IMPROVEMENTS IN PURSES, PORTE-MONNAIES AND SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frank Wirth at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 20th May 1882. A communication from
Paul Sternberg Manufacturer of Fancy Leather Goods a person resident at
Frankfort on the Main in the Empire of Germany.
FRANK WIRTH, of the firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at
Frankfort on the Main in the Empire of Germany "IMPROVEMENTS IN PURSES,
PORTE-MONNAIES AND SIMILAR ARTICLES "
A communication from Paul Sternberg
Manufacturer of Fancy Leather Goods a person resident at Frankfort on the Main
in the Empire of Germany
This invention relates to purses or porte-monnaies and the like, and comprises
the novel features, hereinafter described.
According to the said invention I provide a frame constructed of any suitable
metal such as German silver, steel, nickel, or iron, and consisting of two parts
connected together by a hinge joint. One of these parts is nearly flat, and is
formed with a rebate in which are secured the leather parts of one side. In the
middle of the side opposite to the hinge joint, and turning towards the inside, is a
small hook or catch. The other part of the frame is formed of metallic plate bent
at an angle, and the leather parts are fixed to it by means of rivets. The side of
this part of the frame has a slit from which protrudes a latch of such configuration
that it is hardly perceptible when the purse or other article is closed; this latch is
fastened to a spring which is placed inside the frame. The said spring is rivetted
on one part of the frame and lies throughout its length against the said frame. At
one point on the frame a recess is provided and the said spring has a small shoulder
which fits into the said recess, and which, by the pressing and releasing of the said
spring moves forward and backward within the said recess.
The said recessed part has an aperture under which is a similar aperture in the
frame. This aperture, when the spring is at rest, is nearly closed by the said
shoulder. But when, through pressing the latch, the spring is pushed more to the
right the aperture in the recessed part is fully opened. Thus when the two parts
of the frame are closed upon one another, the said shoulder is thrust aside by the
aforesaid catch which exactly fits into the aperture in the recessed part the said
pring yielding for this purpose. As soon as the catch has completely entered the
D031

page_text: said aperture the shoulder upon the spring is drawn under the catch and thus the
closing of the purse or other article is effected
The two parts of the frame are not connected with each other by folds of leather
or other material as hitherto practised, but they can be entirely closed upon one
another. The receptacle fastened to one part of the frame serves for the reception
of coins whilst the other part serves as a cover and is also provided with a small
pocket for the reception of paper money, visiting cards, or the like; and on one
side of this pocket are smaller pockets to receive gold or other coins. One part of
the frame is smaller than the other so that when the porte-monnaie is closed the
one part is enclosed by the other and thus the coins are prevented from falling
out. Porte-monnaies or other articles constructed as described may be provided
with other fastenings if desired.