US20160324282A1

US20160324282A1 - Travel Purse

Info

Publication number: US20160324282A1
Application number: US15/147,604
Authority: US
Inventors: Maryellen Kilkenny
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-05-05
Filing date: 2016-05-05
Publication date: 2016-11-10

Abstract

A travel purse which has, among other things, a body, a front flap, a closing mechanism, a first compartment, a second compartment, and a third compartment. The closing mechanism can be, among other things, a clasp, a snap closure, a magnetic closure, a hook-and-loop closure or a zipper.

The purse can also include a strap. In some embodiments the strap is detachable and/or can be configured to be worn as a belt. In some embodiments the purse can include a tether that is configured to be attached to a key so that the key can be used in while it is still attached to the tether.

In some embodiments the purse can include a clock, a RFID blocking fabric, a tracking device, and/or a charging device such as a kinetic battery charger.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims priority benefits from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/157,196 having a filing date of May 5, 2015, entitled “Travel Purse”. The '196 application is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to purses used to carry personal items, and, in particular, to travel purses used to carry travel documents, personal identification, credit cards, banknotes, coinage and other items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Travelers frequently need to carry travel documents, currency, identification and other personal items. Distributing these items between multiple bags, purses or wallets can be inconvenient and can lead to the misplacing of items. Holding these items in compartments that are too small or the wrong shape can lead to damage.
It is desirable to carry the items in a single purse configured to accommodate the various items in appropriately sized and shaped compartments.
Travel documents and other personal items can be valuable for security, monetary and personal reasons. The safekeeping of such items, and the ability to recover lost or stolen items, is important.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A travel purse comprising: a body; a front flap, wherein a closing mechanism is used to hold said front flap against said body; a strap, wherein said strap is attached to said body via an attachment mechanism; a first compartment; a second compartment; and a third compartment.
In some embodiments the strap is detachable and/or can be worn as a belt. In other or the same embodiments, the attachment mechanism can be an O-ring. The closing mechanism can be, among other things a clasp, a snap closure, a magnetic closure, a hook-and-loop closure or a zipper.
In some embodiments the travel purse can include a tether, wherein the tether is configured to be attached to a key such that the key can be utilized when the key is still attached to the tether.
In some embodiments, the first compartment, or at least a section of the first compartment is made of a transparent material.
In some embodiments, the purse can include a clock, wherein the clock is analog and/or digital and/or an RFID blocking fabric.
In some embodiments the purse includes a tracking device wherein the tracking device is paired with a corresponding device such an alert is sent to the corresponding device when the tracking device is a given distance from the corresponding device. In some embodiments the alert is audible.
In some embodiments the purse includes a charging device such as a battery. In some embodiments the charging device is a kinetic battery charger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a front view of an example embodiment of a travel purse.

FIG. 1B is a back view of the travel purse of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a view of an example embodiment of a strap suitable for use with the travel purse of FIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an example embodiment of the travel purse of FIGS. 1A and 1B opened to show a first set of compartments for travel documents.

FIG. 3 is a view of a second set of compartments of the travel purse of FIGS. 1A and 1B for credit cards, banknotes and coinage.

FIG. 4A is a side view of a third set of compartments of the travel purse of FIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIG. 4B is a plan view of the third set of compartments of FIG. 4A of the travel purse of FIGS. 1A and 1B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

The travel purse described below is configured to be compact and keep all travel necessities organized and safe.
FIG. 1A is a front view of an example embodiment of travel purse 100. Travel purse 100 comprises body 110 and front flap 112. Flap 112 comprises closure mechanism 114, such as a clasp, snap closure, pop-stud, magnetic closure, hook-and-loop closure, zipper and the like. In one implementation, body 110 is 8 inches long, 5 inches wide and 4½ inches deep. In another implementation, body 110 is 8½ inches long, 6½ inches wide and 4½ inches deep.
Travel purse 100 further comprises one or more attachment mechanisms 116 and 118 for a strap (not shown in FIG. 1A). An example embodiment of a strap is shown in FIG. 1C. In the implementation shown in FIG. 1A, attachment mechanisms 116 and 118 are O-rings situated on the left and right sides of purse 100.
FIG. 1B is a back view of travel purse 100 of FIG. 1A. Travel purse 100 comprises body 110.
FIG. 1C is a front view of an example embodiment of strap 130 suitable for use with travel purse 100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B. Strap 130 comprises end pieces 132 and 134. End pieces 132 and 134 can be made of different material than strap 130. Strap 130 is detachable from travel purse 100.
In one implementation, strap 130 is a cross-body strap and attaches to travel purse 100 using O- rings 116 and 118 of FIG. 1A. The length of strap 130 can be adjusted. In one implementation, strap 130 is ½ inch wide and can be adjusted to a length of 56 inches.
In another implementation, the strap is a waist strap or belt, or a means of attaching to a belt, and travel purse 100 can be secured to the waist of a wearer. The waist may provide a more secure location than the shoulder, and may be more discreet. In yet another implementation, the strap can be secured about the chest. In yet another implementation, the strap can be secured to a limb (an arm or a leg).
In one implementation, travel purse 100 further comprises a tether attached at one end to travel purse 100 and at the other end to a point of attachment on the body or the clothes of the wearer.
FIG. 2 shows a front view of an example embodiment of travel purse 100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B opened to show a first set of compartments 140, 142 and 145 for travel documents. Travel purse 100 comprises body 110, front flap 112 (shown opened in FIG. 2) and clasp 114.
In one use of travel purse 100, compartment 140 can be used to hold travel documents such as a boarding pass, a travel itinerary, or a map (not shown in FIG. 2).
Compartment 142 can be used to hold a personal identification document or card. In one implementation, compartment 142 has a clear face 144 and is suitable for holding a photo identification document (not shown in FIG. 2) visible through clear face 144 without the need to remove the photo identification document from compartment 142.
Compartment 145 can be used to hold a passport, for example.
Travel purse 100 further comprises stitched seam 146 and compartment 148 for a pen.
In one embodiment, the first set of compartments 140, 142 and 145 can be 12½ inches long, 5 inches wide and ¼ inch thick.
FIG. 3 is a view of a second set of compartments 300 of travel purse 100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B for credit cards, banknotes and coinage. The second set of compartments 300 serves as a built-in wallet, and can be accessed by zippers that open on three sides with the purse opening lengthwise.
The second set of compartments 300 comprises compartments 302, 304, 306, 308, 312, 314, 316 and 318 suitable for holding credit cards, business cards, photo identification and the like. In the implementation shown in FIG. 3, compartments 302, 304, 306 and 308 are separated from compartments 312, 314, 316 and 318 by a divider 310. Divider 310 can be a dividing seam.
The second set of compartments 300 can be used to hold a card comprising RFID technology such as a facility access card or a public transportation fare card. As described in more detail below, the second set of compartments 300 can be lined with RFID protection fabric. Similarly, the first set of compartments described above can be lined with RFID protection fabric.
In one implementation, the second set of compartments 300 is 8 inches wide and 6 inches high, and each compartment 302, 304, 306, 308, 312, 314, 316 and 318 is 4 inches wide.
The second set of compartments 300 further comprises compartments 320 and 325 suitable for holding banknotes. Compartments 320 and 325 are separated by region 330 suitable for folding or hinging.
The second set of compartments 300 further comprises compartments 340 and 350 suitable for holding coinage. Compartments 340 and 350 can be accessed via zippers 345 and 355 respectively. Compartments 340 and 350 are separated by divider 360. Divider 360 can be a dividing seam.
The second set of compartments 300 further comprises compartments 380, 385, and 390 suitable for holding currency and receipts.
FIG. 4A is a side view of a third set of compartments 400 of travel purse 100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B. Compartments 400 comprise compartment body 410 and three zippers 420, 422 and 424.
FIG. 4B is a plan view of the third set of compartments 400 of FIG. 4A of travel purse 100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B. In the implementation shown in FIG. 4B, the third set of compartments 400 comprises two compartments 430 and 432, separated by a divider 434. In one implementation, divider 434 is made of a fabric material.
Zipper 420 comprises upper side 420 a and lower side 420 b. In one embodiment, compartments 430 and 432 are lined with fabric.
Compartments 430 and 432 are be used to hold a cellphone, smartphone, camera, incidentals such as tissues, lipstick and the like, and other personal items.
Compartments 430 and 432 (or a third compartment not shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B) can be used to hold a charging device. The charging device can be used to charge an electrical device, such as a phone or a camera, stored in travel purse 100. The charging device can use an attachment to AC or DC electrical socket, an electrical storage device (such as a capacitor or battery), a kinetic charging mechanism or other suitable mechanism for providing electrical charge to the electrical device under charge.
In one implementation, the third set of compartments 400 are 5 inches wide, 8 inches long and 3¼ inches deep.
In one implementation, the third set of compartments 400 (or another compartment not shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B) can comprise a key pocket that can be used to hold a set of keys. The set of keys can be attached by a tether or another mechanism of attachment to the key pocket. Travel purse 100 can be configured to facilitate the use of the set of keys to open or close a lock without detaching the set of keys from travel purse 100.
In one implementation, the set of keys are keys for a mechanical locks such as metal keys. In another implementation, the set of keys are one or more keys for an electronic or optical lock.
Travel purse 100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B can be constructed from leather, plastic, vinyl, fabric, metal or any other suitable material or combination of materials. Travel purse 100 can comprise a logo. In one embodiment, the logo is a metallic logo positioned on the front of travel purse 100, the logo comprising a product name, a company name or other distinguishing letters or a graphic.
Travel purse 100 can further comprise a clock attached to travel purse 100 or integrated into its construction. For example, the clock can be integrated with the inside of flap 112, or attached to one of the compartments described above. The clock can be configured to provide the local time and/or the time at a point of departure or point of arrival.
Compartments of travel purse 100 (such as compartments 140, 142, 145, 302, 304, 306, 308, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320, 325, 340, 350, 430 and 432) can be lined with a lining to reduce or eliminate electromagnetic interaction of an external device with credit cards or other devices stored in the compartments. The material of the lining can be selected to provide protection against interference by the external device with RFID technology held in travel purse 100. The lining can be an electrically conductive lining.
Travel purse 100 can comprise a sensor determining and optionally broadcasting its geographic location. For example, the sensor can be a Global Positioning System (GPS) device capable of receiving and optionally transmitting information related to the location of travel purse 100. In some implementations, the sensor can communicate with a software application over a wireless network to notify a user of the travel purse's location at a specific time. The feature can be used to help find and recover a lost or stolen travel purse.
Travel purse 100 can comprise an RFID tracking device located on body 110 or in one of the first, second or third set of compartments described above. The RFID tracking device can facilitate the tracking of travel purse 100, and can provide added security, for example by increasing the likelihood of finding travel purse 100 in the event travel purse 100 is lost or stolen.
Travel purse 100 can comprise a tag (for example, but not limited to, an RFID device), and a corresponding device (such as a fob, tag, card or electronic device) kept on the wearer. In the event travel purse 100 becomes separated from the wearer, the corresponding device on the wearer can activate an alarm such as an audible alarm or a wireless signal to a network.

Benefits of the Travel Purse

The benefits of the travel purse described above include the following:

- Convenient storage of multiple travel documents and personal items in a single purse
- Compartmentalization of different items for improved organization and ease of use
- Improved security and safekeeping of travel documents and personal items.

The travel purse described above can be applied in a variety of situations including, but not limited to, the following:

- Travel
- Business
- Shopping.

While particular elements, embodiments and applications of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood, that the invention is not limited thereto since modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A travel purse comprising:

a. a body;

b. a front flap, wherein a closing mechanism is used to hold said front flap against said body;

c. a strap, wherein said strap is attached to said body via an attachment mechanism;

d. a first compartment;

e. a second compartment; and

f. a third compartment.

2. The travel purse of claim 1 wherein said strap is detachable.

3. The travel purse of claim 1 wherein said strap is configured to be worn as a belt.

4. The travel purse of claim 2 wherein said attachment mechanism is an O-ring.

5. The travel purse of claim 4 wherein said closing mechanism is one of a clasp, a snap closure, a magnetic closure, a hook-and-loop closure or a zipper.

6. The travel purse of claim 5 further comprising a tether, wherein said tether is configured to be attached to a key such that said key can be utilized when said key is still attached to said tether.

7. The travel purse of claim 6 wherein said first compartment includes a section made of a transparent material.

8. The travel purse of claim 6 wherein said first compartment is made of a transparent material.

9. The travel purse of claim 5 further comprising a clock.

10. The travel purse of claim 9 wherein said clock is analog.

11. The travel purse of claim 9 wherein said clock is digital.

12. The travel purse of claim 9 wherein said second compartment is made of a RFID blocking fabric.

13. The travel purse of claim 12 further comprising a tracking device.

14. The travel purse of claim 13 wherein said tracking device is paired with a corresponding device that is configured to cause an alert when said tracking device is a given distance from said corresponding device.

15. The travel purse of claim 14 wherein said alert is an audible alert.

16. The travel purse of claim 14 further comprising a charging device.

17. The travel purse of claim 16 wherein said charging device is a battery.

18. The travel purse of claim 17 wherein said battery is a kinetic battery charger.