MULTI-PURPOSE HANDLE ENCASEMENT ACCESSORY

Abstract

The present invention provides a device and method for protecting the handle of a handbag comprising an approximately rectangular piece of fabric having a top face and a bottom, face and a left side and a right side and a closure for joining the left side to the right side. It also provides a device and method for protecting the handle of a handbag comprising an approximately rectangular piece of fabric having a top face and a bottom face wherein said fabric is adapted to be coiled around the handle of the handbag and ends adapted to be tied around the handle of the handbag.

Claims

1-27. (canceled)

28. A device for protecting the handle of a handbag comprising: an approximately rectangular piece of material with a rectangular midsection and trapezoidal flared ends having a top face and a bottom face and a left side and a right side, said left and right sides opposing each other, and having a top edge at a first flared end, and a bottom edge at a second flared end, said top and bottom edges opposing each other and having a common width, and said midsection is located between said first and second flared ends; and means for joining the left side to the right side; said means for joining extending along the entire length of said left side and said right side, including the entire length of said flared ends.

29. A device as claimed in claim 28 wherein said top face and said bottom face are of different types of material and wherein said top face is made of a softer material than the material of the bottom face.

30. A device as claimed in claim 28 wherein: said left side having a first portion extending along said first flared end from said bottom edge to said midsection at a first angle to said bottom edge and at a second angle to said midsection, a second portion extending along said midsection, and a third portion extending from said midsection along said second flared end to said top edge at said first angle to said top edge and at said second angle to said midsection, said right side having a first portion extending along said first flared end from said bottom edge to said midsection at said first angle to said bottom edge and at said second angle to said midsection, a second portion extending along said midsection, and a third portion extending from said midsection along said second flared end to said top edge at said first angle to said top edge and at said second angle to said midsection.

31. A device as claimed in claim 30 wherein: said means for joining extends substantially continuously along substantially all of said first, second, and third portions of said left side and said first, second, and third portions of said right side.

32. A device as claimed in claim 30 wherein: said second portion of said left side is approximately parallel to said second portion of said right side.

33. A device as claimed in claim 30 further comprising a second piece of material near the zipper wherein said second piece of material lies between the means for joining and the handle when the device is closed around the handle of the handbag.

34. A device for protecting the handle of a handbag comprising: an approximately rectangular piece of material with a rectangular midsection and trapezoidal flared ends having a top face and a bottom face and a left side and a right side, said left and right sides opposing each other and having a common width, and having a top edge at a first flared end, and a bottom edge at a second flared end, said top and bottom edges opposing each other, and said midsection is located between said first and second flared ends; and a closure for joining the left side to the right side; said closure extending along the entire length of said left side and said right side, including the entire length of said flared ends.

35. A device as claimed in claim 32 wherein said closure is formed of Velcro.

36. A device as claimed in claim 32 wherein said closure is formed of snaps.

37. A device as claimed in claim 32 wherein said closure is formed of one or more magnets.

38. A method for protecting a handle of a handbag comprising the steps of: providing an approximately rectangular piece of material with a rectangular midsection and trapezoidal flared ends having a top face and a bottom face and a left side and a right side, said left and right sides opposing each other and having a common width, and having a top edge at a first flared end, and a bottom edge at a second flared end, said top and bottom edges opposing each other, said midsection is located between said first and second flared ends, and having a closure for joining the left side to the right side, said closure extending along the entire length of said left side and said right side, including the entire length of said flared ends; enclosing the handle with said material piece such that the bottom surface makes contact with the handle and the top surface faces away from the handle; and connecting said closure to join said left and right sides of said material piece.

39. A method as claimed in claim 38 wherein said material piece further comprises a second piece of material near said closure wherein said second piece of material lies between said closure and the handle when the device is closed around the handle of the handbag.

40. A method as claimed in claim 38 wherein said closure is a zipper, and said connecting includes zipping said left and right sides together.

41. A method as claimed in claim 38 wherein said closure is formed of Velcro, and said connecting includes engaging the Velcro on said left and right sides together.

42. A method as claimed in claim 38 wherein said closure is formed of snaps, and said connecting includes snapping said left and right sides together.

43. A method as claimed in claim 38 wherein said closure is formed of one or more magnets, and said connecting includes magnetically joining said left and right sides together.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is the top perspective view of the zipper technique multi-purpose handle encasement unit in accordance with the invention;

[0012] FIG. 2 is the bottom perspective view of the multi-purpose handle encasement unit of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 3 is the perspective view of the zipper technique multi-purpose handle encasement unit in position on a handbag handle;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the wrapping technique multi-purpose handle encasement unit;

[0015] FIG. 5 is the bottom perspective view of the wrapping technique multi-purpose handle encasement unit of FIG. 4;

[0016] FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the wrapping technique multi-purpose handle encasement unit of FIG. 4 unsewn; and

[0017] FIG. 7 is the perspective view of the wrapping technique multi-purpose handle encasement unit shown utilizing the wrapping technique and fully encapsulating the handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND DRAWINGS

[0018] Description will now be given with reference to the attached FIGS. 1-6. It should be understood that these figures are exemplary in nature and in no way serve to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims appearing herein below.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the multi-purpose handle encasement unit is comprised of a layer of material (11) intended to be wrapped around the handles of a bag, which is fluted (12) or flared on both ends, in order to fit appropriately around the handles. The material is fitted with a custom sized, separating one way zipper (13) that runs the entire length of the material. There is an extra segment of material (14) near the zipper that prevents the zipper from touching and scraping against the handle when the invention is in place on the handle. FIG. 1 shows a top perspective of this embodiment of the invention and FIG. 2 shows a bottom perspective of the embodiment of the invention. When the invention is in place, it will form an encasement around the handle, as seen in FIG. 3. The invention includes a material lining (15) which will make up the interior surface of the invention when the invention is in place on the handle. Only this lining will come in contact with the handle to prevent the outside material from touching the handles. The lining is thus preferably made of a softer, less abrasive fabric than the exterior fabric.

[0020] FIG. 3 shows the invention fully assembled, and wrapped around an illustrative handbag handle. The top layer of the material (11) is the only piece of fabric shown as lining (15) is in the interior. The zipper (13) is shown from an interlocked position which connects the two sides of the material to form a cylindrical encasement around the handle. It should be noted however that the attachment mechanism can take other forms than a zipper however. For example, the material might be held in place by snaps, magnets, grommets, hook and eye hardware, Velcro, plastic molding, tubing, poured plastic, or injection molded plastic and any miscellaneous hardware that may be used to adjoin two pieces of material. The zipper or other attachment mechanism may be for either functional or decorative purposes.

[0021] This embodiment of the invention is easily wrapped around a handbag handle by first placing the opened, unzipped invention either on top of the handle, or in the space between the handle and the handbag, in such a way that the lining is touching or facing the handle and the zipper or other closure mechanism is in alignment with the handle. The zipper or other closure mechanism is then closed, pulling the two side edges of the invention together to create a cylindrical enclosure around the handle. The handle will then be enclosed and protected. The invention may later be easily removed by unzipping the zipper and simply removing the handle from its position.

[0022] An alternative design for the multi-purpose handbag handle encasement accessory outlined above, is depicted in FIGS. 4-7. FIG. 4 shows the top view of the invention showing the fabric (16) used for one half of the accessory. FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the invention showing a second piece of fabric (17) that comprises the bottom portion of the accessory. These halves are unique in the way that they are adjoined to one another. As seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the entire lengths of the two fabrics are stitched together, and the ends (18), which appear free-flowing and loose, are stitched in such a way, that they create a fork in the fabric at the very ends. That is the end of piece 16 is not sewn to the end of piece 17. This can be seen in FIG. 7 (18). FIG. 7 depicts the accessory wrapped around an illustrative handbag handle, showing the top layer of fabric (16) stitched to the bottom layer of fabric (17) with the forked ends (18) having the ability to be tied in a knot or bow in order to secure the accessory to a handbag. This is accomplished by coiling the invention around the handle rather than simply zipping a zipper as done in the first described embodiment. The coil is kept in place by tying a knot at the end of the invention using the forks. Thus, this embodiment is fully functional without the use of any hardware. This accessory utilizes the intended design of being wrapped around a handle, with the fabric stitched in such a way that it has two forked ends that enable it to be tied around the existing hardware on a bag.

[0023] The invention is not limited to the above description. For example, the pieces can be made of various different fabrics, and can utilize other closure methods other than a zipper. In the place of the zipper, there can be snaps, Velcro, magnets, miscellaneous hardware, etc. These variations are considered to be within the scope of the invention.

[0024] Either embodiment of the invention may exist solely for the purpose of being decorative too and therefore may utilize such ornamentation as jewelry, rhinestones and other adornments or embellishments.

[0025] It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular feature or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.