초록 ▼

The present invention includes methods and apparatus in which a reusable bag is provided for the collection and return of soiled garments, laundry and/or other clothing items. The bag may be provided in the form of a hamper that is open at the top, with one or more hooks that allow the bag to be hun

The present invention includes methods and apparatus in which a reusable bag is provided for the collection and return of soiled garments, laundry and/or other clothing items. The bag may be provided in the form of a hamper that is open at the top, with one or more hooks that allow the bag to be hung from a clothing rod, and is provided with engagement devices that allow the bag to be folded up when not in use, and then unfolded to various levels for containment and protection of clean items that have been hung on standard hangers. In some embodiments, garment protection flaps are provided inside the bag.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A dual use garment bag comprising: a pair of oppositely positioned side panels joined together at a closed bottom end, said side panes having sloping upper sides, and a pair of oppositely positioned pleated end panels opening at a top attached between said side panels forming said bag, said bag b

1. A dual use garment bag comprising: a pair of oppositely positioned side panels joined together at a closed bottom end, said side panes having sloping upper sides, and a pair of oppositely positioned pleated end panels opening at a top attached between said side panels forming said bag, said bag being open at an opposite upper end and having an interior and an exterior;two flaps provided on the interior of said bag adjacent to said upper end, one flap at or near each of said upper sides of one of said side panels, for folding over items hanging inside said bag to protect the items from outside materials, wherein said flaps each have a lateral portion having a substantially semi-circular shape capable of covering the shoulder portion of a shirt or jacket, and a medial portion having a substantially rectangular shape capable of covering a front portion of a shirt or jacket;a pair of hanger hooks, one provided on each of said sides at said upper end;a pair of handles, one provided on each of said sides at said upper end;at least one lower engagement device located on the exterior adjacent to the bottom end of said bag; andat least one upper attachment device provided on the exterior of a side panel of said bag for engagement with said at least one lower engagement device for holding a portion of said bag against itself in a folded condition. 2. The bag of claim 1 wherein said at least one lower engagement device is a loop, and said at least one upper attachment device is a button. 3. The bag of claim 2 wherein a pair of loops and at least one pair of buttons are provided on said bag. 4. The bag of claim 2 wherein at least three loops and at least one set of three buttons are provided on said bag. 5. The bag of claim 2 wherein at least three loops and at least two sets of three buttons are provided on said bag. 6. A garment bag comprising: a. a pair of side panels, each side panel having a top, bottom and sides wherein the bottoms thereof are attached together, said side panels having sloping upper sides;b. a pair of pleated end panels attached to the bottoms and sides of said side panels forming a bag having a closed bottom, an open top, an inside and an outside;c. two flaps attached to said top of one of said side panels, said flaps operable to fold over and cover an upper end of one or more garments placed inside said bag thereby protecting the garments from outside materials, wherein said flaps each have a lateral portion having a substantially semi-circular shape capable of covering the shoulder portion of a shirt or jacket, and a medial portion having a substantially rectangular shape capable of covering a front portion of a shirt or jacket;d. a pair of hanger hooks, one provided on each of said sides at said open top;e. a pair of handles, one provided on each of said sides at said open top;f. three lower engagement devices located on the outside of the closed bottom of said bag in a generally horizontal relationship to each other; andg. three corresponding upper attachment devices located on the outside of a side panel of said bag in a generally horizontal relationship to each other for engagement with said three lower engagement devices for holding a portion of said bag against itself in a folded condition. 7. The bag of claim 6 wherein a second set of three upper attachment devices are provided on the outside of a side of said bag in a generally horizontal relationship to each other and spaced apart from said first set of three upper attachment devices. 8. The garment bag of claim 6 further comprising a detachable accessory bag for attachment to the inside of one of said side panels of said garment bag. 9. A garment bag comprising: a. a pair of side panels, each side panel having a top, bottom and sides wherein the bottoms thereof are attached together;b. a pair of pleated end panels attached to the bottoms and sides of said side panels forming a bag having a closed bottom, an open top, an inside and an outside;c. two flaps attached to said top of one of said side panels, said flaps operable to fold over and cover an upper end of one or more garments placed inside said bag thereby protecting the garments from outside materials, wherein said flaps each have a lateral portion having a substantially semi-circular shape capable of covering the shoulder portion of a shirt or jacket, and a medial portion having a substantially rectangular shape capable of covering a front portion of a shirt or jacket;d. a pair of hanger hooks, one provided on each of said sides at said open top;e. a pair of handles, one provided on each of said sides at said open top;f. two lower engagement devices located on the outside of the closed bottom of said bag in a generally horizontal relationship to each other; andg. two corresponding upper attachment devices located on the outside of a side panel of said bag in a generally horizontal relationship to each other for engagement with said two lower engagement devices for holding a portion of said bag against itself in a folded condition. 10. The garment bag of claim 9 further comprising a detachable accessory bag for attachment to the inside of one of said side panels of said garment bag. 11. A bag for transporting garments comprising: a pair of oppositely positioned side panels, and a pair of oppositely positioned end panels attached between said side panels forming said bag, said bag having an opening at an upper end thereof and having an interior and an exterior;two flaps provided on the interior of said bag adjacent to said upper end for folding over items hanging inside said bag to protect the items from outside materials, wherein said flaps each have a lateral portion having a substantially semi-circular shape operable to cover a shoulder portion of a garment, and a medial portion having a substantially rectangular shape operable to cover a front portion of a garment;at least one lower engagement device located on the exterior of said bag; andat least one upper attachment device provided on the exterior of a side panel of said bag for engagement with said at least one lower engagement device for holding a portion of said bag against itself in a folded condition. 12. The bag of claim 11, further comprising a pair of handles, one provided on each of said side panels near said upper opening end. 13. The bag of claim 11, further comprising a pair of hanger hooks, one provided on each of said side panels near said upper opening end. 14. The bag of claim 11, wherein said at least one lower engagement device comprises three lower engagement devices located on the exterior of one of said side panels near a bottom end of said bag in a generally horizontal relationship to each other, and said at least one upper attachment device comprises three upper attachment devices located on the outside of the same side panel of said bag in a generally horizontal relationship to each other for engagement with said three lower engagement devices. 15. The bag of claim 11 further comprising a closable opening along a portion of one of said side panels, wherein a plurality of snaps are provided along said closable opening. 16. A garment bag comprising: a. two side panels and two end panels connecting lateral portions of said side panels;b. an opening at an upper end of said bag;c. a closable opening along a portion of one of said side panels;d. two flaps attached to said bag near said upper opening, said flaps operable to cover an upper end of at least one garment placed inside said bag, wherein said flaps each have a lateral portion having a substantially semi-circular shape operable to cover a shoulder portion of a garment, and a medial portion having a substantially rectangular shape operable to cover a front portion of a garment; andd. a plurality of engagement devices on an outside of said bag for holding said bag in a folded condition. 17. The bag of claim 16, further comprising a pair of hanger hooks, one provided on each of said side panels near said upper opening. 18. The bag of claim 16, further comprising a pair of handles, one provided on each of said side panels near said upper opening. 19. The bag of claim 16, wherein said flaps are on opposite lateral sides of said bag. 20. The bag of claim 16, wherein said plurality of engagement devices comprises: at least one lower engagement device located adjacent to a bottom end of said bag; andat least one upper engagement device for engagement with said at least one lower engagement device for holding a portion of said bag against itself in said folded condition. 21. The bag of claim 16, wherein a plurality of snaps are provided along said closable opening on said side panel. 22. The bag of claim 16 further comprising a detachable accessory bag for attachment to an inside of one of said side panels.