Patent Publication Number: US-2011056599-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for display of friendship or group association

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/844,885 filed Jan. 14, 2007 and U.S. Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 11/890,960, and is incorporated in its entirety hereto by reference. The invention herein disclosed and described relates to cooperatively engageable bags and purses. More particularly it relates to a method of public display of friendship, affection, or group association, employing cooperatively engageable handbag components which form a single handbag or purse for each individual having a substantially identical appearance, thereby allowing third parties to ascertain the association between two individuals carrying the bags. In one preferred mode of the disclosed method, the bags are pre-manufactured and sold to parties who separate them. In another preferred mode of the method yielding the user associated bags, components for the separable bags along with ornamental elements would be provided to persons who would ornament their own unique separable bags. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In a modern society, there is a frequent desire of individuals to publicly display or announce their friendship, affection, love, or association with other individuals. One such manner of public display is a tatoo where a person may have the name of another person applied to their skin thereby allowing third parties to ascertain their affection or association with another person. Or, both individuals will have the same artwork placed on their skin to provide a visual cue to third parties of the individual association or affection between the two parties. However, body art tends to be permanent and associations tend to be less lengthy and such a display can become a hindrance if the association ends. 
     Schools, such as grammar and high schools in more recent years have adopted rules against physical public displays of affection as unacceptable and subject to discipline, Further, once-popular clothing with lettering or indica showing some sort of association between two individuals, or a group of individuals, has also been limited due to gangs and the potential for violence. Further, even where clothing is allowed to show an association. such as a t-shirt or jacket, it cannot be worn daily since it soils or because styles may change, or for various other reasons. 
     In grammar schools, girls especially like to show their friendship with other girls in the school. Additionally, students also like to display their group association with such things as cheerleading, pep clubs, or some other club or school affiliation. However, clothing as noted lacks the ability for daily wear, and further, lacks the ability for customization to show individual associations between two parties, or a group association, with some individual customization. Further, all such generally available modes of display of affection or affiliation lack a utilitarian ability to carry things, and to instantly customize the device showing affiliation or affection, to show a new or changed affiliation or affection for a significant other individual should emotions or other factors require an immediate change. 
     High schools and colleges, while being larger and having older attendees, still have a need for individuals to display their personal friendship or affection with another person or some individualized affiliation of individual persons, with a group, that may be displayed but not worn, that allows third parties to ascertain the personal friendship or group association. 
     As such there exists an unmet need for a device that allows two individuals to communicate to each other and to third parties, affection, friendship, or affiliation between the two persons. Such a device should provide for an immediate alteration in visual appearance to allow for immediate communication to third parties of the affection, friendship, or other association between the two individuals. Such a device and method should provide some utilitarian function and also should not be clothing that is hard to wear daily due to fashion and hygiene concerns. Still further, such a device should allow an individual, if desired, to show the individual&#39;s association with a group of similarly minded individuals such as a club, but still allow for customization or individual personality characteristics in the device when viewed by third parties. 
     Additionally, such a device should be adapted for sale in both separable pairs to allow two individuals to exchange halves to form substantially identical whole devices to show an individual affiliation, or saleable in halves, where one-half is provided by a group or organization and is engageable to any of a plurality of other half devices to thereby display the individual&#39;s association with the group to third parties. 
     Still further. such a device and method should also allow for a plurality of more than two individuals to assemble substantially similar handbags or purses that when viewed by third parties will show an affiliation between the plurality due to their identical appearances. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a device and method for display of friendship or affection between two individuals to third parties which employs a handbag or purse. 
     It is a further object to provide a device and method for display of an individual&#39;s association with a group or association using a handbag or purse. 
     It is an additional object of this invention to provide a method whereby two individuals may purchase a handbag or purse with individual indica and design characteristics that is separable into two halves which will engage with half components of any similarly configured purse or handbag, to form a unique, and visually identifiable pair of purses that may be carried by the two individuals. 
     It is an additional object of this invention to provide a method for a group or association to sell a first component of a handbag or purse that is visually associated with the group and which is adapted for engagement to any of a plurality of second components to form individual handbags or purses which identify persons carrying them as members. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a method of identifying rank or characteristics of an individual member of a group, concurrently with membership in the group, using separable half components of handbags or purses which when engaged foil a single unit which third parties may ascertain as a group affiliation and rank or other individual characteristics of the person carrying it. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a method for groups and associations to control displays of group membership through limiting the distribution of a first half of a handbag or purse that is engageable to a second half thereof. 
     It is an additional object of this invention to provide a method for individuals to display affection or friendship with other individuals through the sale of customized pairs of half components for assembly to handbags and also allow a change in affiliation of the individuals to others with similarly engageable half components to an assembleable purse or handbag. 
     Finally, it is an object of this invention to provide a method and device that allows for public displays of affiliation or affection or friendship between more than two individuals, by allowing the assembly of substantially identically appearing handbags or purses for each person, from individual components adapted for cooperative engagement to other components. 
     With respect to the above description and background, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to he understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components and/or steps set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The various apparatus and methods of the invention herein described and disclosed are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways which will he obvious to those skilled in the art once they review this disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other devices, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosed device. It is important, therefore, that the objects and claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology, insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The device and method herein disclosed and described provides a method and apparatus to identify a friendship or association between two or more individuals, to third parties. The method operates through the provision of assembleable handbags or purses having individual visually identifiable display elements for each component, that yield single custom appearing purse or handbag that can be carried by two or more affiliated parties. When viewed by third parties, the custom assembled purse or handbags will show the affiliation between the two or more persons carrying them. 
     In a first preferred mode of the device, affection or friendship between two individuals may be displayed to viewing third parties, using the assembleable handbag or purse carried by each. In this mode, a first and second purse or handbag, each having unique visual characteristics, would be sold or provided to each of the two individuals. Both unique handbags are separable into half components which engage any other half component adapted for such an engagement. Consequently, half of the first handbag having a unique appearance can be engaged with half of the second purse or handbag also having its own unique visual appearance. Both persons thus end up with identical and highly unique appearing individual handbags formed of half of their own handbag and half of the other person&#39;s bag. Third parties viewing the two individuals can visually identify their affiliation by the customized and unique but identical handbags carried by each. The unique individualizing factors of the halves may be one or a combination of color, texture, shape, indica, or other individualizing factors. 
     In this mode, the individual handbags would be available in a mirid of colors and with unique indica on each separable handbag sold. Each such unique handbag would be adapted for separation into two halves that are each engageable to any of the other halves of similarly configured handbags. Two individuals wishing to display to third parties an affiliation, friendship, or affection would purchase their own unique separable handbag and trade one-half of the purchased bag with the other of the pair. Both would engage the half traded with the half of the bag kept, to form a pair of handbags that are identical in appearance when viewed by third parties. Alternatively, one of the two people could purchase the bag as a whole and then give one half to the other of the pair so that they may be identified as a couple by third parties when carrying the two halves. 
     For instance, the individual bags sold to be separated into halves could be sold in bright red and purple respectively. The two friends would exchange halves from their respective bags to form two highly unique bags where one half is purple and the other bright red. Third parties viewing them would immediately see their association from the highly customized bags carried by each. Or, one half might have a plaid or striped appearance and the other with polkadot. The two assembled whole bags carried by each party would be very unique and identify their association. 
     In another preferred mode building on the first, group members of an association can be identified to third parties through the provision of bags assembled from two components. In this mode of the device, the individualizing characteristics of one half of the bag would be controlled by and sold or distributed by the group such as the honor society, glee club, or drama club. The first half of the bag would be provided to each member by the organization. The member would have the option of choosing a second half of the bag for engagement to the first, from any second half that is adapted to engage the first. The second half might identify the person, just be a unique design for customization, or identify their rank or other status in the organization. Third parties will view the assembled bag will be able to identify their membership in the group and any other unique characteristics of identification provided by the second half to the bag. 
     In yet another mode of the method and device, public displays of affiliation or affection or friendship between more than two individuals are provided by the employment of engageable customized components for an assembled handbag, with each being engageable with a plurality of the other components. This mode of the device would have the components sold in individual components rather than paired halves and would allow a plurality of group members to choose their individual customized component. Thereafter, once all the individual unique components are identified, each member would obtain one each of the individual customized components and would assemble them with each other to form a bag with a plurality of individual components equal to number of persons in the group. For instance, a card club with four members would each buy the identified component of the three others and their own and assemble a highly customized and identifiable bag from the four pieces which would be adapted for that assembly. 
     Still further, in a particularly preferred mode of the method herein, the two halves of the separable bag would be constructed and decorated by one or both individuals. In steps providing this mode of the invention, separable bags would be provided in a venue such as a retail store or in a mall, to individuals wishing to custom decorate the two halves of the separable bag. The separable bags can be of any shape so long as the two half components render the same ornamental view to third parties. For example a heart shaped separable bag would split into two separate but substantially identical heart shaped bags. 
     In this mode of the method and apparatus, the bag blanks would be provided to users in the appropriate venue and all mode of decorations would be provided to ornament the bags. Such ornamentation could be patches, glitter, chevrons, stripes, fabric adherent paint, charms that split in two, such as a butterfly where one wing would be engaged to one bag and the other to the second half bag, and when the two bags are joined the butterfly would also be engaged. 
     In this mode of a method for yielding the device, by providing blank separable bags, the users would build a bag that would separate and allow both to carry one half of the jointly decorated bag. 
     With respect to the above description of an assembleable handbag or purse that provides a method of identifying an affiliation between two or more individuals, or multiple individuals with an organization or club, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or by modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein the detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  depicts a mode of the device wherein two custom appearing bags would be separated into half components for assembly into two customized bags to communicate a friendship or affection between two persons carrying them. 
         FIG. 2  is a view of the two custom bags formed by the half components of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  depicts a mode of the device and method wherein a club or association would provide one half of an assembled bag to identify members. 
         FIG. 4  is a view of a mode of the device and method wherein individual components are engageable to any two other similarly configured components whereby more than two persons can carry identically customized bags to show an affiliation. 
         FIG. 5  depicts the components of  FIG. 4  assembled. 
         FIG. 6  depicts a mode of the device and method, where components are identifiable by a shape such as a star and are engageable to other components of a similar, or dissimilar shape. 
         FIG. 7  depicts the components of a pair of assembled customized bags being individualized by a shape and appearance of an animal head with the resulting formed bags having two sides each with a different animal head. 
         FIG. 7   a  depicts a closeup of two hag halves where a charm of a butterfly having two halves is shown with the two wings engaged to each other, with one wing engaged to one respective half of the formed bag. 
         FIG. 8  depicts a method for providing users with either blank or marked separable bags for user-chosen ornamentation in a method where associated users of the hag halves would build their own bag with ornamentation to signify their association. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-8  depict various modes of the disclosed device  10  and method for identifying an affiliation between two or more individuals through the provision of individual components  12  which are adapted for engagement to similarly configured components  12 , to form unique handbags  14  with each having substantially the same highly customized visual appearance. This method of forming handbags  14  from components  12  adapted for engagement to yield highly customized pairs or pluralities of handbags  14  with each having a substantially identical appearance, provides a means to show the affiliation between the two or more persons carrying the substantially similar appearing handbags  14  to third parties viewing them. The formed handbags  14  would have interior compartments  17  in-between the sidewalls of the components  12  for storage and such. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-2  and also in  6 - 7 , in a first preferred mode of the method and device  10 , third parties can identify an affiliation or affection or friendship between two individuals from the handbag  14  each of the two carries. In this mode, matched components  12  forming a handbag  14 , would be sold or provided to each of the two individuals who can choose the initial handbag  14  from a plurality of such handbags having one or a plurality of individualizing visual characteristics. Such individualizing characteristics can include one or a combination of individualizing characteristics from a group consisting of color, fabric patterns, shape, and indica. Of course those skilled in the art will realize that other individualizing visual characteristics may be employed and any such characteristics as would occur to those skilled in the art are anticipated within the scope of this invention. 
     The initial handbags so purchased, formed of two engageable components  12 , would at the time of first purchase have identical but separable components  12  that would be engageable to any components  12  separated from any other formed handbag  14 . Once the two individuals have possession of their handbag  14  with their chosen individualizing visual characteristics, they would separate the two components  12  and trade with the other individual in the pair. Both would then engage the received component  12  from the other, with their leftover component  12  to thereby yield a pair of handbags  14  with each having a highly unique appearance when viewed. 
     Means for engagement of the two components  12  can be means for releasable engagement such as hook and loop fabric  16  or cooperating fasteners such as snaps  18 , or a zipper  23 , or other means for a separable engagement of the two components  12  to form the custom appearing handbag  14 . Third parties viewing the two individuals carrying their highly customized handbags  14  formed by the engaged components  12  will thereby have a means to visually identify the affiliation between the two. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  depict the formation of such highly customized resulting handbags  14  where the plaid and striped components are joined to the polkadot components, to yield two handbags  14  each having one half plaid and striped and one half polka dot. The same unique pair of substantially identical but highly identifiable handbags  14  can result from using two colors, or as in  FIG. 7 , a unique shape such as an animal head caricature or configuration for each component  12 . Or, the individualizing characteristics might be mixed for instance a plaid component of  FIG. 1 , engaged to a frog head component of  FIG. 7  so long as both have one side surface adapted for engagement to the other such as with hook and loop fabric  16  or snaps  18 . There is thus an infinite number of possible formed handbags  14  having an infinite number of identifiable visual characteristics for the components  12  forming the two halves of the resulting handbag  14  limited only by the number of components  12  available and adapted to engage other components  12 . 
     In another preferred mode of the method and device  10  especially adaptable for group affiliation identification to third parties, individual members can be identified through the provision of bags assembled from two components. Further, the group, by controlling distribution of the first component  13  identifiable with the group, can control which individuals are able to identify themselves as affiliated. In this mode the first component  13  would bear some individualizing characteristic identifiable with the group such as a name, logo, design, or other means visual group identification. This first component  13  would be provided to paying or otherwise authorized members of the group who would buy it through a sales venue authorized and controlled by the group. The second component  15  would be sold either through the group controlled venue, or through a separate venue such as a school, or sporting goods store. For example a Football League would sell the first component  13  from a website store, or through authorized retail venues only to buyers authorized to be affiliated with the group. The second component could be made available through many different venues and stores since it is to he decorated by any user who would then join it up with the authorized first component  13  to make the bag  14 . 
     Using the provided group related first component  13 , the member would choose a component  12  adapted for cooperative engagement with the first component  13 , as a second component  15  to form the resulting handbag  14 . This second component  15  may have any of the individualizing characteristics noted to yield a formed handbag  14  that is both customized, hut identifies the user as a member of the group. Or, in groups with a hierarchy or caste system, the second component  15  might be some unique identifier of rank or position or tenure in the group. Third parties viewing the assembled handbag  14  will be able ascertain the user&#39;s group affiliation, and rank or position in this mode. This mode is also and excellent means for such groups or associations to maintain control over whom is identified as a member and to raise funds by selling at least the first component  13  adapted to engage a second component  15  they might also sell with various visual individualizing characteristics. 
     As noted, another mode of employment of the method and device  10 , provides for visually identifiable displays of affiliation or affection or friendship, between more than two individuals. As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a plurality of engageable components  12  each with visually identifiable characteristics chosen, may be assembled into a resulting handbag  17  formed of a number of components  12  equal to the members of the group. Each member would form their handbag  14  by obtaining the individual components  12  with the visually identifiable characteristics, and then assemble their respective handbags  14  using the plurality of individual components  12  equal to number of persons in the group. Each member would thereafter have a highly identifiable handbag  14  especially to fellow members. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 6 . the visually identifiable characteristics of the components  12  and  13 , yielding the handbags  14  or  17 , are not limited to color or fabric texture or patterns. The shape of the components for any of the modes of the method and device  10  herein can also be of shape in two or three dimensions. As depicted in  FIG. 6  stars  19  would be a unique identifiable shape, and could be engaged to each other as components  12  with different colors, or textures or with other identifiable visual characteristics. Or shapes such as animal heads  21  in a plush toy fashion might be employed to yield a formed handbag  14  with two types of animal heads, or with a shape such as a star and animal head, or with generally rectangular or other shapes to one component  12  and the animal head on the other component  12  of the formed handbag  14 . The overall hag  14  therein formed for any of the modes of the device can therefore be customized in appearance using any of the visual identification characteristics for each component  12 . 
     Ornamentation for the bags can be any type so long as it is adapted for engagement to the individual halves and that means of engagement for the ornamentation is provided or available. In a particularly preferred mode of the device. a separable charm  27 , such as a butterfly would be provided where one wing is engaged to one half of the bag and the other to the second half. The two wings of the charm would have means for engagement to each other when the two half bags are adjacent to each other. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8  the separable bags may he provided to users in a manner where they self-decorate the two halves themselves in build-a-bag mode of the device. In this especially preferred mode of the method and device, users are provided with either blank or indicia-marked separable bags which they would ornament themselves such that when separated, the two halves would indicate an association between the users. 
     This mode would best be provided in a mall or in a retail store where the bags can be displayed for choice by users, and then decorated on-site once chosen using provided ornamentation. Where two individuals are to share the completed bag, the bags provided may be blank or may have guide indica such as stencils used on their exterior for suggested designs. If the users are a larger plurality of people such as a cheer leading team, or school bank or such, indica common to all the bags could be placed on each such as a school logo or picture of a mascot. Then, the ornamentation would be provided to fill inside the lines or indicia or stencil provided. In this fashion all would carry similar ornamentation when completed to show an identification of association. but each bag would be individualized for color and texture and ornamentation to show the individual user&#39;s desired look. 
     For both types of users in a first step a plurality of separable bags which would be adapted to engage with provided ornamentation would be provided. In the optional step, design indica for users to use as a guide would be provided. In a next step a plurality of ornamental components for attachment to the chosen bags would be provided. Next users would choose ornamentation, from that provided in a plurality to place on their chosen bags. Next, means for attachment of the chosen ornamentation would be provided. Then users would employ that means for attachment to engage the chosen ornamentation to their bags. Finally, once the ornamentation is fully engaged, users can engage or separate the bag halves at will to similarly configured bag halves. 
     In the case of an affiliation of users with a team or sport or association or other group, the group would control distribution of the first half section of the bag bearing indica showing affiliation with the group. Only authorized users would be able to buy the first half portion through an authorized venue. The second half portions would be widely available and engageable to the first half portions. In this fashion, affiliation of a small or large plurality of individuals with the group can be easily controlled but just as easily sold or distributed widely. 
     Although the invention has been herein disclosed and described with respect to particular embodiments thereof, it should be realized that various changes and modifications may be employed to the method and apparatus for display of an association. or friendship, between two or a plurality of individuals using assembleable without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. While the invention as shown in the drawings and described in detail herein discloses arrangements of elements of particular construction and configuration for illustrating preferred embodiments of structure and method of operation of the present invention, it is to be understood, however, that elements of different construction and configuration and other arrangements thereof, other than those illustrated and described, may be employed in accordance with the spirit of this invention. Any and all such changes, alternations and modifications, as would occur to those skilled in the art, are considered to be within the scope of this invention as broadly defined in the appended claims.