EP1272065A1

EP1272065A1 - Handbag

Info

Publication number: EP1272065A1
Application number: EP00926928A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Oliver Gentili
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-04-14
Filing date: 2000-04-14
Publication date: 2003-01-08
Also published as: WO2001078547A1; AU2000245494A1

Abstract

A handbag (1) comprises one or more cases (2, 3, 21) forming a body (17) of the handbag (1), having side walls (9) and a top, and one curve-shaped handle (10), formed by an elongated stiff element extending from one of said side walls to the opposite side wall, which is stiffly connected to the side walls and it describes a volute at the top of the body of the handbag (1), in such a way that the peculiar shape of the handle (10) allows a steady hold of the handbag (1) in several points under any using condition.

Description

HANDBAG DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a handbag comprising a body made of one or more rigid or semi-rigid cases .

Handbags made of several cases, or anyhow having cases partitioned into several compartments are known. However, such handbags are usually provided with a single small-sized handle, located at the top of the handbag itself, and usually secured in a non-rigid manner onto the body of the handbag.

Hence, the hold of the handbag by a user in other points than the single one provided proves to be particularly difficult, e.g., when the handbag has to be lifted in order to be positioned onto a particularly elevated or not readily accessible shelf.

Moreover, handbags provided with a larger-sized handle, but usually made of a flexible material and to be used, e.g., as a long-strap are also known. However, such a handle makes a steady hold and the carrying of the handbag according to modalities differing from the initially provided ones impossible, or anyhow very difficult. Moreover, handbags providing the possibility to be held in several points by means of several handles located around the body of the handbag itself are also known .

Even for this latter handbag type, a practical and steady hold is not always possible, e.g., when the handbag is particularly heavy and/or bulky, and a swift handgrip change in order to shift the handbag from a point to another is required.

The present invention overcomes the above-mentioned problems of the known art, providing a handbag that comprises one or more rigid or semi-rigid cases, forming a body of said handbag, said body having side walls and a top, and at least one first handle, characterised in that said first handle comprises a stiff elongated element extending from one of said side walls to the opposite side wall, stiffly connected to said side walls, substantially curve-shaped, such as to describe a volute at the top of the body of said handbag.

The main advantage of the handbag according to the present invention lies in the peculiar shape of the handle thereof and in the way the body of the handbag is secured to the handle itself, allowing a steady hold thereof under any using condition.

In fact, the handbag according to the present invention provides a single handgrip, preferably of a stiff type, extending from the top to the side walls of the handbag, thus allowing the hold of the handbag in several point. Moreover, the handle substantially contributes to the overall handbag sturdiness, ensuring a markedly superior convenience of use with respect to the known art . Further, the peculiar shape of the handle makes the carrying of the handbag particularly practical, and provides at all times a steady hold by the user, even when the handbag needs to be lifted held sideways, e.g., to horizontally position it onto a desk-shelf. Other advantages, features and operation modes will be made apparent in the following description, wherein reference will be made to some embodiments of the present invention, given by way of example and not for limitative purposes. In particular, reference will be made to the figures of the annexed drawings, wherein: figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the handbag according to the present invention in a closed condition; figure 2 is a perspective view of the handbag of Fig. 1 in an opened condition; figure 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the handbag according to the present invention; figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the handbag of Fig. 1; figure 5 is a perspective view of a detail of the supporting bracket of the handle of the handbag of Fig. 4; figure 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the handbag according to the present invention; and figures 7 and 8 are perspective views of a fourth embodiment of the handbag according to the present invention.

Making reference to figures 1 and 2, according to a first embodiment, a handbag 1 has a main body 17, which is formed by two cases, separate therebetween and intended to contain objects of different type, as it will be hereinafter better disclosed.

The body 17 has side walls 9, a front wall 6 and a rear wall 43, a bottom wall 24 and a top wall 25.

A first case 2, located at the upper portion of the handbag 1 and substantially parallelepipedal-shaped, is essentially intended to accommodate small-sized personal objects, like, e.g., cash, keys, a cell phone, etc.

The case 2 is upperly provided with an opening 18, collapsible with a zipper 4. Such opening can extend to side walls 19 of the case 2, a bellows element 5 being provided thereat in order to prevent the fall of the objects contained inside the case 2 when the latter is opened.

The second case 3, it also substantially parallelepipedal-shaped, is intended to have a briefcase function, having a front wall 6 rotatably connected along one side thereof, and therefore wing-openable (Fig. 3) .

Such second case 3, likewise the previous first case

2, is provided with its own locking means, apt to maintain the front wall 6 in a closed position. Such locking means comprise a combination or key lock 16, or alternatively buckles or other locks, that, being well- known to those skilled in the art, will not be detailed hereinafter.

Inside the case 3 can be housed objects of different type, like, e.g., papers, a palmtop, pens, notebooks. Pockets 7, apt to support such objects, are provided therefor inside the case 3.

The two cases 2 e 3 are connected therebetween with buckles 8, provided onto the front and rear portions of the body of the handbag 1, and essentially having the task of providing compactness to the body of the handbag 1, preventing the cases 2 and 3 from independently shifting therebetween.

The buckles 8, are made from a rigid or semi-rigid material, and are irremovably riveted onto the walls of the cases 2 and 3, or, alternatively, removably fastened, e.g. with press-buttons, in order to allow the physical separation of the two cases 2, 3, and therefore the separate use thereof, as it will be made apparent hereinafter. Of course, the buckles 8 could be differently arranged, e.g. along the side walls of the handbag 1, without prejudicing the functionality thereof.

A handle 10, substantially curve-shaped, in particular round-shaped, extends from one of the side walls 9 of the body of the handbag 1, and, describing a volute over the top of the handbag 1, reaches the opposite side wall 9.

The handle 10, made, e.g., of an aluminium or plastic elongated tubular element, is fastened to the side walls of the handbag, according to a system that will be described in greater detail with reference to a subsequent embodiment.

The handle 10 is preferably removably clasped to the body of the handbag 1, i.e., in such a manner that the ends 11 thereof can easily be unclasped from the body of the handbag 1.

Furthermore, the upper case 2 is anchored to the

- 5 - handle 10 by means of a pair of loop-shaped supports 12, formed by a ribbon, embracing the handle 10 and supporting the case 2 overhung within the circumference described by the handle itself. Of course, also the supports 12 can be fastened onto the case 2, by means of press-buttons or similar systems, in order to provide an easy unclasping of the case itself.

The handle 10, being stiff and stiffly connected to the handbag 1, provides remarkable compactness and stability to the assembly of cases forming the body 17 of the handbag 1.

The same handle 10 allows to carry the handbag 1 according to at least three different positions, at which can advantageously be provided a handgrip 13, manufactured, e.g., in leather or other materials apt to ensure a steady and effective hold.

Moreover, a long-strap 14, apt to shoulder-carry the handbag 1, is provided. When required, such long-strap 14 can be hooked to the handle 10 by means of a pair of spring-clip hooks 15. The loop-shaped supports 12 stop the upwards sliding of such hooks, preventing them from reaching the top of the handle 10 itself while in use.

Referring now to figure 3, a second embodiment of the handbag according to the present invention is shown. The same reference numbers are used to identify analogous components .

A handbag 1 has a body 17 formed by a single case, preferably made of a semi-rigid material, like, e.g., leather. Such case 21 provides, at the upper section thereof, an opening 22, through which it is possible to access the inside of the handbag 1. Advantageously, the opening 22 could be widened by means of an extension onto a portion 23 of the side walls 9, that are made from a flexible material and bellows-shaped. The front wall 6 of the handbag and the top wall 25 are provided with locking means 26, apt to cooperate therebetween in order to obtain the locking of said opening 22. Such locking means are implemented with a magnetic button, or alternatively by zippers or buckles.

The locking entails the partial overlapping of portions of the front and top wall 24, 25 one over the other.

From one of the side walls 9 of the body 17 of the handbag 1, a handle 10 extends, in all alike the one already disclosed with respect to the previous embodiment, referable to for a detailed description of said handle 10.

Referring to the subsequent figures 4 and 5, the handbag 1 comprises brackets 31 for anchoring the handle 10 to the body 17 of the handbag 1 according to the present invention. A pair of supporting brackets 31, apt to provide additional stiffness to the handbag and substantially L- shaped, is positioned inside the handbag, each of such brackets 31 being secured internally to the respective side wall 9 and to the bottom wall 24, symmetrically and specularly therebetween.

Such supporting brackets 31 comprise a first portion

32, connected to a second portion 33 by a bend 34. The first portion 32 extends along the greater length of the side walls, whereas the second portion 33 lies onto the bottom wall 24 of the handbag itself.

The brackets 31, thus positioned, are secured inside the side walls 9 and the bottom wall 24 of the handbag with rivets 30, or other technically equivalent securing elements . A hole in the side walls 9 of the handbag 1, not shown in figure, allows the coupling of the handle 10 onto the brackets 31, e.g., by using bayonet or fixed joint systems 35 well-known to those skilled in the art.

According to a third embodiment (figure 6), the handbag 1 comprises a pair of shoulder-belts 41, useful in order to wear the handbag itself as a backpack.

The shoulder-belts 41, of extensible type, are removably fastened directly to the body of the handbag 1 with rings 42 provided therefor onto the rear wall 43 of the handbag 1. An alternative, not shown in figure, provides instead for such rings 42 to be fastened, always removably, directly onto the handle 10, in a position allowing a correct use thereof.

Referring to figures 7 and 8, according to a fourth embodiment, the handbag 1 is formed in suitable shapes and sizes, such as to allow the accommodation of travelling items, e.g., clothing and personal belongings.

In this case, the handbag 1 is provided with a pair of wheels 51, useful to wheel said handbag.

According to this embodiment, the handle 10 is formed by three sections 52,53,54, connected thereamong by means of a first pair of jointed elements 55. A second pair of jointed elements 56, similar to the previous ones, is provided at the coupling of the handle 10 onto the side walls 9 of the handbag 1.

By means of such jointed elements 55, 56, the sections 52, 53 and 54 of the handle 10 are apt to be folded and then rested along the side walls 9 and the top wall 25 of the handbag 1. In this position, the sections forming the handle 10 are housed within corresponding recesses 60 formed onto the handbag walls themselves. Thus, the handbag 1 could be advantageously positioned, e.g. in a baggage rack, causing no additional hindrance with respect to the handbag body itself, deriving, e.g., from a projecting handle.

The present invention was hereto described according to some of its preferred embodiments, given by way of example and not for limitative purposes.

It is understood that other embodiments may be provided, all however to be construed as falling within the protective scope thereof, as defined by the annexed claims.

Claims

1. A handbag (1) comprising one or more rigid or semi-rigid cases (2,3;21), forming a body (17) of said handbag (1), said body (17) having side walls (9) and a top, and at least one first handle (10) , characterised in that said first, handle (10) comprises an elongated stiff element (10) extending from one of said side walls (9) to the opposite side wall, stiffly connected to said side walls (9), substantially curve-shaped, such as to describe a volute at the top of the body (17) of said handbag (1) .

2. The handbag (1) according to claim 1, comprising at least one pair of brackets (31) each bracket of said at least one pair of brackets (31) being fastened on the inside of a corresponding side wall (9) of said handbag (1) •

3. The handbag (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of said brackets (31) comprises coupling means (35), apt to removably connect said handle (10) to said brackets (31) .

4. The handbag (1) according to claim 3, wherein said coupling means comprise one bayonet joint (35) .

5. The handbag (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said body (17) comprises one or more loop-shaped supports (12), apt to maintain the position of one of said cases (2) with respect to said handle (10) .

6. The handbag (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said handle (10) is partitioned into sections (52,53,54) connected thereamong by means of jointed elements (55,56).

7. The handbag (1) according to claim 6, wherein said handle (10) is foldable at said jointed elements (55,56) .

8. The handbag (1) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein each section of said sections (52,53,54) of said handle (10) is apt to be housed within a corresponding recess (60) formed onto the walls of said handbag (1) .

9. The handbag (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said handle (10) comprises at least one handgrip (13) .

10. The handbag (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each case (2,3;21) comprises individual locking means (4,16;26).

11. The handbag (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a long-strap (14), apt to be removably hooked onto said handle (10) .

12. The handbag (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a pair of shoulder-belts

(41), apt to be removably secured onto said body (17) of said handbag (1) .

13. The handbag (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising one pair of wheels (51) apt to wheel said handbag (1) .