Abstract
A handbag system comprising a handbag base and at least one cover, wherein the handbag base comprises a first site of attachment and a first joining mechanism at the site of attachment, and the cover comprises a second site of attachment and a second joining mechanism that is compatible with the first joining mechanism, wherein the handbag base and the at least one cover can be securely and detachably joined together by engaging the first joining mechanism with the second joining mechanism.
Claims
1. A handbag system comprising a handbag base and at least one cover, wherein the handbag base comprises a first site of attachment and a first joining mechanism at the site of attachment, and the cover comprises a second site of attachment and a second joining mechanism that is compatible with the first joining mechanism, wherein the handbag base and the at least one cover can be securely and detachably joined together by engaging the first joining mechanism with the second joining mechanism.
2. The handbag system of claim 1, wherein the first joining mechanism and the second joining mechanism together comprise a velcro system, a zipper system, a snap system, or a button system.
3. The handbag system of claim 1, wherein the at least one cover comprises at least one non-decorative feature.
4. The handbag system of claim 3, where the at least one non-decorative feature comprises at least one of a slip-in pocket and a closable pocket selected from a button pocket, a velcro pocket, a zipper pocket, and a snap pocket.
5. A handbag cover suitable for use in the handbag system of claim 1.
6. A handbag base suitable for use in the handbag system of claim 1.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a front view of two embodiments 1a and 1b of the handbag system of the invention in the joined configuration, that is, in the configuration in which the cover and the handbag base are attached to each other.
[0016] FIG. 2 shows a front view of two embodiments of the handbag base of the handbag system of the invention and four embodiments of the interchangeable cover of the invention, in which the bases and covers are in the detached configuration.
[0017] FIG. 3 shows a rear view of two embodiments 1a and 1b of the handbag system of the invention and illustrates a pushbutton embodiment of the attachment system for detachably joining the interchangeable cover to the handbag base.
[0018] FIG. 4 shows a rear view of two embodiments 1a and 1b of the handbag system of the invention and illustrates a generic attachment system for detachably joining the interchangeable cover to the handbag base.
[0019] FIGS. 5A-5D show side views of stages in attaching an interchangeable cover of the invention to a handbag base of the invention using the pushbutton attachment system.
[0020] FIGS. 6A-6D show side views of stages in attaching an interchangeable cover of the invention to a handbag base of the invention using a generic attachment system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, the handbag system of the invention can comprise handbag bases of different shapes and covers of different shapes. System 1a shows a first handbag base 10 having approximately squared corners and an approximately rectangular bottom and a first cover 12 comprising a front flap 13 that has an approximately trapezoidal shape. System 1b shows a second handbag base 20 having an approximately semicircular shape and a cover 22 comprising a rounded front flap 23. FIG. 1 shows the handbag base and cover in the joined configuration. The system of the invention can accommodate a large variety of handbag base shapes and cover shapes. Systems 1a and 1b are shown having an optional strap 14 and 24, respectively. Handbag systems of the invention can have straps of different and/or variable lengths, or instead optionally have a handle. Handles and straps are optionally removable. Such straps and handles are well-known in the art.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 2, the system of the invention comprises a cover and a handbag base that can be detachably or reversibly joined to each other by means of an attachment mechanism. FIG. 2 shows handbag bases 10a and 20a and covers 12, 22a, 32a, and 42 in the detached configuration. The cover of the invention comprises one part of a reversible attachment mechanism, and the handbag base of the invention comprises the other part of the reversible attachment mechanism, such that the cover and the handbag base can be joined and disjoined or detached according to the user's need or desire. In FIG. 2, covers 12, 22a, 32a and 42 comprise, as a means of attachment, a row of pushbuttons 16, 26, 36 and 46 (partially obscured in this view), respectively. Handbag bases 10a and 20a comprise a row of compatible and correspondingly spaced pushbutton receivers 18 and 28, respectively, such that any of covers 12, 22a, 32a, and 42 can be detachably joined or attached to either handbag base 10a or 20a. This illustrates the principle that a handbag base of the invention is compatible with a variety of covers, and also illustrates the principle that the cover of the invention can be paired with a variety of different handbag bases.
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 3, handbag systems 1a and 1b are shown from the back. The pushbuttons 16 and 26 are shown aligned with pushbutton receivers 18 and 28, respectively, such that the covers 32a and 22a can be detachably joined to handbag bases 10a and 20a, respectively. In the embodiment shown, the attachment end of the covers is inside the bag. In alternative embodiments, the attachment end of the cover is outside the bag. In other embodiments, an attachment mechanism is used that permits the edge of the cover to attach to the edge of the bag.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 4, handbag systems 1a and 1b are again shown from the back. Generic attachment mechanisms 56 and 66 on covers 32b and 22b, respectively, are aligned with generic receivers 58 and 68, respectively, on handbag bases 10b and 20b such that the covers 32b and 22b can be detachably joined to handbag bases 10b and 20b, respectively. In the embodiment shown, the attachment end of the covers is inside the bag. In alternative embodiments, the attachment end of the cover is outside the bag. In other embodiments, an attachment mechanism is used that permits the edge of the cover to attach to the edge of the bag. In various embodiments of the invention, the generic attachment systems can be zippers, buttons, velcro, or any other suitable attachment system. Attachment systems are well-known in the art. In various embodiments, the generic attachment system can comprise a combination of two or more attachment systems, such as a combination of velcro and buttons or a combination of velcro and a zipper.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 5, the assembly of a handbag system of the invention is shown. Cover 32a (FIG. 5A) is brought into close proximity (FIG. 5B) to handbag base 10a such that pushbuttons 16 are aligned with and in contact with pushbutton receivers 18 (FIG. 5C), located on handbag base 10a, such that cover 32a and handbag base 10a can be joined by engaging the pushbuttons 16 with pushbutton receivers 18 (FIG. 5D). Cover 32a can be detached from handbag base 10a by disengaging pushbuttons 16 from pushbutton receivers 18.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 6, the assembly of a handbag system of the invention is shown. The same sequence of steps is employed in FIG. 6 as in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 differs from FIG. 5 in using generic attachment mechanism 56 on cover 32b and generic receiver 58 on handbag base 10b. Thus, cover 32b (FIG. 6A) is brought into close proximity (FIGS. 6B, 6C) to handbag base 10b such that generic attachment mechanism 56 is aligned with and in contact with generic receiver 58, such that cover 32b and handbag base 10b can be joined by engaging the generic attachment mechanism 56 with generic receiver 58 (FIG. 6D). Cover 32b can be detached from handbag base 10b by disengaging generic attachment mechanism 56 from generic receiver 58.
[0027] The handbag base and cover of the invention can be manufactured by any conventional means known in the art and used to prepare conventional handbags, including manual and machine methods.
