Abstract:
A garment bag is disclosed which is flexible and includes a suitable form of stiffened rear wall and/or frame. The garment bag incorporates a frame extension forming a stabilizer which increases the footprint of the bag when folded to provide a support base.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to garment bags, and more particularly to flexible or soft garment bags, typically without a perimeter zipper closure to connect various folded sections, which may include a suitable form of stiffened rear wall and/or frame. It particularly relates to an improved form of garment bag incorporating a frame extension forming a stabilizer which increases the footprint of the bag when the bag is folded and to provide a support base for the folded section of the bag.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Various forms of garment bags have been manufactured and used for years, and are very familiar to travelers. The typical bag can be hung or held vertically, and can be folded transversely between the ends of the bag either as a double fold or a tri-fold, and then carried by a handle like a suitcase. The inside of a bag of this type usually includes an upper hanger bracket onto which a coat hanger can be attached, and garment bags of this type are designed and configured to hold one or more suits, dresses or the like. Various internal and external pockets having suitable closures, such as zippers, are provided for holding accessory items such as underwear, socks, toiletries and the like. Some bags of this type include wheels and an extendable handle to allow the bag to be pulled or rolled much like a “roll-on” bag.  
         [0003]     One of the problems with many foldable garment bags is that the outer folded section of the bag lacks stability, and in the case of many bags with wheels this outer section may drag on the ground or other surface, thereby impeding mobility with the bag and increasing wear on the bag at this section.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention provides a solution to the stability problem of bags, particularly those without perimeter zipper, by incorporating an extension forming a stabilizer at the base of the folded bag which increases the footprint and provides a support base for the folded section or sections. Preferably, the stabilizer comprises an extension of a lower internal frame member of the bag to which the wheels usually are mounted although the stabilizer can be a separate piece.  
         [0005]     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved garment bag.  
         [0006]     The features and advantages of the present invention will become better understood through consideration of the following description and drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wheeled and flexible garment bag of the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a further perspective view of the bag illustrating a frame extension providing a stabilizer at the lower or wheel end of the bag;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view particularly of the inside and ends of the garment bag and further illustrating the extended stabilizer;  
         [0010]      FIGS. 4A-4   c  are diagrammatic illustrations of a conventional bi-fold or tri-fold garment bag of the prior art, and  FIGS. 4D-4E  are similar illustrations of a bag with a perimeter zipper;  
         [0011]      FIGS. 5A-5   c  are similar diagrammatic illustrations but of the present bag including the stabilizer; and  
         [0012]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate examples of both internal L-shaped and U-shaped frames of the present garment bag. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     Turning now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a garment bag  10  according to the present invention typically formed of ballistic nylon or other suitable material. The bag  10  includes wheels  12  and  13  and a handle  15  for enabling the garment bag to be rolled on the wheels when the bag is folded as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . A U-shaped handle  16  also is provided to enable the bag to be carried like a suitcase. The bag  10  has a typical elongated shape as best seen in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0014]     A tri-fold bag is illustrated, but the present concepts are equally applicable to other types of foldable garment bags such as bi-fold, and can be applied to bags with a perimeter zipper  70  as shown in  FIGS. 4D and 4E .  
         [0015]     Importantly, the bag includes a stabilizer  18  as best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3  and which comprises an extension of a lower box-like internal frame  20  as shown in  FIG. 6  or  7  which is sewn into the end  40  of the bag.  
         [0016]     In order to better understand the present inventive bag, reference is now made to  FIGS. 4 and 5 .  FIG. 4A  illustrates a conventional prior art garment bag including a pair of wheels, only wheel  24  being seen in  FIG. 4 , and an extendable handle assembly  26  for allowing the wheeled bag to be rolled, as well as a U-shaped handle  28  to allow the bag to be carried like a suitcase. Usual closure straps and quick-release hardware  29  are provided to hold the folded sections together.  
         [0017]     With this type of bag  22 , an outer fold section  30  tends to hang down vertically such that the lower end  32  thereof may drag thereby impeding transport of the bag via the wheels as well as adding wear to the bag. The bags of this type lack stability of the outer section  30  because of the absence of a solid interconnected wheel base to stabilize the bag when standing alone as is required for usability.  
         [0018]     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , the same diagrammatically illustrates the current garment bag  10  and either as a bi-fold bag in  FIG. 5B  or as a tri-fold bag in  FIG. 5   c . Here, the outer fold section  30   a  and its lower end  32   a  are supported on top of the stabilizer  18 . Thus, the extension forming the stabilizer  18  increases the “footprint” of the bag and provides a support base during transport for the outer fold section or sections of the bag. It is not necessary to include internal stiffening at  32   a , because stabilizer  18  acts as a shelf to restrain  30  as along as buckle  29  holds the front section  30  in position above the stabilizer  18 .  
         [0019]     Turning again to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , these Figures illustrate diagrammatic perspective views of two types of internal frames  20  and  20   a . The internal frame is provided at the end  40  of the bag as seen in  FIG. 3  (which is the usual end that may be hung vertically from a hook in a closet or the like). This internal frame provides a rigid support base  21  and sides  22  for the wheels  12  and  13  at locations  42 - 43  in  FIG. 6  or  42   a - 43   a  in  FIG. 7 , as well as tubes or other supports  46 - 47  or  46   a - 47   a  of respective  FIGS. 6 and 7  on the backside  50  or cross-brace of the frames  20  and  20   a . The frames can be a single component or formed of multiple components. Also, the stabilizer can be supported by and affixed to tubes  46  and  47  acting as a frame.  
         [0020]     Turning again to  FIGS. 1-3 , preferably the stabilizer  18  includes a pair of feet  18   a  and  18   b , and the frame  20  can include an extension  50  with a hook  51   a . Conventional closure straps and quick-release hardware  60  and  62  are provided on the sides of the bag as are conventionally provided for holding folded bag sections together. Various pockets  66 - 71  typically also are provided in garment bags of this nature.  
         [0021]     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific examples thereof have been shown in the drawings and described herein in detail. However, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the particular form or structure disclosed, but to the contrary the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.