Folding Garment Bag with Integrated Protection System

This application is a Utility Patent application claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/649,614, filed on May 20, 2024, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

Trademarks used in the disclosure of the invention, and the applicants make no claim to any trademarks referenced.

The present disclosure relates to garment bags, and more particularly to a folding garment bag designed to protect and transport hanging clothes with minimized wrinkling and damage.

Traditional garment bags are designed primarily for transporting men's suits and offer limited functionality for other types of garments. These bags often do not accommodate longer articles of clothing, fail to secure garments in place, and can result in wrinkled or damaged clothes upon arrival. Additionally, the bags can be awkward to load and transport.

Garment bags have long been used as a convenient means for transporting clothing items, particularly those that require hanging to maintain their shape and appearance. These bags serve to protect garments from dust, wrinkles, and other potential sources of damage during travel or storage. Traditional garment bags typically consist of a simple enclosure with an opening for inserting hangers and minimal internal features.

As travel has become more frequent and diverse in nature, the demands placed on garment bags have evolved. Travelers now seek solutions that can accommodate a wider variety of clothing types, from formal wear to casual attire, while providing enhanced protection and ease of use. The transportation of delicate fabrics, intricate designs, and garments prone to wrinkling presents particular challenges that conventional garment bags may not adequately address.

The increasing popularity of destination weddings, business travel, and formal events away from home has further highlighted the need for improved garment transportation solutions. Travelers often face difficulties in maintaining the pristine condition of their clothing, especially when dealing with long journeys or multiple stops. The risk of garments becoming disheveled, creased, or damaged during transit remains a concern for many individuals.

Moreover, the ergonomics of carrying and maneuvering garment bags through various travel scenarios, such as airports, hotels, and event venues, has become an area of focus. Users desire bags that not only protect their clothing but also offer convenient handling and storage options. The ability to transition smoothly between different modes of transport and storage environments is increasingly valued by travelers.

As the fashion industry continues to evolve, with new fabrics and garment designs entering the market, the need for adaptable and protective transportation solutions grows. Garment bags that can accommodate these changes while maintaining the integrity of the clothing items they contain are becoming more relevant in today's dynamic travel landscape.

The instant invention solves the following problem. The garment bag (or hanging bag) as we know it has been around since the middle of the 20th century. The design and function of the bag has been centered on carrying men's suits and everything from the size, shape, and engineering reflects that focus. Disposable or temporary options do exist for other types of garments, but little attention has been given to these segments. The mismatch between these options and the wide array of garments in the market today is striking, and a number of problems are evident. First, many clothes do not fit in a standard garment bag-dresses, jumpers, and combined tops/bottoms are examples where the article is too long to be accommodated. Second, garments often fall off their hangers in transport since they are not secured in any way. Third, garments often arrive at their destination wrinkled or damaged. Fourth, it is difficult to load clothes via either of the two most common access methods (an open bottom that requires pulling the hanger all the way from the bottom of the bag or a zipper down the center line of the bag that requires an awkward twist or pull). Fifth, it is awkward to transport; hangers are painful to hold, and soft, folded bags bunch up. Overall, these issues result in a suboptimal clothes transporting experience.

The present disclosure provides a novel folding garment bag that addresses the shortcomings of traditional garment bags. The bag includes interior features such as an internal hanging system, a puffy padded lining, and an integrated smooth fabric layer for separating garments. Exterior features include an hourglass shape, a three-sided zipper for easy loading, the ability to fold in half and stand in place, and a handle with a clasp for ergonomic carrying and hanging. The bag is designed to minimize wrinkling and damage to clothes, improve ease of packing, and enhance portability.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a folding garment bag is provided. The folding garment bag includes an internal hanging system for securing clothes with or without hangers, a padded lining for maintaining the position of the clothes, and a smooth, integrated layer for separating garments within the bag.

According to other aspects of the present disclosure, the folding garment bag may include one or more of the following features. The internal hanging system may include offset loops and strap-like pieces for hanging garments. The padded lining may be made from a compressible material to minimize movement of the clothes. The smooth, integrated layer may be stretchable across the bag to create a barrier between layers of clothes. The folding garment bag may further comprise an hourglass shape to reduce excess material and weight. The folding garment bag may further comprise a three-sided zipper that allows the bag to open flat for easy loading and the zipper may have a zipper shield to protect garments. The folding garment bag may further comprise a handle and clasp for ergonomic carrying and hanging. The bag may include an internal structure capable of being folded in half and standing in an upright position. The bag may be constructed of materials selected based on environmental conditions and user preferences. The bag may be available in various sizes and shapes to accommodate different types of garments.

Bearing in mind the problems and deficiencies of the prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a folding garment bag designed to protect and transport hanging clothes with minimized wrinkling and damage.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

The above and other objects, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, are achieved in the present invention which is directed to a folding garment bag comprising: an internal hanging system for securing clothes with or without hangers, a padded lining for maintaining the position of the clothes, and a smooth, integrated separating layer for separating garments within the bag.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

While various aspects and features of certain embodiments have been summarized above, the following detailed description illustrates a few exemplary embodiments in further detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice such embodiments. The described examples are provided for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art however that other embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details. Several embodiments are described herein, and while various features are ascribed to different embodiments, it should be appreciated that the features described with respect to one embodiment may be incorporated with other embodiments as well. By the same token, however, no single feature or features of any described embodiment should be considered essential to every embodiment of the invention, as other embodiments of the invention may omit such features.

In this application the use of the singular includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise and use of the terms “and” and “or” is equivalent to “and/or,” also referred to as “non-exclusive or” unless otherwise indicated. Moreover, the use of the term “including,” as well as other forms, such as “includes” and “included,” should be considered non-exclusive. Also, terms such as “element” or “component” encompass both elements and components including one unit and elements and components that include more than one unit, unless specifically stated otherwise.

Lastly, the terms “or” and “and/or” as used herein are to be interpreted as inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” or “A, B and/or C” mean “any of the following: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C.” An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.

As this invention is susceptible to embodiments of many different forms, it is intended that the present disclosure be considered as an example of the principles of the invention and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described.

This invention, which is a folding garment bag relates to transporting hanging clothes and more specifically to the ability to transport hanging clothes in a way that minimizes wrinkling and damage while improving the ease of packing and transport. When traveling, often people must figure out a way to carry clothes with them. The typical garment bag for hanging clothes relies on hangers passing through an opening at the top of the bag and a simple exterior barrier on most or all sides—with no or few other features in the interior of the bag to help safeguard the clothes through the transport process. It is the object of this invention to provide a garment bag that simplifies the task of transporting hanging clothes, especially those prone to wrinkling, made with delicate fabrics, or that are easily damaged. The system incorporates novel interior features engineered to secure, pad, and separate garments as well as exterior features designed to improve portability and access to the interior.

The instant invention solves the problem in transporting garments by providing a bag used for hanging clothes in a way that minimizes wrinkling and the likelihood of damage to clothes while improving the ease of packing and transport. The instant invention is a system for transporting hanging clothes in a way that minimizes wrinkling and the likelihood of damage to clothes while improving the ease of packing and transport. One application for this invention is for transporting dresses and other formal garments made of delicate fabrics to events such as weddings, galas, or business meetings. For the transportation of such clothing, it is critical that the articles be protected from the elements and secure in the bag to prevent bunching, wrinkling, and collapsing. The invention incorporates novel interior features to secure, pad, and separate garments as well as novel exterior features to improve portability and access to the interior. Below, we detail these elements.

Three key features comprise the interior engineering: (1) a system to hang clothes inside the bag with or without hangers, (2) a puffy, padded lining to hold clothes securely in place when the bag is zipped closed, and (3) a smooth, integrated layer that stretches across the bag in-between clothes preventing garments from touching while in the bag. All three of these are novel elements in a hanging bag and together create a new way to transport garments as shown in.

The solution relies on an internal hanging system that can be used with or without hangers. The system for hanging clothes is contained entirely within the bag. This accomplishes several things. First, it eliminates the need to carry the bag by an uncomfortable hanger; instead, an exterior handle can be used. Second, it makes for a better match between garment form and hanging architecture. As seen in, there are two loops centered in the top of the bag for hooking hangers through. These loops are slightly offset and of different lengths so that hangers can nest as needed. There are also two strap-like pieces that are affixed to the top of the bag near the center and can snap to the bag more distally. These hanging straps eliminate the need for hangers with many garments (especially dresses) and can be used instead with a garment's built-in hanging straps, shoulder straps, etc.

To hold the transported garment in place, exactly as it is placed in the bag, the interior is lined with a puffy, padded lining. The soft, compressible lining minimizes movement inside as shown in.

To minimize wrinkles but also prevent multiple garments from rubbing against each other, a smooth fabric layer is integrated into the bag. It can be stretched across the bag and attached to the other side, effectively putting a barrier between different layers of clothes. A similar anti-wrinkle technique is employed by many clothes manufacturers by layering tissue paper when shipping items. Here, we use that same principal in a permanent embodiment as shown in.

The instant invention offers an innovative shape that is designed for clothes and several functions to make packing and transporting garments easier and more enjoyable including a side zip for packing and unpacking, a plush interior to support and hold garments in place, a soft layer to minimize wrinkles and protect in between garments, hooks for hangers, straps to hang clothing directly inside the bag, a folding capability to carry the bag comfortably by hand or forearm, and the ability to place the bag down on the ground like a purse or other piece of luggage. The bag is made for people traveling by foot, car, or plane. Its main objective is to offer stylish design and innovative features that make traveling with clothes fashionable and functional.

Furthermore, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a garment bag including a base portion having a bottom and a method of forming side walls including a zipper or other fastening methods such as buttons or clasps. The sidewalls extending from the closed bottom to a top region to define an interior space. The collapsible portion is formed from a flexible material and includes an opening means. The collapsible portion is positionable in a first position in which the collapsible portion is collapsed into the interior space and a second position in which the collapsible portion extends away from the top region of the base portion such that the opening means provides access to the interior space. Preferably, the collapsible portion further includes a generally enclosed top end and said opening means is formed on a portion of the generally enclosed top end.

According to one aspect of the present invention, at least two handles that are connected to the base portion proximate the top region, and arranged such that when the upper portion is collapsed into the interior space, the garment bag can be carried by the at least two handles.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the base portion is formed from a flexible material such as cloth, canvas, nylon fabric, stretch fabric, Lycra, elastane and spandex or a rigid material such as polyethylene sheet.

Furthermore, the disclosed folding garment bag is designed to transport hanging clothes with enhanced protection and convenience. The interior of the bag features an innovative hanging system that accommodates clothes with or without hangers, a padded lining to secure garments in place, and a smooth fabric layer to separate multiple garments and prevent wrinkling. The exterior of the bag is engineered with an ergonomic hourglass shape, a three-sided zipper for easy access, the ability to fold and stand, and a handle with a clasp for versatile carrying options. The bag can be constructed from various materials and designed in different sizes and shapes to suit a wide range of garments and user preferences. Additional features such as pockets, compartments, and security mechanisms can be incorporated to enhance the bag's functionality.

The instant invention is a folding garment bag including an internal hanging system for securing clothes with or without hangers, a padded lining for maintaining the position of the clothes, and a smooth, integrated layer for separating garments within the bag. The internal hanging system may include offset loops and strap-like pieces for hanging garments. The padded lining may be made from a compressible material to minimize movement of the clothes. The smooth, integrated layer may be stretchable across the bag to create a barrier between layers of clothes. The folding garment bag may have an hourglass shape to reduce excess material and weight. The folding garment bag may include a three-sided zipper that allows the bag to open flat for easy loading and the zipper has a zipper shield to protect garments. The folding garment bag may include a handle and clasp for ergonomic carrying and hanging. The folding garment bag may be capable of being folded in half and standing in place due to its internal structure. The folding garment bag may be constructed from materials selected based on environmental conditions and user preferences. The folding garment bag may include various sizes and shapes to accommodate different types of garments.

Other and further advantages and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to, there is shown the interior of the folding garment bag, showing the front padded lining, rear padded liningand integrated separating layer, which is preferably attached along separating layer edgeto the seam between the front padded liningand the rear padded lining. The folding garment bagincludes a shieldfor protecting the garments from snagging on the zipper. The zipper shieldmay alternately be placed in different or additional locations along the male zipper portionor the female zipper portionof the zipper.is a front elevational view of the interior of the folding garment bagin an open position with the separating layerfolded against the rear liningandshows the separating layerfolded against the front lining.is a front elevational view of the folding garment bag in a closed position with the front lining zippered against the rear lining showing the exterior of the garment bag. When the front lining is zippered against the rear lining, the male zippered portionis engaged with the female zippered portionalong at least a portion of the male zippered portionand the female zippered portion. The upper front access paneland lower front access panelmake up the access panel which is adjacent and exterior to the front padded lining

is a front elevational view of an interior portion of the folding garment bag showing garment hooks including offset hanger loopsand direct-hang, securable straps. Claspsecures upper handle portionto lower handle portion. The upper handle portionand the lower handle portionare detachable and re-attachable and may be extended over a rod or through an opening.

is a front elevational view of the folding garment bag in the folded and standing position including front paneland rear panel. The front paneland the rear paneleach consist of an upper and lower portion, respectively, of the closed garment bag rear and front liners and separating layer. A base panelis disposed between a pair of live hingesto allow folding of the front panelto the rear panel.is a side elevational view of the folding garment bag in the folded and standing position.

is a front elevational view of a designer folding garment bag′ with the front lining in a closed position. The folding garment bag′ may include patterns and colors on the exterior surface. Matching patterns or colors may also be included on one or more interior portions of the garment bag.

One aspect is directed to the folding garment bagas shown in. The folding garment bag may combine multiple novel elements to create an improved method for transporting hanging clothes. These elements may work together to address common issues associated with traditional garment bags, such as garment shifting, wrinkling, and difficulty in handling during travel. The garment bagmay include an internal hanging system comprising offset hanger loopsand securable straps.

In some cases, the offset hanger loopsmay be positioned at the top of the garment bag. The offset hanger loopsmay be of different lengths, which may allow hangers to nest as needed when multiple garments are hung within the garment bag. This arrangement may help to distribute the weight of the garments more evenly and reduce crowding at the top of the bag.

The garment bagmay also include securable straps. These securable strapsmay extend from attachment points near the center of the garment bag. In some implementations, the securable strapsmay be designed to fasten to corresponding attachment points on the interior surfaceof the garment bag.

The internal hanging system may provide multiple options for securing garments within the garment bag. For example, the offset hanger loopsmay accommodate traditional hangers, allowing users to hang garments in a conventional manner. Alternatively, the securable strapsmay be used with garments that have built-in hanging straps or shoulder straps, potentially eliminating the need for separate hangers in some cases.

In some implementations, the combination of offset hanger loopsand securable strapsmay allow users to customize the hanging arrangement based on the specific garments being transported. This flexibility may help to minimize wrinkling and shifting of garments during transport.

The internal hanging system may be designed to work in conjunction with other features of the garment bag, such as the padded lining and separating layer to provide comprehensive protection and organization for transported garments.

illustrates an interior view of the garment bag, showing additional features designed to protect and organize garments during transport. The garment bagmay include a padded liningand a separating layerintegrated into the interior surface.

In some cases, the padded liningmay extend across the interior surfaceof the garment bag. The padded liningmay be made from a compressible material, such as foam, batting, or synthetic fibers. This compressible material may allow the padded liningto conform to the shape of garments placed within the garment bag, helping to maintain the position of the clothes during transport.

The garment bagmay also include a separating layer. In some implementations, the separating layermay be a smooth, integrated layer that spans across the interior of the garment bag. The separating layermay be stretchable, allowing it to be extended across the bag and attached to the opposite side. This stretchable property may enable the separating layerto create a barrier between different layers of clothes within the garment bag.

The combination of the padded liningand the separating layermay work in conjunction with the offset hanger loopsand securable strapsshown into provide comprehensive protection for garments. The padded liningmay help minimize movement of clothes within the garment bag, while the separating layermay prevent different garments from rubbing against each other, potentially reducing the risk of wrinkling or damage during transport.