Patent Application
20150083288
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
This embodiment relates to clutches, and more particularly to a rigid customizable clutch with interchangeable outer shells and drop-in clasps.
Conventional handbags allow no flexibility in color coordination or in texture coordination with different clothing apparels that a user may wear. Such considerations are especially important in ladies' handbags and clutches. Modern fashion clutches are often of similar shape but have very different decorative clasps, which change the look and sometimes the function of the clutch. Users are forced to either purchase and store a number of different clutches for use with different apparel outfits, or they must use the same clutch even though the exposed surface may clash or is otherwise inappropriate for use on particular occasions. Owning several clutches is not only expensive but it also requires a lot of storage room in one's closet or suitcase. Further, moving the contents of one clutch into a different clutch can be a tedious process, and there is a risk that something important may be left behind unnoticed in a pocket of the original clutch.
Several attempts have been made to develop handbags and clutches with interchangeable covers for changing the external appearance. Various solutions have not entirely solved the current problems, including loss of items from open-mouth purses or purse inserts; increasing complexity of purses with interior pockets and flaps; inefficient means for fastening a cover to a foundation bag; and undesirable bulkiness or heaviness of the resulting handbag. Some handbags and purses provide embedded releasable snap fasteners to fasten detachable and interchangeable coverings and handles. However, these snap fasteners may easily come off and look unattractive.
In light of the foregoing, there is a need for a customizable clutch with interchangeable outer shells and drop-in clasps. Such a needed clutch would be rigid and easily customized to change its appearance. The customizable clutch would comprise a main case and interchangeable outer shells and drop-in clasps. The customizable clutch would also comprise an integrated locking mechanism that allows the clutch to easily interchange outer shells. Further, the clutch would comprise a drop-in clasp system that allows the clutch to easily interchange clasps or handles to provide desirable clutch designs and colours. Such a unique customizable rigid clutch would avoid the need for purchasing several clutches for coordination with different apparels that a user may wear. The present embodiment accomplishes these objectives.
The present embodiment is a customizable rigid clutch with interchangeable outer shells and clasps. The customizable rigid clutch comprises a rigid main case, an interchangeable outer shell held by an integrated hinge and outer shell locking system, an interchangeable clasp held by a drop-in clasp system, interchangeable chains held by a pair of strap attachments. The main case serves as a platform for the interchangeable outer shell and the interchangeable clasp. The interchangeable outer shell and the interchangeable clasp may be easily changed for coordination with different apparels that a user may wear.
The rigid main case includes a pair of half sections, each of the pair of half sections attached along a bottom side by means of a hinge. A pair of upper insert receivers is positioned along a top side of the pair of half sections of the main case. A pair of inner slider housings is attached along a top side of the pair of half sections of the main case. Each of the pair of inner slider housings has a pair of sliding bars. The interchangeable outer shell includes a pair of half sections, each of the pair of half sections having a lower clip along a bottom side and a pair of upper inserts along a top inner surface for removably attaching with the main case. The interchangeable clasp includes a pair of half sections, each of the pair of half sections having an insert for removably attaching with the main case.
The interchangeable outer shell encloses the main case. The interchangeable outer shell is secured to the main case through the integrated hinge and outer shell locking system which includes a pair of hinge receivers on both sides of the hinge. The pair of upper insert receivers receives the pair of upper inserts and then the pair of hinge receivers receives the lower clip of each of the half sections of the interchangeable outer shell.
The interchangeable clasp is secured to the main case through the drop-in clasp system which includes the pair of inner slider housings each having the pair of sliding bars. The pair of sliding bars may be slid into a locked position and an unlocked position to attach and remove the interchangeable clasp to the main case respectively. To attach the interchangeable clasp to the main case, a user drops the insert of each of the pair of half sections of the interchangeable clasp into a corresponding cavity in each of the pair of inner slider housings and the pair of sliding bars is pushed into the locked position.
In one embodiment, the customizable clutch includes a pair of hinge caps, each having a pair of protrusions for removably attaching the interchangeable outer shell to the rigid main case. The rigid main case includes a pair of hinge cap receivers that is attached proximate each of the pair of hinge receivers. To secure the pair of hinge caps to the main case, a user slides the pair of hinge caps into place, such that the pair of protrusions on each of the pair of hinge caps slides into the pair of hinge cap receivers. The interchangeable outer shell is attached to the main case using the pair of hinge caps thereby preventing the interchangeable outer shell from backing out and dislodging from the main case. Thus, the pair of hinge caps provides an additional attachment point to lock the interchangeable outer shell with the rigid main case.
The present embodiment provides a customizable clutch with the integrated hinge and outer shell locking system that facilitates the attachment of the interchangeable outer shell and ensures the interchangeable outer shell stays securely attached to the main case. The customizable clutch allows users to purchase several outer shells and clasps which can then be interchanged depending on the outfit and avoid the need to purchase several clutches for coordination with different apparels that a user may wear. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
The following describes example embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. This invention, however, may be embodied in many different ways, and the description provided herein should not be construed as limiting in any way. Among other things, the following invention may be embodied as methods or devices. As such, the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. The following detailed descriptions should not be taken in a limiting sense.
In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one. In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive “or,” such that “A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwise indicated. Furthermore, all publications, patents, and patent documents referred to in this document are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, as though individually incorporated by reference. In the event of inconsistent usages between this document and those documents so incorporated by reference, the usage in the incorporated reference(s) should be considered supplementary to that of this document; for irreconcilable inconsistencies, the usage in this document controls.
Referring to
The interchangeable outer shell 14 encloses the main case 12. As shown in
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Referring to
By the use of the customizable clutch 10 of the present invention, the exterior design and color of the clutch may be quickly and easily changed to correspond to whatever color or fashion desired by the user. Furthermore, transfer of the articles contained therein to a second purse's interior need not be performed. The customizable clutch 10 provides the integrated hinge and outer shell locking system 16 that facilitates the attachment of the interchangeable outer shell 14 and ensures the interchangeable outer shell 14 stays securely attached to the main case 12. The customizable clutch 10 allows users to purchase several outer shells and clasps which can then be interchanged depending on the outfit and avoid the need to purchase several clutches.
While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the customizable clutch 10 may include various locking mechanism to lock shells with a main case. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.
