FOLDING COIN PURSE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME

Abstract

The method of making a folding coin purse involves forming a first pocket and a second pocket on a layer of rectangular material. A peripheral border is biased into an upstanding position. The peripheral border frames an access opening between the first pocket and the second pocket. A second half of the body folds over a first half of the body to close the access opening.

Description

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/939,259 filed on Nov. 13, 2007 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/131,172 filed on May 17, 2005 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/761,506 filed on Jan. 21, 2004.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a folding coin purse, which can be accommodated in a pocket, and a method of making the same. The newly added feature relates to a springy plastic stiffener with covered corners so that the purse does not catch on clothing pocket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 2,368,687 (Stanley 1945) is an example of a folding coin purse. The Stanley coin purse consists of an inner flat layer and an outer flat layer of material peripherally stitched to each other. An open access window is provided in one half of the inner flat layer, leaving a loose narrow peripheral margin. The open access window allows the user to view coins within the coin purse and it has a tab to pull up with another hand to lift the end wall up when shuffling coins. The peripheral margin confines the coins. The coin purse folds in half, over the access window, to assume a closed position.

Japanese Patent application 2000357237 (Kojima 2000) similarly discloses a folding coin purse with an inner layer and an outer layer. The inner layer has two “U” shaped peripheral margins arranged in an end to end relation, with a transparent material closing in the “U” shape of one half to form a transparent pocket. There is a gap between the “U” shaped peripheral margins, which facilitates the coin purse folding in half. The Kojima 2000 patent mentions fixed walls, which means that they are not collapsible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses several alternative constructions for a folding coin purse with collapsible walls, which can be mostly made of upholstery materials, reinforced vinyl, leather or cloth.

According to the present invention, two methods of making a folding coin purse with four collapsible walls are provided. In the following description, when the material is said to be curled or folded, this indicates that the material is curved up and over once. The coin purse can be made by a first method which involves providing a layer of pliable rectangular material having a first end peripheral edge, a second end peripheral edge, a first side peripheral edge and a second side peripheral edge. A second step involves folding the first end peripheral edge over and securing it to the first side peripheral edge and the second side peripheral edge to form a first pocket with leaving wide side seams. A third step involves folding the second end peripheral edge over and securing it to the first side peripheral edge and the second side peripheral edge to form a second pocket but also leaving wide side seams. A fourth step involves turning both of the first pocket and the second pocket inside out. This forms a body with a first inside out pocket as a first pocket or end wall, a second inside out pocket as a second end wall and the two peripheral side walls, which are created by the wide pocket side seams of the two inverted pockets thus making the four walls necessary for the purse. A fifth step involves folding a second half of the body over a first half of the body to close the access opening to the purse.

According to the prior art, an inner layer and an outer layer were secured together about a peripheral edge. This maintains the peripheral border in a relatively flat orientation. With the folding coin purse according to the present invention, as described above, the peripheral border is biased into an upstanding position by the turning of the first pocket and the second pocket inside out. This results in a much fuller peripheral border which is better adapted to confine the coins within the purse. The border is so much superior to the prior art so that generally one-handed operation of the coin purse is made possible.

According to the present invention, a second method of making a folding coin purse with four collapsible walls is also provided. With this method, a first step involves providing a layer of pliable rectangular material having its corners cut out. A second step involves curling over each of the first end peripheral edge, the second end peripheral edge, the first side peripheral edge, the second side peripheral edge. The first end peripheral edge is secured to both of the first side peripheral edge and the second side peripheral edge. The second end peripheral edge is secured to both of the first side peripheral edge and the second side peripheral edge. This forms a body with four peripheral walls having a first end wall, a second end wall and two side walls which together frame an access opening. A third step involves folding a second half of the body over a first half of the body to close the access opening of the purse.

A functioning folding coin purse can be obtained by following either of the two methods described above. A purse can also be made by either method on the first half of a purse and either method on the second half of the purse. Whether made by the first method or the second method, of a combination of both methods, additional features, as will be hereinafter further described, can be added to further improve performance of the purse.

The first half of the purse, made by the first method, may have a larger pocket by having a rectangular piece of material with a cut out window covered by a mesh or a transparent flexible plastic material sewn around it, so that when the first end is folded over with the transparency to make a larger pocket and a second smaller pocket folded on opposite end for end wall, the pockets are sewn on both sides with leaving wide seams, since the width of seams determine the size of the side walls between the two pockets, when pockets are inverted. It is to be appreciated that a larger coin pocket is achieved with a transparency on first end, a smaller pocket as end wall on second end, and the two side walls between the two pockets, also the opening of both pockets, the sides may be secured to the side walls. If the transparent coin pocket is made farther from mid purse fold line, this allows the pocket to take and receive coins easier from a shallower coin pocket and provides more open access space for retrieving coins from a remainder of the purse since the purse can fold either before or after the mid purse fold line. There may be a springy plastic stiffener with curved corners in second end wall to keep purse corners curved to avoid catching on clothing pocket. If desired, the second half of the purse may instead be made by the second method having either one or two stiffeners on second end wall to have purse walls go upright.

The first pocket may be made by either the first method or the second method if transparent material is sewn to purse first end wall and side walls by a shoe makers sewing machine. Or a flat U-shaped plastic insert, with a springy transparent plastic hinged to the mid section of the U-shape plastic insert and may be called U-shape—maybe secured to the first end wall and side walls on the first half purse with an industrial shoe makers sewing machine. The transparent plastic material, if moved upward through U-shape sides, can be held so as not to go up too high by securing it with a string(s) to the U-shape, or have a notch made on transparent plastic side or to inner U-shape side(s). If desired the transparent plastic may have a flexible plastic on its end so as not to scruff the purse closing cover. There may also be a more durable hinge piece secured to the mid U-shape and to the transparent plastic also. If purse is not over loaded with coins being that transparent plastic can move upward to take coins, it can be made closer to the mid purse fold line allowing to use the purse without engaging fasteners, if desired, being that purse has plastic stiffeners secured in side walls near mid purse fold line in second half of the purse. There can be strips of plastic secured to purse bottom if transparent plastic scrubs on purse bottom when moved upward although that also helps to hold transparent plastic upward.

Flat or curved plastic stiffeners, secured to the side walls of the second half purse, restrain the coins when the purse is closed end wise. If the stiffeners are secured to width of the purse fold line purse will typically not widen, if secured past the fold line purse will widen, and the same applies to softer plastic U-shape sides. The side wall stiffeners also keep the side walls curved over down flat when pressed down by the second end wall stiffener.

When walls in second half purse are to move upright, the end wall over side walls are sewn together through the purse sides spaced some from the corners, then at second end wall, a springy rectangular plastic stiffener being the width of purse at its curved upward corners only which is to have purse corners curved upward also, to avoid catching on clothing pocket, it's held to purse between the stitching through purse sides and the corners. Then two other being somewhat similar rectangular plastic stiffeners in width, the lower stiffener has its corner cut off to pass by the sewing through purse sides which are spaced some from the corners, and it also gives some room for purse corners to be curved and side walls with their stiffeners moving to the end of second end wall: the top rectangular stiffener may start just above the sewing through the purse sides and both stiffeners are secured together at their mid, the top stiffener stays on top of the side walls and the lower stiffener stays under the side wall stiffeners, they are secured to second end wall at mid also, the top stiffener may be curved upward some near mid then curved downward if needed so that the side wall edges with stiffeners move freely back and forth between the two plastic stiffeners each time the walls go upright and down. When second end wall is moved upright the side walls with stiffeners go upright also, if needed due to some materials a notch may be made by making a cut on top of side wall stiffener and curving one side of cut inward to keep the end wall stiffener upright at the notch, when end wall is pushed off the notch side walls also go down flat for closing the purse. The stiffener with curved corners makes the end wall more rigid when upright and pushing coins do not put it down. This avoids having a notch on side wall stiffener. This purse works because the purse walls are straight—not curved or rounded—and also because the side wall edges go back and forth between two stiffeners in the end wall. A string or thread is secured from end wall to the side wall to prevent the end wall from moving over upright too far.

When the second end wall is over side walls and are sewn together through the purse sides spaced some from the corners, the end wall may have only one springy plastic stiffener with curved upward corners to keep the purse corners curved to avoid catching on clothing pockets. Springy plastic flat or curved stiffeners are secured to side walls extending from near mid purse fold line to some past a cut on side walls which is near the stitching through purse sides, when taking coins and the side walls are pushed wider with fingers, this makes the end wall stiffener drop some between side walls, then side walls are held to width of end wall stiffener, if the end wall stiffener is made wider, the side walls can go upright or some over upright, this purse should be trouble free in different climate conditions. The end wall stiffener, may be curved upward some and secured to end wall. Before closing this purse endwise the end wall is kept open and is moved downward till the side walls collapse inward, then end wall with stiffener is closed over the side walls to close the purse.

When the end wall is over side walls and they are secured together through the walls of purse the side wall stiffeners may be sewn to side walls to some before end wall. The stiffeners are cut angled to a point in which their top ends are curved inward so end wall stiffener pushes them down flat with sidewalls to close the purse. Also stiffeners were sewn to side walls that go into the second end wall. The improvement for those purses is having a springy plastic stiffener with curved corners secured to end wall so purse corners do not catch on clothing pocket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or embodiments shown, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partially constructed purse showing the position at which the side wall stiffeners are secured and also showing the shape of the opposite two second end wall stiffeners which hold the walls upright, a stiffener with curved corners may be secured to the purse bottom, if needed, and hold the opposite purse corners closer together when the purse is closed;

FIG. 1A shows the upper half in the drawing having the side walls cut about halfway near the stitching through purse sides, stiffeners are secured to side walls and when side walls are spread wider, the end wall stiffener drops some and side walls are held to the width of end wall stiffener which has its corners curved also. So if end wall stiffener sides are narrower, as shown, the side walls will not go upright unless end wall stiffener is made wider, the end wall stiffener has curved corners for both types of purses so that the purse corners are curved so as not to catch on clothing, such as a pocket;

FIG. 2 is another embodiment of a top plan view of the constructed purse having a U-shaped insert with a springy transparent plastic, hinged to the mid section of the U-shaped, which is secured to the first end wall and the side walls on the first half of the purse;

FIG. 2A is a top plan view of the constructed purse with only one springy plastic stiffener with curved corners secured to the second end wall, if the top of end wall stiffener is curved upward it holds coins better,

FIG. 3A, for a first half purse, is a view of transparent plastic hinged to the U shape mid section and acts as a hinge, the rest of the transparent plastic bends when pushed up through the U shaped sides when this is turned up side down, it also allows sewing of the side walls and end wall to the U shape and provides adequate access to place and retrieve coins from the purse;

FIG. 3B is a view of another mainly spring type transparent plastic using an extra hinge piece, sewn to the U shape mid section and to the transparent plastic, which also has some flexible plastic so as not to scruff the closing cover and, if needed, there may also be a strip of the same transparent plastic secured under the hinge to better hold it in an upper position;

FIG. 3C is a further view of mainly springy type transparent plastic which is put into first end wall to make a purse with a thin material, having a T-shaped stiffener and side wall stiffeners on a second half purse and there may also be a narrow plastic strip up right in the end wall to keep it from warping;

FIG. 3D are strips of plastic for sewing to the transparent material and then sewn to purse walls, if required;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a T-shaped plastic stiffener used for the second half purse in FIG. 3C;

FIG. 5 is a side view of an un-collapsed purse;

FIG. 6 is side view of the purse un-collapsed;

FIG. 7 is top plan view of the purse in a closed position;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a layer of material on a first end having a cutout window replaced with transparent material and showing fold lines, prior to folding, for the first method;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the layer of material illustrated in FIG. 8 with folds being made to fold over a first end peripheral edge to form a first larger pocket with wide side seems and a second end peripheral edge to form a second pocket with wide side seems, and the width of the seams determine the size of the side walls for purse;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the layer of material illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, once the first pocket and the second pocket are turned inside out so that they form the peripheral side walls made by both pocket side seams, the second half purse may be made by the second method instead, if walls are desired to stand or rise higher;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of the coin purse, illustrated in FIG. 10, in an open orientation and un-collapsed;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the coin purse, illustrated in FIG. 10, in a closed orientation; and

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the coin purse illustrated in FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a partial construction of a purse, produced by the second method, having a rectangular piece of material 11 with its corners 19 cut off so that the folded side walls 22 are under the folded end walls 14 and 16, as with the purse in FIG. 2, which are secured together 25 through the purse sides spaced some from the corners for the second end wall and sewn 31 for the first end wall. The fasteners 26 and 28 may be sewn to end walls 14 and 16 on the outer side of material to be as in FIG. 2 purse, the side wall stiffeners 43 in second half purse 34 hold the coins when purse is closed, they also hold the purse material side walls 22 to be curved over down flat for closing purse and they also help to hold coins when using purse without engaging fasteners, usually when opening of coin panel 21 is made closer to a mid purse fold line 33, they are secured inside side walls from near mid purse fold line 33 and extend into end of end wall 16, stiffener 43 narrowed ends are to pass by the stitching through purse and should be smooth being secured to the side walls along or in spots shown in FIG. 1 and purse walls are secured together by sowing 25 through purse sides near the corners shown in FIG. 2 if purse walls are to go upright. A good springy plastic, suitable for the side wall stiffener 43, is when it bends well over coins but stays straight when purse is opened again. If the side wall stiffeners 43 are secured to the side wall fold line 47 the purse should not widen unless the material stretches, but if they are secured past the fold line 47, as shown, the lower stiffener in the drawing FIG. 1 the purse will become wider at mid then on the purse end and the same is with U-shape sides if softer plastic is used. The side wall stiffeners 43 are narrowed in one end so side wall edges 18 and 20 are not obstructed to move back and forth in end wall by the purse curved corners nor the sewing through purse spaced some from purse corners.

A springy plastic stiffener 72 for second end wall 16 in FIG. 1 may extend the width of purse at its curved corners only, its held at purse bottom between the stitching through purse sides 25 and the corners shown in FIG. 2, the second end wall is made larger since when it is open upright with stiffeners 72 and 49 the end wall 16 bottom is lower then purse bottom is, which also makes end wall 16 lower above purse bottom, this way the coins pushed higher on stiffener 72 to avoid end wall 16 from closing so that a notch 67 on side wall stiffeners 43 can be eliminated to hold the end walls upright. If it is necessary so coins push higher on end wall 16 when stiffener 72 is made low and secured to mid to near wall fold line 16 some moving coins get held under stiffener 72 and the rest of the coins go over pushing higher on end wall 16 having it upright. Another way is to have stiffener 72 be over half as high as stiffener 49 and they are secured together through purse mid end 16 shown in two strokes where fastener 28 is in FIG. 2. This seems to make the purse more rigid and end wall stays up. Also 72 stiffener points to the line of angle its corners are curved which is about 45 degrees or as needed to have the purse corners curved so purse does not catch but slide out of clothing pocket 72 corner ends can also be curved some after purse is made.

FIG. 1 shows two plastics stiffeners which may be about the same in width, 49 in solid line has its corners cut out to by pass the sewing through purse sides and to allow purse corners to be curved, and 64 is rectangular shown in a partly dashed line are secured together at their mid so their ends can spread apart easier and also so side wall edges 18 and 20 with stiffeners 43 are smooth to move back and forth freely between the two stiffeners 49 and 64, plastic 64 is rectangular and is put on top of side walls and plastic 49 is put under the side wall stiffeners 43 and may be sewn by the second end wall fold line 16 shown in FIG. 1 which is the width of purse if using like milk jug plastic, or plastic 49 which stays up higher then side wall stiffener 43 may be reinforced partly with a springy plastic or just have a springy plastic. Both plastics 49 and 64 are also secured at mid to end wall 16, the top plastic 64 may help to be curved downward at ends some from mid so that smooth side walls 22 with stiffener 43 move back and forth freely between the two plastics 49 and 64.

To assure that purse works due to certain materials in hot weather there may be a notch 67 if needed, by making a cut(s) on top side of side wall stiffener 43 where one side of cut is curved inwards a bit so that second end wall plastic stiffener 49 can be held at the notch. When stiffener 49 is pushed off the notch, side walls 22 also with their plastic stiffeners 43 go down flat at the same time to close the purse, to avoid end wall going over upright too far it may be held by a string at B stiffener 49 and to side wall stiffener 43 at A shown in FIG. 1 when in FIG. 2 purse.

The second end wall 16 with side walls can go upright and collapse since they are straight not curved and also because the side walls edges 18 and 20 with stiffeners 43 can move back and forth between two stiffener 49 and 64 in the second end wall.

FIG. 1A and FIG. 2A describe the upper half of second half purse here, the second end wall over sides walls are secured together by sewing 25 through purse sides spaced from the corners shown in FIG. 2A, purse includes only one springy plastic stiffener 72 in second half purse 34 secured to end wall 16 with curved upward corners to keep purse corners curved to avoid catching on clothing pocket, an open view of construction is shown in upper portion of drawing in FIG. 1A, which shows the shape of springy plastic stiffener 72 by a thicker line which would have curved shape cuts on both sides of stiffener 72 so not to interfere with stitching 25 through purse sides seen in FIG. 2A. In FIG. 1A the dashed line 72 shows the angle the corners are curved for stiffener 72 to both sides about 45 degrees. The side walls go upright or more if 72 is made the width of purse being the side walls 22 are cut 42 about halfway only should the cut get longer than desired it can be reinforced or use a stronger material, and the side wall flat or curved stiffeners 43 may be a bit longer, shown in FIG. 1A, and sewn to the end of the cut sidewalls 22. When the side walls are spread apart to take coins the end wall with stiffener drop down some holding the side walls to the width of stiffener 72, in FIG. 1A it shows stiffener 72 being narrower than purse, this would not lift side walls much so stiffener 72 should be made wider, since end wall stiffener 72 sits low also its end wall could be curved upward to hold coins. Purse is closed by first keeping the end wall open and moving it downward while holding it with the other hand to width of purse so side walls 22 collapse inward, then the end wall 16 with stiffener 72 is closed on top of side walls 22 to close the purse.

FIG. 2A, when end wall is sewn 35 over side walls of purse, the open view construction is shown in lower portion of drawing in FIG. 1A, a springy plastic stiffener 72 is shown in a thicker line secured to second end wall 16 with curved corners to keep purse corners curved, showing the line of curve in dashed lines 72 about 45 degrees. In this type of purse the side wall stiffeners 43 are not sewn to side wall in end wall, their top pointed ends are curved inward so that when end wall with stiffener 72 pushes on them the stiffeners 43 will curve inward down flat with side walls to close the purse. The top of stiffeners 72 when secured to second end wall may be curved some outward but lower end is straight as it is better to take coins, this applies to most purses securing one stiffener 72 to second end wall. Also the earlier purses had the side wall stiffeners 43 sewn to side walls 22 extending into second end wall, the improvement now for them is that stiffener 72 keeps their corners curved to avoid catching in clothing pockets.

The first half purse 32 may be made by either method if by second method a mesh secured to first end wall 14 and to side walls 22 by an industrial shoe makers sewing machine if no moving parts are desired, or have a U-shape insert with transparent plastic hinged at its mid as shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3A a thinner springy transparent plastic 38 which is better for hinging, it may have two cuts 66 for securing 25 hinging to mid section of U-shape, it is turned up side under when put in first half purse 34 in FIG. 2, the U-shape insert sides may be sewn 25 or 51 to purse side walls 22 and the U-shape mid may be sewn to first end wall 14 across the end wall with a shoe maker sewing machine or as may be needed. There may also be a plastic 70 secured to purse bottom if and where transparent plastic may scrub on purse bottom.

FIG. 3B may have a thinner springy transparent plastic 38 and any percentage of that may be flexible transparent plastic 68 as is for all springy transparent plastics here as not to scruff the closing cover when purse is full of coins, also a piece of the same plastic 38 shown in dashed line is secured across hinging 41, to make double transparency 38 if desired, which keeps transparent plastic 38 upright only some better, or a string may be used. A more durable hinge piece 41 being of leather or upholstery may be used and sewn 25 to mid section of U-shape 61, then it is sewn through the transparent plastic 38 and leather hinge 41 shown in three strokes near mid section of U-shape. There may also be as shown in FIG. 3A strings 65 attached between U-shape and the transparent plastic so it does not go up too high. The U-shape insert is turned up side under and its sides are secured 51 and 25 to first half purse 32 to side walls 22 in FIG. 2 purse, and secured to first end wall 14 as shows best with the material used, if transparent plastic covers mid U-shape it may be secured through hinge and transparent plastic 38 shown in three strokes in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3C is a purse which can be made with thin materials, the two end walls and side walls may be made either by the first or second method, the springy transparent plastic is placed to the very end of first end wall 14 which extends to near mid purse fold line 33 and is secured to the side walls 25 as shown in FIG. 2 on first half purse 32. A stiffener shaped as a T with its top 52 as shown in FIG. 4 being inserted to the end of the second end wall and is secured along stem 54 only, which extends to some before mid purse fold line, there may also be a thin plastic stiffener in end wall if needed and two plastic stiffeners 43 in side wall 22 secured from near mid purse fold line 33 to within second end wall 16 in second half purse 34.

FIG. 3D is a strip of plastic 63 where transparent material may be sewn 25 along one side of plastic strip and sewn 25 along or in parts on other side of plastic 63 to walls of purse.

FIG. 4 is a “T” shaped stiffener used in FIG. 3C purse with thin material.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic side view of the purse shown in an open position to facilitate assessing the purse.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic side view of a purse shown in a folded, closed position.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic top view of the purse of FIG. 6 shown in the folded, closed position.

FIG. 8 is the first method of the purse showing a cut out window, formed in a first end of a rectangular piece of material 11 and a perimeter of a transparent flexible plastic or a mesh material 27 is sown 36 to the piece of material 11 around the cut out window. In this Figure, a pair of fold lines 15, 17 are shown and a first fold line 15 is located for forming a larger transparent pocket 21 with transparency while the second fold line 17 is located for forming a small pocket 23 for end wall 23. As with the previous embodiments, a pair of opposed side wall stiffeners 43 with their ends cut to an angle so that the side walls can go higher, may be sewn on the second side of the mid purse fold line 33, and a pair of mating fasteners 26 and 28 can be sewn on the outer side of material which is underneath beside the fold lines 15 and 17.

As shown in FIG. 9, a first section of the rectangular material 11 is turned or folded over along fold line 15 to form the larger pocket 21 while a second section of the rectangular material 11 is turned or folded over along fold line 17 to form the smaller pocket 23 and both pockets 21 and 23 are sewn 36 with leaving wide seams 37 on their sides, which is important since the width of the seam determines the size of side walls wanted for purse if small pocket end wall 23 end 40 is moved outward from point 39 to sewing line 36 and sewn that way, the end of end wall 40 will stick out some which can be cut off, but this makes end wall end 40 narrower than purse body is and will not catch on clothing pocket if both sides are sewn that way. When the pockets 21 and 23 are turned in side out the result is a FIG. 10 purse having a transparent coin pocket, end wall, and two side walls.

FIG. 10 shows a larger pocket 21 with the mesh 27 forming a coin panel 21a on first half purse 32, the opening of the coin panel sides may be sewn 36 to the side walls 22 and the end wall 23a sides are good as is since the end wall ends 40 are narrower than the purse body is, the end wall 23A has a stiffener 72 above the side walls some, it is the width of the end wall 23A at its curved corners and the rest may be some narrower than the end wall, it may be emerged from the end wall only if desired, the corners curve and as shown in dashed lines 72 being about 45 degrees. If the small pocket 23A is made less deep, then springy plastic stiffener can stay up higher. Fasteners 26 and 28 are sewn on opposite ends of the purse, stiffeners 43 may be sewn to the width of the purse inside side walls 22, end wall 23a is on second half purse 34 where by there is an opened access 24 to shuffle and facilitate taking coins. The end wall may have stiffeners 72 as shown and explained with reference to FIGS. 1A and 2A.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic side view of the purse of FIG. 10 shown in the opened position un-collapsed.

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic side view of the purse of FIG. 10 shown in a folded, close position.

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic top view of the purse of FIG. 10 shown in the folded, close position.

It is to be appreciated that the second half purse end wall 23a, of the purse 34 with inverted pocket, instead can be made the same way as FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 has or FIG. 1A and FIG. 2A has so the second half of purse 34 where the end wall and side walls can go higher.

In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined in the Claims.

Claims

1. A method of making a folding coin purse comprising the steps of:

providing a layer of a pliable rectangular material having a first end peripheral edge, a second end peripheral edge, a first side peripheral edge and a second side peripheral edge;

folding the first end peripheral edge over and securing the first end peripheral edge to the layer of pliable rectangular material and leaving seams spaced from the first side peripheral edge and the second side peripheral edge to form a first pocket;

folding the second end peripheral edge over and securing the second end peripheral edge to the layer of pliable rectangular material and leaving seams spaced from the first side peripheral edge and the second side peripheral edge, to form a second pocket;

turning the first pocket and the second pocket inside out, thereby forming a body with a first inside out pocket, a second inside out pocket and two peripheral side walls biased into an upstanding position by the turning of the first pocket and the second pocket inside out, the peripheral side walls framing an access opening between the first inverted pocket and the second inverted pocket, and a size of the side walls being determined by the width of the pocket seams; and

folding a second half of the body over a first half of the body along a fold line to close the access opening.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, the first pocket having a viewing window covered by a substrate that confines coins within the first pocket while enabling the contents of the first pocket to be viewed.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, having stiffeners attached to the peripheral side walls on the second half of the body which provide leverage to hold coins better when the purse is closed.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, including a further step of attaching a first fastener to the first half of the body and a second fastener to the second half of the body, whereby the first fastener and the second fastener engage to maintain the body in a folded condition.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, including a further step of securing a “T” shaped stiffener to the body to make the body more rigid, a stem of the “T” shaped stiffener being secured to the bottom of the purse, with a top of the “T” shaped stiffener placed to end of the end wall.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, including a further step of securing an elastic material between end walls of the body, such that a key positioned between the elastic material and the body is held in position by the elastic properties of the elastic material.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, including securing with one of sewing, clamping, stitching, gluing, taping riveting, heat sealing or stapling.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, the first pocket being made larger than the second pocket, a transparent covering substrate being placed across a portion of the access opening, so that coins are visible within the first pocket after the first and the second pockets are inverted and the second half purse can be made instead as the second method purse has on the second half.

9. A folding coin purse comprising:

by a first method a body made from a layer of pliable rectangular material having a first end peripheral edge, a second end peripheral edge, a first side peripheral edge and a second side peripheral edge, the first end peripheral edge being folded over and secured to the layer of pliable rectangular material with leaving seams spaced from the first side peripheral edge and the second side peripheral edge to form a first pocket, the second end peripheral edge being folded over and secured to layer of pliable rectangular material with leaving seams spaced from the first side peripheral edge and the second side peripheral edge, to form a second pocket;

the first pocket and the second pocket being turned inside out to form the two peripheral side walls biased into an upstanding position by the turning of the first pocket and the second pocket inside out, the peripheral side walls framing an access opening between the first inverted pocket and the second inverted pocket, the size of the peripheral side walls being determined by the width of the pocket seams; and

a second half of the body being folded over a first half of the body along a fold line to close the access opening.

10. A method of making a folding coin purse, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a layer of pliable rectangular material having a first end peripheral edge, a second end peripheral edge, a first side peripheral edge and a second side peripheral edge;

curling over each of the first end peripheral edge, the second end peripheral edge, the first side peripheral edge, the second side peripheral edge and securing the first end peripheral edge to both of the first side peripheral edge and the second side peripheral edge and securing the second end peripheral edge to both of the first side peripheral edge and the second side peripheral edge, thereby forming a body with two peripheral side walls and two peripheral end walls which frames an access opening; and

folding a second half of the body over a first half of the body along a fold line to close the access opening.

11. The method as defined in claim 10, including a step of securing a coin confining panel across the peripheral side walls to form a pocket on the first half of the body, the coin confining panel being one of mesh or transparent plastic so that coins can be viewed through the coin confining panel.

12. The method as defined in claim 10, having stiffeners attached to the peripheral side walls on the second half of the body which provide leverage to assist to hold coins when the purse is closed.

13. The method as defined in claim 10, including a further step of attaching a first fastener to the first half of the body a second fastener to the second half of the body, whereby the first fastener and the second fastener engage for maintaining the body in a folded state.

14. The method as defined in claim 10, further comprising the step of securing by one of clamping, sewing, stitching, glueing, taping, riveting, heat sealing and stapling.

15. The method as defined in claim 10, including a further step of having a U-shaped plastic insert with a transparent plastic underneath and hinged to the mid section of U-shape, or a more durable piece material like upholstery or leather is used for hinging and is secured to the transparent material to the mid section of U-shape so that when transparent plastic is moved up between the U-shaped sides, the transparent plastic opens access to facilitate taking coins from the coin panel when the U-shaped insert is secured to the first half purse.

16. The method as defined in claim 10, including a further step of securing the end wall to side walls by sewing through the walls of the purse or through the purse sides near the corners.

17. The method as defined in claims 10, includes the first half purse made by first method or second method, and second half purse made by either first method or second method.

18. The method as defined in claim 10, including a further step by having the second half purse walls stay up higher by having two plastic stiffeners secured in the second end wall, when these stiffeners are moved upward the lower stiffener moves the side walls up where there is a notch in the side wall stiffener if needed in hot climates so that the end wall stiffener stays put at the notch also holding the side walls upright, when the top end wall stiffener is moved down it pushes the lower stiffener off the notch and the purse walls go down flat without warping because the side walls slide out and in between the two end wall plastic stiffeners, and the plastic stiffener with two curved corners secured to the purse bottom keeps the purse corners curved and it also holds some coins under it so the rest of the coins push on the second end wall higher so as to stay higher and avoid having a notch on the side wall stiffener, a thread is secured from side wall to end wall so end wall does not go over upright to far. Another way it to have the stiffener with curved corners be over half as high then the stiffener with cut out corners, both stiffeners are secured through purse mid at second end of purse, this makes the end wall more rigid and it stays upright with coins pushing on it.

19. The method as defined in claim 10, when the purse second end wall is over the side walls and are secured together through the walls, then only one plastic stiffener with curved upward corners is used in the second end wall to keep the end wall corners curved so that the corners do not catch on a clothing pocket when the purse is closed, the stiffener can be curved outward and secured in the end wall to get at coins easier, the side wall stiffener ends are angled and end wall stiffener is always over them so that when the end wall stiffener pushes down on them, the side wall stiffeners will curve inward and lie down flat with the side walls to close the purse.

20. The method as defined in claim 10, when second end wall is over side walls and they are secured together by sewing through the purse spaced some from the corners, the end wall has one springy plastic stiffener with curved corners to keep the purse corners curved so as not to catch on a clothing pocket, the side walls are cut some so that they can go upright which is controlled by the width of end wall stiffener, the end wall stiffener is curved upward to hold coins before closing the purse, the second end of the purse is moved downward so the side walls initially collapse and then the end wall is pressed downward, over the sidewalls, to close the purse endwise.

21. The method as defined in claim 10, the second end wall when made by the inverted pocket method, has a springy plastic stiffener with curved upward corners being to the width of second end wall to keep purse corners curved to avoid catching on a clothing pocket, and with its curved outward stiffener in the end wall it holds the coins and puts the side walls with stiffeners down flat for closing purse, also when the top end of the end wall is sewn to purse body being narrower than the width of the purse body is, the end wall sides do not catch on the clothing pocket.