US2434121A - Stitchless billfold with interlocked closure flaps - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 6, 1948' w FENCE 2,434,121

STITCHLESS BILLFOLD WITH INTERLOCKED CLOSURE FLAPS Filed Nov. 24, 1944 I l 7. J|.

. INVENTOR MLL/HM H. pEA CE'.

ATTQQ VS.

Patented Jan. 6, 1948 STITCHLESS BILLFOLD WITH INTER-- LOCKED CLOSURE FLAPS William A. Pence, Adel], Wis, assignor to Enger- Kress Company, West Bend, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application November 24, 1944, Serial No. 564,923

8 Claims.

1 f Elms invention relates to improvements in bill One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a novel and improved bill fold in which the entire case or pocket (exclusive of the socalled slide) is made in one piece and is composed of marginal flaps interlocked, in the preferred construction, without stitching.

It is also an object of the invention to provide, if desired, a corner reinforced by a cemented tab applied in a novel manner. Moreover, While no claim is made in the present application to the ornamental design, it is a feature of the present invention that it makes certain distinctive ornamental designs possible. 7

Other objects will be more apparent from the following disclosure of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective showing a completed bill fold embodying the invention, portions of the material being broken away to expose the interior construction.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing the inner wall and slide portions of the bill fold as they appear with the outer wall broken away.

Fig. 3 is a plan view on a reduced scale of the blank from which the bill fold of Fig. 1 is made, the blank being shown partially assembled and with the slide partially attached thereto.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail View in perspective, showing the assembly operation in the manufacture of the bill fold from the blank shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view on a reduced scale, showing a modified embodiment of the invention.

Like parts are designated with the same reference characters throughout the several views.

While it has been stated herein that the bill fold is, save for the slide, a one piece bill fold, it will of course be understood that I do not intend to preclude making it of separate pieces sewed or cemented together where, for example, contrasting color or grain effects may be desired. The completed bill fold shown in Fig. 1 is functionally conventional in so far as it comprises a foldable pocket closed at its ends and bottom and open along its top margin. It comprises an outer panel 6 and its inner wall is made in two sections connected by a slide 1. The manner in which these sections are formed will now be described.

Integral with each end of the outer wall or panel 6 is a flap 8 which, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, is provided with a strap at 9 formed from the material of the panel itself by slitting the panel at l0 and II. The ends of the flaps 8 may be finished in any desired design or pattern. As shown, they are convexly rounded and the length of the respective flaps is such that they are spaced at the inner face of the bill fold at opposite sides of the line upon which folding occurs (see Fig. 1).

The small fiap l2, integral with the bottom edge of the central portion of panel 6, is folded upwardly and cemented to that panel to finish the panel where its flesh side would otherwise be exposed beneath the slide 1. This is conventional. At either side of the central flap I2 I provide, in accordance with this invention, flaps l5 which are roughly hourglass shaped having central areas it, constricted to fit beneath the straps 9, the portions of flaps H3 at either side of the constricted waist portions [6 being too wide to pass beneath straps 9 unless gathered or folded as shown in Fig. 4.

Connected with the tops of the respective flaps l5 upon a fold line I! (which may be scored or otherwise demarcated if desired), are flap extensions l8 carrying corner tabs l9 and straps 20 defined by.slits in the material. The straps 2B are adapted to receive headed straps 2| which may be cut integrally from the material in the slide 1, the heads of the respective straps 2| being manipulated beneath straps 20 to loosely anchor the slide to extend between the inner flaps IS in the assembled bill fold.

In the alternative form shown in Fig. 5, the mechanical construction is identical with the one already described, except that the straps 90, instead of being formed integrally with the flaps 80, may comprise separate loops sewed or adhesively connected to the flaps 8!) to receive the narrow Waist portions I69 of the flaps I50. The straps are also illustrated as having been made narrower, but this is a matter of design.

In assembly, the end flaps 8 are first folded over On the outer panel 6. Thereupon, the material comprising each fiap extension l8 and the adjacent portions of flap l5 are squeezed or gathered together and manipulated through the respective strap 9 or 80 in the manner suggested in Fig. 4. The length of the strap, in either case, will correspond to the width of the waist portion it or I of the flap [5 or I50 so that when the flap l5 or lfit has been pulled through the strap to its limit of movement, it may be flattened out as shown. Likewise, the point at which the flap I5 widens out will depend on the width of the strap through which it extends. In the preferred arrangement, the length of the waist portion and the width of the strap correspond and the same is true of the width of the Waist portion and the length of the strap.

The slide 1 is now placed beneath the flaps I8 and the headed straps 2! are passed through the anchor straps 26 of flaps [8. The flaps I8 and. the attached slide are thereupon folded into: the

pocket provided between the outer wall 6, slide folded end flap, the bottom flap being folded onto the end flap and extending beneath theistrap thereof said bottom fiap'being provided with an intermediate portion fitted'within the strap and a top portion wider than the strap is long and sub-- stantially equal in width to the whole length of the end flap, and means for fastening said top portion about the top margin of the end flap.

2. The bill fold set forth in claim 1 in which the bottom flap has an extension integral with its upper margin and folded between said end flap and said outer wall, together with a slide confined between the folded end flap and the folded extension of the bottom flap, said slide being loosely connected with the latter whereby to anchor said bottom flap portions;

3. Ina bill fold, an outer wallpanel provided with afinishing flap at its upper margin and end and bottom marginalfiaps superposed on each other and comprising an inner wallsection, anextension on said bottom marginal flap folded downwardly behind said end marginal flap, and a tab on said extensionconnec'ted at the end of the bill fold with said outer wall panel, the finishing flap at the upper margin of the panel being-folded over said tab and provided with a cemented connection in interlocking relation thereto.

4. The bill fold set forth inclaim 3, in which one of said superposed flaps is provided with a strap within which a portion of said other superposedfiap extends.

5. Abill fold comprising an outer wall having top, end and'bottom margins, end flaps connected with the respective end margins, bottom flaps connected with the bottom margin adjacent the respective ends, said end' and bottom flaps being superposed on said outer wall to comprise inner wall sections of the bill fold, straps carried by the respective end fiaps beneath which portions of the respective bottom flaps extend, extensions on the bottom marginal'flaps extending between the outer wall and the respective inner wall sections,

a slide having a slidable connection with the respective extensions, said slide being disposed between the extensions and the superposed flaps comprising the respective inner wall sections, and tabs at the ends of the respective extensions, said tabs extending across the ends of the bill fold an'd'being provided with means whereby they are secured to the inner face of the outer wall.

6. The device of claim 5, in which the outer wall has at its top margin a finishing flap folded within the outer wall over the portions of said tabs so secured, and adhesively connected with the outer wall and said tab portions whereby to provide interlocking means for additionally securing said tab portions,

7. In a billfold, the combination with an outer panel having an end flap at one of its ends and a bottom flap at its bottom margin contiguous tosaid end, the end fiap being folded over said panel and provided with a strap extending longitudinally of the panel, the bottom flap being folded upon the end flap and having a waist portion of restricted width passing beneath said strap; and a top portion of greater width than the waist portion and extending substantially to the end of the: panel at which said end flap is disposed, an extension from said top portion folded downwardly between the end flap and the panel, a second panel having one of its ends extending between the end flap and the downwardly folded extension aforesaid and provided with means connecting it With said extension for the mutual positioning of said second panel and extension, and means for positioning said second panel and connected therewith at a point remote from its connection with the extension aforesaid, said second panel and end and bottom flaps together providing a pocket opening away from the end of the panel first mentioned.

8. The billfold-set forth in claim '7' in which the downwardly folded extension from the top portion of the lower marginal flap is provided with a corner tab connected with the panel first mentioned at a point adj acentthe said end flap thereof, said first mentioned panel having a finishing flap folded inwardly between said first panel and said extension and secured to an inner face of said first panel over said tab.

WILLIAM A. FENCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,909,809 Buxton May 16, 1933 1,964,461 Gardner June 26, 1934 2,011,846 Buxton Aug. 20, 1935 2,1-8'61650' Mueller Jan. 9, 1940 2,291,259- Sherwood July 28, 1942 2,347,338 Sherwood Apr. 25, 1944

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