US2270547A - Garment bag - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 20, 1942. H. w. NICHOLS 2,270,547

GARMENT BAG Filed Aug. 9, 1939 INVENTOR.

H41 0 MCHOLS.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 20, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GARMENT BAG Harold W. Nichols, Cincinnati, Ohio Application August 9, 1939, Serial No. 289,257

3 Claims.

My invention relates to bags or the like, and I shall describe it in connection with garment bags, it being understood, however, that the teachings hereinafter contained are applicable to bags or containers for other purposes.

Garment bags, some of which are or may be sealed either to preserve the garments indefinitely in a clean condition or to exclude moths or other deleterious influences have been understood to have the disadvantage that the contents of the bag cannot conveniently be ascertained without either the destruction of the sealed character of the container or the destruction of the entire container. To this end it has hitherto been suggested that a window of Cellophane or other suitable translucent substance be provided in the bag so that the contents may be ascertained without opening the bag. The disadvantages of the Cellophane window type of structure are first that it is in itself weak and does not have the durability of the body of the fabric of the bag; second, that a relatively restricted window dow not give frequently an adequate view of the contents. It shows merely a restricted portion of the outer garment hanging upon the hanger within the bag so that in this way it frequently fails in its purpose. Third, a window being translucent is likely to bring about localized fading of the exposed garment where the garment bag is hung so that light may reach it. It has been proposed to provide a flap which may be caused to cover the window; but this adds to the expense of the structure and is not always satisfactory in excluding light because it is readily liable to displacement.

The principal object of my invention is the provision of a structure in which these disadvantages are eliminated and in which certain additional advantages are gained such as a better opportunity to inspect the entire contents of the bag, a stronger and more positive structure, a structure which is inexpensive to make and yet is as strong and durable as the bag would be if it had no provision for inspection, and the provision of a structure which is normally light tight.

These and additional objects of my invention which will be set forth hereinafter or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications, I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now describe the aforesaid exemplary embodiment. 4

Reference is made to the drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof taken along the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a bag havin means for opening and rescaling. I

Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating the manner of use of theresealing feature of the bag.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the inspection means located at the side of the bag.

Primarily in the practice of my invention, I provide a garment bag of any ordinary formation which differs, however, from bags heretofore produced in this: that there is incorporated in the main longitudinal seam a strip of transparent or translucent substance, so located and arranged as normally to be entirely hidden and covered up in the same, but exposable either along the entire length of the seam or along selected portions of said length in such a way as to give a view of the contents of the bag. My provision for inspecting the contents of the bag without opening it, extends preferably substantially from the top of the bag to the bottom thereof so that it is possible to inspect notonly the outer garment in the bag but such other garments as may extend below the lower edge of the outer garment. Thus in most instances the entire contents of the bag may be readily ascertained. For example, when a man's suit is placed in the bag portions of the trousers normally hang below the lower edge of the coat and thus can be seen in the structure of my invention. Likewise in womens clothing when a plurality of dresses or other garments are hung upon a hanger their lower edges are not coterminous, but one will hang below another so that the inspection'means which I provide nor mally disclose all of them. T

Again I provide a bag which when necessary may be opened either for inspection or for the removal of garments, or for the addition of garments as where they are to be stored, providing in connection with the structure means whereby the bag may be opened readily and in a certain easily resealable mannenand the means whereby the bag may be rescaled so as to be proof against moths and the like.

are cemented or otherwise attached respectively to the edge of the member 4, at 6, and to the member 3, at I, along a line interspaced from the edge thereof. For the material 5 I may use any suitable substance including but without limitation any of the transparent or translucent films now on the market, such as Cellophane, Pliofilm, Parafilm, Kodapak, thin Celluloid, any of the esters of cellulose, glassine paper, or paper otherwise rendered sufliciently translucent for the purpose, and the like. The material 5 thus forms an integral part of the seam, but looked at from the outside of the bag is normally completely covered by the projecting or flap portion 8 of the member 3.

At the top of the bag for strength, if desired, the flap 8 may be cemented to the edge of the member 4 by an adhesive 9. A similar cementing may be practiced at the bottom and, if desired, at intervals along the length of the flap 8 for strength.

At the top of the bag it is the usual practice to fold over the corners thereof as at and II, so as to make the top of the bag conform more closely to the shape of a garment hanger (not shown) which is included in the bag in the ordinary manner, and the hook of which projects through an opening l2 centrally of the top of the bag. This may be done in my invention, and is illustrated in my drawing; but the top of the bag may be sealed and disposed in any other fashion as may be desired. Where also .it is desired to seal the opening l2 about the projecting hook of the garment hanger this likewise is done in any of the ways current in the art. Also it will be the usual practice to seal the bottom l3 of the bag after the garments have beenplaced therein, and this again is done in any of the ways .current in the art.

It will be understood that the flap 8 normally is closed and lying against the front portion of the bag as shown in Fig. 3. When it is desired to inspect the contents, however, it is merely necessary to raise the flap slightly with the fingers so as to be able to look through the translucent or transparent substance 5 forming part of the seam. This may be done at any point along the length of the flap 8 which is not bound by adhesive and may be done without detaching any adhesively secured portions or opening the bag in any way. Moreover it may readily be done without tearing the flap 8. It will give an inspection of the contents along the line of the seam substantially from the top to the bottom of the bag whereby, as explained, its entire contents may usually be seen. When the inspection is finished the flap 8 is released and returns by its own resilience to its former position against the face of the bag. The automatic closure of the flap 8 shields the garments within the bag from light which might otherwise pass through the substance 5, and furthermore protects this substance not only from physical destruction as by tea-ring, but also from hardening and cracking due to the actinic action of light to which. certain films are subject.

The seam may be located in any part of the bag. In Figures 1, 2 and 3 I have shown it in the substantial center of one face of the bag; but the seam may be located at or near one edge of the bag, which is an advantageous construction under some circumstances. It is, however. preferable to interspace the seam a slight distance from the edge, so that the actual edge fold is formed in paper and not in the transparent material. In Figure 5 I have shown such a construction in which 5a indicates the strip of transparent or trunslucent substance, and 8a the covering flap. I

While I have spoken of the seam which afiords inspection as the main seam, it will be understood that the bag may have one or more other scams if desired; and that a bag may be provided with more than one inspection seam, such as one or more inspection seams on each side, or an inspection seam adjacent each edge.

In a garment bag it is frequently desired either to remove less than the entire number of garments therein or to add garments to the bag for the protection which it will afford them. This is not possible where the opening of the bag involves its destruction; but in connection with the preferred form of my bags I provide a means whereby the bag may readily be opened in such a way that it can as readily be rescaled, and I also preferably provide a resealing substance in connection with my bag.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a bag preferably of the ,form of the bag of Fig. 1 but provided at or near one edge with a line of minute perforations or weakenings M. The material of the bag if thin may be partially out along this line though not completely severed; but if perforations are used these are preferably made so small as not to permit the entrance of moths or their larvae. But thebag may readily be opened by slitting or tearing it along the line H and when so opened may be readily sealed again, since the opening is confined to a single line essentially between walls of the bag which are juxtaposed. The line preferably extends from near the bottom of the bag to near the top thereof so that it is readily possible tov remove or replace garments in the bag or add new ones. When this operation has been accomplished the wall edges are juxtaposed and sealed with suitable sealing tape or the like l5. Where the tape is provided with a nonsetting adhesive the bag may be reopened and resealed a number of times if desired. Also it is convenient and a matter of great utility to provide the sealing substance I5 with the bag. This I may do by forming it into a roll as at |5a in Fig. 3 and pasting to the bag a strip or strap l6 of paper or the like which will serve to retain the roll. While I have shown this on the outside of the bag, it may be located within it as will be readily understood, since the bag will have been opened along the line H before the necessity for sealing arises.

Modifications may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit of it.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A garment bag or like container having lapping wall portions extending from one end of the bag to the other, and a strip of translucent substance longitudinally disposed, joined to the edge of one wall portion, and joined to the other wall portion along a line interspaced from said edge, whereby said substance serves to join said portions but is disposed to be covered by one of said portions when said portions are lapped, said strip of translucent substance permitting a view of the interior of said bag when the outer wall portion is raised from said translucent substance, said outer wall portion being joined to the lapped wall por,- tion adjacent the ends of said bag whereby longitudinal tension in said bag as well as a longitudinally outwardly convex condition of said bag will cause said lapping wall portion to lie against said strip of translucent substance and cover it.

2. A garment bag of paper having wall portions, one of which laps the other, a strip of nonfibrous transparent film joined to the edge of the lapped wall portion and joined to the lapping wall portion along a line interspaced from its edge, whereby said film serves to join said portions but is disposed to be fully covered by the lapping portion, said strip of film extending from end to end of said bag and said lapping wall portion adapted to be joined to the lapped Wall portion adjacent each end of said bag whereby longitudinal tension on said bag will keep said lapping wall portion in a position to cover said strip of film, said lapping wall portion being displaceable from said strip of film throughout the greater part of the length of said bag in order to permit a view of the contents thereof.

3. A garment bag of paper having wall portions, one of which laps the other, a strip of non-fibrous transparent film joined to the edge of the lapped wall portion and joined to the lapping wall portion along a line interspaced from its edge, whereby said film serves to join said portions but is disposed to be fully covered by the lapping portion, said strip of film extending from end to end of said bag and said lapping wall portion adapted to be joined to the lapped wall portion adjacent each end of said bag whereby longitudinal tension on said bag will keep said lapping wall portion in a position to cover said strip of film, said lapping Wall portion being displaceable from said strip of film throughout the greater part of the length of said bag in order to permit a view of the contents thereof, said bag being sealed at its top and capable of being sealed at its bottom, and having a weakened line in said paper, said weakened line being such as to retain the impervious character of said bag but to define a line of opening therein, and said bag bearing a sealing tape whereby it may be resealed after opening along the said line.

HAROLD W. NICHOLS.

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