Patent Application
20080115866
The present invention relates to pocketbooks, wallets and purses.
A handkerchief or a bandana is commonly carried within one's pocket and may be used for hygiene. But sometimes these articles are used as fashion accessories. A wallet or a pocketbook is commonly carried within a pocket and is used to organize personal effects such as paper monney, credit cards, driver's license, coins, and keys. It is often not possible to carry both a pocketbook and a handkerchief because either the pocket is too small or the apparel simply does not have enough pockets. Even when the apparel does allow for it, it can be cumbersome (and even uncomfortable) to carry both.
Therefore, a need exists for a simple integrated device that can operate both as a pocketbook and a handkerchief or bandana.
The present invention provides a novel pocketbook. Specifically, the pocketbook comprises a pocket portion and a tail portion that is foldable. The pocket portion comprises a pocket. In one embodiment the pocket contains a fastener to prevent the contents of the pocket portion from spilling out. In another embodiment, the pocket portion comprises a nested pocket to allow for better organization of the contents, and the nested pocket may optionally contain a fastener. To allow for easier placement of the pocketbook in a pant pocket, the pocket portion may include a stiffener. The tail portion is comprised of foldable material and may optionally contain a split pocket that is lined with a soft non-abrasive material. In yet another embodiment, the tail portion may be designed fold over the lip of a pant pocket, thus resembling a bandana dangling from the pant pocket. The tail portion may be used as a handkerchief or as a eyeglass cleaner.
What is described below is a novel pocketbook.
The tail portion (15) of the pocketbook (5) is comprised of foldable material such as, but not limited to, fabric, cotton, polyester, leather, plastic, or microfiber. In one embodiment, the tail portion (15) is made from cotton and may be used as a handkerchief. The tail portion (15) may also contain a split pocket (30), which may be lined with a soft non-abrasive material (35) such as cotton or microfiber. The split pocket (30) may be used to clean eyeglasses. The entire pocketbook (5) may be constructed of washable material (either hand or machine washable) such that the pocketbook (5) may be cleaned by simply placing it in the washing machine, much like a conventional handkerchief.
Referring to
Having described the system in detail and by reference to several preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the following claims. Moreover, the applicant expressly does not intend that the following claims “and the embodiments in the specification to be strictly coextensive.” Phillips v. AHW Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1323 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (en banc).
