CONFIGURABLE BAG

Abstract

A configurable handbag for storing and carrying objects, consisting of a modular assembly comprising a skeleton structure (1) made up of sections that can be unfolded and folded in different combinations, on which there is an outer covering made up of front casings (2) and side casings (3), which can be unfolded and folded in combination with said skeleton structure (1) to form structural configurations of handbags of different sizes from the same modular formation assembly.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the formation of handbags intended for storing and carrying objects, for personal use or any other application, proposing a handbag that can be configured in different sizes and aesthetic appearances, based on a transformable modular structure that can be used for all configurations.

STATE OF THE ART

Handbags that are used to carry and store objects, in any type of application, have some factors to be considered depending on the application of use in each case. For example, if what matters is the capacity to hold more or less content therein, the size of the handbag is to be considered, while if what matters is the aesthetic appearance, the important factor is the appearance given by the colour and external configuration of the handbag.

In this sense, whatever the factor to be considered in the making of the handbags, the variability to have handbags with different sizes and/or aesthetic appearances requires the formation of different handbags that meet the specifications required in each case. This therefore makes the manufacture of a multiplicity of handbags necessary, increasing the cost and time of manufacture, in addition to the limitation for users to have different handbags to use on each occasion for whatever they wish.

There is therefore a clear advantage to be gained from having a single handbag with a construction that allows for easy and practical adaptation to different size and/or appearance configurations suitable for different applications of use, as desired by the user.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a handbag is proposed that offers features of structural formation that confer the capacity to change size and aesthetic appearance by means of transformations that can be carried out in a simple manner from the same structural design.

This handbag object of the invention comprises a modular assembly consisting of a skeleton structure made up of sections that can be folded and unfolded in different combinations and an outer covering comprising two front casings, a forward one and a rear one, and two side casings, one for each side of the handbag, said casings being made up of sections that can be folded and unfolded in combination with the skeleton structure, to form handbags with different sizes and aesthetic appearances.

The front casings of the outer covering each comprise a central panel and side wings which can be turned to fold in and out of the central panel and the whole assembly can be folded on itself by half its height.

The side casings of the outer covering each comprise a panel, which in turn can be folded on itself by half its height.

In this way, for the structural formation of a handbag, the skeleton structure can be adapted to the size of the handbag to be configured and, in turn, the outer covering can be adapted to the desired configuration, e.g., with the front casings and the side casing of the outer covering fully folded out to form a large handbag, or with the entire outer covering folded on itself by half its height and the wings of the front casings of the covering folded over the corresponding central panel to thus form a small handbag. If the formation is made with the outer covering only folded on itself by half its height or only with the wings of the front casings folded over the side casings, formations of medium handbags are obtained.

On the other hand, by folding the covering half its height towards the outer part, it is possible to obtain handbags with different aesthetic appearances if the casings of said covering have a different colour on the inner side and on the outer side, since when folded, the colour of the inner side of the casings faces the outside of the handbag's structural formation.

Preferably, the flap has different colours on the outer side and on the inner side, being reversible, in order to configure different aesthetic appearances of the handbag.

Therefore, this embodiment of the handbag object of the invention allows for great versatility in the structural formation of different sized handbags and, therefore, in their capacity to hold contents, as well as in the external aesthetic appearance of the handbags that can be configured.

For the assembly of the structural formations of the handbags to be configured, the component casings of the outer covering have shapes in the form of recesses and the skeleton structure has shapes in the form of protrusions, in such a way that said shapes allow them to fit together to create the desired structural formation of the handbag, thus facilitating the assembly of the structural formations to be configured. Furthermore, the casings of the outer covering incorporate fastenings such as clips, hooks, rivets, etc., which secure the mounting of the handbags to be configured in such a way that they remain stable in the formation configured in each case, without unfolding or folding spontaneously.

The front casings and the side casings of the outer covering also have couplings in which handles can be incorporated for handling the handbag when in use. Said handles can be incorporated in different ways to make them more practical depending on the formation of the handbag to be configured.

The rear front casing of the outer covering also has couplings in which a flap is incorporated to act as a top cover for the handbag, said flap being attached in a detachable manner to the aforementioned rear front casing of the outer covering.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, it is envisaged that the front casings can be folded and unfolded together with the skeleton structure, all simultaneously and half their height.

This solution eliminates the need to separately operate the casing and the skeleton, simplifying handbag handling and allowing the transformation between reduced or extended height configurations to be performed in a single coordinated movement.

In accordance with the above, it is established that the front and side casings are folded inwards, and said casings may have different colours on both sides.

The inward folding keeps the outer colour chosen by the user visible in all configurations of the handbag, preventing the aesthetic appearance from varying in an undesirable way and allowing for greater visual coherence of the whole.

It is further envisaged that the rear front casing can be folded inwards together with the skeleton structure, at least partially covering the forward front casing when the handbag is in its lowest height configuration.

This solution creates an “integrated cover” effect without the need for a separate flap, reducing the number of components and improving the compactness of the handbag in its smallest form. Moreover, the skeleton structure comprises holes that allow the parts of the handle to pass therethrough, with one end of each part of the handle being coupled to the skeleton structure and the opposite end remaining free.

This facilitates the use of modular or interchangeable handles, maintaining the aesthetic integrity of the casings and allowing short handle, long handle or detachable handle configurations without removing the outer casings.

Thus, the free end of each part of the handle incorporates a clipping system and/or buttons attachable to matching fastening means at the front part of the skeleton structure, allowing the two parts to be joined together in an extended arrangement of the handbag.

The user can obtain a longer handle length with complementary pins that join together, providing greater versatility of use.

At least one zip is incorporated into the skeleton structure for locking or releasing the folding and/or unfolding of the handbag.

The zip acts as a securing element of the handbag volume, allowing intermediate configurations (narrow, medium or wide) to be set without the need for external mechanisms or additional clips.

The skeleton structure further comprises a side gusset mechanism associated with zips arranged at the junction between the front part and the gusset, between the rear part and the gusset, and/or between the fixed side part and the gusset itself.

This design gives the handbag a controlled expandable capacity, being able to vary its volume in a progressive and stable manner, ensuring lateral rigidity in each of the positions selected by the user.

Given the foregoing, the versatility of configuration of the handbag object of the invention in different structural formations and aesthetic appearance makes this handbag very advantageous, acquiring a life of its own and a preferential character compared to the conventional embodiments of the handbags which currently exist for the same uses.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the formation of a handbag according to the invention, without incorporating the handles of the handbag.

FIG. 2 shows a front casing of the outer covering of the handbags to be configured according to the invention in an unfolded position.

FIG. 3 shows a side casing of the outer covering of the handbags to be configured according to the invention in an extended position.

FIG. 4 represents a schematic perspective view of the formation of a large handbag according to the invention.

FIG. 5 represents a schematic perspective view of the formation of an example of a medium handbag according to the invention.

FIG. 6 represents a schematic perspective view of the formation of another example of a medium handbag according to the invention.

FIG. 7 represents a schematic perspective view of the formation of a small handbag according to the invention.

FIG. 8 represents a schematic perspective view of the formation of a second practical embodiment of a handbag with handles in its smaller folded configuration.

FIG. 9 represents a schematic perspective view of the formation of the second practical embodiment of the handbag in its smaller folded configuration.

FIG. 10 represents a schematic perspective view of the formation of the second practical embodiment of the handbag with an extended side gusset mechanism for lateral expansion of the handbag.

FIG. 11 shows a schematic perspective view of the formation of the second practical embodiment of the folded handbag according to a medium size.

FIG. 12 shows a schematic perspective view of the formation of the second practical embodiment of the folded handbag according to a large size.

FIG. 13 shows a schematic perspective view of the formation of a second practical embodiment of the handbag is its folded large size with the clasp and handles in a Birkin-type configuration, i.e., with an extended version without attaching the ends and a smaller version by attaching the ends of the handles that compress the handbag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention relates to a handbag used to hold and carry objects, this handbag being developed in such a way that it is possible to transform the structural formation according to different options, to form handbag configurations of different sizes and/or different aesthetic appearances.

The proposed handbag comprises a modular assembly consisting of a skeleton structure (1), on which there is an outer covering made up of front casings (2), a forward one and a rear one, and respective side casings (3), one for each side of the handbag formation, as well as an interchangeable flap (9).

The skeleton structure (1) is made up of sections that can be folded and unfolded in different combinations, for which the front casings (2), the side casings (3) and the flap (9) of the outer covering can be adapted, by creasing and folding said front and side casings (2) and (3), to form the configurations for transforming the handbag according to the desired options.

For this purpose, the front casings (2) of the outer covering comprise, as shown in FIG. 2, a central panel (4) and side wings (5), the side wings (5) being able to be folded by turning with respect to the central panel (4), in order to determine folding and unfolding to adapt to the configurations of the handbag that can be carried out, in combination with the folding and unfolding of the skeleton structure (1) for the configurations for transforming the handbag. The assembly of the central panel (4) and the side wings (5) of the aforementioned front casings (2) can also be folded on itself by half its height to likewise adapt to the configurations for transforming the handbag.

The side casings (3) of the outer covering consist of, as shown in FIG. 3, a panel that in turn can be folded on itself by half its height to adapt to the transformations in the configuration of the handbag in combination with the front casings (2) of the outer covering and the skeleton structure (1).

Therefore, by adapting the skeleton structure (1) and in corresponding combination with the adaptation of the outer covering, a formation of the handbag with the skeleton structure (1) and the outer covering fully unfolded can be configured to form a large handbag configuration, as shown in FIG. 4, or a formation with the skeleton structure (1) and the outer covering fully folded can be configured to form a small handbag configuration, as shown in FIG. 7, and formations with the skeleton structure (1) and the outer covering partially folded can also be configured to form medium handbag configurations, either with only width reduction, as shown in FIG. 5, or with only height reduction, as shown in FIG. 6.

For the structural assembly of the handbag, in any of the configurations, the skeleton structure (1) and the outer covering have reciprocal shapes (6), in the form of recesses in one of the parts and in the form of protrusions in the other part, being able to fit together between the corresponding shapes (6) of the outer covering and of the skeleton structure (1), in order to carry out the assembly of the desired configurations of the handbag, thus facilitating the assembly of said configurations.

Furthermore, the front casings (2) and side casings (3) and the flap (9) of the outer covering have elements (not shown) in the form of clips, hooks, rivets, etc., by means of which fastenings can be made to secure the assembly of the handbag configurations, so that each configuration that is made remains stable, preventing it from folding or unfolding spontaneously after assembly.

The front casing (2) of the outer covering has shapes (7), preferably rounded, in which couplings (8) are incorporated, by means of which a flap (9) is attached in a detachable manner to act as a top clasp of the handbag in any of the assembly configurations, as can be seen in FIGS. 1, 4, 6 and 7.

On the other hand, the front casings (2) and side casings (3) of the outer covering have couplings (10), to which handles (11) can be attached for handling the handbag. Said handles (11) can be incorporated, as required, attached to the front casings (2) of the outer covering, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, or attached to the side casings (3), as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

When the handbag is in its highest configuration, said couplings (10) are located inside the handbag, allowing, for example, a set of keys to be attached to them.

In another aspect, the front casings (2) and the side casings (3) and the flap (9) of the outer covering are reversible in their positioning when assembling the handbag configurations and folding said casings in order to adapt them to the handbag configurations that require it. It is envisaged that they are carried out towards the outside of the assembly of the configurations, said front casings (2) and side casings (3) of the outer covering having, on the other hand, different colours on the inner side and on the outer side, so that handbag configurations with different aesthetic appearances can be carried out, since the outer part can have one colour or another depending on the arrangement of the aforementioned front casings (2) and side casings (3) of the outer covering in the handbag's assembly formation in each case.

According to a second alternative embodiment, the configurable handbag may consist of a skeleton structure (1) provided with folding mechanisms integrated in its own shape, which allow variations in height, width and length of the handbag to be obtained by means of direct cooperation between said skeleton structure (1) and a set of front casings (2) and side casings (3) that are coupled on the same, the folding being carried out in this modality towards the inside of the handbag's structural formation.

In this alternative embodiment, the skeleton structure (1) comprises side gussets (13) on its opposite sides which can expand or collapse as required, as shown in FIG. 10. Each of said side gussets (13) cooperates with at least one zip (12) which is arranged at the junction between the front part, the rear part and/or the fixed side part of the skeleton structure (1), making it possible to block or release the movement of the gusset (13). In this way, by keeping the zips (12) closed, the handbag remains in a reduced width configuration, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, while opening them fully or partially, as shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, allows a progressive increase in width, each position being stabilised by the very geometry of the gusset (13).

The front casings (2) and side casings (3) in this modality do not require side wings, but are shaped to fold together with the skeleton structure (1) at half their height, enabling the user to obtain a lower height configuration of the handbag in a single coordinated movement. This joint folding and unfolding is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, where the front structure is raised from a folded position to an extended position, varying the overall height of the handbag between a reduced position and an extended position suitable for holding larger objects.

Furthermore, the skeleton structure (1) is configured to also allow the length of the handbag to be varied by means of an additional longitudinal fold, as shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12. In this configuration, the rear and/or forward front casing (2) can extend from a reduced length, suitable for use as a small handbag or pochette, to a longer length that provides a tote handbag-type format.

Moreover, in this alternative embodiment, the rear front casing (2) of the outer covering has a dual structural function that is essential for transitioning between different handbag configurations. In the smallest configuration, said rear front casing (2) folds inwards and acts as a cover, fully or partially covering the forward front casing (2) and closing the top opening of the handbag, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. On the other hand, when the handbag adopts its largest size configuration, the same rear front casing (2) stands upright, equivalent to that of an extended-format handbag.

For this reason, the rear front casing (2) never folds inwards during use configurations but only in the transition to compact mode, unlike the forward front casing (2), which is configured to fold inwards and remain hidden in the smallest configuration or stand upright when the handbag is in its expanded format. This functional differentiation allows for better internal volume control, a more stable top clasp and a more uniform outer appearance in each of the handbag configurations.

Furthermore, in this alternative embodiment, the hinged bi-fold folding mechanisms (15) present on the forward and rear front casings (2) cooperate with the zips (12) to allow progressive height and length adjustments of the handbag. In the front casings (2), said folding mechanism (15) runs the full height from the bottom to the top, enabling the handbag to go from a reduced length to an extended length, the folding mechanisms (15) being hidden under the front casings (2) and the skeleton structure (1) when the length is folded.

On the sides of the skeleton structure (1) and the side casings (3), the hinged folding mechanisms (15) function differently from the front casings (2), since the upper half must initially remain separated from the folding point of the hinged folding mechanisms (15) to allow the rear front casing (2) to be folded inwards or to act as a cover depending on the selected configuration of the handbag. To ensure the stability of the side assembly at the desired height, additional zips (12) have been provided to link the side gusset mechanism (13) to the area of the folding mechanism (15) of the side; when said zips (12) are closed, the side remains upright and fixed in its maximum height position, while when opened, the side is released to fold inwards in compact configurations. The cooperation between the hinged folding mechanism (15), the zips (12) and the side gusset mechanism (13) allows the height and lateral expansion of the handbag to be precisely adjusted, while maintaining structural strength and stability in all configurable positions.

With regard to the attachment system of the handbag, the skeleton structure (1) incorporates couplings for joining a set of handles (11) made up of two different types of parts: on the one hand, two curved handles (112), configured to act as the main gripping elements of the handbag in its different positions of use; and, on the other hand, two extensions or elongations (111) for extending the functional length of said handles (112) or acting as an auxiliary mechanism for closing the handbag. Both the curved handles (112) and the extensions (111) are attached to the skeleton by means of male and female pins integrated in the skeleton structure (1) itself, which are accessible through holes (14) provided in the front casings (2) and side casings (3), thus allowing their assembly and disassembly without the need to remove said casings (2), (3).

As shown in FIG. 13, each curved handle (112) has respective male couplings at its ends that are inserted directly into the female pins of the skeleton structure (1), allowing the handbag to be used in a conventional short handle configuration. The extensions (111) have a male coupling at one of their ends, which is also intended to be attached to the female pins of the skeleton structure (1), while the opposite end incorporates a female coupling with a click-type button, configured for selective coupling to a complementary male pin located on the front part of the skeleton structure (1) itself.

Given this arrangement, the extensions (111) can be coupled to the curved handles (112) by joining the free ends of both parts, forming a continuous handle with a greater length, as shown in FIG. 8, allowing the user to carry the handbag over the shoulder or in a longer configuration. Alternatively, when the handbag is in its largest capacity configuration, the extensions (111) can be used as closing elements, in a similar way to the system used in Birkin-type handbags, i.e., with an extended version without attaching the ends and a smaller version by attaching the ends of the handles that compress the handbag, by passing said extensions (111) through the holes (14) provided in the skeleton structure (1) and the front casings (2) and side casings (3) and finally attaching them to the front click button of the skeleton structure (1), thus obtaining a secure clasp and greater compression of the side gusset mechanism (13) of the handbag, as shown in FIG. 13.

In this way, the configurable handbag of this alternative embodiment allows for greater versatility of use, as the combination of the side gusset mechanisms (13), the zips (12), the inner folds and the modular handle system (11) allow the user to easily adapt the volume, height, width and length of the handbag without having to remove or manipulate the outer casings, while maintaining a consistent aesthetic thanks to the arrangement of the folds towards the inside.

Claims

1. A configurable handbag for storing and carrying objects comprising a modular assembly consisting of a skeleton structure (1), on which there is an outer covering made up of front casings (2), a forward one and a rear one, and side casings (3), the skeleton structure (1) being made up of sections that can be folded and unfolded in different combinations, while the outer covering can in turn be folded and unfolded in combination with said skeleton structure (1) to configure structural formations of handbags of different sizes from the same modular formation assembly.

2. The configurable handbag according to claim 1, wherein the front casings (2) of the outer covering comprise a central panel (4) and side wings (5), which can be turned to fold and unfold with respect to the central panel (4), the whole assembly being able to fold on itself by half its height, while the side casings (3) of said outer covering are formed by a panel that can be folded on itself by half its height.

3. The configurable handbag according to claim 1, wherein the front casings (2) and side casings (3) of the outer covering have different colours on the outer side and on the inner side, said casings being folded towards the outer part, in order to configure formations of handbags with different aesthetic appearances from the same modular formation assembly.

4. The configurable handbag according to claim 1, wherein a flap (9) is incorporated on the rear front casing (2) of the outer covering to act as a top cover in the handbag configurations, said flap (9) being attached in a detachable manner by means of couplings (8) on the aforementioned rear front casing (2) of the outer covering.

5. The configurable handbag according to claim 4, wherein the flap (9) has different colours on the outer side and on the inner side, being reversible, in order to configure different aesthetic appearances of the handbag.

6. The configurable handbag according to claim 1, wherein the front casings (2) and side casings (3) of the outer covering incorporate couplings (10) to which handles (11) can be attached for handling the handbag.

7. The configurable handbag according to claim 1, wherein the front casings (2) and side casings (3) of the outer covering have fastenings that allow the formation of the handbag configurations to be secured.

8. The configurable handbag according to claim 1, wherein the front casings (2) of the outer covering can be turned to fold and unfold together with the skeleton structure (1) on itself by half its height, while the side casings (3) of said outer covering are formed by a panel that can be folded on itself by half its height.

9. The configurable handbag according to claim 8, wherein the front casings (2) and side casings (3) of the outer covering have different colours on the outer side and on the inner side, said casings (2) (3) being folded towards the inner part, in order to configure formations of handbags with different aesthetic appearances from the same modular formation assembly.

10. The configurable handbag according to claim 8, 9, wherein the rear front casing (2) can be folded inwards together with the skeleton structure (1), at least partially covering the forward front casing (2) in a position of the handbag at its lowest height.

11. The configurable handbag according to claim 8, wherein the skeleton structure (1) comprises holes (14) for a handle (11) to pass therethrough, said handle (11) comprising two parts (111, 112), and one end of each part (111, 112) being able to be coupled to a corresponding coupling of the skeleton structure (1) with the opposite end of each part (111, 112) of the handle (11) remaining free.

12. The configurable handbag according to claim 11, wherein the free end of each part of the handle (11) comprises a clipping system for joining the two parts in an extended handbag configuration.

13. The configurable handbag according to claim 8, wherein the skeleton structure (1) comprises a zip (12) for locking the folding and/or unfolding of the handbag.

14. The configurable handbag according to claim 8, wherein the skeleton structure (1) comprises a side gusset mechanism (13) for folding, comprising a zip (12) arranged at the junction between a front part of the skeleton structure (1) and the side gusset mechanism (13), and/or at the junction between a rear part of the skeleton structure (1) and the side gusset mechanism (13), and comprising a zip (12) at least partially at the junction between a fixed side part of the skeleton structure (1) and the gusset mechanism (13).