DECORATIONS

Abstract

A decorative item comprises at least one area of hook or loop fastening and a cover comprising a substantially see-through portion, wherein the see-through portion is configured to overlay the area of hook or loop fastening. The item comprises a pocket for storing decorations having an opening located under the cover.

Claims

1. A decorative item comprising: at least one area of hook or loop fastening; a cover comprising at least a portion that is substantially see-through, wherein the see-through portion is configured to overlay the area of hook or loop fastening; a pocket for storing decorations having an opening located under the cover.

2. The decorative item of claim 1 wherein the cover forms a secondary pocket on the item such that the secondary pocket is at least in part defined by a rear wall comprising an area of hook or loop fastening and a front wall comprising the see-through cover.

3. The decorative item of claim 1 wherein the pocket has a single opening.

4. The decorative item of claim 1 wherein the cover is changeable between first and second configurations; wherein: in a first configuration the cover is located in a substantially fixed position overlaying the area of hook or loop fastening; in a second configuration the cover is not located over the area of hook or loop fastening such that a user may attach decorations to and detach decorations from the area of hook or loop fastening.

5. The decorative item of claim 4 wherein the cover is hingedly attached to the item.

6. The decorative item of claim 4 wherein the cover is releasably fixable in its first configuration by means of at least one fastener.

7. The decorative item of claim 1 wherein the pocket for storing decorations comprises at least one fastener so seal its opening.

8. The decorative item of claim 7 wherein the fastener is a zip, a button or a press stud.

9. The decorative item of claim 1 wherein the decorative item is one of an item of clothing, footwear, headgear, luggage, a bag, an umbrella, or a rucksack.

10. The decorative item of claim 1 wherein at least 50% of the cover is substantially see-through, or at least 75% of the cover is substantially see-through, or at least 90% of the cover is substantially see-through.

11. The decorative item of claim 1 wherein the whole cover is substantially see-through.

12. The decorative item of claim 1 wherein the see-through portion of the cover is substantially transparent.

13. The decorative item of claim 1 wherein the pocket is located under the portion of the cover that is substantially see-through.

14. The decorative item of claim 1 wherein the pocket is located under a portion of the cover that is not substantially see-through.

15. A kit comprising: a decorative item made in accordance with any preceding claim; a plurality of decorations each comprising areas of hook or loop fastening configured to be attached to and detached from the area of hook or loop fastening on the item.

16. A method of decorating an item comprising the steps of: a. providing an decorative item made in accordance with any preceding claim; and b. attaching at least one decoration to the area of hook or loop fastening on the item.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] In order that the present invention may be more fully understood a specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, of which:

[0033] FIG. 1 is view of a front of a rucksack made in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention and with its see-through cover in a first configuration;

[0034] FIG. 2 is a view of the rucksack of FIG. 1 with its see-through cover in a second configuration;

[0035] FIG. 3 is a view of the rucksack of FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating how the see-through cover may move between first and second configurations;

[0036] FIG. 4 is a side view of the rucksack of FIG. 1 with its see-through cover in a first configuration;

[0037] FIG. 5 is front view of the rucksack of FIG. 1, the rucksack having been decorated by a user; and

[0038] FIG. 6 is a view of a front of a rucksack made in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] Referring to the drawings, there is provided a rucksack 1 having on an outer face an area 2 of hook fastening and a see-through cover 3. See-through cover 3 is flexible and made of a transparent plastics material.

[0040] Area of hook fastening 2 is located on an opposite face of rucksack 1 to shoulder straps 4a 4b, such that when rucksack 1 is being worn by a user area of hook fastening is visible to passers by.

[0041] See-through cover 3 is hingedly attached to rucksack 1 at along a first side edge 5 of area of hook and loop fastening 2.

[0042] At an opposing edge see-through cover 3 comprises fastening tabs 7a, 7b, 7c, each of which comprise area of loop fastening and are adapted to attach to corresponding areas of hook fastening (not shown) located on a side of rucksack 1 adjacent a second side edge 6 of area of hook fastening 2.

[0043] When fastening tabs 7a, 7b, 7c are attached to their corresponding areas of hook fastener, see-through cover 3 is in a first configuration wherein it is retained in a substantially fixed position over area of hook fastening 2, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0044] Fastening tabs 7a, 7b, 7c may be detached from their corresponding areas of hook fastener by a user such that see-through cover 3 is able to pivot (as illustrated in FIG. 3) at its hinge along a first side edge 5 into a second configuration as illustrated in FIG. 2, wherein cover 3 remains attached to rucksack 1 but does not cover area of hook fastening 2.

[0045] Located on outer face of rucksack 1 and within area of hook fastening 2 is located an opening to a pocket 10 of rucksack 1; the opening to the pocket is openable and closable by means of zip fastening 9.

[0046] Pocket 10 may be employed by a user to store a range of decorations 8 such that the appearance of rucksack 1 may be customized at any time.

[0047] Turning to rucksack 1 in use, and in order to decorate area of hook fastening 2 a user must detach fastening tabs 7a, 7b, 7c from their corresponding areas of hook fastener so as to move see-through cover 3 into its second configuration.

[0048] It is in this configuration of see-through cover 3 that a user is able to attach decorations 8 comprising areas of loop fastening to area of hook fastening 2.

[0049] Decorations 8 may include letters, whole words, images, shapes, symbols, photographs or other indicia and items as illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0050] When area of hook fastening has been decorated to the satisfaction of a user see-through cover 3 may then be returned to its first configuration such that pocket 10 for storing decorations 8 has its opening covered by cover 3.

[0051] Owing to cover 3 being see-through any decorations 8 located on area of hook fastening 2 remain visible when cover 3 overlays area of hook fastening 2.

[0052] When see-through cover 3 is in its first configuration such that see-through cover 3 overlays area of hook fastening 2, see-through cover 3 protects area of hook fastener 2 from fluff, hair or other dirt from attaching to area of hook fastening 2.

[0053] Furthermore, see-through cover 3 inhibits any decorations 8 from being lost through snagging on objects or other accidental detachment.

[0054] Even further, see-through cover 3 inhibits any loss of decorations from pocket 10 owing to the opening to pocket 10 is located under see-through cover 3, within a secondary pocket that is effectively formed by see-through cover 3 and area of hook fastening 2.

[0055] Although in the present embodiment an area of hook fastening 2 is positioned on the face of rucksack 1 it will be evident that in other embodiments an area of loop fastening may be provided and decorations incorporating hook fastening may be attached thereto.

[0056] In other embodiments a see-though cover may not be movable between different configurations. Such an embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 6, wherein a rucksack 11 comprises a see-through cover 13 that is substantially rectilinear and forms a pocket on an outer face of rucksack 11 by being sealed to the item along three edges 14, 15, 16 but open along an upper edge 17.

[0057] In this embodiment see-through cover 13 forms a pocket on rucksack 11 such that the pocket is defined by a rear wall comprising an area of hook fastening 12 and a front wall comprising see-through cover 13.

[0058] Beneath see-through cover 13 is located zipper fastening 18 that is openable and closable by a user so as to access an internal pocket 19 of rucksack 11.

[0059] In order to affix decorations to area of hook fastening 12 and in order to access pocket 19 a user may reach under see-through cover 13 via the opening along upper edge 17.

[0060] In this specification the term see-through is not intended to be limited to meaning entirely transparent, but may include material that is coloured or translucent; the important aspect of cover 3 of rucksack 1 is that any decorations 8 that are attached to area of hook fastening 2 are visible to some degree when cover 3 is in its first configuration.

[0061] However, it may be preferable for cover 3 to be substantially transparent.

[0062] In other embodiments only a portion of the cover may be see-through. In those embodiments a pocket may be located under a portion of the cover that is not see-through such that the pocket is not visible during normal use. In some embodiments the cover might comprise a plurality of portions that are substantially see-through.

[0063] In this specification the terms decorative item is intended to mean an item specifically adapted to be decorated by a user.

[0064] Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.