Purses – wallets – and protective covers – Purse or handbag type – Plural
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-07
2001-05-15
Weaver, Sue A. (Department: 3727)
Purses, wallets, and protective covers
Purse or handbag type
Plural
C150S113000, C190S102000, C190S108000, C190S111000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230771
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
Purses, briefcases, rucksacks and other carrying devices
2. Description of the Prior Art
Occasionally a descriptive term in this application may be shortened so as to recite only a part rather than the entirety thereof as a matter of convenience or to avoid needless redundancy. In instances in which that is done, applicant intends that the same meaning be afforded each manner of expression. Thus, the term slide strap coupling purse (
2
) might be used in one instance but in another, if meaning is otherwise clear from context, expression might be shortened to coupling purse (
2
) or merely purse (
2
). Any of those forms is intended to convey the same meaning. The term attach or fasten or any of their forms when so used means that the juncture is of a more or less permanent nature, such as might be accomplished by bolts, welds or adhesives. Thus it is stated herein concerning the connection of the bearing straps (
10
) and the packet case (
1
) that each strap's anchoring end (
10
) is attached to the packet case (
1
). A connection in which one object is easily removed from another is described by the word emplace, as where it is stated herein that the coupling purse (
2
) is emplaced for assembly upon the packet case (
1
). Employment of the words connect or join or any of their forms is intended to include the meaning of both in a more general way.
The word comprise may be construed in either of two ways herein. A generic term used to describe a given one of a number of specific elements is said to comprise it, thereby characterizing the specific element with equivalency in meaning for the generic term. Thus, the carry-all assembly may be said to comprise a packet case (
1
) and a coupling purse (
2
), meaning that in the particular instance, the case (
1
) and purse (
2
) are the entirety of the assembly.
However, the word comprise may also be used to describe a feature which is part of the structure or composition of a given element. Thus, packet case (
1
) may be said to comprise an emplacement face (
11
), meaning that the structure of the case (
1
) is such as to have the emplacement face (
11
) as a feature of its (
1
) structure. The meaning in the respective cases is clear from context, however. Accordingly, modifying words to clarify which of the two uses is the intended one seem unnecessary.
Terms relating to physical orientation such as, up, down, higher and lower refer to the positioning of the carrying container in the manner in which it is typically oriented for emplacement or withdrawal of objects. Thus, the zipper or other closure (
220
) for an external pouch (
200
) or internal pocket (
202
) is spoken of as being disposed proximate the top of the case (
1
) and pattern (
42
), in
FIG. 9
, as representing an enwrapment panel which in part forms the bottom thereof (
1
).
The number of carrying devices—purses, brief cases, rucksacks, luggage and the like—which have emerged in patentable form during the past century is remarkable. The marked variance in burden size required for one occasion as opposed to another presented challenges almost from the start, however. It was observed that on one errand, a small container might suffice, obviating the inconvenience, if not the exhaustion, involved with a partially filled larger piece. It was also noted that while a bulkier one might be required for other ventures, the operator (
100
) often needed to keep one hand free and, therefore, forgo carrying one container in each. In the course of time, innovative solutions addressed this problem, resolving themselves into what the applicant finds to comprise the three general classes outlined ante.
Where two interconnecting carrying containers are contemplated, ease of connection and separability have been foremost in the inventor's mind. In that respect, small sectors of the prior art have been only partly successful. The few of the following historical examples addressing that objective fail in other respects—such as convenience in accessibility and transport or bulkiness of design, for example. Too often, the connection between the interconnecting parts is too tight, demanding more of the operator (
100
) and sometimes causing separation wear upon the respective bags as they are being pried apart. The highly praised zipper has occasionally been known to fail at the precise moment rapid connection or disconnection is desired.
What is really needed in an assembly which permits almost instantaneous connection and removal; comprises looseness—or play—between the connected parts; and allows the one to associate with the other in a manner which is not integral but rather, in unified but partially separated relationship. The exploration of the past for structural integrity, it has turned out, has not satisfied mothers who need to take baby bottles, diapers and other paraphernalia with them; or those in business who sometimes carry lap-top computers along with their client files and, perhaps, a ledger book or two. One need only look around to see that the clever zipped or snapped together contraptions of the prior art are not there. For the most part they fail abysmally to fill the needs of those “on the go”, so to speak. The key to the apparent dilemma of providing connectibility with unity but yet, that separable out-of-the-way character lies in allowing a degree of pendency between them—that is, by constructing one so that it is suspended or essentially hung from the other rather than being tightly bound to it.
At the same time, it would be extremely helpful if the weight of each bag could be borne at a common point such that the straps or handles from each be somehow brought together. Provision for that objective would obviate disadvantages which might otherwise be associated with this sought after loose pendency.
It would also be useful if the assembly, or parts of it, might be carried by either a male or female. A man might carry one of the parts if formed in the manner of a briefcase or rucksack. A woman might carry one of its parts if constructed as a purse or the entire combination if the purse were pending from the second larger piece.
Moreover, the attractiveness of the carrying assembly is more than an incidental matter. Styling in this field is indeed a matter of utility, not merely one of vain ornamentation.
U.S. Pat. No. 587,251 issued to Wilentshik is interesting in portraying part of a 19th Century train of development featuring an arrangement of interior compartments (
201
) or pockets (
202
) continuing even until the present day; U.S. Pat. No. 3,963,102 issued to Carp; U.S. Pat. No. 4,177,909 issued to Haskelt; U.S. Pat. No. 4,263,951 issued to Sieget; U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,790 issued to Meyers; U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,769 issued to Phares, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,788 issued to Hersh, et al follow that tradition. The Meyers device comprises two purse-like structures of different sizes, the smaller insertable within the larger.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,425,217 issued to Reguski; U.S. Pat. No. 3,117,607, U.S. Pat. No. 3,955,609 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,192,365 all issued to Sieget; U.S. Pat. No. 4,257,463 issued to Monaco; U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,278 issued to LaConte; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,445 issued to Christman all feature handbags or similarly functioning carrying devices with external pouches (
200
), some of the bags additionally comprising flaps and some, interior compartments (
201
) or pockets (
202
). The Monaco device also illustrates a smaller purse which slips into one of the pouches (
200
) to comprise a dual combination.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,425,217 issued to Regulski, supra; U.S. Pat. No. 2,672,903 issued to Machinist; U.S. Pat. No. 2,813,602 issued to MacArthur, U.S. Pat. No. 3,001,566 issued to Lipsitz; U.S. Pat. No. 3,061,057 issued to Miller; U.S. Pat. No. 3,122,225 issued to Ward; U.S. Pat. No. 3,443,671 issued to Dyke; U.S. Pat. No. 3,696,850 issued to Rosenblum; U.S. Pat. No. 3,831,651 issued to Leahy; U.S. Pat. No. 4,081,061 issued to Tucker; U.S. Pat. No. 4,250,938 issued to Siegel; U.S. Pat. No. 4
Bonneville Loyd W.
Weaver Sue A.
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