Improvements in Collapsing Hand Bags or Satchels.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1892-Accepted, 6th Aug.. 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Collapsing Hand Bags or Satchels.
I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of No. 52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(which has been communicated to me from abroad by the " Equitable Exchange
Company," of Jersey City, in the State of New Jersey, United States of America),
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to the construction of hand-bags or satchels with the view
of adapting the same to collapse and also to fold, for convenience of stowage and
carriage when not in use, and to this end it consists in a certain novel arrangement
of jointed ribs or stays upon a satchel body of collapsible material, as hereinafter
more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which,
Figure I., represents a side view of a satchel embodying my invention.
Figure II. represents a central longitudinal section thereof.
Figure III., represents a cross section thereof in the plane of the line x, x,
Figure II.
Figures IV. and V., represent detail views of rib-joints.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts.
The letter A, indicates the satchel body which is of a flexible material capable
of being crushed or collapsed, and. usually in one piece folded so as to present two
sides A, A. Each of the sections A', A³, is usually furnished on its upper part
with a strap loop A³, forming a handle, and also with suitable fastenings.
B, indicates the ribs of the satchel body and C, the joints or articulations of the
ribs. Said ribs B, are usually of wire and extend longitudinally of the body A,
they being fitted in suitable pockets D, thereof, and each of the ribs is curved, in
such a manner that by the series of ribs said body, under normal conditions, assumes
and preserves an approximately oval shape in both directions; but it is evident
that the shape of the body may be varied. The pockets D, containing the ribs B,
may be formed between the cover and lining of the satchel-body, as by rows of
stitching e, extending in the required planes, and the effect of these pockets is to
retain the ribs in the desired positions on the body; also to conceal the ribs and to
protect the contents of the satchel therefrom.
The joints C, of the satchel shaping ribs, are intermediate of the ends thereof
and at points coincident with each other relatively to the transverse plane of the
satchel body, said joints being in the example shown at about the midlength of the
ribs, thereby dividing each of the latter into two equal parts or sections, as shown.
The location of the rib joints C, however may be varied, and if desired each of
the ribs may be jointed at two or more places.
Each of the rib joints C, is formed by the means of a link which is interlaced
with eyes or loops C¹, on the inner ends of the rib-sections; the effect of this link
being to impart a superior flexibility to the respective joints; but a good result
may be obtained by interlacing said inner end eyes C₁, of the rib sections, or other-
wise constructing the joints without the use of the link. Said link, which is the
part marked C, may be of wire, and either round as shown in Figure II. or oblong
as shown in Figure IV., or it may be composed of a strip of leather or other
similar material as shown in Figure V.
On the outer ends of the ribs B, are eyes or loops B', whereby the ribs are
interlaced with rings G, lying transversely to the satchel at its opposite ends and
within the body. Each of these rings G, is common to the series of ribs B, and
the purpose thereof is to form supports for the outer ends of the ribs and without
permanently connecting the latter to the satchel body, thereby simplifying the

page_text: construction of the article; the support thus afforded being also very effective due
to its uniform distribution. In order to permit the required adjustment of the rib
ends on the rings G, the ends of the pockets D, should be left open; and in some
cases the rings G, may be elastic.
It will be apparent that by the jointed ribs B, the satchel body A, is adapted to
be folded on itself from the opposite ends thereof, while by the arrangement of the
ribs in longitudinal planes, they also permit the body to be collapsed crosswise, so
that the article may be brought into the smallest possible compass; the ribs at the
same time keeping the body in shape when it is unfolded for use. One of the
ribs B, is located at the upper edge of the sections A¹, A², of the satchel body as
shown, and thus serves to determine and preserve the shape of the mouth of the
-article.
2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what I
claim is :
I. A satchel having longitudinal shaping ribs which are jointed intermediate
of the ends at points coincident with each other, in combination with a satchel
body of flexible and collapsible material, having pockets containing said ribs, and
supports for the outer ends of the ribs, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
II. A satchel having a body of flexible and collapsible material, and longitudinal
shaping ribs which are jointed intermediate of the ends at points coincident with
each other, in combination with the transverse supporting rings at the opposite
ends of the body, having the cuter ends of the series of ribs interlaced therewith,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 14th day of June 1892.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.