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.

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, and securing 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 and securing 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.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] 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.

[0028] FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the first design configuration of the GPS showing the horizontal member folded.

[0029] FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the first design configuration of the GPS showing the horizontal member folded and the book folded downward.

[0030] 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.

[0031] FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the second design configuration of the GPS showing the triangular member folded.

[0032] FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the second design configuration of the GPS showing the triangular member folded and the hook folded downward.

[0033] 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.

[0034] FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the third design configuration of the GPS showing the vertical arm folded upward.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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.

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] 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.