Abstract:
An essentially two piece case such as a handbag which is adapted to move between a closed and a limited open position. The case includes two shells of identical construction and each including hinge portions which when interengaged form the overall construction. Each shell includes a pair of opposed generally planar fixed end walls, which end walls are adapted for overlapping slidable relationship with respect to each other when the shells are interengaged.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a case structure and more particularly to a novel and improved construction for a handbag and the like. Handbags and other case structures which include opposed sidewall halves or shells which cooperate in opposed relationship to each other and are connected along a bottom hinge line so as to move between open and closed pivotal positions are generally known. 
     However, such known handbag construction usually include connecting end walls in the form of accordion-like gussets which enable the sidewall halves or shells to move relative to each other yet still provide for the substantial enclosure of articles within the case. Such gussets are normally formed from a flexible material such as fabric leather and the like and accordingly present some difficulty in attaining such material to the sidewall shells. They are furthermore subject to considerable wear especially along the pleats or fold lines formed either in the initial gusset construction or through use. It would accordingly be desirable to be able to avoid gusset type end panels in such handbag constructions and yet still have a handbag which defines a complete enclosure and which has opposed side portions which move pivotally between open and closed portions. 
     It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a handbag construction which eliminates presently utilized gusseted end wall panels and yet which is fully functional and of attractive styling. 
     A further object of the present invention is a provision of a handbag construction of the aforementioned type which further is formed from identical shell halves such that said shells can be formed by conventional molding procedures and yet require but a single mold so as to present a cost advantage over constructions using similar but different components. 
     These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by a case adapted for movement between open and closed positions, such as a handbag and the like, and which is formed from a pair of identical concave shells disposed in opposed position to one another and connected along hinge means provided at a lower end thereof. Each of the shells are provided at opposite ends with end walls corresponding in planar configuration to that of the end configuration of the case when disposed in its closed position. When the two shells are disposed in opposition to each other and are hingedly interconnected, the end walls of each are adapted for overlapping slidable relationship to one another so as to enable the opening and closing of the resultant handbag construction in the desired manner. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawing. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     In the drawing which illustrates the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a handbag in its closed position and illustrating features of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a similar view but showing the handbag in its open position; 
     FIG. 3 is an end view of the handbag taken from the right hand side of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view thereof; 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of one of the essentially identical component halves of the present handbag construction; 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the handbag in its open position such as illustrated in FIG. 2. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now to the drawing, it may be apparent that the completed handbag construction 10 of the present invention is formed from two identically constructed halves or shells 12. Each shell 12 includes a body 14 of curved configuration so as to form a concave interior portion. Opposite ends of the body are provided with upstanding parallel end walls 16 and 18. The body 14 further includes a terminal upper edge 20 and a terminal lower edge 22 which extend between the opposite end walls 16 and 18. In addition, end wall 16 terminates in an outer edge surface 17 and end wall 18 includes an outer edge surface 19. Generally each shell 12 is of integral construction and may be formed by known techniques including the injection molding of plastic resins such as polystyrene, polyethylene and the like. 
     The lower edge 22 of each of the shells 12 are provided with hinge means in the form of a plurality of longitudinally spaced hinge barrels 24. Such barrels are of cylindrical form, that is, have an opening or bore 26 provided therethrough so as to form a central hinge line therethrough. The end wall 16 is provided with an upwardly extending curved cut-out 28 at the base thereof while the other end wall 18 either includes a similar cut-out or its adjacent barrel 24 provides an opening therethrough dependent on whether or not the barrels 24 are formed integral with the shells or later attached thereto by known means such as adhesive connection, sonic welding or the like. Two of such identical shells, namely shells 12 and 12a, when disposed in opposed relationship and interconnected by means of a hinge rod or pin 30 extending through the aligned openings 26 of adjacent barrels 24 and 24a serve to form the completed handbag construction 10. 
     The relationship of the shells 12 and 12a is such that the shell 12a has been turned 180° and disposed in face to face relationship with the shell 12. Accordingly, 18 and 18a are disposed at opposite ends of the completed handbag structure. In this regard, the end walls 16 and 18 of shell 12 are adapted to overlap end walls 18a and 16a of shell 12a respectively in pivotal slidable relationship thereto. Also in this regard it should be clear that the barrel 24a adjacent end wall 18a will be disposed in the cut-out 28 of end wall 16 and that furthermore the barrels 24 and 24a are configured such that they interengage in longitudinally oriented abutting relationship, as best shown in FIG. 4. When the shells 12 and 12a are so disposed, the hinge pin 30, which may be simply a plastic or steel rod, is pushed through the aligned openings 26 and thus secures the shells together. 
     Generally, it is desirable that the pivotal movement of the shells with respect to each other be limited. In this regard each of the barrels 24 are provided with a radially extending shoulder 32 including a relatively flat face such that the shoulder face contacts the lower edge 22 of the opposite shell body or outer portions of the opposite shell body adjacent the lower edge 22 thereof as may be seen by particular reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. In addition, each of the shells 12 and 12a is provided with an upstanding snap lock means including an extension 34 having a relatively straight surface 36 in turn provided with an outwardly extending bead 38. The locking action between the shell halves 12 and 12a is brought about, as best shown in FIG. 5, when the respective beads 38 and 38a frictionally snap past each other. When in such closed position, the outer edge surface 17 of the end wall 16 is adapted to abut the inner concave surface of the body 14a in substantial line contact adjacent the end wall 18a while the corresponding edge surface 17a of shell 12a contacts a similar portion of the shell 12. Such interaction between edges 17 and 17a and their respective shell surfaces establishes a further positive stop in addition to that provided by the coaction of the top edge surfaces 20 and 20a in the closed position of handbag 10. 
     As will be noted, the snap locks 34 and 34a are of identical configuration whereby they may if desired, be integrally molded as a part of their resepective shell still using the same mold to form the complete shells 12 and 12a. 
     The above-described handbag construction not only removes the need for gusseted end panel constructions but further enables an attractive, stylish and relatively low cost bag to be constructed from identical component halves. The resultant construction is also considerably sturdier than prior art constructions inasmuch as the adjacent and overlapping positioning of the end panels with respect to each other prevents longitudinal movement of the shell halves with respect to each other in both the open and closed position of the handbag, in addition to the abutting relationship of the hinge means. Also, formation of each end panel in the completed cross-sectional configuration of the assembled handbag enables the aforementioned abutting relationship of the end panel outer edges with respect to its opposed shell half such that the halves may not be undesirably telescoped with regard to each other should the lock means be broken or the hinge means misaligned. 
     Since the shells 12 and 12a are made from the same mold, it will be obvious, as shown most clearly in FIG. 2, that end wall 16a will be positioned inwardly of adjacent end wall 18 while end 16 will be positioned inwardly of adjacent end wall 18a, or vice versa. Also the configuration of the end walls is such that even when the case is opened to its fullest extent as shown in FIG. 2, the ends of the case remain substantially enclosed, much like a case having gusseted end walls. 
     While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.