Patent Publication Number: US-2022228313-A1

Title: Accessories and outfit retainer system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 63/199,688, filed Jan. 18, 2021, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to keeping accessories and outfits together. The invention hangs on the hanger and is washable, keeping accessories easy to wash and keep organized. 
     Various accessories are commonly provided to form an entire clothing outfit. An example of this is but is not limited to a baby outfit that has a onesie with a hat, mittens, and socks which form accessories associated with the onesie. These accessories are prone to get lost when separated from the outfit, resulting in an incomplete outfit. Thus, a user is forced to either use an incomplete outfit, mix and match accessories, or purchase an entirely new outfit again. 
     Prior to the present invention, there was nothing to keep accessories and outfits together. Conventional devices do not attach to a closet clothes hanger. These devices often go over the hanger and/or around the outfit, but not on it. They also do not hold the accessories to the outfit with ease. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for a washable bag for retaining accessories that a user can easily hang on a clothes hanger. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a retainer system includes: a clothes hanger; a clothes outfit hung on the clothes hanger; and an accessories retainer supported by one of the clothes hanger or the clothes outfit and further comprising: a bag defining a top end and a bottom end, the bag being configured to retain accessories of a clothes outfit; a zippered opening provided proximal the bottom end; and a hole defined proximal the top end of the bag, the hole being configured to receive one of a hook of the clothes hanger, a button of the clothes outfit, or a string of the clothes outfit to retain the accessories retainer on the clothes hanger or the clothes outfit. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method of retaining one or more accessory of a clothes outfit includes the steps of: providing a clothes hanger; hanging a clothes outfit on the clothes hanger; and supporting an accessories retainer by one of the clothes hanger or the clothes outfit, the accessories retainer including: a bag defining a top end and a bottom end, the bag being configured to retain accessories of a clothes outfit; a zippered opening provided proximal the bottom end; and a hole defined proximal the top end of the bag, the hole being configured to receive one of a hook of the clothes hanger, a button of the clothes outfit, or a string of the clothes outfit to retain the accessories retainer on the clothes hanger or the clothes outfit. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description, and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following figures are included to illustrate certain aspects of the present disclosure and should not be viewed as exclusive embodiments. The subject matter disclosed is capable of considerable modifications, alterations, combinations, and equivalents in form and function, without departing from the scope of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an embodiment of the present, shown in use; 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a section view taken along  4 - 4  in  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a section view, similar to  FIG. 4 , shown with an exemplary accessory disposed in the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject disclosure is described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure such that one skilled in the art will be enabled to make and use the present invention. It may be evident, however, that the present disclosure may be practiced without some of these specific details. 
     Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an accessories retainer comprising: a mesh bag defining a top end and a bottom end, the mesh bag being configured to retain accessories of a clothes outfit; a zippered opening disposed at the bottom end; and a hole defined at the top end of the mesh bag. Further, an accessories and outfit retainer system may include, in certain embodiments: a clothes outfit hung on a clothes hanger and the accessories retainer as described above. The hole of the accessories retainer may have a hook of the clothes hanger, a button of the clothes outfit, or a string of the clothes outfit inserted through it to secure the accessories retainer to the clothes hanger or clothes outfit. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a user may put all their accessories, whether they are washable or not, into a mesh bag and keep with an outfit, corresponding to the accessories, on a hanger. The present invention is a superior solution to the prior art because embodiments of the present invention may hang on a closet hanger. 
     Besides the present invention, nothing currently exists that will go on a closet hanger. The mesh bag makes organizing easy and keeps things together straight from the wash to the closet hanger. All elements, unless otherwise noted, are critical aspects of the present invention. If one component is left out, a user would not be able to add items to the bag or hang the bag properly. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5 , numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the present invention has not been described in detail so that the present invention is not unnecessarily obscured. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , a mesh bag  10  is provided to hold various accessories  22  and withstand the washer, dryer, and dishwasher. The mesh bag  10  may be formed from fabric or any other appropriate material, provided that it can withstand a washing and drying cycle. In certain embodiments, the bag  10  may be formed as two mesh panels coupled together at edges  16 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , a zippered opening  12  is integrated proximal the bottom edge of the mesh bag  10 . Further, a small hole (reinforced, optionally, by a grommet  14 ) is defined at an upper portion of the mesh bag  10 . In certain embodiments, as opposed to a cylindrical opening, the hole may be a slit that is approximately 1 inch in length. This opening may be provided on a tab portion  18  of the bag  10 , providing greater structural rigidity. The zippered opening  12  may be similarly provided such that it can effectively and reliably open and close. Those with skill in the art will appreciate that other configurations of the hole may be employed, such that the same functionality is achieved. In certain embodiments, the present invention&#39;s mesh bag may consist of these three components (bag  10 , zippered opening  12 , and upper hole). 
     Because, in preferred embodiments, mesh fabric for the bag  10  is used, cleaning it in a washer and dryer is safe and easy. The zippered opening (selectively exposable via the zipper  12 ) allows a user to add and remove accessories  22  to the mesh bag, as shown in  FIG. 5 . Further, the hole (defined by the grommet  14  in  FIGS. 2-3 ) located on the opposite, top side of the mesh bag  10  allows a user to hang the bag  10  on a clothes hanger  20  with the outfit and keep the items you want together. As would be readily apparent to those with skill in the art, the hole may also be used to attached to a garment button or garment string, rather than a clothes hanger. Advantageously, in embodiments where the bag  10  is hung on a coat hanger, because of the central location of the upper hole, the bag  10  mounts to the coat hanger  22  symmetrically (rather than hanging off to the side). Using the teachings of the present invention, a user could form a small hole in a lingerie bag to make it hang on a clothes hanger similar to the present invention. 
     A method of making the present invention may include the following. First, the mesh fabric is cut to pattern. Then, a zipper is added to one side of the mesh. Next, a piece of the zippered mesh and a non-zippered mesh are sewn together at the edges. Finally, small hole is formed in the mesh fabric at an opposite end of the zipper. To use embodiments of the present invention, a user simply adds the accessories to the bag, and hangs with the desired outfit on a hanger or hangs the bag on a portion of the outfit. 
     While one or more preferred embodiments are disclosed, many other implementations will occur to one of ordinary skill in the art and are all within the scope of the invention. Each of the various embodiments described above may be combined with other described embodiments in order to provide multiple features. Furthermore, while the foregoing describes a number of separate embodiments of the apparatus and method of the present invention, what has been described herein is merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Other arrangements, methods, modifications, and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are therefore also considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the claims that follow. 
     While apparatuses and methods are described in terms of “comprising,” “containing,” or “including” various components or steps, the apparatuses and methods can also “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the various components and steps. Moreover, the indefinite articles “a” or “an,” as used in the claims, are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the elements that it introduces. If there is any conflict in the usages of a word or term in this specification and one or more patent or other documents that may be incorporated herein by reference, the definitions that are consistent with this specification should be adopted. Moreover, the use of directional terms such as above, below, upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, and the like are used in relation to the illustrative embodiments as they are depicted in the figures, the upward or upper direction being toward the top of the corresponding figure and the downward or lower direction being toward the bottom of the corresponding figure. 
     As used herein, the phrase “at least one of” preceding a series of items, with the terms “and” or “or” to separate any of the items, modifies the list as a whole, rather than each member of the list (i.e., each item). The phrase “at least one of” allows a meaning that includes at least one of any one of the items, and/or at least one of any combination of the items, and/or at least one of each of the items. By way of example, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C” or “at least one of A, B, or C” each refer to only A, only B, or only C; any combination of A, B, and C; and/or at least one of each of A, B, and C.