Handbag with exchangeable components

Abstract

A handbag with exchangeable components is described. Also described are fastening mechanisms for use with a removable liner and for fastening the interior liner to the exterior of the handbag. Furthermore, exchangeable exterior pieces and mechanisms for fastening such exterior pieces to the exterior portion of the handbag are described.

1 . A handbag comprising:
 an exterior shell; and   a removable accessory detachably attached to the exterior shell by an attachment mechanism, the attachment mechanism having movable parts and is operable to secure the removable accessory to the exterior shell while the mechanism is in a first position, and operable release the removable accessory while the mechanism is in a second position,   
     wherein while the mechanism is in the second position and the removable accessory is removed from the mechanism, another removable accessory is receivable by the mechanism for detachable attachment to the exterior shell after receipt of the another accessory by the mechanism and the mechanism is moved to the first position. 
   
   
       2 . The handbag of  claim 1 , wherein said removable accessory comprises jewelry. 
   
   
       3 . The handbag of  claim 1 , wherein said removable accessory comprises a semi-precious stone. 
   
   
       4 . The handbag of  claim 1 , wherein said removable accessory comprises a precious stone. 
   
   
       5 . A handbag comprising:
 an exterior shell having a shell opening to an interior compartment defined by the exterior shell, the shell having a shell connection aperture therethrough; and   a removable liner for insertion into the interior compartment, the liner being complimentary to the exterior shell and having a liner opening complimentary to the shell opening, said removable liner further comprising a liner connection aperture complimentary to the shell connection aperture in the exterior shell and aligning therewith when the liner is inserted into the interior compartment of the exterior shell for forming an aligned aperture with the shell connection and interior connection apertures,   
     wherein said removable liner is insertable within the interior compartment and is detachably attachable within the interior compartment by a fastener passing through the aligned aperture. 
   
   
       6 . The handbag of  claim 5 , wherein the fastener is movable from a first unsecured position for inserting the fastener through the aligned aperture to a second secured position for preventing withdrawal of the fastener through the aligned aperture. 
   
   
       7 . The handbag of  claim 6 , wherein the fastener comprises first and second parts connected by a hinge to permit relative movement of the parts between the unsecured and secured positions. 
   
   
       8 . The handbag of  claim 6 , wherein the fastener includes an arm for passing through the aligned aperture, the end of the arm being rotatable between the unsecured and secured positions. 
   
   
       9 . The handbag of  claim 8 , wherein:
 a rim surrounds the liner connection aperture in an interior of the liner;   the end of the arm of the fastener is passable through the aligned aperture into the interior or the liner; and   the rim has a notch to help retain the end of the arm in the secured position after the end is passed into the interior of the liner and rotated to the secured position.   
   
   
       10 . The handbag of  claim 9 , wherein the end of the arm is ring-shaped. 
   
   
       11 . The handbag of  claim 10 , wherein the ring-shaped end comprises a retractable bar movable to reveal an opening to the ring-shaped end for inserting an accessory into the ring-shaped end, the retractable bar being further movable to close the opening the secure the accessory to the ring-shaped end. 
   
   
       12 . The handbag of  claim 11 , wherein the accessory is a handbag strap. 
   
   
       13 . The handbag of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the shell having a shell edge at the opening to the interior compartment;   the exterior shell having a wrapping section wrappable into the liner opening over a liner edge complementary to the shell edge when the liner is inserted into the exterior shell; and   the shell connection aperture is located in the wrapping section.   
   
   
       14 . The handbag of  claim 13 , wherein the exterior shell has a second shell connection aperture positioned such that when the liner is inserted into the interior compartment and the wrapping section is wrapped over the liner edge, the second shell connection aperture is aligned with the aligned aperture for the fastener to pass through. 
   
   
       15 . The handbag of  claim 14 , wherein the fastener includes an arm for passing through the aligned aperture and second shell connection aperture, the end of the arm being rotatable between the unsecured and secured positions. 
   
   
       16 . The handbag of  claim 13 , wherein the fastener comprises first and second parts connected by a hinge to permit relative movement of the parts between the unsecured and secured positions. 
   
   
       17 . The handbag of  claim 16 , wherein the each of the shell connection aperture, the second shell connection aperture and liner connection aperture is rectangular in shape. 
   
   
       18 . A handbag comprising:
 an exterior shell having an opening to an interior compartment defined by the exterior shell;   a fastener; and   a removable cover detachably attachable to the exterior shell by the fastener for covering the opening to the interior compartment, said fastener permitting complete detachment of the cover from the exterior shell,   
     wherein, when the removable cover is detachably attached to the exterior shell, the cover is operable between a first position and a second position, such that in the first position the removable cover substantially covers the opening, thereby restricting access to the interior compartment of the handbag, and such that, in the second position, access to the interior compartment is provided through the opening. 
   
   
       19 . The handbag of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the fastener includes parts moveable between at least an unsecured position and a secured position;   the fastener is attached to the removable cover; and   the fastener is passable through a shell connection aperture in the exterior shell while in the unsecured position, and thereafter is moveable to the secured position, thus retaining the fastener within the shell connection aperture, thereby detachably attaching the removable cover to the exterior shell.   
   
   
       20 . The handbag of  claim 19 , wherein the parts of the fastener include first and second portions connected by a hinge to permit relative movement of the portions between the unsecured and secured positions. 
   
   
       21 . The handbag of  claim 19 , wherein the parts of the fastener include an arm for passing through the shell connection aperture, the arm having an end rotatable between the unsecured and secured positions. 
   
   
       22 . The handbag of  claim 21 , wherein the fastener comprises a base and an end, wherein the end is rotatable between the unsecured position and the secured position, and wherein the cross sectional profiles of the base and end are in registry with one another in the unsecured position. 
   
   
       23 . The handbag of  claim 22 , wherein the shell connection aperture is rimmed by a grommet. 
   
   
       24 . The handbag of  claim 23 , wherein an accessory attachment is attached to the grommet. 
   
   
       25 . The handbag of  claim 24 , wherein the accessory attachment is attached to the grommet by a hinge. 
   
   
       26 . The handbag of  claim 24 , wherein an accessory is detachably attached to the accessory attachment. 
   
   
       27 . The handbag of  claim 26 , wherein the accessory is a chain. 
   
   
       28 . The handbag of  claim 21 , wherein:
 a rim surrounds the shell connection aperture in the interior compartment;   the end of the arm of the fastener is passable through the shell connection aperture into the interior compartment while the fastener is in the unsecured position; and   the rim comprises a notch to help retain the end of the arm in the secured position after the end is passed into the interior compartment and rotated to the secured position.   
   
   
       29 . The handbag of  claim 28 , wherein the end of the arm is ring-shaped. 
   
   
       30 . The handbag of  claim 29 , wherein the ring-shaped end comprises a retractable bar movable to reveal an opening to the ring-shaped end for inserting an accessory into the ring-shaped end, the retractable bar being further movable to close the opening to secure the accessory to the ring-shaped end. 
   
   
       31 . The handbag of  claim 30 , wherein the accessory is a handbag strap. 
   
   
       32 . The handbag of  claim 18 , wherein the removable cover is made of a different material than the handbag. 
   
   
       33 . The handbag of  claim 32 , wherein the different material is selected from the group of materials consisting of alligator skin, leather, crocodile skin, suede, patent leather, and Kevlar. 
   
   
       34 . The handbag of  claim 18 , wherein the removable cover comprises a precious stone detachably attached thereto. 
   
   
       35 . The handbag of  claim 18 , wherein the removable cover comprises a semi-precious stone detachably attached thereto. 
   
   
       36 . The handbag of  claim 18 , wherein the removable cover comprises jewelry detachably attached thereto. 
   
   
       37 . The handbag of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the fastener includes parts moveable between at least an unsecured position and a secured position;   the removable cover comprises a cover connection aperture;   the fastener is passable through the cover connection aperture, and a shell connection aperture in the exterior shell in the unsecured position, and, thereafter, is moveable to the secured position, thus retaining the fastener within the cover connection aperture and shell connection aperture, thereby detachably attaching the removable cover to the exterior shell.   
   
   
       38 . A handbag comprising:
 an exterior shell having a shell opening to an interior compartment defined by the exterior shell, the shell having a shell connection aperture therethrough; and   a removable liner for insertion into the interior compartment, the liner being complimentary to the exterior shell and detachably attachable to the exterior shell by a fastener attached thereto, the fastener having at least one part being movable from a first position to pass through the shell connection aperture to a second position after passing through the aperture to detachably attach the liner to the exterior shell.