Abstract:
A fashion bracelet having an elongated flexible strap and a case. The elongated flexible strap has two securable ends and an aperture formed therein. The case includes a base wall and a side wall defining a partially enclosed area with at least one indentation that is adapted to receive and secure at least one interchangeable cosmetic item. The partially enclosed area is enclosed by a cover pivotally mounted to the side wall, and the base wall and side wall are adapted to secure the case to the aperture of the flexible strap.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.  60 / 285 , 253 , filed Apr. 20, 2001. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a fashion bracelet. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fashion bracelet that is capable of holding at least one cosmetic item.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Fashion bracelets designed to function dually as storage devices are known in the art.  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 1,727,001 to Weaver discloses a bracelet vanity case. The bracelet may be made up of an attaching base to which a vanity box is detachably secured and a trap for fastening to the arm or leg of the wearer.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 1,714,732 to Schneider discloses a bracelet vanity case. The case is formed in a plurality of parts that are hinged together and provided with a suitable wrist band.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 1,670,720 to Gross discloses a compact retainer whereby a conventional compact can be detachably connected with the strap of a wrist watch or to any desired portion of the clothes of the wearer.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 1,644,404 to Squier discloses a vanity case. The vanity case has a cosmetic applicator slidably received within and removable from it.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 1,609,481 to McCarthy et al. discloses a wrist vanity case. The case is capable of holding two different kinds of cosmetics.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 1,584,205 to Zaldo discloses an ornamental wrist mirror and vanity case with a safety attaching means for securing the article upon a bracelet or wristband.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,298 to Benton discloses a chambered bracelet wherein the bracelet has one or more normally concealed chambers in which such things as folded paper money or pills or the like can be stored. Alternatively, the chambers can be used as personal cigarette ash receptacles.  
           [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,972 to Benton discloses a wrist watch wallet with a main band designed to store in a concealed manner such items as currency, keys, and event tickets.  
           [0012]    While such items are known in the art, none offer the desired option of easy interchangeability. It is often desired to temporarily store a cosmetic or other item in a fashion bracelet and retain the ability to remove the item and replace it with another quickly and easily.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    The problems outlined above are addressed and overcome by the present invention. The present invention is directed to a fashion bracelet that is capable of holding at least one interchangeable and modular cosmetic item. The cosmetic item may be secured within the bracelet and then easily removed and replaced with an alternate item. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fashion bracelet.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a top view of the fashion bracelet in an open position.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the fashion bracelet in a closed position taken along a line  3 - 3  in FIG. 1.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the fashion bracelet in an open position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    The present invention is a fashion bracelet, as most clearly illustrated at  10  in FIGS. 1 and 2. The fashion bracelet  10  is designed for wearing on an arm of a person (not shown).  
         [0019]    The fashion bracelet  10  has a recess  12  formed therein that is adapted to receive at least one cosmetic product  14  therein. The fashion bracelet  10  thereby permits the at least one cosmetic product  14  to be easily carried and then accessed when it is desired to use the at least one cosmetic product  14 .  
         [0020]    The fashion bracelet  10  generally includes a case  20  that is removably mounted in a strap  22 . The case  20  preferably has a substantially cylindrical configuration. The case  20  has a base wall  24  and a side wall  26  that extends from the base wall  24 . The base wall  24  and the side wall  26  thereby define a partially enclosed region  28  that is adapted to receive the at least one cosmetic product  14 .  
         [0021]    Proximate the intersection of the base wall  24  and the side wall  26 , the case  20  has a lip  30  extending therefrom. The lip  30  retains the case  20  in a fixed position with respect to the strap  22 .  
         [0022]    In the partially enclosed region  28 , the case  20  preferably includes at least one indentation  32  formed therein. The at least one indentation  32  is adapted to partially conform to a surface of the at least one cosmetic item  14 . The at least one indentation  32  thereby assists in retaining the at least one cosmetic item  14  at a fixed position in the case  20 . Preferably, the case  20  has a pair of indentations  32  that are oriented in a substantially parallel relationship to each other. Depending on the products that are to be retained in the indentations  32 , the indentations  32  may both have the same size and shape or different sizes and shapes.  
         [0023]    The strap  22  includes an aperture  40  formed therein that is adapted to receive the case  20 . The aperture  40  preferably substantially conforms to the side wall  26  to assist in retaining the case  20  in a fixed position with respect to the strap  22 . A channel  41  is formed in the strap  22  proximate the aperture  40 . The channel  41  is adapted to receive the lip  30 .  
         [0024]    The strap  22  has two ends  42  extending therefrom. The ends  42  are designed to extend around a person&#39;s wrist to facilitate attaching the fashion bracelet  10  to the person&#39;s wrist. Opposite the aperture  40 , the ends  42  include an attachment mechanism for attaching the ends  42  to each other to thereby retain the fashion bracelet  10  on the person&#39;s wrist.  
         [0025]    The attachment mechanism (not shown) may include a hook and latch type configuration, which is sold under the designation VELCRO. Alternatively, the attachment mechanism may have a buckle configuration.  
         [0026]    The fashion bracelet  10  also preferably includes a cover  50  that is pivotally mounted to the strap  22  proximate the case  20 . When the cover  50  is in a closed position as illustrated in FIG. 3, the cover  50  substantially seals the case  20  to thereby retain the at least one cosmetic item  14  in the case  20 . When the cover  50  is in an open position as illustrated in FIG. 4, it is possible to access the at least one cosmetic item  14  in the case  20 .  
         [0027]    The cover  50  is preferably retained in a closed position with a tab  52  that extends from the strap  22  proximate the aperture  40 . To facilitate opening and closing of the cover  50 , the cover  50  preferably includes an extension  54  extending therefrom.  
         [0028]    An inner surface  56  of the cover  50  may include a mirror  58  to facilitate using of the at least one cosmetic item  14 . Alternatively, the inner surface  56  may include a photograph.  
         [0029]    An outer surface  60  of the cover  50  has a convex shape and may include a design (not shown) thereon. The design may be a photograph, a textual passage or a company&#39;s trademark. The outer surface  60  may also include a clock that is similar to a conventional watch.  
         [0030]    The components of the fashion bracelet  10  are preferably fabricated from injection molded plastic. A person of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that the concepts of the present invention may also be utilized with components formed from other materials such as steel or aluminum.  
         [0031]    The at least one cosmetic item  14  may include a variety of products that may be changed depending on the occasion at which the fashion bracelet  10  is to be worn. For example, lip balm may be placed in the fashion bracelet  10  when participating in outdoor activities and breath freshener and lipstick may be placed in the fashion bracelet  10  at more formal occasions. The at least one cosmetic item  14  may also include breath freshener, gum, coins or pills.  
         [0032]    Each of the at least one cosmetic items  14  is preferably packaged in a closable container that permits the cosmetic item to be retained in the enclosure when not in use and also permits the cosmetic item to be readily accessed when it is desired to use the item.  
         [0033]    The modular nature of the at least one cosmetic item  14  also permits replacement items to be sold separate from the fashion bracelet  10 .  
         [0034]    While it is described that the fashion bracelet  10  is worn on a person&#39;s wrist, a person of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that the concepts of the present invention may be used to attach cosmetic products on other parts of the body.  
         [0035]    It is contemplated that features disclosed in this application, as well as those described in the above applications incorporated by reference, can be mixed and matched to suit particular circumstances. Various other modifications and changes will be apparent to those of ordinary skill.