SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACCESSORIZING HANDBAGS
A system and method for accessorizing hand bags with a flexible system capable of attaching myriad decorated accessories to myriad hand bags utilizing a hooking method of attachment.
I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of handbags, in particular to a system and method for accessorizing handbags with a flexible system capable of attaching myriad decorated accessories to myriad handbags utilizing a hooking method of attachment.
II. Discussion of the Prior Art
Handbags have an infamous reputation through out the world for various reasons, while the following patents disclose some of the problems and solutions that have become widely apparent over the last century, there are yet unresolved issues.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,656,870 issued to Wishina, discloses a lady's handbag in which the decorative effects can be changed by a replaceable front panel of the purse. The panel is retained by a thumb nut. Although the appearance of the purse may be changed, the front panel is very limited in its ability to change the overall appearance of the handbag.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,088,167 issued to Scwartz, discloses a handbag with interchangeable handles. The handles have a limited number of embodiments which are highly limited by the requirement for the handle to have the same limited shape for attachment which would result in a limited amount of design flexibility for different seasons and occasions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,410,784 issued to Katz discloses a complex connector system for attaching jewelry to a plurality of clasps. Such a complex design leads to increased costs and increases the potential for a mechanical failure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,787 issued to Davis discloses a ladies handbag capable of limited ornamentation via a magnetically attached clasp. The clasp required an anti-rotation element and suffers from a generally unstable platform due to the limited strength of attachment associated with small fixed magnets.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,280 issued to Sands, discloses another transformable purse. However, the disclosed purse requires that the entire contents of the bag be transferred between different shells. This time consuming method would severely limit the occasions for which a handbag could be utilized. Additionally, such shells would require expensive precision created materials which would increase their overall costs.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONThe present invention relates to accessorizing handbags to accommodate different outfits, moods, and occasions without having to replace the entire handbag. It also allows numerous combination looks and bags as women accumulate inter-changeable bags, handles and hook on accessories through-out the years. This potentially saves consumers from having to purchase new bags every time they change outfits or go to different functions. Additionally, the present invention allows consumers to personalize their bag and get super creative with the look they can create on a daily basis.
Therefore an object of the present invention is to provide a handbag whose appearance is capable of being quickly and easily changed by the end user to enable them to accessorize myriad outfits for different seasons and occasions.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a handbag with an interchangeable accessory mount capable of matching the handbag with the end users mood and style.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a handbag with an interchangeable accessory mount that is reliable and strong so that highly ornamented accessories cannot break free.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a handbag with an interchangeable accessory mount that is inexpensive to manufacture to allow a wide variety of custom accessorizing.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following portions of the specification, wherein the detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing preferred embodiments of the invention without placing limitations thereon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGSIt is convenient to hereinafter describe embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be appreciated that the particularity of the drawings and the related description is to be understood as not superseding the broad description of the invention in which:
Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. The system to accessorize handbags disclosed herein boasts a variety of inventive features and components that warrant patent protection, both individually and in combination.
The handle 10 has two handle hooks 11 on each end. The handle 10 is generally symmetrical and capable of being manufactured with a variety of materials including the cloth, leather, polymer or other appropriate materials which are capable of matching the style of the handbag 20. The handle hooks 11 on the ends of the handle strap 28 are made of metal such as aluminum or steel but one skilled in the art would recognize that a variety of metals would be suitable. In the present embodiment, the handle hooks 11 have springs (not shown) which keep a hook lever 14 on the handle hook 11 in the closed position, wherein the hook lever 14 is in direct contact with the hook body 12. The handle hook 11 is capable coupling to the handle ring member 22 by applying pressure to the hook lever 14 directly to the handle ring member 22 which would move the hook lever 14 to the open position and allow the handle ring member 22 to slide inside the handle hook 11. The handle hook 11 is detached by the end user applying pressure to the hook lever 14 with their thumb or finger to move the hook lever 14 to the open position, then the handle hook 11 can slide the off the handle ring member 22 and then close by spring pressure exerted when the thumb or finger relaxes the pressure on the hook lever 14.
The loop body 19 is attached to the handle 10 where the end of the handle strap 18 is placed through the loop body 19 and permanently attached to another portion of the handle strap 18, thus forming a tight fitting loop. The handle 10 can form a loop by sewing through the material; such material as cloth, leather, polymer or faux animal skin are examples and not limitations. One skilled in the art could appreciate that additional methods of forming a loop to hold the handle hook 11 firmly to the handle 10 such as gluing, heat bonding, epoxy, or other appropriate chemical catalysts capable of cross-linking a portion of the handle strap 18 material to another portion of the handle strap 18.
Claims
1. A system and method for accessorizing handbags comprisng:
- a handbag member attached to two handle ring members capable of receiving hooks;
- a decorative handle having two ends said ends each having a hooking member; and,
- a handbag ring member attached to a generally centrally located portion of a front surface of said handbag member capable of receiving a decorative hooking member.
2. The system and method for accessorizing handbags of claim 1,
- wherein, there is a plurality of handbag ring members attached to the handbag member capable of releasably coupling to several jewelwed accessories.
3. The system and method for accessorizing handbags of claim 1,
- wherein, the hooking member has a tension spring applying continuous pressure to a hooking lever maintaining the hooking lever in a closed position.
4. The system and method for accessorizing handbags of claim 1,
- wherein, the handle ring member is attached to the handbag member by a piece of handbag material.
5. The system and method for accessorizing handbags of claim 1,
- wherein, the handle ring member is disposed substantially within a side surface of the handbag member.
6. The system and method for accessorizing handbags of claim 1,
- wherein, the handle ring member is disposed substantially within a handle flap of the handbag member.
7. The system and method for accessorizing handbags of claim 1,
- wherein, the decorative hooking member is an ornamented substrate having a jewel.
Type: Application
Filed: May 18, 2004
Publication Date: Nov 24, 2005
Inventor: Linda Vazin (La Jolla, CA)
Application Number: 10/709,634