阅读说明：本技术 金属手提包 (Metal handbag ) 是由 杰弗里·莱文森 于 2015-01-26 设计创作，主要内容包括：本公开是金属手提包,尤其是由金属制成的蛤壳式手提包,在某些实施例中,在壳之间设置有间隙,足以允许蜂窝电话在手提包中接收。美观的外壳也可以采用。(The present disclosure is a metal handbag, particularly a clamshell handbag made of metal, with a gap provided between the shells sufficient, in certain embodiments, to allow a cellular telephone to be received in the handbag. Aesthetic enclosures may also be employed.)

1. A handbag, characterized by comprising:

two metal shells interconnected by a hinge, rotatable relative to each other about the hinge between open and closed positions, and defining a storage chamber therebetween;

each metal shell further comprises a mating perimeter;

wherein, in the closed position, the two metal shells form a gap with a desired gap distance therebetween such that the gap distance is sufficient to allow passage of cellular or wireless signals into and out of the handbag when closed.

Technical Field

The disclosed technology relates to apparel accessories, particularly handbags or hand-held bags. More specifically, disclosed herein is a metal handbag or handbag. A metal handbag or handbag designed to allow receipt of a cellular telephone is also disclosed.

Background

The world of advanced fashion is demanding and changing, but is a trend before reviewing and improving again. The continuing popularity of compact, fashionable, yet functional items. Handbags or hand bags must be of sufficient size to accommodate the required items, such as cosmetics, purses, and more cell phones or other wireless devices. Handbags and handbags are known to be made of a wide variety of materials, cotton, leather, silk, and even metal. Metal handbags present a unique challenge to modern life, with metal interfering with cellular or other wireless signals. When a cellular telephone or wireless device is housed in a handbag or handbag, in some cases it is desirable for the device to remain connected to a wireless carrier or other network. There is therefore not only a need to improve the design of metal handbags or handbags, but also a need to address the desire to receive cellular or wireless signals for these handbags, even in closed handbags or handbags, while remaining fashionable.

Disclosure of Invention

Certain embodiments provide a handbag comprising two metal shells interconnected by a hinge, rotatable relative to each other about the hinge between an open and closed position and defining a storage chamber therebetween, each metal shell further comprising a mating perimeter, wherein in the closed position the two metal shells form a gap of a desired gap distance therebetween such that the gap distance is sufficient to allow passage of cellular or wireless signals into and out of the handbag when closed.

In certain embodiments, when closed, the desired gap distance is sufficient to achieve a signal strength of at least-110 dBm in a handbag.

In certain embodiments, the gap distance is sufficient to provide a signal strength of at least-106 dBm, at least-105 dBm, at least-103 dBm, at least-102 dBm, at least-101 dBm, at least-100 dBm, at least-97 dBm, at least-95 dBm, at least-93 dBm, at least-90 dBm, or any value or range of values between these values, including endpoints.

In certain embodiments, the gap distance is any value or range of values, including endpoints, of about 0.010 inches, about 0.015 inches, about 0.020 inches, about 0.025 inches, about 0.027 inches, about 0.030 inches, about 0.035 inches, about 0.040 inches, about 0.041 inches, about 0.045 inches, about 0.050 inches, about 0.055 inches, about 0.060 inches, about 0.070 inches, about 0.080 inches, about 0.090 inches, about 0.010 inches, or any value therebetween.

In some embodiments, the handbag is a double shell structure.

In some embodiments, the handbag also defines a slot or plurality of holes to enhance the effect of the gap on signal strength.

In some embodiments, at least one outer decorative shell is secured to the metal shell.

In certain embodiments, the outer decorative shell comprises plastic or polycarbonate.

In certain embodiments, the outer decorative shell is permanently affixed to the metal shell.

In some embodiments, the outer decorative shell is removably secured to the metal shell.

Other embodiments from the description will be apparent without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.

Drawings

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a handbag and lock according to some embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a handbag and lock according to some embodiments;

FIG. 3 is a side schematic view of a handbag and lock according to some embodiments;

FIG. 4A is a schematic side view of a handbag and lock as closed according to some embodiments;

FIG. 4B is a schematic side view of a handbag and lock portion open in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 4C is a schematic side view of a handbag and lock opening according to some embodiments;

FIG. 5 is a schematic bottom view of a handbag and lock according to some embodiments;

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a handbag and lock in an open state according to some embodiments;

7A-7C are perspective views of embodiments showing holes, slots, and gaps, respectively;

FIG. 8 is a schematic top view of a double handbag in a fully opened position;

FIG. 9 is a series of early conceptual views;

FIGS. 10A-10D are various views of an outer plastic shell used in certain embodiments;

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a handbag as described herein;

fig. 12 is a close-up view of the embodiment shown in fig. 11, illustrating the gaps that occur in some embodiments.

Detailed Description

Generally, disclosed herein are various embodiments of a metal handbag, which can be in the form of a hand bag. For simplicity, we will refer to such handbags or handbags collectively as handbags. As is common in the industry, handbags are constructed of an outer portion and an inner liner. In this example, the outer portion is actually a metal shell. The metal shell is typically a double shell structure having a hinge connecting two halves that rotate about the hinge to expose the interior of the handbag. In certain embodiments, the outer surface of the metal shell may be painted or otherwise coated for decorative and/or protective purposes. In some embodiments, at least one half (in most cases, two halves) of the double shell has an outer shell that can be decorated. The housing may be of any suitable material, plastic and polycarbonate being well suited for the task.

The metal shell may take any shape or geometry, and any type of construction. In particular, the double shell structure has two halves that are secured to each other by one or more hinges that are aesthetically pleasing and well balanced in function. The metal shell may be made of any suitable metal or metal alloy. Without limitation, the metal shell may be made of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, bronze, noble metals such as gold and silver, or combinations thereof. Each metal shell is substantially solid, although, as described further below, certain embodiments may have a hole, one or more slots.

The liner may be of any suitable material, typically cloth or leather. The liner is not necessary for proper operation of the bag and, therefore, may be omitted in some embodiments. The liner, when present, has aesthetic value and function, can cushion items contained in the handbag therein, can provide pockets or other details, and reduce the sound of items moving within the handbag.

The handbag can also be provided with a stop to prevent over-rotation of the hinge or to limit its travel to a predetermined angle, such as 90 degrees or 110 degrees. In some cases, this is advantageous to prevent the handbag from inadvertently opening completely and releasing its contents.

The handbag can further have a lock to keep the handbag closed when desired. Alternatively, the handbag can include a spring hinge or other similar mechanism that biases the handbag into a closed position to secure its contents. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the handbag can also be adapted to be held open again by a spring hinge or by means of a support arm and similar mechanism. In certain embodiments, decorative locks may be used in conjunction with these methods.

Figures 1-5 illustrate a handbag according to some embodiments. Fig. 1 shows a handbag 100 having metal shells 10A, 10B of double-shell construction. Decorative lock 500 is also shown in fig. 1. As shown, the handbag is substantially oblong. Handbags can be of various desired shapes and sizes. As described, the metal shell is smooth and rounded. Other shapes, such as square, rectangular, or other shapes, may be employed without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

Figure 6 shows a perspective schematic view of the handbag in an open position. This position reveals the interior of the handbag defined by the metal shell, as well as the hinges connecting the two halves of the double-shell metal shell. The hinge may be any conventional hinge for connecting two bodies which are rotatable relative to each other, such as a piano hinge or the like.

Depending on the size and configuration, a single hinge or multiple hinges may be employed. In certain embodiments, the metal shell has a recess to accommodate the hinge. Although the figures and description focus on a double shell structure, other structures are possible.

In certain embodiments, the outer surface of the metal shell may be covered with paint, powder coating, or other surface treatment. In some embodiments, the metal shell may be covered with an outer decorative shell. The outer shell may be of any suitable material, but is typically plastic or polycarbonate. In certain embodiments, the outer shell may be a rigid plastic or polycarbonate that is affixed to the outer surface of the metal shell. The outer shell may be secured to the metal shell by friction, adhesive, or other suitable means. In certain embodiments, the outer shell is permanently affixed to the metal shell, that is, it is not intended to be removed by the end user. In another implementation, the outer shell may be designed to be removable, or one or more outer shell designs may be interchanged, or to allow the user to expose the exterior surface of the underlying metal shell (finished or unfinished). Each outer shell may be decorated with the desired elements and colors. The outer shell may be of any shape, but typically takes a complementary shape to the underlying metal shell, essentially providing a cosmetic skin to the metal shell. In some embodiments, the shell may be textured to provide another design element.

In modern society, it is difficult for you to find a handbag that does not have a wireless device such as a cellular phone or tablet. A fully closed metal handbag can effectively prevent wireless signals from entering or leaving the handbag. Thus, a fully closed metal handbag would be an effective solution if one wanted to stop wireless communications, such as at a theater or at a dinner party. However, most people are reluctant to switch off their wireless communications. Thus, modern metal handbags should take this into account and allow for the passage of wireless signals into and out of the metal handbag so that no wireless communication impairment occurs. However, fashion requires that this be solved in the most minimally invasive way possible.

Thus, certain embodiments have openings to allow for better signal strength within the handbag. The openings may be provided in any number of ways, including providing a plurality of holes in the metal shell, providing one or more slots in the metal shell, or providing a gap between two metal shells, or a combination of these. The type of metal used also affects the signal strength, but can be overcome by providing appropriate openings.

Stainless steel and aluminum handbags with a plurality of holes, a groove and a gap were prepared, respectively. Although the signal strength of all three methods improved, the best improvement was found to be the use of gaps between the metal shells. The following table illustrates some examples. Remember that a signal strength close to zero indicates a stronger signal. It can thus be seen that in steel and aluminum handbags without gaps, there is a weak signal strength of about-130 dBm compared to-82 and-86 when the handset is in the open half shell. As shown below, in a steel handbag, a gap of only 0.027 inches improves signal strength considerably. These tables also show similar improvements in the slots or holes and gaps. Note that in this test, iPhone4 did not ring below-110 dBm. Thus, in a closed handbag, at-130 dBm, the handset signal strength is insufficient to receive, while with gaps the signal strength reaches-102 or-101 dBm, sufficient to receive calls.

Thus, in certain embodiments, when closed, the gap is sufficient to achieve a signal strength of at least-110 dBm in a handbag. In certain embodiments, the gap is sufficient to provide a signal strength of at least-106 dBm, at least-105 dBm, at least-103 dBm, at least-102 dBm, at least-101 dBm, at least-100 dBm, at least-97 dBm, at least-95 dBm, at least-93 dBm, at least-90 dBm, or any value or range of values between these values, including endpoints.

In certain embodiments, a gap distance of about 0.010 inches to about 0.010 "is disposed substantially around the peripheral edge. In most cases these will be located where parts of the metal shell meet each other in the closed position. When the handbag is closed, a gap of desired distance is provided and maintained, rather than being completely closed. The gap may be any value or range of values, including endpoints, of about 0.010 inch, about 0.015 inch, about 0.020 inch, about 0.025 inch, about 0.027 inch, about 0.030 inch, about 0.035 inch, about 0.040 inch, about 0.041 inch, about 0.045 inch, about 0.050 inch, about 0.055 inch, about 0.060 inch, about 0.070 inch, about 0.080 inch, about 0.090 inch, about 0.010 inch, or any value therebetween. The desired gap may be machined and maintained by any suitable method. In particular, one or more spacers may be used along one or both edges of the metal shell to maintain a desired gap distance. The spacers may be integrally formed with the metal shell or separately provided by affixing metal, plastic, cloth, rubber or other material to one or more edges of the metal shell. Alternatively or additionally, a latch mechanism may be used to lock the metal shell when closed, while maintaining the desired gap distance. Figure 7C shows a spacer for experimental purposes, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that the spacer used in the handbag will be relatively dispersed and limited in size based on the thickness of the metal shell so as to be as unobtrusive as possible. It is anticipated that while the gap is relatively small and barely perceptible, one may wish to fully close the handbag to intentionally prevent reception. Thus, in some embodiments, the spacer may be removed or displaced to a position where it does not create or maintain a gap. This effect can be enhanced by using a floating hinge such that when the spacer is present, the hinge floats or splays to accommodate a uniform gap around substantially the entire circumference. When the spacer is removed or contracted, the hinge contracts, forming a fully closed seal.

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a handbag according to one embodiment and clearly show the gap between the two halves. In this embodiment, the gap is substantially uniform around substantially the entire periphery. It should be noted that certain structural elements, such as hinges, strap connectors and others, may occupy a portion of the gap in an obvious manner without affecting its function.

The disclosure is not limited to the particular systems, devices, and methods described, as these may vary. The terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope thereof.

As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Nothing in this disclosure should be construed as an admission that the embodiments described in this disclosure are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention. As used herein, the term "comprising" means "including, but not limited to".

The following terms shall have, for the purposes of this application, the respective meanings as described below.

"optional" or "optionally" means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where the event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. Various single/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for the sake of clarity.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, for any purpose, such as providing a written description, the ranges disclosed in this application also include any and all possible subranges and combinations of subranges. Any listed ranges may be readily considered as at least two equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etc. to fully describe and use the same range. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein may be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third, and upper third, among others. As can also be appreciated by those skilled in the art, all languages such as "up to," "at least," and the like include the recited numbers and apply to the ranges as discussed above that may be subsequently broken down into sub-ranges. Finally, as understood by those skilled in the art, a range includes each individual element.

Various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art, each of which is also intended to be encompassed by the disclosed embodiments.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the scope and spirit of the appended claims should not be limited to the description and the preferred versions contained therein.