Garment Packing System

Abstract

A garment packing system that is comprised of three design configurations of a folding garment hanger that allows a garment to be placed on the banger and the hanger along with the garment to be folded. Once a hanger and garment are folded, they can be secured to a structural element within a luggage interior. If desired, multiple hangers with garments can be stacked and secured together. The stacked hanger with garments can then be secured as a single unitary configuration within a luggage interior.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention generally pertains to clothes and luggage, and more particularly to a garment packing system that allows similar garments to be packed and maintained together as a group while minimizing space requirement in a luggage or suitcase.

BACKGROUND ART

For many people throughout the world, traveling is a necessary or desired part of their lives. Traveling can be a part of many types of people's lives including business people who actually travel the majority of the time, to individuals, couples or families who go on a once in-a-lifetime trip. Whether travel occurs by plane, train, ship or automobile one of usual requirements is that clothing must be taken. In order to facilitate this most people will select an appropriate amount of, and type of clothes, based on their destination, anticipated weather and the duration of the trip. The selected clothes (as well as other items such as toiletries) are placed into some type of luggage or suitcase.

One of the biggest considerations is how to pack the necessary amount/type of clothes without going overboard and packing numerous clothes/items that will not be needed/used. This is especially important considering that many travel providers such as airlines charge a premium based on the amount of luggage each person brings.

Often, to ensure the least amount of luggage, a person will cram as many clothes/items into a single luggage. Unfortunately, this leads to problems: clothes are often forced into non-optimal positions which can leave the clothes in un-wearable condition (without ironing or other measures) or even damage clothes. This is particularly true for dress shirts which wrinkle easy or clothes that are made of certain fabric/material. Also, cramming clothes into a luggage often makes it difficult to find a particular item of clothing, often requiring the entire contents of a luggage to be removed.

What is needed is a device or system that allows most types of clothes to be placed in a configuration that optimizes space yet at the same time maintains the clothes in an optimal position to reduce the likelihood of wrinkles. Also, to be able to keep similar items of clothes together, thereby allowing the clothes to be removed as a group. For example, a group clothes hangers on which single or multiple shirts can be hung, and then configured for space reduction/optimal packing. All the shirts could then be removed from the luggage, with minimal or no wrinkles, and then hung in a closet as a unitary group.

A search of the prior art did not disclose any literature or patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention. However, the following U.S. patents are considered related:

	PATENT NO.	INVENTOR	ISSUED
	4,244,453	Hertz	Jan. 13, 1981
	5,628,397	Ham	May 13, 1997
	RE33794	King	Jan. 14, 1992

The U.S. Pat. No. 4,244,453 patent discloses a garment cover, hanger, carrier and removable accessory container that encloses suits, coats, capes, dresses and other lengthy apparel in a protection bag or container which is generally rectangular sacks of proper length to accommodate articles upon hangers arranged therein. Suspension hooks may be hung or suspended from a convenient support. The apparatus comprise an interior but readily removal be container for accessories, which is supported by a horizontal cross-bar of one of the hangers.

The U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,397 patent discloses garment bags designed to carry garments on hangers, but have capabilities to resist wrinkling the hanging garments. The garment bag has auxiliary pockets and compartments, specifically, one or more semi-cylindrical pockets extending across the width of the main packing compartment of the garment bag. When the bag is packed and folded the hanging garments fold or drape around the packed cylinder shaped compartments thus are less likely to wrinkle.

The RE33794 patent discloses a garment bag enclosure and a packing case enclosure which cooperate with one another in a transportation state or condition. The packing case enclosure is connected to an inner panel of the garment bag enclosure which folds over the top of the packing case enclosure. A luggage article is easily transported by carrying devices attached to an exterior panel of the garment bag enclosure, the interior panel of the garment bag enclosure a disconnected, and the packing case enclosure moves outward to an extended orientation. A divider panel provides access to the interior of the packing vase enclosure while access to the garment bag enclosure is simultaneously available as a result of the detachment of the interior panel. When the packing base enclosure is in the extended orientation, the luggage article can be used to house garments on hangers and other smaller items within the packing case enclosure, thereby avoiding the necessity for unpacking and repacking the luggage article.

For background purposes and indicative of the art to which the invention relates, reference may be made to the following remaining patents found in the patent search.

	PATENT NO.	INVENTOR	ISSUED
	2,552,438	Kramer	May 8, 1951
	3,299,997	Herz	Jan. 24, 1967
	3,315,772	Katz	Apr. 25, 1967
	3,729,038	Ekeson	Apr. 24, 1973
	3,933,229	Pelavin	Jan. 20, 1976
	4,580,667	Herwood	Apr. 8, 1986
	4,854,431	Pulichino Jr., et al	Aug. 8, 1989
	5,593,038	Lyon	Jan. 14, 1997

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A garment packing system (GPS) that is comprised of three design configurations of a folding garment hanger that allows a garment to be placed on the hanger and the hanger along with the garment to be folded. Once a hanger and garment are folded, they can be secured to a structural element within a luggage interior. If desired, multiple hangers with garments can be stacked and secured together. The stacked hanger with garments can then be secured as a single unitary configuration within a luggage interior.

As a result of GPS design, and most garments only needing to be folded one or two times, the amount of wrinkling the garment has when normally packed in a luggage, suitcase, garment bag or other travel case is significantly reduced. When one or more groups of folded hangers and garments is placed into a luggage, the packing configuration can be optimized, and the space requirement minimized.

Also, when removing a group of hangers with garments, the entire group can be lifted out of the luggage together, at one time. The group of hangers with garments can quickly and easily be placed in a drawer or hung in a closet. When all of the garments are a similar type, such as dress shirts for example, the maintaining all of them together either folded or un-folded on the hangers makes it easy to identify a particular shirt and remove the shirt for wear. And again, with careful folding and placement on the hanger and within the luggage, a garment such as a dress shirt or even a suit, will be wrinkle free, with only a slight crease being visible from a single fold.

The first two design configurations can be used for a variety of garments especially torso garments such as shirts (of all types), blouses, sweaters, or similar garments. The third design configuration is particularly adapted for use with larger or longer garments, such as jackets. dresses or body suits. The third design configuration also includes clips that allow a pair of pants to be hung, folded and maintained during travel or storing. One optimal use of the GPS is for uniforms which often have multiple components such as matching/coordinated shirts (tops) and pants (bottoms). The GPS allows a multi-component unform to be hung and folded on a single (or more) hanger and then transported, accessed and worn without additional attention or preparation.

In view of the above disclosure, the primary object of the invention is to provide a garment packing system that allows a person to quickly and easily place various garments on specially-designed hangers that facilitate both the hanger and a garment on the hanger to be folded into a space-saving configuration and then secured within a luggage for travel. The GPS also makes removing and using the hangers and garments easy, while reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

In addition to the primary object, it is also an object of the invention to provide a garment packing system that:

• • is easy to use with no learning required,
  • will not damage a garment in any way,
  • can be used for a large variety of garments,
  • can reduce the amount/number of luggage that must be used for a trip, which can also reduce travel costs,
  • can be sold/marketed along with a luggage, suitcase, garment bag or other travel case, or can be sold/marketed as a standalone, aftermarket product,
  • can be used by men and women, adults and children,
  • is robust and long-lasting—can be used/re-used for many years and many trips,
  • can be used as a conventional clothes hanger if desired or required, and
  • is cost effective from both a manufacturer's and consumer's point of view.,

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a first design configuration of a garment packing system (GPS) having a folding hanger comprised of a horizontal member with a hinged hook.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the first design configuration of the GPS showing the horizontal member folded.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the first design configuration of the GPS showing the horizontal member folded and the book folded downward.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a second design configuration of the GPS having a folding hanger comprised of a triangular member with a lower horizontal arm, two angled arms, and a hinged hook.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the second design configuration of the GPS showing the triangular member folded.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the second design configuration of the GPS showing the triangular member folded and the hook folded downward.

FIG. 7 is n elevational view of a third design configuration of the GPS having a folding hanger comprised of a T-shaped member with an upper horizontal arm, a vertical arm, and a hinged hook.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the third design configuration of the GPS showing the vertical arm folded upward.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the GPS with folded garment(s) placed within a luggage, and the hook secured to a structural element of the luggage interior.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the GPS with folded garment(s) placed within a luggage and the GPS secured to a structural clement of the luggage interior by a strap securing means.

THE BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms that disclose a preferred embodiment with three design configurations of a garment packing system (GPS 10). For many people, traveling can be a generally enjoyable event. Even for business people who are required to travel frequently the overall experience, as often as it occurs, is not viewed in a major negative light. There are instances or situations that can occur which make traveling unpleasant. For example, trip cancellations or extended delays. Another part of traveling that many people do not like is having to pack the necessities for a trip, particularly clothes. A person must consider where they are going, what they will be doing, and even what the weather will be, and then attempt to select the garments they anticipate will be needed. Once the garments have been selected, the garments must be packed into a luggage, suitcase, garment bag or other travel case. In order to fit all the garments, as well as other items such as toiletries, in a luggage, a person will often just cram the garments in, which typically results in wasted space and garments that are severely wrinkled when removed. There is a reason most hotel rooms now have irons as one of the in-room amenities.

The GPS 10 offers a solution to this problem by providing a means by which one or multiple garments can be placed on a hanger(s). Both the hangers and garment can then be folded and placed into, and optionally secured, within a luggage. The folded hangers and garments optimize the actual packing while also minimizing the amount of required and/or wasted space.

The GPS 10, as shown in FIGS. 1-10, is disclosed in three design configurations. It should be noted, that the three design configurations are not the only configurations that fall within the inventive scope of this concept. Other configurations can be utilized and will function with equal efficacy while under the umbrella of the preferred embodiment.

The first design configuration, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, is comprised of a folding hanger 12 with a horizontal member 14 having a hinged hook. Located at the substantial midpoint of the horizontal member 14 is a hinge 16 that allows the horizontal member 14 to be folded over onto itself, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The hook 18 extends upward from a hinge 20 also located at the substantial midpoint on the horizontal member 14, adjacent the hinge 16. Located adjacent the midpoint on the horizontal member 14, next to the hook 18 is securing means 22 which are preferably comprised of strap 24, as shown in FIG. 1, or a clip 26, as shown in FIG. 2. The securing means 22 allow the hanger 12 to be secured onto a structural element 102 within a luggage 100. and/or allow multiple hangers 12 each with a garment 106 to be secured together into a unitary group. The group of hangers with folded garments 108 can simply be placed within a luggage 100, or the group can be secured together to a structural element 102 within a luggage by either the hook 18, as shown in FIG. 9, or by the securing means 22, as shown in FIG. 10.

The second design configuration of the GPS, as shown in FIGS. 4-6, is comprised of the folding hanger 12 with a triangular member 28 having a lower horizontal arm 30 with a first end 32, a second end 34 and a hinge 36 at the substantial midpoint of the horizontal arm 34, a first angled arm 38 that extends upward and inward from the horizontal arm first end 32, and a second angled arm 40 that extends upward and inward from the horizontal arm second end 34, thereby forming the triangular member 28, as shown in FIG. 4. Extending upward from the apex of the triangular member 28, where the first angled arm 38 interfaces with the second angled arm 40 is a hook 46 that is attached to a hinge 48. Located on the fist angled arm 38 is a hinge 42 that is positioned to linearly correspond to the location of the hinge 36 on the lower horizontal arm 30, as also shown in FIG. 4. The second design configuration is designed to allow the lower horizontal arm 30 and the first angled arm 38 to simultaneously fold over onto an opposing side of the triangular member 28, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Securing means 50 comprising a strap 52, as shown in FIG. 5, or a clip 54, as shown in FIG. 6, allow the second design configuration to be secured within a luggage, or a group of multiple triangular member hangers with garments to be secured together in the same manner as disclosed for the first design configuration. As also on the first design configuration, the hook hinge 48 on the second design configuration allows the hook 46 to be folded downward onto the folded triangular member 28, as shown in FIG. 6. In order to increase the structural integrity of the folded triangular member 28, an optional stabilizing bar 56 can extend between the first angled arm 38 and the first end 32 of the lower horizontal arm 30, as shown in FIG. 5.

The third design configuration, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, is comprised of a folding hanger 12 with a T-shaped member 60 including an upper horizontal arm 62 and a vertical arm 66 that extends downward from the substantial midpoint on the upper horizontal arm 62, thereby forming the T-shaped member 60, as shown in FIG. 7. The vertical arm 66 is secured to the upper horizontal arm 62 by attachment means 70 that can include integral 72 attachment during manufacture. screws 74, bolts 76 or an adhesive 78. Extending upward from the substantial midpoint of the upper horizontal arm 62 is a hook 80 that has a hinge 82. The hook 80 and hinge 82 have the same purposes and functionality for the hooks and hinges disclosed in the first and second design configurations. Also extending from the substantial midpoint on the upper horizontal arm 62 are securing means 84 that also serve the same purpose as the securing means disclosed in the first and second design configurations. Located on the vertical arm is at least one hinge 68. When only a single hinge 68 is utilized, the hinge 68 is located at the substantial midpoint on the vertical arm 66, as shown in FIG. 7. When more than one hinge 68 are utilized, each hinge 68 is located at an equal spaced distance from each other, along the length of the vertical arm 66.

The third design configuration is specially designed for use with larger or longer garments such as jackets or dresses. The placement of the hinge 68 allows a lower section (or multiple sections when more than one hinge is utilized) to be folded upward onto itself, as shown in FIG. 8. The third design configuration also includes at least one, and preferably two, garment clips 92 that extend downward from the upper horizontal arm 62, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The garment clips 92 allow an elongated. narrow garment such as a pair of pants to be secured on the upper horizontal arm 62. Once secured, an elongated garment can be folded upward along with other garments on the hanger.

After a garment 106 has been placed on a hanger 12 and the hanger and garment folded, either the single hanger and garment or a group of stacked hangers and garments are placed into a luggage or other travel enclosure. Once within the luggage 100 the hanger and garment or group of hangers and garments can be secured within the luggage. As shown in FIG. 9, the hook can be attached onto a structural element 102 within the luggage. As shown in FIG. 10, the securing means such as the strap can be attached to a structural element within the luggage. When the securing means is utilized, it is preferred that the hook is folded downward to optimize space, as also shown in FIG. 10.

Optimally, multiple groups of hangers each with different types of garments will be placed within a single luggage. This will optimize the use of the available space within the luggage and create a neat/orderly packed configuration, thereby allowing quick and easy access to any/all available garments while maintaining the garments in a ready-to-use state with minimal wrinkles.

While the invention has been described in detail and pictorially shown in the accompanying drawings it is not to be limited to such details, since many changes and modification may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and the scope thereof. Hence, it is described to cover any and all modifications and forms which may come within the language and scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A garment packing system (GPS) comprising: a folding hanger comprised of: a horizontal member having a hinge located adjacent a substantial mid-point on the horizontal member,a hook extending upward from a substantial mid-point on the horizontal member, andsecuring means extending outward from a substantial mid-point on the horizontal member, wherein a garment placed on the GPS is folded over onto itself by the hinge on the horizontal member, the securing means allows the GPS to be attached to a structural element within a luggage or allows multiple GPSs with folded or un-folded garments to attach together, and the hook hinge allows the hook to fold down onto a GPS with a folded garment or multiple GPSs each with a folded garment.

2. The garment packing system of claim 1, wherein the horizontal member is made of plastic.

3. The garment packing system of claim 1, wherein the horizontal member is made of metal.

4. The garment packing system of claim 1, wherein the horizontal member is made of wood.

5. The garment packing system of claim 1, wherein the securing means is comprised of a strap.

6. The garment packing system of claim 1, wherein the securing means is comprised of a clip.

7. The garment packing system of claim 1, wherein the hook further comprises a hinge located where the hook interfaces with the horizontal member, wherein a garment placed on the GPS is folded over onto itself by the hinge on the horizontal member.

8. A garment packing system (GPS) comprising: a folding hanger comprised of: a triangular member configured with: a lower horizontal arm having a hinge located at a substantial mid-point on the horizontal member,a first angled arm having a hinge located at a substantial mid-point on the first angled arm and configured to linearly correspond to the location of the hinge on the lower horizontal arm,a second angled arm that is configured as a mirror opposite of the first angled arm, thereby forming the triangular member,a hook extending upward for the interface point of the first and second angled arms, and having a hinge located at a lower end of the hook andsecuring means extending outward from the interface point of the first and second angled arms, wherein a garment placed on the GPS is folded over onto itself by the hinge of the lower horizontal arm and the first angled arm, the securing means allows the GPS to be attached to a structural element within a luggage or allows multiple GPSs with garments folded or un-folded to attach together, and the hook hinge allows the hook to be fold down onto a GPS with a folded garment or multiple GPSs each with a folded garment.

9. The garment packing system of claim 8, wherein the horizontal member is made of plastic.

10. The garment packing system of claim 8, wherein the horizontal member is made of metal.

11. The garment packing system of claim 8, wherein the securing means is comprised of a wood.

12. The garment packing system of claim 8, wherein the securing means is comprised of a strap.

13. The garment packing system of claim 8, wherein the securing means is comprised of a clip.

14. The garment packing system of claim 8, wherein multiple GPSs with garments are stacked on top of each other and secured together, thereby creating a unitary multi-garment configuration that is placed into and secured within a luggage as a single unit, or removed from a luggage and maintained as a single unit.

15. A garment packing system (GPS) comprising: a folding hanger comprised of: a T-shaped member with an upper horizontal arm,a vertical arm having at least one hinge located at a longitudinal position on the vertical arm and the vertical arm extending downward from a substantial mid-point on the upper horizontal arm, thereby forming the T-shaped member,attachment means for securing the vertical arm to the upper horizontal arm,a hook having a hinge, the hook extending upward from a substantial mid-point on the upper horizontal arm, and the hinge located at a lower end of the hook wherein the hook interfaces with the upper horizontal arm,securing means extending outward from a substantial mid-point on the upper horizontal member, wherein a garment placed on the GPS is folded upward at least once with a lower section of the garment directed to an upper section of the garment by the at least one hinge on the vertical arm, the securing means allows the GPS to be attached to a structural element within a luggage or garment bag, or allows multiple GPSs with folded or un-folded garments to attach together, and the hook hinge allows the hook to fold down onto a GPS with a folded garment or multiple GPSs each with a folded garment.

16. The garment packing system of claim 15, wherein the horizontal member is made of plastic.

17. The garment packing system of claim 15, wherein the horizontal member is made of metal.

18. The garment packing system of claim 15, wherein the horizontal member is made of wood.

19. The garment packing system of claim 15 wherein the attachment means for securing the vertical arm to the upper horizontal arm are selected from the group consisting of integral attachment, screws, bolts and an adhesive.

20. The garment packing system of claim 15 wherein the upper horizontal arm further comprising at least one garment clip configured to allow a lower section of a garment to be secured to the upper horizontal arm when the lower section of the garment is folded upward.