US 5,180,057 A · Expandable garment bag and hanger bar therefor

Abstract

Past garment bags have included expansion features such as a peripheral zipper in the rail portion to permit the garment bag to expand to accommodate a greater number of clothes. A hanger bar for supporting clothes on hangers has also been provided which has a collapsed condition for supporting few hangers, and an expanded condition for supporting a greater number of hangers corresponding to the expanded condition of the garment bag in which the hanger bar is suspended. Such hanger bars have failed to include an effective means for holding the hooked portions of ordinary closet-type hangers in either the collapsed or expanded condition of the hanger bar. Disclosed is such a garment bag with a hanger bar having hanger retaining means which is effective whether the hanger bar has a shortened length corresponding to the collapsed condition of the garment bag or a lengthened condition corresponding to an expanded condition of the garment bag. In particular, an L-shaped retainer is carried by a first telescoping section of the hanger bar and operates simultaneously to keep hangers from falling off the front end of the hanger bar and from being dislodged upwardly away from the hanger bar.

Claims14

Dependent claims

In a luggage case of the type used to hold garments on hangers, said luggage case including a device for suspending the hangers by engaging the hooked portions thereof, the improvement comprising

a) said device for suspending including
i) bar means over which the hooked portions of hangers may be positioned, said bar means defining a first length from which at least one of said garments on hangers may be hung,
ii) means positioned above said bar means for retaining said hooked portions on said bar means,
iii) means for lengthening said bar means beyond said first length to a second length whereby a greater number of garments on hangers may be accommodated thereon, and
iv) means, carried by said bar means for locking said bar means when it is in said first length and said second length.

2 more elements

A device for suspending garments on hangers within a garment bag comprising

a) means for fastening said device in an upper portion of said garment bag,
b) bar means over which the hooked portions of hangers may be positioned, said bar means defining a first length from which at least one of said garments on hangers may be hung,
c) means for lengthening said bar means beyond said first length to a second length whereby a greater number of garments on hangers may be accommodated thereon,
d) means for locking said bar means in said first length or said second length,
e) means for retaining said hooked portions on said bar means, said means for retaining positioned above said bar means,
wherein said bar means comprises a first telescoping section fixed to said means for fastening, and a second telescoping section axially mounted to said first section for movement relative to said first telescoping section along the axis thereof, said second telescoping section carrying said means for retaining said hooked portion on said bar means.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Expandable garment bag and hanger bar therefor

Life of this patent

Expandable garment bag and hanger bar therefor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14