Patent Publication Number: US-2006011687-A1

Title: Adjustable purse wearable on different parts of the leg

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to purses or pouches and particularly to a purse for wearing on a user&#39;s leg under the clothing having adjustable straps that allow the purse to be worn on around a thigh, calf or ankle, or even around a portion of the arm, the purse having a tapered shape from wider at the top to narrower at the bottom corresponding to the taper in a user&#39;s limb and comprising two stretch straps each of a length corresponding to the size of a user&#39;s limb at the location of the strap and various secure pockets for holding items such as a cell phone, credit cards, lipstick, keys, cash, pens, make-up articles or feminine hygiene products or other items normally carried with the pockets conforming to the size and shape of the carried items.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      Women today have a need to carry certain essential items like cell phones, feminine products, keys and lipstick without the hassle of carrying around a purse or shoulder bag. In addition, women don&#39;t want to sacrifice their fashion sense by placing those items in their pant pockets or skirt pockets. Also, all too often, it is difficult for women to safeguard their purses and shoulder bags when attending a concert, dance club, sporting event, or school classroom. More particularly, this invention allows them to safeguard those items by having it strapped to their leg, concealed under their clothes, that offers compartments specifically designed to carry the aforementioned items.  
      Pouch or purse-type article holders have been provided in prior art for wearing various parts of the body, such as the wrist, ankle, or thigh. Prior art pouches for wearing on a leg allow for the carrying of personal items around the leg, but these inventions are limited to the versatility of where the purse is worn. None are specifically adapted to the shape of a user&#39;s thigh with adjustable straps of different lengths corresponding to the size of the user&#39;s limb at the location of the straps.  
      Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,624, issued Jul. 18, 1989 to Clem, concerns a thigh mountable small modular pack system with demountable interchangeable pouches. The pack system is worn on either thigh held in place with strapping around the thigh and one or more straps connected to a waist belt. While the modular pack system can have one or more pouches it includes removeable and replaceable mounting provision for a plurality of removeable interchangeable pouches. The backplane mounting portion of the pack system on which removeable pouches are mounted is, as a maximum, approximately eight inches wide by ten inches high having adjustable leg straps and vertical strapping utilizing buckles permanently attached. Elastic looping is fastened to the bottom of the backplane mounting portion. The backplane portion is constructed with a double layer with one vertical side not sewn shut allowing space for storage of flat flexible items such as maps, photographs, instructions, orders and others, with such an edge sealable as by Velcro™ closure stripping. In some systems one or more bags may be permanently sewn to the backplane and some removeable pouches utilize Velcro™ type fastening tape attached to the back of pouches for removeable attachment to the backplane covered with mating tape of Velcro™ type material. Prior invention U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,624 does not allow for the device to be fitted comfortably around the bottom ankle.  
      Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 1,184,311, issued May 23, 1916 to Boch, shows a carrier for valuables that comprises two pouches sewn to straps, which are secured to the leg for the purpose of concealing the valuables.  
      Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 3,322,311, issued May 30, 1967 to Homer, provides an article holding device adapted for securement to the leg, below the knee, thereby being undiscernibly covered by a trousers leg. The device comprises a plurality of pockets for holding various personal articles and is adjustably secured by upper and lower leg encircling bands. Prior invention U.S. Pat. No. 3,322,311 is limited to the area around the knee area.  
      Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,568,574, issued May 27, 2003 to Jones, is for a body pouch band for carrying personal effects on the limb of a user. The body pouch band includes a pouch having front and rear walls and side, top and bottom edges. The side and bottom edges can be gusseted. The top of the pouch can be fastened shut by use of an interlocking groove type sealing mechanism. The pouch is attached to a limb band, which can be fastened to the wrist, upper arm, or ankle of a user. The limb band is made of stretchable material, and can be a cuff or a sleeve. The cuff embodiments have stretchable straps or bands that are either releasably fastened together at their outer ends, such as by use of hook and loop fastener material, or permanently fastened at their outer ends, such as by sewing. The sleeve embodiments are made of stretchable material, and are adapted to be slid into position over the selected limb portion of the user. In the sleeve embodiment for use over the upper arm, opposing holes pass through the wall of the sleeve to provide improved flexibility. The pouch and limb band are preferably made of waterproof materials so that the body pouch band may be worn during water sports.  
      Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 781,056, issued Jan. 31, 1905 to Duncan, claims a safety purse that attaches to a leg by means of straps, which comprises two separate pouches, one compartmented pouch secured below the knee and another pouch secured above the knee. The upper corners of the compartmented pouch and the lower corners of the upper pouch are joined forming a hinge-like connection, thereby allowing movement of the knee.  
      Prior art U.S. Pat. No. D288,743, issued Mar. 17, 1987 to Taylor, discloses the ornamental design for a leg pouch, which is held onto the leg by an upper and a lower strap.  
      Prior art U.S. Pat. No. D435,338, issued Dec. 26, 2000 to DiLorenzo, puts forth the ornamental design for a thigh mountable pouch, which attaches to the thigh by two straps and also attaches to a belt.  
      Prior art U.S. Pat. No. D417,072, issued Nov. 30, 1999 to Reinhart, indicates the ornamental design for a thigh pack, which is secured to the thigh by a strap, and suspended by a clip to a belt. The invention of D417,072 is designed to be worn on the outside of the clothes and hooked to a waist belt.  
      Prior art U.S. Pat. No. D340,806, issued Nov. 2, 1993 to Gonzalez, illustrates the ornamental design for a body pouch having straps for securing to the body.  
      Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,366, issued May 26, 1998 to Mazzo, describes a wrist and leg wallet. The waterproof wallet and pouch combination can be securely worn around the wrist, with the wallet secured in the pouch in a substantially waterproof manner. The pouch is secured to the limb by means of a sleeve and is secured in position by hook and loop type fastener. When the back of the pouch seals over the opening in the pouch to secure to the front of the pouch by hook and loop type fasteners the section of the front of the pouch adjacent the opening of the pouch folds back on its self. The wallet contains a note compartment, which runs the length of the wallet, and is divided into three sections along its length and is folded with, at least, one of the end sections being folded onto the middle section, and placed in the pouch.  
      Prior art U.S. Patent Application #20010035443, published Nov. 1, 2001 by Jones, provides a waterproof body pouch band for carrying personal effects on the limb of a user. The body pouch band includes a pouch having front and rear walls and side, top and bottom edges. The side and bottom edges can be gusseted. The top of the pouch can be fastened shut by use of an interlocking groove type sealing mechanism. The pouch is attached to a limb band, which can be fastened to the wrist, upper arm, or ankle of a user. The limb band is made of stretchable material, and can be a cuff or a sleeve. The cuff embodiments have stretchable straps or bands that are either releasably fastened together at their outer ends, such as by use of hook and loop fastener material, or permanently fastened at their outer ends, such as by sewing. The sleeve embodiments are made of stretchable material, and are adapted to be slid into position over the selected limb portion of the user. In the sleeve embodiment for use over the upper arm, opposing holes pass through the wall of the sleeve to provide improved flexibility. The pouch and limb band are preferably made of waterproof materials so that the body pouch band may be worn during water sports.  
      Prior art U.S. Patent Application #20030222109, published Dec. 4, 2003 by Weiss, describes a device for carrying portable equipment, which includes a band configured to be worn on the limb of a person and allows for the flow of air between the band and the limb of a person. The device also comprises a pair of adjustable straps, one of each of the pair of adjustable straps being attached to opposite ends of the band. The device may be adapted to include a container integrally formed with the band. The device may also include a container with a sealable cover and a portable electronic device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a cellular telephone, integrally formed with the band.  
      Prior art U.S. Patent Application #20030213827, published Nov. 20, 2003 by Langmuir, discloses a pack for wearing around the waist, which may include a shoulder strap or a leg strap. The wearable pack includes a waist belt and a tool pouch that has at least one carrying component. The tool pouch detachably joins to the waist belt with first and second suspending connectors that include a fastener component mounted on the belt and a member connected to the pouch and the fastener component. The members diverge upwardly from one another from the pouch to their respective fastener components. The present invention provides a system for attaching the tool pouch to the waist belt with maximum stability. The present invention includes a tool pouch that is further attachable to either a shoulder strap or a leg strap. This provides a triangular attachment that helps to stabilize the pouch and distribute the weight of the pouch.  
      What is needed is a purse for wearing on a leg of a user underneath the clothing having adjustable straps that allow the purse to positioned as desired, the purse being tapered to conform to the taper in a user&#39;s leg and comprising two stretch straps each of a length corresponding to the size of a user&#39;s leg at the location of the strap and various secure pockets for holding items normally carried in a purse.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      An object of the present invention is to provide a purse for wearing under clothing on a thigh, upper calf, or lower calf and ankle having adjustable straps that allow the purse to also be positioned as desired, the purse having a tapered shape from wider at the top to narrower at the bottom corresponding to the taper in a user&#39;s leg and comprising two of three selected stretch straps each of a length corresponding to the size of a user&#39;s leg at the location of the strap and various secure pockets for holding items such as a cell phone, credit cards, lipstick, keys, cash, pens, make-up articles or feminine hygiene products or other items normally carried with the pockets conforming to the size and shape of the carried items, so that the items fit snugly in the pockets and do not fall out and so that the purse fits snugly and unobtrusively against the leg.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for carrying personal items on the leg that would otherwise be carried in a shoulder bag or purse.  
      One more object of the present invention is to provide a device for carrying of women&#39;s daily essential items such as cell phones, feminine products, keys and lipstick.  
      An additional object of the present invention is to provide a device for wearing inconspicuously under clothing at any desired location on a user&#39;s limb which will not show underneath the clothing which enables carrying items without sacrificing the user&#39;s fashion sense by placing those items in pant pockets or skirt pockets.  
      A further object of the present invention is to provide a device to avoid the need to safeguard a purse or shoulder bag when attending a concert, dance club, sporting event, or school classroom by allowing a user to safeguard those items by having the device strapped to a user&#39;s leg, concealed under the user&#39;s clothes.  
      An added object of the present invention is that the stretchable straps of specific lengths to encircle particular locations on limbs of the user hold the tapered body of the purse with a snug fit under the clothes without the need for any waist support.  
      Yet another object of the present invention is that it is flexible and sizeable to meet the needs of a woman either wearing pants with the present invention concealed around the ankle or calf or wearing skirts with the present invention concealed around the thigh.  
      In brief, the present invention is best defined as a vanity or cosmetic purse that is designed to offer a woman the convenience of carrying personal items (which are normally kept in her purse), directly on her person, without the hassle of toting around a hand or shoulder purse or cluttering up her pockets. While worn on the leg, the present invention can be concealed under pants (when worn on the ankle or calf) or under a skirt (when worn around the thigh). It is comprised of a soft leathery material backing with a number of compartments for various items such as: cell phone, credit card/drivers license (located behind cell phone area), lipstick, pen/pencil or lip liner (located inside cell phone compartment), key holder, and zippered pouch for items like sanitary napkins, tampons, other awkward shaped cosmetic items.  
      The present invention uses elastic straps, adjusted by a strap adjuster, and bra hooks on both ends, to allow someone to wear it on the ankle, calf, or thigh. It is structured to fit under the clothes without any waist support.  
      The present invention is structured with dimensions preferably (approximately) six inches wide by five inches tall. It is specifically cut inward so the top width is wider than the bottom width (in the shape of a trapezoid wider at the top than the bottom) to allow for the Leg Purse™ to uniformly fit over the leg allowing the “fitting straps” to line up flush considering for the natural size difference between the ankle to the lower calf, lower calf to upper calf, or lower thigh to upper thigh. On the outside of each corner is a loop design made of the same leathery material which allows the “bra-strap” fitting straps to connect.  
      The present invention connects around the leg by means of a choice of two of three differently sized straps depending on the desired location of the Leg Purse™ on the leg. There are three removable straps that are components of the Leg Purse™; the shortest of the straps allows for fitting the ankle and lower calf, the middle size strap allows for lower calf, upper calf, and lower thigh, and the longest strap allows for upper thigh. Each of the straps is a removable elastic “bra-strap” type band with a “bra-hook” sewn into both ends which fit into loop holes attached to the body of the Leg Purse™, with a loop on each side of the top and a loop on each side of the bottom of the Leg Purse™. The strap is adjustable by means of a “strap adjuster”. The use of elastic straps with strap adjusters allow for maximum size alteration depending on the part of the leg one wishes to wear the Leg Purse™.  
      The Leg Purse™ preferably contains six compartments each specifically structured to securely hold a specific item as follows:  
      A: A lipstick holder compartment is roughly two inches tall by three quarter inches wide. The compartment is comprised of soft leathery material with elastic sides to allow for stretching to accommodate various size lipsticks. The leathery material of this pouch “rounds off” at the bottom securing the inserted objects preventing them from falling out.  
      B: A lip liner/pen holder is a thin elastic material attached on the inside of the cell phone compartment, against the elastic side. This holder is described in a “loop” fashion and when empty, simply lies flat against the side. When filled, it allows for the insertion of a pen or lip liner.  
      C: A cell phone holder is roughly four inches tall by two inches wide. The compartment is comprised of soft leathery material with elastic sides to allow for stretching to accommodate various size cell phones. The leathery material of this pouch “rounds off” at the bottom securing the cell phone preventing it from falling out. This pouch is secured by a flap cover that connects to the front of the pouch by means of Velcro™. At the bottom section of the pouch may be a cutout which has a mirror (roughly one and a half inches wide and one inch tall) which is securely fastened from the inside of the pouch.  
      D: A license/credit card holder is located inside the Cell phone compartment, lying flat and sewn against the base of the Leg Purse™. It is a thin material with room to store a credit card and driver&#39;s license.  
      E: A zippered pocket holder is comprised of soft leathery material secured by a zipper on one side and sewn to the base of the Leg Purse™ on the bottom side. Sides three and four are sewn to elastic which is in turn sewn to the base of the Leg Purse™ which allows for stretching to accommodate different sizes and numbers of items placed in this pouch. The pouch is roughly four inches long and two inches wide. This compartment allows for a woman to place personal items such as sanitary napkins, tampons, awkwardly shaped cosmetic make-up containers.  
      F: A key holder is located on top of the zippered pocket holder and is comprised of soft leathery material with elastic sides to allow for stretching to accommodate various sizes and numbers of keys. The shape of the key holder is designed in a “V” shape, with the narrow bottom open ended allowing for lengthy keys. This pouch is secured by a flap cover that connects to the front of the pouch by means of Velcro™ or an insertion lock.  
      An advantage of the present invention is that it may be worn on any desired location on a leg of a wearer.  
      One more advantage of the present invention is that it conforms to the shape of the portion of the leg where it is positioned.  
      Another advantage of the present invention is that it is adjustable.  
      An additional advantage of the present invention is that it is comfortable.  
      Another advantage object of the present invention is that it provides specific form-fitted pockets.  
      Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it holds essential items securely.  
      Still another advantage of the present invention is that it may be concealed inconspicuously. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      These and other details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:  
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the Leg Purse™ of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is an elevational view of the adjustable straps of the invention of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of a user wearing a dress with the invention of  FIG. 1  underneath around a thigh;  
       FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of a user wearing pants with the invention of  FIG. 1  underneath around a lower calf and ankle area;  
       FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of a user wearing pants with the invention of  FIG. 1  underneath around an upper calf area. 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION  
      In  FIGS. 1-5 , a wearable purse  20  may be worn alternately in a variety of locations on a user&#39;s leg underneath a user&#39;s clothing  50  and  60 , as shown in  FIGS. 3-5 . The purse  20  comprises a tapered backing sheet  10  having a wider top edge and narrower bottom edge with tapered side edges  12  from the top edge to the bottom edge, corresponding to a taper in a user&#39;s leg, a loop  11  means for receiving a connector, such as a hook  33  from an attaching strap  30 A,  30 B and  30 C, adjacent to each intersection of the sides edges  12  with the top and bottom edges, a back surface (not shown) adapted for contacting a user&#39;s skin, and a front surface having a plurality of pockets  21 - 26  attached to the front surface. Each of the pockets  21 - 26  are structured in a specific shape adapted to receive and contain a specific item normally carried in a conventional purse, such as a cell phone  43 , credit cards  44 , a license  44 , a lipstick container  41 , keys  46 , a pen  42  or lip liner  42 , and not shown, paper money, coins make-up articles, feminine hygiene products and other items normally carried in a purse. Each of the pockets  21 - 26  conforms to a size and shape of a carried item, so that the items fit snugly in the pockets  21 - 26  and do not fall out and so that the purse  20  fits snugly and unobtrusively against a user&#39;s leg underneath clothing  50  and  60  worn by a user, shown in  FIGS. 3-5 .  
      A lipstick pocket  21  comprises a lipstick pocket front  14 A of inelastic material rounded at a bottom connection  16 A to the back sheet  10 , and elastic lipstick pocket sides  15 A to allow for stretching to accommodate various sizes of lipstick containers  41  fitting within the lipstick pocket.  
      The purse  20  also has a cell phone pocket  23  comprising a cell phone pocket front  14 B of inelastic material rounded at a bottom connection  16 B to the back sheet  10  and, elastic cell pocket sides  15 B to allow for stretching to accommodate various sized cell phones  43  contained therein, and a flap cell phone pocket cover  17 A that connects to the cell phone pocket front  14 B by means of a mating hook  27 A and loop  27 B fastener. The flap cell phone pocket cover  17 A has a first recessed edge  9 A to accommodate a protruding end of a lip liner  42  or pen  42  from the lip liner/pen holder  22  and a second recessed edge  9 B to accommodate a protruding antenna from a cell phone  43  in the cell phone pocket  23 . The flap cell phone cover  17 A may also comprise a plate  18  or other means for displaying indicia on a front of the cover, as seen in  FIG. 1 .  
      A lip liner or pen pocket  22  comprises a thin elastic material  15 F attached on the inside of the cell phone pocket  23  against one of the cell phone pocket elastic sides  15 B to contain one or more pens  42  or lip liners  42 .  
      A card holder pocket  24  comprises a flat inelastic panel  24  located inside the cell phone holder  23 , lying flat and sewn against the backing sheet  10  forming a pocket  24  sized to store one or more credit cards  44  and a drivers license  44 .  
      A zippered pocket  25  comprises soft leathery material secured closed by a zipper opening  19  and sewn to the backing sheet  10 , the zippered pocket  25  comprising an elastic material top edge  15 C and elastic material side edge  15 D for expansion of the zippered pocket holder  25  to accommodate a variety of items therein. A key holder pocket  26  is attached on an outer surface of the zippered pocket holder  25  and is comprised of soft leathery material with elastic material sides  15 E to allow for stretching to accommodate various sizes and numbers of keys  46 , the key holder  26  structured in a “V” shape, with a narrow bottom open end  8  allowing for lengthy keys  46 . A key pocket flap cover  17 B connects to the front of the key holder pocket  26  by means of an insertion lock  29 , shown in  FIG. 1 , or a mating hook and loop fastener (not shown).  
      Rivets or studs  13  may be added as decorative elements or to assist in securing the pockets to the backing sheet or other decorative elements may be added.  
      The purse  20  further comprises three adjustable stretch straps  30 A,  30 B and  30 C, seen in  FIGS. 2A, 2B  and  2 C, each of a different specific length adapted to encircle a user&#39;s leg at a specific leg location on a thigh, calf, and ankle of a user&#39;s leg, respectively. Each of the straps  30 A,  30 B and  30 C comprises an elongated stretchable strap  31  having a means, such as a slider  32  at an end of an overlapping portion of the strap slidable along the strap  31 , for adjusting the length of the strap  31  and at each end of the strap a connector, such as a bra-type hook  33 , for removable attachment to one of the loops  11  on the backing sheet  10 . Each of the hooks  33  preferably comprises a bra-type hook  33  adapted to removably attach to one of the loops  11  on the backing sheet  10  with two of the straps  30 A,  30 B and  30 C stretched around a specific portion of a user&#39;s leg appropriate to the length of the strap  30 A,  30 B and  30 C, as seen in  FIGS. 3-5 , one strap attached to the top two loops and the other strap attached to the bottom two loops.  
      The short length strap  30 C, seen in  FIG. 2C , is adapted for fitting the ankle and lower calf, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . A middle length strap  30 B, shown in  FIG. 2B , is adapted for fitting a lower calf, upper calf, and lower thigh, as depicted in  FIGS. 3-5 . A long length strap  30 A, seen in  FIG. 2A , is adapted for fitting an upper thigh, as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
      In practice, a woman may carry items such as a cell phone  43 , credit cards  44 , driver&#39;s license  44 , lipstick  41 , pen/pencil  42  or lip liner  42 , keys  46 , and various items not shown such as coins and paper money, sanitary napkins, tampons, other awkward shaped cosmetic items in the zippered pocket  25 , directly on her person, without the hassle of toting around a hand or shoulder purse or cluttering up her pockets. Each item  41 - 44  and  46  has a specific pocket  21 - 25 , in which the items  41 - 44  and  46  are snugly fitted for secure storage.  
      While worn on the leg, the present invention  20  can be inconspicuously concealed under pants  60  when worn on the ankle or calf, as seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , or under a skirt  50  when worn around the thigh, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  
      The woman would choose where she wanted to wear the purse  20  (thigh, calf, or ankle) and then choose two of the three differently sized straps,  30 A,  30 B, and  30 C. The two chosen straps  30 A,  30 B, and  30 C would be attached to the backing sheet  10  by engaging a first end hook  33  of each strap  30 A,  30 B, and  30 C to a loop  11  located on a side  12  of the backing sheet  10 . The purse  20  would be placed against the limb with the pockets  21 - 25  of the purse facing outwardly. While holding the purse  20  in place the upper strap  30 A,  30 B, and  30 C is wrapped around the limb and the second end hook  33  would be placed into a loop  11  on a second side  12  of the backing sheet  10 . The lower strap  30 B or  30 C is wrapped around the limb and the second end hook  33  would be placed into a loop  11  on a second side  12  of the backing sheet  10 , thereby securing the purse  20 . Final adjustments may be made to tighten the straps  30 A,  30 B, and  30 C by moving the strap adjuster  32 . Alternately the straps may be attached to the purse and the purse with pre-attached straps slipped over the foot onto the leg to the desired position.  
      Although the pockets  21 - 25  have been described as being made to fit preferred specific items  41 - 44  and  46 , other items may be stored such as a pepper spray canister (not shown) in the lipstick holder  21 .  
      It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.