Collapsible travel bag for displaying and holding a shirt

Abstract

A collapsible bag for displaying and holding an item includes a plurality of panels attached to one another to define an interior in which the item is disposed. The panels are formed of a fabric material except for a top panel that is formed of a transparent, flexible plastic material to permit viewing of the item. The plurality of panels define side walls and a first end wall that are foldable along fold lines so as to cause each side and end wall to fold over itself resulting in the bag collapsing when the interior is empty. The plurality of panels further includes a selectively openable second end panel though which the interior is accessible when the second end panel is opened.

1 . A collapsible bag for displaying and holding one or more shirts comprising:
 a plurality of panels attached to one another to define an interior for receiving and containing the one or more shirts, wherein the panels are formed of a fabric material except for a top panel that is formed of a transparent, flexible plastic material, the plurality of panels defining side walls that are foldable along fold lines so as to permit the bag to collapse when the interior is empty.   
   
   
       2 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panels includes a bottom panel, a side and end panel that defines the side walls and one end wall and a second end wall that is selectively openable to provide access to the interior of the bag. 
   
   
       3 . The bag of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom panel, side and end panel and the second end panel are all formed of a non-woven fabric material. 
   
   
       4 . The bag of  claim 3 , wherein the fabric material is a non-woven synthetic material. 
   
   
       5 . The bag of  claim 2 , wherein the side and end panel is a single elongated fabric strip that extends a partial length of each side of the bag and extends the complete width of one end of the bag, one edge of the side and end panel being attached to a peripheral edge of the top panel, while another edge of the side and end panel is attached to a peripheral edge of the bottom panel. 
   
   
       6 . The bag of  claim 5 , wherein the one edge is attached using a first connecting fabric strip that is folded over and stitched to the top panel and to the one edge of the side and end panel, the other edge is attached using a second connecting fabric strip that is folded over and is stitched to the bottom panel and to other edge of the side and end panel. 
   
   
       7 . The bag of  claim 5 , wherein the side and end panel has a first fold line that is parallel to the one edge and the other edge and is formed so that an upper section of the side and end panel folds over a lower section of the side and end panel so as to cause the side and end panel to fold inwardly into the interior of the bag. 
   
   
       8 . The bag of  claim 5 , wherein two corners of the bag that are defined by the side and end panel have fold lines that cause the corners to fold in an accordion manner when the two side walls are folded to collapse the bag. 
   
   
       9 . The bag of  claim 2 , wherein when the bag is collapsed, the side and end panel folds inwardly into the interior such that the fold lines of the side and end panel are visible through the transparent top panel. 
   
   
       10 . The bag of  claim 2 , wherein the second end panel includes a fastening device that extends thereacross such that when the fastening device is in an open position, the interior of the bag is accessible and when the fastening device is in a closed position, the interior of the bag is closed off. 
   
   
       11 . The bag of  claim 10 , wherein the fastening device comprises a zipper and the second end panel includes a first section and a second section, the first section being attached at its ends to the two opposite ends of the side and end panel and is also attached along one edge to the top panel, the second section being attached at its ends to the two opposite ends of the side and end panel and is also attached long one edges to the bottom panel. 
   
   
       12 . The bag of  claim 11 , wherein when the bag is collapsed, the first and second sections protrude outwardly beyond ends of the top panel and the bottom panel, with the zipper defining one end of the collapsed bag. 
   
   
       13 . The bag of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom panel has an opening formed therethrough to permit a consumer, at a point of purchase, to touch the one or more shirts disposed within the interior. 
   
   
       14 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the top panel is formed of a vinyl material. 
   
   
       15 . A collapsible bag for displaying and holding an item comprising:
 a plurality of panels attached to one another to define an interior for receiving and containing the item, wherein the panels are formed of a fabric material except for a top panel that is formed of a transparent, flexible plastic material to permit viewing of the item, the plurality of panels defining side walls and a first end wall that are foldable along fold lines so as to cause each side and end wall to fold over itself and inwardly into the interior resulting in the bag collapsing when the interior is empty, the plurality of panels further including a selectively openable second end panel though which the interior is accessible when the second end panel is opened.   
   
   
       16 . The bag of  claim 15 , wherein the fabric material is a non-woven synthetic material and the transparent plastic material comprises a vinyl material. 
   
   
       17 . The bag of  claim 15 , wherein the panels defining the side walls and the first end wall fold inwardly such that an upper section of each panel is folded at the fold line over a lower section thereof to cause a peripheral edge of the top panel to overlie a peripheral edge of bottom panel. 
   
   
       18 . The bag of  claim 15 , wherein the item is selected from a group consisting of a single shirt, a two shirt combination, a tuxedo set including a tuxedo shirt, bow tie and cummerbund, a shirt set including a shirt and a tie and optionally a hanky and cufflinks. 
   
   
       19 . The bag of  claim 15 , further including a first fabric connecting strip that is folded over itself and attached to a peripheral edge of the top panel and the panels defining the side walls and ends walls of the bag and a second fabric connecting strip that is folded over itself and attached to a peripheral edge of the bottom panel the panels defining the side walls and ends walls. 
   
   
       20 . A collapsible bag for displaying and holding one or more shirts comprising:
 a plurality of panels formed of a plastic material and including a top panel, bottom panel, two side panels, a first end panel and an end flap opposite the first end panel and integrally attached to the top panel, the panels being attached to one another so as to define an interior, the end flap being foldable over and onto an underside of the bottom panel so as to close off an end of the bag opposite the first end panel;   a support substrate disposed within the interior for supporting the one or more shirts; and   a fastener for securely yet releasably attaching the end flap to the bottom panel.   
   
   
       21 . The bag of  claim 20 , wherein the plastic material comprises a transparent vinyl material and the support substrate is formed of a plastic material and is a planar substrate. 
   
   
       22 . The bag of  claim 20 , wherein the fastener comprises a snap button with a base portion being attached to bottom panel and a button cap being attached to the end flap. 
   
   
       23 . A collapsible bag for displaying and holding an item comprising:
 a plurality of panels attached to one another to define an interior for receiving and containing the item, wherein the panels are formed of a fabric material except for a top panel that is formed of a transparent, flexible plastic material to permit viewing of the item, the plurality of panels including a first panel that defines side walls and a first end wall of the bag, the first panel having one or more fold lines to cause each side wall and end wall to fold over itself resulting in the bag collapsing when the interior is empty, the plurality of panels further including a selectively openable second end panel though which the interior is accessible when the second end panel is opened, the second end panel at least partially extending along and defining the sides of the bag and being attached to free ends of the first panel along the sides of the bag.