GB2311211A

GB2311211A - Handbag

Info

Publication number: GB2311211A
Application number: GB9606011A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dick Ming Hsieh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-03-22
Filing date: 1996-03-22
Publication date: 1997-09-24
Also published as: GB9606011D0

Abstract

A handbag comprises a bag body (2) (Fig 2) having a resilient stretcher (21) connected thereto in order to keep the bag body (2) in a predetermined shape, a flexible top wall (24), a rigid plate member (3) (Fig 4) which is disposed over the top wall, a pair of projections (5) which are disposed over the rigid plate member (3) and which are spaced from one another, and a flexible decorative sheet (4) which is fixed to and covers the rigid plate member (3) and the projections (5).

Description

HANDBAG This invention relates to a handbag, more particularly to a handbag with a rigid top portion.

Referring to Figure 1, a conventional handbag 1 is shown to comprise a bag body 10, several resilient stretchers 11 for keeping the bag body 10 in shape.

The top portion of the bag body 10 has an openable lid 12 and two handles 13 connected thereto. Because the handbag 1 is made of a flexible material, the top portion of the bag body 10 cannot support a heavy article. Therefore, the items such as clothes in the handbag 1 will be crushed and crumpled when a heavy load is applied to the top portion of the handbag 1.

In addition, the top portion of the handbag 1 is liable to collapse when the handbag is empty, thereby adversely affecting its appearance.

It is therefore a main object of the present invention to provide a handbag which has a rigid top portion in order to overcome the disadvantages commonly associated with the conventional handbag.

According to the present invention, a handbag comprises a bag body having a resilient stretch connected thereto in order to keep said bag body in a predetermined shape, a flexible top wall, a rigid plate member disposed over the top wall, a pair of projections which are disposed over the rigid plate member and which are spaced from one another, and a flexible decorative sheet which is fixed to and covers the rigid plate member and the projections.

In the preferred embodiment, an intermediate layer is sandwiched between the projections and the rigid plate member. A fixing plate is fixed to the decorative sheet and the rigid plate member between the projections. The fixing plate has a handle connected pivotally thereto.

Other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of this invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional handbag; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a handbag according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the handbag according to the present invention; and Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the top portion of the handbag of the present invention.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, a preferred embodiment of a handbag according to the present invention is shown to comprise a bag body 2 which has a rectangular plate 20 and a resilient stretcher 21 which is fixed along the periphery of the plate 20 in order to enable the plate 20 to form a U-shaped frame with two side walls 200. The resilient stretcher 21 has a spring cord 210 received therein. Front and rear side walls 22, 23 are connected to the side walls 200. The front side wall 22 is formed with an openable lid 220.

A flexible top wall 24 is connected to the side walls 200 and the front and rear side walls 22, 23, thereby defining the internal space 25 of the handbag. The rear side wall 23 is formed with a zipper pocket 26.

The external face of the zipper 26 is formed with a plurality of decorative projections 260 in order to improve the appearance of the handbag. Each of the decorative projections 260 is made of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam material and is coated with a layer of polyurethane resin.

Referring to Figures 2 and 4, the feature of the present invention resides in that a rigid plate member 3 is disposed over the top wall 24 of the bag body 2.

The plate member 3 is made of wood or other rigid materials. The top face of the plate member 3 is covered by an intermediate layer 30 which is made of a flexible material such as cloth, nylon, etc. By sewing the periphery of the intermediate layer 30 to the top wall 24, the plate member 3 is fixed to the bag body 2. A pair of projections 5 are disposed over the plate member 3 and are spaced from one another. The projections 5 are made of a low-density material such as a foam material, polystyrene etc. A flexible decorative sheet 4 is fixed to and covers the plate member 3 and the projections 5, thereby forming a recess 41 between the projections 5. A fixing plate 42 is fixed to the decorative sheet 4 and the plate member 3 in the recess 41. The fixing plate 42 has a handle 43 connected pivotally thereto. With the combination of the above mentioned structures, a fixed-shaped and pressure-resistant top portion of the handbag is established. Therefore, the top portion of the handbag of the present invention can prevent the clothes in the handbag from being crushed and crumpled and prevent the top portion of the handbag from being collapsed when the handbag is empty.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangement.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A handbag comprising: a bag body having a resilient stretcher connected thereto in order to keep said bag body in a predetermined shape, and a flexible top wall; a rigid plate member disposed over said top wall; a pair of projections disposed over said rigid plate member and spaced from one another; and a flexible decorative sheet fixed to and covering said rigid plate member and said projections.

2. A handbag as claimed in Claim 1, wherein an intermediate layer is sandwiched between said projections and said rigid plate member.

3. A handbag substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 2 to

4.

3. A handbag as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a fixing plate is fixed to said decorative sheet and said rigid plate member between said projections, said fixing plate having a handle connected pivotally thereto.

4. A handbag substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 2 to 4.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1. A handbag comprising: a bag body having a resilient stretcher connected thereto in order to keep said bag body in a predetermined shape, and a flexible top wall; a rigid plate member disposed over said top wall; a flexible decorative sheet fixed to and covering said rigid plate member; and an intermediate layer sandwiched between said decorative sheet and said rigid plate member.

2. A handbag as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a fixing plate is fixed to said decorative sheet and said rigid plate member, said fixing plate having a handle connected pivotally thereto.