Purse for carrying various articles

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6491074
  • Patent Number
    6,491,074
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, September 21, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, December 10, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Young; Lee
    • Ngo; Lien
    Agents
    • Baker; Freling
Abstract
A purse for carrying and organizing various articles with compartments, panels, pockets and flaps shaped, sized, located and connected to each other in a manner that allows superior securement of and access to articles of certain shapes (such as drinking bottles, umbrellas, eyeglasses, credit cards and so on), while also including segregated storage spaces to allow additional storage of all kinds of other articles. The purse of the present invention may be implemented as an organizing insert that can be switched between a variety of outer shells, as fashion, weather conditions and whim dictate.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




I. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to purses, and pertains more particularly to an improved organizing purse having an improved arrangement of pockets and panels for holding various kinds of personal articles in an organized fashion.




II. The Background Art




People use purses to carry personal articles and effects. Some purses have a very simple construction. For example, some conventional purses consist merely of an outer shell that defines a single storage space compartment and a handle (e.g. shoulder straps).




Some purses, however, do have features that facilitate organization and more secure storage of the articles contained therein. Conventionally, these purses have different arrangements of pockets, compartments, closures and the like to segregate, and thereby organize, articles within the purse, and to better secure articles in the purse by providing multiple segregated spaces within the purse where various articles can be placed in separate groups.




Various small pots of make-up, wallets, small mirrors, combs, pocket knifes, coins, sewing kits, toiletries, credit cards, identification cards, papers bearing notes, writing instruments, check books, keys, combs, small food items (e.g., gum) and small books (e.g. paperback books) serve to illustrate the wide variety of articles that may be found in a purse. Although some purses have more than one compartment or pocket to help organize and secure these wide variety of items, a motley mixture of articles is still conventionally placed loosely in the purse or among a few compartments of the purse. This limits the level of organization and security of the articles, and may leave articles tangled, disorganized or difficult to locate within the purse.




The problem of organization was partly solved in my prior parent applications, which disclosed a purse organizer that solved many of the problems of the prior art. However, I have discovered the need for additional improvements. One improvement disclosed in my prior patent applications is the provision for converting the organizer to an appealing clutch—a small strapless handbag—or shoulder bag for convenient carrying of items separate from other personal articles. Another improvement disclosed in my prior patent applications is a modification to provide a zipper closure around the periphery of the purse organizer.




Now that the previous generations of improvements have been disclosed to the public, I know of no publicly-recognized problems, complaints, suggestions for improvement or the like relating to purses. To the extent that I have discovered shortcomings of currently-available purse products, such discoveries will be addressed below in the Summary of the Invention section, because such discoveries are not prior art, and are therefore inappropriate for discussion in this Background section.




SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION




There exists a need for a bag that can mount or hold many different related or unrelated personal articles in a more organized fashion. It would be desirable to have a purse organizer with multiple holding or mounting panels and pockets for holding many different related articles and/or unrelated articles for ease of location and retrieval. There is an ongoing need for a purse that can be quickly converted into a separate vanity bag or clutch.




Furthermore, there is a need for a purse organizer insert that can be selectively used in different kinds of bags, such as a purse organizer insert that can be transferred between purses of different materials or of different colors that can also be transferred to non-purse bags, such as backpacks.




One object of the present invention is to solve the problem of keeping personal articles of different sizes and shapes organized and secure. Another object of the present invention is to provide a purse organizer insert that can be selectively transferred between purse-style bags and various non-purse-style bags (eg, backpacks).




Broadly, the invention provides an organizing purse with multiple pockets and attachment means for holding articles of different sizes secure and readily accessible in an organized arrangement. At least some embodiments of purse organizer inserts according to the present invention can be carried in a purse, a non-purse-style bag (eg backpack), or carried alone as a clutch, or as a small shoulder bag.




More specifically, the following aspects of the present invention may be implemented as an organizing purse: an outer shell structured to define an interior space; an organizing insert detachably mounted to the outer shell at least substantially within the interior space, the organizing insert comprising: an insert front panel made of pliable material; an insert back panel made of pliable material; at least one insert intermediate panel made of pliable material, with the insert front panel, the insert back panel and the at least one insert intermediate panel being structured and located to define at least two organizing compartments; a first multi-card pocket assembly made of pliable material, with the first multi-card pocket assembly comprising a plurality of pockets shaped and sized to secure credit-card-sized objects; a second multi-card pocket assembly made of pliable material, with the first multi-card pocket assembly comprising a plurality of pockets shaped and sized to secure credit-card-sized objects, with the second multi-card pocket assembly being pivotable between a first position adjacent to the first multi-card pocket assembly and a second position spaced away from first multi-card pocket assembly; and a window panel with a window defined therein, with the window panel being connected to the outer shell at a location so that the window is aligned with and thereby exposes at least one of the first multi-card pocket assembly and the second multi-card pocket assembly. Another aspect of the present invention may be implemented as purse comprising: an outer shell made of pliable material, with the outer shell defining an interior space; at least one inner shell made of pliable material and located to define a main compartment within the interior space and to define a main compartment opening on the outer shell; and at least one elongated-object-holder shell made of pliable material and located to define an elongated-object-holder compartment shaped to hold elongated objects within the interior space and to define an elongated-object-holder opening on the outer shell.




Another aspect of the present invention may be implemented as a purse comprising: an outer shell made of pliable material, the outer shell defining an interior space; a generally planar rigid panel located within the interior space, with the rigid panel having an aperture defined therein; and at least one pocket made of pliable material, with the at least one pocket defining a pocket opening, and with the pocket being located so that the pocket opening is aligned with the aperture.




Another aspect of the present invention may be implemented as a combination of bags and an organizer insert comprising: an organizer insert; a first bag adapted to accommodate the organizer insert; and a second bag adapted to accommodate the organizer insert, with the first bag having a different size and shape than the second bag.




However, the claims alone—not the preceding summary—define the invention.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The nature, goals, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings—illustrating by way of examples the principles of the invention in which like reference numerals identify like elements throughout, wherein:





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a purse according to the present invention, wherein the purse is closed;





FIG. 2

is a view like

FIG. 1

with the purse closure flap open;





FIG. 3

is another perspective view of the purse of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 4

is a perspective view of a purse organizer insert according to the present invention;





FIG. 5

is another perspective view of the purse organizer insert of

FIG. 4

;





FIG. 6

is another perspective view of the purse organizer insert of

FIG. 4

;





FIG. 7

is a perspective view of a combination purse and purse organizer insert according to the present invention;





FIG. 8

is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a purse organizer insert according to the present invention that may be used in combination with the purse and/or the purse organizer insert of

FIG. 7

;





FIG. 9

is a perspective view of the purse organizer insert of

FIG. 6

, shown for use in a back pack configured bag.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS





FIGS. 1

,


2


and


3


show a preferred embodiment of purse


100


that is suitable for use with the present invention. Purse


100


includes main compartment


101


, front panel


102


, peripheral panels


104


, closure flap


106


, strap


108


, first closure


110


, elongated-object-compartment flap


112


, opposing pockets


114


, rigid panel


116


, window


117


, elongated-object-compartment aperture


118


, second closure latch


120


, eyeglasses pouch


121


, eyeglasses pouch shell


122


, eyeglasses pouch divider panel


123


, expandable compartment


124


, third closure


125


, ba eyeglasses pouch flap


127


, front panel zipper


128


, spiral zipper


129


, first attachment strip


130


, expandable side wall


132


, and expandable compartment front panel


134


.




Purse


100


is an outer shell preferably made mostly of pliable material (eg, cloth, leather, vinyl, suede), with the principle exception of rigid panel


116


. As shown in

FIGS. 1

to


3


, main compartment


101


is defined primarily by front panel


102


, peripheral panels


104


, closure flap


106


, rigid panel


116


and expandable compartment


124


. As explained below, main compartment


101


is sized and shaped to accommodate purse organizer insert


200


(not shown in

FIGS. 1

to


3


). The panels are secured together along their peripheral edges to form the shell and receptacle as shown.




Purse


100


can be selectively manipulated between a closed position (shown in

FIG. 1

) and an open position (shown in

FIG. 2

) as follows: (1) opening first closure


110


to release closure flap


106


from front panel


102


; and (2) opening front panel


102


by unzipping front panel zipper


128


. First closure


110


is preferably formed as a conventional magnetic clasp.




Strap


108


serves as a handle that allows the purse to be more easily carried by hand or over the shoulder in the manner of a conventional purse.




Elongated-object-compartment flap


112


(shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

) can be manipulated between a closed position (shown in

FIG. 1

) and an open position (shown in

FIG. 2

) as follows: (1) undoing second closure


120


; and (2) rotating elongated-object compartment flap


112


down away from peripheral panel


104


. Second closure latch


120


is preferably formed as a conventional magnetic clasp. Elongated-object compartment flap


112


serves to selectively allow access to an elongated-object compartment (not shown in

FIGS. 1

to


3


) through elongated-object aperture


118


, as further explained below.




Opposing pockets


114


are preferably sewn into an interior face of front panel


102


. Opposing pockets


114


serve to secure and segregate small articles (not shown), which in turn provides for better organization of small articles. Alternatively, front panel


102


may be provided without pockets, or with pockets arranged, oriented and sized in lots of different ways.




Rigid panel


116


includes window


117


. As used herein, the word “rigid” is used to mean any material that is rigid enough not to be considered pliable. As an example, cloth is pliable, while a sheet of cardboard or the sole of a shoe is “rigid” (as that term is used herein). Rigid panel


116


serves to help secure purse organizer insert


200


(not shown in

FIGS. 1

to


3


and further explained below), while window


117


allows easier access to purse organizer insert


200


when purse organizer insert


200


is secured within main compartment


101


.




Eyeglasses pouch


121


is shaped and sized to secure two pairs of eyeglasses (not shown). Eyeglasses pouch includes eyeglasses pouch shell


122


, eyeglasses pouch divider panel


123


, third closure


125


, and eyeglasses pouch flap


127


. Eyeglasses pouch shell


122


serves to define a compartment for holding the two pairs of eyeglasses. In the embodiment shown in

FIG. 2

, eyeglasses pouch shell


122


is made of pliable material. Alternatively, eyeglasses pouch shell


122


can be made of rigid material in order to provide more protection for the eyeglasses stored therein.




Eyeglasses pouch divider panel


123


serves to segregate the two pairs of eyeglasses that can be stored in eyeglasses pouch


121


, to thereby help prevent the two pairs of eyeglasses from scratching each other. Alternatively, no eyeglasses pouch divider panel may be provided, which is preferable in alternative embodiments wherein eyeglasses pouch


121


is sized and shaped to hold only a single pair of eyeglasses. As a further alternative, additional eyeglasses pouch divider panels can be provided so that eyeglasses pouch


121


can hold more than two pairs of eyeglasses.




Eyeglasses pouch


121


can be opened and closed by selectively closing and releasing third closure


125


and by manipulating eyeglasses pouch flap


127


. Third closure


125


is preferably formed as a hook-and-loop (eg, Velcro (trademark)) fastener.




As shown in

FIG. 3

, expandable compartment


124


includes back panel


126


, spiral zipper


129


, expandable side wall


132


, and expandable compartment front panel


134


. Expandable compartment


124


is defined by back panel


126


, expandable side wall


132


and expandable compartment front panel


134


. Expandable compartment


124


can be manipulated between an expanded position and a contracted position by selectively zipping and unzipping spiral zipper


129


to thereby expand and contract expandable side wall


132


. Expandable side wall


132


is preferably made of pliable material to facilitate its expansion and contraction.




Expandable compartment


124


serves to segregate articles secured therein from articles stored in main compartment


101


. In the expanded position, expandable compartment


124


can hold larger objects (eg, a blouse) or a large quantity of small articles. In the contracted position, the volume of purse


100


is rendered considerably smaller so that purse


100


is less bulky. The outer shell may also convert into a back pack by use of strap


108


as a shoulder strap.




First attachment strip


130


serves to secure purse organizer insert


200


(not shown in

FIGS. 1

to


3


and further explained below) in main compartment


101


. This attachment strip is preferably formed as a strip of hook-and-loop material, and preferably located along the top edge of expandable compartment front panel


134


, as shown in FIG.


2


. The first attachment strip


130


can alternatively be located elsewhere on the interior surfaces of main compartment


101


. Also, additional attachment strips and/or patches can be provided on the interior surfaces of main compartment


101


.




Now purse organizer insert


200


will be discussed with reference to

FIGS. 4

to


6


. Purse organizer insert


200


includes outer shell


201


, front panel


202


, peripheral panels


204


, back panel


206


, vertical pockets


208


, zippered pockets


210


, zippers


212


, mesh pockets


214


, divider panels


216


, zipper


218


, suspension strap


222


, suspension closure


223


, elongated-object-compartment aperture


224


, elongated-object compartment


226


, attachment strips


228


, fourth closure


230


, first pocket panel


232


, first credit-card pockets


234


, second pocket panel


236


, and second credit-card pockets


238


.




Purse organizer insert


200


is preferably made primarily of pliable material. Outer shell


201


is primarily defined by front panel


202


, peripheral panels


204


and back panel


206


. The top of purse organizer insert


200


is left open to expose a plurality of pockets and dividers disposed therein. The pockets and dividers facilitate segregation and organization of small articles. In this way, when purse organizer insert


200


is used alone as a “clutch,” small articles can be better organized by being selectively segregated by the various pockets and dividers. Also, when purse organizer insert


200


is placed within main compartment


101


of purse


100


(as further explained below in connection with FIG.


7


), it likewise facilitates better organization and segregation of articles in the purse.




Divider panels


216


divides purse organizer insert


200


lengthwise into several compartments. The number and orientation of divider panels can be varied depending on the preferred size, number and orientation of the compartments. As shown in

FIG. 5

, adjacent divider panels


216


can be provided with zipper


218


in order to allow the tops of selected compartments to be closable by manipulation of the zipper.




Vertical pockets


208


can be selectively placed along one or more of front panel


204


, peripheral panels


204


, back panel


206


and divider panels


216


. Alternatively, zippered pockets


210


may also be provided with zippers


212


in order to allow selected pockets to more securely retain articles stored therein. Alternatively, mesh pockets


214


may be provided in order to provide better visibility of articles stored in mesh pockets


214


. The combination of pockets and dividers of purse organizer insert


200


is primarily intended to be exemplary, as a perhaps infinite number of combinations of dividers and pockets can be implemented within purse organizer insert


200


. For example, special pockets for cell phones and pagers could be provided.




Suspension strap


222


allows purse organizer insert


200


to be suspended from a hook (eg a hook mounted on the wall of a closet) by suspension closure


223


. Alternatively, suspension strap


222


and closure


223


can be utilized as a metal clip with a key ring on a leash.




Elongated-object compartment aperture


224


in peripheral panel


204


allows free access to elongated-object compartment


226


. Elongated-object compartment


226


is a pocket that extends across the length of purse organizer insert


200


along the bottom peripheral panel


204


, and is therefore much deeper than it is wide. Preferably, elongated-object compartment


226


is from about five to about eight times deep as it is wide. This facilitates storage of elongated articles (not shown), such as umbrellas, drinking bottles and rulers. Conventionally, it is difficult to store elongated objects in a purse because conventional purses do not have elongated, lengthwise pockets that open on a peripheral side. The present invention solves that problem by the provision of elongated-object compartment


226


.




The interior faces of elongated-object compartment


226


can be made to be waterproof in order to prevent the spread of liquid from wet umbrellas, drinking bottles or the like.




Attachment strips


228


are located at intervals on outer shell


201


in order to selectively and detachably attach the purse organizer insert to purse


100


, backpack


400


, or other bags equipped with mating attachment strips (as further explained below in connection with FIGS.


7


and


9


). Attachment strips


228


are preferably formed of hook-and-loop fastener fabric.




First pocket panel


232


includes a plurality of first credit-card pockets


234


, preferably distributed on both of its main faces. First credit-card pockets


234


are sized and shaped to secure credit-card sized objects such as credit cards and identification cards, while allowing partial visibility of the cards (not shown) stored therein.




First pocket panel


232


can be manipulated between a closed position (as shown in

FIG. 4

) and an open position (shown in

FIG. 5

) as follows: (1) selectively closing and releasing fourth closure


230


; and (2) selectively rotating first pocket panel towards and away from front panel


202


. Fourth closure


230


is preferably made of hook-and-loop fastener material. In the closed position, the first credit-card pockets


234


on the outer main face of first pocket panel


232


are exposed. In the open position, first credit-card pockets


234


on the inner main face of first pocket panel


232


are exposed.




When first pocket panel


232


is in the open position, second pocket panel


236


and second credit-card pockets


238


are also exposed. Second credit-card pockets are sized and shaped to secure credit-card sized objects such as credit cards and identification cards, while allowing partial visibility of the cards (not shown) stored therein. This kind of arrangement of first pocket panel


232


and second pocket panel


236


permits a lot of credit cards to be stored in a small space, while still permitting good visibility of and access to each card (not shown) stored therein. Alternatively, pockets of other sizes and orientations can be substituted for first credit-card pockets


234


and second credit-card pockets to facilitate storage of different kinds of articles. For example, a checkbook pocket shaped and sized to hold a standard checkbook could be provided.





FIG. 7

shows how purse insert organizer


200


can be used in combination with purse


100


in order to allow articles stored within purse


100


to be better organized and segregated. More specifically, flap


106


of purse


100


can be opened to allow purse organizer insert


200


to be placed into main compartment


101


. First attachment strips


130


of purse


100


are detachably attached to attachment strips


228


of purse insert organizer


200


to better secure purse organizer insert


200


to purse


100


. The attachment strips are located to be aligned when purse organizer insert


200


is in the correct position within main compartment


101


to facilitate this detachable attachment.




Alternatively, purse


100


and purse organizer insert


200


can be provided without attachment strips, such that purse organizer insert


200


is secured within purse


100


by a combination of gravitational force and friction between the purse organizer insert and the purse.




As shown in

FIG. 7

, when purse organizer insert


200


is placed within main compartment


101


, first pocket panel


232


and second pocket panel


236


are aligned with window


117


, so that the first credit-card pockets


234


and second credit-card pockets


236


can be accessed through window


117


. The rigidity of rigid panel


116


helps provide support when first pocket panel


232


is opened and closed.




When purse organizer insert


200


is placed within purse


100


, elongated-object-compartment flap


112


, elongated-object-compartment aperture


118


, elongated-object-compartment aperture


224


and elongated-object compartment


226


are aligned. In this way, elongated-object-compartment flap


112


can be opened to allow access to elongated-object compartment


226


from outside of purse


100


.




When objects that are longer than the depth of elongated-object compartment


226


(ie the length of purse insert organizer


200


) are inserted into elongated-object aperture


226


, flap


112


may be kept in the open position in order to allow the elongated object to partially protrude from purse


100


. Even when an object partially protrudes from elongated-object compartment


226


and purse


100


, it will still be supported well due to the relatively great depth of elongated-object compartment


226


. Also, because the object protrudes from a peripheral side of purse


100


, it will tend to be less cumbersome than it would in a conventional purse, wherein the object would protrude from the top of the purse.




It is also noted that the unconventional placement of elongated-object compartment


226


allows discreet storage of objects that one may want to hide, such as a roll of valuable jewels (not shown) or a tall bottle of vodka (not shown).




It is to be noted that a single purse organizer insert


200


can be switched between purses


100


that are constructed in a wide variety of styles and colors.





FIG. 8

shows pocketed insert


300


, which includes a plurality of pockets


302


that can be selectively and respectively opened and closed by a plurality of zippers


304


. Pocketed insert


300


can be placed within main compartment


101


with or without purse insert organizer


200


in order to provide further organization and segregation of articles stored within purse


100


. These pouches may conveniently hold numerous articles including items of jewelry and the like. The pockets are particularly adapted to receive and hold necklaces.





FIG. 9

shows how purse insert organizer


200


can be used in combination with other types of specially-constructed bags, such as backpack


400


. Backpack


400


includes outer shell


402


, access panel


404


, fifth closure


406


, attachment strips


408


, main compartment


410


, elongated-object-compartment flap


412


, and shoulder straps


414


.




The purse organizer


200


can be placed within main compartment


410


as shown by arrow A. When the purse organizer


200


is placed within main compartment


410


, a portion of purse organizer


200


can be accessed by manipulating closure


406


and access flap


404


.




When the purse organizer


200


is in its correct position within main compartment


410


, attachment strips


408


will be aligned with attachment strips


228


in order to effect detachable attachment of purse organizer


200


within main compartment


410


.




Elongated-object-compartment flap


412


is similar to elongated-object-compartment flap


112


(explained above) in order to allow selective access to elongated-object compartment


226


. Shoulder straps


414


are located and sized as conventional backpack straps.




Although the embodiment of

FIG. 9

shows the purse organizer insert as being placed at the bottom of main compartment


410


, other placements are possible by repositioning access flap


404


, attachment strips


408


and elongated-object-compartment flap


412


.




Alternatively, other sizes and shapes of bag can be substituted for backpack


400


. As demonstrated by

FIGS. 7 and 9

, it is an advantage of at least some embodiments of the present invention that a single purse organizer insert


200


can be selectively switched between different types of bags. This allows quick and easy transfer of a plurality of articles (not shown) stored in purse organizer insert


200


to be transferred between different types of bags, whilst preserving the security and organization of the articles stored in the purse insert organizer.




To the extent that a patentee can act as his or her own lexicographer, the foregoing specification may in the future be scrutinized to determine whether special definitions are provided in the specification. In order to help out with any inquiries along these lines, it will now be explicitly stated that the only word for which a special definition is provided in the specification is the word “rigid.” Speaking now as a lexicographer, it is hereby specified that all other words in this document should be construed according to their plain, ordinary and accustomed meaning (which can usually be determined with reference to a dictionary), rather than by altering the dictionary definitions of the words based on disclosures of the present specification.




It is appropriate that the following claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein described.



Claims
  • 1. An organizing purse, the purse comprising:an outer shell structured to define an interior space; an organizing insert detachably mounted to the outer shell at least substantially within the interior space, the organizing insert comprising: an insert front panel made of pliable material; an insert back panel made of pliable material; at least one insert intermediate panel made of pliable material, with the insert front panel, the insert back panel and the at least one insert intermediate panel being structured and located to define at least two organizing compartments; a first multi-card pocket assembly made of pliable material, with the first multi-card pocket assembly comprising a plurality of pockets shaped and sized to secure credit-card-sized objects; a second multi-card pocket assembly made of pliable material, with the second multi-card pocket assembly being pivotable between a first position adjacent to the first multi-card pocket assembly and a second position spaced away from first multi-card pocket assembly; and a window panel with a window defined therein, with the window panel being connected to the outer shell at a location so that the window is aligned with and thereby exposes at least one of the first multi-card pocket assembly and the second multi-card pocket assembly.
  • 2. The organizing purse of claim 1 wherein:the outer shell is made of pliable material; and the window panel is rigid.
  • 3. The organizing purse of claim 1 wherein the organizing insert further comprises at least one mesh pocket mounted to at least one of the at least two organizing compartments.
  • 4. The organizing purse of claim 1 wherein the organizing insert further comprises at least one zipper closure structured and located to open and close one of the organizing compartments.
  • 5. The organizing purse of claim 1, wherein the outer shell comprises:an outer shell back panel having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge; a first outer shell peripheral panel connected to the first edge of the outer shell back panel; a second outer shell peripheral panel connected to the second edge of the outer shell back panel; a third outer shell peripheral panel connected to the third edge of the outer shell back panel; and an outer shell flap connected to the fourth edge of the outer shell back panel.
  • 6. The organizing purse of claim 5, wherein the first, second and third outer shell peripheral panels are connected to the rigid panel at respective edges thereof.
  • 7. The organizing purse of claim 1 wherein the outer shell further comprises a glasses pocket shaped and sized to secure a pair of eyeglasses.
  • 8. The organizing purse of claim 7 further comprising a handle connected to the outer shell, with the handle being structured to allow a user to carry the organizing purse, wherein:the eyeglasses pocket is located so that it extends into the interior space; and the eyeglasses pocket is located on the top side of the organizing purse when the organizing purse is carried by the handle.
  • 9. A purse comprising:an outer shell made of pliable material, with the outer shell defining an interior space and having a top opening, an interior space opening and an elongated-object holder opening; at least one inner shell made of pliable material detachably mounted and located to define a main compartment within the interior space and to define a main compartment opening aligned with the interior space opening on the outer shell; and at least one elongated-object-holder shell made of pliable material and located within said inner shell to define an elongated-object-holder compartment shaped to hold elongated objects within the interior space and to define an elongated-object-holder opening aligned with said elongated-object holder opening in the outer shell.
  • 10. The purse according to claim 9 wherein the elongated-object-holder compartment is shaped to tightly secure a folded umbrella.
  • 11. The purse according to claim 9 wherein the elongated-object-holder compartment is shaped to tightly secure an elongated drinking bottle.
  • 12. The purse according to claim 9 wherein the elongated-object-holder shell is generally tubular in shape.
  • 13. The purse according to claim 9 wherein:the outer shell comprises a first face and a second face; the interior space opening is on the first face; and the elongated-object-holder opening is on the second face.
  • 14. The purse according to claim 13 wherein the interior space main compartment opening and the elongated-object-holder opening are approximately perpendicular to each other.
  • 15. The purse according to claim 9 wherein:the elongated-object-holder further defines an elongated-object-holder depth; the widest portion of the elongated-object-holder opening defines an elongated-object-holder width; and the elongated-object holder depth is more than five times as large as the elongated-object-holder width.
  • 16. The purse according to claims 9 in combination with at least a second bag wherein:the second bag is adapted to accommodate the organizer insert, with the second bag having a different size and shape than the purse; and wherein: the organizer insert comprises at least one first attachment strip; the purse comprises at least one second attachment strip, which is structured and located to be detachably attachable to the at least one first attachment strip; and the second bag comprises at least one third strip, which is structured and located to be detachably attachable to the at least one first attachment strip.
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/229,241, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,213, filed Jan. 12, 1999, entitled PURSE ORGANIZER AND CARRYING CASE, which application was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/886,719, filed Jul. 1, 1997, entitled PURSE ORGANIZER now U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,233.

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4569082 Ainsworth et al. Feb 1986 A
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Continuation in Parts (2)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/229241 Jan 1999 US
Child 09/666777 US
Parent 08/886719 Jul 1997 US
Child 09/229241 US