AN IMPROVED COMBINED, DRESSING CASE AND BAG
Year: 1869

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Saunders and Curry
Smith at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their.
Petition, on the 9th March 1869.
We, WILLIAM SAUNDERS and CURRY SMITH, both of No. 12, Newgate-
Street, in the City of London, Dressing Bag Manufacturers, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED COMBINED,
DRESSING CASE AND BAG," to be as follows:-
The nature of our said Invention consists chiefly in the peculiar
construction of the parts of the case and bag, whereby we are enabled
to combine in one article the advantages of an ordinary separate dressing
case a compact and convenient dressing bag for travellers or tourists
which shall contain all the usual fittings of such bags and a plain bag
without fittings useful either for travelling or home purposes. The
whole of the fittings and instruments are carried within the case, which
is preferably made of a semicircular form in cross section, the flat side
forming the base. The bag is made to contain the case and to allow the
same to be readily and conveniently placed in the bag or removed
therefrom.

page_text: The bag is made semicircular or otherwise formed to correspond
with the shape of the case, and is constructed with a metal frame.
which opens in the usual manner, the sides being for this purpose.
hinged at each end to flat pieces which form the bottom of the frame.
Besides the ordinary end pieces of the frame for supporting the bars
which form the mouth of the bag, and to which the lock or fastening of
the bag is attached, the said frame is provided with fixed end pieces,.
semicircular or otherwise formed to correspond with the shape of the
bag, and which while allowing the sides. of the frame to be freely opened
or closed keep the ends of the bag firm and retain its proper form
whether it is closed or open, and whether the case is within the bag or
removed from the same..
The dressing case which is made of the proper size to fit conveniently
without waste of space inside the bag may be made of wood or other
suitable material, and may be made plain and inexpensive or orna-
mented or decorated in any of the various ways common to articles.
for similar purposes. The said case is constructed with two sides which
are hinged to the flat bottom of the case and which are provided at the
top. with a lock or fastening. When in the bag the ends of the said
case rest upon the flat pieces at the ends of the bag frame. The said
case may be provided with the usual fittings for either ladies' or gen-
tleman's dressing bags, or such fittings may be varied to suit the taste
of the manufacturer or purchaser. The bottom of the case may be
constructed with jewel trays and with receptacles for soap, scent bottles,
and other articles, and may also carry the smaller instruments while the
brushes and combs and large instruments may be more advantageously
placed on the sides or lids of the case. Access to the interior of the said
case while the same is in the bag is readily obtained by opening the bag
and case, and the arrangement of the fittings will be found far more
convenient than that adopted in ordinary dressing bags as when the
case is opened all the fittings and instruments are seen and each one can
be readily removed and replaced. The danger of breaking the looking
glass and other fittings is also prevented. Space may be left between
the sides of the case and bag for linen and other articles. The several
parts of the bag frame may be formed of iron in the usual manner.
The fixed end picces are rivetted or otherwise securely attached to the
bottom pieces of the frame. These fixed end pieces prevent the

page_text: buckling in of the ends of the bag, keeping the same always firm and
increasing the strength and durability of the bag.
When our improved combined dressing case and bag is not required
for travelling the case may be removed therefrom and may be used
separately as an ordinary dressing case, while the bag will serve as a
lady's work bag or shopping bag, or for any other useful purpose to
which leather bags are applied. It will also form a very compact
and convenient travelling bag for those who prefer to carry a bag
without fittings.