Interchangeable purse and liner

Abstract

The present interchangeable purse and liner provides a single liner or insert which may be interchangeably installed in any of a series of compatible handbags or the like. A person using the present purse and liner system may place all of her normally carried personal articles (e.g., wallet, keys, cosmetics, notebook and pen, etc.) in the insert, and merely remove the insert from one purse and place it in another when changing purses from, e.g., an everyday purse to an evening bag. The purse includes an upper flap which folds over the upper edge of the liner, to provide a finished appearance for the assembly. Two fastener sets (e.g., magnetic snaps, mechanical snaps, Velcro®, buttons, etc.) are used, with one set securing the flap to the inner surface of the liner along its upper edge, and the other set fastening between the liner and the inner surface of the purse.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to handbags, purses, and similar containers for the carriage of personal articles. More specifically, the present invention comprises various embodiments of a purse or purses having a separable liner therewith so that the liner is interchangeable between purses.

2. Description of the Related Art

Women often have two or more purses, which they use for different occasions. A woman may own a relatively plain purse for everyday use, a fancier purse for evening use or other social affairs, or perhaps a series of purses of different colors to coordinate with different apparel. Most women have a certain number of personal articles, e.g., wallet and identification, cosmetics, writing implements and notebooks, etc., which they carry in the purse pretty much at all times. When a woman requires a different purse, e.g., for a formal occasion or other social affair or to carry with a specific outfit, she must remove all of the articles from one purse and place them individually in the other purse, an operation that is clearly tedious and time consuming. Oftentimes, the different purses may have different compartments for the storage of various articles therein, with the woman then needing to remove the various articles from the pockets or compartments of one purse and place them in the appropriate pockets or compartments of a different purse. The various pockets or compartments are certain to be arranged differently in the different purses, thus resulting in some delay in locating articles in different purses.

As a result, a number of purses or similar containers having removable or interchangeable liners have been developed in the past. Of these, many do not provide any real security for the liner when it is placed in the purse, with no means being provided to secure the liner positively within the purse. Of those purse and liner systems where the liner is positively retained within the purse, the fastening systems generally result in an unfinished appearance to the assembly, or do not provide the security desired, or both.

The present invention overcomes these problems with an interchangeable purse and liner system in which the liner may be quickly and easily removed from one purse and interchangeably installed in another, as desired. The present system provides for the positive attachment of the liner into any of the purses to which it is adapted, while also providing a finished appearance for the assembly when the liner is installed in a compatible purse. A discussion of the related art of which the present inventor is aware, and its differences and distinctions from the present invention, is provided below.

The related art may be divided into two categories, depending upon whether the assembly provides means for positively retaining the liner in the purse, or whether the liner is only loosely contained within the purse. Those purse and liner assemblies where the liners are not positively fastened or retained within the purses are not felt to be particularly closely related to the present invention. Various assemblies lacking positive retention of the liner within the purse are described in the following U.S. and foreign patents and publications:

U.S. Pat. No. 2,464,312 issued on Mar. 15, 1949 to Winnie B. Holden, titled “Quick-Change Internal Structure For Handbags;” U.S. Pat. No. 2,467,662 issued on Apr. 19, 1949 to Florence Freiberg, titled “Handbag Lining;” U.S. Pat. No. 2,893,457 issued on Jul. 7, 1959 to Helen M. Wilson, titled “Removable Purse Liner And Method Of Fabrication;” U.S. Pat. No. 3,451,454 issued on Jun. 24, 1969 to Robert J. Davis, titled “Removable Liner For Purses Or The Like;” U.S. Pat. No. 3,533,459 issued on Oct. 13, 1970 to Elta E. Ody, titled “Purse Insert;” U.S. Pat. No. 4,263,951 issued on Apr. 28, 1981 to Milton I. Siegel, titled “Interchangeable Accessory System For Handbags;” U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,769 issued on Mar. 14, 1989 to Robert R. Phares, titled “Purse Insert;” U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/29,534 published on Feb. 13, 2003, titled “Purse Organizer;” U.S. Design Pat. No. 252,596 issued on Aug. 14, 1979 to Emy Adler et al., titled “Purse Insert;” U.S. Design Pat. No. 265,149 issued on Jun. 29, 1982 to Mary A. Romano, titled “Hand Bag Insert;” U.S. Design Pat. No. 403,863 issued on Jan. 12, 1999 to Suzan Briganti, titled “Removable Organizer Liner For Handbag;” Italian Patent No. 1,227,315 published on Oct. 13, 1989, titled “Improvements To Bags And Similar Products;” and British Patent No. 2,260,894 published on May 5, 1993, titled “Improvements In Or Relating To Bags.”

None of the above listed patents and patent publications have any means for positively fastening or securing the liner within the purse or handbag, as noted further above. However, a number of devices do provide for the positive attachment of the liner within the purse or handbag.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,529,724 issued on Nov. 14, 1950 to Sylvia T. Conwiser, titled “Carrying Kit Removably Insertable Into A Purse Or The Like,” describes a purse and liner combination with each element having a large closure flap. The closure flap of the liner is secured to the outer panel of the purse by the overlying closure flap of the purse, when the purse is closed. However, the Conwiser assembly provides no means for positively retaining the liner in the purse when the purse is opened. The present assembly provides such positive retention means for the liner at all times, until the liner is deliberately released from the purse by the user of the assembly.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,609,854 issued on Sep. 9, 1952 to Mitchell Rosen, titled “Interchangeable Linings For Pocketbooks,” describes a purse and liner assembly in which the liner and purse each have an upper opening with a hinged frame formed of rigid components. The inflexible opening frames (excepting the hinges) require the purse and liner to have essentially the same configuration, at least insofar as their attachments at their rigid mouth frames. A series of mating fasteners are provided along the two frames, to secure the frame of the liner mouth positively to the frame of the purse mouth. The result is a relatively unfinished appearance for the two frames when the components are assembled. The present invention conceals the common edges of the liner and purse when assembled, by providing a flap of material which wraps over the upper edge of the liner, and secures to the inner surface of the liner along its upper edge.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,414,033 issued on Dec. 3, 1968 to Billy J. Tucker, titled “Interchangeable Purse Insert,” describes another insert having a hinged opening formed of rigid components. Velcro® is used to secure one side of the insert to one of the inner surfaces of the purse. No folded over purse edge for concealing the upper edge of the liner is provided by Tucker.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,254 issued on May 4, 1993 to Thelma J. Fromm, titled “Convertible Handbag,” describes multiple embodiments for an insert or liner for a purse or the like. At least one of the embodiments includes Velcro® along the mating upper edges of the purse and the liner to secure the liner positively within the purse. However, Fromm does not provide any form of outer flap extending from the upper edge of the purse to fold over the upper edge of the liner to provide better security and a more finished appearance, as provided by the present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,975 issued on Apr. 20, 1999 to Nancy Holden et al., titled “Carriers And Interchangeable Liner Therefor,” describes a liner and purse having mating zippered upper edges to secure the liner positively to the purse. No folded over upper edge for the purse is provided by Holden et al. for concealing the edge of the liner and for providing more positive retention of the liner in the purse, as provided by the present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,262 issued on Jun. 15, 1999 to Elyse A. Steinhart, titled “Handbag,” describes an insert for a purse or the like having panels which slide through slots formed in the outer panels of the outer bag to be disposed upon the outer surfaces of the bag. The purse includes upwardly folding, outer cover flaps to conceal the outwardly disposed panels of the insert. However, no inwardly folding upper edges are provided for the purse to conceal and better secure the liner in the purse, as provided by the present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,573 issued on Dec. 21, 1999 to JoAnn Owens, titled “Interchangeable Purse Assembly,” describes a liner with multiple zipper closures and attachments. The upper edge of the liner has peripheral zippers which engage corresponding zippers along the upper edge of the purse to secure the liner to the purse. The liner also has a zippered mouth closure as well. No folded over upper purse edge is provided by Owens to conceal the zippered liner and purse attachment edges, as provided by the present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,025 issued on Jan. 30, 2001 to Alice B. Sutton, titled “Carry Bag With Pouch Insert And Cover,” describes a series of embodiments of a purse or handbag and insert assembly. Some of the embodiments include mating snaps in the interior of the purse and on the exterior of the insert to secure the insert positively within the bag. However, Sutton does not provide any form of folded over flaps along the upper edges of the purse or bag to conceal the upper edges of the insert therein.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,201 issued on Feb. 13, 2001 to Julie Salz, titled “Handbag With A Removably Attached Inner Bag,” describes embodiments of a purse or handbag and liner, with the liner being secured within the purse by flexible magnetic strips disposed along the upper edges of the purse and liner. The liner may incorporate a zipper closure, but no folded over flaps extend from the purse or bag to conceal the upper edges of the liner, as provided by the present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,278 issued on Jul. 23, 2002 to Katy A. Grogan, titled “Nested Convertible Handbags,” describes bags and inserts which provide for the insert to be used separately, if so desired. Snaps are used to secure the insert into the larger bag, with the snaps also serving to secure the handle(s) to either the larger bag or to the insert, as desired. No upper edge concealing flap is provided by Grogan for her assembly.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,688 issued on Sep. 10, 2002 to Alice B. Sutton, titled “Carry Bag With Pouch Insert And Cover,” is a division of the issued '025 U.S. Patent to the same inventor, discussed further above. The same points of difference noted between the purse and insert embodiments of the '025 U.S. Patent and the present invention, are seen to apply here as well.

U.S. Design Pat. No. 334,661 issued on Apr. 13, 1993 to Dorothy P. Kohn, titled “Removable Pocketbook Liner,” illustrates a design comprising an insert or liner apparently having mating Velcro® strips disposed along the upper edges of the purse and liner, on the inner edges of the purse and the outer edges of the liner. As in the cases of the other handbag and insert assemblies noted further above, there is no disclosure of the folding over of the edges of the purse to conceal and contain the upper edges of the insert, as provided by the present invention.

U.S. Design Pat. No. 408,146 issued on Apr. 20, 1999 to Suzan Briganti, titled “Removable Organizer Liner For Handbag,” illustrates a design similar to the '863 U.S. Design Patent to the same inventor, noted in the collective listing further above of assemblies which do not provide positive retention of the liner or insert in the purse. The '146 design appears to show a series of snaps or the like along the upper edges of the device, as well as compartments along both of the interior walls of the device. There is no disclosure of any form of overlapping upper edge from the purse to conceal the edge of the liner, as provided by the present invention.

Finally, International Patent No. WO 93/07,777 published on Apr. 29, 1993, titled “Handbag,” describes (according to the drawings and English abstract) a purse or handbag and liner assembly. This is the only purse description with which the present inventor is familiar that discloses a collar or flap disposed along the upper edge of the purse, and which folds over to cover the upper edge of the insert placed therein. However, only a single series of fasteners is provided along the inner surface of the collar and the inner surface of the upper portion of the insert. This would make the removal of the insert from the purse, somewhat difficult. As purses and liners are conventionally formed of relatively soft and flexible material, the inward pull to disengage the fasteners between the collar and insert would pull the insert inwardly as well. There are no additional restraining fasteners to hold the insert in place against the inner surface of the purse during this initial step of the removal operation. In contrast, the present purse or handbag and liner or insert includes not only a series of mating fasteners between the inner surface of the collar and the inner surface of the upper portion of the insert, but also includes another series of mating fasteners between the outer surface of the upper portion of the insert and the inner surface of the upper portion of the purse. This arrangement anchors the insert in place against the inner surface of the purse as the collar or flap is removed from the insert during the initial step in the insert removal process, particularly if the fasteners between the outer surface of the insert and inner surface of the purse are stronger than the fasteners between the collar or flap and the inner surface of the insert.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, an interchangeable purse and liner solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present interchangeable purse and liner allows a single liner or insert to contain all of the articles normally carried in a handbag or the like. The liner, with its contents, may be transferred between different purses or the like as desired, thus avoiding the need to transfer each article (e.g., wallet, keys, cosmetics, etc.) separately and greatly facilitating the process.

The liner or insert of the present interchangeable purse and liner system may be used with any compatible purse, handbag, or the like, so long as the external bag is provided with corresponding fasteners in appropriate positions to attach to the liner in order to secure the liner within the purse. Preferably, a series of magnetic snaps or buttons are used, but other types of fasteners (e.g., mechanical snaps, buttons, Velcro®, etc.) may be used as desired. The outer bag or purse includes an upper flap which folds over the upper edge of the liner, thereby providing a finished appearance for the assembly.

The liner is secured within the bag by two sets or groups of fasteners, with one set securing the flap to the inner surface of the upper edge of the liner, and the other set securing the outer surface of the liner to the inner surface of the bag. Different types of fasteners may be used in each set, and the sets may be aligned or offset from one another as desired. The fasteners of the set securing the flap to the inner surface of the liner may be somewhat weaker than the fasteners of the other set, thus facilitating the separation of the flap from the liner while still holding the liner in place during the removal process.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon consideration of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an interchangeable liner and purses or bags usable therewith, according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view in section of a bag or purse and liner therein having the sets of fasteners offset from one another, showing the assembly of the two components.

FIG. 3 is an end elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the assembly of FIG. 2, wherein the two sets of fasteners are aligned with one another.

FIG. 4 is a broken away detail view of the interior of a bag or purse and liner assembly, showing alternate fasteners which may be used with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is another broken away detail view of the interior of a bag and liner assembly, showing further alternative fasteners.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention comprises a series of embodiments of an interchangeable purse and liner system, in which a single liner or insert is used to contain all of the articles normally carried in a purse, handbag, or the like. The single liner or insert may be interchangeably placed in any one of a series of differently configured purses, so long as those purses each include mating fasteners for the liner for positively securing the liner or insert therein.

FIG. 1 provides an exploded perspective view of an exemplary liner or insert 10 and a pair of differently configured purses or containers 12 and 14 which may be interchangeably used with the liner 10. Each purse or handbag 12 and 14 has an upper edge, respectively 16 and 18, an interior surface, respectively 20 and 22, and an opposite exterior surface, respectively 24 and 26. Each of the purses or handbags 12 and 14 further includes an upper flap or collar, respectively 28 and 30, extending from their respective upper edges 16 and 18. Each flap 28 and 30 includes an interior surface, respectively 32 and 34, and an opposite exterior surface, respectively 36 and 38. These flaps 28 and 30 fold downwardly and inwardly into the upper portions of the purse interiors, and secure the upper edge of the liner or insert between the flap 28 or 30 and the interior surface of the purse 12 or 14 along its upper edge.

The single liner or inner container 10 may be interchangeably placed as desired in any of the purses of the present invention, e.g., exemplary purses 12 and 14 of FIG. 1. The liner 10 includes at least an upper edge 40 and opposed interior and exterior surfaces, respectively 42 and 44.

The liner 10 and various purses 12 and 14 for use therewith, each include a series of mating fasteners thereon and therein for positively securing the liner 10 within one of the purses 12 or 14, as desired. A first fastener set 46 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) comprises at least one first fastener 48 disposed upon the interior surface 32, 34 of the flaps 28, 30 of the two purses 12 and 14, and at least one mating second fastener 50 disposed upon the interior surface 42 of the liner or inner container 10 adjacent to the upper edge 40 thereof. These first and second fasteners 48 and 50 are configured to attach removably to one another, and secure the folded over purse flap 28 or 30 to the inner surface 42 of the liner or inner container 10 when the liner 10 is installed within the purse or outer container 12 or 14. Preferably, a series of first fasteners 48 and second fasteners 50 are provided respectively along the purse flaps 28 and 30 and along the inner liner 10, for greater security.

While such a first fastener set 46 is sufficient to secure the liner or inner container 10 within one of the purses or outer containers 12 or 14, the use of only a single set of fasteners can result in some difficulty in disengaging the fasteners 48 and 50 from one another when removal of the liner 10 from one of the purses 12 or 14 is desired. When the folded over flap 28 or 30 is pulled inwardly and lifted upwardly in an attempt to release it from the inner surface 42 of the liner 10 adjacent the upper edge 40 thereof, the liner 10 itself is lifted or pulled away from the inner surface 20, 22 of the respective purse 12 or 14, thus complicating the removal of the liner 10 therefrom.

Accordingly, the present interchangeable purse and liner invention provides a second fastener set 52, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. This second set 52 comprises one or more (preferably a series of) third fasteners 54 disposed adjacent the upper edge 16 or 18 of each purse 10 or 12 upon the interior surfaces 20 and 22 thereof, and one or more (again, preferably plural) fourth fasteners 56 disposed upon the exterior surface of the inner container or liner 10 adjacent the upper edge 40 thereof, and removably securing to the third fasteners 54 of the purses or outer containers 10 or 12. This second fastener set 52 serves to retain the upper portion of the liner or inner container 10 to the inner surface of the respective purse or outer container 12 or 14 in which the liner 10 has been temporarily installed, while the user is removing the purse flap 28 or 30 from the upper, inner surface 42 of the liner 10.

FIGS. 2 and 3 provide detailed elevation views in section of two slightly different embodiments of fastener installations of the present invention. In FIG. 2, an exemplary inner container or liner 10a includes second fasteners 50 of the first fastener set 46, which removably engage the first fasteners 48 disposed upon the inner surface 32 of the inwardly folding flap 28 of the purse or outer container 12. The liner 10a also includes fourth fasteners 56 of the second fastener set 52, with the fourth fasteners 56 of the liner 10a removably engaging the third fasteners 54 disposed upon the inner surface 20 of the purse or container 12 adjacent the upper edge 16 thereof. It will be noted that the second fasteners 50 and fourth fasteners 56 respectively of the inner and outer surfaces 42 and 44 of the liner 10a are axially offset from one another in the embodiment of FIG. 2. This may provide certain advantages in the manufacture of the liner or inner container 10a of the present invention, by allowing access to the material on the opposite side of each fastener. It will be seen that the second fasteners 50 may be positioned below the fourth fasteners 56, as shown, or offset laterally, diagonally, or above those fourth fasteners 56, as desired. As a result, the first fasteners 48 of the purse or outer container 12 are correspondingly offset from the third fasteners 54 when the first and third fasteners 48, 54 of the purse 12 engage their respective mating second and fourth fasteners 50, 56 of the liner 10a, as shown by the alignment of the various fasteners 48, 50, 54, and 56 in the upper left portion of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 illustrates a closely related embodiment to that of FIG. 3, in which the various fasteners are all aligned axially with one another when the liner is installed within the purse. In FIG. 3, the two fastener sets 46 and 52 are axially aligned with one another, i.e., the second and fourth fasteners 50 and 56 disposed upon opposite sides of the liner or inner container 10b are directly opposite one another. As their respective mating fasteners 48 and 54 align with the fasteners 50 and 56 when the liner 10b is secured within the purse 14 (or other compatible purse), all of the four fasteners 48, 50, 54, and 56 of the two sets 46 and 52 are aligned. This serves to anchor the upper, outer surface 44 of the liner 10b even more securely to the upper portion of the purse 14, and further facilitates the removal of the liner 10b from the purse 14 when desired by holding the liner 10b securely to the upper portion of the purse 14 during the initial liner removal process as the fasteners 48 of the flap 30 are pulled loose from the fasteners 50 of the inner surface 42 of the liner 10b.

The removal of the liner 10a or 10b from the purse 12 or 14 may be further facilitated by providing fasteners 48 and 50 of the first set 46 with weaker adhesion than the fasteners 54 and 56 of the second set 52. In this manner, when the flap 28 (or 30) is pulled away from the inner surface 42 of the liner, the two fasteners 48 and 50 of the first set 46 will separate first, with the fasteners 54 and 56 of the second set remaining secured to hold the liner 10 (or 10a or 10b) in place within the purse 12 (or 14). Once the flap has been lifted, the liner 10 may be pulled away from the inner surface 20 (or 22) of the purse 12 (or 14) by separating the stronger fasteners 54 and 56 of the second set 52.

The present interchangeable purse and liner invention may utilize a number of different types of fasteners, as desired. In the examples shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the fasteners are mating magnetic buttons or snaps, with the first and fourth fasteners 48 and 56 having magnetically attractive protuberances extending therefrom and the second and third fasteners 50 and 54 having mating magnetically attractive receptacles therein. FIG. 4 illustrates a further fastener embodiment, wherein mating hook and loop fastener material (e.g., Velcro®) is used as the first through fourth fasteners of the two fastener sets.

In FIG. 4, a first fastener set 58 comprises a first or loop material pad 60 secured (e.g., sewn, etc.) to the inner surface 32a of the flap 28a, and a second or hook material pad 62 secured to the inner surface 42a of the liner, adjacent the upper edge 40a thereof. The second fastener set 64 comprises a third or hook material pad 66 secured to the inner surface 20a of the purse or outer container near the upper edge 16a thereof, and a mating fourth or loop material pad 68 (shown in broken lines) secured to the outer surface 44a of the liner.

The liner and purse of FIG. 4 are assembled in much the same manner as the liners and purses of FIGS. 1 through 3, i.e., placing the liner in the purse, securing the mating hook and loop material of the pads 66 and 68 of the second fastener set 64 together, then folding over the flap 28a and securing the mating fasteners 60 and 62 of the first fastener set 58 together. It will be seen that the hook and loop portions of such hook and loop fastener material may be reversed from the specific installation described above, and/or the second and fourth pads 62 and 68 may be installed directly opposite one another on the two surfaces 42a and 44a of the liner, as shown, or may be staggered or offset, as in the case of the magnetic snaps or buttons 50 and 56 of the liner embodiment 10a of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 illustrates additional types of fasteners which may be used with the present invention, as desired. In the right side of FIG. 5, a first fastener set 70 comprises a first or female snap 72 and a second or male snap 74. Additional snaps may be used in the second fastener set, e.g., the snap 76 shown in broken lines opposite the second snap 74, or the various types of fasteners may be mixed as desired, e.g., magnetic buttons for the first fastener set, hook and loop material for the second set, etc., as desired. This may provide for the differing fastener adhesion strengths of the first and second fastener sets to facilitate the removal of the liner from the purse, as described further above.

The left side of FIG. 5 illustrates yet another fastener configuration which may be used with the present invention, comprising mating buttons 78 and eyelets or buttonholes 80. It will be seen that as the button is shown secured to the inner surface of the purse or outer container and the buttonhole or eyelet is formed through the flap, the specific button and buttonhole or eyelet illustrated in FIG. 5 would not connect together due to the intervening upper edge of the liner disposed therebetween when assembled. However, the principle remains that both the liner and the outer container may be secured together using buttons and eyelets, with a button and eyelet comprising a first fastener set and another button and eyelet comprising a second fastener set. The opposed button and eyelet disposed adjacent the upper edge of the liner on its opposite surfaces, would of course be offset from one another.

While magnetic button or snap fasteners are preferred for securing the liner removably within any of the purses of the present invention, any of a number of different principles of fastener may be used as desired. While normally all fasteners of the first and second sets would be of the same type or principle (but of mating configurations, as required), it may be desirable in some instances to use fasteners of different principles for the two sets, e.g., magnetic buttons or snaps for the first fastener set and hook and loop fastener material for the second fastener set. In this manner, the relative adhesion strengths of the two fastener sets may be selected as desired, in order to facilitate separation of the outer container or purse flap from the inner surface of the upper portion of the liner or inner container while the liner remains secured to the inner surface of the purse.

In conclusion, the present interchangeable purse and liner invention greatly facilitates the transfer of articles from one purse to another when the use of a different purse is desired. A lady need only purchase two or more purses compatible with the liner of the present invention, and a liner for selectively securing in any of the purses, and place her various commonly carried articles (keys, wallet, cosmetics, etc.) within the liner. Whenever she wishes to carry a different purse, she need only remove the liner from the purse in current use and install the liner, complete with existing contents, into the other selected purse. The liner of the present invention may be provided with conventional internal pockets and closures for those pockets as desired, thereby allowing the user to always know where various articles are stored without having to place those articles in a different internal pocket arrangement in a different purse. The present invention will thus be greatly appreciated by anyone who has had occasion to tediously remove and replace a number of separate articles from one container to another, merely to have a different style of container for a

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. An interchangeable purse and liner assembly, comprising:

at least two outer containers, each having at least an upper edge, an interior surface, and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface;

a selectively inwardly folding flap extending from the upper edge of each of said outer containers, each said flap having at least an interior surface and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface;

an inner container selectively installed within one of said outer containers, said inner container having at least an upper edge, an interior surface, and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface;

a first fastener set having at least one first fastener disposed upon the interior surface of said flap and at least one second fastener disposed upon the interior surface of said inner container, selectively fastening to said at least one first fastener; and

a second fastener set having at least one third fastener disposed upon the interior surface of said outer container adjacent the upper edge thereof and at least one fourth fastener disposed upon the exterior surface of said inner container adjacent the upper edge thereof, selectively fastening to said at least one third fastener.

2. The interchangeable purse and liner assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one first fastener, second fastener, third fastener, and fourth fastener each comprise a plurality of fasteners.

3. The interchangeable purse and liner assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first fastener set is offset from said second fastener set.

4. The interchangeable purse and liner assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first fastener set is aligned with said second fastener set.

5. The interchangeable purse and liner assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first fastener set is weaker than said second fastener set.

6. The interchangeable purse and liner assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one said fastener set is selected from the group consisting of magnetically mutually attractive buttons, mating hook and loop fastener material, mating mechanical snaps, and mating buttons and eyelets.

7. The interchangeable purse and liner assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first fastener set and said second fastener set are selected from the group consisting of magnetically mutually attractive buttons, mating hook and loop fastener material, mating mechanical snaps, and mating buttons and eyelets.

8. The interchangeabile purse and liner assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

said first fastener set and said second fastener set are selected from the group consisting of magnetically mutually attractive buttons, mating hook and loop fastener material, mating mechanical snaps, and mating buttons and eyelets; and

said first fastener set is formed of a different class of fasteners than said second fastener set.

9. An interchangeable purse and liner assembly, comprising:

at least two outer containers, each having at least an upper edge, an interior surface, and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface;

a selectively inwardly folding flap extending from the upper edge of each of said outer containers, each said flap having at least an interior surface and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface;

an inner container selectively installed within one of said outer containers, said inner container having at least an upper edge, an interior surface, and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface;

a first fastener set having at least one first fastener disposed upon the interior surface of said flap and at least one second fastener disposed upon the interior surface of said inner container, selectively fastening to said at least one first fastener; and

a second fastener set having at least one third fastener disposed upon the interior surface of said outer container adjacent the upper edge thereof and at least one fourth fastener disposed upon the exterior surface of said inner container adjacent the upper edge thereof, selectively fastening to said at least one third fastener;

wherein said first fastener set is weaker than said second fastener set.

10. The interchangeable purse and liner assembly according to claim 9, wherein said at least one first fastener, second fastener, third fastener, and fourth fastener each comprise a plurality of fasteners.

11. The interchangeable purse and liner assembly according to claim 9, wherein said first fastener set is offset from said second fastener set.

12. The interchangeable purse and liner assembly according to claim 9, wherein said first fastener set is aligned with said second fastener set.

13. The interchangeable purse and liner assembly according to claim 9, wherein at least one said fastener set is selected from the group consisting of magnetically mutually attractive buttons, mating hook and loop fastener material, mating mechanical snaps, and mating buttons and eyelets.

14. The interchangeable purse and liner assembly according to claim 9, wherein said first fastener set and said second fastener set are selected from the group consisting of magnetically mutually attractive buttons, mating hook and loop fastener material, mating mechanical snaps, and mating buttons and eyelets.

15. The interchangeable purse and liner assembly according to claim 9, wherein:

said first fastener set and said second fastener set are selected from the group consisting of magnetically mutually attractive buttons, mating hook and loop fastener material, mating mechanical snaps, and mating buttons and eyelets; and

said first fastener set is formed of a different class of fasteners than said second fastener set.