Organizational System For Personal Effects
An organizational system including an outer bag body and a rigid storage basket configured to fit within the outer bag body. The outer bag body may be styled as a conventional purse, etc. The storage basket preferably includes multiple individual storage compartments arranged adjacent one another with a respective open end of each storage compartment arranged adjacent one another so that all individual storage compartments are readily accessible from an opening at the top of the purse/bag when the basket is positioned within the bag body. Optionally, the storage basket is readily removable from the purse so that it may be placed on a kitchen countertop, etc. to provide organization to the basket's contents without the need for any support from a bag body. Optionally, the organizational system includes one or more interchangeable bag bodies configured to fit the same storage basket.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/669,441, filed Apr. 8, 2005, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to purses, pocketbooks, diaper bags and other carryall bags, and more particularly to an organizational system for organizing and managing items carried of one or more such bags.
DISCUSSION OF RELATED ARTAs used herein, a “carryall bag” may have any one of many different forms, such as a purse, pocketbook, diaper bag, briefcase, duffle bag, tote bag, etc. By their very nature, carryall bags are meant to carry a large number of miscellaneous items, any of which may be needed at a given time. In the example of a purse, carried items may include personal effects such as a checkbook, glasses, sunglasses, contact case, calling cards, cigarettes, cigarette lighter, pen, pills, lipstick, raincoat, tissues, charge cards, pictures, wallet, key rings, cosmetics, toothbrush, hair brush, hair spray, soap, sunscreen, hand lotion, chewing gum, candy and a folding umbrella.
Many purses include only one main compartment into which most or all of these items are placed. Accordingly, all carried items become intermingled in a loose, free-form collection at the bottom of the purse compartment. It is therefore difficult to find a particular item, and searching for the desired item becomes an exercise in rooting through the collection of items, removing items from the purse, etc.
Some purses (or other carryall bags) have been provided with individual pockets internal to or external to the main compartment. Such pockets are typically integral to the purse structure, e.g. are sewn into a lining, etc. Many such examples are known in the art.
Continuing with the example of purses, it is common that a particular woman will own and use several different purses generally concurrently, each purse being particularly suitable to a different one of several occasions. For example, one purse may be particularly well suited for a trip to the grocery store while another is particularly well suited to a black-tie dinner affair. In this case, the purses' owner must individually remove all of the items from one purse and transfer them to another. To alleviate this problem, there have been invented various purse inserts. These inserts allow for transfer of all items from one purse to the other by simply transferring the insert. These purse inserts vary in structure and include a pocket having several vertically stacked partitions and flexible fabric inserts that have numerous specialized pockets, snaps and flaps. Examples of these inserts are shown by Ody in U.S. Pat. No. 3,533,459, Wilson in U.S. Pat. No. 2,893,457, Holden in U.S. Pat. No. 2,464,312, and Smith in U.S. Pat. No. 1,999,669.
A major problem with such purse inserts is that the structures defining the individual pockets and compartments are not rigid and/or self-supporting. Rather, they are made of flexible fabric, cloth and/or other supple materials and/or depend upon the structure of the purse itself for structural support. This prevents the insert from being usable in a practical manner apart from its use in conjunction with the purse. Further, prior art arrangements fail to provide an array of side-by-side open compartments, each of which is readily accessible from an opening at the top of the purse/bag. Further still, the various prior art arrangements fail to provide for various different combinations of individual storage compartments to allow one combination of compartments to be used with one purse (e.g. the grocery shopping purse) and another combination of compartments to be used with another purse (e.g. the dinner affair purse). For example, a plurality of discrete compartments may be provided that are configured to be selectively interconnected and disconnected in modular fashion to provide different combinations of individual storage compartments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides an organizational system for carryall bags, such as purses. The organizational system includes an outer bag body and a rigid storage basket configured to fit within the outer bag body. The outer bag body may have any suitable structure, such as a conventional purse structure that includes a shoulder strap and a zipper-closable top. The storage basket preferably includes multiple individual storage compartments arranged adjacent one another with a respective open end of each storage compartment arranged adjacent one another so that all individual storage compartments are readily accessible from an opening at the top of the purse/bag when the basket is positioned within the bag body. Any desired configuration of compartments, and combinations of compartments, may be provided. A purse, carry-all bag, etc. including an exemplary rigid storage basket provides readily accessible, plainly visible, open-top, compartmentalized storage for personal effects.
In one embodiment, the rigid storage basket 50 is fixedly attached to the bag body 10 so as not to be readily removable therefrom. In such an embodiment, the storage basket is intended to be used with only a single bag body, namely the attached bag body. In this manner, the storage basket acts primarily as a divider, to define compartments for use in separating, organizing and containing one's personal effects.
In another embodiment, the rigid storage basket is readily removable from the outer bag body and is self-supporting such that the basket may be removed from the purse and placed upright on a kitchen countertop, table, vanity, etc. to provide organization to the basket's contents without the need for any support from a bag body. Optionally, the organizational system includes one or more interchangeable bag bodies, and one or more interchangeable storage baskets, so that a single storage basket may be carried within one of several different bag bodies, and/or a single bag body may carry any one of several different storage baskets. Accordingly, for example, a single storage basket storing a variety of personal effects may be moved from one purse (e.g. the grocery shopping purse) and another combination of compartments to be used with another purse (e.g. the black tie affair purse).
Optionally, the organizational system further includes a receptacle that defines a socket configured to receive a removable storage basket. For example, the receptacle may be retained on a countertop, etc. and the storage basket may be moved from a purse to the receptacle while the purse's owner is at home so that ready access may be had to personal effects without the burden of searching in a purse, and yet all such personal effects may be easily moved to a bag body when the owner wishes to leave the home. The receptacle may be configured to support the storage basket in an embodiment in which the storage basket is not sufficiently self-supporting.
In either a removable or non-removable embodiment, the storage basket may include multiple removable liners, such as a rigid plastic trays, each being positionable within one of its individual storage compartments. In one embodiment, the liners and storage baskets are of an interchangeable design. In this manner, personal effects are placed in the individual liners, and each liner with its personal effects contents may be individually removed from one purse/basket (e.g. the grocery shopping purse) to another purse or storage basket (e.g. the dinner affair purse or the counter top mounting receptacle basket) to provide for various different combinations of individual storage compartments to allow various combinations of individual liners/storage compartments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the following drawings in which:
The present invention provides an organizational system for carryall bags. The organizational system includes an outer bag body 10 and a rigid storage basket 50 configured to fit within the outer bag body 10, as best shown in
The outer bag body may have any suitable structure, such as a conventional purse structure.
Referring again to
The base portion 12 and cover/flap 18 may be constructed of any suitable materials, particular conventional bag and/or purse materials such as leather, cotton, polyester, nylon, etc. that are flexible and not self-supporting. Accordingly, the bag body's materials may be selected for durability, washability and aesthetic appeal, without regard to a need for structural rigidity.
The individual compartments are arranged adjacent one another with a respective open end 54a, 54b, 52c, 54d, 54e, 54f, 54g, 54h of each storage compartment arranged adjacent one another, preferably in a substantially planar array, so that all individual storage compartments are positioned with their respective open ends readily manually accessible from an opening 16 at the top of the purse/bag body 10 when the storage basket 50 is positioned within the bag body 10, as best shown in
The storage basket 50 preferably includes a handle for carrying it apart from the bag body 10. The handle may have any suitable configuration. In the exemplary embodiment of
Referring to
In one embodiment, there are multiple individual compartments with that are identical in size, shape and/or configuration, such that array of identical compartments is provided. Optionally, a plurality, but not all, of adjacent compartments have identical sizes, shapes and configurations. Optionally, all compartments have identical sizes, shapes and configurations. Optionally, the storage basket's side wall is substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall, and each storage compartment defines a volume that is substantially cuboid or parallelepiped in shape.
Accordingly, the organizational system may includes one or more interchangeable bag bodies, and one or more interchangeable storage baskets, so that a single storage basket may be carried within one of several different bag bodies, and/or a single bag body may carry any one of several different storage baskets.
Optionally, the organizational system further includes a receptacle 60 that defines a socket dimensioned and configured to receive the storage basket 50.
For example, the receptacle 60 may be retained on a kitchen countertop and the storage basket 50 may be moved from a purse (see bag 10,
As shown in
Accordingly, groups of personal effects can be moved among multiple bag bodies on a per-compartment basis, rather than on the per-basket basis discussed above with reference to
In another embodiment, the overall components of the bag body 10 and storage basket 50 are similar to those described above, e.g., as shown in
In an alternative embodiment, the storage basket 50 is configured without a bottom wall and includes only rigid side walls 56, 57 defining individual compartments. See
In one embodiment similar to that described in the preceding paragraph, the organizational system includes liners similar to those discussed above with reference to
An organizational system in accordance with the present invention may be sold in kit form, e.g. in a bundle or common package, and may include any combination of one or more of each of the following items: bag body, storage basket, compartment liner, mounting receptacle.
It is noted that the embodiment(s) described herein in detail for exemplary purposes is of course subject to many different variations in structure, design, application and methodology. Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept(s) herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiment herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirements of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
Claims
1. An organizational system comprising:
- a bag body defining an interior space accessible via an opening in the bag body; and
- a rigid, self-supporting storage basket dimensioned for receipt in the interior space of said bag body, said storage basket having a bottom wall and a side wall cooperating to define a storage compartment.
2. The organizational system of claim 1, wherein said storage compartment is positioned to be manually accessible via said opening in said bag body when said storage basket is positioned within said bag body.
3. The organizational system of claim 1, wherein said storage basket is removably positionable in the interior space of said bag body.
4. The organizational system of claim 1, further comprising:
- a second bag body defining a respective interior space accessible via an opening in said second bag body, said interior space being dimensioned to receive said storage basket.
5. The organizational system of claim 1, further comprising:
- a second rigid, self-supporting storage basket dimensioned for receipt in the interior space of said bag body, said second storage basket having a respective bottom wall and a respective side wall cooperating to define a respective storage compartment.
6. The organizational system of claim 1, wherein said storage basket defines a plurality of individual storage compartments, each of said plurality of individual storage compartments having a respective open end manually accessible via said opening of said bag body.
7. The organizational system of claim 6, wherein respective ones of said plurality of individual storage compartments are disposed adjacent one another.
8. The organizational system of claim 7, wherein at least two of said plurality of individual storage compartments are identical in size and shape.
9. The organizational system of claim 7, wherein said respective ones of said plurality of individual storage compartments are disposed adjacent one another in a substantially planar array.
10. The organizational system of claim 7, further comprising:
- a plurality of removable liners, each of said plurality of removable liners being dimensioned to be removably received within a respective one of said plurality of individual storage compartments.
11. The organizational system of claim 1, wherein said bottom wall is substantially planar.
12. The organizational system of claim 11, wherein said side wall is positioned substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall.
13. The organizational system of claim 12, wherein said storage basket defines a plurality of individual storage compartments, each of said plurality of individual storage compartments defining a volume substantially parallelepiped in shape and having a respective open end manually accessible via said opening of said bag body.
14. The organizational system of claim 1, wherein said storage basket comprises a plurality of discrete compartments, each having a bottom wall and a side wall, selectively disconnectably interconnected in modular fashion to form a desired compartmented configuration of said storage basket.
15. The organizational system of claim 1, wherein said bag body comprises a shoulder strap and a zipper-closable top.
16. The organizational system of claim 1, further comprising:
- a receptacle configured to receive the basket, said receptacle defining a socket dimensioned to receive said storage basket.
17. An organizational system comprising:
- a bag body defining an interior space accessible via an opening in the bag body; and
- a storage basket positioned within the interior space of the bag body, the storage basket defining a plurality of individual storage compartments, each of said plurality of individual storage compartments having a respective open end manually accessible via said opening of said bag body.
18. The organizational system of claim 17, wherein respective ones of said plurality of individual storage compartments are disposed adjacent one another.
19. The organizational system of claim 18, wherein said respective ones of said plurality of individual storage compartments are disposed adjacent one another in a substantially planar array.
20. The organizational system of claim 17, wherein said storage basket is rigid.
21. The organizational system of claim 20, wherein said side wall is positioned substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall.
22. The organizational system of claim 21, wherein each of said plurality of individual storage compartments defining a volume substantially parallelepiped in shape and having a respective open end manually accessible via said opening of said bag body.
23. The organizational system of claim 17, wherein at least two of said plurality of individual storage compartments are identical in size and shape.
24. The organizational system of claim 17, further comprising:
- a plurality of removable liners, each of said plurality of removable liners being dimensioned to be removably received within a respective one of said plurality of individual storage compartments.
25. The organizational system of claim 17, wherein said bottom wall is substantially planar.
26. The organizational system of claim 17, wherein said storage basket is removably positioned within said bag body.
27. The organizational system of claim 26, wherein said storage basket comprises a plurality of discrete compartments, each having a bottom wall and a side wall, selectively disconnectably interconnected in modular fashion to form a desired compartmented configuration of said storage basket.
28. The organizational system of claim 26, further comprising:
- a receptacle configured to receive the basket, said receptacle defining a socket dimensioned to receive said storage basket.
29. An organizational system comprising:
- a bag body defining an interior space accessible via an opening in the bag body; and
- a rigid storage basket positioned within the interior space of the bag body, the storage basket defining a plurality of individual storage compartments disposed adjacent one another in a substantially planar array, each of said plurality of individual storage compartments having a respective bottom wall, side wall, and open end, said respective open ends being disposed adjacent one another in position to be manually accessible via said opening of said bag body.
30. The organizational system of claim 29, wherein each of said plurality of individual storage compartments defines a volume substantially parallelepiped in shape.
31. An organizational system comprising:
- a bag body defining an interior space accessible via an opening in the bag body, a plurality of individual storage compartments being defined adjacent one another in a substantially planar array within said interior space, each of said plurality of individual storage compartments having a respective bottom wall, rigid side wall, and open end, said respective open ends being disposed adjacent one another in position to be manually accessible via said opening of said bag body.
32. The organizational system of claim 31, wherein each of said plurality of individual storage compartments defines a volume substantially parallelepiped in shape.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 10, 2006
Publication Date: Mar 22, 2007
Inventor: Jennifer Groover (Springfield, PA)
Application Number: 11/279,187
International Classification: A45C 13/30 (20060101); A45C 3/06 (20060101); A45C 13/26 (20060101); A45C 1/02 (20060101);