U.S. patent application number 13/844650 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-18 for modular handbag.
The applicant listed for this patent is Julianne Jones. Invention is credited to Julianne Jones.
Application Number | 20140261933 13/844650 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51522102 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140261933 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jones; Julianne |
September 18, 2014 |
MODULAR HANDBAG
Abstract
A modular handbag having a main body and one or more removably
attachable accessories is provided herein.
Inventors: |
Jones; Julianne; (Hamilton
Square, NJ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Jones; Julianne |
Hamilton Square |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51522102 |
Appl. No.: |
13/844650 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
150/104 ;
150/108; 150/111; 150/127 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 13/1076 20130101;
A45C 13/1038 20130101; A45C 7/0086 20130101; A45C 2013/1015
20130101; A45C 3/06 20130101; A45C 13/001 20130101; A45C 1/02
20130101; A45C 13/103 20130101; A45C 13/083 20130101; A45C 13/1092
20130101; A45C 13/30 20130101; A45C 13/00 20130101; A45C 13/08
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
150/104 ;
150/127; 150/108; 150/111 |
International
Class: |
A45C 3/06 20060101
A45C003/06; A45C 13/00 20060101 A45C013/00; A45C 13/30 20060101
A45C013/30; A45C 1/02 20060101 A45C001/02; A45C 13/08 20060101
A45C013/08 |
Claims
1. A handbag comprising: a main body having a first surface and a
second surface, wherein one or more of the first and second
surfaces comprises a plurality of apertures, one or more modular
handbag accessories selectively attachable and removable from said
main body, wherein the one or more modular handbag accessories
comprises one or more apertures or means of fastening; and one or
more means of fastening said modular handbag accessories to said
main body.
2. The handbag of claim 1 wherein the main body is a single,
substantially planar piece, wherein the first and second surfaces
comprise the two sides of the substantially planar piece.
3. The handbag of claim 1, wherein the means of fastening are
integral with the modular handbag accessories.
4. The handbag of claim 1, wherein the first surface connects with
itself to form the outer wall of a bag and the second surface forms
an inner wall of the bag.
5. The handbag of claim 4, further comprising a third surface
connected to the first surface and forming the bottom of the
bag.
6. The handbag of claim 1, wherein the one or more handbag
accessories is selected from the group consisting of decorative
elements, additional storage compartments, and straps.
7. The handbag of claim 1, wherein the fastening means is one or
more of buttons, snap fasteners, clips, zippers, ties, strings,
ribbons, buckles, clasps, hooks, toggles, and Velcro.
8. The handbag of claim 1, wherein the apertures are selected from
the group consisting of grommets, button holes, eyelets, snaps,
fabric loops, perforations, interwoven fabric, and attached
loops.
9. The handbag of claim 6, wherein the strap comprises one or more
apertures.
10. The handbag of claim 9, wherein the apertures are selected from
the group consisting of grommets, button holes, eyelets, snaps,
fabric loops, perforations, interwoven fabric, and attached loops.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to handbags, such as
hand-carried purses, shoulder bags, book bags, tote bags, messenger
bags, and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Handbags and other forms of carry cases, such as totes and
luggage, are designed by manufacturers with consideration to a
combination of aesthetics and functionality. However, only a
limited amount of designs are mass produced, limiting a consumer's
choice to the manufacturers' chosen combination of aesthetic design
and functionality. There remains a need for a user-friendly,
customizable handbag. The invention addresses this need by
providing a handbag that is customizable to suit the owner's/user's
unique usage and preferences while accommodating the immensely
varied items that may be carried and stored.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention fulfills the need for an easily
customizable handbag. The present invention comprises modular
handbags and handbag accessories having features capable of
receiving the connection of accessories, such as apertures, and one
or more fastening means to secure said handbag accessories to said
modular handbags.
[0004] From a selection of individual components that connect in
various ways, and that also can be altered and reassembled to suit
future needs, the invention provides for a handbag that can be
customized at the time of purchase or at any time after purchase,
by adding, removing, or rearranging accessories. The main body or
panel of the bag comprises such that straps, pockets, and various
items, including keys, charms, trinkets and other items can be
securely attached or hung from the bag via fastening means.
Accessories can be easily moved from one area of the bag/panel to
another, thereby providing the option to customize the product
continually. Once assembled, the end product will look and function
like a standard bag. Optionally, the handle(s) or strap(s) of the
bag may comprise apertures such that accessories can be hung and/or
attached. In another embodiment of the invention, a bag may be
created by attaching straps to a handbag-sized single perforated
panel to which pockets may be attached or not.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIGS. 1A-E illustrates multiple configurations of the
modular handbag of the present invention;
[0006] FIG. 2 illustrates a decorative item being secured to a
grommet of the modular handbag of the present invention;
[0007] FIG. 3 illustrates a modular handbag and a modular handbag
accessory of the present invention;
[0008] FIGS. 4A-B, illustrates the functional use of straps as an
item to which additional accessories can be fastened to.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention comprises modular handbags and handbag
accessories having features capable of receiving the connection of
accessories, such as apertures, and one or more fastening means to
secure said handbag accessories to said modular handbags.
[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 10 comprises a plurality
of apertures 11. Through the apertures 11, accessories, such as
additional storage components 12, straps 13, and decorative items,
such as charms, chains, and trinkets, are securely fastened through
or hung from apertures 11. Storage pockets used as accessories may
be of any shape or size that may be secured to the handbag using
the apertures and fastening means and include, but are not limited
to, cell phone holders, mp3 player holders, change pockets,
ID/credit card pockets, and the like. The plurality of the
apertures 11 provides a high level of customization, as well as a
large variety of configurations.
[0011] Apertures of the present invention include any type of
aperture capable of receiving and connecting to a fastening means
and suitable for use with the materials used in the construction of
handbags. Apertures suitable for use in the present invention
include grommets, button holes, eyelets, snaps, fabric loops,
perforations, interwoven fabric, and attached loops. The apertures
may be integral with or attached to the walls of the handbag. Both
the inner and outer walls of the handbag may comprise apertures. In
one embodiment of the invention, the handle(s) or strap(s) of the
handbag may comprise apertures and may additionally receive
accessories for connection.
[0012] Means of fastening accessories, such as storage components
12, can be buttons, snap fasteners, clips, zippers, ties, strings,
ribbons, buckles, clasps, hooks, toggle fasteners, Velcro, and any
other means known in the art. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1C and
FIG. 4, straps 13 can be woven through apertures 11, creating an
additional means for fastening accessories to the main body of the
handbag. Further, the handbag accessories can be fastened to the
inside of the main body of the handbag, as well, using the same or
different apertures. For example, if the aperture is a grommet or
button hole that extends through both the inner and outer walls of
the handbag, the aperture may be utilized to secure accessories on
either the inside or outside of the handbag. In an alternative
embodiment, the handbag may have separate apertures on both the
inner and outer walls of the handbag, for example, grommets on the
outside and button holes in fabric lining in the interior.
Fastening the accessories, to the inside of the body of the bag can
assist in compartmentalizing and organizing the contents of the
handbag.
[0013] The main body of the handbag may be comprised of an outer
material and an inner lining. The outer material may be comprised
of one or several layers and may optionally be supplemented with
batting or stiffening materials to create the appropriate
composition for thickness, durability, and strength. The inner
lining is preferably sewn together with the outer material. In a
preferred embodiment, a grid of apertures, such as buttonholes, is
arranged throughout the outer material and, optionally, the inner
material. The apertures may optionally be finished in a material
other than thread. The dispersed or patterned arrangement of
apertures permits a wide variety of attachment and accessory
options and user/owner customization and additionally permits the
user/owner to modify and alter the handbag as desired, adding,
removing, and rearranging accessories.
[0014] The various attaching sets, for example, two buttons
attached together back to back, attach to the buttonholes in the
pocket and to buttonholes in the bag or panel. These pockets can be
attached inside or outside the bag. An inside attachment would
allow the attaching piece, for example, the button, to become a
decorative element seen on the outside of the bag. Other items can
be attached to the outside buttons, for example a fabric flower, as
an additional decorative element.
[0015] As both the main bag/panel and the pockets have buttonholes
or openings, any number of attaching items can be used to secure
one to the other. Custom-made clips and snaps may be used as
optional attaching devices. Straps can be attached to the bag in
much the same way as the pockets and other accessories and may
include the use of standard buckles and locking loop hardware and
the like. Further, the accessories themselves may have one or more
apertures. This will allow for additional accessories to be
fastened, or can be used as a part of a means to fasten the
accessory itself to the main body 10. For example, two buttons can
be linked back-to back and be used as a fastening means by securing
one button through an aperture in main body 10, and securing the
other button through an aperture in an accessory.
[0016] FIG. 2 demonstrates the use of apertures 11 to fasten
decorative accessories to main body 10. In FIG. 2, an aperture of a
handbag of the present invention is shown. In this instance, the
aperture is a grommet. The accessory fastened to aperture 11 is a
decorative ribbon.
[0017] FIG. 3 demonstrates a storage compartment 12 being fastened
through an aperture 11 by a snap fastener affixed to the storage
compartment 12. One flap of the snap fastener is passed through one
aperture, and the other flap being passed through another aperture.
The flaps are then fastened to each other while remaining passed
through the apertures 11, securing storage compartment 12 to main
body 10.
[0018] Bags within the scope of the present invention may be made
from any material known in the art of bag or storage container
manufacture and design, including, but not limited to, all variants
of fabric, metal, rubber, plastics, plant fibers, and other
suitable materials, with a preference for environmentally conscious
products.
[0019] Various of the above-disclosed and other features and
functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other
different embodiments. Various presently unforeseen or
unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or
improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in
the art, each of which is also intended to be encompassed by the
disclosed embodiments.
* * * * *