Technical Field

The present invention relates to an upgraded storage handbag.

Background Art

Handbags are containers to be carried in the hand, with a capacity and size that can be carried in just one hand.

Handbags are very popular as a female accessory both from the aesthetic and from the functional point of view, as they are useful to carry objects of various type.

Among the most popular handbags are those commonly called“clutch” or “pochette”.

These handbags usually have no handles, or reduced handles, and are equipped with a snap-on opening/closing mechanism, which can be opened by turning or pulling a knob or by pressing a button.

Handbags are well-known equipped with technological implementations useful to meet some of the needs of modern life.

There are, for example, handbags provided with battery chargers integrated in the inner lining.

The user, in case of need, can open the handbag and connect the battery charger to a device to be recharged.

One drawback of these handbags is that to charge an electric/electronic device it is necessary to keep the handbag open for a long time, thus increasing the risk that malicious people may steal the contents of the handbag.

Other well-known handbags provide for mechanisms based on“fingerprint” technology for unlocking and opening the mechanism.

In particular, there are handbags provided with user’s fingerprint recognition elements that allow the opening/closing mechanism to be opened only after the user’ s fingerprint has been recognized.

There are other types of well-known handbags provided with electronic units of various types which are adapted to improve the technological level thereof.

These electronic units can be of the type of transceiver units such as Bluetooth, GPS, infrared antennas, or other units adapted to improve the interoperability of the handbag with other electronic devices of the user.

These technological implementations have the dual purpose of improving the usability and improving the security of the handbags on the market.

In fact, it has always been known that users need to have handbags that are as secure as possible, in order to prevent malicious people from opening the handbags to steal the contents thereof.

Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to devise an upgraded storage handbag the security and technological level of which have been improved.

One object of the present invention is to devise a storage handbag that can ensure high levels of security in all modes of use.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a storage handbag that allows overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art in a simple, rational, easy, effective to use and low-cost solution.

The above objects are achieved by the present upgraded storage handbag having the characteristics of claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more evident from the description of the following preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of an upgraded storage handbag, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non-limiting example, in the attached tables of drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an axonometric view of the handbag according to the invention; Figure 2 is an axonometric view of a detail of the handbag according to the invention in a first embodiment;

Figure 3 is an axonometric view of a detail of the handbag according to the invention in a second embodiment.

Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to these illustrations, reference numeral 1 globally indicates an upgraded storage handbag. In a first embodiment, illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the handbag 1 comprises a rigid casing 2 defining a containment volume 5.

The rigid casing 2 usefully comprises rigid polymeric material.

Advantageously, the rigid casing 2 comprises rigid polymeric material, e.g. HDPE, PVC, KEVLAR, or other material resistant to cutting or other destructive actions.

The rigid casing 2 is usefully made of high density polyethylene (HDPE).

This solution allows preventing malicious people from easily perforating or cutting the handbag.

The rigid casing 2 preferably comprises an inner layer made of the chosen rigid polymeric material and one or more outer layers adapted to cover the bag and make it aesthetically pleasing.

As an example, the rigid casing 2 comprises an inner layer of rigid polymeric material and an outer layer of leather, or imitation leather, or fabric, or other covering material.

The rigid casing 2 is provided with a first flap 3 and a second flap 4 movable between a closure configuration (Figure 1), in which they are approached to prevent the access to the containment volume 5, and an opening configuration (Figures 2 and 3) in which they are moved away from each other to allow access to the containment volume 5.

The handbag 1 comprises snap closing means 6, 8, 20, 21, associated with the first flap 3 and with the second flap 4.

Preferably, the closing means 6, 8, 20, 21, in the closure configuration, are placed inside the containment volume 5.

This way, besides being invisible, they are made inaccessible so as to prevent attempts to break in or to force the locking mechanism.

The closing means 6, 8, 20, 21 are variable between a block configuration, in which the first flap 3 and the second flap 4 are blocked in the closure configuration, and a release configuration, in which the first flap 3 and the second flap 4 are released relative to each other.

In this first embodiment, the closing means 6, 8, 20, 21 comprise at least one locking seat 6 provided with respective holes 7 and associated with the first flap

3.

In addition, the closing means 6, 8, 20, 21 comprise at least one respective locking pin 8, associated with the second flap 4 and movable along a sliding direction 9, substantially parallel to the extension direction of the second flap 4. In the block configuration, the locking pin 8 is inserted into the locking seat 6, preventing the second flap 4 from moving away from the first flap 3, while in the release configuration the pin is not inserted.

In the illustrated embodiment, the closing means 6, 8, 20, 21 comprise three locking seats 6 and three respective locking pins 8 movable along the direction

9 for the switch from the release configuration to the block configuration and vice versa.

According to the invention, the handbag 1 comprises electric recharging means

10 associated with the rigid casing 2, placed inside the containment volume 5 and comprising at least one connecting portion 11 associated with the rigid casing 2 and accessible from the outside of the containment volume 5.

Advantageously, the connecting portion 11 is interlocked in the rigid casing 2.

In particular, the connecting portion 11 is embedded in an opening 12 specially created in the rigid casing 2.

This way it is possible to connect a device to be charged to the electric recharging means 10 even when the handbag 1 is in the closure configuration, without having to give up security.

The connecting portion 11 is usefully of the type of a USB port, but different solutions cannot be ruled out, e.g. a charging socket or another different connecting terminal.

The electric recharging means 10 also comprise at least one removable recharging unit 13, which shall be illustrated in a simplified manner in the figures.

The recharging unit 13 is connected to the connecting portion 11.

The recharging unit 13 is usefully extractable from the containment volume 5. The recharging unit 13 is preferably of the type of a rechargeable“power bank”. Being extractable, it is possible to alternate several recharging units 13 each time they are discharged, for example by replacing a discharged recharging unit 13 with a previously charged recharging unit 13, so as to always have the possibility of recharging a device.

Advantageously, the handbag 1 comprises at least one recognition unit 14 associated with the closing means 6, 8, 20, 21 for the switch from the block configuration to the release configuration.

The user, by interacting with the recognition unit 14, causes the closing means 6, 8, 20, 21 to release.

In particular, the recognition unit 14 is of the type of a fingerprint recognition sensor.

Alternative solutions cannot be ruled out involving the use of biometric sensors other than the one mentioned above, such as e.g. facial recognition sensors or sensors adapted to recognize other biological characteristics of the user.

The handbag 1 comprises a control unit 15, for simplicity not illustrated in the figures, operatively associated with the closing means 6, 8, 20, 21 for the acquisition and processing of information on the opening configuration and/or closure configuration.

Preferably, the control unit 15 is of the type of a hardware platform having one or more electronic boards provided with a microcontroller.

The control unit 15 is programmed to detect data concerning the opening/closure of the handbag in order to process information that can be used by other units or other devices.

The handbag 1 usefully comprises one transceiver unit 16 which is operatively connected to the control unit and is adapted to communicate with external devices, such as e.g. smart-phones, tablets, smart-watches or other electronic devices, for the transmission of the information processed by the control unit 15.

Advantageously, the handbag 1 comprises a Bluetooth transceiver unit 16 operatively connectable with enabled electronic devices.

This way it is possible to establish a communication between the handbag 1 and a user who owns an electronic device in order to communicate the information detected by the control unit 15.

For example, in the event of the handbag 1 being opened by malicious people, the control unit 15, by means of the Bluetooth transceiver unit, conveys this information to the user in order to prevent a possible theft.

The transceiver unit 16 also has many functions, e.g. it allows remote commands to be sent to the handbag 1 from enabled users, e.g. for remote opening, or for locking/releasing the recognition unit 14.

The use cannot be ruled out of additional transceiver units 16 other than the described one, for example transceiver units that use different frequencies to convey information (infrared, broadband, low power radio waves and the like). The handbag 1 also comprises at least one localization unit 17 operatively connected to the control unit 15.

The localization unit 17 determines the position of the handbag 1 and sends the relevant positioning information to the control unit 15.

This way it is possible to locate the handbag 1, e.g. in the event of loss, thanks to the communication of the localization information to the user by means of the transceiver unit 16.

The handbag 1 usefully comprises at least one acoustic signaling element 19 which is operatively connected to the control unit 15.

This way, when specific information reaches the control unit 15, it is possible to emit acoustic signals of various type, e.g. to signal an alarm in case of attempted opening by a malicious person, or to guide the user in finding the handbag 1 in case of loss.

The handbag preferably comprises at least one light signaling element 18.

The light signaling element 18 is usefully associated with the recognition unit 14 and is adapted to provide information about the recognition occurred by emitting a special light signal.

In particular, the light signaling element 18 emits a green light radiation when the user has been recognized, otherwise it emits a red light radiation.

It cannot be ruled out that the light signaling element 18 is associated with the control unit 15 in order to provide for different light signals depending on the information processed by the control unit itself.

For example, at the user’s command, the light signaling element 18 can be used to emit a flashing light aimed at drawing the user’s attention in the event of loss. Advantageously, the light signaling element 18 is of the type of a LED, but the use of a different light emitter or of a plurality of LEDs cannot be ruled out.

The handbag 1 is usefully provided with a central battery, for simplicity not shown in the figures, which is adapted to power the control unit 15, the recognition unit 14, the acoustic signaling element 19, the light signaling element 18, the transceiver unit 16 and the localization unit 17 and any other units or elements not shown.

The handbag 1 comprises a power supply unit 22 which is operatively connected to the central battery for its recharging.

The power supply unit 22 is usefully one of the following: micro USB port type C, micro USB port type B, AC/DC connector.

The operation of the present invention is as follows.

To open the handbag, the user imprints their fingerprint on the recognition unit 14 by activating the release mechanism of the closing means 6, 8, 20, 21.

To close the handbag 1, the user activates the closing means 6, 8, 20, 21 simply by approaching the flaps 3, 4 and pressing until the resistance of the snap mechanism typical of clutch-bags is overcome.

In the closure configuration, the user can connect their own electronic device to the connecting portion 11 and recharge it safely, without having to keep the handbag open.

The control unit 15 receives and processes information from the other units 13, 14, 16, 17, thus controlling the activities of the units themselves or of the elements 18, 19 and allowing the user to interact with the handbag in different ways and for different purposes (location, alarm, closure lock, etc..).

A second embodiment (Figure 3) of the handbag 1 is completely similar to the handbag 1 described in the first embodiment and differs by the fact that the closing means 6, 8, 20, 21 comprise at least one locking ring 20 associated with the first flap 3, and at least one respective locking hook 21, associated with the second flap 4 and movable along a sliding direction 9, substantially parallel to the extension direction of the second flap 4.

In the block configuration, the locking hook 21 is inserted into the locking ring 20 thus preventing the second flap 4 from moving away from the first flap 3, while in the release configuration it is released.

In the illustrated embodiment, the closing means 6, 8, 20, 21 comprise three locking rings 20 and three respective locking hooks 21 movable along the direction 9 for the switch from the release configuration to the block configuration and vice versa.

The operation of this second embodiment is completely similar to that described for the first embodiment.

A third embodiment, for simplicity not illustrated in the figures, is completely similar to the first embodiment and to the second embodiment and differs in the fact that it comprises, in addition to the closing means 6, 8, 20, 21, a zipper having a first portion associated with the first flap 3 and a second portion associated with the second flap 4.

The zipper is located inside the handbag 1 and is not visible when the closing means 6, 8, 20, 21 are in the closure configuration.

It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects and, in particular, the fact is underlined that the upgraded storage handbag devised has an improved level of security and technology compared to the state of the art.

The handbag devised in fact ensures high levels of security in all modes of use. Thanks to the rigidity of the casing and the positioning of the connecting portion, the handbag allows recharging an electronic device without having to open the handbag itself and, therefore, with the utmost security.

The interoperability of the various recognition, transceiver and locali ation units and the various signaling elements allows for multiple control of the status of the handbag (positioning, closed/open status, alarm signal, etc.) and, therefore, an increase in both the level of security and the technological level of the handbag itself.