U.S. patent application number 12/229381 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-26 for resealable and evacuable hanging bag with removable hanging device.
Invention is credited to Martin Calvo, Linh Pham.
Application Number | 20090052808 12/229381 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40382233 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090052808 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pham; Linh ; et al. |
February 26, 2009 |
Resealable and evacuable hanging bag with removable hanging
device
Abstract
A hanging storage system comprising a resealable evacuable bag
and a hanging device attached to the bag. The hanging device is
designed to attach to a portion of the bag in a manner such that a
vacuum inside the evacuated bag can be maintained while the bag is
hanging, e.g., in a closet. More specifically, the hanging device
comprises first and second parts that couple together, the first
part being disposed inside the bag and the second part being
disposed outside the bag, with a portion of a thin flexible bag
wall being disposed between the coupled first and second parts.
Inventors: |
Pham; Linh; (Chula Vista,
CA) ; Calvo; Martin; (Chula Vista, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OSTRAGER CHONG FLAHERTY & BROITMAN PC
570 LEXINGTON AVENUE, FLOOR 17
NEW YORK
NY
10022-6894
US
|
Family ID: |
40382233 |
Appl. No.: |
12/229381 |
Filed: |
August 22, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60966025 |
Aug 24, 2007 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
383/23 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/2038 20130101;
B65D 31/14 20130101; B65D 33/14 20130101; B65D 33/2508
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/23 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/14 20060101
B65D033/14 |
Claims
1. A hanging device comprising first and second bodies that can be
alternately coupled to and uncoupled from each other, a ring
coupled to said first body, and a hook coupled to said second
body.
2. The hanging device as recited in claim 1, wherein said ring is
pivotably coupled to said first body.
3. The hanging device as recited in claim 1, wherein said hook is
pivotably coupled to said second body.
4. The hanging device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and
second bodies slide relative to each other during coupling and
uncoupling thereof.
5. The hanging device as recited in claim 4, wherein one of said
first and second bodies comprises first and second ledges disposed
on opposite sides thereof, said first ledge having a first
indentation and said second ledge having a second indentation, and
wherein the other of said first and second bodies comprises first
and second retaining projections that snap into said first and
second indentations respectively during coupling of said first and
second bodies.
6. The hanging device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and
second retaining projections are made of rigid or semi-rigid
material.
7. The hanging device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and
second bodies are in the shape of shells.
8. The hanging device as recited in claim 1, wherein said hook is
made of rigid or semi-rigid material.
9. A hanging storage system comprising a resealable bag and a
hanging device, said resealable bag comprising a receptacle made of
thin flexible web material; said hanging device comprising first
and second bodies that can be alternately coupled to and uncoupled
from each other, a ring coupled to said first body, and a hook
coupled to said second body; and a portion of said thin flexible
web material being disposed between said first and second
bodies.
10. The hanging storage system as recited in claim 9, wherein said
first body is disposed within an interior volume of said receptacle
and said second body is disposed outside of said receptacle.
11. The hanging storage system as recited in claim 9, wherein said
first and second bodies slide relative to each other during
coupling and uncoupling thereof.
12. The hanging storage system as recited in claim 11, wherein one
of said first and second bodies comprises first and second ledges
disposed on opposite sides thereof, said first ledge having a first
indentation and said second ledge having a second indentation, and
wherein the other of said first and second bodies comprises first
and second retaining projections that snap or lock into said first
and second indentations respectively during coupling of said first
and second bodies.
13. The hanging storage system as recited in claim 9, further
comprising an airtight zipper installed in a mouth located along
one side or a bottom of said receptacle, said zipper comprising
first and second plastic zipper strips having mutually
interlockable closure profiles.
14. The hanging storage system as recited in claim 9, further
comprising a one-way vacuum valve attached to said receptacle, said
one-way vacuum valve being operable to allow evacuation of an
interior volume of said receptacle.
15. The hanging storage system as recited in claim 9, wherein said
receptacle comprises a gusset located along one side of said
receptacle.
16. The hanging storage system as recited in claim 9, wherein said
hanging device is located at a top of said receptacle.
17. A hanging storage system comprising an evacuable bag having a
mouth, a resealable zipper disposed in said mouth, and a hanging
device comprising a hook disposed outside said bag and a ring
disposed inside said bag, wherein said bag is airtight when said
zipper is fully resealed.
18. A method of hanging a storage bag comprising the following
steps: placing a first part of a hanging device inside a receptacle
made of thin flexible web material, said first part comprising a
first body and a ring, said first body being positioned such that
it contacts a portion of said web material; placing a second part
of the hanging device in a position outside said receptacle and
adjacent said first part, said second part comprising a second body
and a hook; and coupling said first and second bodies together with
said portion of said web material disposed therebetween.
19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein said coupling step
comprises sliding said first body relative to said second body.
20. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising the steps
of placing an article inside said receptacle; hanging said article
from said ring; resealing said receptacle with said article inside;
and evacuating an interior volume of said resealed receptacle.
Description
RELATED PATENT APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit, under Title 35, United
States Code, .sctn.119(e), of U.S. Provisional Application No.
60/966,025 filed on Aug. 24, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention generally relates to resealable and evacuable
storage bags. In particular, the invention relates to resealable
evacuable storage bags that can be hung in a storage area, such as
a closet.
[0003] Collapsible, evacuable storage containers typically include
a flexible, airtight bag, a mouth through which an article can be
inserted inside the bag, a zipper for closing the bag mouth and
hermetically sealing the bag, and a fixture (e.g., a one-way vacuum
valve) through which the interior volume of the bag can be
evacuated. A user places an article into the bag through the
opening, seals the opening, and then evacuates the air in the bag
through the fixture. With the bag thus evacuated, a compressible
article contained therein may be significantly compressed so that
it is easier to transport and requires substantially less storage
space.
[0004] Collapsible evacuable storage containers are beneficial for
reasons in addition to those associated with compression of the
stored article. For example, removal of the air from the storage
container inhibits the growth of destructive organisms, such as
moths, silverfish, and bacteria, which require oxygen to survive
and propagate. Moreover, such containers, being impervious to
moisture, inhibit the growth of mildew.
[0005] There is a need for inexpensive collapsible evacuable
storage containers that can be hung (e.g., on a horizontal rod or
pole) in the manner of an ordinary garment bag.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is directed to a hanging storage
system comprising a resealable evacuable flexible bag and a hanging
device attached to the bag. The hanging device is designed to
attach to a portion of the bag in a manner such that a vacuum
inside the evacuated bag can be maintained while the bag is
hanging, e.g., in a closet. More specifically, the hanging device
comprises first and second parts that couple together, the first
part being disposed inside the bag and the second part being
disposed outside the bag, with a portion of a bag wall (made of
thin flexible web material) being disposed between the coupled
first and second parts. The hanging device does not penetrate the
bag wall, thereby maintaining a vacuum inside the evacuated storage
bag. The second part comprises a hook configured to fit over a
horizontal rod or pole; the first part comprises a ring on which
multiple hooked hangers can be hung, allowing multiple articles to
be stored in one bag. To increase the storage capacity of the bag,
the bag can be provided with a gusset along one or both sides.
[0007] One aspect of the present invention is a hanging device
comprising first and second bodies that can be alternately coupled
to and uncoupled from each other, a ring coupled to the first body,
and a hook coupled to the second body.
[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is a hanging storage
system comprising a resealable bag and a hanging device, the
resealable bag comprising a receptacle made of thin flexible web
material; the hanging device comprising first and second bodies
that can be alternately coupled to and uncoupled from each other, a
ring coupled to the first body, and a hook coupled to the second
body; and a portion of the thin flexible web material being
disposed between the first and second bodies.
[0009] A further aspect of the present invention is a hanging
storage system comprising an evacuable bag having a mouth, a
resealable zipper disposed in said mouth, and a hanging device
comprising a hook disposed outside said bag and a ring disposed
inside said bag, wherein said bag is airtight when said zipper is
fully resealed.
[0010] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a method of
assembling a hanging bag comprising the following steps: placing a
first part of a hanging device inside a receptacle made of thin
flexible web material, the first part comprising a first body and a
ring, the first body being positioned such that it contacts a
portion of the web material; placing a second part of the hanging
device in a position outside the receptacle and adjacent the first
part, the second part comprising a second body and a hook; and
coupling the first and second bodies together with the portion of
the web material disposed therebetween.
[0011] Other aspects of the invention are disclosed and claimed
below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing an isometric view of one
conventional type of collapsible, evacuable storage container
having a zipper and a slider for closing the zipper.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing an isometric view of an
evacuable and resealable hanging storage bag in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a cross-sectional view of a
known zipper suitable for use with a bag of the type depicted in
FIG. 2.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a drawing showing a removable hanging device
attached to a storage bag in accordance with a further embodiment
of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a drawing showing an elevational view of the
assembled hanging device in accordance with the embodiment depicted
in FIG. 4.
[0017] FIGS. 6 and 7 are drawings showing side and front
elevational views respectively of an outer hanger support that is a
component of the assembled hanging device depicted in FIG. 5.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a drawing showing a side elevational view of a
hook that is a component of the assembled hanging device depicted
in FIG. 5, the hook being pivotably coupled to the outer hanger
support depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a drawing showing an isometric view of a retainer
ring that is a component of the assembled hanging device depicted
in FIG. 5, the retainer ring being used to retain the hook depicted
in FIG. 8 in the outer hanger support depicted in FIGS. 6 and
7.
[0020] FIGS. 10 and 11 are drawings showing bottom plan and front
elevational views of an inner hanger support that is a component of
the assembled hanging device depicted in FIG. 5, the inner hanger
support being coupled to the outer hanger support depicted in FIGS.
6 and 7 when the hanging device is fully assembled.
[0021] FIG. 12 is a drawing showing a side elevational view of a
pivotable clip that is a component of the assembled hanging device
depicted in FIG. 5, the pivotable clip being pivotably coupled to
the inner hanger support depicted in FIGS. 10 and 11.
[0022] FIG. 13 is a drawing showing a front elevational view of a
hanging ring that is a component of the assembled hanging device
depicted in FIG. 5, the hanging hook being snapped into the
pivotable clip depicted in FIG. 10.
[0023] Reference will now be made to the drawings in which similar
elements in different drawings bear the same reference
numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] FIG. 1 shows a conventional collapsible, evacuable storage
container 2 comprising a bag 4, a valve assembly 6, and a zipper 8
comprising a pair of mutually interlockable extruded zipper strips
that are joined to each other at opposing ends thereof. The bag 4
typically comprises front and rear walls or panels (made of
thermoplastic film material) that are joined together at the bottom
and two sides by conduction heat sealing to form a receptacle
having an interior volume and a mouth in which the zipper 8 is
installed. One wall of bag 4 has a hole (not shown in FIG. 1) in
which to install the valve assembly 6. Alternatively, the bag 4 may
be made from a web of film that is folded, the fold forming the
bottom of the bag. To maintain a vacuum inside the storage bag, the
zipper in a closed state must provide a hermetic seal at the mouth
(i.e., fourth side) of the bag. Many different types of zippers can
be used.
[0025] During use, one or more discrete articles or a bulk material
(not shown) may be placed inside the bag 4 while the zipper 8 is
open, i.e., while the closure profiles of the interlockable zipper
strips are disengaged from each other. After the article or
material to be stored has been placed inside the bag, the mouth of
the bag 4 can be sealed by pressing the zipper strips together to
cause their respective closure profiles to interlock with each
other. Although the zipper closure profiles may have many different
designs, the design must be one that ensures that an airtight seal
can be formed at the mouth of the bag. The zipper strips can be
pressed together using a device 10 commonly referred to as a
"slider" or "clip", which straddles the zipper. The ends of the
zipper strips are joined together at the sides of the bag, e.g., by
the application of heat and pressure. The zipper is opened by
pulling apart the zipper upper flanges.
[0026] The present invention is directed to a hanging storage
system comprising a resealable evacuable flexible bag and a hanging
device attached to the bag. The hanging device is designed to
attach to a portion of the bag in a manner such that a vacuum
inside the evacuated bag can be maintained while the bag is
hanging, e.g., in a closet.
[0027] FIG. 2 shows a hanging storage system in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention. This hanging storage system
comprises a collapsible, evacuable receptacle 12, a valve assembly
6, a zipper 8 comprising a pair of mutually interlockable extruded
zipper strips that are disposed along one side of the receptacle 12
and joined to each other at opposing ends thereof, a slider or clip
10 slidably mounted on the zipper 8, and a hanging device 15
attached to a top portion of the receptacle 12. The receptacle 12
has a gusset 14 on the side opposite the zipper 8. Alternatively,
the zipper 8 can be installed along the bottom of the receptacle
and both sides of the receptacle could be gusseted. The zipper 8,
when closed by operation of the slider 10, forms an airtight seal
across the mouth of the receptacle 12.
[0028] In accordance with the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the
hanging device 15 is attached to a top portion of the receptacle
12. The hanging device 15 comprises first and second subassemblies
that couple together. The first subassembly of the hanging device
15 comprises an inner hanger support 16 and a ring 22 pivotably
coupled to the inner hanger support 16. The second part of the
hanging device 15 comprises an outer hanger support 18 and a hook
20 pivotably coupled to the outer hanger support 18. During
assembly of the hanging storage bag, the first subassembly is
disposed inside the receptacle while the second subassembly is
disposed outside the receptacle. These two subassemblies are then
coupled to each other with a portion of the receptacle wall (made
of thin flexible web material) being disposed between the coupled
first and second subassemblies. The hanging device 15 does not
penetrate the receptacle wall, thereby maintaining a vacuum inside
the storage bag after it has been evacuated. When the hanging
device 15 is fully assembled and attached to the receptacle 12,
multiple hooked hangers can be hung on the ring 22, allowing
multiple articles to be stored in the bag. The hook 20 is
configured to fit over and be supported by a horizontal rod or
pole. Preferably, the components of the hanging device are made of
rigid or semi-rigid plastic material.
[0029] Still referring to FIG. 2, the valve assembly 6 is
preferably a one-way vacuum valve. One suitable one-way vacuum
valve assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,350,541. Although
not shown in FIG. 2, the valve assembly 6 may comprise a cap that
can be snapped onto a portion of the valve assembly that is
disposed on the exterior of the receptacle 12. The cap must be
removed before the bag can be evacuated, and then is replaced after
the bag has been evacuated. The cap is intended to seal the valve
assembly to prevent air from entering the evacuated bag.
[0030] The receptacle 12 is made from a web of thermoplastic film
material that is folded to form the gusset 14. The overlapping top
edges and overlapping bottom edges of the folded web are joined
together by conduction heat sealing to form a receptacle having an
interior volume and a mouth in which the zipper 8 is installed. One
wall of the receptacle 12 has a hole (not shown in FIG. 2) in which
to install the valve assembly 6. The receptacle 12 may be formed of
various types of gas-impermeable thermoplastic film material. The
bag material may be either transparent or opaque. The preferred
gas-impermeable thermoplastics are some nylons, polyester,
polyvinylchloride and ethylene vinyl acetate. For example, the
receptacle may be constructed of a blended extrusion layer of
polyethylene sandwiched between a nylon layer and a layer of
polyethylene sheeting.
[0031] The zipper 8 is designed to form a hermetic seal at the
mouth on the side of the receptacle 12 when the zipper 8 closed.
After the zipper has been closed, the interior volume of the
receptacle can be evacuated by sucking air out via the one-way
valve assembly 6. Air can be drawn out of receptacle 12 through
valve assembly 6 using a conventional vacuum source, such as a
household or industrial vacuum cleaner. The valve assembly 6 and
the zipper 8 maintain the vacuum inside receptacle 12 after the
vacuum source is removed.
[0032] To maintain a vacuum inside the storage bag, the zipper 8 in
a closed state must provide a hermetic seal at the side (or bottom)
of the bag. Many different types of zippers can be used. The
present invention is not directed to any particular zipper
construction. For the sake of illustration, however, a suitable
zipper for use with the present invention will now be described
with reference to FIG. 3.
[0033] FIG. 3 shows a conventional zipper that comprises a pair of
mutually interlockable extruded zipper strips 34 and 36. The zipper
strip 34 comprises a pair of projections 38 and 40 having
ball-shaped closure profiles, an upper flange 48, and a lower
flange 50. The zipper strip 36 comprises a trio of projections 42,
44 and 46 having ball-shaped closure profiles, a upper flange 52,
and a lower flange 54. For each zipper strip, the portions
exclusive of the projections will be referred to herein as a
"body". The bag walls may be joined to the respective bodies of the
zipper strips by conduction heat sealing across their entire height
or across only portions thereof. For example, the bag walls could
be joined to the zipper lower flanges and to the upper flanges by
means of conduction heat sealing, as shown in FIG. 3. The
projections 38 and 40 interlock with projections 42, 44 and 46 by
fitting inside the respective spaces therebetween. The upper
flanges 48 and 52 can be gripped by the user and pulled apart to
open the closed zipper. The opened zipper can be reclosed by
pressing the zipper strips together along the entire length of the
zipper with sufficient force to cause the projections 38 and 40 to
enter the respective spaces between the projections 42, 44 and 46.
The opposing ends of the zipper strips 34 and 36 are typically
fused together.
[0034] The zipper strips of zipper 8 can be pressed together using
a device 10 commonly referred to as a "slider" or "clip", which
straddles the zipper. The typical slider has a generally U-shaped
profile, with respective legs disposed on opposing sides of the
zipper. The U-shaped slider fits over the zipper with clearance for
the upper flanges of the zipper, while the legs of the slider cam
the zipper profiles of the incoming zipper section into engagement
when the slider is moved along the zipper in either direction. The
gap between the slider legs is small enough that the zipper can
pass through the slider gap only if the zipper is in a closed
state. The slider can be made using any desired method, such as
injection molding. The slider can be molded from any suitable
plastic, such as nylon, polypropylene, polystyrene, acetal,
polyketone, polybutylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene,
polycarbonate, or ABS. One suitable slider for use in the hanging
storage bag of the present invention is disclosed in U.S. Patent
Appln. Publ. No. 2006/0056743.
[0035] FIG. 4 shows a hanging device attached to a storage bag in
accordance with a further embodiment of the invention. Again the
hanging device 15 comprises first and second subassemblies coupled
to each other with an airtight top portion of the receptacle 12
disposed therebetween. Again the first subassembly of the hanging
device 15 comprises an inner hanger support 16 and a ring 22
pivotably coupled to the inner hanger support 16; the second
subassembly of the hanging device 15 comprises an outer hanger
support 18 and a hook 20 pivotably coupled to the outer hanger
support 18. The first subassembly is disposed inside the receptacle
12, while the second subassembly is disposed outside the
receptacle. FIG. 4 shows a side view of the assembled hanging
device, with the hook 20 and ring 22 disposed almost in the same
plane.
[0036] FIG. 5 shows an end view of the same hanging device, with
the hook 20 disposed in a plane normal to the plane of the ring 22.
In accordance with this embodiment, the inner and outer hanger
supports are coupled to each other by means of two pairs of
retaining tabs on the outer hanger support 18 that latch onto
respective ledges 78 and 80 of the inner hanger support 16. One
pair of retaining tabs 72 and 74 are visible in FIGS. 5 and 7. The
other pair of retaining tabs are directly behind tabs 72 and 74 in
FIGS. 5 and 7, and therefore are not visible in those views.
However, they have the same L-shaped profile as that seen in FIGS.
5 and 7. The spacing between the respective pairs of retaining tabs
can be seen in FIG. 6 The only relative movement of the inner and
outer hanger supports allowed by the interaction of the retaining
tabs and the ledges 78 and 80 is sliding displacement along an axis
normal to the plane of the paper in FIG. 5. As will be described in
more detail hereinafter, when the inner and outer hanger supports
are fully coupled, resistance to further relative movement is
provided by the interaction of the retaining tabs on the outer
hanger support 18 with indentations formed on the inner hanger
support 16.
[0037] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the outer hanger support 18
comprises a hollow shell having a boss 60 that defines a circular
cylindrical hole 64 (indicated by dashed lines in FIGS. 6 and 7). A
pair of stiffening ribs 66 and 68 (indicated by dashed lines in
FIG.7) extend in parallel inside the hollow shell on opposite sides
of the circular hole 64. The stiffening ribs 66, 68 have mutually
parallel straight edges that guide the leading lip of the inner
hanger support during slidable coupling with the outer hanger
support, preventing tilting of the inner hanger support relative to
the outer hanger support during coupling. Other stiffening ribs may
be provided which extend from the stiffening ribs 66 and 68 to
respective sidewalls of the hollow shell. The outer hanger support
also has four L-shaped retaining tabs, three of which are visible
in FIGS. 6 and 7 and are labeled with numerals 70, 72 and 74. The
four retaining tabs are rigid or semi-rigid, which allows the
ledges 78 and 80 of the inner hanger support (see FIG. 5) to be
slided into the outer hanger support with little resistance until
the ends of the retaining tabs snap or lock into a corresponding
set of indentations (items 96 and 98 in FIG. 10) formed on the
undersides of ledges 78 and 80, thereby latching the inner and
outer hanger supports together.
[0038] The circular hole of the outer hanger support receives an
axle of the hanger hook 20 shown in FIG. 8 during assembly. An
annular flange 24, shown in FIG. 8, protrudes from the hook axle
and sits atop the upper edge of the boss 60, shown in FIG. 6,
preventing the axle of the hanging hook from being inserted into
the hollow shell any further. In this position, an annular recess
26 formed at the end of the axle of the hanger hook 20 is disposed
slightly below the lower edge of the boss 60. In this position, a
retainer ring 25 (shown in FIG. 9) can be used to couple the hanger
hook and the outer hanger support while allowing the hanger hook to
pivot freely about its axle relative to the outer hanger support.
As seen in FIG. 9, the retainer ring 25 has a pair of protrusions
28, 30 that can be slided into the annular recess 26, thereby
retaining the hanger hook 20 in pivotable coupling relationship
with the outer hanger support 18, i.e., preventing the hanger hook
from being pulled out during use.
[0039] FIGS. 10 and 11 are bottom plan and front elevational views
of the inner hanger support 16. The inner hanger support 16
comprises a hollow shell having a boss 82 that defines a circular
cylindrical hole 76 (indicated by dashed lines in FIGS. 10 and 11).
Although not indicated in the drawings, the inner hanger support
may also have internal stiffening ribs. The circular hole of the
inner hanger support receives a ring support 90 (shown in FIG. 12)
during assembly. The ring support 90 may be made of a rigid or
semi-rigid plastic material. In contrast to the hanger hook, which
is inserted through the circular hole in the outer hanger support
from the exterior until it projects into the interior of the hollow
shell of the outer hanger, the ring support 90 is inserted through
the circular hole in the inner hanger support from the interior
until it projects outward on the exterior of the hollow shell of
the inner hanger support. An annular flange 92, shown in FIG. 12,
protrudes from the ring support 90 and sits atop the upper edge of
the boss 82, shown in FIG. 11, preventing the ring support from
projecting outside the inner hanger support any further. In this
position, a recess 94 formed in the ring support 90 is disposed
below the lower edge of the boss 82. In this position, an axle
portion 88 of ring 22 (shown in FIG. 13), bounded by flanges 84 and
86, can be snapped into the recess 94 of ring support 90. When
snapped in place, the ring 22 depends downward from the inner
hanger support 16 (see FIG. 4) and can pivot about the axis of axle
portion 88.
[0040] The hanging device disclosed herein can be attached to a
resealable and evacuable storage bag, e.g., a garment bag, with the
hanging hook on the outside and the ring on the inside of the
storage bag, as seen in FIG. 2. The storage bag can be hung on a
rod or pole using the hanger hook 20. Before the storage bag is
hung on a rod or pole, the zipper 8 can be opened and then various
compressible articles of clothing on individual clothing hangers
(not shown in FIG. 2) can be hung inside the bag, the hook of each
clothing hanger being hung on the ring 22. After the zipper has
been closed, the interior volume of the bag can then be evacuated
via the one-way vacuum valve 6. Such evacuation causes compression
of the articles of clothing inside the bag. The evacuated storage
bag can then by hung on a rod or pole, as previously described,
using the hanger hook 20. As seen in FIG. 2, the storage bag has a
gusset 14 on the side opposite to the zipper, which increases the
storage capacity of the bag. Alternatively, the zipper could be
installed along the bottom of the bag and both sides could be
gusseted. Because the hanging device of the present invention is
removable, a resealable evacuable storage bag could be used with
the hanging device for hanging storage or without the hanging
device for stacking storage.
[0041] Resealable evacuable bags of the type described herein can
be manufactured on an automated production line. In accordance with
one automated method of manufacture, a web of film is paid off a
roll and folded to form a gusset connecting opposing walls having
marginal portions in overlying relationship. Downstream respective
sets of pull rollers are provided for pulling the webs through the
bag making machine. A continuous length of interlocked zipper
strips is paid off a spool and fed between the marginal portions of
the opposing walls of the advancing film web. Typically the web and
the zipper are advanced intermittently, while certain operations
are performed during the dwell times. At a first sealing station,
the marginal portions of the opposing web walls are sealed to the
backs of intervening sections of the respective zipper strips by a
first pair of horizontal heated sealing bars. At a crush welding
station, the zipper is stomped to form a slider end stop, while a
respective slider is inserted onto an unstomped section of the
zipper by a conventional slider insertion device. At a second
sealing station, the opposing web walls are heat sealed together to
form a cross seal at package-length intervals. At a cutting
station, the individual bags are severed from one another by
cutting along a line that bisects each cross seal, thereby forming
respective side seals on the separated bags, which side seals will
become the top and bottom seals respectively when the storage bag
is turned 90 degrees so that the zipper is vertical, as seen in
FIG. 2. The hanging device can then be manually attached to the web
in the area of the top seal, as previously described.
[0042] While the invention has been described with reference to
various embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the
art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be
substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope
of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to
adapt a particular situation to the teachings of the invention
without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore it is
intended that the invention not be limited to the particular
embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out
this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments
falling within the scope of the appended claims.
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