US1691904A - Collapsible hat bag - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 13,1928. 1,691,904

. H. c. GAMBLE COLLAPSIBLE HAT BAG Filed Nov. 24, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 1.3, 1928. 1,691,904

H. c. GAMBLE COLLAPSIBLE HAT BAG Filed Nov. 24. 1921 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Nov. 13,y 1928.

UNITED STATESy HELEN C. GAMBLE, F NEW YORK, N, Y.

coLLArsrBLn HAT nee.

Application filed November 24, 1921. Serial No. 517,420.

This invention relates to collapsible bags. More particularly, the invention relates to collapsible bags for hats and similar'fragile objects. An obj ect of the invention is to pron vide a bag for hats and the like which' when not in use may be collapsed to greatly reduced over-all dimensions and with minimum removal of the parts of the bag.

A further feature of the invention is to prom vide a construction of fabric and arrangement of the stifl'ening parts, usually of metal or the like, whereby convenience of access to the one or more compartments of the bag is facilitated while the bag is resting on any l suitable support or while being suspended.-

With the above objects in view, a preferred form of my invention comprises fabric usually of circular sectional contour and formed to provide a single compartment by the pro- :o vision of laterally disposed Astiffening means removably secured in position by relative movement of one portion to another portion In other preferred forms of the invention as j in the multi-compartment forms, the bottom 25 of the fabric is stitfened by a hoop of the above form o'f stitfening means and also to provide a partition between the succeeding upwardly disposed compartments, and access aorded to the respective compartments by the provision of an opening formed in the fabric at one lateral side of the fabric. Preferably such multi-compartment form of my invention is of the suspended type.

l/Vhen it is desired to collapse the bag the material of the bag is dropped in alignment and by grasping the opposite diametrical portions of the bag and twisting through 180 degrees arc of movement and folding the resulting two circular portions of reduced diameter one upon the other, whereupon the bag thus collapsed both in height as well as in diameter may be stored in an envelope or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bag or envelope for receiving such collapsible bag when in collapsed position or for receiving other articles as may be desired.

Further features and objects of this invention will be more fully understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a unitary compartment type of bag, partly broken away to show the joint of the metal stilfening means;

Fig. 1a is a detail sectional elevation on line la-P of Fig. l;

Fig. 2-is a top perspective view of Fig. 1.; l* 1g. 3 is a perspective view showing the bag illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 being twisted to collapse the same,

Fig. is a perspective View of an envelope for storing the twisted and folded bag;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of my invention, in which the top of the bag 1s closed by snap fasteners;

Fig. 6 1s a top plan vieu? of the bag shown in Fig. 5, with the top opened;

Fig. 7 is a detail exploded view showing the terminal portions of the metal stilfening hoop andsecurmg means;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a two-compartment bag embodying my invention, partly broken away;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the bag shown 1n Fig. 8, with the fabric of the partition removed, to show hidden parts;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a four-compartment bag embodying my invention; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an envelope for storing the collapsed bag shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Referring y. to Figs. 1 and 2, the form of my invention is of the single compartment form and is closed at its top by means of a draw string 12. The bottom 13 of the collapsible bag is preferably circular in contour and may be formed as is indicated in Fig. 1 of a circularly cut piece of material and secured by a seam to the fold 14 formed at the lower end of the material 15 serving as the outer side of the bag. side of the bag is continued upwardly to form the top 16 and adjacent the uppermost end 17 the draw string 12 is located.

The material of the bag may be of any suitable fabric of ornamental design or otherwise to suit the particular purposes for the bag or the fancy of the purchaser.

To give a suitable configuration to the material of the bag, I provide the hoop 18 which may be of any desired length and secured in position by means of suitable detachable coupling means adjacent the respective ends of the hoop. In Figs. 1 and 7,1 show a particular form of coupling means comprising the pair of spaced, headed lugs 19, 20, cooperating respectively with the pair of bayonet slots 21, 22, the large opening of each of such slots 21, 22, permitting the heads of the respective lugs 19, 20 to pass therethrough whereupon the ends of the hoop 18 are pulled to movethe body portions of the headed lugs 19, 20 with- The material 15 of the outer l in the restricted portions ofthe slots 21, 22,-

' 18 are uncoupled by manually applying force lil to the end 23 of the hoop 18 in a direction transverse to the direction of length of the stii'ening hoop 18, to thereby spring the terv minal portion 23 out of contact with the lug 24 and sliding the lugs 19, 20 in the slots 21, 22 respectively until the heads of the lugs 19, 20 can be passed through the larger' openings of the slots 21, 22, and then removing the hoop 18 from within the bag.

However, I prefer that the bag be collapsed with the hoop 18 positioned therein and for such purpose the hoop 18 is made Yof resilient material, such as tempered steel and may be permanently secured to the material of the bag by straps of fabric or the like sewed to the material and bridging the hoop 18 at three or more locations about the periphery of the hoop; Also, the vertically ex` tending strips 25, 25 may be employed of whalebone, celluloid or like relatively light resilient material and snapped to the fabric in any suitable manner and to resiliently hold the side portion 15 of the material of the bag in, position. As one form of such disconnectible connection for the vertically extending strips 25, 25, I illustrate in Figs. 1 and l, snap fasteners 25, 25a for snapping the vertically extending strips 25 respectively to the peripheral portion 15 of the material of the bag.

To collapse such form of bag, the bag is allowed to collapse vertically upon unsnapping the vertically extending strips 25, 25 and by grasping the material of the bag the opposite diametrically disposed portions 26, 27 as indicated in Fig. 3, and twisting the hoop 18 together with the material of the bag until the configuration 8 approximately is formed, thus forming generally two circular portions, each portion being of approximately one-half diameter, and thereupon one circular portion I folded ipon the other to form the resulting form in cated at `28 which may be stored in the envelope 29 of suitable fabric or thel like. The inner dimension of the envelope 29 is illustrated to retain the twisted and folded ba in the form indicated at 28 in Fig. 4.

n the use of the bag shown in Figs. 1 and 2, as when. a hat is placed therein, the bag may be suspended manually or by hanging the loops of the draw string 12 on a hook, or

the like.

If desired, as is indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, the top 30 of the bag may be provided with snap fasteners 31, the members of which snap fasteners 31 are respectively secured to the closure aps of the top 30.v The suspension ring 32 is secured to a closure flap of the top 30 and preferably closely adjacent to the free edge of its closure Upon closure of the snap fasteners 31 and grasping the ring 32,

the bag is suspended and the material of the bag is held in distendedposition.

If desired, as is indicated in Figs. 6 and 9, the flap 13 may be sewed to the bottom 13 of the bag for holding the hat pins which xpay be stuck through the material of the n Figs. 8 and 9, is shown another modification of a two compartment type wherein the bottom and side and top correspond to the parts of the modifications shown in Figs. l and 2, and Figs. 5 and 6 respectively and like parts are designated bythe same reference numbers. However, in this construction two hoops 18 are employed and located respectively at the upper margin of the lower and 4upper compartments respectively. The partition between the upper and lower compartments isv provided by means of the fabric '33 sewed at its circularly extending side portion 34 to the side portion 15 of the material'of the bag and provided withthe draw string 35 for closing the partition 33. In this particular modification, the closure flap of the bag is closed by the series of snap fasteners 31 applied adjacent the free edge of the closure flap and upon closure of the closure flap, the bag is suspended in distended relation of its parts by means of the ring 32 secured tothe closure flap at a location between llw the

The bag shown in Figs. 8 and 9 may be collapsed by allowing the material to drop, the top in substantial. vertical alignment with the bottom similarly asin the modifications hereinabove described, and thereafter twisted and folded to final collapsed form..

In the modification shown in Fig. 10, I have illustrated a four compartment bag having the circular bottom 40 preferably stiffened by a. hoop 18 enclosed at its circumference and partitions 41, 42, 43 of circularly cut fabric and stiif-ened at their respective circumference by means of the hoops 18. However, in this modification, the material forming the circularly extending side 44 is cut to provide a vertically extending lateral opening closed by the Hap 45 which is preferably of a width greater than the opening at the side of the bag. 'Ih-e top 46 of the bag is provided with the ring 47 for suspending the bag in a cupboard or other permanent or transitory location for receiving and protecting four or more hats or like fragile objects..

position by snap asteners or bytie strings or the like.

In Fig. 11, I have indicated a circular envelope 48 for receiving the vertically col-I lapsed twisted and folded bag shown in Fig. 10, the methodl of collapsing, twisting and folding being the same as that shown in the above described modifications. The envelope 48 is provided with the hand holds 49 for carrying or suspending the envelope. As is illustrated in Fig. 11, the envelope or bag 48 is wholly closed on one of its fiat sides and on the opposite Hat side is closed at the bottom and open at an upper part to provide a semi-circular flap for closing the bag. The pair of coacting hand holds 49, 49 are respectively secured to the upper edge of the Hap and to the body of the bag, whereby upon grasping the hand-hold 49 secured to the arcshaped flap jointly with the hand-hold 49 'secured to the circular edge of the bag 48,

the arc-shaped flap is automatically held in closed position. Preferably, as is also illustrated in Fig. 11, the circular edge of the arcshaped flap of the bag 48 is provided with a circularly extending flange s trip. If desired, the bag 48 may be provided with the removable stiifening members such as the members 25 referred to hereinabove in respect f to Fig. 1.

From the above it will be observed that I have provided a collapsible bag formed of inherently collapsible material serving as the major material of the bag and hoops or the like of resilient material which may be readily removed or retained in position and collapsed and folded to greatly reduced dimension. It will be also observed as appears from the construction of my bag shown in Figs. 8 and 9, that the spaced, circularly or peripherally extending hoops 18 and the transversely extending stiffening strips 25 combiiiedly form an extended stiffening means for the peripheral or band portion of the material of the bag and hold the same in distended position, which stiifening means when in position r esist the collapsibility of the oppositelydisposed circular sides of the bag in radial direction as in m issued Patent No. 1,207,533, dated Decem er 5th, 1916. If desired, the hoop for retaining the shape of the various forms of my collapsible bag may be as the construction shown in my United States Patent No. 1,207,533, dated December 5, 12h16, but

' of Hat material having one or more lugs on one of the mutually engaging portions of the hoop and a series of bayonet slots in the other of the mutually engaging portions of the hoop similarly as in the construction of the hoop 18 as is indicated in Figs. 1 and7 herein respectively.

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made without de artin fi'oni the spirit of the invention, as efined y the appended claims. l l

I claim:

1.. An envelope yof the character described comprising a peripheral band and a circular side,.said circular side being formed of non- ,self-sustaining material, a portion 'of the inatei'ial of said circular side forming a closure iiap having a free edge extending from a location adjacent said peripheralband to another location adjacent 'said .peripheral band. stiffening means secured to ysaid peripheral band, said stiii'ening means extending longitudinally and transversely relative to said peripheral band, and means for suspending said envelope in 'its closed and distended posit ion, said means including an element `secured to said closure flap between the ends of the free edge of said closure flap and a series of fasteners mounted adjacent the free edge of said closure Hap.

2. An envelope of the character described formed ofl substantially self-collapsing material shaped to 5have a peripheral band and circular side portions attached to one another to form a substantially closed container, a portion of the material of one of said sides forming a closure flap and serving when opened to provide an opening to aifor-d access into the bag, said closure iiap having a free edge extending from a location adjacent said peripheral band to another location adjacent said peripheral band, stiifening means permanently secured to said peripheral band', said stiffening means extending longitudinally and transversely relative to said peripheral band, a series of fasteners adjacent the free edge of said closure flap for securing the free edge of said closure flap vin its closed position and means for suspending said peripheral member and said circular members, said suspending means comprising an element se- 3. A bag comprising a peripheral'member and oppositely disposed circular members, said peripheral member being of^nonself sustaining fabric, one of said circular meinfbers being of non-self-sustaining fabric, a

portion of said one circular member forming a closure flap to provide an opening to afford access within the bag, and having a free lof liti

lil() edge,xmeans for closing saidclosure flap, stitfening means secured to said peripheral meinber, said Ystiflening means extending longitudinally of and witliinfsaid peripheral member, said stiening means further extending at a plurality of locations transversely to said longitudinal direction, and means for suspending the bag to hold said members in selfsustaining, position, said suspending means comprising an element secured to said closure flap and between the ends of the free edge of said closure flap of said one circular member.

4. A bag comprising a peripheral member and oppositely disposed circular members, said peripheral member being of non-selfsustaining fabric, one of said circular members being of non-self-sustaining fabric, a portion of said one circular member forming a closure flap to provide an opening to afford access within the bag, a series of fasteners for closing said closure flap, stiffening means for said peripheral member, said stiffening means beinn' permanently secured to said peripheral i mem er, said stiifening means extending longitudinally of and transversely to the dire c tion of length of said peripheral member, said stiifening means being disposed inwardly of said eripheralimember and means for suspending the bag to hold said members in distended position when said closure flap of said one circular member is in closed position, said suspending means including an element secured to said closure flap between the ends of the free edge of said closure flap.

5. A bag comprising a peripheral member and oppositely disposed circular members, said peripheral member being of non-selfsustaining fabric, one of said circular members being of non-self-sustaining fabric, a portion of said one circular member forming a closure flap to provide an opening to afford access Within the bag, the free edge of said closure flap extending from one location adjacent said peripheral member to another location adjacent said peripheral member, a series of fasteners secured to the free edge of said closure flap for closing said closure flap, stiifening means for said .peripheral member, said stiffening means being permanently secured to and disposed Within said peripheralmember, said stiffemng means extending longitudinally of and at a plurality of locations transversely to the direction of length of said peripheral member, and means for suspending the bag to hold said members in distended position when said one circular member is in closed position, said suspending means comprising an element secured to said closure flap of said one circular member adjacent the free edge of said closure flap.

6. A bag comprising a peripheral member and oppositely disposed circular members, said peripheral member being of non-selfsustaining fabric, one of said circular members being of non-self-,sustaining fabric, a portion of said one circular member forming a closure flap to provide an opening to aiford access withinthe bag, the-free edge of said closure ila-p extending from one location adjacent said peripheral member to another location adjacent said peripheral member, a series of fasteners secured to .the free edge of said closure flap for closing said closure flap, stifening means for said periphripheral member, said stiii'enin means being disposed inwardly of said peripheral member and means for suspending the ban' to hold said members in distended position Wien said closure Hap of said one circular member is in closed position, said suspending means comprising an element secured to said closure Hap intermediate the ends of tlie free edge of said closure flap.

7. Abag comprising a peripheral member and oppositely disposed side members, said pripheral member and said side members ing of non-self-sustaining material, one of said side members being secured to one edge of said peripheral member and having a portion serving as a closure flap to provide an opening to afford access Within the bag, fastener means for closing said closure flap,

vthe other of said side members being secured to the opposite edge of said peripheral member, stifl'ening sheet material secured to said peripheral member serving to hold said peripheral member fully distended, and handle,

means for suspending the bag.

8. A bag comprising non-self-sustaining material serving as the material proper of the bag, said material including a peripherally extending ortion, said material further including a si e portion, peripherally disposed stiffening means for said peripherally extending portion and for maintaining the non-self-sustaining material of said one side taut, said material further including a portion for the side opposite said one side, said opposite side serving as the closure side of the bag to afford when open access to the interior of the bag, detachable means for closing said closure side, and handle means for suspending the bag. v

9.- A bag comprising a peripheral member and oppositely disposed side members, said eripheral member and said side members eing of non-self-sustaining material, one of said side members being secured to one edge of said peripheral member and having. a portion serving as a closure flap to provide an opening Ato afford access within 'the bag, fastener means for closing said closure flap, the other of said side members being secured to the opposite edge of said peripheral member, stiifening sheet material extending peripherally of said peripheral member and serving to hold said peripheral member at all times fully distended, the ends of saidstifl'ening material being overlapped, and handle means for suspending the bag.

`l0. A bag comprising non-self-sustaining material, spaced stifening members extending peripherally of the bag, said stilfening members being in the form of a band, each band having disconnectible means for connecting its ends to one another.

11. A container formed of non-self-sustaining material and having a plurality of compartments, partition means defining said compartments and a stiiiening member eX- tending peripherally of said container, said stiffening member being in the form of a band.

12. A container formed of non-selfsus taining material and having a plurality of compartments7 partition means defining said compartments and a stii'ening member extending peripherally of said container, said stifening member being in the form of a band, said band having open ends.

13. A container formed of non-self sustaining material and having a plurality of compartments, partition means defining said compartments and a stiffening member eX- tending peripherallv of said container, saidy stiifemng member eing in the form of a band, said band having open ends and dlsconnectlble connecting means for the ends of said band.

14. A bag comprising non-self sustainingl material, and having two compartments, a partition defining said compartments, spaced stiffening members extending peripherally of the bag, said stiffening members being in the form of' a band, each handhaving disconnectible means for connecting its ends to one another, said stiii'ening means being disposed immediately adjacent said partition.

15. A multi-compartment bag of non-selfsustaining fabric forming the bottom, sides and top of the bag, a stiifeningmember located in each compartment of the bag, a partition formed of fabric sewed at its periphery to the side portion of the first-named fabric, said bag being provided with suspending means and said stiifening members being of material to render the material of the bag self-sustaining and hold the several compartments in spaced relation when the bag is suspended.

16. A collapsible bag comprising fabric forming the bottom, sides and top of the bag and stiffening means extending peripherally of and secured to said fabric, said stilfening means being resilient to enable the bag to be twisted and folded after twisting and Without rupture of said stiffening means, and means for enclosing the twisted and folded bag in collapsed position. y

17. A multi-compartment collapsible bag of fabric forming the bottom,l sides and top of the bag, a hoop located in cach compartment of the bag, a vpartition formed of fabric seW'ed at its periphery to the side portion of the first-named fabric, said hoopor hoops being of material of sufficient resiliency. to enable the bag to be vertically collapsed, then twisted and then folded Without rupture of said hoops and means for enclosing the twisted and folded bag in collapsed position.

In testimonywhereof I have signed this specification this 23rd day of November, 1921.

HELEN C. GAMBLE.

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