US2262011A - Lady's handbag and like container - Google Patents

Description

1941- L. M. KUNKEL ETAL LADY'S HANDBAG AND LIKE CONTAINER Filed April 24, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a a Q .M

lama (Zeal BY Patented Nov. 11, 1941 LADYS HANDBAG AND LIKE CONTAINER Leroy M. Kunkel and Chauncey J. Kunkel, Utica, N. Y.

Application April 24, B339, Serial No. 269,750

2 Claims.

Our invention relates to improvements in ladies handbags and like containers, and its general objectis to provide such containers with interior and exterior illumination.

A further object of the invention is to provide a handbag or like container with an adjustable reflector hood to facilitate the illumination of any particular compartment of the container.

A still further object-of the invention is to may be readily assembled.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line'lll| of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a schematic wiring diagram bf the electrical circuit used in Figs. 8 and9f Referring now to the drawings in detail, in Fig. 1 is shown a conventional handbag l0, having a battery compartment l2, for the purpose of housing batteries I4. A flap covering for the batteries, I5, is provided and a zipper fastener l6 may be used as a closure for the compartment l2. A protective flap or outer covering 18 is provided for the exterior illuminator 34.

In Fig. 2, partition is shown dividing the handbag into compartments 22 and 24, and serving as a mount for light bulb 28. A manual switch 26 for operating the light bulb, and an With these and other objects in view, as will hereinafter more fully appear, and as are more specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters represent similar parts throughout the several views, and in which- Fig. l is a side elevation view, partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial view of Fig. 2, showing the flap in raised position, exposing the exterior illuminator.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, showing the handbag partially opened and the position of the manual switch..

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed front view of the exterior illuminator, partly in section, with the flap down, showing the semi-automatic switch in open position.

Fig. 6 is another view of flap raised and the semi-automatic switch in closed position.

Fig. 'I is a schematic wiring diagram of the circuit used in the tom of my invention shown in Figs. 1-6, inclusive.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation view, partly in section, of a modification showing a slidin mirror in downward or retracted position, with the semi-automatic switch in open position.

Fig. 9 is another view of Fig. 8, showing the Fig. 5, showing the semi-automatic switch in closed position.

adjustable'refiector and protective hood 30 disposed over the light bulb 28, are also mounted on the partition 20. Switch- 26 is actuated in the manner indicated in Fig. 4 when the handbag is opened.

The exterior illuminator is shown particularly in Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6, as comprising the light bulb 34 and reflector 36 mounted in a recessed portion of the handbag Ill, covered by the flap l8. A semi-automatic control switch is provided for the light bulb 34, and consists of spring contacts 40 and 42 mounted in the recessed portion .of the handbag adjacent the light bulb 34 and an insulation member 38 carried by the flap l8 in' position to be inserted between contacts 40 and 42 through an opening Raising of the flap to expose the exterior illuminator simultaneously efiects withdrawal of the insulation member 38 from between contacts 40 and 42 which then meet and establish the electrical circuit to the-light bulb 34. The open circuit condition is shown in Figs. 2 and 5, and the closed condition in Figs. 3 and'6', wherein the flap I8 is raised and the bulb 34 is lighted.

Fig. '7 is a circuit diagram showing the connections from battery H in the compartment ll of the handbag to light bulbs 28 and 34 through switches 26 and 40, 42 respectively. The conductors which carry the current from the battery l4 to the exterior illuminator are insulated and enter the recessed portion of the handbag as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, the insulated conductors being shown at 44 and 46. Switch 26 may beany type of single circuit push-button switchadapted for mounting on the partition 28, as shown. 7

Referring now to the modification shown in Figs. 8-11, a battery compartment I2 similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is provided, but in the partition 28 we provide a combined mirror and light bulb structure with a semi-automatic switch arrangement. A mirror 48 is mounted in a U-shaped frame comprising two L-shaped members 50 and 5|, rigidly joined by an in- 10 sulation member which has a projecting portion 60 constituting a switch actuator. The mirror frame 50, 5|, is slidably mounted in guides 52 and 54 which are rigidly connected by insulation members 56 and 58 and an intermediate conductive member forming a switch contact 64.; A coacting switch contact 62 is formed on guide 54 and guides 52 and 54, as well as frame members 50 and 5!, are employed as electrical conductors to the light bulb 28 which, in the modified form of our invention, is mounted directly in the adjustable reflector and protective hood 30.

The hood 30 is made of suitable insulation material, and has electrical conductors I8 and 80 extending from the socket 82 for light bulb 28 to opposite ends of the hood where contact projections 12 and 10 are formed thereon and engageable with contact recesses 16 and 14, formed in the conductive frame members 50 and 5|, respectively. By this mounting arrange- 3o ment, the hood 30-may be deflected to direct light in various directions, as indicated by the dotted line position of the hood in Fig. 11, and hood may be wholly detached to permit replacement of the bulb 28.

Connections from the battery are made to guide 52 and contact 64. Insulation member 58 is apertured to pass the projection 60 which, when the mirror 48 and its frame are in downward or retracted position, separates the contacts 62 and 64 as shown in Fig. 8. When it is desired to use the mirror 48, milady has the handbag in open and withdraws the mirror and its frame to a position limited by the engagement of stopsiii, provided on the frame 50, 5|, 4 with shoulders 68 on the guides 52, 54. By such operation, projection is withdrawn from between contacts 62 and 64, whichspring into engagement and close the electrical circuit to the bulb 28, 'as indicated in Fig. 9. It is not nec- 5'0 essary to withdraw the mirror to the extent permitted by the stops 66 and shoulders 68, but where it is desired to light the bulb 28 merely for illuminating the interior of the handbag, a small upward movement of the mirror is sufii- 5 cient to withdraw the projection 60 and close the switch 52, 54.

Fig. 12 is a circuit diagram of the series circuit by which current is supplied to lamp bulb 28 from battery l4 through switch 62, 64, which go is operated semi-automatically as hereinbefore set forth.

It is understood that the sliding mirror mechanism shown in Fig. 11 may be used independently of the.handbag or container, if desired. 35 It is further understood that the mirror and light may be placed in either side or wall of the handbag or container, in the event it is desired to use such a bag or container without a partition. I

,7 While in the modification shown in Figs. 8-11, we have not illustrated the handbagin full, it is evident that the exterior illuminator shown in ,Figs. 1-6.may be employed in the handbag in conjunction with the type of interior illuminator shown in- Figs. 8-11, and such an arrangement is intended'as part of our invention. Y

While we have illustratedand described the invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited'to such details, but only by the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

We claimz, I

1. In avhandbag or like container, in combination, a partition for dividing said container into compartments, a battery mounted in the base of said container, a frame mounted in said partition and comprising electrically insulated vertical guides constituting current conductors, a mirror structure mounted to slide vertically in said frame and including electrically insulated side members engaged with the respective guides and constituting current conductors in connection therewith, said side members having upward extensions thereon constituting electrical terminals, an elongated hood of insulation material having a lamp socket mounted therein and electric conductors extending from said socket to opposite ends of said elongated hood, said hood being pivotally mounted between the extensions on saidside members with said electric conductors in contact with said extensions, anelectric lamp mounted in said lamp socket, and

switch contacts mountedjon said frame and connected in circuit with said battery and said lamp, said mirror structure having a portion thereof constituted as a switch actuator cooperable with said switch contacts, said switch actuator being operated by' an upward movement of said mirror structure from its lowermost position for effecting engagement of said switch contacts and closing the circuit to said lamp for supplying light to the compartments inside said container and to said mirror.

2. In a handbag or like container, in combination, a partition for dividing said container into compartments, a battery mounted in the base of said container, a frame mounted in said partition, a mirror structure mounted to slide vertically in said frame, an electric lamp carried by said mirror structure, and switch contacts connected in circuit with said battery and said lamp and comprising coacting contact elements insulatingly mounted on said frame and normally engaged, said mirror structure having an insulated projection thereon arranged in cooperative relation to said switch contacts for separating said contacts when said mirror structure is in lowermost position, said insulated projection constituting a switch actuator operableby an upward movement of said mirror structure from its lowermost position for effecting engagement of said switch contacts and closing the circuit to said lamp for supplying light to the compartments inside said container and to said mirror.

LEROY M. CHAUNCEY J. KUNKEL.

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