Convertible clutch purse

#U.S. Pat. Nos. 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.

#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.

#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.

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

#FIG. 2 is separate perspective view of the billowing sash shown in FIG. 1.

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

#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.

#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.

#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.