US2793742A - Garment bag of the mothproofing type - Google Patents

Description

May 28, 1957 J. J. MINTZ GARMENT BAG OF THE MOTHPROOF'ING TYPE Filed Oct. 25, 1955 nvmvrox :[was I M/wz BY [15. E

ATTOR/VAS'Y United States Patent GARMENT BAG OF THE MOTHPROOFING TYPE Jacob J. Mintz, Fall River, Mass., assignor to Seal-Sac Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Rhode Island Application October 25, 1955, Serial No. 542,601

12 Claims. (Cl. 206-) The present invention relates to the construction of a garment bag designed for maintaining its contents within an atmosphere of mothproofing fumes, and in particular to such a garment bag in which the supply of mothproofing material from which the fumes emanate may readily be replenished.

It has been proposed in the past to provide garment bags with built-in compartments into which mothproofing material, such as paradichlorobenzene, may be introduced, the wall between the compartment and the interior of the garment bag permitting the fumes emitted by the mothproofing material to pass through the wall and into the garment bag proper. Since the moothproofing material has but a limited life, means must be provided for replenishing the supply of such material within the compartment. Such means has usually taken the form of an opening in a wall, usually the top wall, of the garment bag, which opening communicates with the compartment.

This prior type of construction has suffered from several drawbacks. In the first place, the fact that the compartments are built into the garment bag makes for complexity in assembly of the bag. Secondly, the opening communicating with the compartment is usually in a comparatively inaccessible place, and that inaccessibility is accentuated by the fact that the garment bag is usually full of clothes and hanging in a closet when replenishment of the mothproofing material is called for. It is an extremely awkward matter indeed to pour mothproofing material into an opening in the top wall of a garment bag hanging in a closet. Thirdly, and to a great extent because the opening communicating with the compartment is so inaccessible, the mothproofing material introduced into the compartment usually cannot be Well distributed therein, but instead tends to accumulate near the filling opening. This not only inhibits the ready passage of mothproofing vapors into the garment bag proper, but also results in excessive deterioration of the material which forms the walls of a compartment at the areas wherethe mothproofing material accumulates.

The present invention has for its prime object the production of a garment bag of the mothproofing type which is both structurally and functionally superior to those of the prior art. In accordance with the present invention the garment bag, which may otherwise be of conventional construction, has a container mounted therein for movement between an operative position substantially completely within the bag proper and a filling position in which it extends out from the bag through an opening in a wall of the bag, the container being supported in its projected filling position. This container is adapted to receive a supply of mothproofing material, and is provided with a filling opening which, when the container is in its projected filling position, is rendered readily accessible from the exterior of the bag, preferably by being positioned well beyond the bag proper. of the container may be projected from the bag in the specific embodiment here disclosed, and consequently the container not only can be readily filled but the moth- Substantially all 5-5 of Fig. 3.

proofing material can readily be substantially uniformly distributed therewithin, and all without in any way disturbing the contents of the bag proper. A subsidiary advantage of the structure here disclosed is that damage to or deterioration of the container which receives the mothproofing material need not affect the use of the remainder of the bag. If the container is faulty or damaged, it may be replaced with a new envelope without involving the remainder of the bag.

In the form here specifically disclosed the garment bag is of the type comprised by a plastic envelope supported and shaped by a rigid top frame. The container within which the mothproofing material is to be received is mounted on a second frame which is in turn secured to the top frame so as to be slidable relative thereto. One of the walls of the envelope which comprises the bag proper has an opening in line with the second frame and the container carried thereby, the container preferably being comparatively thin so that, together with the movable frame on which it is mounted, it may readily pass out through the opening in the garment bag wall and extend out therebeyond for an appreciable distance, still supported by the top frame of the garment bag. In this position the filling opening for the container is exposed for ready access. After the desired amount of mothproofing material has been placed within the container it is slid back into the garment bag, the opening of the garment bag wall through which it had projected is closed, and the garment bag is ready for reuse and is eminently effective to provide protection to its contents.

To the accomplishment of the above, and to such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention shown in projected filling position;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

- Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View taken along the lin 4--4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line The garment bag comprises an envelope generally designated 2 mounted on a rigid top frame generally designated 4, as is conventional. The top frame 4 is formed of suitable rigid material such as wire and comprises sides 6 and ends 8 connected together to define a rectangular shape. A cross bar 10 extends from one side 6 to the other substantially midway between the ends 8, hooks 12 being secured to the cross bar 10 and extending upwardly therefrom. The garments to be stored in the garment bag are adapted to be mounted on hangers hung on the cross bar 10. The envelope 2 may comprise a plurality of sheets of suitable material, such as fabric or vinyl plastic, and includes a top wall 14, side walls 16, end walls 18 and 20 and a bottom wall 22. If desired, a stiffening element of appropriately shaped cardboard or the like may be placed on the bottom wall 22. The hooks 12 extend up through openings 24 in the top wall 14, which openings may be reinforced by means of grommets 26. The end wall 20 has an opening extending along a substantial portion of the height thereof and fitted with a slide fastener 28,- the opening providing access to the inter-ior of the envelope 2 for the insertion or removal of garments. In the form here specifically disclosed the slide fastener 28 does not extend all the way to the top of the end wall 20, but terminates an appreciable distance therebelow, and a substantially horizontally oriented second slide fastener 30 is provided on the upper portion 20a of the end wall 20 close to the top edge thereof and extending. substantially completely thereacross. When the slide fastener 30 is opened, as shown in Fig. 2, an opening is defined through the end wall section 20a;

A second frame generally designated 32 and formed of structural material having appropriate strength is defined by sides 34 and ends 36. The frame 32 has a rectangul-ar configuration and, in the form here specifically disclosed, has a width substantially the same as the width of the top frame 4 but a length somewhat less than half the length of the top frame 4. The frame 32 is positioned substantially in line with the opening in. the end wall section 20a defined by the slide fastener 3t and is slidably mounted on the topframe 4 so as to be movable toward and away from the end wall section 29a, the slidable mounting in the form here specifically disclosed being provided by hooks 38 each of which extends around a side 34 of the second frame 32 and a side 6 of the top frame 4 and is slidable over both sides 34 and 6. Hence the sec-ond frame 32 may be positioned completely inside the envelope 2, as shown in Fig. 3 and the solid lines in Fig. 5, or, when the slide fastener 30 is opened, it may be positioned as shown in Fig. 2 and the broken lines in Fig. 5, extending almost completely out beyond the end wall 20 but nevertheless still supported by the top frame 4.

Secured to the second frame 32 in any appropriate manner is a container generally designated 40. This container may be formed of any suitable material, and preferably one, such as polyethylene, which is resistant to the effects of mothproofing material. It is defined by two sheets 42 and 44 which are stitched together along their sides at 46 and along their ends so as to define a closed container. At least one of the walls 40 or 42, and prefera-bly the bottom wall 40, is so constructed as to be pervious to the vapors emanating from the mothproofing ma-- terial adapted to be inserted into the container 40. Thus small holes 50 (see Fig. may be formed therein. The container 40 may be mounted on the frame 32 by having the extending end portions 52 thereof wrapped around the ends 36 of the frame 32 and then secured in place, either permanently by the stitching 52 or, if desired, readily detachably through the use of snap fasteners or the like. The top wall 44 of the container 40' is provided adjacent its right hand end (the end closest to the end wall 20 of the envelope 2) with an opening provided with a closure such as the slide fastener 56.

When the garment bag of the present invention is to be used it is suspended from a closet pole by means of the hooks 12 with the end wall 20 directed toward the closet door. The slide fastener 28 is opened and the clothes to be stored therein are hung on the cross rod 10, after which the slide fastener 28 is closed. This is all that need be done if the garment bag is to be employed for storage alone.

If mothproofing protection is desired for the contents of the garment bag the slide fastener 30 is opened, that slide fastener being readily exposed and readily accessible. The second frame 32 is grasped through the opening defined by the open slide fastener 3b and is pulled out to its position shown in Fig. 2. Substantially the entire area of the container 40 is then exposed, and the slide fastener 56 on the upper surface thereof is readily accessible, since it will normally extend out well beyond the closet shelf which usually is positioned closely above the closet rod on which the garment bag is hung. The slide fastener 56 is opened and a supply of mothproofing material may then readily be introduced into the container 40 through that opening, without interference by the closet shelf or by anything else which may be positioned above the garment bag. Since substantially the entire area of the container 40 projects beyond the end wall 20 of the garment bag, the mothproofing material introduced into the container 40 may be manually distributed in a uniform manner through its interior. The slide fastener 56 is closed, the frame 32 is slid back into the envelope 2, the slide fastener 30 is closed, and thus a supply of mothproofing material has been introduced into the garment bag, the fumes from that material readily passing through the holes 50 to the interior of the envelope 2 thus providing effective mothproofing protection for the contents of the garment bag.

When the mothproofiing material in the container 40 has become exhausted, a new supply may be placed therein in the manner above described. It will be noted that it is a very simple matter for the housewife to determine the status of the mothproofing material within the container 40. All she need do is pull out the frame 32 and examine the container 40, which is usually formed at least in part of transparent or translucent material so that the amount of mothproofing material therewithin may be visually determined.

If the material of which the container 40 is formed should deteriorate .or become damaged, whether because of its intimate contact with the mothproofing material or for any other reason, the damaged container 40 may readily be removed from the frame 32. and a new container 4i) placed therein, without having to destroy or modify the remainder of. the garment bag construction.

The structure of the present invention it will be seen, is quite simple and very readily assembled. The cost of garment bags thus constructed is no greater, and may even be less than, mothproofing garment bags of prior art constructions, yet functionally and operationally the garment bag of the present invention is eminently superior to prior art constructions, as will be apparent from the above description.

While the present invention has been here disclosed and described as designed specifically for use with mothproofing materials, such as paradichlorobenzene, it will be apparent that it is also adapted for use with specifically different materials such as, merely by way of example, sachets or the like. While but a single embodiment of the present invention has been here disclosed, it will further be apparent that many variations may be made in the specific construction thereof, all within the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A garment bag comprising a top frame, a flexible envelope mounted on said frame and adapted to receive garments or the like, said envelope having an opening on a side thereof substantially opposite and in line with an end of said frame, a second frame slidably mounted on said top frame in line with said opening and movable toward and away from said end of said top frame between a filling position at least partially extending out through said opening beyond said side of said envelope and an operative position substantially totally within said envelope, and a container adapted to receive a supply of mothproofing material or the like carried by and movable with said second frame, said container having a closeable filling opening exposed for access when said second frame is in filling position.

2. In the garment bag of claim I, slide fastener means for closing said envelope opening when said container is in its operative position.

3. The garment bag of claim 1, in which said second frame is non-detachable with respect to said top frame.

4. In the garment bag of claim I, slide fastener means for closing said envelope opening when said container is in its operative position, said second frame being nondetachable with respect to said top frame.

5. A garment bag comprising a top frame, a flexible envelope mounted on said frame and adapted to receive garments or the like, said envelope having an opening on a side thereof substantially opposite and in line with an end of said frame, a second frame slidably mounted on said top frame in line with said opening and movable toward and away from said end of said top frame between a filling position at least partially extending out through said opening beyond said side of said envelope and an operative position substantially totally within said envelope, and a container adapted to receive a supply of mothproofing material or the like carried by and movable with said second frame, said container having a closeable filling opening positioned beyond said side of said envelope when said second frame is in filling position.

6. In the garment bag of claim 5, slide fastener means for closing said envelope opening when said container is in its operative position.

7.The garment bag of claim 5, in which said second frame is non-detachable with respect to said top frame.

8. In the garment bag of claim 5, slide fastener means for closing said envelope opening when said container is in its operative position, said second frame being nondetachable with respect to said top frame.

9. A garment bag comprising a skeleton top frame having rail-like sides, a flexible envelope mounted on said frame and adapted to receive garments or the like, said envelope having an opening on a side thereof substantially opposite and in line with an end of said frame, a second skeleton frame having rail-like sides, links connecting said second frame sides to said top frame sides and slidable relative thereto, said second frame being supported by said links in line with said opening and movable toward and away from said end of said top frame between a filling position at least partially extending out through said opening beyond said side of said envelope and an operative position substantially totally within said envelope, and a container adapted to receive a supply of mothproofing material or the like carried by and movable with said second frame, said container having a closeable filling opening exposed for access when said second frame is in filling position.

10. A garment bag comprising a skeleton top frame having rail-like sides, a flexible envelope mounted on said frame and adapted to receive garments or the like, said envelope having an opening on a side thereof substantially opposite and in line with an end of said frame, a second skeleton frame having rail-like sides, links looped about and connecting said second frame sides to said top frame sides and slidable relative thereto, said second frame being supported by said links in line with said opening and movable toward and away from said end of said top frame between a filling position at least partially extending out through said opening beyond said side of said envelope and an operative position substantially totally within said envelope, and a container adapted to receive a supply of mothproofing material or the like carried by and movable with said second frame, said container having a cl'oseable filling opening exposed for access when said second frame is in filling position.

11. A garment bag comprising a skeleton top frame having rail-like sides, a flexible envelope mounted on said frame and adapted to receive garments or the like, said envelope having an opening on a side thereof substantially opposite and in line with an end of said frame, a second skeleton frame having rail-like sides, links connecting said second frame sides to said top frame sides and slidable relative thereto, said second frame being supported by said links in line with said opening and movable toward and away from said end of said top frame between a filling position at least partially extending out through said opening beyond said side of said envelope and an operative position substantially totally within said envelope, and a container adapted to receive a supply of mothproofing material or the like carried by the ends of said second frame and movable therewith, said container having a closeable filling opening exposed for access when said second frame is in filling position.

12. A garment bag comprising a skeleton top frame having rail-like sides, a flexible envelope mounted on said frame and adapted to receive garments or the like, said envelope having an opening on a side thereof substantially opposite and in line with an end of said frame, a second skeleton frame having rail-like sides, links looped about and connecting said second frame sides to said top frame sides and slidable relative thereto, said second frame being supported by said links in line with said opening and movable toward and away from said end of said top frame between a filling position at least partially extending out through said opening beyond said side of said envelope and an operative position substantially totally within said envelope, and a container adapted to receive a supply of mothproofing material or the like carried by and movable therewith, said container having a closeable filling opening exposed for access when said second frame is in filling position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 493,347 Alford Mar. 14, 1893 512,122 Rich Jan. 2, 1894 1,954,577 Reddin Apr. 10, 1934 2,591,277 Mintz Apr. 1, 1952

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