US20080135142A1

US20080135142A1 - Modular hand bag

Info

Publication number: US20080135142A1
Application number: US11/567,736
Authority: US
Inventors: Danelle T. Ellis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-12-07
Filing date: 2006-12-07
Publication date: 2008-06-12

Abstract

Disclosed is a modular handbag system that allows the user to select one or more pockets to be inserted in a bag. Each pocket has attachment means to secure the pocket to the interior of the bag and the pocket can be changed whenever desired or if there is more than one pocket, the entire pocket structure can be relatively easily removed from the bag and secured into another bag. This allows the user to change purses to match needs or outfits and allows users to have a bag with exactly the number and size of storage pockets they want at any given time. Knowing that the inside pockets can be customized allows users the freedom to choose an outside look to suit their style, without being frustrated by the interior storage capabilities.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a bag, and more particularly, to a handbag and still more particularly to a modular handbag.
2. Description of Related Art
Bags and pouches have been used by men and women for as long as human memories have been recorded. For example, peasants in early rural societies used bags to carry seeds. Also, a painting dated around 480 B.C. depicts a boy holding a bag or “purse” filled with knucklebones, which were considered to be a token of seduction.
What a person carries and stores in her bag is very important to her. Typically, a bag holds precious items or things needed for the day. There is a multitude of types of bags with the most common bag being the purse in modern time. The bag, and especially the purse, has been taken to new heights in the designer era, with top fashion companies adorning bags with logos and other signs of luxury, such as skins and fur. Whereas the inside of one's bag is supposed to be personal, intimate and more importantly organized, the outside is practically a billboard advertising one's place in the world.
For many people, selecting a bag is frustrating because each person carries different types of items in the bag. Many people have trouble organizing their bags because often the ones they liked “fashion-wise” do not suit their storage and other practical needs. What is needed is a modular handbag system that allows users to have a bag with exactly the number and size of storage pockets they want at any given time. It would be beneficial if the inside pockets could be customized in a variety of ways, allowing the freedom to choose an outside look while retaining a custom interior of their choosing. It would also be beneficial if the inside pockets could be collectively removed and relatively easily inserted into another bag.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention solves the above-described problem by providing a modular handbag system that allows a user to select one or more pockets to be inserted into a modular handbag wherein each pocket or the entire group of pockets can be relatively easily removed and inserted into another handbag. The outside of the handbag is similar to typical handbags found in the art and while the outside may be indistinguishable from other handbags, the interior contains attachment means for one or more pockets.
Each pocket may be almost any size or shape that will fit inside the handbag and the exact size and shape of each pocket is determined by the item or items to be stored in the pocket. The outside or visible portion of the pocket comprises a material that is aesthetically pleasing and each pocket may be linked together to form a smooth interior.
In addition to, or instead of a pocket, the handbag may contain a concealing strip or panel that may be used to cover portions of the interior of the handbag that are not covered by the pocket or pockets. The outside or visible portion of the concealing strip or panel comprises a material that is aesthetically pleasing and when used with a pocket or pockets creates an aesthetically pleasing appearance of the interior of the handbag.
In use, the modular handbag system allows users to have a handbag with exactly the number and size of storage pockets they want at any given time and provides an aesthetically pleasing interior. Each pocket can be changed whenever desired or the entire pocket structure can be relatively easily removed from the bag and secured into another bag. This allows the user to change bags to match needs or outfits without the risk of forgetting something in the first bag. If the user wants to change the outside of the handbag but wants to keep the interior storage pockets, the user simple removes the pocket or group of pockets and reattaches them to the interior of the new handbag.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plane view of the modular handbag system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the modular handbag system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plane view of the modular handbag system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the modular handbag system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the modular handbag system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized. It is also to be understood that structural, procedural and system changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. For clarity of exposition, like features shown in the accompanying drawings are indicated with like reference numerals and similar features as shown in alternate embodiments in the drawings are indicated with similar reference numerals.
Referring to FIG. 1, shown is modular handbag system 102 having modular handbag 104, top attachment strip 106, bottom attachment strip 108, first side attachment strip 110, second side attachment strip 112, and at least one pocket 114. Modular handbag 104 may be any handbag known in the art that is able to accommodate modular handbag system 102. By way of example and not of limitation, modular handbag 104 may be a purse, medical bag, school bag, computer bag, tool bag, make-up bag, performer's bag, gym bag, baby bag, or suitcase. It should be noted that while the system has been described for use in a handbag, they system may be used in almost any other device that has pockets a user may want to customize or remove and secure into a second device.
In one embodiment, modular handbag 104 is a modified handbag wherein the outside is similar to and typical of handbags found in the art and may be indistinguishable from most other handbags. However, the inside of modular handbag 104 contains top attachment strip 106, bottom attachment strip 108, first side attachment strip 110, second side attachment strip 112, and at least one pocket 114.
Top attachment strip 106, bottom attachment strip 108, first side attachment strip 110, and second side attachment strip 112 allow at least one pocket 114 to be secured to the inside of modular handbag 104 and may be adhesive or one part of a mechanical attachment means such as one or more snaps, buttons, zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners such as Velcro®, magnets, or any other mechanical fastener that requires the mating of two parts. Top attachment strip 106, bottom attachment strip 108, first side attachment strip 110, and second side attachment strip 112 may all be one or any combination of the above attachment means so long as each allow at least one pocket 114 to be secured to the inside of modular handbag 104. In addition, only one strip or any combination of strips may be used.
As shown in FIG. 2, at least one pocket 114 may be almost any shape or have almost any dimension so long as at least one pocket 114 can contain an item or items placed in modular handbag 104. By way of example and not limitation, at least one pocket 114 may be in the shape of a rectangle and be wide enough and long enough to accommodate a standard checkbook, a half circle or U-shaped profile to accommodate a makeup mirror, or be in the shape of an elongated rectangle to accommodate a pen or pencil. Other sizes and shapes of at least one pocket 114 would be obvious to those skilled in the art and such sizes and shapes are only limited by the inside dimensions of modular handbag 104 and the item or items to be stored in at least one pocket 114.
When looking inside modular handbag 104, the outside, or visible portion of at least one pocket 114 is aesthetically pleasing. For example, the visible portion of at least one pocket 114 may be made of a silky or satiny pink material that is pleasing to the touch and eye.
As shown in FIG. 3, at least one pocket 114 contains top securing strip 302, bottom securing strip 304, first side securing strip 306, and second side securing strip 308. Securing strips 302, 304, 306, and 308 allow at least one pocket 114 to be securely fastened to the interior of modular handbag 104. Top securing strip 302 may be mated with top attachment strip 106, bottom securing strip 304 may be mated with bottom attachment strip 108, first side securing strip 306 may be mated with first side attachment strip 110, and second side securing strip 308 may be mated with second side attachment strip 112.
For example, if top attachment strip 106, bottom attachment strip 108, first side attachment strip 110, and second side attachment strip 112 are one part of a mechanical attachment means, then top securing strip 302, bottom securing strip 304, first side securing strip 306, and second side securing strip 308 each contain the second, mating part of the mechanical attachment means. By way of example and not of limitation, if top attachment strip 106, bottom attachment strip 108, first side attachment strip 110, and second side attachment strip 112 are the male portion of a snap, then top securing strip 302, bottom securing strip 304, first side securing strip 306, and second side securing strip 308 are the mating female portion of the snap respectively.
If more than one at least one pocket 114 is used, then the at least one pockets 114 are orientated such that they overlap and create a smooth aesthetically pleasing appearance. For example, when inserting more than one at least one pocket 114, for the first pocket, top securing strip 302 may be mated with top attachment strip 106, bottom securing strip 304 may be mated with bottom attachment strip 108, and first side securing strip 306 may be mated with first side attachment strip 110. However, second side securing strip 308 is not mated with second side attachment strip 112 but with first side securing strip 306 from the second pocket. Then the first pocket top securing strip 302 from the second at least one pocket 114 may be mated with top attachment strip 106, bottom securing strip 304 may be mated with bottom attachment strip 108, and second side securing strip 308 may be mated with second side attachment strip 112.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, modular handbag system 102 may contain concealing panel 402. Concealing panel 402 is similar to at least one pocket 114 except concealing panel 402 can not contain an item or items. The purpose of concealing panel 402 is to create an aesthetically pleasing surface when portions of the interior surface of modular handbag 104 are not covered by at least one pocket 114. Preferably, the outside or visible portion of concealing panel 402 complements the outside of at least one pocket 114. For example, if the visible portion of at least one pocket 114 is made of a silky or satiny pink material, then concealing panel 402 may be made of the same silky or satiny pink material such that together, at least one pocket 114 and concealing strip 402 create a smooth interior of modular handbag 104 that is pleasing to the touch and eye.
Also shown in FIG. 4 is concealing strip 404. Concealing strip 404 is similar to concealing panel 402 except concealing strip 404 only covers top attachment strip 106. Although not shown, concealing strip 404 could also, or instead, cover bottom attachment strip 108, first side attachment strip 110, and second side attachment strip 112 or any combination thereof.
Concealing strip 404 may be used when only a portion of the interior of modular handbag 104 needs to be covered to produce an aesthetically pleasing effect. For example, if the interior of modular handbag 104 is already aesthetically pleasing except for top attachment strip 106, then concealing strip 404 can be used to conceal top attachment strip 106 bottom attachment strip 108, first side attachment strip 110 and/or second side attachment strip 112 and create an aesthetically pleasing interior. Alternatively, if the interior of modular handbag 104 is not aesthetically pleasing or does not match at least one pocket 114, then concealing panel 402 can be used to create an aesthetically pleasing interior of modular handbag 104.
Either concealing panel 402 or concealing strip 404 can be relatively easily attached to the interior of modular handbag 104. For example, if top attachment strip 106, bottom attachment strip 108, first side attachment strip 110, and second side attachment strip 112 are one part of a mechanical attachment means, then concealing panel 402 and concealing strip 404 each contain the second mating part of the mechanical attachment such that concealing panel 402 or concealing strip 404 can be secured to and conceal top attachment strip 106, bottom attachment strip 108, first side attachment strip 110, and second side attachment strip 112 to create an aesthetically pleasing interior of modular handbag 104.
In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, modular handbag 104 contains top attachment strip 106, top concealing strip 502, first side attachment strip 110, and first side concealing strip 506. Top concealing strip 502 and first side concealing strip 506 have an aesthetically pleasing exterior on one side and the mating fastener to top attachment strip 106 and first side attachment strip 110 on the other side.
In use, top concealing strip 502, and first side concealing strip 506 conceal top attachment strip 106 and first side attachment strip 110 respectively to create a smooth aesthetically pleasing exterior of modular handbag 104. In addition, at least one pocket 114 contains top securing strip 302, bottom securing strip 304 and first side securing strip 306 in the back of at least one pocket 114 and second side securing strip 308 is secured to the front or visible side of at least one pocket 114.
In use of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, at least one pocket 114 is inserted into modular handbag 104 such that top securing strip 302 is mated with top concealing strip 502 and first side securing strip 306 is mated with first side concealing strip 506. Second side securing strip 308 is attached to the opposite side of at least one pocket 114 that first side attachment strip 110 is attached to such that when at least one pocket 114 is inserted into modular handbag 104, second side securing strip 308 is not visible. Top concealing strip 502 and first side concealing strip 506 are folded over and onto at least one pocket 114 such that a smooth aesthetically interior is created.
Then, a second at least one pocket 114 is inserted into modular handbag 104 such that top securing strip 302 is mated with top concealing strip 502 and first side securing strip 306 is mated with second side securing strip 308 such that a smooth aesthetically interior is created. If the second at least one pocket 114 does not extend to the length of modular handbag 104, then one or more at least one pockets 114 are added or concealing panel 402 is added such that a smooth aesthetically interior is created inside modular handbag 104. Other arrangements or configurations may be used and use of other arrangements or configurations will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
In use, the above modular handbag system allows users to have a purse with exactly the number and size of storage pockets they want at any given time and provides an aesthetically pleasing interior. Each pocket can be changed whenever desired or the entire pocket structure can be relatively easily removed from the purse and secured into another purse. This allows the user to change purses to match needs or outfits. If the user wants to change the outside of the modular handbag but wants to keep the interior storage pockets, the user simply removes at least one pocket 114 and reattaches at least one pocket 114 to the new modular handbag. If multiple at least one pockets 114 are used, because they overlap and first side securing strip 306 of one at least one pocket 114 is mated with second side securing strip 308 of a second at least one pocket 114, the pockets can be removed as a single unit and placed into the new modular handbag.
It should be understood that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A modular handbag system comprising:

a handbag having an interior and an exterior wherein the interior has a top portion, bottom portion, first side, and second side;

at least one attachment means secured to the interior of the handbag;

at least one pocket removeably attached to the attachment means wherein the at least one pocket creates an aesthetically pleasing interior to the handbag.

2. The modular handbag system of claim 1 wherein the at least one attachment means is located on the top portion of the handbag.

3. The modular handbag system of claim 2 further comprising a second attachment means located on the first side of the handbag.

4. The modular handbag system of claim 3 further comprising a third attachment means located on the bottom portion of the handbag.

5. The modular handbag system of claim 4 further comprising a fourth attachment means located on the second side of the handbag.

6. The modular handbag system of claim 1 further comprising at least one concealing strip that covers and conceals the at least one attachment means.

7. The modular handbag system of claim 1 comprising at least two pockets removeably attached to the attachment means.

8. The modular handbag system of claim 7 wherein the at least two pockets each contain a pocket attachment means such that at least on side of one pocket may be attached to at least one side of the other pocket.

9. The modular handbag system of claim 1 further comprising at least one concealing strip that covers and conceals the at least one attachment means and at least two pockets wherein the at least two pockets each contain a pocket attachment means such that at least one side of one pocket may be attached to at least one side of the other pocket.

10. The modular handbag system of claim 1 wherein the at least one pocket does not extend the length of the handbag and the handbag system further comprises a panel that is removeably attached to the attachment means such that the panel extends from the at least one pocket to the inside edge of the handbag to create an aesthetically pleasing interior to the handbag.

11. A method for using a modular handbag system, the method comprising the steps of:

locating a handbag wherein the handbag has an interior and an exterior and the interior has a top portion, bottom portion, first side, and second side;

identifying at least one attachment means located on the interior of the handbag;

removeably attaching at least one pocket to the at least one attachment means wherein the at least one pocket creates an aesthetically pleasing interior to the handbag.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one attachment means is located on the top portion of the handbag.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising removeably attaching the at least one pocket using a second attachment means located on the first side of the handbag.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising removeably attaching the at least one pocket using a third attachment means located on the bottom portion of the handbag.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising removeably attaching the at least one pocket using a fourth attachment means located on the second side of the handbag.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising concealing each at least one attachment means with a corresponding at least one concealing strip that covers and conceals each at least one attachment means.

17. The method of claim 11 comprising removeably attaching at least two pockets to the attachment means.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the at least two pockets each contain a pocket attachment means such that at least on side of one pocket may be attached to at least one side of the other pocket.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising concealing the at least one attachment means with at least one concealing strip that covers and conceals the at least one attachment means and removeably attaching at least two pockets to the at least one attachment means wherein the at least two pockets each contain a pocket attachment means such that at least on side of one pocket may be attached to at least one side of the other pocket.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein conditioned upon the at least one pocket not extending the length of the handbag, then removeably attaching a panel to the attachment means wherein the panel extends from the at least one pocket to the inside edge of the handbag such that an aesthetically pleasing interior to the handbag is created.