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 . 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 portions and said second half portions of said bag, said first half portion hearing first indicia identifying group affiliation through a group-controlled venue and only to authorized users, and said second half portion bearing second indicia different from said first indicia:   whereby a user may engage a first half portion to a second half portion to an engaged position to form said bag which displays said group affiliation by said user on said first half potion.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first portions are distributed through a restricted channel of distribution and the second portions arc distributed through an unrestricted channel of distribution. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising distributing separate ornamentation with at least one of said half portions, said ornamentation being configured for attachment to the respect half portion by the end user. 
     
     
         4 . 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, with said first and second half portions have identical shapes and sizes, comprising the steps of:
 distributing said first and second half portions of said bag to each of said a plurality of users, each said first and second half portions having an external surface with a respective first and second ornamentations on said external surface, respectively, said first and second ornamentations being different and including specific visual aspects that are common to both said first and said second ornamentation;   wherein half portions are arranged and constructed to he assembled into bags having one of a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein bags in said first configuration are formed of two identical half portions with identical ornamentation and bags in a second configuration are formed of half portions with different ornamentations, bags in said second configurations being selected to provide a an indicia of an affiliation of users with each other.   
     
     
         5 . A method identifying at least two persons with an affiliation to each other, comprising:
 distributing a bag to one of said persons, said bag having a periphery and a first external surface and a second external surface, said bag consisting of a first portion formed with said first external surface and a first internal surface, a second portion having said second external surface and a second internal surface and a connection device interconnecting said first and second portion at least at one point along said periphery to form said bag, said bag having a respective first and second on at least one of said surfaces of each of said portions;   wherein said indicia on the two portions are selected to show an affiliation between the two persons   whereby said bag can be separated by said first person into said two portions, said second portion can be transferred by the first person to the second person, and the second person can assemble said second portion with his own first portion.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said bag has substantially complementary ornamentation on each of said portions. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said indicia includes similar ornamentation on each surface. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the ornamentation on the first portion includes at least one common visual element in common with the ornamentation of the second portion. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the common element is selected from the group consisting of color, shape, size, alphanumeric character and theme.