FR3101230A1 - Handbag including an interchangeable flap - Google Patents

Abstract

Handbag comprising an interchangeable flap The invention relates to a handbag (1) comprising: - a body (2) forming a pocket and having an opening (O) between a rear face (21) and a front face (22) of the body (2); - a flap (3) able to overlap the body (2) from the rear face (21) to the front face (22) of the body (2) covering the opening (O) ; - an assembly system (4) of the flap (3) on the body (2), the flap (2) being interchangeable, the assembly system (4) comprising a rail (410), and a slide (420 ) capable of being inserted and sliding in the rail (410); the flap (3) covering the assembly system (4) in the assembly position of the flap (3) on the body (2). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Handbag with interchangeable flap

The field of the invention is that of the design and manufacture of hand luggage.

More specifically, the invention relates to hand luggage, and in particular a handbag, comprising a flap that can be easily removed by its user to be replaced by another flap.

A handbag is a small piece of hand luggage that also forms a fashion accessory. It consists of a body forming a large pocket accessible through an opening. It can also be provided with a strap to carry the handbag, a system for closing the opening and/or a flap intended to overlap the opening to close it and protect the pocket.

In the field of the invention, there are known handbags comprising elements that can be separated from the body of the bag, or in other words, disassembled, in particular to modify its appearance.

For example, handbags can be provided with a removable strap allowing the user of the handbag to simply remove the strap, or to install a new one, and in particular a strap having a different appearance.

The various elements that can be interchanged on a handbag can also consist of a piece added to the outside of the bag, to personalize the bag, this piece possibly being the flap of the bag.

We thus know the patent document published under the number GB340415 which describes a handbag comprising a flap assembled interchangeably on the body of the handbag.

More precisely, the body of the bag has a front face and a rear face. The rear face carries rails allowing the insertion of a peripheral part of the flap. Vertical rails are arranged on the side edges of the rear face and a horizontal rail is arranged on the lower edge of this rear face.

The flap comprises an outer skin intended to overlap the opening and to at least partially cover the front face of the body of the bag. This flap also has metal reinforcements on a rear part of the outer skin. These metal reinforcements reinforce the side and lower edges of the rear part of the outer skin and are also intended to cooperate with the rails of the body of the handbag to allow the assembly of the flap in a removable manner.

We also know the handbag described by the patent document published under the number US2798524. This handbag also includes a flap mounted removably, and thus interchangeably, on the body of the handbag.

To this end, the handbag comprises an assembly system which comprises a rail secured to a lower edge of the body of the handbag, and a slider secured to a lower edge of the flap.

To assemble the flap on the body, simply slide the slider inside the rail, thus allowing the assembly of the flap on the body. The flap can then be folded over the bag so as to cover the back side, the opening and the front side of the body of the handbag.

This assembly system allows you to modify the side of the flap that is exposed on the outside of the handbag.

Indeed, thanks to the slider positioned on the lower edge of the flap, the flap can be coupled in a first direction or in a second direction on the body of the handbag to modify the face which is exposed on the outside of the handbag.

The various handbags and systems for assembling the flaps on the bodies of the handbags described in the prior art nevertheless have drawbacks.

Indeed, these different handbags can be judged as presenting an unsightly side by the very design of the assembly system which is particularly visible on the outside of the handbag.

These different handbags also have flaps that can be particularly large and difficult to install or uninstall. More particularly, in the case of the bag having a rail on the lower edge of the handbag, the flap must extend from the underside of the bag covering the rear face and the opening to finally reach the level of the face front of the handbag.

Another disadvantage is that for some designs of the assembly systems, there is a non-negligible probability that the assembly system will disassemble due to the repeated opening and closing of the flap.

The aim of the invention is in particular to resolve the drawbacks of the prior art.

More specifically, the invention aims to provide a handbag comprising an interchangeable flap whose assembly system is not visible, or at the very least whose assembly system is not easily visible on the exterior of the handbag.

The invention also aims to provide such a handbag whose assembly and disassembly of a flap on the body is carried out in a particularly easy manner for the user of the handbag.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a handbag in which the flap is unlikely or unlikely to disassemble from the body of the bag unexpectedly.

These objectives, as well as others which will appear subsequently, are achieved thanks to the invention which relates to a handbag comprising:
- A body forming a pocket and having an opening between a rear face and a front face of the body;
- A flap capable of overlapping the body from the rear face to the front face of the body covering the opening;
- a system for assembling the flap on the body, the flap being interchangeable;
the assembly system comprising:
- a first member presented by the body and a second member presented by the flap, one of the first member and of the second member being a rail, and the other of the first member and of the second member is a slider capable of being inserted and to slide in the rail, the first member defining a sliding axis parallel to the opening;
- Means for holding the slider in the rail at a sliding length corresponding to an assembly position of the flap on the body;
characterized in that:
- The first member is mounted on the rear face of the body;
- the flap comprises a lining on which the second member is mounted;
the flap covering the assembly system in the assembly position of the flap on the body.

Thanks to the handbag according to the invention, the flap is fixed in a non-permanent manner to the body of the handbag by means of the assembly system. Different compatible flaps can thus be assembled on the body of the handbag.

A main advantage of the invention is that the assembly system is completely hidden under the flap and is thus invisible or almost invisible from the outside of the handbag. The assembly system therefore does not impact the design of the handbag and makes it possible to obtain an aesthetic result such as a classic bag that does not have an interchangeably assembled flap.

The assembly system is more secure.

Indeed, the assembly system does not allow the flap to be disassembled from the bag accidentally. Unlike assembly systems which can produce such disassembly when the flap is tilted, the handbag assembly system according to the invention cannot be removed without voluntary action and in particular without the application, at least , a force to slide the flap transversely relative to the body of the handbag.

Thus, the simple opening or closing of the handbag or the fact of carrying this handbag cannot cause the displacement of the assembly system, and thus the disassembly of the flap and the handbag.

In addition, the handbag according to the invention does not require a large quantity of materials to make the flap. Indeed, the flap does not need to extend over the entire back side of the body of the handbag.

According to a preferred characteristic, the assembly system comprises a first plate arranged behind an outer casing of the body, the first member being fixed to the first plate through the outer casing of the body, the outer casing of the body being clamped between the first plate and the first organ.

In this way, the first member is secured securely to the body of the handbag.

Advantageously, the body comprises an internal lining inside the pocket, the first plate being placed between the outer casing and the internal lining of the body.

In this case, the first plate is not visible from inside the pocket formed by the body. Indeed, the internal lining conceals this first plate and makes it possible to achieve an invisible maintenance of the first member on the outer envelope of the body of the handbag.

According to a preferred design, the assembly system comprises a second plate disposed between an outer skin of the flap and the lining of the flap, the second member being fixed to the second plate through the lining of the flap, the lining of the flap being pinched between the second plate and the second organ.

Thanks to this design, the second organ is fixed under the flap completely invisibly and securely.

Indeed, the outer skin of the flap is then not impacted by the assembly system. The outer skin of the flap can thus be designed at the designer's convenience without the latter having to take into account the visual integration of the assembly system.

This is obtained by the fact that the outer skin of the flap ensures a covering of the assembly system.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the rail is open at both ends, the slider being able to be inserted or extracted by the two ends of the rail.

It is therefore understood that the flap can be assembled or disassembled by sliding made by one or the other of the sides of the handbag. This design facilitates the assembly and disassembly of a flap by the user of the handbag.

According to a preferred solution, the holding means comprise at least one couple:
- A projecting element presented by one of the rail and the slider;
- A complementary recess in the shape of the projecting element and presented by the other of the rail and the slider;
the projecting element engaging in the hollow in the assembly position of the flap on the body.

This design of the holding means improves the holding in position of the slider inside the rail, this in the assembly position of the flap on the body in which the slider is fully slid into the rail.

In this case, preferably, the projecting element is retractable, and the holding means comprise elastic return means for the projecting element in a projecting position.

When the user inserts the slider inside the rail, then the maintenance of the slider relative to the rail is carried out automatically as soon as the projecting element or elements arrive opposite the complementary hollow or hollows. Arrived at this position, the elastic return means bring about the return of the projecting elements into a projecting position to cooperate with the hollows and to maintain the slider in the rail at its sliding length corresponding to the assembly position of the flap on the body .

According to a preferred embodiment, the projecting element is a ball.

Such a ball can advantageously roll on the opposite surface and thus facilitate the insertion of the slider inside the rail.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the slider and the rail have an identical length.

In this case, the retention of the flap on the body of the bag is optimized.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended drawings, including:

is a schematic representation according to a perspective view of a handbag according to the invention, the handbag comprising a flap overlapping an opening of the body, the opening of the body and a system for assembling the flap on the body being represented in transparency through the flap;

is a schematic representation of the flap and the body of the handbag according to a cross-sectional view centered on the assembly system, the flap and the body being positioned facing each other;

is a schematic representation seen from below of the flap and of the second member coupled to the lining of the flap;

is a schematic front view of a second member of the assembly system and of a second complementary plate of the second member of the assembly system;

is a front view schematic representation of a first member of the assembly system and of a second complementary plate of the first member of the assembly system.

Referring to Figure 1, a handbag 1 according to the invention is shown.

Purse 1 includes:
- A body 2 forming a pocket intended for example to receive objects, the body 2 having an opening O between a rear face 21 and a front face 22 of the body 2;
- a flap 3;
- a strap 10 coupled to the body 2.

The body 2 more specifically comprises a bottom, a rear face 21 and a front face 22 opposite to each other with respect to the pocket, as well as side faces 23.

The strap 10 is in particular coupled on the side faces 23.

According to this embodiment and with reference to Figure 2, the body 2 comprises an outer casing 210 and an inner lining 24.

The internal lining 24 lines the inside of the pocket formed by the body 2.

The outer envelope 210 of the body 2 forms the front faces 22 and the rear face 21 presented by the body 2.

The outer casing 210 can for example be made of leather, while the inner lining 24 of the body 2 can be made of fabric.

The flap 3 is intended to cover the opening O, as shown in figure 1.

The flap 3 thus overlaps the body 2 from the rear face 21 to the front face 22 of the body 2. In this position the flap 3 blocks access to the pocket.

The handbag 1 also comprises an assembly system 4 of the flap 3 on the body 2, the flap 3 being interchangeable.

In other words, the assembly system 4 allows a removable assembly of the flap 3 on the body 2.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the flap 3 comprises an outer skin 31 and a lining 32.

According to a design comparable to the body 2, the outer skin 31 of the flap 3 can be made of leather, while the lining 32 of the flap 3 can be made of fabric.

The outer skin 31 forms the upper face of the flap 3 while the lining 32 forms the lower face of the flap 3.

To this end, the lining 32 of the flap 3 is coupled at the periphery to the outer skin 31 of the flap 3.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the assembly system 4 comprises:
- A first member 41 presented by the body 2;
- a second member 42 presented by the flap 3.

In general, one of the first member 41 and of the second member 42 is a rail 410, and the other of the first member 41 and of the second member 42 is a slider 420 able to be inserted and to slide in the rail 410.

According to the present embodiment, the first member 41 is the rail 410, and the second member 42 is the slider 420 which is able to slide and be inserted into the rail 410.

The first member 41 is integral with the body 2.

Referring to Figure 1, this first member 41 forms a sliding axis 40 of the second member 42 and thus of the flap 3 relative to the body 2 during assembly or disassembly of the flap 3 on the body 2.

The sliding axis 40 is essentially parallel to the opening O, the opening O extending in length between the rear face 21 and the front face 22 of the body.

According to the principle of the invention, and as illustrated by Figures 1 and 2, the first member 41 is mounted on the rear face 21 of the body 2.

Indeed, the first member 41 is coupled to the outer casing 210 which forms the rear face 21 of the body 2.

The second member 42 is itself mounted on the lining 32 of the flap 3. Thus, the second member 42 is coupled to the underside of the flap 3.

Consequently, as shown in Figure 1, the flap 3 covers the assembly system 4 in the assembly position of the flap 3 on the body 2.

Referring to Figures 2 and 5, the assembly system 4 comprises a first plate 431 which is arranged behind the outer casing 210 of the body 2.

The first plate 431 is in particular placed between the outer casing 210 of the body 2 and the inner lining 24 of the body 2.

The first member 41 is fixed on the first plate 431 through the outer casing 210 of the body 2. Screws are for example used to make this assembly.

This outer casing 210 of the body 2 is thus pinched between the first plate 431 and the first member 41 to hold the rail 410 in position on the rear face 21 of the body 2.

Similarly and with reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the assembly system 4 comprises a second plate 432 which is placed between the outer skin 31 of the flap 3 and the lining 32 of the flap 3.

The second member 42 is fixed on the second plate 432 through the lining 32 of the flap 3, this lining 32 being pinched between the second plate 432 and the second member 42. Screws can also be used to make this assembly.

The slider 420 is thus held in position on the lining 32 of the flap 3 thanks to the pinching of the lining 32 made between the second plate 432 and the slider 420.

Referring to Figures 2 and 5, rail 410 has a "C" shaped profile.

Rail 410 thus presents:
- a rear plate 4100;
- Two uprights 4101 extending perpendicular to the dish 4100; , respectively at the upper end and at the lower end of the plate 4100;
- two returns 4102 extending in the direction of each other respectively, from the distal ends of the uprights 4101.

The rail 410 thus allows the slider 420 to slide along the sliding axis 40 while preventing the slider from dislodging along directions other than that of the sliding axis 40.

To this end, the slider 420 has a bar 4200 of essentially rectangular section, and a foot 4201 extending below the bar 4200, in the direction of the second plate 432.

The bar 4200 is complementary in shape to the profile of the rail 410, and the foot 4201 is able to pass through a space provided between the two returns 4102 of the rail 410.

Rail 410 is open at both ends so that slider 420 can be inserted or extracted from both ends of rail 410.

The assembly system 4 also comprises means 5 for holding the slider 420 in the rail 410 at a sliding length corresponding to an assembly position of the flap 3 on the body 2.

With reference to Figures 2, 4 and 5, the holding means 5 comprise pairs each including:
- a projecting element 51;
- a complementary hollow 52 in the shape, at least partially, of the projecting element 51.

The protrusions 51 are presented by one of the rail 410 and the slider 420 and the recesses 52 are presented by the other of the rail 410 and the slider 420.

According to the present embodiment, the projecting elements 51 are presented by the slider 420, and more particularly by the bar 4200, and the recesses 52 are presented by the rail 410.

Indeed, the rail 410 has, on its rear plate 4100, several recesses 52, and the projecting elements 51 are presented by the bar 4200.

The projecting elements 51 are intended to engage in the hollows 52 in the assembly position of the flap 3 on the body 2. The projecting elements 51 and the hollows 52 are thus facing each other in the assembly position. of the flap 3 on the body 2.

Referring to Figures 2 and 4, the projecting elements 51 are retractable.

Indeed, the projecting elements 51 are movable inside a housing provided in the slider 420.

The holding means 5 thus comprise, in a complementary manner to the projecting elements 51 movable in the housings, elastic return means (not shown) of the projecting elements 51 in a projecting position with respect to an outer surface of the slider 420.

According to the present embodiment, these projecting elements 51 are balls and the recesses 52 are caps.

As illustrated by Figures 1, 4 and 5, the slider 420 and the rail 410 have the same length.

Consequently, in the assembly position of the flap 3 on the body 2, the slider 420 is completely fitted inside the rail 410. Thus, the slider 420 does not protrude from the ends of the rail 410.

The holding means 5 are advantageously distributed along the rail 410 and the slider 420.

The assembly system 4 can be made of any metal or plastic material.

The assembly system 4 is ideally developed in a metallic material to obtain a qualitative finish and a high-end rendering. By way of example, the assembly system 4 is advantageously made of brass.

Aluminum elements can also be incorporated into the assembly system 4 in order to reduce the overall weight of the assembly system 4.

Claims (9)

Handbag (1) comprising:
- a body (2) forming a pocket and having an opening (O) between a rear face (21) and a front face (22) of the body (2);
- a flap (3) capable of overlapping the body (2) from the rear face (21) to the front face (22) of the body (2) covering the opening (O);
- an assembly system (4) of the flap (3) on the body (2), the flap (2) being interchangeable;
the assembly system (4) comprising:
- a first member (41) presented by the body (2) and a second member (42) presented by the flap (3), one of the first member (41) and of the second member (42) being a rail (410 ), and the other of the first member (41) and of the second member (42) is a slider (420) able to be inserted and to slide in the rail (410), the first member (41) defining a sliding axis (40) parallel to the opening (O);
- Holding means (5) of the slider (420) in the rail (410) at a sliding length corresponding to an assembly position of the flap (3) on the body (2);
characterized in that:
- the first member (41) is mounted on the rear face (21) of the body (2);
- the flap (3) comprises a lining (32) on which the second member (42) is mounted;
the flap (3) covering the assembly system (4) in the assembly position of the flap (3) on the body (2). Handbag (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the assembly system (4) comprises a first plate (431) arranged behind an outer casing (210) of the body (2), the first member (41) being fixed to the first plate (431) through the outer casing (210) of the body (2), the outer casing (210) of the body (2) being pinched between the first plate (431) and the first member (41). Handbag (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the body (2) comprises an internal lining (24) inside the pocket, the first plate (431) being placed between the outer envelope (210 ) and the inner lining (24) of the body (2). Handbag (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the assembly system (4) comprises a second plate (432) placed between an outer skin (31) of the flap (3) and the lining (32) of the flap (3), the second member (42) being fixed on the second plate (432) through the lining (32) of the flap (3), the lining (32) of the flap (3) being pinched between the second plate (432) and the second member (42). Handbag (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rail (410) is open at its two ends, the slider (420) being capable of being inserted or extracted by the two ends of the rail (410). Handbag (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding means (5) comprise at least one couple:
- A projecting element (51) presented by one of the rail (410) and the slider (420);
- A hollow (52) complementary in the shape of the projecting element (51) and presented by the other of the rail (410) and the slider (420);
the projecting element (51) engaging in the hollow (52) in the assembly position of the flap (3) on the body (2). Handbag (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the projecting element (51) is retractable,
and in that the holding means (5) comprise means for elastic return of the projecting element (51) in a projecting position. Handbag (1) according to either of Claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the projecting element (51) is a ball. Handbag (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slider (420) and the rail (410) have the same length.