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.

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.

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.