US2405379A - Secret pocket billfold - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 6, 1946. 1-1.1. THOMAS SECRET POCKET BILLFOLD Filed Jan. 16, 1945 HARRY TH /W Patented Aug. 6, 1 946 SECRET POCKET BILLFOLD Application January 16, 1945, Serial No. 573,031

This invention relates generally to pocket or personal articles and pertains particularly to certain improvements in wallets or billfolds.

-The primary object of the present invention 'is to provide in a wallet or billfold, a novel secret its presence.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a pocket receptacle or wallet of the character described, a pocket having a fold down cover or flap, with a second pocket behind the first and having the opening or mouth leading thereinto covered by a portion of the flap or cover for the first pocket in such a manner that even when the flap of the first pocket is raised for access to the first pocket, the opening to and presence of the second or secret pocket will be shielded from detection.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide in a secret pocket construction in association with an ordinary change pocket, a novel manner of attaching the flap or cover for the change pocket whereby a portion of such flap or cover will depend into the change pocket and hide the opening to the secret pocket while appearing to be merely excess material of the change pocket cover flap.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of the present invention, with the understanding, however, that minor changes may be made in the invention 50 long as such changes do not depart materially from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure l, is a view in perspective of a billfold constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2, is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3, is a view in perspective of one end of the billfold, showing the open change pocket and the secret pocket opening, a portion of the cover piece for such opening, being broken away.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-4 of Figure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, there is shown in Figure 1 an ordinary type of wallet or billfold such as is commonly carried by men, this wallet being generally designated B.

The numeral designates the usual currency 2 Claims. (Cl. -35) pocket or compartment which is formed by the back Wall H and the front wall l2, the latter wallin the present form of wallet being shown as of less height than the back wall. As is customary this wallet folds transversely at the center at IS.

The numeral hi generally designates the usual auxiliary pocket or group of pockets located upon the inner side of the inner wall l2. These form no part of the present invention.

At the opposite end of the wallet from the group of pockets M, is formed a card pocket IS, the wall l2 providing the back wall for such pocket and the front wall being provided by the leather body Hi which is secured to wall I2 along the top and bottom edges and across the outer end edge by the usual line of stitching H, the inner end edge of this wall l6 being free of connection with the wall I 2 so as to provide an opening or mouth l8 leading into the card pocket.

The numeral [9 generally designates a change or coin pocket or purse which is secured against the front wall l6 of the card pocket I5.

In accordance with the present invention this change pocket has a back wall 20 which is of the same size as and completely covers the wall l6 of the card pocket, against the face of which wall Hi the wall 21] lies. The wall 20 of the change pocket is stitched to the underlying wall l6 of the card pocket, along all four edges and the space between these walls I6 and 20, provides the secret pocket which is designated 2|.

The front wall for the change pocket is designated 22 and, as shown, this front wall is of the same length as the wall 20 and has its lower edge parallel with the lower or bottom edges of the walls ll, l2, l6 and 20. Such walls are all stitched together by the bottom line of stitching, designated 23 and forming a continuation of the end line of stitching IT. The front wall 22 of the change pocket is of less height than the back wall 20 and adjacent to each of its ends, the wall 22' ha a fold 24 formed therein so that it can be moved outwardly to a considerable extent away from the wall 20 to provide an ample pocket space for coins or other small articles.

The numeral 25 designates the cover or flap for the change pocket. This flap has a maximum width adjacent to one longitudinal edge, which is only slightly less than the over-all Width of the change pocket at the mouth. The part of the flap 25 which is of maximum width, is designated 26 and this part of the flap is disposed just inside the mouth of'the change pocket 22, and is 3 secured to the back wall 2B of the change pocket by the row of stitching 21.

As shown the row of stitching 21 is spaced slightly from the lower longitudinal edge 28 of the flap and the material of the flap, lying between the stitching 21, which passes only through the flap and the underlying back wall 20 of the change pocket, and the adjacent lower or inner edge 28, is free from connection with the wall 20 and affords a cover piece 29 for the slit or opening 30 which is formed through the wall 20 just below the stitching line 21. This slit or opening 30 provides the mouth leading into the secret pocket, This mouth is completely covered by the cover piece 29 as shown so that any one opening the flap 25 and looking into the change pocket, would merely assume that the cover piece forms an excess bit of the material of the flap 25 and has no utility.

When the flap 25 is closed down over the front side of the wall 22 it may be secured in any suitable manner as, for example, by the use of the usual snap fastener which is generally designated 3|.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that there is provided in the present invention, a novel form of secret pocket to which access may be readily had but which is effectively concealed from view and discovery by any one who may examine the billiold and who is not familiar with the location of such pocket.

I claim:

1. In a pocket receptacle such as a billfold and the like, means forming a pocket having a flap cover, a back wall and a front wall, the back wall being secured throughout its perimeter to 4 a wall of the adjacent receptacle, said flap being secured to said back wall to fold down over the top edge of the front wall, the said back wall having a slot cut therethrough below the top edge of said front wall to give access to the space between said back wall and the wall of the receptacle to which the back wall is secured, and a flexible member lying within the pocket and secured along a line lying above the slot to the back wall of the pocket and normally covering said slot.

2. In a pocket receptacle such as a. billIold and the like, such billfold having a pair of spaced walls forming a currency pocket, two superimposed walls of exact configuration and dimensions secured, together throughout their edges and secured against one of said pair of walls of the currency pocket along three of their four edges, a change pocket comprising an outer wall secured along bottom and end edges to the outermost one of the superimposed walls, said outermost one of the superimposed walls forming a back wall for the change pocket, the said outer wall of the change pocket being of materially less height than the back wall, a closure flap for the change pocket having a portion extending into the space between said outer wall and said back wall, the closure flap being stitched to said back wall on a line spaced from the lower edge of the flap, and a slot cut through said back wall immediately below the stitch line for the flap, the material of the flap lying below said stitch line forming a cover piece completely overlying and shielding said slot, said slot giving access to the space between the said superimposed walls. HARRY I. THOMAS.

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