Reinforced Patents (Class 150/130)
  • Patent number: 8973627
    Abstract: The invention is a modular pop-up purse shell, with an optional insert, wherein a rectangular swatch of material is removably attached to the purse shell to create a customized purse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventors: Julie Pynes, Jim McCafferty, Steve Delacy, Greg Leong
  • Patent number: 8935841
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an article of manufacture and method of manufacture relating to purses, handbags, wallets and the like. The method disclosed herein relates to utilizing text book covers off of books, such as legal treatises and case law books as the primary material for such articles. The text book cover is removed, cleaned, prepared, cut, sewn and glued together to form a purse, handbag, wallet and the like. The result of the disclosed invention is eco-friendly as it takes an old, often discarded item and forms a highly useful and quite stylish “new” article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Inventor: Kathy A. Kelly
  • Patent number: 8668064
    Abstract: One example may be directed to a luggage case including a first wire frame element forming at least a partial shape of a main body, an inner material attached at least in part to the first wire frame element, an outer material positioned over the first wire frame element, and a second wire frame element attached at least in part to the inner material and the outer material. The outer material is not attached to the first wire frame element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Samsonite IP Holdings S.a. r.l.
    Inventors: Dirk Santy, Luc K. F. Huyghe
  • Patent number: 8499804
    Abstract: A bag includes a body portion defining a pouch having an open end and a strengthening rib. A strap of the bag has a first end connected to the body portion adjacent a first side of the open end, and a locking mechanism is connected to the body portion adjacent a second side of the open end. The locking mechanism is arranged to releasably engage a second end of the strap such that the bag can be connected to immovable objects to prevent theft of the bag. Further, a closing mechanism is disposed on the body portion and arranged to close the open end. The closing mechanism has a moveable head that is arranged to engage the second end of the strap when the strap is engaged with the locking mechanism, such that unauthorized access to the contents of the open end is prevented when the bag is locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Inventor: Sarah Schulte
  • Patent number: 8376102
    Abstract: A garment organizing system, assembly, and method enables users to organize garmentry for travel. The basic assembly comprises a support panel, a restraint panel, a panel attachment mechanism for removably attaching each restraint panel to a first edge of a respective support panel, and a panel linking mechanism for linking each support panel to an adjacent support panel. The support panels support garmentry placed thereupon. Each restraint panel is fixedly attached to a second edge of a respective support panel, and the restraint panels selectively restrain garmentry supported by the support panels via said panel attachment mechanism. The panel linking mechanism enables the user to link and stack a series of interconnectable garment restraint assemblies for organizing the supported and restrained garmentry for travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Inventor: Kim Ritschel
  • Patent number: 8302642
    Abstract: An invertible handbag. The invertible handbag has a handbag compartment defined by four sides, a handbag roof, and a handbag floor; a handbag roof mouth bordered by a handbag roof mouth closure in the handbag root and a handbag floor mouth bordered by a handbag floor mouth closure in the handbag floor. A strap is swivelably attached to strap bridges at opposite ends of the invertible handbag. Method steps are taught wherein the handbag closures may be closed, the invertible handbag inverted, and then the uppermost closure and mouth opened, to permit seeing and removing items which were formerly lost at the bottom of the handbag compartment. Means is disclosed to hold the closures closed. Optional sidebags may be mounted to the handbag sides, each including a sidebag roof mouth closure and a sidebag floor mouth closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventor: Richard A. Lindholm
  • Patent number: 8181834
    Abstract: A backpack comprises a load carrying section with a forwardly facing front panel. A pair of mutually spaced sleeves are joined to and border the sides of the front panel. An injection molded generally U-shaped partial perimeter frame has a base bordering a bottom of the front panel, with arms projecting from the base and into the sleeves on the sides of the panel. The load carrying section of the backpack is comprised principally of fabric. The front panel is flexible and has a stiffness greater than the stiffness of the fabric forming other portions of the backpack. In one embodiment, the front panel is integrally stiffened. In another embodiment, the front panel forms a pocket configured and dimensioned to accept a flexible stiffening plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Here be Dragons;LLC
    Inventor: Frank A. Howell
  • Patent number: 8028730
    Abstract: A purse comprising a base formed of rigid transparent or translucent material, and a removable liner that is to be inserted in the base of the purse so as to be visible from outside the base, the removable liner being provided in a plurality of colors and textures and patterns and being made of a pliable, sturdy material, wherein the liner provider a creative, decorative design for the purse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Inventors: Carolyn Whiting, Rebecca S. McKenzie
  • Publication number: 20110232812
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an article of manufacture and method of manufacture relating to purses, handbags, wallets and the like. The method disclosed herein relates to utilizing text book covers off of books, such as legal treatises and case law books as the primary material for such articles. The text book cover is removed, cleaned, prepared, cut, sewn and glued together to form a purse, handbag, wallet and the like. The result of the disclosed invention is eco-friendly as it takes an old, often discarded item and forms a highly useful and quite stylish “new” article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventor: Kathy A. Kelly
  • Publication number: 20090095385
    Abstract: A self-standing animal shaped purse incorporates an animal shaped cover having a head, fore legs, hind legs and a tail. A purse liner provides an open volume for carrying personal items and is suspended within the animal shaped cover. A zipper or similar closure is provided for access to the liner. An articulating element movably supports the fore legs and head and a second articulating element movably supports the hind legs and tail. In an exemplary embodiment, the articulating elements are Y-shaped members with multiple ball and socket joints arranged on each of the elements of the Y.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventor: Jennifer Liu
  • Patent number: 7178568
    Abstract: A woman's purse to be hand or shoulder carried, and which has a front face panel of a record jacket attached to a substrate and a rear surface panel formed of a vinyl record preferably laminated for protection, attached to a substrate. The two side and bottom panels form a generally U-shaped section which is attached to each of the front and rear panels, but not attached to the two top edges of the front and rear panels. A handle(s) can be conventionally attached. The purse may be lined and have accessories attached to the interior thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Inventor: Krystal Wynona
  • Patent number: 6880685
    Abstract: A light-weight side gusset for a bag includes a formed composite frame having a peripheral raised region and a depressed central region. An opening through the depressed central region forms a relatively narrow border portion around the inner periphery of the raised region. A central panel corresponding in configuration to the outline of the depressed region is attached to the border portion of the depressed region to cover the opening therethrough. The composite frame is made up of a moldable substrate, e.g. ethyl vinyl acetate foam, an outer layer wear-resistant material, e.g., high-denier nylon or poly/nylon combination, and, preferably, an inner adherent layer, e.g., the loop half of a hook-and-loop fabric. Methods of manufacturing the composite frame, a gusset including such frame, and a bag including such gusset are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Tumi, Inc.
    Inventors: Timm J. Fenton, Paul V. Scicluna, Dick H. Powell
  • Patent number: 6880221
    Abstract: A method of producing a purse or handbag from a single typically rectangular blank of flexible sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Inventor: Nancy L. Sprenger
  • Publication number: 20040069384
    Abstract: An article shape maintenance system for maintaining the shape of a bag article during storage and non-use thereof. The article shape maintenance system includes a filler member, and a covering surrounding the filler member. The covering is comprised of a cloth material. The filler member is comprised of a resilient material such as foam rubber or polyester fiber. The filler member preferably includes a sachet containing a scented material. The filler member preferably includes silica gel or related material for absorbing moisture from within the bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventor: Madeline M. Bayard
  • Patent number: 6640856
    Abstract: A collapsible bag arrangement includes a compartment for holding articles having at least a first side, a second side and a bottom. At least the first and second sides are constructed of a foldable material. A bottom strip has a middle portion, a first end portion and a second end portion. The first and second end portions are of bendable construction and extend outward beyond the length of the first and second sides. The first piece of a two-piece fastener attaches to the first portion of the bottom strip and the second piece of the two-piece fastener attaches to the second portion of the bottom strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Tumi, Inc.
    Inventor: Amy R. Tucker
  • Patent number: 6612350
    Abstract: A carrying case, such as a purse or fanny pack, having a skeleton formed of a bendable, rigid material. The skeleton has front and rear opposing sidewalls, each having an arcuate shape. The sidewalls are joined along the bottom longitudinal edges thereof and are normally spaced apart along their upper longitudinal edges to form a clamshell shaped configuration. The front sidewall has an inwardly and downwardly extending latching lip formed in its upper longitudinal edge. The upper longitudinal edges of the sidewalls can be closed and latched by squeezing the front and rear sidewalls toward each other and snapping the upper longitudinal edge of the rear sidewall into the lip formed in the upper longitudinal edge of the front sidewall. A fabric cover is pulled over and around the sidewalls of the skeleton. The endwalls of the fabric cover forms the endwalls of the carrying case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventor: Edel Maria Brynjulfsen
  • Patent number: 6564838
    Abstract: A calabash shaped handbag for carrying personal effects. The handbag includes a dome shaped bottom portion connected with a band to a more pliant upper portion. The top opening would include a drawstring for closing the bag, which is attached to the exterior of the bag to form a handle or shoulder strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Inventor: Halsey Cruickshank
  • Publication number: 20020179210
    Abstract: A handbag design for providing adjustability of the closer that allows the user to sculpt the upper portion of the handbag to there liking. This process is accomplished by the looped wire skeleton adhered to the material in the opening seam during the construction of the handbag in accordance to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Dusica Sacks, Douglas Arlington Holder
  • Patent number: 6328191
    Abstract: A storage assembly for a vehicle including an outer panel having a lower portion and an upper portion, and a closure device. The lower portion of the outer panel is attachable to an inner panel to define a storage pocket. The upper portion is deflectable from the inner panel to define an aperture of the storage pocket. The closure device has an arcuate shape and a convex side. The closure device is fastened to the upper portion of the outer panel with the convex side facing the inner panel such that the closure device urges the upper portion against the inner panel. This force by the closure device helps define the closed position as the “normal” or “relaxed” position of the storage assembly. The force of the closure device can be overcome by a user of the storage assembly to move the outer panel into an open position, which would allow insertion or removal of objects from the storage pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Robert W. Conley, Dudley E. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6279707
    Abstract: A carrying case or luggage includes a concave curved side panel to facilitate positioning of the luggage when held by hand straps or a shoulder strap against the hip or leg of a user or person carrying the luggage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Travel Caddy, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Godshaw, Andrezj Redzisz
  • Patent number: 6186640
    Abstract: A hand bag includes an axle structure; several arched support ribs each having a first rib end and a second rib end and being rotatably mounted at the first and second rib ends to the axle structure and bowing outwardly between the first and second rib ends; and flexible sheet material laterally interconnecting the support ribs, so that the sheet material folds and unfolds in accordion fashion as the ribs rotate about the axle structure, the flexible sheet material having an opening defining a hand bag access opening. The several of support ribs preferably include two immediately adjacent opening ribs which are not interconnected by the sheet material, so that rotating the opening ribs about the axle structure away from each other defines between the opening ribs the hand bag access opening. The hand bag preferably additionally includes a hand bag internal lighting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Inventor: Melina Typaldos
  • Patent number: 6070628
    Abstract: Handbag with a magnetic flap closure arrangement both closes and latches the top of the handbag. The handbag has arcuate flexible side walls that expand when the front and rear walls of the bag are spread apart to an open position for the bag. The side walls cooperate with the flap arrangement to form a smaller opening that is closed by the flap arrangement when the front and rear walls are moved toward each other into a closed position. The two flaps of the flap arrangement are connected to the front and rear walls respectively, and extend toward each other when the handbag is in the open position. Both are flexible so that they can be pushed downwardly or upwardly to expand the bag opening and allow items to be inserted, removed or seen more easily. In their unflexed, rest positions one flap is lower than the other so that when the front and rear walls are moved toward each other into the closed position, the flaps overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Inventor: Ancela Nastasi
  • Patent number: 6068095
    Abstract: A saddle bag insert 10 for use with a soft sided saddle bag 100 having front 101 and rear 102 end panels, a pair of side panels 103, 104 and a floor panel 105. The saddle bag insert 10 includes an insert member 20 fabricated from an elongated, thin, flat, contoured strip of rigid yet flexible material 21 having an intermediate segment 22 and a pair of end segments 23, 24 that are adapted to resiliently conform to the contours of the front and rear end panels 101, 102 and the floor panel 105 to provide rigidity to the soft sided saddle bag 100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Inventors: Thomas M. Glembocki, John Converse
  • Patent number: 5620069
    Abstract: A framed duffel bag has a fabric shell having a box shape with four sides joined by a bottom and a zip-open top. Three framing members made from strips of resilient material hold the four sides erect. Each of the strips is formed with two bends that separate a base from two arms that extend perpendicular to the base. The strips are threaded into channels formed along the bottom and two sides. The two sides are foldable toward the bottom against resilient torques generated by the strips, and the bottom is foldable in half to further compact the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Inventor: Gregory J. Hurwitz
  • Patent number: 5598923
    Abstract: A storage and display device comprises a magnetically attached storage unit which holds and displays personal protection supplies for use with, for example, a mobile X-ray machine. The storage and display apparatus includes two square opaque vinyl sheets, heat sealed to enclose a rigid, supporting cardboard insert; four fixed, symmetrical, translucent, pleated vinyl pockets; a protective, translucent, vinyl overlay with hook-and-loop (Velcro.RTM.) closures; and magnetic or hook-and-loop (Velcro.RTM.) mounting strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Inventor: Susan S. Owens
  • Patent number: 5287903
    Abstract: A carrying bag comprises at least one extensible panel forming at least a part of the external walls of the bag. The extensible panel is of a composite material composed of a sheet of a stretch-knit fabric and a multiplicity of elongated strips of a durable, substantially non-extensible material joined to the fabric sheet in closely spaced relation by stitching located proximate to the centers of the strips, thereby leaving portions of the fabric sheet underlying the major portions of the strips free to stretch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Inventor: Emilio Ambasz
  • Patent number: 5146966
    Abstract: A handbag formed by attaching a pouch along the periphery of a portion of a continuous circular hoop in such a way that the portion of the hoop covered by the pouch serves as the frame for the bag portion of the handbag and the remaining portion of the hoop serves as a handle for carrying the handbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: MPJ Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Romano
  • Patent number: 4932506
    Abstract: A cover for the front and/or the back of a carrying case with a semi-rigid frame, and comprising a lining and an outer panel. The outer panel has a main central portion and a gusset member around the periphery of the central portion which are connected together through an inner welt, and which are spaced apart by a reinforcement member located in each of the four corners of the outer panel. The lining and outer panel are connected together through an outer welt around the outer peripheral edge of the cover. This second welt is concentric with the first welt, the construction of the cover being such that the outer panel is in a dome-shaped configuration for a unique appearance and additional content holding capacity for the compartments of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Airway Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Hyun S. Kim
  • Patent number: 4825506
    Abstract: An improved case handle structure for a folding case with a retractable handle, wherein the improvement comprises a case made of multiple layers consisting of an inner lining, a first stiffening element, a foam element, a second stiffening element and an outer skin, and wherein the legs of the retractable handle are movably positioned between the first stiffening element and the foam element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Inventor: Nathan Weltz
  • Patent number: 4811769
    Abstract: A purse insert capable of retaining a number of articles in separate pockets such that the articles can be transferred from one purse to another by removing and transferring the entire insert. The pockets of the insert are formed of an elastic material such that the pockets retain the individual articles by the elastic nature of the material without requiring closure means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Inventor: Robert R. Phares
  • Patent number: 4649974
    Abstract: A handbag having a replaceable decorative cover is provided. The decorative cover has a laminated structure. A face sheet, a central core sheet and a back sheet are bonded to one another with the central core sheet between the face sheet and the back sheet. The central core sheet is a size smaller than the face and back sheets. The lamination is done by bonding the peripheral margins of the face and back sheets while the central core sheet is applied with adhesives at appropriate portions to be bonded to the face and back sheets. In this way, the peripheral marginal area of the laminated decorative cover is thinner than the central area thereof with the result that the marginal area can be inserted under the frame attached to the cover or body of the handbag without causing the frame to bulge. In addition, the laminated structure provides a wide range of alternatives in material selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: TR Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadao Takanashi
  • Patent number: 4646804
    Abstract: In a drawstring handbag, a series of pockets having top openings which are less than or equal to 3/5 of the distance from the bottom to the top of the bag. The walls of the handbag are flexible and a strip, less flexible than the walls, is secured about the bag so as to facilitate the folding of the top portion of the bag downward over the exterior of the bottom portion of the bag. A cup is secured to the base of the bag for the holding of Bingo chips and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Inventor: Mary Damiano