it may be fastened to the closure means 74 in any of the manners described above and shown in the drawings. The part of the closure means 74 which extends forwardly and downwardly from the block 78 as well as the front surface part of the container means 72 which extends downwardly from the closure means 74 carries a sheet material portion 80 which completes the simulation of a figure, as shown in FIG. 9. Thus, a young schoolboy, for example, will achieve a certain identity with the figurine carried by the lunch box 70, rendering the latter more attractive and reducing the possibility of forgetting the lunch box.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, a construction similar to that of FIG. 3 may be provided. However in the case of FIG. 10, the construction includes a brief case 80 which is of the general configuration shown in FIG. 10, differing from that of FIG. 3 and which also has a handle 82. The brief case has a closure means 84 which is conventional, and this closure means 84 is generally similar to the closure means 26 shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, except that it is of a different size. This closure means carries the block 54 and the sheet material 56 providing a representation which may be identical with that of FIG. 3 but which is associated with a brief case in the example of FIG. 10, so that in this way the brief case 80 is also rendered more attractive with the figurine formed by the parts 54 and 56 serving as an object with which a student, for example, will have a certain identity, thus rendering the assembly more attractive and less likely to be forgotten.

While the emphasis above has been with respect to relatively young children, it is also desirable to develop good habits in older individuals such as teenagers or individuals in their early twenties, as it is clear that full size handbags may be used in a manner shown in FIGS. 1-8 while individuals up to their late teens or early twenties will also use lunch boxes such as the lunch boxes 70 or brief cases such as the brief case 80, with the arrangement of the invention rendering these structures far more valuable to the owner than if they did

3,867,971 not have the figurines as illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 9 and 10.

In connection with individuals who may range in age up to their late teens or early twenties, there is a tendency to collect, as objects of art, figurines which represent popular individuals such as popular performers, or the like. Thus FIG. 11 shows a figurine 90 which is in the form of a simultating means which simulates an entity which is the illustrated example is that of a popular female vocalist who is shown playing a guitar. Normally the figurine 90 would form a complete item in itself to be purchased by an individual and placed at a suitable location in a room where it is visible so as to give pleasure by its appearance. However, in accordance with the invention this figurine or simulating means 90 has the head 92 thereof in the form of a block connected to a closure means 94 which is connected with a container means 96 in the manner described above. Thus the block 92 may be fixed to the upper portion of the closure means 94 precisely as described above in connection with the arrangement of FIGS. 1-10, and this closure means 94 may carry at its upper and front portions a sheet material 98 which continues the simulation provided by the block 92 of the simulating means, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 11. In addition the container 96 may be connected with a suitable carrying handle 100. This container 96 and its closure means 94 may be used as a handbag or as a lunch pail or brief case or any other type of portable container commonly used by individuals who are likely to purchase a figurine corresponding to the simulating means 90. However in the case of FIG. 11, instead of simply purchasing a figurine as an art object, the figurine is in the form of a simulating means 90 which is carried by the container means 97 and the closure means 94 connected thereto so that this latter container means in the case of FIG. 11 forms a support means or base for the simulating means 90. FIG. 12 shows the container means 96 in a side view and illustrates how it is of a configuration which is self-supporting so that it can rest on any desired surface, providing in this way a suitable support means for the simulating means 90.

As is illustrated in FIG. 13, a number of assemblies of the type shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 may be collected. Thus, in each case shown in FIG. 13 the container means 96 and the closure means 94 as well as the handle 100 are all identical with that of FIGS. 11 and 12. However, the plurality of simulating means 102, 104, and 106 are all different. These different simulating means may represent various popular figures which are familiar to the purchaser thereof, and they all have a construction according to which they include an upper block portion fixed to the upper wall of the closure means 94 and a forwardly and downwardly sheet material portion which completes the simulating means and gives the effect shown clearly in FIG. 13. Thus, an individual will purchase the assemblies shown in FIG. 13 and arrange them on a suitable shelf or dresser top 108 where they will serve as art objects which are on display to give pleasure to the purchaser thereof. With such an arrangement the several container means 96 function as a support means for the several simulating means shown in FIG. 13. At the same time, because the several container means 96 in addition to serving as a support means serve also as normal container means for holding articles and capable of being carried about, the purchaser of the structure shown in FIG. 13 will choose one of the container means 96 and the simulating means carried thereby to carry about on any given day, so that there will be no tendency for the art objects to remain at all times in one location gathering dust and adding to undesirable clutter. In fact the different figurines may have different symbolic significance and can correspond to different moods such as happy moods or sad moods, so that on any given day in accordance with the particular disposition of a given individual, the individual may select a container means carrying a figurine of a sad or happy configuration, in this way giving further utility to a collection such as that illustrated in FIG. 13. Thus, with the arrangement shown in FIG. 13, as was the case with FIGS. 11 and 12, each of the simulating means illustrated includes an upper block portion connected to the upper portion of the closure means 94 in any of the ways described above in connection with FIGS. 1-8, and the forwardly and downwardly extending sheet material completes the simulating means and at the same time there is a support for the simulating means which forms a portable container means capable of being carried about and containing any desired articles whether they be personal articles when the container means is in the form of a handbag or articles of food when the container means is a lunch box or books or the like when the container means is a brief case. Naturally it is possible to apply the invention to other types of containers and other types of simulating means beyond those described above for the purposes of illustrating the present invention.