Fashion bracelet

Abstract

A fashion bracelet having an elongated flexible strap and a case. The elongated flexible strap has two securable ends and an aperture formed therein. The case includes a base wall and a side wall defining a partially enclosed area with at least one indentation that is adapted to receive and secure at least one interchangeable cosmetic item. The partially enclosed area is enclosed by a cover pivotally mounted to the side wall, and the base wall and side wall are adapted to secure the case to the aperture of the flexible strap.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/285,253, filed Apr. 20, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a fashion bracelet. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fashion bracelet that is capable of holding at least one cosmetic item.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Fashion bracelets designed to function dually as storage devices are known in the art.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 1,727,001 to Weaver discloses a bracelet vanity case. The bracelet may be made up of an attaching base to which a vanity box is detachably secured and a trap for fastening to the arm or leg of the wearer.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 1,714,732 to Schneider discloses a bracelet vanity case. The case is formed in a plurality of parts that are hinged together and provided with a suitable wrist band.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 1,670,720 to Gross discloses a compact retainer whereby a conventional compact can be detachably connected with the strap of a wrist watch or to any desired portion of the clothes of the wearer.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 1,644,404 to Squier discloses a vanity case. The vanity case has a cosmetic applicator slidably received within and removable from it.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 1,609,481 to McCarthy et al. discloses a wrist vanity case. The case is capable of holding two different kinds of cosmetics.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 1,584,205 to Zaldo discloses an ornamental wrist mirror and vanity case with a safety attaching means for securing the article upon a bracelet or wristband.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,298 to Benton discloses a chambered bracelet wherein the bracelet has one or more normally concealed chambers in which such things as folded paper money or pills or the like can be stored. Alternatively, the chambers can be used as personal cigarette ash receptacles.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,972 to Benton discloses a wrist watch wallet with a main band designed to store in a concealed manner such items as currency, keys, and event tickets.

[0012] While such items are known in the art, none offer the desired option of easy interchangeability. It is often desired to temporarily store a cosmetic or other item in a fashion bracelet and retain the ability to remove the item and replace it with another quickly and easily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The problems outlined above are addressed and overcome by the present invention. The present invention is directed to a fashion bracelet that is capable of holding at least one interchangeable and modular cosmetic item. The cosmetic item may be secured within the bracelet and then easily removed and replaced with an alternate item.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fashion bracelet.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a top view of the fashion bracelet in an open position.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the fashion bracelet in a closed position taken along a line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the fashion bracelet in an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The present invention is a fashion bracelet, as most clearly illustrated at 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2. The fashion bracelet 10 is designed for wearing on an arm of a person (not shown).

[0019] The fashion bracelet 10 has a recess 12 formed therein that is adapted to receive at least one cosmetic product 14 therein. The fashion bracelet 10 thereby permits the at least one cosmetic product 14 to be easily carried and then accessed when it is desired to use the at least one cosmetic product 14.

[0020] The fashion bracelet 10 generally includes a case 20 that is removably mounted in a strap 22. The case 20 preferably has a substantially cylindrical configuration. The case 20 has a base wall 24 and a side wall 26 that extends from the base wall 24. The base wall 24 and the side wall 26 thereby define a partially enclosed region 28 that is adapted to receive the at least one cosmetic product 14.

[0021] Proximate the intersection of the base wall 24 and the side wall 26, the case 20 has a lip 30 extending therefrom. The lip 30 retains the case 20 in a fixed position with respect to the strap 22.

[0022] In the partially enclosed region 28, the case 20 preferably includes at least one indentation 32 formed therein. The at least one indentation 32 is adapted to partially conform to a surface of the at least one cosmetic item 14. The at least one indentation 32 thereby assists in retaining the at least one cosmetic item 14 at a fixed position in the case 20. Preferably, the case 20 has a pair of indentations 32 that are oriented in a substantially parallel relationship to each other. Depending on the products that are to be retained in the indentations 32, the indentations 32 may both have the same size and shape or different sizes and shapes.

[0023] The strap 22 includes an aperture 40 formed therein that is adapted to receive the case 20. The aperture 40 preferably substantially conforms to the side wall 26 to assist in retaining the case 20 in a fixed position with respect to the strap 22. A channel 41 is formed in the strap 22 proximate the aperture 40. The channel 41 is adapted to receive the lip 30.

[0024] The strap 22 has two ends 42 extending therefrom. The ends 42 are designed to extend around a person's wrist to facilitate attaching the fashion bracelet 10 to the person's wrist. Opposite the aperture 40, the ends 42 include an attachment mechanism for attaching the ends 42 to each other to thereby retain the fashion bracelet 10 on the person's wrist.

[0025] The attachment mechanism (not shown) may include a hook and latch type configuration, which is sold under the designation VELCRO. Alternatively, the attachment mechanism may have a buckle configuration.

[0026] The fashion bracelet 10 also preferably includes a cover 50 that is pivotally mounted to the strap 22 proximate the case 20. When the cover 50 is in a closed position as illustrated in FIG. 3, the cover 50 substantially seals the case 20 to thereby retain the at least one cosmetic item 14 in the case 20. When the cover 50 is in an open position as illustrated in FIG. 4, it is possible to access the at least one cosmetic item 14 in the case 20.

[0027] The cover 50 is preferably retained in a closed position with a tab 52 that extends from the strap 22 proximate the aperture 40. To facilitate opening and closing of the cover 50, the cover 50 preferably includes an extension 54 extending therefrom.

[0028] An inner surface 56 of the cover 50 may include a mirror 58 to facilitate using of the at least one cosmetic item 14. Alternatively, the inner surface 56 may include a photograph.

[0029] An outer surface 60 of the cover 50 has a convex shape and may include a design (not shown) thereon. The design may be a photograph, a textual passage or a company's trademark. The outer surface 60 may also include a clock that is similar to a conventional watch.

[0030] The components of the fashion bracelet 10 are preferably fabricated from injection molded plastic. A person of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that the concepts of the present invention may also be utilized with components formed from other materials such as steel or aluminum.

[0031] The at least one cosmetic item 14 may include a variety of products that may be changed depending on the occasion at which the fashion bracelet 10 is to be worn. For example, lip balm may be placed in the fashion bracelet 10 when participating in outdoor activities and breath freshener and lipstick may be placed in the fashion bracelet 10 at more formal occasions. The at least one cosmetic item 14 may also include breath freshener, gum, coins or pills.

[0032] Each of the at least one cosmetic items 14 is preferably packaged in a closable container that permits the cosmetic item to be retained in the enclosure when not in use and also permits the cosmetic item to be readily accessed when it is desired to use the item.

[0033] The modular nature of the at least one cosmetic item 14 also permits replacement items to be sold separate from the fashion bracelet 10.

[0034] While it is described that the fashion bracelet 10 is worn on a person's wrist, a person of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that the concepts of the present invention may be used to attach cosmetic products on other parts of the body.

[0035] It is contemplated that features disclosed in this application, as well as those described in the above applications incorporated by reference, can be mixed and matched to suit particular circumstances. Various other modifications and changes will be apparent to those of ordinary skill.

Claims

1. A fashion bracelet comprising:

an elongated flexible strap with two securable ends and an aperture formed therein; and

a case comprising a base wall and a side wall defining a partially enclosed area with at least one indentation that is adapted to receive and secure at least one interchangeable cosmetic item, wherein the partially enclosed area is enclosed by a cover pivotally mounted to the side wall, and the base wall and side wall are adapted to secure the case to the aperture of the flexible strap.

2. The fashion bracelet of claim 1, wherein the case further comprises a lip extending from the case proximate the intersection of the base wall and the side wall, the lip adapted to be received by a channel formed in the flexible strap proximate the aperture.

3. The fashion bracelet of claim 1, wherein the case has a substantially cylindrical configuration.

4. The fashion bracelet of claim 1, wherein the two securable ends of the flexible strap further comprise an attachment mechanism.

5. The fashion bracelet of claim 4, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a hook and latch type configuration.

6. The fashion bracelet of claim 4, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a buckle configuration.

7. The fashion bracelet of claim 1, wherein the cover further comprises a tab and an extension, the tab extending from the flexible strap proximate the aperture and adapted to retain the cover in a closed position, and the extension extending from the cover and adapted to facilitate the opening and closing of the cover.

8. The fashion bracelet of claim 7, wherein the cover further comprises an inner surface adapted to receive a mirror.

9. The fashion bracelet of claim 7, wherein the cover further comprises an inner surface adapted to receive a photograph or other visual item.

10. The fashion bracelet of claim 7, wherein the cover further comprises an outer surface that has a convex shape, the outer surface adapted to include a design thereon.

11. The fashion bracelet of claim 10, wherein the design on the outer surface comprises a photograph, textual passage or a company trademark.

12. The fashion bracelet of claim 10, wherein the design on the outer surface comprises a clock.

13. The fashion bracelet of claim 1, wherein the case is fabricated from injection-molded plastic.

14. The fashion bracelet of claim 1, wherein the case is fabricated from steel or aluminum.

15. The fashion bracelet of claim 1, wherein the at least one interchangeable cosmetic item comprises an external facial cosmetic such as lip balm, lip gloss, lipstick, eye color, cheek color, powder, perfume, moisturizer, or cosmetic glitter.

16. The fashion bracelet of claim 15, wherein the at least one interchangeable cosmetic item further comprises a convenience item, such as gum, breath freshener, pills, or money.

17. The fashion bracelet of claim 16, wherein the at least one interchangeable cosmetic item is packaged in a closable container adapted to be received and secured by the at least one indentation in the case.

18. A method of storing a cosmetic item in a fashion bracelet comprising:

forming the fashion bracelet comprising an elongated flexible strap and a case, wherein the flexible strap has two securable ends and an aperture formed therein, and wherein the case comprises a base wall and a side wall defining a partially enclosed area with at least one indentation that is adapted to receive at least one cosmetic item, wherein the partially enclosed area is enclosed by a cover pivotally mounted to the side wall, and wherein the base wall and side wall are adapted to secure the case to the aperture of the elongated flexible strap;

opening the cover of the fashion bracelet and accessing the partially enclosed area;

inserting the at least one cosmetic item into a partially enclosed area of the fashion bracelet and securing it by at least one indentation adapted to partially conform to a surface of the at least one cosmetic item;

closing the cover of the fashion bracelet;

attaching the fashion bracelet to a wrist by extending a flexible strap with two securable ends around the wrist and securing the two securable ends; and

accessing the cosmetic item at will while wearing the fashion bracelet by opening the cover.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein attaching the fashion bracelet further comprises attaching the fashion bracelet to another part of the body by extending a flexible strap with two securable ends around the wrist and securing the two securable ends.