Abstract:
An improved transferable liner compartment having a dual compartment liner with a plurality of compartment inlets or connectors for accessing or retrieving select items. Each inlet operatively peels away at 90° with respect to each adjoining inlet to provide a predetermined expanse volume, and for providing either a vertical or horizontal opening orientation for a particular handbag or other carrier. The first and second inlets form an outer pouch and the third and fourth inlets form a inner pouch. The outer pouch has fasteners for quick and easy deployment and/or removal from a carrier such as a handbag, backpack, briefcase, etc.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/183,334, filed Feb. 18, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to pouches and, more specifically, to an improved, transferable interior and/or exterior liner compartment which is used with and becomes a detachable part of a purse, backpack, briefcase or similar item It can be transferred without disturbing its contents; furthermore, it can be used alone. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Numerous carrying bags have been devised having compartments of varying sorts. Conventional compartments used in handbags are designed or made as contiguous or fixed interior material portions of a handbag. This particular material arrangement has the primary limitation of being a single style or event-dependent tote bag. Interior multiple compartments are not removable as a single carrying item. While some conventional handbags with special removable carrying compartments provide dual setting handbags appropriate for both formal and informal occasions, many require mechanical fixtures such as frame elements and bulky pouches which extend the entire length or volume of a purse or handbag. Unlike conventional handbags the improved, transferable liner compartment of this invention can be an adaptable carrying compartment for handbags, backpacks, briefcases, etc., or it can be a stand-alone compartment for any occasion. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,428,682 issued to Rhodes discloses a transparent purse cover, a number of replaceable, decorative linings, and a pouch (FIG. 4) for contents. The linings are of different colors and thus can be changed for any occasion. The pouch contents need not be disturbed while the lining is changed. A major drawback is that the pouch is disclosed as useful only with a particular size and shape of lining and cover; there is no teaching of construction and use of the pouch with a wide variety of purses, packs, bags, etc. of most any size and shape. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,609,854 issued to Rosen discloses a readily replaceable, interchangeable lining for pocketbooks. The lining is cut so as to drape and fit within a handbag body. This type of deployment of the lining serves to relieve the lining from material stress and strain. Stitching is also performed in select areas to provide a semi-permanent lining attachment within the body. The transferable pouch of the present invention is not taught. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,671,487 issued to Hoek discloses a removable pouch for handbags comprising an open mouth pouch for retaining the entire contents of the handbag, and additional pockets within the pouch, one of which is zippered. The pouch is dimensioned to interfit entirely within the outer bag, unlike the present invention, and is not employed as a stand-alone pouch or purse. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,414,033 issued to Tucker discloses an interchangeable purse insert of similar construction to that taught by Hoek, except the purse can be closed and is attached within a larger purse by Velcro, for example. It is designed to go from purse to purse, but is not designed as a stand-alone item. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,769 issued to Phares discloses a purse insert movable from purse to purse, and having elastic material pockets about the outside of the insert. It is not attached to the purse in which it is inserted, and does not function as a stand-alone item. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,254 issued to Fromm discloses a convertible handbag assembly comprising separable inner and outer members. The entire assembly may be converted into a variety of styles and configurations. The removable pouch of the present invention is not disclosed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,975 issued to Holden et al. discloses a number of carriers for receiving an interchangeable liner which encloses a plurality of articles. The liner is an insertable pouch which extends the interior length and/or volume of a purse, and has an elastic rim for expanding and contracting the pouch. 
     U.S. Design Patents issued to Kohn (Des. Pat. No. 334,661) and Briganti (Des. Pat. No. 408,146) disclose similar ornamental features directed to removable handbag pouches. 
     Other Patent documents such as those by Goad (GB 112,652) and Kopkin (GB 125,568) disclose handbag related features of general relevance to the transferable liner as herein described. 
     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The improved transferable liner compartment system according to the invention is a dual compartment liner having first, second, third and fourth compartment inlets for storing and retrieving select items in a horizontal or vertical orientation with respect to each inlet. Each inlet operatively “peels” away at 90° with respect to each adjoining inlet as an enveloped dual compartment. Depending on the type of object to be carried in the liner and the method by which it opens for inserting select items, the transferable liner can be arranged both horizontal and vertical therewith. The first and second inlets form an outer pouch and the third and fourth inlets form a inner pouch. The outer pouch can have mechanical fasteners such as button, and hook and loop fasteners (e.g., “velcro”) for quick and easy deployment and/or removal from a handbag, backpack, briefcase, etc. An insertable handle is disposed at a corner portion of the compartment for optional use. When the handle is unused, it is conveniently inserted within the cavity of the compartment in proximity to the first and second inlets. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved transferable purse liner for a variety of bags, handbags, purses, tote bags, etc. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide an improved transferable purse liner which is compact and easy to deploy and remove. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved transferable purse liner compartment which is adaptable as a stand-alone carrier. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved transferable purse liner compartment with a reduced number of mechanical fasteners for attachment with carriers such as handbags, backpacks and briefcases. 
     Further still, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved transferable purse liners compartment which is transparent for easily identifying select items or their arrangement. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a transferable purse liner according to the present invention disposed within an interior portion of a handbag. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of the transferable purse liner shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the transferable liner according to the invention, illustrating interior compartments. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the transferable liner according to the invention disposed within an interior portion of a backpack. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the transferable liner according to the invention disposed within an interior portion of a briefcase. 
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is directed to an improved transferable liner generally referenced by numeral  10  in FIGS. 1-5. The improved liner  10  serves as a transferable container for the essential contents of a lady&#39;s purse, for example. 
     As diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the improved transferable liner  10  is shown disposed within an interior portion of a handbag  7 , which is shown in FIG. 1 draped on an arm of a user U. The liner  10  includes a first zipper fastener  16  extending along one edge of the liner  10  and a second zipper fastener  17  extending along an adjacent edge thereof. 
     As best seen in FIG. 3, the liner  10  comprises a first material layer  12  and a second material layer  14 . First layer  12  has a pair of opposing longitudinal edges LE 1 ,LE 2  and a pair of opposing side edges SE 1 ,SE 2  to define a substantially rectangular configuration. Second layer  14  is coextensive in size and shape to first layer  12  and includes a pair of opposing longitudinal edges LE 3  (only one shown) and a pair of opposing side edges SE 3  (one shown). The layers  12 , 14  are secured together along one of the longitudinal edges LE 2  (one shown) and one of the side edges SE 2  (one shown). 
     A first element of a zipper fastener  16   a  is secured along longitudinal edge LE 1  of layer  12 , and a first cooperating element of a zipper fastener  16   b  is secured along longitudinal edge LE 3  of layer  14 . A second element of a zipper fastener  17   a  is secured along side edge SE 1  of layer  12 , and a second cooperating element of a zipper fastener  17   b  is secured along side edge SE 3  of layer  14 . Longitudinal edges LE 1  and LE 3  are removable attached together by slide fastener  18 , and side edges SE 1 ,SE 3  are removable attached together by slide fastener  18 ′. Slide fasteners  18  and  18 ′ meet at a common corner of the rectangular liner  10  when longitudinal edges LE 1 ,LE 1  and side edges SE 1 ,SE 3  are attached together. When both longitudinal edges and side edges are unattached, slide fasteners  17  and  18  are positioned at diagonal corners of the rectangular liner  10  to provide an enlarged opening to its interior. Longitudinal edges LE 1  and LE 3  and adjacent side edges SE 1  and SE 3  also form separate entrances to the interior of liner  10  which defines a primary compartment  15  for containing selected contents of handbag  7 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 2-5, the outer surface  12   a  of the first material layer  12  further has fasteners for attaching the transferable liner  10  to the interior of the purse  7  (FIG.  2 ), a backpack  9  (FIG.  4 ), a briefcase  11  (FIG. 5) or other suitable carriers. The preferred fastener is a mechanical fastener of the button  20   a  variety (FIGS. 2,  4  and  5 ), or hook and loop fastener  20   b  type (FIG. 3) variety. These particular fasteners have the advantage of being quick release fasteners, which enable the modern business executive or entrepreneur the convenience of converting from a formal (work) carrier to an informal (play) carrier without unnecessary delay. 
     An advantage of the first zipper fastener  16  extending along one longitudinal edge and a second zipper fastener  17  extending along an adjacent side edge is that a user U may dispose the transferable line  10  within a carrier either in a vertical orientation as shown or a horizontal orientation (not shown). This special feature permits the liner  10  to be disposed within variously configured carriers and facilitates the ease of access to the interior of primary compartment  15  from either a horizontal or vertical orientation. 
     As diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 3, the inner surface  14   a  of the second material layer  14  includes a secondary compartment  19  for storing relatively smaller select items. The capacity of primary compartment  15  is limited only by the dimensions of liner  10  and is substantially larger than secondary compartment  19 . The secondary compartment  19  includes a first zipper fastener  19   b  extending along one edge and second zipper fastener  19   c  extending along an adjacent edge thereof for selectively accessing the compartment  19 . Zipper fastener  19   b  is parallel to zipper fastener  17  and zipper fastener  19   c  is parallel to zipper fastener  16  such that access to the interior of secondary compartment  19  can be conveniently made from either a horizontal or vertical orientation. 
     A handle  22  as shown in FIGS. 1-5 may be used to carry the liner  10  by itself. The handle  22  can be secured to the liner  10  via any number of ways such as by stitching, mechanical retainers or rivets, etc. Alternatively, handle  22  may be entirely removed from the liner  10 . However, it is preferred that the handle portion be made to insert within the primary compartment  15  as an hidden, out of the way element in the event the user U elects not to use it. The handle  22  may be attached to the transferable liner  10  at the corner adjacent the first zipper fastener  16  and the second zipper fastener  17 . 
     As can be further appreciated from FIG. 3, the rectangular liner  10  when functioning as a stand-alone pouch or small purse, may be oriented as shown or rotated 90°, with handle  22  attached to any convenient corner. Then, the user can access the interior of primary compartment  15  by either zipper components  16   a ,  16   b  or zipper components  17   a ,  17   b . Also, when used as shown in FIG. 2 as a purse liner, the transferable liner  10  may be oriented according to the configuration of the purse with which it is used. For instance, when used as a liner with an elongated purse, the rectangular liner  10  would be inserted into the purse with its elongated edge oriented in a horizontal upward direction. If used with a short purse, the liner  10  would be vertically oriented as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     This particular arrangement can include a number of similarly arranged compartments. However, the use of a single interior or secondary compartment  19  has been found to be most cost effective as it relates to the cost of adding material parts or compartments. Other advantages of the transferable liner  10  include the provision of four button fasteners  20   a  or hook and loop fasteners  20   b  disposed on the outer surface  12   a  of the first material layer  12 . This particular arrangement provides for secure attachment of liner  10  to the interior of the purse  7 , a backpack  9  and a briefcase  11  or other suitable carriers. On the other hand, one may simply want to insert the invention in a purse without attachment, and the streamlined, planar construction of the compartments allows this to be done. 
     With respect to the type of materials of the liner  10 , the present invention can be made of both fabric material and plastic material for a transparent effect. Depending on the intended use of the invention by a user U, it would be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to provide the liner  10  as a plastic based or fabric based structure as a matter of personal preference. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.