Method and apparatus for display of friendship or group association

Abstract

A carrying bag adapted to separate and reattach into a plurality of pieces and having decorative elements on each piece that when viewed by third parties will show an association between parties carrying the pieces. A method of providing user decoration of the pieces forming the carrying bag to allow individual customization of the ornamental aspects of the bag pieces such that when carried by two or more individuals, the pieces indicate an association between them.

1 . An apparatus for visual display an association between a plurality of individuals comprising:
 a carrying bag having a first portion and a second portion;   said bag having a separated position with said first portion separated from said second portion, and an engaged position with said first portion engaged to said second portion;   said carrying bag having a central perimeter edge defining a shape;   each of said first half portion and said second half portion having at least one side surface, said side surface having a shape substantially the same as said central perimeter edge;   means of attachment of a respective side surface of said first half to a side surface of said second half to said engaged position with said side surface of said first portion adjacent to said side surface of said second portion;   first ornamentation on an exterior surface of said first portion;   second ornamentation on a exterior surface of said second portion; and   said first ornamentation having a visual relation to said second ornamentation, said visual relation when viewed by third parties, providing means to identify an association between a first individual carrying said first portion, and a second individual carrying said second portion of said carrying bag.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus for visual display of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 said first ornamentation being a first color or pattern; and   said second ornamentation being substantially the same as said first ornamentation.   
   
   
       3 . The apparatus for visual display of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 said first ornamentation being first indicia on said first portion, said first indica being one or a combination of colors, patterns, and alpha numeric characters; and   said second ornamentation being second indicia on said second portion, said second indica being one or a combination of colors, patterns, and alpha numeric characters.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus for visual display of  claim 3  additionally comprising:
 said second indica being a mirror image of said first indica.   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus for visual display of  claim 1  wherein said means of attachment of a respective side surface of said first half to a side surface of said second half is a zipper. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus for visual display of  claim 2  wherein said means of attachment of a respective side surface of said first half to a side surface of said second half is a zipper. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus for visual display of  claim 3  wherein said means of attachment of a respective side surface of said first half to a side surface of said second half is a zipper. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus for visual display of  claim 4  wherein said means of attachment of a respective side surface of said first half to a side surface of said second half is a zipper. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus for visual display of  claim 3  wherein:
 said first indica identifies a group or association of individuals; and   said second indicia identifies an individual member of said group or association.   
   
   
       10 . A method of allowing user assembly of the apparatus of  claim 3 , comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of first portions and a plurality of second portions, each said first portion adapted for engagement with any of said second portions;   allowing users to choose an individual half from said first portions or second portions for their use;   providing a plurality of ornamental components for attachment to said individual half by said user;   allowing said user to choose one or a plurality of said ornamental components for engagement to their respective chosen individual half;   providing means of attachment of said ornamental components to said respective chosen individual bags;   allowing said users to employ said means of attachment to attach chosen individual ornamental components to said respective chosen individual half; and   allowing a plurality of users to engage or separate said respective chosen individual halves into said carrying bag.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  comprising the additional steps of:
 providing a decorative guide to each said user as a guide to place said first indica or said second indica on an exterior surface of said individual half, said decorative guide providing a rendition of said first indica or said second indica, which is common to all said users from a group or association of said users.   
   
   
       12 . A method employing a user assembled handbag identifying users with a group affiliation, said bag assembleable from a first half portion and a second half portion to an engaged position with said first portion engaged to said second portion using means for attachment of a side surface of said first half portion to said second half portion, comprising the steps of:
 distributing said first half portion of said bag bearing indica identifying group affiliation through a group-controlled venue and only to authorized users;   distributing said second half portion of said bag, through either a group controlled venue, or a secondary non-group controlled venue to any authorized said user or any non-authorized said user; and   allowing said user to decorate said second portion of said bag themselves, whereby said authorized said users, my engage said first half portion to said second half portion to an engaged position to form said bag which displays said group affiliation by said user on said first half potion.   
   
   
       13 . A method employing a user-assembled handbag identifying a plurality of users with an affiliation to each other, said bag assembleable from a first half portion and a second half portion to an engaged position with said first portion engaged to said second portion using means for attachment of a side surface of said first half portion to said second half portion, comprising the steps of:
 distributing a said first half portion of said bag to each of said plurality of users, each said first half portion to bear a common ornamentation;   distributing said second half portion of said bag, to each of said users for an ornamentation of each respective half portion by a respective user; and   allowing said plurality of users to engage said first half portion to said second half portion to an engaged position, to form a said bag for each said user, each said bag displaying said common ornamentation on said first half portion to thereby display an affiliation with others in said plurality of users having the same first half portion.