Abstract:
A transformable purse system that includes a base, multiple purse covers, multiple handle options, and alternatively multiple decorative clip options. The covers wrap around the purse base such that the ends of the base are left exposed and the end of the cover forms a lid. The decorative clips may be attached at the point where the lid fastens to the purse. The covers may be attached with hook-and-loop fasteners such that they are easily interchangeable without removing the contents of the purse. The straps may similarly be attached using hook-and-loop fasteners and rest in grooves in the base ends, and may be further secured in place using rods at the top of the base ends.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/458,183, filed on Mar. 27, 2003, by inventor Sharon L. Wyatt, and entitled “Transformable Purse System.” This provisional application is incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to purses and handbags, and particularly to a purse system that comprises a frame onto which various coverings, handles, and decorative attachments may be interchangeably attached. 
   Women who carry handbags or purses often find it necessary or desirable to own a number of such bags. While in some cases it is necessary to own a number of bags for utilitarian reasons, such as carrying capacity, often the desire is based on fashion. It is generally considered desirable to own a selection of bags in varying sizes, styles, and decorative patterns. A bag may be selected for use on a given day because the bag matches or complements the clothes, shoes, or jewelry selected by the owner for wear on that day. In addition, certain styles of bags may be considered appropriate for different functions or different times of day; for example, some bags may be designed for everyday use, while other bags are intended for use in conjunction with evening or formal events. 
   The necessity for a large number of bags creates a significant financial burden on women, particularly since the most expensive bags are generally the ones that are considered the most desirable. A woman must expend a considerable sum of money in order to maintain a collection of fashionable bags that are appropriate for wear with all of her various clothing, shoe, and jewelry choices and for the various occasions to which she desires to carry a bag. 
   Another difficulty is that the storage of a large number of handbags or purses may create a burden for a woman who does not have sufficient storage space in her home for the number of bags desired. Even where sufficient space is available, such storage space may be in the top of a closet, attic, or other relatively inaccessible space, which places the owner to great inconvenience if bags are switched often. 
   Yet another difficulty faced by the owner of a number of bags is that in order to switch the bags from day to day the owner is generally required to remove all of her contents from one bag and transfer those contents to the desired bag. Since handbags and purses often contain various inner pouches, which may be secured with zippers or other fastening devices, the transfer may be cumbersome and time consuming. Women who hurriedly transfer items between purses may lose some small items, or may decide they do not have sufficient time to make a complete transfer and thus carry over only a few essential items to the new purse. As a result of these problems, women who are pressed for time may simply forego the opportunity to select an appropriate purse for their clothing or the event and simply select a purse that, while not as fashionable, represents the best compromise with most events and clothing ensembles. 
   Recognizing these difficulties, the related art includes a number of attempts to develop handbags and purses with interchangeable components. It has been recognized that a single handbag or purse with interchangeable components may replace many or all of the desired handbags in a woman&#39;s collection. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,633 to Eckstein teaches a handbag with interchangeable coverings, with the coverings each consisting of two sidewalls and a separate endwall piece. The three covering pieces attach to the bag by means of hook-and-loop fasteners. Handle components may be interchanged as well. U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,262 to Steinhart teaches a handbag comprising interchangeable outer shells and an inner shell for holding items. U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,558 to Carey et al. teaches a purse with a separate outer covering that attaches to the purse by means of a clamping arrangement, clamping members being located at the edges of each side of the purse. U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,573 to Owens teaches a handbag arrangement in which the inner shell may be attached to an interchangeable outer shell by means of zippers. U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,723 to Baquero et al. teaches a box-shaped purse housing that may receive various covers that are held in place by snap connectors. U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,280 to Sands teaches a purse that comprises an outer shell into which is fitted a V-shaped expandable frame. The cover is attached at the upper side on each side of the frame. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0177664 teaches a handbag with hook-and-loop fasteners designed to receive a fabric sheath that wraps around the bag and, in one example, the closing flap of the handbag. 
   The related art also includes previous designs intended to allow a purse to be constructed with interchangeable ornamentation. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,787 to Davis et al. teaches an interchangeable clasp that attaches to a purse flap magnetically, and allows for the fitting of an interchangeable ornament to the outer portion of the clasp. 
   Each of these designs offer advantages and disadvantages. Many of them would result in a bag that is difficult or expensive to manufacture, either because of the number of parts required or the relatively tight tolerances on parts that are fitted together. The use of a complex outer shell or cover, particularly one that is fitted, would necessarily increase the cost of the interchangeable purse system since the increased cost of manufacturing such a cover is felt with each additional cover purchased. This would thus reduce the effect of one of the most important benefits that derive from using an interchangeable cover, namely, lower cost. In addition, several of these designs involve interchangeable shells and covers that are formed of multiple parts, which would generally increase the amount of time required to reconfigure the purse with a different cover, since each part must be fitted separately. Finally, many of the designs shown in the prior art are dated and would not be considered fashionable today. 
   What is desired therefore is a handbag or purse system with interchangeable components, where the outer shell or covering is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and which may be easily and quickly attached and detached. Furthermore, such a desired handbag or purse system must be in a design that is desirable in today&#39;s marketplace based on current fashion trends. The previously recited limitations of the related art are overcome, and these desires met, by the present invention as described below. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a highly fashionable purse system that allows the owner to select any number of different exterior appearances with the transformation process being relatively simple and quick to perform. In the preferred embodiment, the system comprises a base bag that includes a rigid frame, a plurality of replaceable exterior “wraps,” replaceable coordinating handles, and replaceable decorative accessories. Since the base bag is always used, the owner need never move items from one bag to another. The rigid frame allows various wraps to be interchanged very quickly, preferably using hook-and-loop fasteners. The straps may similarly be easily attached and detached from the end panels of the rigid frame. The frame further creates a fashionable shape that makes the purse attractive regardless of the wrap that is chosen by the owner. 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide for a purse system with interchangeable components such that the purse can be modified to complement any desired clothing, shoes, or jewelry, or modified as appropriate for a particular type of event. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a transformable purse with a rigid base that results in a purse with a highly fashionable shape. 
   It is also an object of the present invention to provide a purse that allows interchangeability of its outer cover, handle, and accessories. 
   It is also an object of the present invention to provide a purse with a changeable appearance that does not require the transfer of materials in the purse from one bag to another. 
   These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims in conjunction with the drawings as described following: 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the base according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is an illustration demonstrating the application of a wrap and handle to the base according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is an illustration demonstrating the attachment of a deco clip to a wrap according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the preferred embodiment of the present invention may be described. The preferred embodiment comprises a base  10  that forms the main compartment of the purse. The top of base  10  remains open. While the preferred embodiment comprises a base  10  shaped approximately as a rectangular box with an open top, the invention is not so limited and alternative embodiments may comprise any number of different shapes, including without limitation square, cylindrical, and semi-cylindrical. Base  10  may be constructed of any material sufficiently rigid and durable to provide a supporting framework for the purse. While wood has been employed in the preferred embodiment, other material choices in alternative embodiments may include plastics and metals. It may also be noted that base  10  may be constructed in any size that is convenient. In the preferred embodiment, however, base  10  is constructed such that the purse is relatively shallow in order to avoid forcing the owner to “dig” blindly through the purse to find small items. Various types of pockets and compartments may be added to base  10  in order to organize items kept in the purse. Since the preferred embodiment may be configured in many different ways using the same base  10  as described below, and since various pockets and compartments may be added to base  10  for purposes of organization, the user may dispense with the usual requirement of carrying a wallet within the purse if desired. 
   While in the preferred embodiment much of frame  10  is covered as described hereafter, end walls  16  remain exposed, and thus the finish of end walls  16  must be attractive to the wearer. Ideally the finish of end walls  16  is not only attractive but also amenable to matching with a wide variety of fashions and styles. In the preferred embodiment end walls  16  are formed of finished wood for an attractive appearance, although many other materials are possible. Alternatively, end walls  16  may be formed of an inexpensive material to which an attractive material or coating is applied, including without limitation options such as a fine wood veneer or a fabric covering. 
   The preferred embodiment further includes mirror  20  mounted on front wall  12  of base  10 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Mirror  20  is mounted so that it is easily accessible to the user when the purse is open, as when make-up or other fashion accessories have been removed from the purse for application, but is not visible to others when the purse is closed. Mirror  20  is shown in an elongated, rectangular shape designed to fit within the space requirements of this particular embodiment of base  10 , but many other shapes are possible. Mirror  20  should ideally be as large as reasonably possible for ease of use, while remaining concealed when the purse is closed. Alternative embodiments of the present invention may omit mirror  20 . 
   Wrap  22  is applied to base  10  in the manner shown in  FIG. 3 , with the finished closed purse shown in the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 . Wrap  22  forms both the outer covering of the purse (except for the exposed end walls  16 ) and the covering flap. Although only one wrap  22  is illustrated, the present invention comprises a plurality of wraps  22  in various fashionable colors and materials. Wrap  22  is preferably formed of a flexible material, which may be fabric or otherwise, to which multiple rigid panels are applied for strength. The rigid panels may be formed of cardboard, plastic, or any other sufficiently rigid material to provide shape and support for wrap  22 , enabling the user to easily apply wrap  22  to base  10  as described hereafter. The panels may be either on the inside of a layered fabric material as shown in the illustrated preferred embodiment of  FIG. 3 , or adhered to the inside of the fabric. Small gaps in the application of the rigid panels create creasing points at which wrap  22  may bend in order to fit around base  10 . Thus in the illustrated preferred embodiment, five separate rigid panels  24  are employed. Other configurations in alternative embodiments will be employed in order to fit over the particular shape of base  10 . It may be noted that due to the creasing points that result from this design of wrap  22 , wrap  22  may be easily folded flat for storage while requiring minimal storage space. 
   In order to apply a wrap  22  to base  10 , the following steps are performed as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The end of wrap  22  opposite the flap is fitted against front wall  12 , with the end of wrap  22  aligned with and butting against mirror  20 . Pressing against the end of wrap  22  causes the engagement of a hook-and-loop fastener  26 , the two components of which are mounted on front wall  12  and the opposing location on wrap  22 . Various types of hook-and-loop fasteners  26  may be employed, including the Velcro brand hook-and-loop fasteners. The size and shape of the fastener tapes are not significant, provided that wrap  22  is securely attached to base  10  while remaining easily removable from base  10 . Other types of fasteners may be employed in alternative embodiments, including without limitation snaps and clips. 
   After the end of wrap  22  opposite the flap is attached at front wall  12 , the remaining portion of wrap  22  is wrapped around the bottom and back of base  10 . The user simply applies pressure at these points once each section of wrap  22  is fitted in place to engage the appropriate hook-and-loop fastener  26 . Wrap  22  is then folded over the top of base  10 , and the front flap portion of wrap  22  is draped over front wall  12 . An optional flap fastener (not shown) may be of any type that provides a sufficient engagement to hold down the front flap portion of wrap  22  and thereby retain the purse in the closed position, while being easily opened by the user. The flap fastener of the preferred embodiment may comprise, for example, a buckle or a hook-and-loop type fastener. In alternative embodiments, other portions of the inner surface of wrap  22  may be covered with either a hook- or loop-type fastener material such that additional items may be attached at various points, such as under the top section of wrap  22  that covers the open top of base  10 . One possible accessory that may attach to wrap  22  in this manner is a pen. Alternatively, a pen holder could be attached. In either case, the item would have attached a hook- or loop-type fastener material as appropriate to receive and engage with the hook- or loop-type fastener material at the attachment point on wrap  22 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 3 , a method for attaching a handle strap  32  to the preferred embodiment of the invention may now be described. In the preferred embodiment, a single strap  32  comprises a handle for the purse; in alternative embodiments, various types of handles may be used, including two or more straps  32 . Attached near each end of strap  32  are tabs  33 . Tabs  33  are preferably formed of the same flexible but strong material as strap  32 , but may be of any material sufficiently strong to support the weight of the purse. In order to attach strap  32  to base  10  of the purse, each tab  33  is inserted into a corresponding groove  36 . Groove  36  extends vertically along the side of each of end walls  16 . Each groove  36  is sized to fit each strap  32  and tab  33 , such that strap  32  is flush with the exterior of end walls  16  when strap  32  is engaged with end walls  16 . Each groove  36  preferably contains a hook fastener material fitted into it and bonded to base  10 . Each tab  33  is inserted into groove  36  to the inside of retainer  35 . Retainer  35  is preferably fitted across the face of groove  36  at the top end of groove  36 . Tab  33  is then pulled downward and pressed into groove  36 . Each tab  33  preferably includes a loop fastener material bonded to the side of tab  33  facing groove  36 , such that the loop fastener material of tab  33  engages with the hook fastener material of groove  36 , thereby holding tab  33  in place within groove  36 . (The hook-and-loop fastener materials may be reversed in an alternative embodiment as desired.) Once tab  33  is in place, the remaining end of handle  32  is pressed into place over tab  33 , outside of retainer  35 , and into groove  36 . Note that tab  33  is positioned on handle  32  such that when tab  33  is properly positioned in groove  36 , the end of handle  32  aligns with the bottom of groove  36 , thereby presenting a neat appearance. Handle  32  preferably comprises a loop fastener material at its ends below tab  33 , thereby allowing handle  32  to engage with groove  36 . The process is performed at each end of handle  32  for each side of base  10 . Handle  32  is thereby securely attached to base  10 , and each end of handle  32  hides each tab  33  so that the appearance of the purse is maintained. It may be noted that handle  32  may be removed and exchanged for a different handle  32  without removing wrap  22 , and wrap  22  may be exchanged for a different wrap  32  without removing handle  32 , if desired. It may further be noted that this attachment scheme for handle  32  is accomplished with no external hardware; there is thus no problem created by having the hardware style and color not match the jewelry or accessories chosen by the wearer. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a method for attaching a decorative clip  34  to a wrap  22  of the preferred embodiment of the invention may be described. As already explained, the preferred embodiment comprises a plurality of wraps  22 . Some wraps  22  may be designed for use without a decorative clip  34 , while others will not. Further in the preferred embodiment, multiple decorative clips  34  are employed with respect to the various wraps  22  that are designed to receive a decorative clip  34 . As a result, the user has many more options for purse configuration since multiple wraps  22  are available, and each wrap  22  may receive multiple clips  34 . A user may, for example, desire to match the jewelry or accessories being worn with the chosen decorative clip  34 , while matching wrap  22  to the clothes worn by the user. The employment of multiple wraps  22  and multiple decorative clips  34  makes this versatility possible. 
   Each decorative clip  34  engages with wrap  22  through aperture  38 . Decorative clip  34  features hinge  40 , which is hingeably attached to the back of decorative clip  34 . Hinge  40  may be folded down where it is biased against the back of decorative dip  34 , or may be folded upwards where it extends perpendicularly from the back of decorative clip  34 . 
   The present invention has been described with reference to certain preferred and alternative embodiments that are intended to be exemplary only and not limiting to the full scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.