Abstract:
The invention relates to an article carrier and, more specifically, to a customizable and modifiable article carrier built from a plurality of zipper strips. Each strip includes two bands of flexible material adjoined along an adjacent edge. The opposing edges of the bands have a toothed edge operable to lock to a toothed edge on an adjoining strip via a zipping mechanism. A plurality of strips are combined to form an article carrier compartment with optional closures and carrying straps.

Description:
The present invention relates to an article carrier built of zipper strips and, more specifically, to a selectively modifiable article carrier such as purses and the like. 
   BACKGROUND 
   The state of design is constantly in flux. From household appliances to architecture and apparel, design is constantly changing. Consumers have developed more particular and demanding tastes with each generation as they seek products that are comfortable, unique, and practical all in one package. Often, these characteristics are non-complimentary in that a unique product may not be practical. Consumers also want modern products to conform to the specific tasks at hand. They value the ability to modify and personalize their products in order to fit the situation or their personalities. Clearly, modern designers have a difficult task of predicting design and social change. 
   Article carriers, such as luggage, purses, briefcases, carryalls and the like, is one specific area that undergoes nearly continuous design change. Consumers will move from hard to soft-sided article carriers. Colors are also cyclical, varying between vibrant and loud to soft and dull. Even the size and shape of the article carriers varies. Small clutch purses may be demanded by consumers one month only to be replaced by large duffel-type purses the next month. 
   Despite the demand for nearly continuous change and consumers&#39; desire to modify and customize article carriers, current article carriers offer very limited choices for customization or modification. Most commonly, the consumer can merely pick from a range of colors and materials. Customization and modification after the purchase is usually discouraged, impractical, or impossible. 
   As such, there is a clear need within the article carrier industry for an inexpensive, easy to operate, simple, durable, and selectively modifiable article carrier. The article carrier of the present invention addresses at least one of the shortcomings in the prior art. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the present invention, an article carrier built of zipper strips is provided. More specifically, the article carrier of the present invention is selectively modifiable and customizable. The article carrier is formed from a plurality of individual zipper strips. Each strip will comprise two bands of flexible material joined along an adjacent edge. The outer, or opposing edges, will have integral zipper teeth. Unlike a traditional purse, jacket, or pants zipper that closes a single article of clothing or article carrier, the toothed edges are located on the exterior edges of the zipper strip. Therefore, the toothed edges can only be locked with another zipper strip by combining two strips. 
   Building an article carrier from a plurality of zipper strips is a unique construction technique with distinct advantages over the prior art. For instance, zipper strips can be inserted into or removed from the article carrier in order to modify the size of the article carrier. Inserting and removing strips also allows a user to customize or modify the colors and style of the article carrier. Strips can be exchanged between different styles or types of bags in order to create completely modified, personalized, and distinct article carriers. 
   An article carrier in accordance with the present invention efficiently address at least one of the shortcomings associated with prior art article carriers. The foregoing and additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an article carrier in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an article carrier in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention wherein a zipper strip is in the process of being unzipped; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an article carrier in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention wherein an unzipped zipper strip has been removed from the article carrier; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the article carrier of  FIG. 3  wherein the article carrier is reformed after the removal of a zipper strip; and 
       FIG. 5  is another perspective view of an article carrier wherein an article carrier strap that is not a zipper is illustrated in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   An article carrier in accordance with the present invention provides the article carrier industry with an inexpensive, easy to operate, simple, durable, and selectively modifiable article carrier. The article carrier allows a consumer to selectively modify and customize their article carrier. The article carrier is formed from a plurality of zipper strips. It should be noted that a large variety of styles and types of article carriers are envisioned besides the illustrated embodiments. Zipper strips can be added or removed from the article carrier. In fact, zipper strips from two or more different types or styles of bags can be swapped between the different types and styles of article carriers. Therefore, it will be obvious to one of skill in the art that the size, shape, and type of article carrier might vary from what is specifically described and illustrated without leaving the scope of the invention. 
   Turning to  FIG. 1 , an article carrier  10  that is comprised of a plurality of zipper strips  12  is illustrated. Zipper strips  12  in conjunction with an end zippers  20  define a compartment or receptacle portion  14  covered by an optional flap  16 , as explained further below. End zippers  20  may extend beyond the compartment  14  to form an optional strap  18 . 
   End zippers  20  include a first end, a second end, and two lateral sides with a traditional zipper running the length of the end zipper. To form a strap  18 , the first end of each end zipper  20  would abut the first end of a corresponding end zipper  20 . The abutting first ends are joined to each other by sewing the ends, fusing the ends, or otherwise joining the ends by means that would be obvious to one of skill in the art. The joined end zippers form a convenient means to transport carrier  10 . Because the first ends are secured together, unzipping the end zipper does not disconnect or separate the carrier whereas unzipping a zipper strip  12  would divide the article carrier. Again, depending on the style and type of article carrier, strap  18  is entirely optional. It is also envisioned that strap  18  might be formed from a number of suitable materials, such as a standard fabric, leather, suede or the like. 
   With or without strap  18 , carrier  10  includes end zippers  20 . An end border  22  is sewn along a first lateral side of the end zipper wherein border  22  wraps around the second end of each end zipper  20  and is then sewn along the second lateral edge of the end zipper  20 . The second ends of end zippers  20  are sewn to the border  20 . Therefore, unzipping end zippers  20  does not lead to the end zippers  20  separating from the article carrier. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , border  22  extends “higher” along one side of end zipper  20  than border  22  does on the second side of the strap zipper. An end portion of the border&#39;s “longer” side is not sewn to the end zipper. Therefore, the longer portion of border  22  can be folded over the “shorter” portion. This creates a flap. 
   The outer edge of border  22  includes a toothed edge that allows border  22  to be selectively connected corresponding toothed edges provided by zipper strips  12  (as explained further below) or even, potentially, to a toothed edge on a corresponding border on a second end zipper. Other construction techniques are available. 
   As may be more clearly illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , each zipper strip  12  consists of two elongated fabric bands  30 . Bands  30  are of the same length and width, although variations in size are envisioned. In particular styles or types of article carriers, one of the two joined bands might be either longer, wider, longer and wider, or shaped differently than the other joined band. For instance, to create the V-shaped flap as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , where the center of the flap is longer than the flap near the sides of the article carrier, bands  30  on each strip  12  could be slightly staggered in length to create the tapered look. Half the zipper strips would be staggered so the left band is shorter than the right band while the other half would have a shorter right band than the left band. 
   The tapered look can also be achieved by sewing the same size bands together in a slightly skewed fashion. Using this technique, the tapered look can be created by varying the way a given zipper strip is sewn together. 
   Bands  30  are placed side-by-side so that each band has an adjacent lateral edge and an opposing lateral edge. The adjacent edges on the two bands  30  are permanently joined by conventional means, such as sewing, adhesives, heat bonding or the like. The fabric material can be any known flexible purse or article carrier material, including, but not limited to, cotton, polyester, suede, leather, linen, and the like. 
   A toothed edge  32  is provided on the opposing side of each joined band  30 . The toothed edge locks with the toothed edge of an adjacent zipper strip  12  via a known zipping mechanism including a common slider  34  with a pull tab  36 . A plurality of zipper strips  12  are then zipped together. These combined zipper strips can be inserted between the borders  22 . 
   In order to create a flap, zipper strips  12  are of sufficient length to be folded twice. The first fold creates the article carrier compartment. This is the fold dictated by joining a zipper strip to border  22  that folds around the second end of the end zipper  20 . The second fold provides a loose end of the strip that overlies the first folded section. This loose end acts as flap  16 . This is facilitated by a border  22  that has one loose end, as explained above. The border, however, does not necessarily need to include a flap. The individual strips in  FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate this specific construction. 
   Article carrier  10  of the present invention is constructed from a plurality of zipper strips. This construction is also the mechanism that allows a consumer to customize and modify their article carrier. In  FIG. 2 , there is illustrated the initial process step of a process whereby a zipper strip  12  is removed from article carrier  10  to alter both the look and size of the carrier. Strip  12  includes opposing sides with toothed edges. By unzipping the edges from the adjacent strips via slides  34  and pull tabs  36 , the strip can be removed. The zipping motion occurs in the direction of the two arrows. It would also be possible to unzip only one edge in order to insert a new strip, thereby altering the look of carrier  10  while expanding the size of the compartment. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates the strip that is unzipped in  FIG. 2  in a spaced relationship to carrier  10 .  FIG. 4 , in turn, illustrates carrier  10  wherein the carrier is reformed following the removal of the strip. Compartment  14  has been reduced in size. The appearance has also been modified and/or customized. Obviously, the new dimensions create a new “look”. However, as bands  30  will often be colored, sometimes in alternating or complimentary colors, removing or adding a strip will change the appearance of carrier  10 . In this manner, a consumer can create a distinctive look or accent a color found in their apparel. Zipper strips  12  can be exchanged between different carriers for very personalized, distinctive and/or eclectic styles. 
   It should be noted that the end zippers or the optional strap do not need to include zippers. In  FIG. 5  an embodiment of carrier  10  is illustrated whereby a strap is provided without zippers. This allows the strap to be one piece of fabric with two ends that are joined by border  22 . Border  22  is still sewn around the second end of the strap. The strap is, of course, optional. However, end zippers  20  could also be replaced by a solid piece of fabric even if strap  18  is eliminated. 
   One skilled in the art will appreciate that the specific style or type of carrier is not limited to the above description or the figures. Carrier  10  could be a pouch, carry all, backpack, or other type of article carrier. Therefore, while the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that numerous variations, modifications and additional embodiments are possible, and all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the invention.