Abstract:
A purse for carrying and organizing various articles with compartments, panels, pockets and flaps shaped, sized, located and connected to each other in a manner that allows superior securement of and access to articles of certain shapes (such as drinking bottles, umbrellas, eyeglasses, credit cards and so on), while also including segregated storage spaces to allow additional storage of all kinds of other articles. The purse of the present invention may be implemented as an organizing insert that can be switched between a variety of outer shells, as fashion, weather conditions and whim dictate.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/229,241, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,213, filed Jan. 12, 1999, entitled PURSE ORGANIZER AND CARRYING CASE, which application was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/886,719, filed Jul. 1, 1997, entitled PURSE ORGANIZER now U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,233. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     I. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to purses, and pertains more particularly to an improved organizing purse having an improved arrangement of pockets and panels for holding various kinds of personal articles in an organized fashion. 
     II. The Background Art 
     People use purses to carry personal articles and effects. Some purses have a very simple construction. For example, some conventional purses consist merely of an outer shell that defines a single storage space compartment and a handle (e.g. shoulder straps). 
     Some purses, however, do have features that facilitate organization and more secure storage of the articles contained therein. Conventionally, these purses have different arrangements of pockets, compartments, closures and the like to segregate, and thereby organize, articles within the purse, and to better secure articles in the purse by providing multiple segregated spaces within the purse where various articles can be placed in separate groups. 
     Various small pots of make-up, wallets, small mirrors, combs, pocket knifes, coins, sewing kits, toiletries, credit cards, identification cards, papers bearing notes, writing instruments, check books, keys, combs, small food items (e.g., gum) and small books (e.g. paperback books) serve to illustrate the wide variety of articles that may be found in a purse. Although some purses have more than one compartment or pocket to help organize and secure these wide variety of items, a motley mixture of articles is still conventionally placed loosely in the purse or among a few compartments of the purse. This limits the level of organization and security of the articles, and may leave articles tangled, disorganized or difficult to locate within the purse. 
     The problem of organization was partly solved in my prior parent applications, which disclosed a purse organizer that solved many of the problems of the prior art. However, I have discovered the need for additional improvements. One improvement disclosed in my prior patent applications is the provision for converting the organizer to an appealing clutch—a small strapless handbag—or shoulder bag for convenient carrying of items separate from other personal articles. Another improvement disclosed in my prior patent applications is a modification to provide a zipper closure around the periphery of the purse organizer. 
     Now that the previous generations of improvements have been disclosed to the public, I know of no publicly-recognized problems, complaints, suggestions for improvement or the like relating to purses. To the extent that I have discovered shortcomings of currently-available purse products, such discoveries will be addressed below in the Summary of the Invention section, because such discoveries are not prior art, and are therefore inappropriate for discussion in this Background section. 
     SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     There exists a need for a bag that can mount or hold many different related or unrelated personal articles in a more organized fashion. It would be desirable to have a purse organizer with multiple holding or mounting panels and pockets for holding many different related articles and/or unrelated articles for ease of location and retrieval. There is an ongoing need for a purse that can be quickly converted into a separate vanity bag or clutch. 
     Furthermore, there is a need for a purse organizer insert that can be selectively used in different kinds of bags, such as a purse organizer insert that can be transferred between purses of different materials or of different colors that can also be transferred to non-purse bags, such as backpacks. 
     One object of the present invention is to solve the problem of keeping personal articles of different sizes and shapes organized and secure. Another object of the present invention is to provide a purse organizer insert that can be selectively transferred between purse-style bags and various non-purse-style bags (eg, backpacks). 
     Broadly, the invention provides an organizing purse with multiple pockets and attachment means for holding articles of different sizes secure and readily accessible in an organized arrangement. At least some embodiments of purse organizer inserts according to the present invention can be carried in a purse, a non-purse-style bag (eg backpack), or carried alone as a clutch, or as a small shoulder bag. 
     More specifically, the following aspects of the present invention may be implemented as an organizing purse: an outer shell structured to define an interior space; an organizing insert detachably mounted to the outer shell at least substantially within the interior space, the organizing insert comprising: an insert front panel made of pliable material; an insert back panel made of pliable material; at least one insert intermediate panel made of pliable material, with the insert front panel, the insert back panel and the at least one insert intermediate panel being structured and located to define at least two organizing compartments; a first multi-card pocket assembly made of pliable material, with the first multi-card pocket assembly comprising a plurality of pockets shaped and sized to secure credit-card-sized objects; a second multi-card pocket assembly made of pliable material, with the first multi-card pocket assembly comprising a plurality of pockets shaped and sized to secure credit-card-sized objects, with the second multi-card pocket assembly being pivotable between a first position adjacent to the first multi-card pocket assembly and a second position spaced away from first multi-card pocket assembly; and a window panel with a window defined therein, with the window panel being connected to the outer shell at a location so that the window is aligned with and thereby exposes at least one of the first multi-card pocket assembly and the second multi-card pocket assembly. Another aspect of the present invention may be implemented as purse comprising: an outer shell made of pliable material, with the outer shell defining an interior space; at least one inner shell made of pliable material and located to define a main compartment within the interior space and to define a main compartment opening on the outer shell; and at least one elongated-object-holder shell made of pliable material and located to define an elongated-object-holder compartment shaped to hold elongated objects within the interior space and to define an elongated-object-holder opening on the outer shell. 
     Another aspect of the present invention may be implemented as a purse comprising: an outer shell made of pliable material, the outer shell defining an interior space; a generally planar rigid panel located within the interior space, with the rigid panel having an aperture defined therein; and at least one pocket made of pliable material, with the at least one pocket defining a pocket opening, and with the pocket being located so that the pocket opening is aligned with the aperture. 
     Another aspect of the present invention may be implemented as a combination of bags and an organizer insert comprising: an organizer insert; a first bag adapted to accommodate the organizer insert; and a second bag adapted to accommodate the organizer insert, with the first bag having a different size and shape than the second bag. 
     However, the claims alone—not the preceding summary—define the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The nature, goals, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings—illustrating by way of examples the principles of the invention in which like reference numerals identify like elements throughout, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a purse according to the present invention, wherein the purse is closed; 
     FIG. 2 is a view like FIG. 1 with the purse closure flap open; 
     FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the purse of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a purse organizer insert according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the purse organizer insert of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the purse organizer insert of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a combination purse and purse organizer insert according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a purse organizer insert according to the present invention that may be used in combination with the purse and/or the purse organizer insert of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the purse organizer insert of FIG. 6, shown for use in a back pack configured bag. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1,  2  and  3  show a preferred embodiment of purse  100  that is suitable for use with the present invention. Purse  100  includes main compartment  101 , front panel  102 , peripheral panels  104 , closure flap  106 , strap  108 , first closure  110 , elongated-object-compartment flap  112 , opposing pockets  114 , rigid panel  116 , window  117 , elongated-object-compartment aperture  118 , second closure latch  120 , eyeglasses pouch  121 , eyeglasses pouch shell  122 , eyeglasses pouch divider panel  123 , expandable compartment  124 , third closure  125 , ba eyeglasses pouch flap  127 , front panel zipper  128 , spiral zipper  129 , first attachment strip  130 , expandable side wall  132 , and expandable compartment front panel  134 . 
     Purse  100  is an outer shell preferably made mostly of pliable material (eg, cloth, leather, vinyl, suede), with the principle exception of rigid panel  116 . As shown in FIGS. 1 to  3 , main compartment  101  is defined primarily by front panel  102 , peripheral panels  104 , closure flap  106 , rigid panel  116  and expandable compartment  124 . As explained below, main compartment  101  is sized and shaped to accommodate purse organizer insert  200  (not shown in FIGS. 1 to  3 ). The panels are secured together along their peripheral edges to form the shell and receptacle as shown. 
     Purse  100  can be selectively manipulated between a closed position (shown in FIG. 1) and an open position (shown in FIG. 2) as follows: (1) opening first closure  110  to release closure flap  106  from front panel  102 ; and (2) opening front panel  102  by unzipping front panel zipper  128 . First closure  110  is preferably formed as a conventional magnetic clasp. 
     Strap  108  serves as a handle that allows the purse to be more easily carried by hand or over the shoulder in the manner of a conventional purse. 
     Elongated-object-compartment flap  112  (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) can be manipulated between a closed position (shown in FIG. 1) and an open position (shown in FIG. 2) as follows: (1) undoing second closure  120 ; and (2) rotating elongated-object compartment flap  112  down away from peripheral panel  104 . Second closure latch  120  is preferably formed as a conventional magnetic clasp. Elongated-object compartment flap  112  serves to selectively allow access to an elongated-object compartment (not shown in FIGS. 1 to  3 ) through elongated-object aperture  118 , as further explained below. 
     Opposing pockets  114  are preferably sewn into an interior face of front panel  102 . Opposing pockets  114  serve to secure and segregate small articles (not shown), which in turn provides for better organization of small articles. Alternatively, front panel  102  may be provided without pockets, or with pockets arranged, oriented and sized in lots of different ways. 
     Rigid panel  116  includes window  117 . As used herein, the word “rigid” is used to mean any material that is rigid enough not to be considered pliable. As an example, cloth is pliable, while a sheet of cardboard or the sole of a shoe is “rigid” (as that term is used herein). Rigid panel  116  serves to help secure purse organizer insert  200  (not shown in FIGS. 1 to  3  and further explained below), while window  117  allows easier access to purse organizer insert  200  when purse organizer insert  200  is secured within main compartment  101 . 
     Eyeglasses pouch  121  is shaped and sized to secure two pairs of eyeglasses (not shown). Eyeglasses pouch includes eyeglasses pouch shell  122 , eyeglasses pouch divider panel  123 , third closure  125 , and eyeglasses pouch flap  127 . Eyeglasses pouch shell  122  serves to define a compartment for holding the two pairs of eyeglasses. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, eyeglasses pouch shell  122  is made of pliable material. Alternatively, eyeglasses pouch shell  122  can be made of rigid material in order to provide more protection for the eyeglasses stored therein. 
     Eyeglasses pouch divider panel  123  serves to segregate the two pairs of eyeglasses that can be stored in eyeglasses pouch  121 , to thereby help prevent the two pairs of eyeglasses from scratching each other. Alternatively, no eyeglasses pouch divider panel may be provided, which is preferable in alternative embodiments wherein eyeglasses pouch  121  is sized and shaped to hold only a single pair of eyeglasses. As a further alternative, additional eyeglasses pouch divider panels can be provided so that eyeglasses pouch  121  can hold more than two pairs of eyeglasses. 
     Eyeglasses pouch  121  can be opened and closed by selectively closing and releasing third closure  125  and by manipulating eyeglasses pouch flap  127 . Third closure  125  is preferably formed as a hook-and-loop (eg, Velcro (trademark)) fastener. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, expandable compartment  124  includes back panel  126 , spiral zipper  129 , expandable side wall  132 , and expandable compartment front panel  134 . Expandable compartment  124  is defined by back panel  126 , expandable side wall  132  and expandable compartment front panel  134 . Expandable compartment  124  can be manipulated between an expanded position and a contracted position by selectively zipping and unzipping spiral zipper  129  to thereby expand and contract expandable side wall  132 . Expandable side wall  132  is preferably made of pliable material to facilitate its expansion and contraction. 
     Expandable compartment  124  serves to segregate articles secured therein from articles stored in main compartment  101 . In the expanded position, expandable compartment  124  can hold larger objects (eg, a blouse) or a large quantity of small articles. In the contracted position, the volume of purse  100  is rendered considerably smaller so that purse  100  is less bulky. The outer shell may also convert into a back pack by use of strap  108  as a shoulder strap. 
     First attachment strip  130  serves to secure purse organizer insert  200  (not shown in FIGS. 1 to  3  and further explained below) in main compartment  101 . This attachment strip is preferably formed as a strip of hook-and-loop material, and preferably located along the top edge of expandable compartment front panel  134 , as shown in FIG.  2 . The first attachment strip  130  can alternatively be located elsewhere on the interior surfaces of main compartment  101 . Also, additional attachment strips and/or patches can be provided on the interior surfaces of main compartment  101 . 
     Now purse organizer insert  200  will be discussed with reference to FIGS. 4 to  6 . Purse organizer insert  200  includes outer shell  201 , front panel  202 , peripheral panels  204 , back panel  206 , vertical pockets  208 , zippered pockets  210 , zippers  212 , mesh pockets  214 , divider panels  216 , zipper  218 , suspension strap  222 , suspension closure  223 , elongated-object-compartment aperture  224 , elongated-object compartment  226 , attachment strips  228 , fourth closure  230 , first pocket panel  232 , first credit-card pockets  234 , second pocket panel  236 , and second credit-card pockets  238 . 
     Purse organizer insert  200  is preferably made primarily of pliable material. Outer shell  201  is primarily defined by front panel  202 , peripheral panels  204  and back panel  206 . The top of purse organizer insert  200  is left open to expose a plurality of pockets and dividers disposed therein. The pockets and dividers facilitate segregation and organization of small articles. In this way, when purse organizer insert  200  is used alone as a “clutch,” small articles can be better organized by being selectively segregated by the various pockets and dividers. Also, when purse organizer insert  200  is placed within main compartment  101  of purse  100  (as further explained below in connection with FIG.  7 ), it likewise facilitates better organization and segregation of articles in the purse. 
     Divider panels  216  divides purse organizer insert  200  lengthwise into several compartments. The number and orientation of divider panels can be varied depending on the preferred size, number and orientation of the compartments. As shown in FIG. 5, adjacent divider panels  216  can be provided with zipper  218  in order to allow the tops of selected compartments to be closable by manipulation of the zipper. 
     Vertical pockets  208  can be selectively placed along one or more of front panel  204 , peripheral panels  204 , back panel  206  and divider panels  216 . Alternatively, zippered pockets  210  may also be provided with zippers  212  in order to allow selected pockets to more securely retain articles stored therein. Alternatively, mesh pockets  214  may be provided in order to provide better visibility of articles stored in mesh pockets  214 . The combination of pockets and dividers of purse organizer insert  200  is primarily intended to be exemplary, as a perhaps infinite number of combinations of dividers and pockets can be implemented within purse organizer insert  200 . For example, special pockets for cell phones and pagers could be provided. 
     Suspension strap  222  allows purse organizer insert  200  to be suspended from a hook (eg a hook mounted on the wall of a closet) by suspension closure  223 . Alternatively, suspension strap  222  and closure  223  can be utilized as a metal clip with a key ring on a leash. 
     Elongated-object compartment aperture  224  in peripheral panel  204  allows free access to elongated-object compartment  226 . Elongated-object compartment  226  is a pocket that extends across the length of purse organizer insert  200  along the bottom peripheral panel  204 , and is therefore much deeper than it is wide. Preferably, elongated-object compartment  226  is from about five to about eight times deep as it is wide. This facilitates storage of elongated articles (not shown), such as umbrellas, drinking bottles and rulers. Conventionally, it is difficult to store elongated objects in a purse because conventional purses do not have elongated, lengthwise pockets that open on a peripheral side. The present invention solves that problem by the provision of elongated-object compartment  226 . 
     The interior faces of elongated-object compartment  226  can be made to be waterproof in order to prevent the spread of liquid from wet umbrellas, drinking bottles or the like. 
     Attachment strips  228  are located at intervals on outer shell  201  in order to selectively and detachably attach the purse organizer insert to purse  100 , backpack  400 , or other bags equipped with mating attachment strips (as further explained below in connection with FIGS.  7  and  9 ). Attachment strips  228  are preferably formed of hook-and-loop fastener fabric. 
     First pocket panel  232  includes a plurality of first credit-card pockets  234 , preferably distributed on both of its main faces. First credit-card pockets  234  are sized and shaped to secure credit-card sized objects such as credit cards and identification cards, while allowing partial visibility of the cards (not shown) stored therein. 
     First pocket panel  232  can be manipulated between a closed position (as shown in FIG. 4) and an open position (shown in FIG. 5) as follows: (1) selectively closing and releasing fourth closure  230 ; and (2) selectively rotating first pocket panel towards and away from front panel  202 . Fourth closure  230  is preferably made of hook-and-loop fastener material. In the closed position, the first credit-card pockets  234  on the outer main face of first pocket panel  232  are exposed. In the open position, first credit-card pockets  234  on the inner main face of first pocket panel  232  are exposed. 
     When first pocket panel  232  is in the open position, second pocket panel  236  and second credit-card pockets  238  are also exposed. Second credit-card pockets are sized and shaped to secure credit-card sized objects such as credit cards and identification cards, while allowing partial visibility of the cards (not shown) stored therein. This kind of arrangement of first pocket panel  232  and second pocket panel  236  permits a lot of credit cards to be stored in a small space, while still permitting good visibility of and access to each card (not shown) stored therein. Alternatively, pockets of other sizes and orientations can be substituted for first credit-card pockets  234  and second credit-card pockets to facilitate storage of different kinds of articles. For example, a checkbook pocket shaped and sized to hold a standard checkbook could be provided. 
     FIG. 7 shows how purse insert organizer  200  can be used in combination with purse  100  in order to allow articles stored within purse  100  to be better organized and segregated. More specifically, flap  106  of purse  100  can be opened to allow purse organizer insert  200  to be placed into main compartment  101 . First attachment strips  130  of purse  100  are detachably attached to attachment strips  228  of purse insert organizer  200  to better secure purse organizer insert  200  to purse  100 . The attachment strips are located to be aligned when purse organizer insert  200  is in the correct position within main compartment  101  to facilitate this detachable attachment. 
     Alternatively, purse  100  and purse organizer insert  200  can be provided without attachment strips, such that purse organizer insert  200  is secured within purse  100  by a combination of gravitational force and friction between the purse organizer insert and the purse. 
     As shown in FIG. 7, when purse organizer insert  200  is placed within main compartment  101 , first pocket panel  232  and second pocket panel  236  are aligned with window  117 , so that the first credit-card pockets  234  and second credit-card pockets  236  can be accessed through window  117 . The rigidity of rigid panel  116  helps provide support when first pocket panel  232  is opened and closed. 
     When purse organizer insert  200  is placed within purse  100 , elongated-object-compartment flap  112 , elongated-object-compartment aperture  118 , elongated-object-compartment aperture  224  and elongated-object compartment  226  are aligned. In this way, elongated-object-compartment flap  112  can be opened to allow access to elongated-object compartment  226  from outside of purse  100 . 
     When objects that are longer than the depth of elongated-object compartment  226  (ie the length of purse insert organizer  200 ) are inserted into elongated-object aperture  226 , flap  112  may be kept in the open position in order to allow the elongated object to partially protrude from purse  100 . Even when an object partially protrudes from elongated-object compartment  226  and purse  100 , it will still be supported well due to the relatively great depth of elongated-object compartment  226 . Also, because the object protrudes from a peripheral side of purse  100 , it will tend to be less cumbersome than it would in a conventional purse, wherein the object would protrude from the top of the purse. 
     It is also noted that the unconventional placement of elongated-object compartment  226  allows discreet storage of objects that one may want to hide, such as a roll of valuable jewels (not shown) or a tall bottle of vodka (not shown). 
     It is to be noted that a single purse organizer insert  200  can be switched between purses  100  that are constructed in a wide variety of styles and colors. 
     FIG. 8 shows pocketed insert  300 , which includes a plurality of pockets  302  that can be selectively and respectively opened and closed by a plurality of zippers  304 . Pocketed insert  300  can be placed within main compartment  101  with or without purse insert organizer  200  in order to provide further organization and segregation of articles stored within purse  100 . These pouches may conveniently hold numerous articles including items of jewelry and the like. The pockets are particularly adapted to receive and hold necklaces. 
     FIG. 9 shows how purse insert organizer  200  can be used in combination with other types of specially-constructed bags, such as backpack  400 . Backpack  400  includes outer shell  402 , access panel  404 , fifth closure  406 , attachment strips  408 , main compartment  410 , elongated-object-compartment flap  412 , and shoulder straps  414 . 
     The purse organizer  200  can be placed within main compartment  410  as shown by arrow A. When the purse organizer  200  is placed within main compartment  410 , a portion of purse organizer  200  can be accessed by manipulating closure  406  and access flap  404 . 
     When the purse organizer  200  is in its correct position within main compartment  410 , attachment strips  408  will be aligned with attachment strips  228  in order to effect detachable attachment of purse organizer  200  within main compartment  410 . 
     Elongated-object-compartment flap  412  is similar to elongated-object-compartment flap  112  (explained above) in order to allow selective access to elongated-object compartment  226 . Shoulder straps  414  are located and sized as conventional backpack straps. 
     Although the embodiment of FIG. 9 shows the purse organizer insert as being placed at the bottom of main compartment  410 , other placements are possible by repositioning access flap  404 , attachment strips  408  and elongated-object-compartment flap  412 . 
     Alternatively, other sizes and shapes of bag can be substituted for backpack  400 . As demonstrated by FIGS. 7 and 9, it is an advantage of at least some embodiments of the present invention that a single purse organizer insert  200  can be selectively switched between different types of bags. This allows quick and easy transfer of a plurality of articles (not shown) stored in purse organizer insert  200  to be transferred between different types of bags, whilst preserving the security and organization of the articles stored in the purse insert organizer. 
     To the extent that a patentee can act as his or her own lexicographer, the foregoing specification may in the future be scrutinized to determine whether special definitions are provided in the specification. In order to help out with any inquiries along these lines, it will now be explicitly stated that the only word for which a special definition is provided in the specification is the word “rigid.” Speaking now as a lexicographer, it is hereby specified that all other words in this document should be construed according to their plain, ordinary and accustomed meaning (which can usually be determined with reference to a dictionary), rather than by altering the dictionary definitions of the words based on disclosures of the present specification. 
     It is appropriate that the following claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein described.