Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1 The presel1~ invcntion relates to a handbag. More
2 I particularly, the present invention relates to a compartmen-
3 1 talized handbay providing for the organized reception oE
~1l various personal items and accessories. The use o~ handbags
5 I is a well established tradition by both sexes. Some men
6 carry handbags as a convenience item while mos-t women consider
7 a handbag or purse as a necessity. Most women have a number
8 o handbags of various materials, styles and designs. The
9 woman selects a handbag according -to style and occasion and
in accordance with apparel worn.
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12 It is welL known that women use their handbags as
13 a r~c~pt:icle ~or sundry items. Typica1Ly~ a wornan's purse
might contain creclit cards, photographc;, credenk~als, glasses,
a checkbook, a walle-t, change purse, keys, s-tamps, notepaper,
16 phone number listings, facial tissues, and the like. To
17 accommodate these various items, handbags of various styles,
18 configura~ions and shapes can be found in the prior art. For
19 example, U.S. PatentNu~x~ 3,955,609 issued to the present applic~t
discloses a unique ladies handbag provided with oppositely
21 opening external fl~ps on either side of the bay. V~rious
22 ¦ compartmen-ts, both externally and internally, are provided
23 1 for the convenient reception of various items The applicant's
24 ~ prior patent has enjoyed wide commercial success and has found
25¦1 wide acceptance in the industry.
26ll ~
2711The present invention has for itsmain object the provision of
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h~bag for the convenient reception and storage of access~ory a~d personal
items with the various pockets and co ~ rtments inten~lly arranged in the
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Accordinglyl it is an obiect of a principal aspect of the present
invention to provide a ladies' handbag having improved utlllty.
An ob~ect of another aspect of the present invention is to provide
a handbag which is arranged for the organized reception and storage of
- assorted items of personal accessories.
An ob~ect of still another aspect oF the present invention is to
provide a handbag for the orderly safekeeping of various items which is
arranged for easy accessibility by the user. -
An ob~ect of a further aspect of the present invention is to pro-
vide a handbag of the general type which i~ relatively inexpensive to manu-
facture and is aesthetically pleasing and highly utilitarian.
By one broad aspect of this invention, an organi~er handbag is -
provided for the orderly and accessible reception of personal and conveni-
ence items comprlsing: ta) a body havLng n b~ttom and a front panel, and a
renr panel having upper horizontnl edges ~md slde nnd bo~tom e(lges, the side
edges being ~oined toiian expandable end wall member at each slde oE the
front and rear panels, the bottom edges and end wall members being ~oined
to the bottom to form a main compartment; (b) at least two transverse panels ~ -~
extending between and secured to each respective end wall member subdividing
the main compartment into at least three subcompartments comprising: (i) a
front subcompartment formed between one of the transverse panels and the
front panel; (ii) an intermediate subcompartment adapted to secure a remova-
ble pouch ~t a posltion wherein an edge of the pouch i9 subgtantially CO-
extensive wlth the top of the main compartment; and ~lii) a rear subcompart-
ment formed between one of the transverse panels and the front panel; (c)
pocketbook means detachably secured to one of the panels at one of the sub~
compartments near the upper edge thereof whereby the pocketbook is readily
accessible through the subcompartment and whereby the pocketbook may be
easily attached or detached when the handbag is in an open position; (d)
storage compartment means located within at least one of the subcompaFt-
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ments, the storage compartment means being adapted to receive a card carry- ;
ing case for selective display of documents; (e) an exterior pouch panel
extending generally transversely across the front of the front panel and ex-
tending vertically from the bottom to a location below the upper horizontal
edge of the front panel and being joined thereto at opposite vertical edges
and along the bottom edge, an insert panel extending intermediate tha
pouch panel and the front panel forming an insert pocket between the front -~
panel and the insert panel and an exterior pouch between the insert panel
and the pouch panel, the insert panel having a vertical extension forming a
flap moveable to a closed position overlying the pouch panelp the pouch fur-
ther including interior pocket means adapted for reception of writing mater-
ials; (f) a flap hingedly affixed to the rear panel substantLally near the
upper horizontal edge and moveable to a closed position overLying the front
panel and haYing an open position permittLng Eree acces~ to the interior
~ubcompLIr~ments~ the flap ln tlle closad position obscuring the contents of
the subcompartments and simultaneously covering the exterlor pouch and in-
sert pocket for added security; and (g) the bottom panel being generally
flat and generally defining the total bottom perimeter of one handbag. :
By one variant thereof, the handbag includes at least two trans-
verse panels extending between the end panels, subdividing the main com-
partment into at least three sub-compartment5, one of the sub-compartments
adapted for receipt of a removable pouch for containing sundry items.
By another variantSthereof, one of the sub-compartments i9
adapted for receipt of a removable pouch for containing sundry items, and
includes a tab detachably secured at one of the transverse panels, the tab
including means for securing keys thereto.
~ By a variation thereof, the sub-compartment includes second
; storage compartment means on the exterior of the second panel, the exterior
storage means being permanently concealed by the flap in the closed posi-
tion.
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Ry a further variation, the second storage compartment means fur-
ther includes retention means including a tab hingedly affixed to the first
panel and overlying the flap in the closed position and including fastener
means carried thereon.
By another variant, the pocketbook is detachably secured by fasten-
er means at one end of the transverse panels, the pocketbook being adapted
for removal and use, independently of the handbag.
Briefly, in accordance with one preierred embodlment, a handbag is
provided in which present handbag front and rear panels join along expanda- `~
ble edge sections to form a main compartment. The main compartment is sub-
divided into two sub-compartments by two intermediate panels extending be-
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tween the edges of the bag. A flap is hingedly affixed to the rear panel ~ ~
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and in a closed position overlies the exterior of the front panel. One of
the sub-compartments is provided wlth exparldable Lnterior pockets for re- ;
ception of articles such as a checkbook, Eolio, eye-glasses and the like.
The other 6ub-compar~ment i6 prov:Lded with a removable pocketbook for re-
ceipt of coin and currency. Key retention means are also provided in one
of the sub-compartments. The intermediate panels define a pocket for re-
ceiving a removable pouch, e.g., provided with a ZIPPER for containment of -
items, e.g., cosmetic articles. A larger
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pouch is carrie~ on the outside of the front panel for receiving items e.g.
mail and similar documnts. This pouch mav include several interior poc-
kets for receipt of me~os, address notebcoks, pens and other writing ma-
terials. A flap is hingedly affixed to the top of the rear panel and in a
closed position overlies the front panel. A retention strap is also l~mgecl
~- to the top of the re~r par~el and o-~rlies the flap and is sec~rable tc the
p~nel to retain the flap in a closed position. A carrying strap i~ attached
to op~osite sides of the purse. ;
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a front perspective vie~l of the handbag of an aspect of
the present invention with the flap in a closed position;
Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the hanclbag of an aspect of
the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a front perspective view o~ the hanc~g w-ith the flap in
an open position;
Fig. 4 is a top view of the hanclbag in an ope~ position illustrat-
i~g the interior detail of the bag;
Fig. 5 is a front perFpective view of the pocket book which is
ccoperably received within the h~ ag of an aspec.~ of the present invention; ;~
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1l ~icl. 6 is a rear perspective vie~J oE Lhe poc};etbook
2 ¦ sho~n in ~ig. 5i and i
3 ~
4 , ~'icJ. 7 is a perspective vie~7 illustrating the card;
5¦1 carryincJ case which is receivable within -the handbag.
, 61
¦ Turning now to the dra~ihgs, in which the same j ;~
81 reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding elements
91 throughout the several views, attention is directed to
10 F:igurcls 1 throuph 4 wllich i:Llustrate the laciies hanclhug ~ :
consl:ructed in accordance with the teaching of an aspect of thc present
12 invention. Throughout the specifica-tion, the terms "front"
13 and "rear" and "interior" and "ext~rior" ar~ used to establish
1~ a frarlle o~ re~ererlc~ ~or d~cr:lpt.ion and cliscussion of the ~ ;~
handbag. Th~,e terms are not to be construed in any limiting ~
16 sense. Similarly, the terms "handbag", "bag" and "purse" are ; !~ ;
17 used interchan~a~ly throughout the specification. The I
19 h~ag of one aspect of the present invention is generally designated by
the numeral 10 and includes a front panel 12 and a rear ~ I ;
panel 14 joined at the vertical edges o~ side panels 16 ~nd 1;8.
22 Bottom panel 19 is ~enerally flat ex-tend:ing bet~7een the lower
ed~es of front and rear pAnels 12 and 14 and side panels 16
24 and 18. Bottorn panel 19 may be reinforced by an appropriate
stif~ener, not shown. Buttons 22 on the underside of the
26 bottom panel 20 provide rest points for the handbag 10 and ~¦
27 protect the bottom panel 20.
28
j A loop 23 is secured to side panel 16 near its
upper end. Si~ilarly, a loop 24 is attached to opposite end
! f panel 18 near it5 upper end. Loops 23 and 2~ may be ¦
secured by any conventional means~e-g- ; by a rivet or heat
32 ~
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li seal methocls. ~ carrylny strap 2~ e~:tends betwcen the loops
2 1 23 and 2~. One end of strap 28 is attached -to loop 24 by
3 ~ forming a loop 25 at the end of strap 28 and engaying loop 2
~¦, with 25. The opposite end o~ strap 28 is douhled back through I
51. loop 23 and the looped end of 28 is engayed in buckle 37. The ~.
6 use of buckle 37 provides adjustability of the length of
7 strap 28. ~s will be immediately apparent to those skilled . I :~
8 in the art, handbag 10 ma~ be fabricated frorn various suitable ¦ .
9 materials ,e.g. leather or vinyl and is either sewn, heat :
bonded or otherwise assembled or abricated in accordance with ~:
11 established technic~ues or the art. ~~~
12
13 A clo~ur~ ~lap 30 :i9 hinc~edly a:E:ixed to the upper
1~ ~dy~ O;e L~ar pan~ at uppe:r edcJ~ 32. E~'lap 30 r in the closed
position as .illustrated in Fig. 1, lies in juxtaposition when
16 closed covering a s~bstantial portion of front panel 12 and
17 pouch ~6. The lower edge 34 of flap 30 may be scalloped or t~;
18 contoured as sho~m to present an aesthe-tically pleasing
19 appearance. ~n elonyated retention tab 36 .is hingedly a~ ed
to the upper edcJe 32 of panel 1~ a-t a cen-tral position. Tab 36
21 over:l:ies flap 30 and :in ch~ closed posit:ion ~xtends to a positior
22 be:low the edcJe 3~ o~ flap 30. ~ snap ~astener hal~ 40 is
23 ~ carried on the inner side of retention tab 40. Cooperative ~
225 I snap fastener half ~2 is secured to pouch panel 44 _
261¦ ~ generally rectangular pouch 46 useful for carrying :~
27l¦ letters, receipts, and corresponding similar documents is !~
28¦' carried on the front o lron-t panel 12. Pouch ~6 is ormed b~
291l front pane]. ~.~ secured to the vertical eclyes of ront panel 12
30i~ by plea-ted, expalldable end members 4S. Rear panel 50 is 1 :
31 ¦ stitched or othen~ise aEfi~ecl at opposite ed~es to E~leated
32, end members ~8 so -that an inser-t poc}~et 52 is de:Eined bct~een
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11l front ~anel 12 and E~anc~l 50. Ela~) S~ i.s an eY~t~nSion of pane~l
2¦¦ 5G and forms a closure member for pouch ~6 and carries a pair
¦ of fernale fastener me~bers 58 ~thich matinyly enc3acJe male snap ~ ;~
~11 fastener members 65 carried at the upper edcJe oE pouch panel : -~
44. Pocket 52 can be used for storacJe of l~.tters, documents,
6 eoupons and similar i-tems. No-te that when the handbag is in: ~,,..~
. . 7 the elosed position with closure flap 30 overlying the front .~:
: 8 panel and retention tab 3S engaged at fastener members 40 and
9 42, poueh 46 and pocket 52 are seeure and eoneealed from view.
In the elosed position, flap 30 serves to prevent items from
11 being inadvertently d.islodyecl from poek~t 52. _
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13 ~oekets 60 and 61 are provid~d w.ithin poueh 46 ior
1~ reeeption o~ notebooks or addr~ss books 63. A smaller poeket ;
62 is adjaeen-t pocket 61 for insertion of a penr peneil or ::
.~ other writing instrument.
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18 A generally rectanyular panel 70 is seeured alon~ : ~:
19 the side edges and bottom to the exterior oE r~ar panel 14.
; 20 In aeeordanee w.ith the preferred el~odiment o:E pr~sent inven- :~
tion, adjae~nt poek~ts 7~ and 76 are ~orm~cl between panel 1
22 and panel 70 by medial stitch line 72. Poe~ets 74 and 76 .
2 provide compartments for earryiny various aeeessories and items
: sueh as tissues, handkerehie~s and scarves. Since pockets 74
; and 76 are exposed, they are designed primarily to aceommodate
.~ 2 items whieh ~Jould not be of substantial value and be the
2 subjeet of tnef-t. ¦~
28
29 ! Parti-~ion panels 82 ~nd 84 ex~tena transversly bet~leen
th~ sides 16 and 18 of the bdcJ formincJ th.r~e sub-eompar-tments,
l front su~--compartment 86, int~rmediate sub-eompar-tment 88 and :~
il .rear sub-eompartment 90. Part.ition pane:Ls 82 and 8~1 are ~::
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1¦ are secured at a cJather or pleat 92 in each end tJaLl by suitable ~
2¦¦ fastenin~ m~ns , e.g. rivet 9~. Compartment 8~ is confiyured ~ -'
3~l to receive removable pouch 100. Pouch 100 is provided with a
~ippér closure 102 and provides a convenient storage for
5 I cosmetic and makeup items carried by women. Pouch 100 can be
6 removed frorn compartment 88 when cosmetic items are recluired.
7 .
8Storaye means in the form of a pair of adjacent
9 pockets 108 and 112 are formed in compartment 90 at the
interior side of panel 14 by panel 104. Panel 104 is stitched
11 to panel 14 at the vertical s-titch lines 106. Panel :L04 is
12 pleated at accordian folds 114 to provide expandability o~
13 the pocket. Pocket 10~ is sized and configured to accommodate
1~ items, ~.g. ~veglasses. pock~t 112 is sized and conEigured
to ~ccommodate a olio ~e.g. folio 120, as shown in Fig. 7.
16 Folio 120 has a front and rear cover 122 and 124, respectively,~
17 joined alon~ medial fold line 130. Folio 120 contains a series
18 o pages of leaves 126 each de~ining one or more pockets for
19 receivin~ credi-t cards, photos and other items. These leaves are ¦
20 or ex~ample, oE the type more fully described in U.S. Patent No. t
21 3,759,305, entitled "Card Carryin~ Case", issued to Donald E.
2 McIntyre. A closur~ tah 129 with snap fastening means secure
23 front and rear panels 122 and 124 in a closed position. The
24 inner side of front panel 122 may be provided with a pocket 132 _
25 I for insertion of a conven-tional checkbook.
'26
271 A removable purse 130 as shown in detail in Figs. S
I and 6, is detachably secured -to the side oE partition 84 disposed~
- ¦¦ towards sub~compar-tment 86. Purse 130 is primarily ~or receipt
¦l of coins and currency and has fxont and bac~ panels 131 and 132, !
¦,'respectively. ~ closure flap'l3~ hich is an extension oE ¦
¦ rear panel 132, is adapted to overlie a portion o~ front panel
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1l 131 in a closcd positiorl ~Incl be enc3acJed ak fastener 135. ~ pair
2! of male snap members 1~0 are secured to the rear panel 132 of
3111 the purse. ~latiny, fastener members 1~0 are secured to panel 84. ,~ ~,
~l ~ divider p~nel l3~ e~ends tran~versely bet~een the edges of i' ~ -
5j panels 132 and 136 subdividing pouch 130 in-to t-lo interior pockets.
6¦1 Thus, pocketbook 130 ccan be engaged within pocket 86 and currency ~ ~
7 and coins removed and inserted in this position. Also, it i5 . ~:
8 convenient for the user to disengage pocketbook 130 at snap
9 members 138 and 140 and transfer the pocketbook to another ¦
10 purse. Further, the detachability of the pocketbook provides ;
11 security as money may be removed from the purse for safekeeping
12 I in the event the entire handbag is stored or left unattended.
13
14 Key retainer memb~r~ 150 and 151 are disposed at ,
15 either side of pocketbook 130. Since the key re-tainers 150 _
16 and 151 are identical, detailed description of one oE the ~;f ~i~
171 retainers is sufEicient. Retainer 150 includes a body 157
18 I and snap half 158. Keyholder means 153 is in the :Eorm o~ a
19 I coiled loop and is well ~no~m in the art. ~ating snap half I
20 I members 158 are secured on panel 8~. With ~ey retc~iners 150
21 ~ and 151 encJagecl to panel 84, the keys on each retainer are
22 ~ readc~bly availab:Le and are storecl~J:ithin the security o~ sub- ¦~
23 I compartment ~6. Keys may be retreived for use ~7i thout neces~
24 I sity o. rummaying through the bottom of the purse as is normally
25jl necessary when keys are carried as loose items in the pocket
2~11 of a purse. Includiny the multiple key retainers permits the
27ll user to maintain, for example, au-tomobile and residence ke~s
28¦l on sep~rate retainers. Therefore, it is not neces;sary ~or the j
29l user to manually separclte, for exam~le, an automo~ile key
30 1 ~Jhen use of the car is loaned to anothcr :individual~
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Preferably, the pockets, e.g. Ex~ckets 86, 88 and 90 are provided
~; with an interior lining o~ suitable ma-terial as is conventional in the art.
~ m erefore, frcm the foregoing it will be seen that the present in-
,' vention in various aspects thereof provides a unique and novel handbag which ~ ;
provides con~enient ccmpartmen-ts for the orgarLiz~d storage of all types of ~ :
paraphenali~ and ~ccessor:ies handbag users requlre. Pockets are provided for
the organized receE,tion o~ cre~it cards, photographs, gl~sses, checkbco~s,
tissues, stamps, papers, phone n~lmbe~ listings and the like. Further, the ~-
~; har~bag in an aspect of the present invention provides for the attachment re-
s 10 tention of keys within a secure department in the handbag. Removable pouches
or pocketboolcs are provided for accessory it~ms, e.g. oosmetics, currency
and coir.s. In the closed position, most of the organizer features of the
handbag are obscured so that the appearance in the closed position is pleas- `~
ing and stylish. The speaialized facilities ~or successful storage of per-
sonal ite~ in a closed position also provides security so that these items
are not easily detected by potential thieves.
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