US3455359A - Container with magnetic safety frame - Google Patents

Description

July 15, 1969 A. M. SCHWEIZER 3,455,359

CONTAINER WITH MAGNETIC SAFETY FRAME F/GZ Muenfor An/omeffe M, Schwazer United States Patent U.S. Cl. 15029 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to a safety lock device for handbags, lunchboxes, suitcases and similar containers, wherein said receptables are provided with a magnetic frame. Both pivotal parts of said frame being formed entirely of an integral mixture of plastic and magnetic powder.

The object of this invention in connection with the frame of the container, provides an absolutely reliable, secure lock which serves as a second lock, and security against self-opening of these containers or it can replace the customary lock.

This inventive idea originated after the consideration of the fact, that the present standard mechanical locks on, for example, handbags or suitcases do not provide absolute safety against self-opening.

Experience has shown that, for instance, a handbag has been found open, when its owner was about to pay for something, and found money or papers missing. This self-opening characteristic of a handbag, suitcase or lunchbox is often caused when its owner closed it superficially, was pushed against in a crowd, or, as in most instances, realized that the mechanical lock stopped functioning.

This well known disadvantageous self-opening happens especially often to children carrying some food and perhaps milk-money in their lunchboxes, and who, upon their arrival at school are unpleasantly surprised to find it empty. The disagreeable astonishment of having a suitcase open in the middle of the street and its contents gathered to gether by those passing by, is also not unknown. This invention provides a magnetic safety lock which protects against self-opening. The magnetic attraction power holds both halves of handbag securely together as well as the lid of a suitcase or lunchbox to its lower or opposite part, even if the locking of the container had been forgotten or the mechanical lock no longer functions properly.

The uses of magnetic locks are not new, for they can be found in numerous variations on closets, cabinets, doors, refrigerators, etc.

Such magnets can be obtained all over. However, this kind of a magnetic lock cannot be mounted advantageously on a ladies pretty handbag or a purse characterized by refinement and good taste or an elegant piece of luggage, without disturbing its beautiful effect.

They are relatively too large, visible and have insufiicient attraction power to lock a handbag which has, for example, an inch wide frame. Besides, the assembling of such an ordinary marketable lock would cause technical complications, because a suitcase frame and handbag frame would have to be made in such large dimensions as to cause a clumsy appearance.

A magnet of this type of lock has also been known to loosen and fall out of its lodging.

According to the objects of the invention of the Magnetic Safetyframe for Containers, the above mentioned disadvantages are eliminated. In order to provide handbags, lunchboxes, suitcases and similar containers with an absolutely secure and indestructible lock, the frame of these objects will be made of magnetic material throughout.

3,455,359 Patented July 15, 1969 Magnetic frames for handbags and like containers have both of their pivotal parts made entirely of an integral mixture of a substantially rigid plastic or rubber, etc. and a highly magnetizable ferromagnetic powder material.

The two magnetic parts are joined by a pivot means disposed at both of their lower opposite ends which provides for the pivotal movement between the closed and open positions thereof.

The two separate parts of the frame are magnetized to have opposite polarity thus enhancing their attraction for each other.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent in the following detail description and the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a magnetic frame forming my invention, shown in semi-open position;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the frame, illustrated in FIG. 1, in closed position looking toward one end thereof, and showing one means of attaching the receptacle portion thereto; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the magnetic frame shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 after attachment to the receptacle portion of a handbag or the like.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a frame 10 consisting of two separate U-shaped magnetized parts 11, 12 pivotally joined together at their lower opposite ends 13, 13' 14, 14' by an intersecting pivot 15, 15', respectively.

Each frame part has an inner surface, 16, 16' which is flush with its counterpart throughout its entire U-shaped configuration, i.e., from ends 13, 14 to ends 13, 14, respectively. These two meeting surfaces are of opposite polarity to enhance their mutual magnetic attraction.

In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in the drawings, each frame part 11, 12 is L-shaped in cross section, see FIG. 1, with a U-shaped flange 17, 17' extending rearwardly from its right-angled portion 16, 16'. One important function of flanges 17, 17 is to provide structural strength to the frame.

The outer edges of the material forming the receptacle portion 18 of a container such as a handbag 19 or the like, may be adhered by glue, cement, etc., fused, smelted and/or afiixed by any other conventional means, to the under surfaces of flanges 16, 16" and/or 17, 17', respectively, see FIG. 2, to form the container shown in FIG. 3.

In addition to the self-closing frame 11, 12, 15 the container may also have a dual clamp or latching means 26, 21 forming a supplementary safety lock. Each means is attached to opposite parts of the frame. Such a lock may not only provide a decorative ornament, but also an effective means of separating the two self-closing parts 11, 12 to afford access to the container.

It will be seen that even if the mechanical latch 20 may be accidentally dislodged from its locked position in engagement with knob 21, the handbag would still remain closed to safeguard its contents until an oppositely directed pull, in excess of the magnetic force of frame parts 11, 12, is exerted on the latching means 20, 21.

Although the magnetized frame 11, 12 is preferably fabricated from substantially rigid plastic material, it also could be molded from a more pliable magnetic band or strip material formed of rubber and ferromagnetized powder. For example, the frame parts 11, 12 could be fabricated from such magnetbands having a width of 0.5 inch and a thickness of 0.125 inch. This would provide a magnetic attraction suffcient to pull two frame halves together from a distance of between 1 /2-2 inches, and thereafter hold them firmly together against accidental separation.

The frame construction is not limited to the specific embodiments shown in the drawings, but may be of any suitable construction to which the receptacle portion may be attached by any conventional means.

The forms of the invention here described and illustrated are presented merely as examples of how the invention may be embodied and applied. Other forms, embodiments and applications of the invention, will of course suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A container comprising a receptacle portion, a frame attached to said receptacle portion adapted to open and close said container to provide access thereto, said frame comprising two separate parts and pivot means for joining said parts and providing for their pivotal movement between closed and open positions, both of said parts being formed entirely of an integral mixture of plastic and magnetic powder, and said parts being magnetized and having opposite polarity thereby to provide a selfclosing frame.

2. A container according to claim 1, including a latching means disposed on said frame wherein said self-closing frame forms a supplementary safety lock for said container.

3. A frame for a handbag and the like comprising a pair of U-shaped molded parts of substantially rigid strip material, each said part being formed entirely of a mixture of plastic and magnetic powder, said parts being magnetized and having opposite polarity, and pivot means joining said parts at opposite end thereof and providing for their pivotal movement between closed and open positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,288,688 7/1942 Oubilier.

2,959,832 11/1960 Baermann.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,191,546 4/1959 France.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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