Dual-Compartment Handbag
20210059367 ยท 2021-03-04
Inventors
Cpc classification
A45C13/02
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A45C7/009
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
A45C13/02
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A45C7/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
Abstract
In some aspects, a dual-compartment handbag, having: (1) a unitary handbag exterior body, including: at least two sidewalls; an upper portion having a top opening; a lower portion, including: a bottom side, the bottom side defined by bottom perimeter edges of the at least two sidewalls; and a resealable bottom opening positioned on the bottom side; (2) a handbag interior including: an upper compartment corresponding to the upper portion and accessible via the top opening; and a concealable lower compartment corresponding to the lower portion and accessible via the resealable bottom opening; and (3) a divider positioned in the handbag interior and arranged to divide the upper compartment from the lower compartment.
And in some aspects, a dual-compartment handbag, having: (1) a unitary handbag exterior body, including: at least two sidewalls; an upper portion having a top opening; a lower portion including: a bottom side, the bottom side defined by bottom perimeter edges of the at least two sidewalls; and a resealable bottom opening positioned at least in part along the side walls and within three inches distance from the bottom side; (2) a handbag interior including: an upper compartment corresponding to the upper portion and accessible via the top opening; and a thermally-insulated lower compartment corresponding to the lower portion and accessible via the resealable bottom opening; and (3) a divider positioned in the handbag interior and arranged to divide the upper compartment from the lower compartment.
Claims
1. A dual-compartment handbag, comprising: a unitary handbag exterior body, comprising: at least two sidewalls; an upper portion having a top opening; a lower portion, comprising: a bottom side, the bottom side defined by bottom perimeter edges of the at least two sidewalls; and a resealable bottom opening positioned at least in part along the side walls and within three inches distance from the bottom side; a handbag interior comprising: an upper compartment corresponding to the upper portion and accessible via the top opening; and a thermally-insulated lower compartment corresponding to the lower portion and accessible via the resealable bottom opening; and a divider positioned in the handbag interior and arranged to divide the upper compartment from the lower compartment.
2. The handbag of claim 1, wherein the resealable bottom opening comprises a portion that extends downwardly away from the at least two sidewalls when in an open position.
3. The handbag of claim 2, wherein the resealable bottom opening runs anti-parallel to the plane of the bottom side and wherein the flap comprises the bottom side when in an open position.
4. The handbag of claim 2, wherein the resealable bottom opening anti-parallel to the plane of the bottom side is recessed a minimum first distance from the bottom perimeter edges.
5. The handbag of claim 4, wherein the resealable bottom opening anti-parallel to the plane of the bottom side is interior to the bottom perimeter edges by a minimum second distance.
6. The handbag of claim 5, wherein the minimum first distance is greater than or equal to the minimum second distance.
7. The handbag of claim 5, wherein the minimum first distance is less than the minimum second distance.
8. The handbag of claim 4, wherein the bottom perimeter edges comprise nobs for sturdy placement of the handbag on a surface.
9. The handbag of claim 2, wherein the bottom perimeter edges form a rectangular perimeter with four sides, and wherein the four sides correspond to the perimeter edges of the at least two sidewalls.
10. The handbag of claim 1, wherein the resealable bottom opening runs horizontally along at least two of the at least two sidewalls at a distance between zero to two inches above the perimeter edges of the at least two of the at least two sidewalls.
11. The handbag of claim 1, wherein the divider is removable.
12. The handbag of claim 1, wherein the lower compartment has a liquid-tight seal when the resealable bottom opening and the resealable divider opening are closed.
13. The handbag of claim 1, wherein the lower compartment is configured for housing a single removable storage container.
14. The handbag of claim 21, wherein the lower compartment comprises: a first pair of sidewalls; and a second pair of sidewalls longer than the first pair of sidewalls and arranged perpendicular to the first pair of sidewalls; wherein the first and second pairs of sidewalls are configured to restrict movement of the removable storage container when the removable storage container is housed in the lower compartment.
15. The handbag of claim 14, wherein the length of the removable storage container is less than a length of the second pair of sidewalls.
16. The handbag of claim 14, wherein at least one of the sidewalls of the lower compartment comprises insulating material.
17. The handbag of claim 16, wherein at least one of the sidewalls of the lower compartment that comprises insulating material further comprises waterproof material.
18. The handbag of claim 16, wherein at least one of the sidewalls of the lower compartment that comprises insulating material comprises a removable portion.
19. The handbag of claim 18, wherein the first and second pairs of sidewalls are configured to restrict movement of the removable storage container based at least on part on the removable portion of the at least one of the sidewalls of the lower compartment that comprises insulating material.
20. The handbag of claim 19, wherein the resealable bottom opening comprises waterproof material and insulating material facing toward the lower compartment of the handbag interior, and the divider comprises waterproof material and insulating material facing toward the lower compartment of the handbag interior, wherein the first and second pairs of sidewalls are configured to restrict movement of the removable storage container based at least on part on the resealable bottom opening and divider.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015]
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] A few embodiments of the disclosure and improvements have been described. It should be understood that this description has been made by way of example, and that the invention is defined by the scope of the following claims.
[0029] Described herein is a dual-compartment handbag, where the dual compartment feature may be disguised from the casual observer viewing the exterior of the handbag. The dual compartments may each have a respective opening by which the compartments may be accessible. The opening to one of the compartmentsfor example, a lower compartmentmay by located along or near a bottom side of the handbag when the handbag is in an upright orientation, thus assisting in accomplishing and/or facilitating the disguising of the dual compartment feature from side and top views of the upright oriented handbag. For example, in one embodiment, perimeter edges of the bottom opening may extend along the seams of the bottom edges of the sidewalls of the handbag, or close thereto, or located entirely along the inner portion of the bottom side (e.g., spaced inward from the sidewalls of the handbag). An upright orientation for the handbag provides the bottom side facing generally vertically downward, the sidewalls facing generally laterally or in a horizontal direction, and the top side facing generally vertically upward and in a direction opposite the bottom side.
[0030] In an embodiment, one compartmentfor example, a lower compartment, may be configured for storing objects such as food and/or a food container (such as by having an insulated interior space). Thus, using, for example, the features described in the preceding paragraph, the compartment capable of storing food may be disguised from view along the sides and top of the exterior of the handbag when the handbag is oriented upright. In one example, the food storing compartment may be configured to house a single food container of modest size and generally matching dimensions and/or shape corresponding to the dimensions and/or shape of the food storing compartment for storing the single food container. Relatedly, in one aspect, the handbag may be a non-bulky convenient-sized purse for easy and unassuming portability of foods. For example, with just a single food container securely housed within the lower compartment, the bag may be relatively light to carry when compared with another type of carrying apparatus for storing a plethora of food containers. Thus, some consumers who only need to carry a single meal (e.g., a lunch meal) may prefer carrying just a single food container and corresponding lighter weight and less bulk rather than lugging around several or many food containers, which may not be necessary. Relatedly, the space of the handbag that would otherwise be used for several or many food containers, in some aspects as described herein, may be used more efficiently for space in a different non-food storing (e.g., upper) compartment, and/or may facilitate a less bulky handbag.
[0031] Turning to the figures,
[0032] In some examples, the top opening 130 may be openable and closeable using a zipper 170 and an overflap 175. In some examples, at least some of the at least two sidewalls 110, 115 may be tapered towards the top opening 130for example, when the top opening 130 is in a closed position. In some examples, the upper portion 120 may have a width W1 less than a width W2 of the lower portion 125. In some examples, one or more sidewalls 110, 115 and/or the bottom side 135 may be rigid or non-rigid. In some examples, the upper portion 120 may also include a handle 180.
[0033]
[0034] It should be appreciated that different variations of resealable bottom openings are contemplated. For example, in addition to the embodiment 100 shown with the bottom side 135 having a rectangular shape with four sides 150, 155, 160, 165, and the resealable bottom opening 145 extending along (or using as a hinge) all four sides 150, 155, 160, 165in other embodiments with a bottom side having four sides, a resealable bottom opening may utilize for example only three of the four sides of the bottom side.
[0035]
[0036] In some examples, the lower compartment 310 may have a first pair of sidewalls 320, 325, and a second pair of sidewalls 330, 335 that are longer than the first pair of sidewalls 320, 325 and arranged perpendicular to the first pair of sidewalls 320, 325. In further examples, at least one of the sidewalls 320, 325, 330, 335 of the lower compartment 310 and/or the lower compartment interior floor 340, which may be or form part of the interior floor of the bottom side 135 (shown in
[0037] In further examples, the divider 315 may be configured to change positions within the handbag 100, for example, by snapping into different vertical positions dividing the upper compartment 305 from the lower compartment 310. For example, the divider 315 may have a first pair of divider sidewalls 355, 360 corresponding to the first pair of sidewalls 320, 325 and a second pair of divider sidewalls 365, 378 corresponding to the second pair of sidewalls 330, 335. The first pair of sidewalls 320, 325 may have different receivers 370 (e.g., pairs of button sockets) for receiving or fastening with attachers 390 (e.g., a pair of button caps, studs or posts) located along the first pair of divider sidewalls 355, 360, allowing the divider 315 to snap into any of several positions 375, 380, 385 dividing the upper compartment 305 from the lower compartment 310. In some examples, each position 375, 380, 385 may be located at a different distance above the bottom side 135. In some examples of the interior 300, all of the interior of the sidewalls 320, 325, 330, 335 may be lined with insulating material 395. In some examples, the lower compartment 310 may have a liquid-tight seal when the resealable bottom opening 145 is closed.
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[0041] In the embodiment 600 shown, the bottom side 635 may have a rectangular shape. The resealable bottom opening 650 may be located interior to and a distance D2 from the bottom perimeter edges 640, 645 of the at least two sidewalls 610, 615 defining the bottom side 635. In addition, in some examples, the bottom side 635 may be recessed a distance D1 from the bottom perimeter edges 640, 645 of the at least two sidewalls 610, 615. In some examples, the distance D2 may be greater than the distance D1. In other examples, the distance D2 may be less than the distance D1. In some examples, the distance D2 may be equal to the distance D1. In some examples, the distance D2 may be 0-4 inches, and about 2 inches in one embodiment. In some examples, the distance D1 may be 0-3 inches, and about 0.7 inches in one embodiment. In some embodiments, the recessed distance D1 of the bottom side 635 may further increase concealability and may also prevent a zipper 655 of the resealable bottom opening 650 from being dirtied if the handbag 600 were placed on dirty surface. In some examples (not shown), this latter objective may also be accomplished by pegs or other means for raising the bottom side 635 elevated over a surface. In some examples, the resealable bottom opening may define a flap 660 that may swing down when the zipper is opened, via connection at a flap hinge 665. In some embodiments, entire bottom side 635, or portions thereof such as just the flap 660, may be made a hard material, which may provide for more stable placement of objects thereon, and/or for a more uniform swinging downward movement by the flap 660 from the flap hinge 665. Examples of such hard materials may include acrylic, and may be in some variations a clear acrylic base shaper. In some embodiments, the thickness of the acrylic base shaper may range from to 1/16, and may have rounded corners and polished edges, to prevent wear and tear to any other material of the bottom side 635 (or a portion thereof), such as synthetic leather or other material that the base shaper is placed within.
[0042]
[0043] In some embodiments, the flap 715 may include all of a bottom side 735. In other embodiments (such as handbag 600 shown in
[0044]
[0045] In some examples, the resealable bottom opening 855 may be positioned at least in part along at least some of the at least two side walls 810, 815 and within a distance D3 from the bottom side 835 and/or from the bottom perimeter edges 845, 850 of the at least two sidewalls 810, 815. In some examples, the distance D3 may be three inches or less. In some examples, the resealable bottom opening 855 may run horizontally along at least some of the at least two sidewalls 810, 815 at a distance between zero to two inches above the perimeter edges 845, 850. In some examples, the resealable bottom opening 855 may run parallel to the plane of the bottom side 835 when in a closed position.
[0046] In some examples, the bottom opening 855 may be concealable, (and relatedly, the lower compartment (not shown) may also be concealable by virtue of the bottom opening 855 being concealable). In some examples, the concealability of the bottom opening 855 may be accomplished or enhanced by the position of the bottom opening near the bottom side 845, or by narrow flaps of material covering the bottom opening 835 (e.g., pieces of material on either side of a zipper track 860 that blend in with and/or form part of the rest of the handbag 800 exterior, and/or the color of the zipper 865 may match the bag or features thereof).
[0047]
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[0050] In some examples, the divider 1105 may not be removable but rather fixed, thereby dividing the upper compartment 1110 from the lower compartment 1115. Ample space may be available in the upper compartment 1110 to store items that might typically be accessible via a top opening 1130, and to store other items or item in the lower compartment 1115. In some examples, the upper compartment 1110 may be configured to enclose a substantially equivalent volume as the lower compartment 1115. In one example, the handbag may have a maximum width of about 0 to about 5.5 inches, a maximum length of about 8.0 to about 15 inches, and a maximum height of about 6 to about 11 inches, and substantially equal volumes of corresponding upper compartment 1110 and lower compartment 1115.
[0051] In some examples, the lower compartment 1115 may be configured to securely house one or more removable storage containers 1140, and in some cases, configured for housing a single removable storage container 1140. In some examples, interior portions of the sidewalls 1150, 1155 (e.g., first and second pairs of sidewalls) of the lower compartment 1115 may be configured to restrict movement of the removable storage container 1140 when the single removable storage container 1140 is housed in the lower compartment 1115. To accomplish that, the removable storage container 1140 may have a length L1 that may be substantially similar to, but just less than a length L2 of the pair of sidewalls 1150, 1155 (e.g., a second pair of sidewalls). In some examples, the pair of sidewalls 1150, 1155 may also have a width W1 or W2 that, which may fill any space between the length L1 of the removable storage container and the length L2 of the pair of sidewalls 1150, 1155. In some example, the widths W1 or W2 may be made of a different material from that of the rest of the pair of sidewalls 1150, 1155. For example, the widths W1 or W2 may include (in some embodiments) insulating material 1165. Some examples of insulating material 1165 may include polymers (such as hydrocarbon or thermoplastic polymers), and/or fibrous or foam-based materials (e.g., closed cell polyurethane foam). In some examples, the insulating material 1165 may be semi-firm and contract when pressure is applied, to press against the exterior of the removable storage container 1140. In such examples, there may be no substantial extra space 1160 when the removable storage container 1140 is housed tightly in the lower compartment 1115, thereby restricting movement of the removable storage container 1140 (as a person carries the aforementioned variation of the handbag embodiment 800 of
[0052] In some examples (not shown), a divider, such as for example a removable divider 1005, or fixed divider 1105 may have a resealable divider opening to provide access between the lower compartment and the upper compartment, and in further examples the divider resealable opening may be configured for insertion and/or removal of a storage container therethrough. In some examples, the lower compartment 1115 may have a liquid-tight seal when the resealable bottom opening 1135 and any divider resealable opening are closed. For instance, in some examples the liquid-tight seal may include interlocking teeth that tightly engage so as to not permit liquid to pass therethrough. Some examples may include zipper/zipper tracks as shown and described above, which may include one or more of the following features and materials: nylon, polyvinyl chloride, thermoplastic polyurethane, and the like. Features described and/or shown in one figure with regard to one embodiment may be combined with features shown and/or described in another figure with regard to another embodiment. By way of specific and nonlimiting examples, some of the features of
[0053]
[0054] In some examples, the divider 1205 may be configured to change positions within the handbag 1200, for example, by snapping into different vertical positions dividing the upper compartment 1210 from the lower compartment 1215. For example, the divider 1205 may have a first pair of divider sidewalls 1275, 1280 corresponding to the first pair of sidewalls 1265, 1270. The first pair of sidewalls 1275, 1280 may have different receivers 1285, 1290 (e.g., pairs of button sockets) for receiving or fastening with attachers 1295 (e.g., a pair of button caps, studs or posts) located along the first pair of divider sidewalls 1275, 1280 allowing the divider 1205 to snap into any of several positions located at a different distance above the bottom side 1245 and dividing the upper compartment 1210 from the lower compartment 1215.
[0055] In some examples of the interior 1200, all of the interior of the sidewalls (e.g., 1265, 1270) may be lined with insulating material 1201. In further examples, the lower compartment 1215 may be lined with waterproof material. In some examples, the lower compartment 1215 may be configured to house one or more removable storage containers 1240, 1250. In some examples, the removable storage containers 1240, 1250 may both have elongated shapes, conforming to the elongated shape of the lower compartment interior 1215, for more being more securely housed therein.
[0056]
[0057] The above-described device is considered that of some embodiments only. It is therefore understood that the embodiments shown in the figures below and described above are merely for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit scope. Alterations and modifications, therefore, and such further applications as would occur to those skilled in the relevant art(s), are also contemplated.