Many containers of the type under consideration have one or more external pockets in which the owner can store objects to which he wants easy access, without having to open the main container and, predictably, rummage though the contents thereof.

These objects may be papers, bank notes or valuables, or fragile or delicate items.

These external pockets are usually made of the same soft material as the main envelope, or a similar material such as a textile, leather or synthetic leather, or may be formed inside the main envelope but be accessible from outside through a slit, closed by a zip or a buckle.

On one hand, objects stored in the pocket are vulnerable to theft: a wrongdoer could either cut or rip the pocket; on the other, if the objects are delicate or fragile they are liable to be squashed and thereby damaged or destroyed, especially if the container is deposited with others or carried on crowded public transport.

The object of the invention is to provide a container for personal effects of the type under consideration, which has one or more receptacles acting as outside pockets but is free of the aforesaid disadvantages.

This object is achieved according to the invention by providing a container of the type under consideration, characterised in that the receptacle accessible from outside, or at least one of these receptacles, is constituted by a box-like casing, at least the visible portions of which are made of a rigid material able to withstand squashing and tearing.

Thanks to this arrangement, a container for personal effects is provided which has at least one"armoured"outside pocket, able to withstand tampering and squashing.

The object of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description which follows, provided with reference to the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle according to the invention, applied to the outside envelope of a general container for personal effects, shown only in part, Figure 2 is a cross section taken on the line II-II of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a perspective view on a larger scale of a closure with lock provided on the receptacle of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a perspective view of an example in which the container of the invention is a large overnight bag, Figure 5 is a perspective view of an example in which the container of the invention is a briefcase, Figure 6 is a perspective view of an example in which the container of the invention is a shoulder bag, Figure 7 is a perspective view of an example in which the container of the invention is a rucksack, and Figure 8 is a perspective view of an example in which the container of the invention is a beauty case.

In Figure 1, a portion of the soft or vulnerable main envelope of a container for personal effects is indicated 10.

Examples of such containers are shcwn in Figures 4 to 8.

The main envelope 10 can be made of textile material, leather, synthetic leather or the like. The material of the envelope 10 can also be relatively rigid, but vulnerable, such as cardboard, and can be covered in a decorative sheet material, a textile for example.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a receptacle generally indicated 12 is arranged on the outside of the envelope 10.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the receptacle 12 is constituted by a box-like casing made of a rigid material able to withstand squashing and tearing.

As shown, the box-like casing 12 preferably comprises two parts: a lower part 14 and an upper part 16.

In cross section, the lower part 14 is shaped like a U or a V, with a front wall 18, a back wall 20 and a pair of side walls 22.

Thus shaped, the lower part 14 defines a chamber which, in use of the container, is open at the top.

The upper part 16 is a lid for closing the chamber and is pivoted on the back wall 20 at 24, so as to close the top of the chamber.

A strengthening patch 26, of leather for example, is applied to the envelope 10 at the site of the receptacle 12 and forms a frame for the receptacle 12.

The back wall 20 of the receptacle 12 is permanently fixed to a plate element 28 of a strong material such as metal.

The entire peripheral border 30 of the element 28 is offset inwardly, as shown in Figure 2, and fitted to the back of the strengthening patch 26.

In order to fix the receptacle 12 to the envelope 10, the border 30 is fixed to the strengthening patch 26 by means of rivets 32.

The receptacle 12 has means for locking the cover 16 in position closing the chamber of the lower part 14.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, one Oc these locking means, indicated 34, is an ordinary fastener as used on conventional luggage, while the other, indicated 36, is of a lockable type.

A preferred lockable device, again indicated 36, is illustrated in Figure 3. This is a combination lock, the tumblers of which are indicated 38.

The receptacle 12 can be made of any rigid material able to withstand squashing and tearing, such as galvanized sheet iron, aluminium or shock-resistant plastics material.

It is also conceivable that the receptacle 12 could have a lower wall 14, for example, constituted by a shell of plastics material and a lid 16 made of metal, or vice versa. One of these parts 14,16 could be made of transparent plastics material which would involve a slight increase in the risk of theft but would have the advantage of enabling the owner to inspect the contents without opening the receptacle.

The exterior of the rigid material of the receptacle 12 could also be covered in a decorative sheet material, such as a textile.

Figures 1 and 2 show an embodiment in which the lower part 14 has a back wall 20, but this wall could be omitted and the receptacle 12 fixed to the main envelope in a different manner: the important thing, within the scope of the invention, is that the visible portions of the receptacle 12 are made of a tough, rigid material.

Figure 4 shows an overnight bag, the envelope of which could be of a conventional floppy material.

On one side, the envelope 10 has a pair of receptacles 12 similar to those illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 5 shows a briefcase, the envelope 10 thereof being of leather or synthetic leather, for example, with a receptacle 12 on one side, similar to those of Figures 1 and 2.

In Figure 6, the container is constituted by a shoulder bag with one receptacle 12, similar to those of Figures 1 and 2, applied to a flap, indicated 10, provided to close the main compartment of the bag.

In Figure 7, the container is a rucksack.

A receptacle 12 like those of Figures 1 and 2 is fitted to a back surface, again indicated 10, of the main envelope by means of a reinforcing element 26 like those of Figures 1 and 2.

The anti-theft characteristic provided by the rigid, tear-proof material of the receptacle 12, combined with the lockable closure 36, is especially useful in the case of a rucksack, whether large or small, since the owner, when wearing it, is not able to see the outside pocket constituted by the receptacle 12: while an external pocket made of a textile or similar material could easily be cut or ripped by a thief without the owner being aware of it, he would have no trouble noticing an attempt to break into the receptacle 12.

In Figure 8, a receptacle 12 similar to those of Figures 1 and 2 is fitted to the upper surface, again indicated 10, of a beauty case.

In this case, the upper wall of the lid of the case can be made of a rigid but vulnerable material, such as cardboard covered with a decorative material.

In Figures 1,2 and 4 to 8 the receptacles 12 are shown with a rounded shape, but a receptacle according to the invention may be of any shape, such as for example a squared shape, on the condition that it is made of a rigid material adapted to resist to squash and tearing.