Handbag with changeable outer component

Abstract

A handbag including a body defining an interior region for carrying various articles, a strap extending from the body and a closure flap or lid removably connected to one side wall of the handbag body, extending in a closing manner over the opening in the handbag body and extending further along and over the opposite side wall of the handbag body in a manner covering the side wall. When the handbag is carried on the arm of a user by means of the strap, the surface of the closure flap or lid covering the bag side wall is exposed to view by others. The closure flap or lid can be disconnected from the one side wall, inverted and reconnected to the one side wall to exposure the opposite surface to view. Thus, variations in appearance of the handbag can be provided by different colors, designs, textures and/or materials on opposite surfaces of the closure lid or flap.

1 . A handbag comprising: 
 a) a body defined by a base, a first sidewall extending from the base and terminating in an edge, a second sidewall extending from the base and terminating in an edge, and a pair of endwalls each extending from the base and each joined to the respective sidewalls and each terminating in an edge, the body having an interior region and an opening circumscribed by the edges of the sidewalls and endwalls;    b) the first sidewall having an outer surface;    c) a flexible flap releasably connected to the second sidewall and extending over the edge of the second sidewall and extending across the opening and extending over the edge of the first sidewall and extending along and over the outer surface of the first sidewall, the flap being of a size sufficient to cover substantially the entire opening and to cover substantially the entire outer surface of the first sidewall; and    d) the flap having opposite outer surfaces having different visual appearances;    e) so that one outer surface of the flap gives the handbag a particular visual appearance and when the flap is disconnected from the second sidewall, inverted, reconnected to the second sidewall and extended over the opening and over the outer surface of the first sidewall the opposite outer surface of the flap gives the handbag a different visual appearance.    
   
   
       2 . A handbag according to  claim 1 , further including a strap extending from the body so that the handbag can be worn on the arm of a user.  
   
   
       3 . A handbag according to  claim 1 , further including a weight incorporated in the flap to enhance positioning of the flap closely against the outer surface of the first sidewall.  
   
   
       4 . A handbag according to  claim 1 , wherein the opposite outer surfaces of the flap are of different color.  
   
   
       5 . A handbag according to  claim 1 , wherein the opposite outer surfaces of the flap have different designs thereon.  
   
   
       6 . A handbag according to  claim 1 , wherein the opposite outer surfaces of the flap have different textures.  
   
   
       7 . A handbag according to  claim 1 , wherein the opposite outer surfaces of the flap are of different material.  
   
   
       8 . A handbag according to  claim 1 , wherein the flap is releasably connected to the second sidewall by at least one manually operable fastener.  
   
   
       9 . A handbag according to  claim 1 , wherein the flap is releasably connected to the second sidewall by a pair of manually operable fasteners.