Abstract:
A customizable handbag, wherein attachable articles are attached to a handbag using matched sets of fasteners on the handbag and the attachable articles. The attachable articles can change the appearance of the handbag by allowing the user to change the color, pattern and texture of the handbag.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     Handbags are a commonly used by individuals to transport a variety of personal items, including such things as cell phones, Blackberries, PDA&#39;s, wallets, identification, money, credit cards, glasses, and cosmetics. The use of a handbag has become a necessary element that is incorporated into the daily activities of many people.  
         [0002]     Handbags have been designed in a wide variety of styles and designs. A variety of different colors and types of handbags may be required by a user of a handbag depending upon the occasion and the attire of the person using the handbag. It is common for users to possess a variety of handbags to cover a variety of situations. When having multiple handbags, the user needs to transfer items between handbags. Depending on the nature the uses, all or a portion of the contents of a bag may be changed. Unless all items in a handbag are transferred there is a risk that a needed item may be left in a bag which was previously used.  
         [0003]     In the past inventors have attempted to solve these problems in a variety of ways. Kery (U.S. Pat. No 3,957,099) teaches a bag with a cover flap having a canvas on which needlepoint can be used to decorate the flap. Keebler (U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,710) teaches a handbag where the sides are made of multiple moveable layers which are hinged at the bottom of the handbag. The colors of the handbag are changed by moving layers from one side of the handbag to the other, exposing different layers. Fleming (U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,717) teaches a handbag where the color of the exterior surface can be changed by use of a roll of material of varying colors or designs. The material is wound between two spools and a particular section of the material can be displayed by moving the material between the spools.  
         [0004]     Sturgeon (U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,609) teaches an interchangeable and reusable handbag kit where one can insert one of several pouches into a single frame. Friedman (U.S. Pat. No. 4,368,767) also teaches a pocketbook with a removable pouch attached to a frame. Byers (U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,204) teaches a handbag with interchangeable closure flaps. Davis et al (U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,787) teaches a purse with a replaceable ornament which is fixed to a magnet and held in place by a magnet on the purse. Steinhart (U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,262) teaches a handbag made of an inner handbag containing within an outer shell. The inner handbag can be moved between outer shell of different colors and designs. Restivo (U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,126) teaches a handbag with a replaceable decorative panel which can be changed with panels of other colors or patterns.  
         [0005]     Salz (U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,201) teaches a handbag with an outer shell and a removable inner bag, which allows the user to change the color or style of the handbag by moving the inner bag to a different shell without disturbing the contents of the inner bag. Pinti (U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,318) teaches a purse with a dry erasable panel on which a user can draw a design, or affix decorative materials. A transparent cover overlays the panel. Ritch (U.S. Pat. No. 6,820,664) teaches a portable bag, such as a handbag, which has an inner pocket for carrying articles and an exchangeable outer cover. The outer cover has a fastener which engages a fastener on the inner pocket.  
         [0006]     These attempts to provide the consumer with handbags with various methods of changing the appearance of the handbag limit the creativity in designing handbags in that the changes that can be made generally involve color or patterns, or a combination thereof. Many of the methods require the replacement of the outer layer, requiring users to make new purchases for each new look they wish to create.  
         [0007]     Therefore, a need exists for a handbag where the exterior of the handbag can be adapted to meet the users changing requirements in style and color while providing a system which minimizes the risk of misplacement of the contents by not having to transfer the contents between bags and not having to buy many bags.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The invention relates to handbags, specifically to handbags with interchangeable pieces to change the appearance of the handbag.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to customizable handbags and attachable articles to alter the appearance of a handbag that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. An object of the present invention is to provide a customizable handbag and attachable articles that alter the appearance of the handbag which can be easily utilized by consumers.  
         [0010]     Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.  
         [0011]     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.  
       OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES  
       [0012]     Accordingly, several objects and advantages of this invention are:  
         [0013]     (a) To provide a unique method of customizing handbags;  
         [0014]     (b) To provide handbags which are functional and have a pleasing aesthetic presentation;  
         [0015]     (c) To provide the consumer with a functional method of versatility in customizing handbags by allowing the appearance of a handbag to be changed by the addition of a variety of interchangeable articles which are secured to the handbag;  
         [0016]     (d) To provide a method that maximizes the investment dollar;  
         [0017]     (e) To provide the consumer the freedom to explore and create their own unique handbags; and  
         [0018]     (f) To provide the manufacturer with versatility in designing and providing articles that can be attached to a handbag to alter the appearance of the handbag, thereby allowing the customizable handbag and attachable articles to be used by a wider population by allowing individuals to be creative in their designs.  
         [0019]     Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from consideration of the drawings and ensuing description of it. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0020]     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a basic handbag with attached fasteners.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is an attachable article for use with the handbag.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a handbag with multiple attached articles.  
     
    
       [0024]     The features and advantages of the customizable handbag of the present invention will be more clearly appreciated from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]     The present invention has been made in consideration of the foregoing. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a customizable handbag and articles to change the appearance of the handbag. The use of the term handbag is meant to encompass a variety of bags including, but not limited to traditional handbags, purse, pocket book, shoulder bag, evening bag and any other type of bag where the appearance of the exterior of the bag may be a factor in the selection or use of the bag.  
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a handbag ( 10 ) with fasteners ( 20 ,  30 ) attached to the handbag. An attachable article ( 50 ) with two ends ( 51 ,  52 ), each attached to a fastener ( 60 ,  70 ), is attached to the handbag ( 10 ) by the interconnection of fastener ( 20 ) on the handbag with fastener ( 60 ) on the attachable article and by the interconnection of fastener ( 30 ) on the handbag with fastener ( 70 ) on the attachable article. In an embodiment a plurality of fasteners is provided on the handbag. In another embodiment a single fastener is provided on the handbag. Each of the fasteners ( 20 ,  30 ) on the handbag ( 10 ) is matched with a fastener ( 60 ,  70 ) on an attachable article ( 50 ). A variety of fasteners, such as threaded fasteners, snaps, hooks, buttons, hook and loop fasteners or interlocking fasteners, such as various types used in jewelry, maybe used. Any type of fastener on the handbag ( 10 ) capable of being securely connected to a mating fastener on an attachable article ( 50 ) may be used. In a preferred embodiment, the fasteners ( 20 ,  30 ) on the handbag ( 10 ) have a threaded female portion which mates with male fasteners ( 60 ,  70 ) on the attachable article ( 50 ).  
         [0027]     Fasteners ( 20 ,  30 ) on the handbag ( 10 ) may be secured to the handbag ( 10 ) by a variety of devices. It is readily apparent to one skilled in the art to determine the method for securing fasteners ( 20 ,  30 ) to the handbag. Fasteners ( 60 ,  70 ) on attachable article ( 50 ) may be secured to the attachable article by a variety of devices. It is readily apparent to one skilled in the art to determine the method for securing fasteners ( 20 ,  30 ) to the handbag. In a preferred embodiment at least one of the pairs of fasteners ( 20 ,  60 ) ( 30 ,  70 ) contains a swivel attachment ( 80 ). In a preferred embodiment at least one of the pairs of fasteners ( 20 ,  60 ) ( 30 ,  70 ) is attached to a swivel attachment and the swivel attachment is connected to attachable article ( 50 ). Fasteners ( 20 , 30 ) on the handbag may be ornamental. Handbag ( 10 ) may contain a device, such as a flexible cloth sleeve, for covering the mated fasteners ( 20 ,  60 ) ( 30 ,  70 ) to keep them from being seen. The size and shape of the fasteners may vary depending upon the design application employed.  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is an example of an attachable article ( 50 ) for use with handbag ( 10 ). Attachable article ( 50 ) has two ends ( 51 ,  52 ), each attached to a fastener ( 60 ,  70 ). Each of the fasteners ( 60 ,  70 ) on an attachable article ( 50 ) is matched with a fastener ( 20 ,  30 ) on the handbag. A variety of fasteners, such as threaded fasteners or interlocking fasteners, such as various types used in jewelry, maybe used. Any type of fastener capable of being securely fastened to a mating fastener ( 20 , 30 ) on the handbag ( 10 ) may be used. In a preferred embodiment, the fasteners ( 60 ,  70 ) on the attachable article have a threaded male portion which mates with female fasteners ( 20 ,  30 ) on the handbag ( 10 ). In a preferred embodiment at least on of the pairs of fasteners ( 20 ,  60 ) ( 30 ,  70 ) contains a swivel attachment. Fasteners ( 60 ,  70 ) may be secured to the attachable article ( 50 ) by a variety of devices. It is readily apparent to one skilled in the art to determine the method for securing fasteners ( 60 ,  70 ) to the attachable article ( 50 ). In a preferred embodiment at least on of the pairs of fasteners ( 20 ,  60 ) ( 30 ,  70 ) is attached to a swivel attachment and the swivel attachment is connected to attachable article ( 50 ). Attachable article ( 50 ) may be made from a variety of materials. The pattern, color and texture of attachable article ( 50 ) may be either uniform or vary.  
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is an example of a customizable handbag ( 10 ) with multiple attachable articles ( 50 ) connected to the handbag ( 50 ) with fasteners ( 60 ,  70 ) on each article attached to fasteners ( 20 , 30 ) on the handbag ( 10 ). In an embodiment, handbag ( 10 ) has a plurality of fasteners ( 20 ,  30 ) attached to the handbag. Multiple attachable articles ( 50 ), each with two ends ( 51 ,  52 ) where each end ( 51 ,  52 ) is attached to a fastener ( 60 ,  70 ), is attached to the handbag ( 10 ) by the interconnection of a fastener ( 20 ) on the handbag with fastener ( 60 ) on the attachable article and by the interconnection of fastener ( 30 ) on the handbag with fastener ( 70 ) on each attachable article. In another embodiment attachable article ( 50 ) may be connected to at least one other attachable article( 50 ) in addition to being attached to fastener ( 20 ,  30 ) on the handbag. In another embodiment attachable article ( 50 ) may be connected to at least one other attachable article and may be attached to a fastener ( 20  or  30 ) on the handbag. In another embodiment attachable article ( 50 ) may be only connected to at least one other attachable article and may not be attached to a fastener ( 20  or  30 ) on the handbag.  
         [0030]     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.