U.S. patent number 3,809,194 [Application Number 05/290,793] was granted by the patent office on 1974-05-07 for garment bags.
Invention is credited to Warner A. Chappelle, Harold D. Cheney, Jerry A. Stead.
United States Patent |
3,809,194 |
Chappelle , et al. |
May 7, 1974 |
GARMENT BAGS
Abstract
Apparatus constituting a garment bag for carrying and protecting
clothing while in transit, the bag including structure which
enables more facile carriage and transport while retaining
decorative exterior appearance. The garment bag is constructed
comprising a carrying strap of unitary formation which includes a
new and novel hanger hook locking assembly and necktie carrying
device.
Inventors: |
Chappelle; Warner A. (Oklahoma
City, OK), Stead; Jerry A. (Midwest City, OK), Cheney;
Harold D. (Oklahoma City, OK) |
Family
ID: |
23117587 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/290,793 |
Filed: |
September 21, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/287; 294/142;
383/24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G
25/54 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47G
25/00 (20060101); A47G 25/54 (20060101); A45c
003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;190/41B,43
;206/7D,7H,7K ;224/45R,45P,45T,47 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Norton; Donald F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dunlap, Laney, Hessin &
Dougherty
Claims
1. An improvement in garment bags of the type which consist of a
cover portion having operational access closure for receiving
garments on clothing hangers which include hooks, said cover
portion having a handle assembly affixed thereto, said handle
assembly comprising:
a strap folded generally double which is first stitched
transversely at a spaced distance from the fold to define a handle
loop, and second stitched transversely at an increased spaced
distance from the fold to define a hook loop adjacent to said
second stitching, and third stitched transversely at a further
increased spaced distance from said fold in secure engagement to
said cover portion while extending a pre-set length of strap within
said cover portion; and
a tie rack assembly having first and second parallel spaced slots
formed therein, and receiving said pre-set length of strap in
secure affixure through one of said slots to support said tie rack
assembly within said
2. An improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said handle
assembly further comprises:
a lock strap having first and second ends which are securely
stitched between said second and third stitchings to said folded
strap in transverse disposition thereto; and
fastener means for securing said first and second ends of said lock
strap.
3. An improvement in garment bags as set forth in claim 1 which is
further characterized to include:
metal ring means disposed through said hook loop for receiving
said
4. An improvement in garment bags as set forth in claim 2 which is
further characterized to include:
metal ring means disposed through said hook loop for receiving
said
5. An improvement in garment bags as set forth in claim 1 wherein
said garment bag cover portion is further characterized to
include:
first and second front panel portions joined by said operational
access closure while defining an opening adjacent said third
stitched position of said strap;
a neck fly portion being formed on said first front panel portion
adjacent said opening, said neck fly portion overlapping said
second panel;
means reinforcing and stiffening said neck fly portion about at
least a portion of the perimeter of said opening; and
snap fastening means for securing said neck fly portion to said
second front panel portion thereby to cause gripping closure of
said opening upon hanger hooks extending therethrough.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to garment carriers and, more
particularly, but not by way of limitation, it relates to an
improved garment carrier bag of the type which enables more assured
retention of clothing hanger hooks.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art includes many types of garment bags of the general
size and shape which have, in the past, been intended merely for
packaging and dust-cover attributes. Such previous garment bags
have generally been constructed of light, inexpensive materials
such as thin guage vinyl, lightweight cloth, and similar materials
and few of the prior types included any form of strap or handle for
enabling the carriage function. More recent types of garment bag
have included a form of strap device for the purpose of bag
carriage, and the stage of the art has progressed to the point
where such types of garment bags now deserve utilitarian respect
and are manufactured from various heavier fabrics thereby to stress
both ruggedness and ornamental effect. U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,260 in
the name of Brilhart may be viewed as exemplary of most recent
developments in the related art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invetion contemplates a decorative form of garment bag
constructed of relatively durable material and which includes a
novel strap device formed unitarily to provide the functions of
carriage, clothing hanger hook securing, and internal necktie
carrying capability. Such strap assembly may be preassembled in
total for subsequent attachment to the garment bag thereby to
extend the carrying handle externally, to position the hanger hook
locking assembly, and to support the necktie carrier internally
within the garment bag.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved garment bag or rugged construction and pleasing external
ornamentation.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a garment bag
having improved clothing hanger hook retaining capabilities and
having structure for enabling reliable, neat carriage of neckties
within the garment bag.
Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
garment bag having an improved hanger hook locking assembly which
functions more reliably and which may be manufactured at
considerably reduced expense.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from
the following detailed description when read in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an elevation of the garment bag constituting the
invention with a portion shown in cutaway;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation, partially shown in section, of the
garment bag illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a section as taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a side elevation, partially shown in section, of an
alternative embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of yet another embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 6 is a partial side elevation, partially shown in section, of
the structure illustrated in FIG. 5; and
FIG. 7 is a plan view shown in partial section of the structure of
FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1, a garment bag 10 is comprised of a cover 12
and a handle 14. The cover 12 may be formed from any of various
commercially available materials offering the desirable attributes
as to weight, resiliency, wearability and ornamental effect.
Present construction evaluations indicate that a leatherette type
of material is desirable, e.g. a breathable Naughahyde of
commercially available type wherein a selected fabric is
impregnated with vinyl resin and surface coated with a permanent
polymeric plasticizer subtance. Access to the bag portion or cover
12 may be provided by such as a diagonally secured zipper 16 in the
front panel thereof.
Referring also to FIGS. 2 and 3, handle portion 14 is formed from a
single unitary strap 18 as folded and stitched to form a handle
loop 20, a hook retaining loop 22, a two-ply securing portion 24,
and a loop end 26 for carrying a necktie rack 28. The strap 18 is
preferably formed of the same material as cover 12, and initially
constructed by folding in triple overlay and edge stitching the
entire length of strap 18. Strap 18 is then folded for loop
stitching such that stitching 30 defines a handle portion 20 and
stitching 32 defines the hanger hook retaining loop 22, preferably
with the forward side 34 of loop 22 secured in the more bowed or
open position as shown.
Further extending portions of strap 18, strap falls 36 and 38, then
receive a locking strap 40 therebetween in secure stitched
engagement. Locking strap 40 is also formed as a folded triple
overlay, edge-stitched strap having ends 42 and 44 as secured by a
snap fastener 46 (See FIG. 3). Locking strap 40 is secured by
suitable stitching through the three-ply or three layer structure
consisting of strap portions 36 and 38 and the rear or essentially
center portion of lock strap 40.
Beneath the lock strap 40 position, the strap falls 36 and 38 form
a securing area 24 which provides area for attachment to cover 12.
Thus, each of a back panel 48 and front panel 50 of cover 12 are
secured as by stitching along with a corded shoulder seam 42 in
secure affixure to securing area 24, as shown generally by
stitching 54. A relatively heavy and secure stitching 54 is
desirable and in practice it has been determined that a box-X
stitch provides adequate attachment to withstand all reasonable or
normal stresses.
The lower end of strap fall 38 is formed so that it extends down
through the stitch joinder at securing area 24 to form lower loop
26. Lower loop 26 is also suitably stitched after insertion through
a securing slot 56 in tie rack 28. Tie rack 28 may be formed from
any of various materials, e.g. a rigid plastic such as
polyethylene, and it is so formed as to include a relatively long
slot 58 which serves to receive and retain neckties.
In operation, access is enabled by opening of zipper 16 of cover 12
and opening of lock strap 40. Selected neckties are then placed
through slot 58 on tie rack 28 and suitably arranged for travel.
One or more garments on conventional types of coat hangers, as
shown by dashed outline 60, are then placed within the open cover
12 with hanger hooks inserted through the hook loop 22. Actually, a
considerable plurality of garments and individual hanger hooks can
be accommodated by the loop 22. Thereafter, zipper 16 may be closed
and the strap ends 42 and 44 of lock strap 40 are brought to
position and closed by means of snap fastener 46. The garment bag
10 is then packed and ready for carriage either over the shoulder
or at the side by hand hold of carriage loop 20. In addition, loop
20 serves to provide a hanger for garment bag 10 while packing.
FIG. 4 illustrates a garment bag 70 similar to that of FIGS. 1-3
but including a metallic D-ring 72 as the hanger hook receiving
implement. Garment bag 70 is very similar to that of the previous
garment bag 10 as it includes the same cover 12, including back
panel 48, front panel 50 and zipper 16 as well as tie rack 28.
Variations in the structure and formation of the handle include
configurations wherein strap 74 in generally doubled configuration
is stitched to define a handle loop 76 and again stitched
immediately below to define a small, tight-fitting D-ring receiving
loop 78. A pair of strap falls 80 and 82 are further stitched along
the length thereof to define a strap loop 84 for receiving the lock
strap 40 therethrough in stitched affixure as previously described.
The handle portion 74 is then secured as by stitching between rear
panel 48 and front panel 50 of cover 12 by means of stitching,
shown generally as designator 54, and strap fall 80 continues down
to form a closed lower loop 86 thereby to support tie rack 28.
In operation, the handle construction of FIG. 4 is desirable in
that the metal D-ring 72 is highly resistant to wear and damage
caused by the abrasion and gouging of clothing hanger hooks which,
or necessity, results from normal usage. It should also be apparent
that the size and placement of loop formations or D-rings seizure
may be varied within wide limits while still retaining the
utilitarian advantages of the particular form of garment bag lock
and handle strap assembly.
FIGS. 5-7 illustrate still another variation in strap assemblies
wherein the lock strap is unitarily formed into the neck assembly
of the garment bag. Thus, a garment bag 90 may consist of a handle
assembly 92 and cover 94 as again closed by suitable zipper
formation. Handle assembly 92 is formed by stitching of a suitable
strap piece to form a handle loop 96, a hanger hook loop 98 and a
fall portion 100 for suitable affixure as by stitching between the
rear panel 102 and front panel 104 of cover 94. A fall portion 106
of strap 92 then extends downward to form a retaining loop 108 to
secure the tie rack 28.
Clothing hanger hook locking is carried out with provision of a
reinforced, tight-fitting neck portion 110 of cover 94. As shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7, a neck fly portion 112 is formed on left side panel
114 of front panel 104 to extend over for snapping engagement with
right side panel 116 of front panel 104. Suitable heavy cording 118
is seamed into the upper edge of neck portion 112 to provide
reinforcement and gripping strength to clothing hanger handles
disposed adjacent thereto. A snap fastener 120 serves to secure the
neck portion 112 in tight-fitting engagement adjacent any clothing
hangers packed therein, thereby to maintain the hangers in locked
position when the hanger hooks are properly inserted through hook
loop 98.
The foregoing discloses a novel design for improvements in garment
bags and accessories borne in attachment therewith. Construction of
garment bag handles in accordance with the present invention
enables great savings in manufacturing time and costs through
simplification of folding and forming techniques necessitated in
final assembly and stitching of components. In addition, the hanger
assembly construction in accordance with the present invention
enables the inclusion of still another desirable feature, that of
the tie rack internally supported within the garment bag cover.
Such tie rack support is carried out by utilization of a unitary
portion of the hanger assembly and it requires little or no
additional manufacturing effort or operation steps. While certain
materials and fastening procedures have been specifically stated
herein, it should be understood that there are very many
equivalents in the art, both as to fabric material and hardware,
which may be utilized in efficient and economic construction of
garment bags in accordance with the present teachings.
Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of elements
as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the
drawings; it being understood that changes may be made in the
embodiments disclosed without departure from the spirit and scope
of the invention as defined in the following claims.
* * * * *