US1730745A - Lady's hand bag - Google Patents

Description

0a. 8, 1929. F. PUCEK 1,730,745

LADYS HAND BAG Filed Oct. 21. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l T-LQZ.

IN VEN TOR.

F. PUCEK LADYS HAND BAG Oct. 8, 1929.

Filed Oct. 21. 1927 2 Sheets-611001 2 INVENTOR. 7 6 76,24 fi0 6 BY' ATTO Patented Oct. 8, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FELIX PUGEK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO JOHN FURMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS LADY S HAND BAG Application filed October 21, 1927. Serial No. 227,782,

This invention relates to ladies hand bags, and has more particular reference to an improved theft alarm for a receptacle of this kind.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a ladys hand bag with a simple and efficient alarm apparatus by means of which an alarm is sounded in the event that the bag is wrested from the carrier or in the event that the handle of the bag is cut or severed in anticipation of wresting the bag from the carrier.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide an audible alarm associated with a hand bag and provided with means operatively associated with the handle of the hand bag for normally rendering the alarm inactive, but which is operable upon wresting of the bag from the carrier or upon severing of the handle to render the alarm active.

The invention further contemplates the pro vision of means for preventing silencing of the alarm until the bag has been unlocked and opened.

Other objects will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, and the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing, wherein like reference char acters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hand bag constructed and equipped with a theft alarm in accordance with the present invention, the closure j awe of the bag being open to reveal parts of the alarm apparatus;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational View, partly broken away, looking at the inner side of the alarm apparatus carrying jaw of the bag, and revealing details of construction of the alarm apparatus;

Figure 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-3 of Figure 2, with the closure jaws closed; and

Figure 4 is a section on line H of Figure 2.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, 5 indicates the usual leather or other flexible body of a hand bag, the upper part of which is adapted to be closed by means of a pair of hinged jaws 6 and 7, the former of which is equipped with a handle 8 by means of which the bag is carried in the usual way.

In accordance with the present invention, the aw 6 is of hollow form and open at one side where it is adapted to be closed by the jaw 7 which is adapted to be swung into the same in snug fitting engagement therewith. Mounted upon the outer or side wall of the jaw 6, by bolting, riveting or the like is an ordinary buzzer or electrical audible signal or alarm 9 adapted to be energized in a manner which will presently become apparent.

Also attached to the inner face of the outer or side wall of the jaw 6 in spaced relation to the buzzer 9 is a small battery or dry cell 10 having the usual resilient terminals 11 and 12, and mounted upon the outer or side wall of the jaw 6 between the buzzer 9 and battery 10 is a laterally extending and inward ly projecting mounting plate 13 that carries a slide 14, movable vertically and normally urged in a downward direction by means of a helical tension spring 15 which is anchored at one end to the slide 14 and at its other or lower end to a flange or car on the lower part of the supporting plate 13. The plate 13 preferably has an elongated slot 16 through which 6X tends a rivet 17 that passes through the opposite walls of the slide 1 1 which embrace the plate 13, whereby the slide 14 is movably connected to the latter. Connected with the terminals 18 and 19 of the buzzer 9 are resilient flexible contact members 20 and 21 which have straight free end portions that project through the slide 14 and through the slot 16 of plate 13. The slide 1 1 is provided with tubular insulating bushings 22 that extend therethrough and through the slot 16 so as to insulate the contact members 20 and 21 from these parts, and is shown clearly in F igure 2 the free projecting end of contact member 20 has constant sliding engagement with the edge of the battery terminal 11, while the free projecting end of contact member 20 is movable laterally toward and from the terminal 12 of the battery 10. It will thus be seen that when the slide 14 is elevated the contact member 21 will be disengaged from the battery terminal 12 so that the circuit of the alarm will be broken and the audible alarm device 9 rendered inactive.

As shown clearly in Figures 1 and 2, the handle 8 is offlexible tubular form with its ends anchored in and opening through the top wall of-the compartment jaw 6, while a flexible endless member 23 extends through the'handle 8 and into the jaw 6 where it is adapted to be engaged beneath a lateral lug upon the slide let for holding the latter elevated against the action of spring 15 and rendering the alarm device inactive; The band 23 is preferably elastic with sufficient strength to effectively resist the circuit closing tendency of spring 15. However, should the handle 8 be severed, the band 23 will also be severed and its holding action or tension will be destroyed thereby for immediately releasing the slide 14: and permitting spring 15 to lower the latter, thereby bringing contact member 21 into engagement with battery terminal 12 and completing the alarm circuit. The flexible handle 8 is preferably formed of leather and is of a construction to prevent bending or buckling thereof, and as shown in Figure 1 the handle is at its limit of contraction with the flexible band 23 stretched and in operative position. With the handle at its limit of contraction, the contacts are maintained separated by the flexible band 23 and further yielding of the handle is impossible. If desired, the band 23 may be also of comparatively weak form or nature so that should a violent pull be given upon the body of the hand bag, the

handle 8 will extend suiiiciently to enable the band 23 to break and thereby release the slide 14 for rendering the alarm active. The band 23 may also be initially set or stretched to its tensile limit so that a jerk or sudden pull on the flexible handle 8 would break the band to release the circuit closer. However, the primary object of the invention is to employ an elastic band 23 of comparatively material strength adapted to be released principally by severing of the handle 8, as stated above. A hinged covermember 25 of angular form is preferably provided upon the inner side of the jaw 6 for enclosing the major portion of the inner side of the latter and covering the alarm apparatus so as to render the same inconspicuous and prevent it from rendering the bag unattractive when opened.

The cover 25 preferably has friction hinges so that it will remain closed but can be manually swung downwardly to open position for facilitating access to the alarm parts for setting or repairing the same.

As the alarm mechanism is mounted within the jaw 6, access thereto for rendering the same inoperative can only be had by opening the jaws, and in order to prevent an unauthorized person from so doing, special form of locking means for retaining the jaws 6 and 7 closed. is provided. As shown clearly in theseveral views, this means consistsof a hollow shaft 26 journaled through the top wall of jaw 6 and having a cup-shaped member 27 fixed upon the upper end portion thereof and contacting the'upper surface of the top wall of jaw 6. A further cup-shaped keeper member 28 is secured upon the lower or inner end of shaft 26, while a helical compression spring 29 surrounds the shaft 26 between the top wall of jaw 6 and the bottom of the keeper member 28 so as to yieldingly hold the cup member 27 downwardly against the top wall of jaw 6. Slidably eX- tending through the shaft 26 is a further shaft 30 which has a nut 31 threaded upon its projecting lower end beneath the bottom of the keeper member 28. A cap member or hollow knob 32 is fixed on the upper end of shaft 30 with its depending rim fitting within the rim of the Vcup-shaped member 27, and interposed between the knob 32 and the cup member 27 as well as surrounding the shaft 30 wit iin the members 27 and 32 is a helical compression spring 33. The cup member 27 has sockets 3 in the bottom thereof while the lower edge of the rim of the knob is provided with dependin teeth 35 adaptedto be registered with and to enter the socket 3 when the knob 32 is turned and depressed against the action of the spring 33. The cup member 38 is formed with a notch 36 in one side of the rim thereof to permit the passa e of a suitable keeper book 37 fastened to the inside of the jaw 7, and it will thus be seen that when the keeper hook passes through the notch or slot 36 and is positioned inwardly of the rim of the cap member 28, the latter will effectively hold the jaws closed provided said cup member 28 is turned to position the notch 36 out of register with the keeper hook 011 the jaw 7. As it is apparent that the spring 35 norn ally disengages or unclutches the knob 32 from the cup member 27, the latter and the cup member 28 may not be turned for unlocking the jaws unless the knob 32 is depresses and turned. One not familiar with the construction may continue to turn the knob 32 *ithout effecting release of the jaws and opening the bag. Thus, should the hand bag be wrested from the user or carrier and the alarm thereby rendered active, an audible signal will be continuously given so as to advise persons in the vicinity that the bag has been stolen, and thereby facilitating apprehension of the thief. When the bag has been recovered and returned to the owner, the jaws may be readily unlocked and opened so that slide 14 may be raised to render the alarm inactive, any suitable means being provided to temporarily retain the slide 14 elevated until the handle and band can be repaired, in case the latter has been severed.

From the foregoing description it is believed that the construction and operation as well as the advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is 1. The combination with a hand bag having hinged closure jaws, a compartment in one jaw and a handle attached to the com partment jaw, of a theft alarm mounted within said jaw compartment and comprising an audible signal, a source of electric energy, and a circuit closer including movable and stationary contacts and spring means tending to move the movable contact to circuit closing position and circuits connecting the audible signal, source of electrical energy and contact, and means associated with the handle for normally holding the circuit closer in circuit-opening position and adapted upon disruption thereof for releasing said circuit closer.

2. The combination with a hand bag having hinged closure jaws, a compartment in one jaw and a handle attached to the compartment jaw, of a theft alarm mounted within said jaw compartment and comprising an audible signal, a source of electric energy, and a circuit closer including movable and stationary contacts and spring means tending to move the movable contact to circuit closing position and circuits connecting the audible signal, source of electrical energy and contact, resilient means associated with the handle for normally holding the circuit closer in circuit-opening position and operable upon disruption thereof for releasing said circuit closer, and a hinged cover forming the inner side of said compartment jaw for concealing the theft signal mounted therein.

3. The combination with a hand bag having hinged closure jaws, a compartment in one jaw and a handle attached to the compartment jaw, of a theft alarm mounted within said jaw compartment and comprising an audible signal, a source of electrical energy, a circuit closer including movable and stationary contacts and spring means tending to move the movable contact to circuit closing position and circuits connecting the audible signal, source of electrical energy and contact, and an elastic band extending through the handle and said jaw compartment and engageable with the movable contact to hold it raised, and adapted upon disruption thereof to release the movable contact.

4. The combination with a hand bag having hinged closure jaws, a compartment in one jaw and a handle attached to said compartment jaw, of a theft alarm mounted within said jaw compartment and comprising an audible signal, a source of electrical energy, a circuit closer including movable and stationary contacts and spring means tending to move the movable contact to circuit closing position and circuits connecting the audible signal, source of electrical energy and contact, and an elastic band extending through the handle and said jaw compartment and engageable with the movable contact to hold it raised, a slotted mounting plate for the movable contact and tubular insulating members carried by the movable contact and extending therethrough and through the slot of the mounting plate, said contact members projecting through said insulating members.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FELIX PUCEK.

Images