US20120067471A1

US20120067471A1 - Purse attachment that holds an umbrella, water bottle or similar shape object

Info

Publication number: US20120067471A1
Application number: US13/136,634
Authority: US
Inventors: Carol Margaret Swift; Wilbur James Swift
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-09-16
Filing date: 2011-08-05
Publication date: 2012-03-22

Abstract

The present invention provides for a beaded adjustable looped cord that attaches easily to any purse or accessory that has a strap or handle, allowing an umbrella, water bottle, beverage bottle, sports bottle, sippy cup, baby bottle or similar shape object to be inserted into its adjustable loop, holding the item tightly against the purse or accessory, thus leaving one's hands free. It is a leather or imitation leather cord or other similar looking strong cord that is looped through a cord stopper and decorated with beads in order to look fashionable. Its purpose is to securely hold a wet or dry umbrella inside its adjustable loop so that one does not have to carry the umbrella when the umbrella is not in use. Furthermore, its purpose includes securely holding a water bottle, beverage bottle, sports bottle, sippy cup, baby bottle, or any similar shaped object in order to leave ones hands free.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/403,542, filed on Sep. 16, 2010.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is a leather or imitation leather cord or similar looking strong cord that is looped through a cord stopper and decorated with beads at the bottom. It attaches easily to any size purse or accessory that has a strap or handle. After it is attached to the purse or other accessory, an umbrella, water bottle, sippy cup, or similar shaped object can be put through its loop, and the cord stopper pushed up until it is tight against the object. It securely holds the object, leaving one's hands free. It can be made with any color cord and beads, making it a fashionable accessory to any purse, and it can be left on the purse when not in use, or it can be easily removed and stored in the purse.

BACKGROUND ART

It is very inconvenient to carry around a wet umbrella after it stops raining. It is well known that there are many places a dry umbrella can be carried in case one is needed—in a large purse, backpack, pocket of a coat, briefcase, etc. The problem arises after it stops raining and the umbrella is wet. It can't be put back into a purse or briefcase or pocket, etc., as it will get everything wet. Similarly it is very inconvenient to carry a water bottle, beverage bottle, sports bottle, sippy cup, or baby bottle when not in use. Furthermore the above said items could leak if placed in a purse, backpack, or other accessory.
Prior art has proved difficult and cumbersome. Previously, the loop of the umbrella handle could be fastened with a clip onto the strap of a purse as a way of carrying it, but the umbrella swings and sways and is very annoying. The same swinging and swaying of the umbrella occurs if the umbrella is put back into its carrying cover and fastened to the strap of a purse with a clip. Furthermore, putting the umbrella loop around your wrist as a way of carrying it is both cumbersome and annoying.
Prior art demands that a holder specific to an umbrella would be needed, as well as a holder specific to a water bottle, beverage bottle, sports bottle, sippy cup, baby bottle, etc., as cited in the following references:

Umbrella carrier, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,807, Jackson, Dec. 17, 1985
Umbrella holder U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,494, Thomas, Nov. 15, 1979
Umbrella tote strap, U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,309, Belanger, Aug. 26, 1997
Umbrella carrier, U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,077, Disher, Jan. 18, 2000
Bottle carrier device with strap, U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,079, Heather, Sep. 15, 1992
Bottle clip carrier, U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,066, Giacona, Mar. 14, 2000
Bottle holder, U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,993, Andrino, Jun. 11, 2002

No prior art was found that allows one holder to accommodate all of these items; umbrella, water bottle, beverage bottle, sports bottle, sippy cup, baby bottle, or other similar shape object.
The present invention attempts to overcome these deficiencies in the prior art by providing a fashionable universal holder that easily attaches to the strap of a purse or any accessory that has a strap or handle, and securely holds the item such as an umbrella, water bottle, beverage bottle, sports bottle, sippy cup, baby bottle, or other similar shape object, thus leaving one's hands free. The present invention contemplates a new and improved way of carrying the above said objects when not in use, leaving one's hands free. Not only is it useful, it is also a fashionable accessory to a purse even when not in use.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

A way was needed to attach an umbrella securely to a purse or accessory, have it look fashionable, and at the same time solve the problem of what to do with the wet umbrella or an umbrella that will not fit in a purse. Similarly, a way was needed to attach a water bottle, beverage bottle, sports bottle, baby bottle, sippy cup or other similar shaped object to a purse or accessory in order to leave one's hands free. Furthermore, a universal holder was needed to attach these items without having to have specific holders for each item. The present invention is the solution.

Solution to Problem

The present invention is the solution to the problem. It is a leather or imitation leather cord or similar looking strong cord that is looped through a cord stopper and decorated with beads at the bottom. It attaches easily to any size purse or accessory that has a strap or handle. It can be attached to the ring of the purse or accessory that attaches the strap/handle to the body of the purse or accessory or it can be attached to the strap. It attaches easily by putting the loop end of the cord through the ring or around the strap and then sliding the beaded end through the loop and pulling it tight. After it is attached to the purse or accessory, the umbrella, water bottle or similar object is put through its loop and the cord stopper is pushed up until it is tight against the object. It hugs the object against the purse so it will not swing and sway.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The present invention can be attached to one's purse or accessory only on the days that it may be needed, or it can be left attached to one's purse or accessory always. It looks fashionable hanging alone or holding an umbrella or water bottle, or other similar shaped object. The umbrella, water bottle, or similar shaped object can be inserted into and removed from it quickly and easily. One will no longer have to carry the umbrella, water bottle, or similar shaped object and both hands will be free.
This new and improved invention allows the user to have one holder that will hold either an umbrella, water bottle, or other similar shaped object. The user will not need specific holders for each individual item. The present invention can be made in different colors to coordinate with any purse or accessory and it is relatively inexpensive so several can be purchased to coordinate with different purses. It will look fashionable hanging from a purse or accessory even when not needed to hold an umbrella, water bottle, beverage bottle, sports bottle, sippy cup, baby bottle or similar shaped object, or it can be removed on days when it will not be needed. It attaches and removes easily and quickly and it is small enough to carry inside a purse or accessory until needed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

A brief description of the drawings are as follows:

FIG. 1—Components of the invention

FIG. 2—Invention with cord stopper pushed down to expose full loop. This position allows it to be attached to and removed from purse. This position also allows umbrella, water bottle or similar object to be placed in loop.

FIG. 3—Invention with cord stopper pushed up to minimize loop. This position allows it to tightly hold the umbrella or other object against the purse or accessory. It is also the position the cord stopper should be in for it to hang from the purse or accessory when not being used to hold an object.

FIG. 4—Attaching invention to purse.

FIG. 5—Invention attached to purse.

FIG. 6—Umbrella held securely against purse by invention

FIG. 7—Water bottle held securely against purse by invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS


Key to Drawings

	1 Cord
	2 Cord Stopper
	3 Bead
	4 Pony Bead
	5 Knot
	6 Loop
	7 Metal Ring on Purse
	8 Beaded Ends
	9 Purse
	10 Strap/Handle
	11 Invention
	12 Umbrella
	13 Water Bottle

FIG. 1

Components of Invention

Cord (1): One approximate 2 mm wide leather or imitation leather cord or any similar strong cord approximately 26″ to 28″ long can be used. Cord can be flat or round. Cord can be black, brown or various colors to coordinate with purse it is being designed for.
Cord Stopper (2): One cord stopper approximately 11/16″ W×⅞″ H with a hole diameter of 3/16″. Color is optional to coordinate with cord and purse.
Beads (3): Large hole beads of various colors, shapes, designs & sizes. Beads can be 6 mm to 15 mm or larger. Beads can be made of wood, plastic, glass, metal, etc. Hole in bead must be large enough for cord to pass through. Beads should coordinate with the cord and with the purse it is being designed for. Use approximately four to eight beads as desired.
Pony Beads (4): Two large hole round pony beads. Color is optional to coordinate with the cord stopper.

Directions to Make Invention

Cut cord (1) 26-28 inches long and fold in half. Hold both ends of cord evenly together. With other hand, squeeze end of cord stopper (2) to open up hole. Thread cord through hole of cord stopper until loop (6) above it is approximately 6 to 7 inches long. Stop squeezing cord stopper. Make knot (5) in cord directly below cord stopper on each side. Thread selected bead (3) on cord until it touches knot. Thread two or three more beads (3) as desired. Make sure at least one of these beads is the pony bead (4) and it should be the same color as the cord stopper. Beads should color coordinate with the color of the purse it is being made for. If using beads (3) with exceptionally large holes make sure pony bead (4) is the last bead on cord so that beads won't fall off of knot. Make knot (5) in cord below last bead so that knot touches bead. Repeat on remaining cord.
FIGS. 2,3,4,5

Attaching Invention to Purse or Accessory

FIG. 2—Squeeze the cord stopper (2) and slide it down until it touches the knots (5).
FIG. 4—Put the loop (6) end through the metal ring (7), or around the strap/handle (10) if no ring, of the purse (9). Pull both the beaded ends (8) through the loop (6) until loop is tight around ring (7).
FIG. 3—Squeeze cord stopper (2) and slide it up.
FIG. 5—Invention (11) is attached to purse (9).
FIGS. 2,4
Removing Invention from Purse or Accessory
FIG. 2—Squeeze the cord stopper (2) and slide it down until it touches the knots (5).
FIG. 4—Pull loop (6) end that is attached to ring (7) until loop (6) is large enough to pull beaded ends (8) through it. Slide present invention off the ring (7) or handle (10) of purse (9).
FIGS. 2,3,5,6,7

Attaching Umbrella or Water Bottle to Invention

FIG. 5—After invention (11) is attached to purse (9),
FIG. 2—Squeeze the cord stopper (2) and slide it down until it touches the knots (5).
FIG. 6—Put umbrella through loop (6) so at least ¾ of umbrella (12) is below the cord stopper (2), or
FIG. 7—Put water bottle, beverage bottle, sports bottle, baby bottle, sippy cup, etc. (13) through loop (6) directly below lip,
FIG. 3—Squeeze the cord stopper (2) and slide it up,
FIG. 6—Cord stopper (2) should be tight against the umbrella (12) or,
FIG. 7—Cord stopper (2) should be tight directly under lip of water bottle, beverage bottle, sports bottle, baby bottle, sippy cup, etc. (13)
FIGS. 2,5
Removing Umbrella or Water Bottle from Invention
FIG. 2—Squeeze the cord stopper (2) and slide it down until loop (6) is big enough to remove the umbrella, water bottle, sippy cup, etc.
FIG. 5—After the umbrella, water bottle, sippy cup, etc. is removed, squeeze the cord stopper (2) and slide it up to meet ring (7) or handle (10) of purse (9). The invention (11) can be left on purse (9) as a decoration or removed until needed.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1—Components of the Invention
FIG. 2—Invention with cord stopper pushed down to expose full loop. This position allows it to be attached to and removed from purse. This position also allows umbrella to be placed in loop.
FIG. 3—Invention with cord stopper pushed up to minimize loop. This position allows it to tightly hold the umbrella against the purse. It is also the position the cord stopper should be in for it to hang from purse without umbrella.
FIG. 4—Attaching invention to purse
FIG. 5—Invention attached to purse
FIG. 6—Umbrella held securely against purse by invention
FIG. 7—Water bottle held securely against purse by invention


Key to Drawings

	1. Cord
	2. Cord Stopper
	3. Bead
	4. Pony Bead
	5. Knot
	6. Loop
	7. Metal Ring on Purse
	8. Beaded Ends
	9. Purse
	10. Strap/Handle
	11. Invention
	12. Umbrella
	13. Water Bottle

Claims

What we claim as our invention is:

1. A purse or accessory attachment comprising of a cord made of leather, imitation leather or similar strong material that is folded in half and its ends threaded through a cord stopper making an adjustable loop, and beaded on the ends below the cord stopper, that when looped around the strap or handle of a purse or accessory including a backpack, tote bag, fanny pack, belt loop and then pulled through itself to attach it to the above said strap or handle, securely holds an

umbrella, or

water bottle, or

beverage bottle, or

sports bottle, or

sippy cup, or

baby bottle, or

similar shape object inside its adjustable loop, thus leaving one's hands free.