US3030685A - Handle fastener - Google Patents

Description

April 1962 D. REITER 3,030,685

HANDLE FASTENER Filed Jan. 25, 1960 INVENTOR. 'DANIEL I. REITER BY arm SAa ol'ro A TTORNE Y5 United States Patent 3,030,685 HANDLE FASTENER Daniel I. Reiter, 11 E. 31st St., New York, N .Y. Filed Jan. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 4,397 11 Claims. (Cl. 24265) This invention relates to a fastener for the handle of a handbag or the like and to the method of making the same. More particularly, the invention is concerned with the provision of a fastener loop at the end of a handle. The invention is shown and described with reference to the handle of a ladys handbag, wherein it finds its principal applicability.

In a common form of ladys handbag a flexible handle is formed with a loop at each end to permit the pivotal attachment of the handle to the body of the handbag. Usually the loop at each end of the handle receives some form of movable ring, such as a common U-ring, which also passes through a fixed ring or tube attached to the upper portion of the handbag frame.

The attachment of the handle to the handbag body is frequently a source of difliculty, because the stresses which occur over a period of use cause the material of the handle at the loop to become defaced, damaged, torn, or even broken. Various attempts have been made to alleviate the foregoing condition, most of which are directed toward the reinforcement of the handle material at the loop. Such proposals have not been entirely satisfactory, however, notably because of increased costand complexity.

It is accordingly a principal object of the invention to provide a unique fastener for the end of a handbag handle or the like and to provide a unique method of making the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved solution to the handle attachment problem as aforesaid, which resides in forming the loop in an attachment device which is distinct from the handle itself.

A further object of the invention is to provide a. handle fastener or attachment device which is strong, reliable, yet decorative.

Still another object of the invention is to provide devices of the foregoing type which are economical to manufacture and use.

Briefly stated, a fastener is formed in accordance with the invention by providing a stiff, bendable T-shaped piece which is inserted within a slightly larger T-shaped envelope. The stem of this composite member or assembly is bent back around the end of a handle to form a loop, and the arms are bent back to embrace the stem and handle end. The fastener is permanently secured to the handle by providing teeth or points at the stem and arm ends, which are forced into underlying material.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention, and the manner in which the same are accomplished will become more readily apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred and exemplary embodiments, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating two parts of a fastener in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which these parts are assembled;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view illustrating a first step in the joining of fastener and handle;

FIGURE 4 is a prespective view illustrating a second step in the joining procedure;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view illustrating the completion of the joining operation;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a modified fastener device;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view illustrating the modified device employed to fasten a handle to a handbag frame;

FIGURE 8 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 88 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the fastener device of FIGURES 68 is bent; and

FIGURE 10 is a transverse sectional view taken along line Ill-10 of FIGURE 5.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGURE 1 thereof, one form of the invention comprises a generally T-shaped flat piece 10 of stifi, bendable material, such as aluminum. The piece 10 has a stem 12 and aligned cross arms 14 and 16, all of which are preferably formed integrally from a single stamping. The ends of the stem and arms are provided with points, teeth, or serrations 18 which project obliquely from the plane of the stem and arms at the same side of the piece, that is, upwardly in FIGURE 1. Piece 10 is associated with a slightly larger T-shaped envelope 20, which may be formed of a suitable flexible covering material, such as plastic, leather or other penetrable material. The envelope is completely closed except for an access opening 22, which in the form shown is a slit located along the center line of the arms 24 and 26, which with the stem 28 correspond to the identically named parts of the piece 10. The material of the envelope is preferably in decorative conformity with the material of the handle and/ or the handbag body with which the fastener is to be employed. The peripheral edges of the envelope 20 may be sealed by stitching, heat sealing, glneing, or the like.

The previously formed parts of FIGURE 1 are assembled as shown in FIGURE 2, the piece 10 being slipped through the opening 22 so that the stem 12 passes into the envelope stem 28. When the piece is fully inserted, the material of the envelope arms 24- and 26 is pulled around the exposed part of the piece arms 14 and 16 so that the piece is substantially fully covered and hidden from view.

The piece-envelope assembly or composite member may then be employed to form an attachment loop at the end of a handbag handle. To accomplish this, the end of a handle represented in FIGURE 3 as a flat flexible strap 30 is placed against the pointed side of the assembly in alignment with the stem 28 (the envelope reference characters being referred to for convenience) and spaced from the pointed end of the stem. The stem is then bent back over the handle end to form a loop 32 as shown in FIG- URE 3. In the example illustrated the loop forming operation also serves to connect the fastener to the handbag frame 34, because the stem is passed through a ring 36 which is received within a sleeve 38 attached, as by Welding, to the frame. It will be appreciated, however, that the loop could be formed first, and the operation of attachment to the frame made entirely separate.

The toothed end of the stem is pressed firmly against the handle 30, which is backed by the adjacent portions of the arms 24 and 26, a suitable tool being employed for this purpose. The teeth or points at the end of the stem accordingly penetrate the envelope material and become embedded in the handle. Arms 24 and 26 are then bent around the handle end and the stem so as to embrace the same as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. In the illustrative form the arms overlap one another, and the teeth or points of the respective arms are pressed into and become embedded in the underlying flexible material of the envelope, indenting the piece material somewhat, as shown in FIGURE 10. From FIGURE 5 it can be seen that the finished fastening is firmly attached to the handle and to the handbag frame, .yet provides a decorative appear ance. Moreover, the stiff material of the piece 10 within the envelope provides the reinforcement necessary to long use of the'handbag.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a modified form. of attachment device. In this form a T-shaped piece 40 of stiff, bendable material has arms 42 and 44 like the previous embodimeat, but has a bifurcated stem 46. The stem parts A and 46B are spaced and substantially parallel and have points 48 at their ends which project obliquely from the stem parts in substantially the same direction. Arms 42 and 44 have teeth or points 50 like the teeth or points 18 of FIGURE 1. In use, the stem 46 is bent back to form a loop 52 as shown in FIGURE 9, the handle end being omitted for clarity of illustration. The arms 42 and 44 are bent back around the stem parts 46A and 46B, and the teeth or points 50 of the. arms are introduced or projected into the space between the stem parts as shown in FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 7 illustrates the device of FIGURE 6 which has been inserted within the T-shaped envelope of FIGURE 1. The stem of the envelope could be bifurcated like the piece which it encloses. The handle of FIGURE 7 is substantially thicker than the handle 30 previously described and is preferred for use with the modified device. As shown in FIGURE 8, the points 48 of thestem parts are pressed into and become embedded in the handle, like the points 50. The modified construction is strong, yet decorative like the embodiment previously described. N

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes can be made without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims. Accordingly, the foregoing embodiments are ,to:beconside r ed illustrative, rather than restrictive of the invention, and those modifications which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be included therein.

The invention claimed is:

1. In combination with astrap end, a fastener loop comprising a T-shaped composite member, having an inner element in the form of a' stiff, bendable T-s haped piece and an outer envelope of a flexible penetrata-ble material substantially fully encasing said piece, said inner -T-shaped piece having at least one penetrating tooth at each of its extremities, said T-shaped composite member being applied to said strap end with the strap end located adjacent a loop formed by bending the stemof the T-shaped composite member upon itself and forcing the teeth at the .end of said stem into said strap end, the aligned arms of said T-shaped composite member being bent over upon said bent stem, one of said arms having its teeth penetrating said bent stem, the other of said arms having its teeth penetrating the first-mentioned arm.

. 2. Means for fastening the end of a handle to a ring on a handbag comprising a T-shaped composite member composed of an inner stiff, bendable T-shaped piece substantiaily completely enclosed within an envelope of flexible, penetratable material, the innerYpiece having penetrating teeth at the end of the sternithereof and at the end of each arm thereof, the end of the handle being positioned against, one face of the T-shaped compositemember in alignment with the stem thereof, the stem pf said composite member being threaded through the ring of the handbag and bent upon itself in face-to-face relation with said handle end and with its teeth penetrating said handle end, the arms of said composite member being bent over to embrace the handle end and the bent stem, with V the teeth of one arm penetrating the envelope of the stem,

and with the teeth of theother arm penetrating the envelope of the first-named arm.

3. A device according to claim 1 in which the stem of said inner, stilf, bendable T-shaped pieeeis continuous and uninterrupted.

4. A device according to claim 1 in which the stem of said inner, stiff, bendable T-shaped piece is bifurcated.

5. A device according to claim 1 in which the stem of said inner, stiff, bendable T-shaped piece is bifurcated, and the arms of said T-shaped' composite member are bent inwardly over said bifurcations and toward each other so that the teeth on the ends of said arms are positioned between said bifurcations and penetrate said strap end.

6. The method of making a handle fastener for a handbag or the like which comprises the steps of providing a composite T-shaped member composed of a stiff, bendable T-shaped piece encased within a corresponding shaped envelope, there being penetrating teeth at the extremities of said piece, applying said composite member to said handle end, bending the stem of said composite member upon itself to form a loop as an extension of said handle end, forcing the teeth at the end of said stem into said handle end, and bending the aligned arms of said composite member over said stem, in succession, forcing the teeth of one of said arms into the envelope material of said stem and forcing the teeth of the other arm into the envelope material of said first-mentioned arm.

7. The method of making a fastener loop at the end of a handbag handle which comprises the steps of providing a composite T-shaped member composed of an inner T-shaped piece of stiff, bendable material encased within an outer envelope of flexible and penetratable material, the inner piece having penetrating" teeth at each of its extremities, applying said composite member to the end of a handbag handle with one surface of the handle end in contact with said composite member and in alignment with the stem of said member in a manner to leave enough material of said stem to form a loop, bending'said stem over upon the opposite surface of said handbag handle end to form a loop and causing said penetrating teeth at the end of the stem to penetrate said handle end, bending one arm of said composite member over upon said stem and causing the teeth on the extremity of that arm to penetrate the material of said stem, and bending the remaining arm of said composite member over upon 'said first-mentioned arm and causing the teeth thereof to penetrate the underlying arm.

8. The method of forming a fastener loop at the end of a handbag handle comprising the steps of providing a composite T-shaped member composed of an'inner, stiff, bendable T-shaped piece, snugly encased within an outer envelope of corresponding shape, the piece having teeth at the ends of its stem and arms, the stem of said piece being bifurcated, applying said composite member to the end of a handbag handle, bending the stem of said composite member to form a loop about the end of said handle with the teeth at the ends of the bifurcations penetrating said handle, and bending the aligned arms of said composite member over said bifuracted stern and toward each other and causing the teeth at. the ends of said arms to enter between said bifurcations and to penetrate said handle end. I

9. The method of making a handle fastener for a handbag or the like, comprising forming a stiii'bendable T-shaped piece with points at the ends of its stem and arms, forming a slightly larger T-shaped flexible envelope with an accessopening for said piece, inserting said piece through said opening and into said envelope so that it is covered thereby, bending the stem of said piece and envelope assembly .upon the end of a handle, with the bight of the bent stem spaced from the handle end to form a loop, andbending the arms of said assembly 'upon theend of said stem to'wrap them about said handle end. 7 V 1 The method of making an end fastener for a handle of a handbag or the like, comprising forming a stiff, bendable T-shaped piece with a pair of aligned arms and V a stem the extremities of which have points projecting obliquelytherefr'om on the same side of the piece, forming a slightly larger T-shaped flexible envelope with an assesses access opening for said piece, inserting said piece through said opening and into said envelope to form a pieceenvelope assembly, placing the end of a flexible handle against the side of said assembly from which said points project and in substantial alignment with said stern, bending said stem upon said handle end to form a loop, forcing the teeth of the stem into the handle, bending the aligned arms upon the bent stern, and forcing the teeth of the bent aligned arms into the underlying material.

11. The method of forming an end fastener for the handle of a flexible handbag strap or the like, comprising forming a stiif, bendable T-shaped piece with a pair of aligned arms and a bifurcated stem, at least said bifurcated stem having teeth projecting obliquely from its end, bending the bifurcated stem around the end of a flexible handle so that the teeth are pressed into the handle, and

bending the aligned arms around the handle end and the bifurcated stem with the ends of the aligned arms projecting medially of the bifurcation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,091,280 Brauer Mar. 24, 1914 1,407,291 Miller Feb. 21, 1922 1,985,103 Olson Dec. 18, 1934 2,143,869 Donald Jan. 17, 1939 2,234,577 Reiter Mar. 11, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 19,798 Great Britain Sept. 2, 1913 355,150 Great Britain Aug. 20, 1931

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