Handbag system with replaceable outer tote shell and attachment mechanism

Abstract

A handbag system includes an inner bag and at least one outer shell. The inner bag has a compartment into which items can be placed and a handle with a first end and a second end. The first end is fixed to a first position on the inner bag while the second end is unfixed but has a first fastener. A corresponding second fastener is fixed to a second position on the inner bag to releasably connect with the first fastener. The outer shell defines an inner volume that accepts the inner bag and has a first and second openings corresponding to the first and second positions of the inner bag. The second end of the handle is passable through the first and second openings to releasably secure to the inner bag via the second fastener.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handbag system comprising:
 an inner bag having a first side, the inner bag comprising:
 a compartment into which items can be placed; 
 a first handle having a first end and a second end, the first end fixed to a first position on the first side, the second end having a first fastener; and 
 a second fastener fixed to a second position on the first side and configured to releasably connect with the first fastener; and 
   a first outer shell having a first side and defining an inner volume configured to accept the inner bag, the first side of the first outer shell comprising:
 a first opening corresponding to the first position of the inner bag; and 
 a second opening corresponding to the second position of the inner bag; 
   wherein the first and second openings of the first outer shell are arranged such that the second end of the first handle is passable through the first and second openings to releasably secure to the inner bag via the second fastener.   
     
     
         2 . The handbag system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the inner bag further comprises:
 a second side opposite the first side of the inner bag; 
 a second handle having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second handle fixed to a third position on the second side of the inner bag, the second end having a third fastener; and 
 a fourth fastener fixed to a fourth position on the second side of the inner bag and configured to releasably connect with the third fastener; and 
 
 the first outer shell further comprises:
 a second side opposite the first side of the first outer shell, the inner volume defined between the first and second sides of the first outer shell, the second side of the first outer shell comprising a third opening corresponding to the third position of the inner bag and a fourth opening corresponding to the fourth position of the inner bag; 
 
 wherein the third and fourth openings of the first outer shell are arranged such that the second end of the second handle is passable through the third and fourth openings to releasably secure to the inner bag via the fourth fastener. 
 
     
     
         3 . The handbag system of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a first loop adjacent to the second fastener, the first loop configured to accept the first handle; and 
 a second loop adjacent to the fourth fastener, the second loop configured to accept the second handle. 
 
     
     
         4 . The handbag system of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a third loop fixed adjacent to the first position of the inner bag, the third loop configured to accept the first handle; and 
 a fourth loop fixed adjacent the third position of the inner bag, the fourth loop configured to accept the second handle. 
 
     
     
         5 . The handbag system of  claim 2  wherein the inner bag covers the first, second, third, and fourth openings when disposed in the inner volume of the first outer shell. 
     
     
         6 . The handbag system of  claim 2  wherein a patterning of an inner surface of the inner volume matches a patterning of an external surface of the inner bag. 
     
     
         7 . The handbag system of  claim 2  wherein the first, second, third, and fourth positions are on an external surface of the inner bag. 
     
     
         8 . The handbag system of  claim 2  wherein the inner bag covers the first, second, third, and fourth openings when disposed in the inner volume of the first outer shell. 
     
     
         9 . The handbag system of  claim 1  further comprising at least a loop adjacent to the second fastener, the loop configured to accept the first handle. 
     
     
         10 . The handbag system of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a first loop fixed adjacent to the first position of the inner bag; and 
 a second loop fixed adjacent the second position of the inner bag; 
 wherein the first and second loops are configured to accept the first handle. 
 
     
     
         11 . The handbag system of  claim 1  wherein the inner bag covers the first and second openings when disposed in the inner volume of the first outer shell. 
     
     
         12 . The handbag system of  claim 1  wherein a patterning of an inner surface of the inner volume matches a patterning of an external surface of the inner bag. 
     
     
         13 . The handbag system of  claim 1  wherein the first position and the second position are on an external surface of the inner bag. 
     
     
         14 . The handbag system of  claim 1  further comprising a second out shell having a first side and defining an inner volume configured to accept the first outer shell, the first side of the second outer shell comprising a first opening corresponding to the first position of the inner bag, and a second opening corresponding to the second position of the inner bag, wherein the first and second openings of the second outer shell are arranged such that the second end of the first handle is passable through the first and second openings of the second outer shell to releasably secure to the inner bag via the second fastener. 
     
     
         15 . A method for assembling a handbag system, the handbag system comprising:
 an inner bag having a first side, the inner bag comprising:
 a first handle having a first end and a second end, the first end fixed to a first position on the first side, the second end having a first fastener; and 
 a second fastener fixed to a second position on the first side and configured to releasably connect with the first fastener; and 
   an outer shell having a first side and defining an inner volume configured to accept the inner bag, the first side comprising:
 a first opening corresponding to the first position of the inner bag; and 
 a second opening corresponding to the second position of the inner bag; 
   
       the method comprising:
 disposing the inner bag within the inner volume of the outer shell; 
 passing the second end of the first handle through the first opening; 
 subsequently, passing the second end of the first handle through the second opening; and 
 attaching the first fastener to the second fastener. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein:
 the inner bag further comprises:
 a second side opposite the first side of the inner bag; 
 a second handle having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second handle fixed to a third position on the second side, the second end having a third fastener; and 
 a fourth fastener fixed to a fourth position on the second side and configured to releasably connect with the third fastener; and 
 
 the outer shell further comprises:
 a second side opposite the first side of the outer shell, the inner volume defined between the first and second sides of the outer shell, the second side of the outer shell comprising a third opening corresponding to the third position of the inner bag and a fourth opening corresponding to the fourth position of the inner bag; 
 
 
       the method further comprising:
 passing the second end of the second handle through the third opening; 
 subsequently, passing the second end of the second handle through the fourth opening; and 
 attaching the third fastener to the fourth fastener. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the inner bag further comprises a first loop fixed adjacent to the second fastener and a second loop fixed adjacent fourth fastener and the method further comprises passing the second end of the first handle through the first loop prior to attaching the first fastener to the second fastener, and passing the second end of the second handle through the second loop prior to attaching the third fastener to the fourth fastener. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the inner bag further comprises a loop fixed adjacent to the second fastener and the method further comprises passing the second end of the first handle through the loop prior to attaching the first fastener to the second fastener. 
     
     
         19 . A handbag system comprising:
 an inner bag having a first side, the inner bag comprising:
 a compartment into which items can be placed; 
 a first handle having a first end and a second end, the first end having a first fastener, the second end having a second fastener; 
 a third fastener fixed to a first position on the first side and configured to releasably connect with the first fastener; and 
 a fourth fastener fixed to a second position on the first side and configured to releasably connect with the second fastener; and 
   a first outer shell having a first side and defining an inner volume configured to accept the inner bag, the first side of the first outer shell comprising:
 a first opening corresponding to the first position of the inner bag; and 
 a second opening corresponding to the second position of the inner bag; 
   wherein the first and second openings of the first outer shell are arranged such that the second end of the first handle is passable through the first and second openings to releasably secure to the inner bag via the second fastener.   
     
     
         20 . The handbag system of  claim 19  further comprising:
 a first loop fixed adjacent to the first position of the inner bag; and 
 a second loop fixed adjacent the second position of the inner bag; 
 wherein the first and second loops are configured to accept the first handle.