Package and article carriers – Carried by animate bearer – Convertible or combined
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-21
2003-09-23
Newhouse, Nathan J. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Carried by animate bearer
Convertible or combined
C224S610000, C224S617000, C224S580000, C224S625000, C224S654000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06622899
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an accessory bag and, more particularly, to an accessory bag, such as a ladies' handbag or purse, that can be utilized with a detachable shoulder strap and/or with an adjustable/detachable waist-belt.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Typical accessory bags are held by the wearer using a shoulder strap. Other types of accessory bags, known commonly as “fannie-packs,” are held around the wearer's waist by a waist-belt. While both types of bags are convenient and provide various advantages to the wearer, various shortcomings are experienced by each. For example, fannie-packs, waist pouches, and the like, are utilized in informal settings and allow the wearer to carry various items, such as lipstick and cosmetic cases, purses, a cellular telephone, etc., while at the same type allowing the wearer to freely use one's hands and shoulders for other purposes. Unfortunately, these types of handbags often are inappropriate for more formal settings. On the other hand, while handbags or purses having a shoulder strap may be appropriate for formal settings, they require use of the wearer's shoulder to carry the handbag which may be disadvantageous in other settings. For example, these handbags are less secure than waist pouches since the shoulder strap and attached handbag are plainly visible and may be vulnerable to “purse snatchers,” whereas waist pouches generally are hidden and are more secure near the wearer's waist. One common way to overcome this problem is to “secure” the shoulder strap bag diagonally across one's body (e.g., right shoulder to left hip), but this approach seriously detracts from the wearer's appearance. Another disadvantageous feature of bags having shoulder straps is the inability to properly wear the bag while performing various activities, including jogging, dancing, bicycle riding, etc. In such cases, the bag typically moves sporadically which may cause damage to the contents of the bag, injury to other persons as well as to the wearer, and presents a negative appearance altogether.
Given the advantages and disadvantages of bags with shoulder straps and waist-belts discussed above, there are times when there is a need for a bag that embodies the advantages of both types of bags. For example, a career woman typically carries a somewhat “formal” type of handbag using a shoulder strap in the business setting, but in a less formal setting, there may be a need to maintain that handbag around one's waist. This would include visits to nightclubs where it is desirable not to leave the handbag unattended and to not have the handbag move sporadically during, for example, dancing. Also, protection of the handbag while traveling in populated cities is desired without having to place the shoulder strap across one's chest.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It therefore is an object of the present invention to provide a handbag that can be utilized with both a shoulder strap and a waist belt.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a handbag having the above indicated feature of being able to be used with different types of straps in an aesthetically pleasing manner.
Various other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, an accessory bag meant to worn by a wearer is provided with front, rear and two side surfaces, each of the side surfaces being attached to the forward and rear surfaces. Each side of the accessory bag includes respective shoulder and waist strap connectors for connection to shoulder and waist straps, and a strap cover movable between open and closed positions that conceals at least portions of both the shoulder and waist strap connectors when in the closed position.
As an aspect of the present invention, each of the shoulder and waist strap connectors includes a ring movable between respective first and second positions, and where the strap covers when in the closed positions fully conceal the rings that are in their respective first position, and partially expose the rings that are in their respective second position.
As another aspect of the present invention, each of the shoulder and waist strap connectors includes a respective fixed component affixed to the side surfaces of the accessory bag and an attached ring, where the rings are for connection to respective ends of either of a shoulder or waist strap, and the rings are movable between extended and retracted positions. The strap covers when closed conceal those rings that are in the retracted position and partially reveal those rings that are in the extended position.
As a further aspect of the present invention, the shoulder strap connectors extend upwardly from the respective side surfaces of the accessory bag, and the waist strap connectors extend sideways from the side surfaces.
As yet another aspect of the present invention, each of the shoulder and waist strap connectors is a ring, and each strap cover is a single piece of material having a fixed body portion affixed to the accessory bag, a movable body portion that extends from the first body portion, and two narrow extension portions that extend from the fixed body portion, where the two narrow extension portions retain a respective connection ring.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an accessory bag includes a first strap connector for connection to a shoulder or waist strap and which is coupled to one of the side surfaces of the accessory bag, and a second strap connector for connection to a shoulder or waist strap and which is coupled to the other side surface of the accessory bag. Each of he first and second strap connectors is pivotable between a shoulder position and a waist position, and strap covers when closed conceal at least a portion of the strap connectors whether they are in either the shoulder position or the waist position.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, an accessory bag includes forward, rear, bottom and two side surfaces, where each of the side surfaces are attached to the forward, rear and bottom surfaces along respective seams. The accessory bag further includes a first pair of attachment devices for receiving respective ends of a shoulder-strap, and a second pair of attachment devices for receiving respective ends of a waist-strap. A first pair of retaining material is coupled to the accessory bag along respective first seams of the side surfaces for retaining the first pair of attachment devices, and a second pair of retaining material is coupled to the accessory bag along respective second seams, different from the first, for retaining the second pair of attachment devices.
As an aspect of this embodiment, the first pair of retaining material is coupled to the accessory bag along seams that attach the side surfaces to the bottom surface, and the second pair of retaining material is coupled along seams that attach the side surfaces to the front surface.
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pat
Cowan Liebowitz & Latman P.C.
Montague Mark
Newhouse Nathan J.
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