Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to handbags, purses, and similar containers for carrying personal items. More specifically, the invention is a convertible and reversible handbag that can be changed via the use of various magnetic snaps, adjustable leather straps and chain strap to make 14 different styles of handbag all within one bag including a messenger style, drawstring style, tote bag, A-line shape handbag, backpack, clutch, waist bag, etc. Further the handbag can be reversed, thus allowing the wearer to create any of those same styles in an alternate color or fabric.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/476,983 filed on Apr. 19, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to handbags, purses, and similar containers for carrying personal items and more specifically, the invention is a convertible and reversible handbag that can be changed to make different styles of handbag all within one bag. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Women often have two or more handbags that they use for various occasions. Depending upon the event or place the women is going, normally determines the type and size of handbag that she will carry. For example a woman will carry a larger sometimes more basic handbag for everyday use, and a more decorative, smaller bag for evening wear, or perhaps a series of handbags in different colors to coordinate with various outfits. In order to get a different function or style of handbag, most women have to change their handbag to fit the occasion. Most women have a certain number of personal articles, e.g. wallet, identification, cosmetics, cell phone, pen or pencil, and possibly a daily planner, which they carry with them at all times. When a woman requires a different purse, e.g., for a formal occasion or social outing, she usually must remove most of these items and place her things in a different bag suited for the event she is attending. Oftentimes, the different purses have different compartments for the various articles therein, with the woman then needing to remove the various articles from the pockets or compartments and placing them in the appropriate compartments of a different handbag. This is a time consuming and oftentimes tedious process and thus results in some delay in locating articles in different purses. 
         [0006]    As a result, there have been a number of convertible and or reversible bags that have been created. Of these, many do not provide a useful variety of handbag styles that the modern woman needs. Many are more similar to a man&#39;s briefcase in shape and function. Others are smaller and simply convert to a different small shape instead of allowing for either a larger shape suitable for everyday use, as well as a small shape appropriate for evening wear. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed a convertible, reversible handbag that comprises a bag body for holding personal items, “D”-shaped rings (or D-rings), a drawstring, adjustable straps and magnetic snaps. The handbag body will be composed of various materials. Initial offerings will include: leather on both sides, leather one side and fabric one side, both sides fabric, and both sides nylon. However other materials and combinations of materials may be added later. The adjustable straps may be made of leather, fabric, and/or nylon, etc. The drawstring may be braided leather cord or a nylon/fabric cord. The bag body has a plurality of grommet holes located along the top opening allowing the drawstring to weave between to form a drawstring style bag. The bag body also has pockets on the exterior surface and interior surface allowing extra storage area for holding smaller or important personal items. 
         [0008]    The convertible and reversible handbag of the present invention can be changed via the use of various magnetic snaps, adjustable leather straps and chain strap to make 14 different styles of handbag all within one bag including a messenger style, drawstring style, tote bag, A-line shape handbag, backpack, clutch, waist bag, etc. Further the handbag can be reversed, thus allowing the wearer to create any of those same styles in an alternate color or fabric. 
         [0009]    The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow. 
         [0010]    Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. 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. 
         [0011]    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 the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0012]    The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference numerals. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a back view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5A  is a front view of the tote embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5B  is a front view of the “A”-line embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6A  is a front view of the backpack embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6B  is a back view of the backpack embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6C  is a back view of a different backpack embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the clutch embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8A  is a side view of the present invention with the braid strap removed. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8B  is a side view of the present invention with the braid strap removed and the bag folded. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a front view of the waist bag embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is disclosed a front view of a convertible reversible handbag which comprises a bag body  2 , “D”-shaped rings (or D-rings)  4 , a drawstring  6 , adjustable straps  8  and magnetic snaps  10  (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). The bag body  2  has a front  21 , back  22 , bottom  24 , left and right sides  25  and a top opening  26 . The adjustable straps  8  may be made of leather, fabric, and/or nylon, etc. 
         [0028]    The bag body  2  is completely reversible, and when the bag body  2  is turned inside out, each style can be created in an alternate color. Two D-rings  4  are affixed at right and left side  25  of the bag body  2  near the top opening  26 . The adjustable leather straps  8  are attached to the two D-rings  4  to provide a method for the user to conveniently hold the handbag. It may further comprise two more D-rings  4  which are affixed to the bag body  2  at the location below the first two D-rings  4  and approximately ¾ of the length of the bag body  2  from the top of the bag body  2 . The bag body  2  may contain a plurality of grommet holes  12  along the perimeter of the top opening allowing the drawstring  6  to weave between. The drawstring  6  may be a braided leather cord and/or fabric/nylon cord. The braided leather cord  6  has a custom removable clasp  14  that can tighten/loosen the braided leather cord  6  and thus close and open the top opening  26 . The bag body may further comprise zippered pockets  16 . The handbag of the present invention may further comprise swivel snaps  18  (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  discloses the back view of the handbag of the present invention which further shows two pairs of magnetic snaps  10 . The female (or male) ends of the magnetic snaps  10  are located near the top edge of the bag body  2  and the male (or female) ends of the magnetic snaps  10  are located near the bottom edge of the bag body.  FIG. 3  discloses the top view of the handbag showing the top opening  26  where an interior pocket  16  was observable.  FIG. 4  shows the bottom view. In both figures, D-rings  4  are shown on both sides of the handbag. 
         [0030]    The adjustable straps  8  and magnetic snaps  10  can be used to create various embodiments of the present invention. This invention allows the wearer to change the style, shape and functionality of the handbag, by adding, removing, and adjusting drawstring  6  and straps  8 . In one embodiment, the bag has four magnetic snaps  10  located on the back  22  ( FIG. 2 ) which allow the bag to hold its shape once the wearer folds it in half. By folding the bag in half and securing it using magnetic snaps  10 , the user can create a smaller handbag style ( FIG. 7 ) as well as a waist bag ( FIG. 9 ). The handbag has multiple styles that can be created simply by changing the placement of the straps  8 . The bag will come with two adjustable straps  8 , made of leather or matching material to that of which the bag is constructed, as well as a chain strap for a dressier look. 
         [0031]    The adjustable straps  8  may be directly or indirectly via swivel snaps  18  attached to D-rings  4  or grommet holes  12  on the bag body  2 . The messenger embodiment of the present invention can be achieved by adjusting the strap  8  to its longest length. The tote embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 5A  can be achieved by shortening the leather strap  8 . The “A”-line embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 5B  can be achieved by pushing in the sides of the handbag to create the “A”-line shape. The backpack embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 6  can be achieved by attaching the two adjustable straps  8  to the swivel snaps  18  on the handbag. The clutch embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 7  can be achieved by removing all the drawstring  6  and straps  8  and folding the bag over towards the front  21 . 
         [0032]    Wearer can also remove straps  8  and fold bag in half towards the back  22 .  FIG. 8A  shows a side view of the handbag where the magnetic snaps  10  are located on the back  22 .  FIG. 8B  shows a side view of the handbag which is folded in half where the female and male ends of the magnetic snaps  10  on the back  22  are snapped together to create a smaller bag. Then wearer can attach either one of the adjustable leather straps  8  or the chain strap to the lower D-rings  4  to wear around the waist ( FIG. 9 ). 
         [0033]    The handbag will be made from a variety of materials, with full leather construction being on the high end, and full fabric being on the lower economical end. Some details of the bag will depend upon the materials. 
         [0034]    The first style that the bag can be worn in is a drawstring style with a shoulder strap  8  ( FIGS. 1-4 ). The drawstring  6  is made from a braided leather cord (for the leather bag) or nylon/fabric cord for when the purse is made from fabric, nylon or other material. The drawstring style is made when the drawstring  6  is weaved between grommet holes  12  along the top opening  26  of the bag and is secured at the front of the bag using a custom made removable metal clasp  14  (if the bag is made from leather). Alternatively, if the bag is made from fabric or nylon, the drawstring  6  will be hand tied by the wearer. The shoulder strap  8  is secured to the bag using D-rings  4  on both sides, and can be removed by unhooking the swivel snaps  18 . Alternatively, the wearer can replace the adjustable shoulder strap  8  with the chain strap for a dressier look. 
         [0035]    If the wearer chooses, she can remove the drawstring  6 , attach both adjustable straps  8  to the outermost grommet holes  12 , one strap  8  to the outermost grommet holes  12  on the front and the other strap  8  to the outermost grommet holes  12  on the back of the handbag body, and wear the bag as a tote ( FIG. 5A ). Further, if either side of the bag is pushed in, the wearer may create an A-line shape for a different look using this same strap placement ( FIG. 5B ). 
         [0036]    If the person would like to wear the bag as a backpack ( FIGS. 6A and 6B ), the first strap  8  may be attached via swivel snaps to the right outermost grommets  12  on both the front and back of the bag body  2  and the second strap  8  may be attached via swivel snaps to the left outermost grommets  12  on both the front and back of the bag body  2  to create a backpack style. 
         [0037]    Alternatively, the first strap  8  may be attached via swivel snaps to the right outermost grommet holes  12  on the front and the lower D-ring  4  on the right side of the bag body  2  and the second strap  8  is attached via swivel snaps to the left outermost grommet  12  on the front and the lower D-ring  4  on the left side of the bag body  2  to create a different backpack style ( FIGS. 6A and 6C ). 
         [0038]    If the wearer requires a smaller bag for possibly a nighttime event, they can simply fold the bag in half using the magnetic snaps  18  and it will have the appearance of a smaller handbag. This style gives the appearance of a smaller bag, and still allows the wearer to have access to the top horizontal pocket  16  on the outside of the bag. 
         [0039]    In addition, if the user would like a clutch style ( FIG. 7 ), they can unhook all of the straps  8 , and simply fold the handbag over towards the front  21  and carry it secured under an arm as a clutch bag ( FIG. 7 ). 
         [0040]    Alternatively, if the wearer requires a bag but doesn&#39;t want shoulder straps, she can fold the bag in half and using the lower D-rings  4 , connect the adjustable shoulder strap  8  around her waist and wear the bag as a waist bag ( FIG. 9 ). For a dressier look, she could also attach the chain strap around her waist for a belted waist bag look. This look also allows for the wearer to have access to the vertical pocket located on the front of the bag. 
         [0041]    Finally, the wearer can use one of the adjustable shoulder straps  8 , extend it to its longest length, and attach it to either side of the bag for a messenger bag function. In addition, the bag has all the same components, pockets, and magnetic snaps on both sides, and is completely reversible, giving the wearer the option of all of the styles in an alternate color and/or fabric as well. This allows maximum versatility for the wearer, and is in essence, the equivalent of having  14  handbags in one bag including all colors and styles that can be created. 
         [0042]    The handbag will be composed of various materials. Initial offerings will include: leather on both sides, leather one side and fabric one side, both sides fabric, and both sides nylon. However other materials and combinations of materials may be added later. 
         [0043]    While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are entitled.