Abstract:
In the preferred embodiments, the device includes a rod, a strap whose two ends are attached to the ends of the rod, and an apparatus for affixing the rod to a clutch bag, thereby converting the bag to one with a strap. In a first variation, the rod is equipped with clips that are adapted to clip onto the bag, holding the rod, for instance, under a flap of the bag. In a second variation, the rod includes two telescoping sections, and the device includes a compression spring which biases the two sections of the rod away from each other. This arrangement may allow the rod to be placed inside the bag with its two ends in compression between opposing interior surfaces of the bag, thereby holding it in a fixed position relative to the bag.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/345,898 filed 18 May 2010 and entitled “Device to Convert a Clutch Purse to a Strap Purse,” which is incorporated in its entirety by this reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The clutch purse and the strap purse are two commonly available purse types. A strap purse includes a strap that allows the purse to be hung on the shoulder of the user, a hook, or a chair, while a clutch purse is designed to be held in the hand or under the arm of the user. In certain usage scenarios, a clutch purse may be less convenient than a strap purse because the clutch purse cannot be hung onto something. While some clutch purses are designed by the manufacturer to include a strap attachment that allows for the clutch purse to be converted into a strap purse, many clutches do not include a strap attachment or any means for attaching a strap. 
         [0003]    Another problem is that a strap of a purse concentrates the support of the weight of a purse to the attachment points of the strap. When a purse is hung from a point central to the attachment points of the strap (for example, on the shoulder of the user or a hook), the weight of the purse pulls the attachment points of the strap towards each other. Because most clutch purses are designed to be held in the hand or under the arm of the user, clutch purses, even ones designed to include a strap attachment, are not designed with the structural support necessary to prevent the attachment points of the strap from being pulled together, thus warping the form of the purse. 
         [0004]    Thus, there is a need for a device that converts a clutch purse to a strap purse while maintaining the form of the clutch purse. This invention provides such a device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of the purse conversion device of the preferred embodiments. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of the purse conversion device of the preferred embodiments integrated into a clutch. 
           [0007]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are illustrations of the strap attachment of a first and a second variation, respectively. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  are illustrations of the purse conversion device including an extender integrated into a snap clasp type clutch in the open position and the closed position, respectively. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of a base of the purse conversion device of adjustable length. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of a variation of the base of adjustable length. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0011]    The following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention is not intended to limit the invention to these preferred embodiments, but rather to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use this invention. 
         [0012]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the purse conversion device  100  of the preferred embodiments includes a rod  110 , also referred to as a base, and a strap  120 . The base  110  preferably includes a strap attachment  112  and the strap  120  preferably includes a base attachment  122 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the purse conversion device  100  is preferably applied to a clutch  10  and the base  110  is preferably arranged on an interior surface of the clutch  10  such that, when the clutch  10  is closed, the base  110  is hidden. The strap  120  remains on the exterior of the clutch  10 , converting the clutch  10  into a strap purse, which can be hung on the shoulder of the user, a hook, a chair, or any other suitable object. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the base  110  may also include a fastener  114  that fastens the base  110  to an interior surface of the clutch  10 . The fastener  114  is preferably non-permanent, but may alternatively be a permanent type of fastener  114 . 
         [0013]    The base  110  of the preferred embodiments functions to provide attachment points  112  for the strap  120 . The base  110  is preferably substantially rigid. Because the strap  120  is attached to the base  110  and not directly to the clutch  10 , the purse conversion device  100  provides the clutch  10  with structural support to prevent warping of the shape of the clutch  10  when converted into a strap purse. Preferably, the base  110  is of a metal material, such as aluminum, steel, copper, or any other suitable metal. Alternatively, the base  110  may also be of a substantially stiff plastic material, such as acrylic, polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), or any other suitable plastic or combination of plastics. The base  110  may also be of a clear material (such as polycarbonate) to decrease the visibility of the base  110 , but may alternatively be of any other suitable color to match the clutch  10 . The base  110  may also include a colored sleeve that at least partially envelops the base  110  to match a clutch  10 . The colored sleeve is preferably of a fabric material, but may alternatively be of any other suitable material. The base  110  is preferably of a substantially low profile rod geometry that extends across the length of the clutch  10  to decrease the visibility of the base  110  when coupled to the clutch  10 . The low profile geometry of the base  110  may also decrease visible deformation of the outer surfaces of the clutch  10  resulting from the base  110 . The rod may be of a circular cross section, rectangular cross section, a “D” cross section, or any other suitable type of cross section. 
         [0014]    The strap attachment  112  of the preferred embodiments functions to provide the user with a point of attachment for the strap  120  to the base  110 . The strap attachment  112  preferably includes two attachment portions located on either end of the base  110  that may protrude beyond the perimeter of the clutch  10 . Each attachment portion preferably includes a bore or a ring that functions as the attachment point and allows the strap  110  to be coupled to the base  110 . Each attachment portion may also include a hook to couple to the strap  110 . The strap attachments  112  preferably have the same cross sectional profile as the base  110  and are preferably of the same continuous piece of material, but may alternatively be of a different material and/or cross section. For example, the material of the base  110  may be reduced to a smaller cross section or a different type of cross section at the ends to form the strap attachment  112 , as shown in  FIG. 3   a , which may facilitate in decreasing the visibility of the strap attachment  112 . In another example, the strap attachment  112  may be an aesthetic cap that attaches to either end of the base  110 , as shown in  FIG. 3   b . The aesthetic cap may be of a color that suitably matches the color of the clutch  10  and may be selected from a variety of aesthetic caps of a variety of colors by the user. However, any other suitable arrangement may be used. 
         [0015]    As shown in  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b , the strap attachment  112  may also include an extender  116  that extends each attachment point away from either end of the base  110 . This may be used where the base  110  cannot protrude outside the clutch  10  (in, for example, clutches  10  that include a snap clasp) and/or in any other suitable usage scenario. The extender  116  is preferably of a pliable material such as fabric or a thin plastic. When applied to a clutch  10  with a snap clasp, the extender  16  is preferably thin enough to pass through the snap clasp, while allowing the snap clasp to function normally (e.g. the snap clasp may be fastened). 
         [0016]    The base  110  of the preferred embodiments also functions to accommodate a plurality of different sized clutch purses  10 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the base  110  preferably includes a first portion  118  and a second portion  119  that move relative to each other. In a first variation, the first and second portions  118  and  119  telescope relative to each other to adjust the overall length of the base  110 . The first portion  118  at least partially envelopes the second portion  119  and the first and second portions  118  and  119  are friction fit to each other to maintain the relative positions between the two portions until a user applies force to adjust the length of the base  110 . In this variation, the base  110  may also include a loosener that loosens the friction fit between the first and second portions to facilitate the user in adjusting the length of the base  110 . For example, the loosener may push apart the surfaces of a first portion  118  that partially envelops the second portion  119  to loosen the friction fit. 
         [0017]    In a second variation, the base  110  may include an adjustment fastener  130  that functions as a set screw that applies pressure to the second portion  119  to maintain the relative position between the portions. Alternatively, the second portion  119  may include bores and the adjustment fastener  130  may alternatively function to engage a bore in the second portion  119  to maintain the relative position between the portions. To align the first and second portions  118  and  119 , the first portion  118  may at least partially envelop the second portion  119 , or alternatively, the base  110  may include a second adjustment fastener  130  that engages a second bore on the second portion  119 . 
         [0018]    In a third variation, the first portion  118  may include a set of threads on an internal surface and the second portion  119  may include a set of mating threads on an external surface. When the second portion  119  is rotated relative to the first portion  118 , the sets of thread cooperate to allow the portions to telescope relative to each other, adjusting the length of the base  110 . 
         [0019]    In a fourth variation, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the first portion  118  at least partially envelops the second portion  119  and the two portions are rotatable relative to each other. A spring couples the first portion  118  to the second portion  119  and provides a force to pull the second portion  119  farther into the first portion  118 . The second portion  119  of this example preferably includes protrusions or pegs  134  substantially perpendicular to the surface of the second portion  119  and the first portion  118  includes peg clearances  136  that allow the pegs  134  to slide into and out of the first portion  118  at a first angle. When the second portion  119  is rotated to a second angle, the pegs  134  interface with the outer surface to prevent the spring from pulling the second portion  119  farther into the first portion  118 . 
         [0020]    In a fifth variation, the first portion  118  at least partially envelops the second portion  119 . A spring couples the first portion  118  to the second portion  119  and provides an outward reaction force when the second portion  119  is pushed farther into the first portion  118 . This may be used to couple the base  110  to the interior of the clutch  10  by placing the two ends of the base  110  between opposing surfaces of the interior of the clutch  10 , with the spring in compression and biasing the first portion  118  and the second portion  119  away from each other, so as to hold the base  110  in a fixed position relative to the clutch  10 . This may be used where the base  110  cannot protrude outside the clutch  10  and the clutch  10  has a rigid interior frame suitable for supporting the compression (in, for example, clutches  10  that include a snap clasp) or with any other type of clutch  10 , including those with no rigid frame, or in any other suitable usage scenario. 
         [0021]    The base  110  is preferably one of the above describe variations, but may alternatively be any other combination of the above described variations or any other suitable arrangement. Alternatively, the base  110  may also be of a set length. 
         [0022]    The base  110  of the preferred embodiment may also include a fastener  114  to mount the base  110  to the clutch  10 . The fastener  114  is preferably of a non-permanent type, allowing the base  110  to be attached and detached from a clutch  10 . A non-permanent type fastener may also allow the base  110  to be transferred to and attached and detached from a second clutch  10 . The fastener  114  is also preferably of a type that does not damage the clutch  10  and is preferably substantially invisible from the exterior of the clutch  10 . The fastener  114  may be an adhesive that is relatively easily removed from the clutch  10  (for example, 3M Command adhesive), but may alternatively include a portion that remains attached to the clutch  10  (for example, Velcro fastener). The fastener  114  may also be a mechanical fastener such as a clip that clips onto a surface of the clutch  10 . The fastener  114  may also be a magnetic type fastener. For example, a first magnet may be attached to the base  110  and a second magnet may be attached to the clutch  10  and the attractive force between the magnets mounts the base  110  to the clutch  10 . However, any other suitable non-permanent type fastener may be used. The fastener  114  is preferably directly mounted to the base  110 . To facilitate coupling the fastener  114  to the base  110 , the geometry of the base  110  preferably includes at least one flat surface (for example, the “D” type cross section as mentioned above), however, any other suitable surface may be used. In the variation of the base  110  that includes a colored sleeve to match the clutch  10 , the fastener  114  may be coupled directly to the colored sleeve. Alternatively, the fastener  114  may be of the permanent type, for example, glue. However, the fastener  114  may be of any other suitable type. 
         [0023]    The base attachment  122  of the strap  120  preferably includes a hook or a clasp that couples to the attachment point of the base  110 . The base attachment  122  preferably allows for non-permanent coupling of the strap  120  to the base  110 , allowing the strap  120  to be removed by the user. However, the base attachment  122  may couple to the attachment point of the base  110  in any other suitable way, for example, a magnetic fastener, and/or a non-permanent adhesive. The base attachment  122  may also permanently couple the strap  120  to the base  110 . 
         [0024]    The purse conversion device  100  is preferably provided to the user in a set that includes the base  110  and the strap  120 . The set may also include the fastener  114 . Additionally, the set may include a plurality of straps  120  of a variety of types to allow the user to “mix and match” with a variety of clutch  10  types. The set may also include a plurality of bases no that may each be used with a different clutch  10 , for example, in variations where the fastener  114  is permanent, and/or where the base  110  is of a set length. A plurality of bases  110  may also be provided so that the user may have a plurality to use with a plurality of clutches  10  or may be provided of a variety of colors to allow the user to “mix and match.” The set may also be any suitable combination of the above. For example, the set may include only the base  110  and a fastener  114 , only the base  110 , only a strap  120 , or only a plurality of straps  120 . 
         [0025]    As a person skilled in the art will recognize from the previous detailed description and from the figures and claims, modifications and changes can be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of this invention defined in the following claims.