AU2007200534A1

AU2007200534A1 - Convertible bag

Info

Publication number: AU2007200534A1
Application number: AU2007200534A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Rula Khalil
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-02-08
Filing date: 2007-02-07
Publication date: 2007-08-23

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Convertible bag The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 004919797 2 Convertible bag Field of the invention The present invention relates to a convertible bag, and more particularly to a handbag that can be converted to display more than one appearance.

Background of the invention Bags such as handbags and purses are essential items for most women in today's society. Some women have their everyday bag, which they use on a daily basis.

If going out in the evening, they may move the contents of this bag into a different bag more suitable for evening wear. Other women will use a different bag each day to match the particular outfit they are wearing, generally selected to match the colour of their shoes. This requires the contents of their bag to be moved between different bags each day, which is time consuming.

A number of solutions have been suggested by providing a base bag to hold the contents, which is then inserted into an outer bag selected to match the women's outfit.

A person would purchase, and store at home, a number of different outer bags and move the base bag between the different outer bags. Alternatively, removable panels have been provided, that fasten onto the outside of the base bag to change the outer appearance.

The problem with the above mentioned solutions is that different panels and outer bags must be stored, selected and attached each time the women leaves the house.

Many of today's women work during the day and lead relatively hectic lives. Women are often required to go straight from work in the evening to an event that night. This may occur at short notice, or where there is not enough time to travel home between. These women require a convertible bag, which allows the appearance of the bag to be conveniently changed.

004919797 3 Summary of the invention Accordingly, the present invention provides a convertible bag, including: a bag body having at least one interior compartment accessible through an opening in the bag body, the bag body having an exterior surface extending about the body; at least one pocket accessible from the outside of the body; and cover means housed inside of the pocket(s) such that, when not in use, the cover means is concealed within the pocket, whereby the bag has a first appearance; wherein the cover means can be drawn out of the pocket(s) and positioned to cover at least a portion of the exterior surface of the body, whereby the bag has a second appearance.

The cover means may be attached to the inside of the pocket(s). The cover means may be permanently attached by stitching.

The convertible bag may include one pocket or a plurality of pockets. The pockets may be located at any location on the exterior surface of the bag. The pockets may be in the base of the bag, the top of the bag or the side of the bag. The pockets may be closed by a fastening means, such as a zipper. The opening to the pockets may run horizontally, vertically, or at an angle.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the opening to a pocket may extend around the periphery of the opening in the bag body. The cover means may be drawn out whereby it creates a curtain that envelopes the entire exterior surface of the bag body. In an alternate embodiment, the opening to a pocket may extend across the entire base of the bag body. The cover means may be drawn out whereby it is pulled up around the entire exterior surface and fastened to the top periphery around the opening in the bag body.

004919797 4 The cover means can be fastened in the extended position to the exterior of the bag by any suitable fastening means, such as magnets, press studs, hook and loop fasteners, or hooks.

The convertible bag may include handles/straps, in the form of a hand or shoulder strap. The pockets may additionally, or separately, house alternative straps for the bag. The alternative straps may differ from the original strap in length and/or appearance.

The cover means may be made from any suitable material. Advantageously, the exterior surface of the bag is made from a leather, or leather-look, material, being suitable for using during the daytime. The cover means may be made of a satin-look material, being suitable for using during the evening. Alternatively, the cover means may simply be a different colour, such that the appearance of the bag can be changed to match a different coloured outfit.

In one aspect of the invention, the exterior surface may be made from a material such as suede, which is damaged by exposure to water. The cover means may be made from a waterproof material, such that it can be drawn-out of the pocket to cover and protect the suede material in the rain.

Brief description of the drawings The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures la to 1d are perspective views of a convertible bag in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, showing the bag being converted from a first appearance to a second appearance, with the pocket being located at the top of the bag body; Figures 2a to 2d are perspective views of a convertible bag in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, showing the bag being converted from a 004919797 first appearance to a second appearance, with the pocket being located in the base of the bag; Figures 3a and 3b are top views of the convertible bag of Figures la to Id; and Figures 4a and 4b are top views of the convertible bag of Figures 2a to 2d.

Detailed description of the embodiments A convertible bag 10 is shown in Figures 1 to 4. The convertible bag includes a body 12 having an interior compartment 14 for storing items (not shown) within the bag The interior compartment 14 is accessible through an opening 16 in the bag body 12. In the Figures the opening 16 is shown as being in the top surface 18 of the body 12, however it will be appreciated that the opening may be located on any surface of the body 12, or at a seam. The opening 16 is able to be closed by fastening means, illustrated in the form of a zipper The bag body 12 has an exterior surface 22, which extends about the body 12. In the bag 10 illustrated, the body 12 includes a flat base 24. This makes the bag 10 a relatively solid structure. However, it will be appreciated that the present invention would be applicable to any shaped or sized bag, including one that simply has two panels joined at seams, as is often the case for evening bags.

The convertible bag 10 includes a pocket 26, which is accessible from the outside of the body 12. The pocket 26 can be closed and opened by a zipper 28. As shown in Figures la to id, 3a and 3b, the opening of the pocket 26 can be located at the top surface 18 of the body, with the zipper 28 extending around the periphery of the opening 16. Alternatively, as shown in Figures 2a to 2d, 4a and 4b, the opening of the pocket 26 can be located in the base 24, with the zipper 28 extending across the length of the body 12.

It will be appreciated that the pockets 26 can be located anywhere on the body 12, and indeed a plurality of pockets 26 could be provided.

004919797 6

IO

N Attached to the inside of the pockets 26 are cover means 30. When not in use, the cover means 30 are concealed within the pockets 26, as shown in Figures la, 2a, 3a and 4a. When concealed the bag 10 has a first appearance, such that the material of the body 12 is visible. As illustrated in the Figures, the zipper 28 is opened and the cover means 30 is drawn out of the pocket 26. The cover means 30 may take the form illustrated, that being a solid piece of material that is of a different texture or colour to the exterior surface 22 of the body 12. The cover means 30 is positioned to cover the C exterior surface 22 of the body 12. The cover means 30 is fastened in position with magnets (not shown) on the underside of the cover means 30 to magnets 32, which are hidden under the exterior surface 22. It will be appreciated that other fastening means may be used. Indeed a visual feature could be made out of fasteners such as press studs. When the cover means 30 is in position, the bag 10 has been converted to show a second appearance, as shown in Figures Ild and 2d.

As can be seen in Figures la, lb, 2a and 2b, the bag 10 includes a strap 34.

When drawing out the cover means 30, also housed in the pocket 26 may be additional handles 36, which can be extended. The strap 34 may be concealed within the same, or an additional, pocket 26.

The cover means 30 may take the form of a solid material as illustrated.

However, it may also take the form of a curtain of lengths of material, such as threads covered with beads or sequins. In this embodiment, the cover means 30 does not completely hide the exterior surface 22, but covers a portion of the exterior surface to display a second appearance, particularly suitable for evening wear.

The advantage of the convertible bag 10 is that the appearance can be converted at any time, with no additional elements required. The bag can be used during the day, with an appearance such as black leather. With the simple step of undoing a zipper 28 and drawing out the cover means 30, the bag can be converted to have a different appearance with a material such as red satin to match an evening outfit. There is no need to move the contents of the bag to a different bag. This convertible bag 10 is particularly useful for people who are travelling and require several bags of different 004919797 7 appearance to match several different looks and occasions, without having to store and transport several different bags.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention. constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

Claims

1. A convertible bag, including: a bag body having at least one interior compartment accessible through an opening in the bag body, the bag body having an exterior surface extending about the body; at least one pocket accessible from the outside of the body; and cover means housed inside of the pocket(s) such that, when not in use, the cover means is concealed within the pocket, whereby the bag has a first appearance; wherein the cover means can be drawn out of the pocket(s) and positioned to cover at least a portion of the exterior surface of the body, whereby the bag has a second appearance.

2. A convertible bag according to claim 1, wherein the cover means is attached to the inside of the pocket(s).

3. A convertible bag according to claim 2, wherein the cover means is permanently attached by stitching.

4. A convertible bag according to claim 1, 2 or 3, including a plurality of pockets. A convertible bag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pockets are located at any location on the exterior surface of the bag.

6. A convertible bag according to claim 5, wherein the pockets are in the base of the bag. 004919797 9 c7. A convertible bag according to claim 5, wherein the pockets are in the top of the bag.

8. A convertible bag according to claim 5, wherein the pockets are in the side of the bag. 'q 5 9. A convertible bag according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of pockets are Sprovided in the top, side or base of the bag. c-i convertible bag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pockets are closed by a fastening means.

11.A convertible bag according to claim 10, wherein the fastening means is a 0 zipper.

12.A convertible bag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening to the pockets run horizontally, vertically, or at an angle.

13.A convertible bag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening to a pocket extends around the periphery of the opening in the bag body.

14.A convertible bag according to claim 13, wherein the cover means is drawn out whereby it creates a curtain that envelopes the entire exterior surface of the bag body. convertible bag according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the opening to a pocket extends across the entire base of the bag body.

16.A convertible bag according to claim 15, wherein the cover means is drawn out whereby it is pulled up around the entire exterior surface and fastened to the top periphery around the opening in the bag body. 004919797 Cn* 5 0

17.A convertible bag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover means is fastened in the extended position to the exterior of the bag by any suitable fastening means, such as magnets, press studs, hook and loop fasteners, or hooks.

18.A convertible bag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the convertible bag includes handles/straps, in the form of a hand or shoulder strap.

19.A convertible bag according to claim 18, wherein the pockets additionally, or separately, house alternative straps for the bag.

20.A convertible bag according to claim 19, wherein the alternative straps differ from the original strap in length and/or appearance.

21.A convertible bag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover means is made from a leather, or leather-look, material, being suitable for use during the daytime.

22.A convertible bag according to claim 21, wherein the cover is made of a satin-look material, being suitable for using during the evening.

23.A convertible bag according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the exterior surface is made from a material such as suede, which is damaged by exposure to water, and the cover means is made from a waterproof material, such that it can be drawn-out of the pocket to cover and protect the suede material in the rain. Dated: 7 February 2007 Freehills Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: Rula Khalil