Purse with Wrist Attachment

Abstract

A purse system for holding personal items of a user on the user's wrist or conventionally is disclosed. A purse comprises a front section and a rear section, each section being pivotally fixed together at a common lower edge. At least one wrist band is included, each having a band closure and attachable around the wrist of the user and secured thereto with the band closure. Each wrist band is attachable to a selectively openable ring eyelet. A band attachment ring is fixed to an outside surface of the purse, each ring eyelet being receivable therein. As such, the purse may be selectively fixed to each wrist band with the at least one ring eyelet A shoulder strap is further included and attachable at each end thereof to one of a pair of strap attachment means fixed to the purse. The outside surface of the purse further may include at least one retention band adapted for selective retention to the outside surface of the purse. Each retention band enables selective retention of one of the personal items thereon and for quickly changing the aesthetic qualities of the purse.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to purses and bracelets, and more particularly to a purse and bracelet system that provides improved convenience.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Holding a purse by hand is often cumbersome, particularly when use of the hands is required for other activities. However, it is not always convenient or safe to put one's purse down to free one's hands as a person can easily become distracted and forget that the purse was left. Further, theft of purses is a primary concern, and thus people are inclined to hold onto their purse even when other use of their hands are required.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,189,073 to Todd on Jun. 15, 1965, teaches a purse comprised of a tubular structure and adapted to be worn around an individual's wrist or carried with a strap. Such a device is uncomfortable to use, particularly with objects stored within the tubular structure. Further, such a device is aesthetically unpleasing when worn around the wrist or arm.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,571 to Mazzo on Dec. 31, 1996, teaches a wrist wallet and carrying pouch comprising a waterproof wallet and pouch combination adapted to be worn around the wrist. However, such a device makes no provision for wearing thereof around a neck or shoulder using a shoulder strap. Further, such a device is not well-suited for selectively retaining a plurality of personal items having various shapes and sizes. Such a device, moreover, is functional in appearance and makes no provision for improving the aesthetic qualities thereof. U.S. Pat. D323,939 to Mok on Feb. 18, 1992, discloses a device similar to Mazzo, and which suffers many of the same drawbacks.

Therefore, there is a need for a device that allows the user to carry a purse in a traditional manner with a shoulder strap, or alternately by hand, or alternately hands-free on the wrist. The needed invention would allow for a variety of personal items of various shapes and sizes to be conveniently retained, and would allow for easily and quickly changing the aesthetic qualities of the device. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a purse system for holding personal items of a user. A purse comprises a front section and a rear section, each section being pivotally fixed together at a common lower edge. Together the sections define an outside surface and an inside surface. The purse further includes a purse closure, such as a zipper, for sealing the inside surface within an enclosed space. A flap may be pivotally attached to the outside surface of the purse and adapted to substantially cover the purse closure.

At least one wrist band is included, each having a band closure and attachable around the wrist of the user and secured thereto with the band closure. Each wrist band is attachable to a selectively openable ring eyelet. A band attachment ring is fixed to the outside surface of the purse, each ring eyelet being receivable therein. As such, the purse may be selectively fixed to each wrist band with the at least one ring eyelet, such that the user may carry the purse by the wrist instead of having to grasp the purse by the hand.

Preferably a shoulder strap is further included and attachable at each end thereof to one of a pair of strap attachment means fixed to the purse. The outside surface of the purse further preferably includes at least one band attachment fastener, and at least one retention band adapted for selective retention by each band attachment fastener onto the outside surface of the purse. Each retention band enables selective retention of one of the personal items against the outside surface of the purse. Preferably two of the band attachment fasteners are included for fastening to either end of each retention band. Each retention band may further include a length adjusting means, such as a mechanical buckle, or the like. Alternately, each retention band may be made from an elastic material.

The present device provides a versatile purse system that allows the user to carry a purse in a traditional manner with a shoulder strap, by hand, or hands-free on the wrist. The present invention allows for a variety of personal items of various shapes and sizes to be conveniently retained within or on the purse of the invention. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention, illustrating a purse of the invention fixed to a wrist band of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the purse of the invention, illustrating the purse in an open position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the purse of the invention, illustrating the purse in the open position and a shoulder strap and the wrist band attached thereto;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the purse of the invention, illustrating the purse in the open position;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the invention, illustrating a plurality of retention band embodiments; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of two band attachment rings of the invention, one in an open position and one in a closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is a purse system 10 for holding personal items 20 of a user 30, such as keys, lipstick, credit cards, a driver's license, a pack of cigarettes, a cell phone, and the like (FIGS. 1 and 2). A purse 40 comprises a front section 50 and a rear section 60, each section 50,60 being pivotally fixed together at a common lower edge 70 thereof (FIG. 3). Together the sections 50,60 define an outside surface 80 and an inside surface 90. The inside surface 90 of the purse 40 preferably includes at least one pocket 250 adapted for selectable frictional retention of a substantially flat and rectangular personal item 20, such as a credit card (FIG. 2). Accordion webs 290 may be included connected side edges of each section 40,50 (FIG. 2). The purse 40 may be made from any suitable materials, such as leather, fabric, vinyl, plastic, animal skin, or the like, utilizing conventional purse construction methods.

The purse 40 further includes a purse closure 100, such as a zipper, for sealing the inside surface 80 within an enclosed space 110 (FIG. 2). A flap 180 may be pivotally attached to the outside surface 90 of the purse 40 and adapted to substantially cover the purse closure 100 (FIGS. 2 and 3). A mechanical flap closure 190, such as a magnetic snap, may be included on the flap 180 to secure the flap 180 against the outside surface 80 of the purse 40. An inside surface 184 of the flap 180 preferably further includes a mirror 240.

A pocket 200 opening to the outside surface 80 of the purse 40 at a pocket aperture 210 may be included, the pocket 200 further including a pocket closure 220 such as a zipper 225, hook-and-loop type fastener (not shown), or the like. Such a pocket 200 is sized to accept paper currency or the like (not shown).

At least one wrist band 130 is included, each having a band closure 140 and attachable around the wrist of the user 30 and secured thereto with the band closure 140. Each wrist band 130 is attachable to a selectively openable ring eyelet 150 (FIG. 6). A band attachment ring 120 is fixed to the outside surface 80 of the purse 40, each ring eyelet 150 being receivable therein. As such, the purse 40 may be selectively fixed to each wrist band 130 with the at least one ring eyelet 150, such that the user may carry the purse 40 by the wrist instead of having to grasp the purse 40 by the hand. Each wrist band 130 may be made from a suitable material such as leather, fabric, vinyl, plastic, metal, or the like. Preferably each band closure 140 is formed as a stylized buckle, as illustrated. However, conventional buckles or bracelet closures 140 may be used as well.

Preferably a shoulder strap 160 is further included and attachable at each end 165 thereof to one of a pair of strap attachment means 170 fixed to the purse 40 (FIGS. 1, 3, and 6). Such a strap attachment means 170 is preferably an aperture 175, for example, that traverses the purse 40 and selectively retains either end 165 of the strap 160. The ends 165 of the strap 160 may clip or otherwise attach together (not shown) inside of the purse 40 so that the purse 40 captures the strap 160 thereby. Alternately, the ends 165 of the strap 160 may be threaded to receive a retention bolt 176 (FIG. 7). The straps 160 may be made from materials having various textures, colors, and other properties, thereby allow the user 30 to modify the aesthetic qualities of the purse 40 quickly and easily by interchanging straps 160.

The outside surface 80 of the purse 40 further preferably includes at least one band attachment fastener 260, and at least one retention band 270 adapted for selective retention by each band attachment fastener 260 onto the outside surface 80 of the purse 40. Each retention band 270 enables selective retention of one of the personal items 20 against the outside surface 80 of the purse 40 (FIG. 5). Preferably two of the band attachment fasteners 260 are included for fastening to either end 275 of each retention band 270. Each retention band 270 may further include a length adjusting means 280, such as a mechanical buckle 285, or the like. Alternately, each retention band 270 may be made from an elastic material. Each band attachment fastener 260 is preferably a mechanical snap (as shown), a magnetic snap, a hook-and-loop type fastener, or the like.

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, various configurations of pockets 250 and elastic straps 255 may be included on the inside surface 90 of the purse 40 for holding various personal items 20 other than those listed herein. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A purse system for holding personal items of a user, comprising:

a purse comprising a front section and a rear section, the front and rear sections pivotally fixed together at a common lower edge thereof, the front and rear sections together defining an outside surface and an inside surface of the purse, the purse further including a purse closure for sealing the inside surface within an enclosed space, the purse further including a band attachment ring fixed to the outside surface of the purse; and

at least one wrist band, each wrist band having a band closure and adapted to be selectively attached to the band attachment ring of the purse and attached around the wrist of the user and secured thereto with the band closure.

2. The purse system of claim 1 wherein the purse further includes at least one ring eyelet for slidably receiving the band attachment ring therein, each eyelet fixed to the outside surface of the purse.

3. The purse system of claim 1 further including a shoulder strap attachable at either end thereof to one of a pair of strap attachment means, each strap attachment means fixed to the purse.

4. The purse system of claim 1 wherein the purse further includes a flap pivotally attached to the outside surface of the purse and adapted to substantially cover the purse closure.

5. The purse system of claim 4 wherein the flap further includes a mechanical flap closure for securing the flap against the outside surface of the purse.

6. The purse system of claim 1 wherein the purse further includes a pocket open at the outside surface thereof at a pocket aperture having a pocket closure.

7. The purse system of claim 6 wherein the pocket closure is a zipper.

8. The purse system of claim 4 wherein an inside surface of the flap includes a mirror.

9. The purse system of claim 1 wherein an inside surface of the purse includes at least one pocket adapted for selectable frictional retention of a substantially flat and rectangular personal item therein.

10. The purse system of claim 1 wherein the outside surface of the purse further includes at least one band attachment fastener, and at least one retention band adapted for selective retention by each band attachment fastener, each retention band provide selective retention of one of the personal items against the outside surface of the purse.

11. The purse system of claim 10 wherein the purse includes two of the band attachment fasteners for each retaining band, each end of each retention band being selectively retainable thereby.

12. The purse system of claim 11 wherein each retention band further includes a length adjusting means.

13. The purse system of claim 12 wherein the length adjusting means is a mechanical buckle.

14. The purse system of claim 1 wherein the purse further includes accordion webs connecting side edges of each section.

15. The purse system of claim 3 wherein each strap attachment means is an aperture traversing the purse, each aperture adapted for selectively retaining one end of the shoulder strap.