US2350503A - Billfold - Google Patents

Description

June 6, 19. L. L. GARDNER 2,350,503

B ILLFOLD Filed Aug. 24, 1942 2 Shets-Sheet 1 1959 147 ToeA/EK June 6, 1944. L. 1.. GARDNER 2,359,503

BILLFOLD Filed Aug. 24, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EYWAW Patented June 6, 1944 U NlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE BILLFOLD Leah L. Gardner, University City, Mo.

Application August 24, 1942, Serial No. 455,867

2 Claims.

This invention relates to bill folds; and has special reference to a bill fold having a short pocket wall attached to the concealed side thereof, in combination with an auxiliary case or enclosure that may be connected with the bill fold in a manner to cooperate with said short wall in a novel manner to support the auxiliary case or enclosure connected with the bill fold.

An object of the invention is to provide a bill fold that is foldable transversely about midway of its ends to enclose and conceal a short pocket on one of the end portions of the bill'fold, in

combination with an auxiliary case or enclosure having an end portion extendable into said short pocket and engageable against three sides thereof to assist in placing said case or enclosure in proper position on the bill fold, and means for interlocking the case or enclosure with the exposed wall of the said short pocket.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bill fold that is foldableitransversely approximately midway of its ends and provided with an auxiliary case or enclosure connected with the bill fold and with said short pocket in a novel cooperative relationship.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel foldable enclosure adapted for connection with a bill fold in a manner to hold the enclosure closed or to permit the said enclosure to be opened to ailord access to the inside thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bill fold having an auxiliary pocket detachably secured thereto and formed with an open upper side, and means for closing the open side of said pocket.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description, reference being made to the annexed drawings, in which- Fig. l is a plan view showing the bill fold extended orunfolded, and having the auxiliary case or enclosure attached to one end thereof and the detachable pocket connected with the other end thereof so that both said enclosure and said pocket will be covered and concealed when the bill fold is folded.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view with parts broken away and in section showing the manner in which my improved auxiliary case or enclosure is detachably connected with the bill fold.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the auxiliary case or enclosure detached from the bill fold and extended in open position, a part of one supporting frame or pocket being broken away.

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing another form of case or enclosure attached to the bill fold in a modified manner.

Fig. -6 is a plan view showing said other form of case or enclosure detached from the bill fold and extended to open position, a part of one of the pocket walls. thereof being broken away.

Fig. '7 is a plan view showing another modification of the auxiliary case or enclosure.

Fig. 8 is a view showing the auxiliary case or enclosure of Fig. 7 extended to open position, one wall of one of the pockets thereof being removed.

The bill fold in which the present invention is embodied, or with which it is combined, comprises an elongated outer wall 5 having wall members attached thereto along a portion of their lower longitudinal edges and along their end edges. The upper longitudinal edge of said outer wall is unattached to the upper longitudinal edges of said wall members, so that said outer wall and said wall members cooperateto form an elongated pocket adapted to receive and enclose bills of currency and other papers. The completed bill fold is foldable transversely about midway of its ends along a transverse fold line 2. The wall members form relatively short pockets on-the end portions of the bill fold. These relatively short pockets have open inner ends toward the fold line 2 and are closed at their outer 30 ends and along their lower and upper edges.

As shown, a short pocket wall 3 is integral with one end of the wall I and is folded inwardly toward the fold line 2. A cooperating short D cket wall A is formed integral with the upper edge of the wall 3 and is folded to extend downwardly between the walls 9 and 3, and has its lower edge attached to the wall 3 and its inner end unattached to said wall 3. Thus, the walls 3 and A cooperate to form a relatively short pocket having an inner open end adjacent to the fold line 2 and having its outer end and lowerand upper sides closed. The lower margin of the wall 3 is securely attached to the lower margin of the wall 8 by an inwardly and upwardly extended tab 5 formed integral with the'lower edge of the wall l and terminating at the inner end of the wall 3' the walls 3 and 4 may beread through said panel.

Another short pocket wall I is integral with v the opposite end of the wall I from the short pocket wall 3 and is folded inwardly toward the fold line 2. It has a cooperating short pocket '6 wall 8 integral with its upper edge and folded to extend downwardly between the walls I and I, having its lower edge attached to the wall I and its inner and outer ends unattached to said wall.

The walls I and 3 cooperate to form a short- 4 wall I.

The auxiliary case or separate enclosure comprises a flexible and pliable wall of leather or the like, including a relatively wide end portion I 3 and a relatively narrow end portion II integrally united by a transverse foldable hinge i2. Shoulders l3 are iormed at the attached ends of the portions I and II and cooperate with the hinge I2 to define said portions from each other and also to engage against the inner end of the pocket 3-4 when the auxiliary case or separate enclosure is attached to the bill fold. The outer end of the portion II is formed midway of its upper and lower edges with a narrow freely bendable and pliable tongue I4. The integral connection I attaching the-outer ends of the walls I and 3 is provided with a relatively short slot I6 havingnearly the same length as the width of the tongue I4 so that said tongue may be extended through said slot when the end portion II is inserted within the pocket between the Walls 3 and 4. There is a direct cooperation between the outer end of the. portion I I and the shoulders I3 at the inner end of said portion II. The outer end of the portion II engages against the closed end I5 of the pocket formed between the walls 3 and 4, while the shoulders I3 engage against the attached portions of said walls. By this construction, the portion II'may be made of the same length as, and somewhat narrower than the inside width of the pocket between the walls 3 and 4, thus considerably facilitating the proper insertion, and also the withdrawal, of said portion II without frictional contact with the side edges of said pocket. The tongue I4 extended through the relatively short slot I6, and the shoulders I3 engaged against the attached edges of the walls 3 and 4, directly cooperate to prevent lateral displacement of the auxiliary case or separate enclosure relative to the billiold.

When said case or enclosure is attached to the bill fold, the end portion III may be folded outwardly toward the wall 3 with its outer end terminating inwardly beyond and protected by said wall 3. .The tongue I4 may be folded inwardly and slipped through a loop I1 attached to the wall portion I0. Thus, the auxiliary case or separate enclosure may be detachably secured to the bill fold with the end of the portion II engaging against the end wall of the pocket and the tapered shoulders I3 held against the attachment between the inner and outer walls of the pocket to hold said case or enclosure from lateral displacement. In this proper position in which the auxiliar case or separate-enclosure is detachably secured to the bill fold, the side edges and ends thereof are inwardly beyondthe side edges and end of the bill fold and are protected thereby.

A hinge I3 is attached to the wider portion I0 adjacent "to the shoulders l3 and inwardly guarded and beyond mam l3. When the portion u is extended into the pocket as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the end thereof engaging and abutting against the end wall of the pocket. and the shoulders l3 eng g g the side edges of the pocket, the hinge I3 is inwardly beyond the end of the wall 3 so that said hinge may be freely operated without restraint by said wall 3. The part II, and the end edge of the portion I l of the elongated wali III-I I, constitute means on said walls for limiting extent of movement of said portion II into the pocket provided by the walls 3 and 4 and by said part I5; to prevent the hinge device I3 from entering said pocket; to prevent said hinge device from rolling, chafing. or otherwise marring the end of the wall 3: and to hold the parts in a position in which the hinge device It is at'all times freely operative. That is, the part I5 attached to the short walls, and the end of the wall portion II, prevent the hinge device I8 fraom pressing against the end of the short wall A number of pairs of transparent walls I3-2l and 2 I-22 have one end of each attached to the hinge I8 and the upper and lower margins of each pair of walls permanently attached together by flexible strips 23, leaving the outer ends of each pair of walls unattached. Thus, each pair of walls Ill-20 and 2I22 forms a pocket open at one end and closed at the opposite end and along its upper and lower sides. When the auxiliary case or separate enclosure is closed, as shown in Fig.-l, the pockets therein are also closed; and, when said case or enclosure is opened as shown in'Fig. 2, the pockets therein are also opened.

An auxiliary pocket iorholding small change and other articles is detachably secured to the wall I by snap fasteners 24. A flap 25 in connection with the rear wall 26 of this auxiliary pocket is foldable downwardly against the front wall 21 and may be attachedthereto by a familiar snap fastener device 28 which is releasable to afford access to the inside of the pocket. This pocket is open at its upper side which is toward the open upper side ofthe pocket provided by the wall i and the attached wall members, and is closed at its ends by infolded end walls 28.

The auxiliary case or separate enclosure shown in Figs. 5 and 6 also comprises integrally connected flexible and pliable walls of leather or the like, includinga relatively wide portion 30 analogous to the relatively; wide portion Ill, and a relatively narrow portion 3I similar to the portion II. The wall portion 30 is integrally connected at its inner end with the inner endoi the portion ill by a hinge 32. The narrow portion 3I is formed withan extended tongue 33 in connection with its outer end adapted to extend through the slot I6 in the same manner and for the same purpose as the tongue I4. The portion 3i may be inserted in and withdrawn from the pocket between the walls 3 and 4, and the tongue 33 extended through the slot IS. The outer end of the portion 3| engages against the end wall or the pocket, and the edge of the integral hinge connection 32 may engage the inner end of the pocket. This leaves the wall portion 30 free to be folded up in closed position, as shown, in Fig. 5, and held in that 33. through a loop 34. A hinge 35 is attached to parent walls I9-20 and 2I22, have one end 1 position by passing the tongue.

of each attached to the hinge 35 and the upper and lower margins of each pair of walls permanently attached together by flexible strips 38, leaving the outer ends of each pair of wall unattached. Thus, each of said pairs of walls 36 and 31 forms a pocket open at one end, and closed at the opposite end and also along its upper and lower sides. When this auxiliary case or enclosure is closed as shown in Fig. 5, the pockets therein are also closed. When the case or enclosure is opened as shown in Fig. 2, the pockets therein are also opened and may be swung apart, as indicated in Fig. 2, or laid fiatwise upon each other, as shown in .Fig. 6. This auxiliary case or separate enclosure may, like that shown in Fig.

4, be mounted in or attached to the bill fold, or may be detached from the bill fold and used separately as desired. The bill fold to which the enclosure is shown attached (Fig. is like that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and like reference numerals are applied to like parts of the bill fold per se.

The device shown in Figs. 7 and 8 comprises an enclosure or case permanently connected with the bill fold so that the two may not be detached from each other. As shown, short pocket walls 39 and 40 are attached to the elongated outer wall 4| along their lower and outer end edges by stitches 42 or otherwise. The walls 39 and 40 are integrally connected along their upper edges to form an inwardly open pocket adjacent to the transverse fold line 43 of the bill fold. These wall members cooperate with the elongated outer wall 4| to form an elongated pocket adapted to receive and enclose bills of currency and other papers. The outer wall 4| is formed with a downwardly extended short wall 44, the inner edge 45 of which terminates adjacent to the transverse fold line 43 or the bill mm, while the outer edge 46 is spaced inwardly a short distance from the outer ends of the walls 39 and 4|. The integral connection between the walls 4| and 39, and may be secured in that position by a fastener element 48 connected with the wall 44 engaging a fastener element 49 connected with the wall 39. I

A hinge 50 is attached to the outer end margin of the wall 44. A number of pairs of transparent walls SI and 52 have one end of each attached to the hinge 50, and the upper and lower margins of each pair of walls permanently attached together by flexible strips 53, leaving the inner ends of each oi. said pairs of walls unattached. Thus, each pair oi walls SI and 52 forms a pocket open at one end and closed at the opposite end and along its upper and lowensides. When this case is closed as shown in Fig. 7, these I 44 comprises a hinge 41, so that the wall 4| may be folded upwardly to cover and enclose the wall pockets are enclosed between the walls 39 and 44;

and, when the bill told is folded, it is impossible for any 01' the card contents of said pockets to become detached or removed.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that this invention, which comprises an auxiliary case or enclosure connected with the bill fold in a novel manner, attains all or its intended objects and purposes. The bill told my be iolded transversely about midway oi itsends to cover and enclose either specific type or enclosure. In the case of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the auxiliary case or enclosure engages both opposite ends of the short pocket wall device and cooperates directly therewith to hold the auxiliary case in proper position and prevent lateral dis placement. The integral connection shown in Figs. 7 and 8 also prevents relative displacement of the auxiliary case and holds the parts permanently in proper relationship.

I claim:

1. In a bill fold having an elongated outer wall provided with a transverse fold line midway of its ends, two relatively short walls supported at the inner side of one end portion of said outer wall forming a pocket closed along its upper and lower sides and having its inner end open throughout the width of said pocket laterally beyond said fold line, a connection substantially closing the outer end of said pocket and attaching the outer end-of one of said short walls to .an end of said outer wall, said connection having a slot vtherethrough, an elongated wall having one end portion insertable in said pocket through said open end to engage the end of said portion against said connection and having another end portion foldable toward and from said first end portion, a hinge device attached to said second end portion and supported thereby beyond the inner end of said pocket when said first end portion is in said pocket and has its said end abutting againstsaid connection, means forming a pocket having one end attached to said hinge device, a tongue integral with said first end portion of less width than said pocket removably extending through said slot and beyond said connection when said first end portion is wholly within said pocket, and means for attaching said tongue to said second end portion when said first end portion is wholly within said pocket as afore-' said.

2. In a bill fold having an elongated outer wall provided with a transverse fold line midway of its ends, two relatively short walls supported at the inner side of one end portion of said outer wall forming a pocket closed along its upper and lower side and having its inner end open throughout the width of said pocket laterally beyond said fold line, and a connection substantially closing the outer end ofsaid pocket and attaching the outer end of the exposed one of said short walls to an end of said outer wall and having a relatively short slot therethrough; a wall portion ageable by said tongue for holding said second wall portion folded toward said first wall portion and also preventing withdrawal of said first wall portion from said first named pocket.

LEAH L. GARDNER.

Images