Interchangeable Bag Accessories

Abstract

Apparatus for releasably securing a decorative accessory to a bag. A base element is provided for attachment to a bag such that the front of the base element is disposed on the outside of the bag and the rear of the base element is disposed inside the bag. An accessory element is provided for releasable engagement with the front of the base element. The accessory element and base element are releasably engageable by a securing mechanism that comprises an accessory element release actuator at the rear of the base element, the accessory element release actuator manually operable to selectively disengage the accessory element from an engaged condition with the base element. A method of releasably securing a decorative accessory to a bag. A method of providing a bag with the base element, and a bag provided with the base element.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to interchangeable bag accessories, in particular to apparatus for, and a method of, releasably securing a decorative accessory to a bag.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Handbags are primarily used as practical items, although a handbag is often selected by a user on the basis of personal taste and fashion trends. It is desirable for a user to be able to customize the appearance of their handbag, for example to match an outfit or occasion, or purely for fun.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for releasably securing a decorative accessory to a bag, comprising: a base element having a front and a rear, for attachment to an exterior panel of the bag such that the front of said base element is disposed on the exterior side of said panel and the rear of said base element is disposed on the interior side of said panel, and an accessory element, for releasable engagement with said base element such that said accessory element is selectively retained at the front of said base element, said accessory element and said base element releasably engageable by a securing mechanism that comprises an accessory element release actuator at the rear of said base element, said accessory element release actuator manually operable to selectively disengage said accessory element from an engaged condition with the base element.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a base element for use in apparatus according to the first aspect.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an accessory element for use in apparatus according to the first aspect.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bag comprising an exterior panel to which a base element according to the second aspect is attached thereto such that the front of said base element is disposed on the exterior side of said exterior panel and the rear of said base element is disposed on the interior side of said exterior panel, and the accessory element release actuator is disposed inside the bag.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of providing a bag with apparatus according to the first aspect, comprising the steps of: receiving a bag comprising an exterior panel in which an aperture is defined, receiving a base element according to the second aspect, and attaching the base element to said exterior panel of the bag such that the front of said base element is disposed on the exterior side of said panel and the rear of said base element is disposed on the interior side of said panel, and the accessory element release actuator manually is disposed inside the bag.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of releasably securing a decorative accessory to a bag, comprising the steps of: receiving a bag according to the fourth aspect, receiving an accessory element according to the third aspect, and releasably securing said accessory element to said base element in said engaged condition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, there will now be described, by way of example only, specific embodiments, methods and processes according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a decorative badge on a bag;

FIG. 2 shows apparatus comprising a base element and an accessory element for releasably securing a decorative accessory to a bag;

FIG. 3 shows the accessory element of FIG. 2 in further detail;

FIG. 4 shows the base element of FIG. 2 in further detail

FIG. 5 illustrates the accessory element of FIG. 2 being brought into an engaged condition with the base element of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 illustrates the accessory element of FIG. 2 being disengaged from the base element of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 shows components of the base element of FIG. 2 and a bag to which the base element of FIG. 2 is attachable;

FIG. 8 shows the base element of FIG. 2 attached to the bag of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows a decorative badge releasably secured to the bag of FIG. 7 using the apparatus of FIG. 2, with the bag shown closed;

FIG. 10 shows a decorative badge releasably secured to the bag of FIG. 7 using the apparatus of FIG. 2, with the bag shown open;

FIG. 11 shows a decorative badge released from the bag of FIG. 7, with the bag shown open; and

FIG. 12 shows a bag and a plurality of interchangeable bag accessories.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

There will now be described by way of example a specific mode contemplated by the inventor(s). In the following description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding. It will be apparent however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In other instances, well known methods and structures are not described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the description.

FIG. 1

FIG. 1 shows a decorative badge 101 on a bag 102. It would be advantageous for a user to be able to interchange the decorative badge 101 with another decorative badge 103, 104 to selectively change the aesthetic appearance of the bag 102. This would allow the user to adapt the visual impression of the bag, for example, to suit a particular mood, outfit or occasion. However, it is desirable for such interchangeable bag accessories to be releasably secured to the bag in a manner that prevents unwanted release of the decorative badge from the bag. It is also desirable for a decorative badge to be presented as a component feature of the bag rather than a makeshift addition.

FIG. 2

Apparatus 201 for releasably securing a decorative accessory to a bag is shown in FIG. 2. The apparatus 201 comprises a base element 202 and an accessory element 203. The accessory element 203 is releasably securable to the base element 202. The base element 202 has a front 204 and a rear 205, and the accessory element 203 has a front 206 and a rear 207. The accessory element 203 is releasably securable with the base element 202 such that the accessory element 203 is selectively retainable at the front 204 of the base element 202. The accessory element 203 and the base element 202 are releasably engageable by a securing mechanism that comprises an accessory element release actuator 208 at the rear 205 of the base element 202. The securing mechanism will be described in further detail below. The accessory element release actuator 208 is manually operable to selectively disengage the accessory element 203 from an engaged condition with the base element 202. In this Figure, the accessory element 203 is shown in the engaged condition.

FIGS. 3 & 4

Accessory element 203 of FIG. 2 is shown in further detail in FIG. 3. A side view is shown at A, a front view is shown at B, and a rear view is shown as C. The accessory element 203 carries a decorative badge 301, displayed at the front 206. The decorative badge 301 may present any desired decoration. The decorative badge 301 may be affixed to the accessory element 203 by a mechanical fixing, a weld or adhesive. The decorative badge 301 may alternatively be formed integral with the accessory element 203.

The accessory element 203 comprises a locking shank 302, extending from the rear 207, from which a locking flange, such as locking flange 303, extends radially outwards therefrom. The locking shank 302 may comprise only one or a plurality of locking flanges.

In this illustrated example, the locking shank 302 comprises three locking flanges 303, 304 and 305, arranged equidistantly about a cylindrical locking shank 302. It can be seen that locking flange 303 has a width that is smaller, than the equal, greater widths of the other locking flanges 304, 305. This particular feature arrangement of the locking flanges 303, 304, 305 will be described in further detail below. In alternative examples, the locking shank 302 may comprise a different number of locking flanges, in any suitable arrangement, and with different or equal widths.

Base element 202 of FIG. 2 is shown in further detail in FIG. 4. A side view is shown at A, a front view is shown at B, and a rear view is shown as C. The base element 202 defines a receiving chamber 401 having a front wall 402, defining an insertion aperture 403, open to the front 204 of the base element 202. As will be described in further detail below, the front wall 402 defines an insertion aperture 403 of the base element that allows the locking shank 302 of the accessory element 203 of FIG. 3 to be inserted therethrough and thereafter rotated to locate the locking flange 303 behind a locking portion, indicated at 404, of the front wall 402 of the receiving chamber 401.

In this illustrated example, the insertion aperture 403 defines a notch 405, 406, 407 for each locking flange 303, 304, 305 of the locking shank 302 of the accessory element 203. The notch 405 is shaped such that only locking flange 303 of the locking flanges 303, 304 and 305, which has a smaller width than the other locking flanges. 303, 304, can be inserted thereinto. This arrangement ensures that the locking shank 302 of the accessory element 203 is insertable through the insertion aperture 403 at a single orientation only. In alternative examples, the relative profiles of the insertion aperture 403 of the base element 202 and the locking shank 302 of the accessory element 203 may allow the locking shank 302 of the accessory element 203 to be insertable through the insertion aperture 403 in each of a plurality of orientations.

At the rear 205 of the base element 202 is an accessory element release actuator 208. In this illustrated example, the accessory element release actuator 208 is a wheel that is rotatable about the axis indicated at 408. Preferably, the wheel is provided with knurling (as shown) to facilitate grip of the wheel for manual rotation. In an alternative example, the accessory element release actuator 206 is a lever.

FIGS. 5 & 6

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate operation of the securing mechanism of the apparatus 201 of FIG. 2. FIG. 5 shows steps in bringing the accessory element 203 into an engaged condition with the base element 202, and FIG. 6 shows steps in releasing the accessory element 203 from the engaged condition with the base element 202.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the base element 202 comprises a locking flange stop 501. The base element 202 further comprises a latch element 502 movable between a locking position and a releasing position.

As will be described in further detail, the accessory element is releasably retainable in an engaged condition with the base element in which the latch element is in the locking position and a locking flange of the accessory element is located behind a locking portion of the front wall of the receiving chamber of the base element and radially retained between the locking flange stop and the latch element. After the accessory element has been brought into the engaged condition, the locking accessory element release actuator must be operated to move the latch element into the releasing position to allow the accessory element to be disengaged from an engaged condition.

According to the present embodiment, the latch element 502 is biased towards the locking position by a spring 503. In this example, the spring 503 is a torsion spring. In alternative examples, the spring 503 may be a leaf spring or a compression spring. In this illustrated example, the latch element 502 is arranged to pivot, about a pivot pin 504, between a locking position in which a latch head 505 of the latch element 502 is lowered, and within the receiving chamber 401, and a releasing position in which the latch head 505 of the latch element 502 is raised, and without the receiving chamber 401.

Referring firstly to FIG. 5, at A, the locking shank 302 of accessory element 203 is shown following insertion into the receiving chamber 401 of base element 202, through the insertion aperture 403 of the front wall 402. The inserted locking shank 302 is now rotatable within the receiving chamber 401, in a first direction X, such that the locking flange 303 travels towards the locking flange stop 501. In the shown arrangement, the latch head 505 of the locking element 502 is in the locking position and is located between the locking flange 303 and the locking flange stop 501.

At B of FIG. 5, the inserted locking shank 302 is shown being rotated in the first direction X, to locate the locking flange 303 behind locking portion 404 of the front wall 402 of the receiving chamber 401. As the locking flange 303 travels towards the locking flange stop 501, the latch head 505 is raised towards the releasing position of the latch element 502 by the locking flange 303, to allow the locking flange 303 to pass the latch head 505. As the locking flange 303 is rotated further in the first direction X, the locking flange 303 passes the latch head 505, which is then lowered by the action of the spring 503 to return the latch element 502 to the locking position. Preferably, this provides tactile and possibly also audible feedback to the user to indicate that the accessory element 203 has been fully brought into an engaged condition with the base element 202.

At C of FIG. 5, the locking flange 303 is shown after having been rotated against the locking flange stop 501. The locking flange 303 is now located behind the locking portion 404 of the front wall 402 of the receiving chamber 401 and is radially retained between the locking flange stop 501 and the latch head 505 of the latch element 502.

It is to be understood that through the steps described with reference to A, B & C of FIG. 5, the accessory element 203 of the apparatus 201 of FIG. 2 is brought into an engaged condition with the base element 202.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the accessory element 203 of the apparatus 201 of FIG. 2 is shown at C in an engaged condition with the base element 202. In the event that a force is applied to the locking shank 302 to rotate the locking flange 303 in a second direction Y, which is the opposite direction to the first direction X, the latch element 502 will remain in the locking position to retain the accessory element 203 in the engaged condition.

Preferably, when in the engaged condition, travel or movement of the accessory element 203 is inhibited, by a snug enclosure of the locking flange 303 between the locking flange stop 501, the latch element 502 and the locking portion 404 of the front wall 402 of the receiving chamber 401 of the base element 202.

At D of FIG. 6, the latch element 502 is shown having been moved into the releasing position, by operation of the accessory element release actuator 208, to disengage the accessory element 203 from the engaged condition with the base element 202. In this embodiment, the latch head 505 of the latch element 502 defines a latch head aperture 601, for receiving a drive lug (not shown in this Figure) of the accessory element release actuator 208 therein. With the latch element 502 maintained in the releasing position, the locking shank 302 is rotatable in the second direction Y, away from the locking flange stop 501, past the raised latch head 505.

Once the locking flange 303 has been rotated in the second direction Y past the latch head 505, the accessory element release actuator 208 may be released to return the locking element 502 to the locking position. It is to be appreciated that the accessory element release actuator 208 remains in the locking condition unless actuated and moved into the open condition. Therefore, the force applied to the accessory element release actuator 208 to open the latch element 502 is simply released to allow the latch element 502 and accessory element release actuator 208 to return to their at rest positions under the action of the spring 503.

As shown at A of FIG. 6, once the locking flange 303 has been rotated in the second direction Y past the latch head 505, the locking shaft 302 may be returned back into the original position it was in following insertion into the receiving chamber 401, so that the locking flange 303 is no longer behind the locking portion 404 of the front wall 402 and may be withdrawn from the receiving chamber 401, through the insertion aperture 403.

Features of the latch head 505 of the latch element 502 are illustrated at A of FIG. 6. The latch head 505 has a first contact face 602 and a second contact face 603. When the locking flange 303 is being rotated in the first direction X, to be brought into the engaged condition, the locking flange 303 comes into contact with the first contact face 602, to raise the latch head 505. When the locking flange 303 in the engaged condition, and is rotated in the second, opposite direction Y, the locking flange 303 comes into contact with the second contact face 603. It can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 that both of the first and second contact faces 602, 603 have an inclined profile. It can be seen however, that the first and second contact faces 602, 603 are inclined at different angles, with the first contact face 602 being inclined at a shallower angle and the second contact face 603 being inclined at a steeper angle. This arrangement facilitates rotation of the locking shaft 302 into the engaged position and inhibits rotation of the locking shaft 302 from the engaged position.

The steps described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 may be summarized as follows: insert locking shaft 302 of accessory element 203 into receiving chamber 401 of base element 202, rotate inserted locking shaft 302 of accessory element 203 within receiving chamber 401 of base element 202 in a first direction until accessory element is brought into an engaged condition with the base element 202, operate the accessory element release actuator 208, rotate inserted locking shaft 302 of accessory element 203 within receiving chamber 401 of base element 202 in the second opposite direction towards original insertion position and withdraw locking shaft 302 of accessory element 203 from receiving chamber 401 of base element 202. Steps of the above method may be performed with a different accessory element, to change the accessory element that is releasably secured to the base element.

According to this illustrated example, following insertion into the base element 202, the locking shank 302 of the accessory element 203 is rotatable through an angle of 73 degrees into the engaged condition. It is to be appreciated that the angle of rotation to bring the accessory element 203 into an engaged condition with the base element 202 may vary between examples, but is preferably between 60 degrees and 85 degrees.

It is to be appreciated that the base element 202 and accessory element 203 may each have any suitable dimensions, so long as the cooperating parts of the accessory element 203 and the base element are dimensionally compatible. In an example, the base element 202 has a circular shape with a diameter of 34 mm, and the accessory element 203 is shaped and dimensioned to obscure the base element 202 when the accessory element 203 is engaged therewith. Components of the base element 202 and the accessory element 203 may be fabricated from any suitable material or materials, and may be manufactured by any suitable process or processes. In an example a die casting process is used; in an alternative example a CNC machining process is used.

FIG. 7

FIG. 7 shows components of the base element 202 of FIG. 2 and a bag 701 to which the base element 202 of FIG. 2 is attachable.

The base element 202 comprises a front plate 702 and a rear plate 703 that when affixed together provide the receiving chamber 401. The front plate 702 and the rear plate 703 may be affixed by a mechanical fixing, a weld or adhesive. In an example, the front and rear plates 702, 703 are fixed together by screws.

The front plate 702 supports a frame 704 comprising an outer collar 705 and an inner collar 706, between which the latch element 502 is located. The rear plate 703 defines a drive lug slot 707. The accessory element release actuator 208 comprises a drive lug 708. When assembled, the accessory element release actuator 208 is rotatably connected to the rear plate 703 such that the drive lug 708 extends through the drive lug slot 707, and the rear plate 703 is connected to the front plate 702 such that the drive lug 708 extends into the drive lug aperture 601 of the latch head 505 of the latch element. When assembled, the accessory element release actuator 208 is manually operable to move the latch element 502 between the locking position and the releasing position.

Bag 701 defines a base element aperture 709 to allow the base element 202 to be attached thereto. In this illustrated example, the bag 701 is of the type known as a ‘structured bag’, which will remain generally upstanding when placed on a substantially horizontal support surface. Bag 701 has a clasp closure, indicated at 710, allowing an internal compartment 711 of the bag to be opened and closed. The base element aperture 702 is defined in an exterior panel 712 of the bag, such that the base element aperture 702 provides an opening into the internal compartment 711. The base element 202 is attachable to the exterior panel 712 of the bag 701 such that the perimeter of the base element aperture 709 extends between the front plate 702 and the rear plate 703 of the base element 202.

It is to be understood that in other examples the bag may be any type of bag, and that the bag may be fabricated from any suitable material or materials.

FIG. 8

FIG. 8 shows the base element 202 of FIG. 2 attached to the bag 701 of FIG. 7. The base element 202 has been attached to the exterior panel 712 of the bag 701 such that the front 204 of the base element 202 is disposed on the exterior side of the panel 705 and the rear 205 of the base element 202 is disposed on the interior side of the panel 705, and the accessory element release actuator 208 is disposed inside the bag 701.

In the shown arrangement, the accessory element release actuator 208 is located within compartment 711 of the bag 701. It is to be appreciated that the accessory element release actuator 208 may thus be accessed only after access into the compartment 711 of the bag 701 has been gained. This is a beneficial feature to ensure that an accessory element 203 engaged with the base element 202 and, in turn, releasably secured to the bag 701, is not able to be accidentally knocked off the bag 701, or deliberately stolen from the bag 701.

As previously mentioned, according to the present embodiment, the accessory element release actuator 208 takes the form of a rotatable wheel. This form of accessory element release actuator is unlikely to be operated accidentally, for example by coming into contact with contents within the compartment.

With the the base element 202 of FIG. 2 attached to the bag 701 of FIG. 7, as shown in FIG. 8, an accessory element 203 may be releasably secured to the bag 701.

As previously mentioned, in the present embodiment, the locking shank 302 of the accessory element 203 is insertable through the insertion aperture 403 at a single insertion orientation only. This is particularly advantageous when the accessory element 203 carries a decorative badge 301 that has a single correct orientation for proper display. The apparatus 201 is then so arranged, with the base element 202 so attached the bag 701, and the decorative badge 301 so affixed to the accessory element 203, as to ensure that the locking shank 302 of the accessory element 203 carrying that decorative badge 301 can be inserted only at the correct angle for subsequent rotation into an engaged condition in which the decorative badge is properly orientated for display on the bag 701.

FIGS. 9, 10 & 11

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a decorative badge 301 releasably secured to bag 701 of FIG. 7 using the apparatus 201 of FIG. 2, and FIG. 11 shows the decorative badge 301 released from the bag 701.

The apparatus 201 is configured to maintain the accessory element 203 in an engaged condition with the base element 202, with the accessory element 203 releasable from the engaged condition only by operation of the accessory element release actuator 208. If the decorative badge 301 is gripped by a hand and pulled away from the bag 701, or twisted, the decorative badge 301 remains secured to the bag 701. Access into the bag 701 must be gained in order to release the accessory element 203 from the bag 701.

As shown in FIG. 10, once the bag 701 has been opened to allow access into the compartment 711 in which the accessory element release actuator 208 is accessible, the decorative badge 301 may be gripped by one hand 901 and the accessory element release actuator 206 may be gripped by another hand 1001, and the apparatus 201 operated to release the decorative badge 301 from the bag.

FIG. 11 shows the decorative badge 301 removed from the bag 701. Having used the apparatus 202 to releasably secure the decorative badge 301 to the bag 701, and having subsequently disengaged the decorative badge 301 from the bag 701, neither the bag 701 nor the decorative badge 301 have been damaged by the attaching and detaching processes. A different decorative badge may be subsequently releasably secured to the bag 701 and the decorative badge 301 may be subsequently releasably secured to a different bag.

The apparatus 202 thus allows a user to selectively connect and disconnect a decorative accessory to a bag.

FIG. 12

FIG. 12 shows a bag 1201 and a plurality of interchangeable bag accessories 1202, 1203. The bag is provided with a base element 202 and each bag accessory 1202, 1203 is provided with an accessory element 203.

As described herein, each accessory element is releasably engageable with the base element by a securing mechanism that comprises an accessory element release actuator that is accessible only after entry into the bag has been gained, the accessory element release actuator manually operable to selectively disengage the accessory element from the engaged condition with the base element.

A user may therefore select a first bag accessory from a plurality of bag accessories to releasably secure to the bag, releasably secure the selected first bag accessory to the bag, select a second different bag accessory from a plurality of bag accessories to releasably secure to the bag, release the first bag accessory from the bag and then releasably secure the selected second bag accessory to the bag.

The apparatus described herein therefore allows a user to conveniently interchange bag accessories. A bag fitted with the base element of the apparatus may be procured separately or with an accessory element. Accessory elements releasably securable to the bag may then be procured subsequently. The interchangeable decorative badges may have any desired design or fabrication. The many different types of material that may be used, alone or in combination with one or more others, include metals, precious metals, gemstones, plastics materials, textile materials and wood. The many different types of material that may be used, alone or in combination with one or more others, include animals, fish, birds, flowers, geometric shapes, alphanumeric characters and symbols. A bag and/or an interchangeable bag accessory may be given as a gift, and may be given on a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary.

The present application provides for a user to conveniently interchange bag accessories to adapt the visual impression of a bag. The present application provides apparatus for releasably securing a decorative accessory to a bag that utilises a securing mechanism that requires access inside the bag to be gained in order for an accessory element release actuator to be operated, to allow a decorative accessory to be disengaged from an engaged condition.

Claims

1-21. (canceled)

22. Apparatus for releasably securing a decorative accessory to a bag having an exterior panel with an exterior side and an interior side, said apparatus comprising:

a base element having a front and a rear, for attachment to said exterior panel of the bag such that the front of said base element is disposed on the exterior side of said exterior panel and the rear of said base element is disposed on the interior side of said exterior panel, and

an accessory element, for releasable engagement with said base element such that said accessory element is selectively retained at the front of said base element,

said accessory element and said base element being releasably engageable by a securing mechanism that comprises an accessory element release actuator at the rear of said base element, said accessory element release actuator being manually operable to selectively disengage said accessory element from an engaged condition with the base element,

wherein said accessory element comprises a locking shank from which a locking flange extends radially outwardly,

said base element defines a receiving chamber having a front wall defining an insertion aperture adjacent a locking portion of the wall, said insertion aperture being so shaped as to allow said locking shank to be inserted through said insertion aperture into said receiving chamber and thereafter to be rotated in a first direction to locate said locking flange within the receiving chamber behind said locking portion of said front wall,

said base element comprises a locking flange stop,

said base element comprises a latch element movable between a locking position and a releasing position, and

said accessory element is releasably retainable in an engaged condition in which said latch element is in the locking position and said locking flange is located within the receiving chamber behind said locking portion of said front wall and radially retained between said locking flange stop and said latch element.

23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein said latch element is biased towards the locking position by a spring.

24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein said latch element comprises a latch head and is arranged to pivot between a locking position in which said latch head of said latch element is within said receiving chamber and a releasing position in which said latch head of said latch element is without said receiving chamber.

25. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein said locking flange is insertable through said insertion aperture and rotatable in said first direction past said latch head of said latch element towards said locking flange stop, whereafter said accessory element is releasably retained in said engaged condition.

26. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein wherein said locking flange is insertable through said insertion aperture and rotatable in said first direction through an angle of between 60 degrees and 85 degrees into said engaged condition.

27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein said spring is selected from a group comprising a torsion spring, a leaf spring, and a compression spring.

28. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein said accessory element release actuator is selected from a group comprising a lever, and a wheel.

29. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein said locking shank of said accessory element comprises a plurality of locking flanges.

30. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein said locking shank of said accessory element is insertable through said insertion aperture at a single insertion orientation only.

31. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein said accessory element carries a decorative badge.

32. Apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein said decorative badge is affixed to said accessory element by a means selected from a group comprising a mechanical fixing, a weld and adhesive.

33. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein said exterior panel of the bag defines an aperture having a perimeter, and said base element comprises a front plate and a rear plate and is configured to be attached to the exterior panel of the bag such that the perimeter of said aperture defined by the exterior panel of the bag extends between said front plate and said rear plate.

34. A base element for use in apparatus as claimed in claim 22.

35. An accessory element for use in apparatus as claimed in claim 22.

36. A bag comprising an exterior panel with an exterior side and an interior side to which a base element as claimed in claim 34 is attached such that the front of said base element is disposed on the exterior side of said exterior panel and the rear of said base element is disposed on the interior side of said exterior panel, and the accessory element release actuator of the base element is disposed inside the bag.

37. A method of providing a bag with apparatus for releasably securing a decorative accessory to the bag, comprising the steps of:

receiving a bag comprising an exterior panel having an exterior side and an interior side,

and in which an aperture is defined,

receiving a base element as claimed in claim 34, and

attaching the base element to said exterior panel of the bag such that the front of said base element is disposed on the exterior side of said panel and the rear of said base element is disposed on the interior side of said panel, and the accessory element release actuator is disposed inside the bag.

38. A method of releasably securing a decorative accessory to a bag, comprising the steps of:

receiving a bag as claimed in claim 36,

receiving a first accessory element as claimed in claim 35, and

releasably securing said first accessory element to said base element in an engaged condition.

39. A method as claimed in claim 38, further comprising the step of selecting the first accessory element as claimed in claim 35 from a plurality of accessory elements each as claimed in claim 35.

40. A method as claimed in claim 38, further comprising the steps of:

operating the accessory element release actuator to disengage said first accessory element from said engaged condition,

receiving a second accessory element as claimed in claim 35, and

releasably securing said second accessory element to said base element in said engaged condition, whereby said first and second accessory elements are interchanged.