Interchangeable Bag Accessories

Abstract

Apparatus for releasably securing a decorative accessory to a bag. A base element is provided for attachment to a bag such that the front of the base element is disposed on the outside of the bag and the rear of the base element is disposed inside the bag. An accessory element is provided for releasable engagement with the front of the base element. The accessory element and base element are releasably engageable by a securing mechanism that comprises an accessory element release actuator at the rear of the base element, the accessory element release actuator manually operable to selectively disengage the accessory element from an engaged condition with the base element. A method of releasably securing a decorative accessory to a bag. A method of providing a bag with the base element, and a bag provided with the base element.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . Apparatus for releasably securing a decorative accessory to a bag having an exterior panel with an exterior side and an interior side, said apparatus comprising:
 a base element having a front and a rear, for attachment to said exterior panel of the bag such that the front of said base element is disposed on the exterior side of said exterior panel and the rear of said base element is disposed on the interior side of said exterior panel, and   an accessory element, for releasable engagement with said base element such that said accessory element is selectively retained at the front of said base element,   said accessory element and said base element being releasably engageable by a securing mechanism that comprises an accessory element release actuator at the rear of said base element, said accessory element release actuator being manually operable to selectively disengage said accessory element from an engaged condition with the base element,   wherein said accessory element comprises a locking shank from which a locking flange extends radially outwardly,   said base element defines a receiving chamber having a front wall defining an insertion aperture adjacent a locking portion of the wall, said insertion aperture being so shaped as to allow said locking shank to be inserted through said insertion aperture into said receiving chamber and thereafter to be rotated in a first direction to locate said locking flange within the receiving chamber behind said locking portion of said front wall,   said base element comprises a locking flange stop,   said base element comprises a latch element movable between a locking position and a releasing position, and   said accessory element is releasably retainable in an engaged condition in which said latch element is in the locking position and said locking flange is located within the receiving chamber behind said locking portion of said front wall and radially retained between said locking flange stop and said latch element.   
     
     
         23 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said latch element is biased towards the locking position by a spring. 
     
     
         24 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said latch element comprises a latch head and is arranged to pivot between a locking position in which said latch head of said latch element is within said receiving chamber and a releasing position in which said latch head of said latch element is without said receiving chamber. 
     
     
         25 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein said locking flange is insertable through said insertion aperture and rotatable in said first direction past said latch head of said latch element towards said locking flange stop, whereafter said accessory element is releasably retained in said engaged condition. 
     
     
         26 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein wherein said locking flange is insertable through said insertion aperture and rotatable in said first direction through an angle of between 60 degrees and 85 degrees into said engaged condition. 
     
     
         27 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said spring is selected from a group comprising a torsion spring, a leaf spring, and a compression spring. 
     
     
         28 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said accessory element release actuator is selected from a group comprising a lever, and a wheel. 
     
     
         29 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said locking shank of said accessory element comprises a plurality of locking flanges. 
     
     
         30 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said locking shank of said accessory element is insertable through said insertion aperture at a single insertion orientation only. 
     
     
         31 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said accessory element carries a decorative badge. 
     
     
         32 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein said decorative badge is affixed to said accessory element by a means selected from a group comprising a mechanical fixing, a weld and adhesive. 
     
     
         33 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said exterior panel of the bag defines an aperture having a perimeter, and said base element comprises a front plate and a rear plate and is configured to be attached to the exterior panel of the bag such that the perimeter of said aperture defined by the exterior panel of the bag extends between said front plate and said rear plate. 
     
     
         34 . A base element for use in apparatus as claimed in  claim 22 . 
     
     
         35 . An accessory element for use in apparatus as claimed in  claim 22 . 
     
     
         36 . A bag comprising an exterior panel with an exterior side and an interior side to which a base element as claimed in  claim 34  is attached such that the front of said base element is disposed on the exterior side of said exterior panel and the rear of said base element is disposed on the interior side of said exterior panel, and the accessory element release actuator of the base element is disposed inside the bag. 
     
     
         37 . A method of providing a bag with apparatus for releasably securing a decorative accessory to the bag, comprising the steps of:
 receiving a bag comprising an exterior panel having an exterior side and an interior side,   and in which an aperture is defined,   receiving a base element as claimed in  claim 34 , and   attaching the base element to said exterior panel of the bag such that the front of said base element is disposed on the exterior side of said panel and the rear of said base element is disposed on the interior side of said panel, and the accessory element release actuator is disposed inside the bag.   
     
     
         38 . A method of releasably securing a decorative accessory to a bag, comprising the steps of:
 receiving a bag as claimed in  claim 36 ,   receiving a first accessory element as claimed in  claim 35 , and   releasably securing said first accessory element to said base element in an engaged condition.   
     
     
         39 . A method as claimed in  claim 38 , further comprising the step of selecting the first accessory element as claimed in  claim 35  from a plurality of accessory elements each as claimed in  claim 35 . 
     
     
         40 . A method as claimed in  claim 38 , further comprising the steps of:
 operating the accessory element release actuator to disengage said first accessory element from said engaged condition,   receiving a second accessory element as claimed in  claim 35 , and   releasably securing said second accessory element to said base element in said engaged condition, whereby said first and second accessory elements are interchanged.