Patent Application
20220346512
The invention generally relates to packaging, and more particularly relates to systems and methods for packing and carriage of clothes and other items to minimize wrinkles, save space and view contents without opening.
Packing clothes for trips can be a difficult process since simply putting the clothes in a traditional suitcase can result in a number of unwanted problems. Clothes often end up wrinkled if simply placed in a suitcase because the clothes are free to move around largely unfettered within the case. This may result in creasing and wrinkling of the clothes on arrival at a destination.
Moreover, it may be difficult to fit in a suitcase all one's clothes and accessories. These items may be difficult to pack/compress in manner to avoid unwanted creases or wrinkles.
Further, in the present security environment related to travel, security agents (e.g. the TSA in the United States) often open suitcases and inspect through the clothing inside, in order to search for prohibited items. This searching process can further result in wrinkled clothes. It also leads to privacy and contamination concerns.
A packing apparatus helps reduce wrinkling of clothes. Such an apparatus can allow more clothes to be packed in the same amount of space. The apparatus provides significant compression of items. The apparatus can be used as a garment carrier that can be carried as a standalone clothes carrier, and also can be inserted as a packing apparatus into a larger suitcase. The apparatus may be a single unit or multiple connected modules of packing setups. During packing and at final destination, the apparatus may include a modular element that allows it to function as a garment bag for hanging vertically from a hook or clothes hanger while allowing full visual inspection of the contents. Such an apparatus allows security agents to view clothes inside of the apparatus, such that security agents and the like may be less likely to handle and unpack the clothes. Absent such riffling by security agents and the like, there may be less chance of cross contamination of bacterial and/or environmental contaminants.
An embodiment of the invention is a system for packing. The system includes a backing, a base flap connected to the backing for folding against the backing, a left side flap connected to the backing, for folding against the base flap when folded against the backing, and a right side flap connected to the backing, for folding against the left side flap when folded against the base flap. It may, in alternatives, include a top flap that folds downward over the other segments.
In further aspects, the backing provides more than one compartment each formed of the base flap, the left side flap and the right side flap. In certain aspects, the more than one compartment is capable of allowing/creating a variable volume compartment.
In other aspect, the system includes a connector fixed to a side of the base flap opposing the backing when the base flap is folded against the backing, and a mating connector fixed to a side of the left side flap for attachment to the connector when the left side flap is folded against the base flap.
In further aspects, the system includes a second connector fixed to another side of the left side flap and a second mating connector fixed to a side of the right side flap for attachment to the second connector when the right side flap is folded against the left side flap.
In yet other aspects, the backing, together with the base flap, the right side flap, and the left side flap, as each folded, forms a pocket for containing an article.
In other aspects, the backing provides more than one unit of the base flap, the left side flap and the right side flap, for forming respective pockets for containing respective articles.
In further aspects, the backing, with respective pockets containing articles, is rollable. In alternatives, the backing, with respective pockets containing articles, may be flip-flap folded or Z-flap folded.
In even further aspects, the backing, the base flap, the left side flap, the right side flap, are each translucent to allow viewing.
In other aspects, the system includes a shoulder strap rolled into the backing, the shoulder strap provides a handle for carrying the backing as rolled.
Another embodiment of the invention is a method for packing. The method includes providing a rollable backing with at least one compartment each for an article storage.
In further aspects, the method includes providing each of the at least one compartment with a base flap, left flap and right flap, each flap is foldable towards the backing.
In yet further aspects, the method includes placing an article against the backing, between the base flap, the left flap, and the right flap, folding the base flap against the article and backing, folding the left flap against the base flap, and folding the right flap against the left flap.
In other aspects, the method includes repeating the steps of placing, folding the base flap, folding the left flap, and folding the right flap for each of the at least one compartment.
In further aspects, the method includes rolling the backing upon completion of the steps of placing, folding the base flap, folding the left flap, and folding the right flap for each of the at least one compartment, to retain each article in the roll.
In even further aspects, the method includes placing a strap against the backing prior to the step of rolling, to form a handle of the strap upon the step of rolling.
Yet another embodiment of the invention is a clothing carrier. The carrier includes a flexible and transparent base sheet, said base sheet having multiple sets of opposing horizontal flaps, flexible and transparent vertical flaps attached to or integral with the main body of said base sheet, multiple detachable flap attachment means configured such that said horizontal flaps and said vertical flap can be configured to form a series of clothing compartments, and a Swiss roll fastening mechanism. The carrier is adapted to be rolled from the unrolled configuration into a rolled configuration and fastened in the rolled configuration using the Swiss roll fastening mechanism. In certain alternatives, the system is adapted to be flip-flap folded or Z-folded and has a fastening mechanism.
The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the accompanying figures, in which like references indicate similar elements, and in which:
The following description refers to certain specific embodiments; however, the specific embodiments are merely illustrative and variations and changes may be made in the embodiments without diverting from the broad scope encompassed by the disclosure.
Referring to
The backing 604, as well as the left side flap 606 and the right side flap 608, may formed of a flexible or other material such that the left side flap 606 and the right side flap 608 are foldable against the backing 604. According to certain embodiments, the backing 604, the left side flap 606 and the right side flap 608, or certain of them, may be any of a transparent, translucent or see through material, such as, for example, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, polyvinylidene chloride, or similar clear or semi-clear material, or a mesh, webbing or perforated material, or any combination. In the embodiments, the base flap 610, the left side flap 606, the right side flap 608 are foldable along edges where attached to the backing 604, towards the backing 604.
Although not shown in detail in
As shown in
Referring to
In use, the first base flap 718 is folded (A) towards the backing 604 along an edge 724 of connection of the first base flap 718 to the backing 604. The first left side flap 720 is folded (B) towards the backing 604 along an edge 726 (in phantom) of connection of the first left side flap 720 to the backing 604. The first right side flap 722 is similarly folded (C) towards the backing 604 along an edge 728 (in phantom) of connection of the first right side flap 722 to the backing 604.
A second compartment 614 of the system 700 is like that of the system 600 of
A third compartment 716 of the system 700, similarly is formed of the backing 604, together with a third base flap 730, a third left side flap 732, and a third right side flap 734. When the flaps 730, 732 and 734 are folded towards the backing 604, in manner similar to that of with the flaps 718, 720, and 718 of the first compartment 712, the folded flaps 730, 732, 734, together with the backing 604, for a pocket of the compartment 716.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In contact of the left side flap 606 to the base flap 610, and in contact of the right side flap 608 to the left side flap 606, respective connectors of the flaps 610, 606, 608 connect the flaps to form a pocket compartment, such as the 612, 614, 616, 712, 714, 716 of
Referring to
On folding the base flap, the left side flap is folded 1306 along a hinge or flex of an edge connecting the left side flap to the backing. The left side flap contacts the base flap, as folded, and connects to the base flap, such as by a removable attachment, as non-exclusive example, hook-and-loop, zipper, magnetic strip, or other.
The right side flap is folded 1308 along a hinge or flex of an edge connecting the right side flap to the backing. The right side flap contacts the left side flap, as folded, and connects to the left side flap. Connectors may include, as nonexclusive example, hook-and-loop, zipper, magnetic strip, or other.
If additional compartments of the system are available for articles, the method 1300 returns to the step 1302 for each next compartment and article. If, however, no additional compartments of the system are available, the method 1300 proceeds to a step of folding or rolling 1310 the backing. In the step 1310, the backing, because flexible, may be folded (e.g., accordion-like or otherwise, according to contained articles), rolled, or similarly compacted.
Certain non-exclusive example embodiments follow:
As illustrated in
The roughly accordion shape of base sheet 100 may be shaped in any of a number of different methods well known in the art such as cutting, stamping and stitching or gluing component sections together.
Each of first horizontal flaps 110 has horizontal flap attachment means 210 on the upper surface of horizontal flap 110. Each of opposing second horizontal flaps 120 has attachment means 220 on the upper surface of each horizontal flap 120 and horizontal attachment means 230 on the lower surface of each horizontal flap 120. The horizontal attachment means 210,220,230 may have opposing hook/loop patch configurations (e.g. Velcro™) so that opposing patches can be fastened together by pressing one opposing patch against the other.
Vertical flap 300 has first Swiss roll attachment means 240 on its upper surface and on the lower surface of the main body of base sheet 100 is second Swiss roll attachment means 250 that is intended to be attached to attachment means 240 when the clothing carrier is rolled into its “swiss roll” configuration (See
The lower surface of vertical flap 300 has attachment means 360 that is intended to be used to form the lower clothing compartment on the apparatus. The various attachment means coupled to base sheet 100 may be any of a number of different attachment means such as buttons, zippers, snaps, compression fits and so forth. However, it may be preferred that the attachment means are of a hook and loop type also known by the trade name Velcro™.
Vertical flap 400 may also have hanger 600 that allows clothing carrier 1000 to be hung from a hook or hanger. Hanger 600 may be a strap, cord, wire, hanger and so forth and it may be attached to base sheet 100 may by any of a number of different ways including taping, gluing, hot molding, and so forth.
In the configuration shown in
Step 1: Put clothing 700 on the top surface of base sheet 100 directly underneath of vertical flap 310 (and directly below vertical flap 300 after flap 300 has been folded over at the opposite end of carrier 1000 from hanger 600). This leaves vertical flap attachment mechanisms 360 on the top surface of vertical flap and on the opposite side of the said flaps from clothing 700.
Step 2: Fold horizontal flap 120 over vertical flap 310 and clothing 700 such that attachment mechanism 220 detachably attaches to vertical flap attachment mechanism 360 Using multiple attachment mechanisms 360 (e.g. patches) or attachment mechanisms with large geometries allows for varying amounts of clothing 700 in the compartment since the snugness can be varied depending on using varying configurations of the attachment mechanisms. Because horizontal flap 120 has been folded over, attachment mechanism 230 is now facing upward.
Step 3: Fold horizontal flap 110 over previously folded horizontal flap 120 and then snugly attach to flap 120 using attachment mechanism 210 to attach to attachment mechanism 230.
These steps can be repeated with each of the compartments. In the lower compartment it is vertical flap 300 that is folded over clothing 700 in Step 1.
By using three flaps whose snugness against clothing 700 can be varied by using different configurations of attachment mechanisms it is possible for a user to have variable compartment volumes yet snugly place different amounts of clothing in the compartments that have been made by folding and detachably attaching the vertical and horizontal flaps. After the clothing is snugly in the compartments, should a user desire carrier 1000 can be hung vertically from a hook or door by using hanger 600 at the apex of carrier 1000.
More typically, a user will simply proceed to Step 4 in the process of packing clothes 700.
Step 4. The user simply rolls base sheet 100 along with clothes 700 into a Swiss roll configuration starting at the end of carrier 100 that is opposite hanger 600. As depicted in
This is achieved by rolling the base sheet 100 inwardly on itself until carrier 1000 forms the rolled configuration shown in
Step 5: To keep carrier 1000 in a Swiss roll configuration the user detachably attaches Swiss roll attachment mechanism 250 to opposing Swiss roll attachment mechanism 240. By making attachment mechanism 250 and attachment mechanism 240 relatively large (elongated patches along the length of base sheet 100) it is possible to use these attachment mechanisms for Swiss rolls of various diameters (i.e. different amounts of clothing 700). In the rolled configuration, the patch of hook/loop fastener material 250 is pressed against the opposing patch of hook/loop fastener material 240 that assists in holding carrier 1000 in the rolled configuration and prevents lateral movement of the top end 300 relative to the bottom end 400.
Base sheet 100 may be made from a variety of flexible plastic materials that are known to naturally hold a negative electrostatic charge, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene. On the other hand, many types of clothing have a natural tendency to accumulate a positive electrostatic charge. Obviously, the electrostatic attraction created between the clothing 700 in carrier 1000 and the plastic material of base sheet 100 itself may assist in holding the clothing against base sheet 100 and lessen the likelihood of bunching up and then wrinkling or creasing. This is especially true when one considers the effect of both the electrostatic attraction and the fact that the adjustable compartments of the subject invention allow for very snug packing of the clothing.
In one embodiment it may be desirable to carry the Swiss roll configuration using a shoulder strap (not expressly shown in the drawings). This can be easily accomplished by laying a shoulder strap or straps near the middle of the unrolled carrier 1000 prior to Step 4 supra, so that when carrier 1000 is rolled into the Swiss roll configuration in Step 4 the shoulder strap is detachably attached to carrier 1000 until it is unrolled at the destination. In this way the rolled carrier 1000 can be carried while cycling, walking or during other activities requiring use of both hands.
A variety of different pockets, containers, hooks, and attachment mechanisms not expressly shown herein may also be added to the configuration of carrier 1000 as shown in
Carrier 1000 may be imprinted with indicia, such as the user's initials, company name or for advertising or promotional matter.
In yet another embodiment (not expressly shown) it is possible to combine two or three modular carriers as depicted in
In yet another embodiment as shown in
A variety of alternatives are possible in the foregoing embodiments. For example, although focus has been on attachment means of opposing hook-and-loop type fasteners, such as that available under the trade mark Velcro™, detachable attachment of various portions of the carrier may be effected by way of a number of different attachment means such as buttons, snaps, zippers, compression fittings and so forth.
Although particular units, modules, or other elements are illustrated as unitary (or not) in the embodiments, it is contemplated that certain of those units, modules or other elements may be included in whole or part as features that interact with or incorporate other units, modules or elements (including, for example, third party parts or elements) or that are combined in whole or part with other units, modules or elements.
In the foregoing, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, however, that various modifications, substitutions, deletions, and additions can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications substitutions, deletions, and additions are intended to be included within the scope of the invention. Any benefits, advantages, or solutions to problems that may have been described above with regard to specific embodiments, as well as device(s), connection(s), step(s) and element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced, are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62070132 | Aug 2014 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15503931 | Feb 2017 | US |
| Child | 17828188 | US |
