BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0001] U.S. Patent Numbers 4,634,031 and D505787 disclose typical over-the- shoulder pocket bandoliers. People, particularly women, often select their purses and/or scarves in a manner to complement their clothing. However, over the shoulder pocket bandoliers such as shown in these patents, are not constructed or designed as a garment to complement a wearer's outfit or make a complementary fashion statement. A sash, on the other hand, is often used to complement a wearer's outfit. Most women, for example if using such a garment as a bandolier or sash, would still opt, in addition, for carrying a clutch purse or a strapped purse over one shoulder in a normal manner. In such a case, one often will lay her purse down when handling merchandise, for example, which can lead to inadvertent misplacement or theft of one's purse. Therefore there is a need for a product that can carry normal purse items so as to circumvent such problems, and still look like part of the persons collective outfit.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The present disclosure directly addresses this problem. A convertible sash in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure provides a decorative billowing bandolier or sash that looks like a decorative billowing wrap, shawl or sash, but has, within its folds, a closable pocket into which personal items such as lipstick, wallet, comb can be stored while still retaining its draped, billowy shape when worn. In addition, when the pocket is turned inside out, the billowy sash can be stuffed into this pocket to convert it into a clutch purse. The pocket is of sufficient size to carry the typical content of a clutch purse in addition to the sash.

[0003] Another embodiment may further include a set of tails attached to the side edges of the clutch purse that can be either tied or snap fastened together to make the clutch purse into a waist pack.

[0004] A still further embodiment is a scarf or stole, that includes a pocket into which, when turned inside out, the scarf or stole can be stuffed to convert the scarf into a clutch purse. [0005] Further features, advantages and characteristics of the embodiments of this disclosure will be apparent from reading the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawing figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a person wearing a billowing sash in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0007] FIG. 2 is separate perspective view of the billowing sash shown in Fig. 1.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a separate perspective view of the billowing sash shown in Fig. 2 with the pocket turned inside out.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a separate perspective view of the sash partially folded into the pocket to form the clutch purse.

[0010] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a convertible scarf in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of either the billowy sash or convertible scarf partially folded into the clutch purse with tails to form a waist pack in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] An exemplary embodiment of a convertible sash/clutch purse 100 is shown in FIG. 1 worn by a woman 102. The convertible sash/clutch purse 100 is separately shown in FIGS. 2-4. The sash 100 is an elongated body having a continuous general oval shape, formed from two sheets preferably sewn together. The sash 100 has a fabric inner sheet 104 that forms a generally body hugging sash. This inner sheet 104 is sewn or otherwise fastened along its outer edges to a loosely billowed outer fabric sheet 106. Along a portion of an upper edge of the inner sheet 104 one side of a zipper 108 is sewn. The zipper 108 is also sewn to one edge of a generally rectangular pocket 110. The other side of the zipper 108 is sewn to an upper edge of the billowy outer fabric sheet 106 so as to sandwich the pocket 110 between the inner sheet 104 and the outer sheet 106. [0013] The inner sheet 104 may be formed of any fabric material. A smooth fabric such as satin or silk may be preferred so as to ride comfortably against the wearer's clothing. The outer sheet 106 may be any one of a number of decorative fabrics that is chosen to complement a portion of the person's clothing such as blouse, skirt or pants, and may be fine woven or coarse, and may be patterned or plain. The outer sheet 106 is preferably larger than the inner sheet 104 such that when sewn together, the outer sheet 106 billows and drapes loosely on the wearer 102 about the inner sheet 104 forming the sash 100. Such a construction also hides the pocket 110 when worn, as the pocket 110 typically may contain numerous items that the wearer normally would carry in a separate purse.

[0014] Because of the billowy nature of the outer sheet 106, a drawstring 111 may also be provided around the perimeter so that the wearer can adjust the amount of billow that the sash 100 presents when worn. A second or third smaller pocket (not shown) could also be provided in the sash 100 for storage of particularly vital small items such as extra cash or keys.

[0015] The sash 100 is preferably worn as shown in FIG. 1. The wearer 102 can also take off the sash 100 and open the zipper 108, pull inside-out the pocket 110, as shown in FIG. 3, and then stuff the sash 100 into the pocket 110 as is shown in FIG. 4. The pocket 110 then becomes the clutch purse. Alternatively, the pocket 110 may have tails or belt straps 112 sewn or removably attached to its lateral outer edges, as shown in FIG. 6. These belt straps 112 preferably terminate in male/female mating buckles 114 such that the clutch purse (converted sash 100) alternatively can be worn as a waist pack. These straps 112 may, for example, be fastened to the pocket 110 via snap fasteners, or sewn to the pocket 110.

[0016] An alternative convertible scarf or stole 200 is shown in FIG. 5. Here the convertible scarf or stole 200 is formed in the same manner as the sash 100 except that the ends of the fabric sheets are not joined a continuous loop or sash. The scarf or stole 200 is formed of an inner sheet 202 sewn to an outer sheet 204 with a zippered pocket 206 that can be utilized identically to that shown and described with reference to the convertible sash 100 above.

[0017] There are many alternatives and modifications that will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the scarf or stole 200 may be configured by another zipper along its bottom ends such that the ends may be joined together to form a virtual equivalent to the sash 100 described above. The sash 100 may be configured with zippered pockets 110 on both sides of the sash 100 in a mirror configuration. The sash 100 may also include a short sleeve portion for the upper arm of the wearer such that it will not slip down off the wearer's shoulder when worn during exercise. All such changes, alternatives and equivalents in accordance with the features and benefits described herein, are within the scope of the present disclosure. Such changes and alternatives may be introduced without departing from the spirit and broad scope of my invention as defined by the claims below and their equivalents.