Abstract:
A method and apparatus for deterring the theft of a fashionable evening handbag or its contents without detracting from its attractive design. The safety purse described herein provides a unique method of combining a durable yet decorative chain carrying means with a soft sided fabric purse by means of a hidden stiffener rib. The combination allows a simple and convenient way of securing valuables within the purse and also locking the purse itself to a less mobile fixture or object. The hidden stiffener rib enables the locking method in spite of the inherent flexibility of the fashion fabrics used in the purse&#39;s manufacture. The safety purse also provides a means for preventing children from accessing medications or other hazardous items that may be conveniently locked inside the inventive purse.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention concerns the perpetual problem of easily and safely securing valuables in a purse or hand bag while attending an establishment where it is difficult to maintain continuous surveillance or control of same. While visiting a restaurant, bar, night club, casino, theater or otherwise involved in a social engagement it often becomes convenient to be able to secure one&#39;s purse to a larger less mobile object to inhibit theft. It would be even more advantageous to have the ability to lock valuables inside the purse by the same simple means. 
         [0002]    Many previous attempts to provide such features in a hand bag have been made which focus on security to the seeming exclusion of any sense of fashion. The accomplishment of the afore mentioned objectives while still providing a purse that can be considered fashion smart in almost any social event is the intent of this invention disclosure. 
         [0003]    When out walking on a public street or in a large crowd of people the typical types of theft are different than those which one might encounter in more enclosed and controlled establishments where theft requires a more covert action or series of events. For instance one such typical act of theft which occurs on a public street or in a public park is the snatch-and-run tactic where the thief grabs the bag or purse and runs through the crowd so quickly that he is beyond reach and out of view before anyone can stop him. A typical variation of this scenario is the slash-and-run tactic, where the thief slashes the carrying strap of the bag and is gone even more quickly by avoiding any possible struggle with the victim who may be holding the strap tightly in an attempt to prevent a familiar snatch-and-run theft. 
         [0004]    As a deterrent to this type of slash-and-run theft it would be advantageous to provide a carrying strap that is both impervious to cutting and also an attractive addition to the purse or hand bag itself. 
         [0005]    In comparison to the highly visible and disruptive practices which rely primarily on surprise and a quick get-away, theft in a smaller social event within a more controlled environment or establishment requires the thief&#39;s actions to remain unnoticed. In such situations the thief must rely on his ability to covertly retrieve a valuable from an easily accessed hand bag or slip an unwatched purse under his jacket until he can make an inconspicuous exit from the room or establishment. 
         [0006]    In many of these types of social events or environments it becomes important to provide a purse with features to deter such covert acts of theft while still being appropriate to the occasion and complimenting one&#39;s ensemble. In most of these cases it is not required that the purse be totally impervious to any type of destructive entry, but merely inhibit access or theft through actions which are not easily observed or discovered. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is directed to a safety purse which meets the security needs described above while still providing a sensible fashion accessory. The safety purse described herein provides an attractive means of securing valuables within a soft sided bag made from any one of many choices of attractive fashion materials. The safety purse provides a simply operated zipper closure means combined with a locking device which provides for the securing of the zipper closure means such that theft of valuables from the safety purse is inhibited. The safety purse also provides a simple means for securing such things as medications and other hazardous items in the purse, and thereby preventing unwanted access by children or other unauthorized individuals. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment of the safety purse the locking device cooperates with both the slider of the zipper closure means and a linked chain carrying means whereby the purse itself can be easily secured to a larger and less mobile fixture or piece of furniture to prevent the quick covert theft of the entire safety purse. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment of the inventive safety purse a hidden stiffener rib is positioned adjacent to the zipper closure means to prevent the flexed manipulation of the zipper underneath the zipper slider to open the zipper closure means without moving the slider from its securement. An anchoring portion may be attached to the locking side of the safety purse to provide a convenient anchoring point for the locking device. 
         [0010]    In yet another possible embodiment of the safety purse the anchoring portion can be manufactured in structural cooperation with the hidden stiffener rib to ensure an even more secure anchoring point for the locking device. The linked chain carrying means may also be connected to the hidden stiffener rib in order to both more securely attach the linked chain carrying means to the safety purse and integrally function as the anchoring portion for attachment of the locking device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the Safety Purse 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the Safety Purse locked closed and anchored to a chair rail. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3A  is a cut-away view of one embodiment of the hidden stiffener rib. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3B  is a cut-away view of another embodiment of the hidden stiffener rib. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    The following paragraphs describe in more detail the inventive features of the safety purse which provides the security explained earlier in a device that appears to the casual observer to be simply a smart fashion accessory.  FIG. 1  shows a front view of the safety purse ( 10 ). The bag portion of the purse can be formed by seaming or joining two fabric panels ( 21 ,  22 ) on three edges to make a soft sided bag ( 20 ). The fabric panels are uniquely chosen from one or more materials having a very beautifully fashionable appearance. The two joined fabric panels ( 21 ,  22 ) can both be made from the same type or two different types of complimenting fabric. In some cases the fabric may be the same as, or otherwise color coordinated with, the owner&#39;s dress. The panels can be joined together by stitching or any other common method of joining fabric panels which are readily known in the art. These fabric panels may be unlined but are more preferably lined with another fabric that is suited to cost effectively provide a inner purse or handbag lining. 
         [0016]    Alternatively the bag portion above described and shown could be formed with a single fabric panel folded together and joined on two edges to make a soft sided bag. Such an obvious alternative formation of the bag portion would be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art of sewing and is not detailed here. 
         [0017]    It should also be noted that the joined fabric panels may be essentially rectangular in shape or obviously could have any other non-rectangular shape such as triangular, curved, rounded, or having any number of edge segments, as could they be comprised of additional fabric panel segments or seams to provide a more three dimensional appearance without departing from the intent or essence of the inventive safety purse&#39;s soft sided bag. 
         [0018]    The top or mouth portion ( 30 ) of the above described soft sided bag ( 20 ) is provided with a zipper closure means ( 40 ). The sides of the two halves ( 41 ,  42 ) of this zipper are fastened to the top edges of two respective fabric portions which comprise the mouth portion ( 30 ), running essentially the full length of the bag&#39;s top and providing for the closure of same. A zipper slider ( 50 ) on the zipper closure means is provided with a loop, link, eyelet, or other type of aperture through which the hasp of a locking device ( 60 ) can be attached. As is commonly known about the operation of zipper type closure devices, when the slider is positioned at a first end ( 47 ) of the zipper closure means or “unzipped” the two halves ( 41 ,  42 ) of the zipper are separated, and when the slider is positioned at the second end ( 48 ) of the zipper closure means or “zipped” the two halves ( 41 ,  42 ) of the zipper are fastened together. Therefore, with the zipper slider ( 50 ) positioned as described in the mouth portion ( 30 ) of the safety purse ( 10 ), when the zipper slider ( 50 ) is unzipped or positioned in the open position the purse is open, and when the zipper slider ( 50 ) is zipped or positioned in the closed position the purse is closed. 
         [0019]    The linked chain carrying means ( 70 ) is attached to the safety purse ( 10 ) adjacent to both the first and second ends ( 47 ,  48 ) of the zipper closure means ( 40 ). This linked chain carrying means ( 70 ) is made from a metallic material that is both durable and resistant to cutting by anything but specialized tools. In addition to being durable the chain preferably exhibits a shinny finish of either a golden or silvery appearance to enhance the overall attractiveness of the purse. The linked chain construction of this carrying means provides a critical functional feature by readily allowing the attachment of a locking device ( 60 ) through any of the chain links at any position along its length. 
         [0020]    With the zipper slider ( 50 ) in the closed position as shown in  FIG. 1 , it can easily be seen that by passing the hasp of any common locking device through one of the chain links of the linked chain carrying means ( 70 ) near the second end ( 48 ) of the zipper closure means ( 40 ) and also through an aperture of the zipper slider ( 50 ) said slider can be locked in the closed position. The safety purse being thus locked closed will act to deter the theft of valuables from inside the purse. 
         [0021]    The linked chain construction as described above also provides maximum flexibility to accommodate the anchoring of the entire safety purse ( 10 ) to almost any sized arm, leg, spindle, or rail of a larger fixture or pieces of furniture.  FIG. 2  shows the safety purse ( 10 ) both locked closed by the locking device ( 60 ) and also anchored to a chair rail ( 100 ). This can be done by passing the hasp of a locking device ( 60 ) through an aperture of the zipper slider ( 50 ) and a link of the linked chain carrying means ( 70 ) adjacent to the second end ( 48 ) of the zipper closure means ( 40 ) and additionally through a second link of said linked chain carrying means ( 70 ) after looping it around a point of securement. The order in which this done is not critical. However, for obvious reasons it is important that the zipper slider be in the closed position and that one of the links used for anchoring be near the second end ( 48 ) of the zipper closure means. 
         [0022]    Alternatively it should be understood that any other type of anchoring portion can be attached to the bag near the second end ( 48 ) of the zipper closure means ( 40 ) to which the zipper slider ( 50 ) can be anchored or locked by way of any type of locking device. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  the linked chain carrying means ( 70 ) functions as the anchoring portion. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 3A &amp; 3B  are cut-away views showing more detail of the inventive construction of the safety purse ( 10 ) and particularly showing alternate embodiments of its internal structural configuration. At or near the seam joining the sides of the zipper closure means ( 40 ) to the mouth portion ( 30 ) of the soft sided bag ( 20 ) is formed at least one casing ( 80 ). The at least one casing ( 80 ) essentially surrounds the mouth portion ( 30 ) with openings near the first and second ends ( 41 ,  42 ) of the zipper closure means ( 40 ). In order to insure that the linked chain carrying means ( 70 ) is securely and integrally attached to the soft sided bag ( 20 ) of the safety purse ( 10 ) a hidden stiffener rib ( 90 ) is located and captured within casing ( 80 ) surrounding the mouth portion ( 30 ) of said soft sided bag ( 20 ). The hidden stiffener rib ( 90 ) can be comprised of a single length of a material which is at lease semi-ridged and extends essentially around the mouth portion ( 30 ) or can be comprised of two or more segments to simplify assembly. It is important that the hidden stiffener rib ( 90 ) be made of a material which is both relatively stiff and also rugged. Preferably a metallic material which is bendable, strong and relatively stiff can function very effectively as the hidden stiffener rib. 
         [0024]    However, it should be noted that various other materials such as resilient plastic formulations or composites could also provide both the required stiffness and durability. These types of materials can provide the additional advantage of allowing secondary stitches to anchor them directly to the bag material in the casing. 
         [0025]    A very important function of the hidden stiffener rib ( 90 ) is accomplished by its providing additional stiffness to the combination mouth portion ( 30 ) and the zipper closure means ( 40 ) which is necessary due to the inherent flimsiness of a soft sided bag made from designer or fashion materials. Other prior art containers or cases are designed principally for security and with little or no attention to fashion. These security cases are typically made from materials which are inherently relatively stiff and rugged. Without additional hidden stiffness near the zipper closure means ( 40 ) it is possible to flex or fold the zipper enough to manipulate or slide the zipper underneath the zipper slider ( 50 ) thus opening the zipper without releasing said slider from its coupling with the anchoring portion. The hidden stiffener rib ( 90 ) of the inventive safety purse ( 10 ) enables it to principally function as a fashion accessory while also providing a significant deterrence to theft. 
         [0026]    The cut-away view of the safety purse shown in  FIG. 3A  illustrates how the hidden stiffener rib ( 90 ) is captured within casing ( 80 ) which extends around the mouth portion ( 30 ) of the soft sided bag ( 20 ). It also shows one way in which the linked chain carrying means ( 70 ) can be anchored to the hidden stiffener rib ( 90 ) by simply passing the rib through, and thereby coupling it with, the end link of the chain. The opening in the casing ( 80 ) can be made small enough to allow the attachment of the linked chain carrying means ( 70 ) to the hidden stiffener rib ( 90 ) while inhibiting the removal of the rib. An even more positive encasement of the hidden stiffener rib ( 90 ) can be accomplished by joining its ends. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3B  in a similar manner shows an alternative method of anchoring the hidden stiffener rib ( 90 ) to the linked chain carrying means ( 70 ). In this embodiment an additional closeable link ( 75 ) is used to join the end link of the chain to the rib by passing it through the end link and holes formed in the ends of the rib and then clamping it closed. This closeable link ( 75 ) would in this case also join the ends of the hidden stiffener rib ( 90 ) whether it is comprised of a single length of stiff material or more than one segment of stiff material. It should be appreciated that any combination of these joining methods would also be anticipated as alternate embodiments such as passing one end of the hidden stiffener rib ( 90 ) through a link of the linked chain carrying means ( 70 ) and then joining the ends of the one or more segments of the rib with a compressible band, rivet, or other coupling device. The ends could also be joined through any of a number of bonding means such as glues, adhesives, or chemical welding.