Temporary storage sleeve for articles of clothing

Abstract

A temporary storage sleeve for holding an article of clothing comprising a front wait and a generally parallel back wall. The front wall and the back wall are spaced at a distance and interconnected along at least two edges forming a first side wall and a second side wall. The sleeve is open along at least two edges. The sleeve further comprises a releasable closure mechanism for securing the first wall relative to the back wall and at least partially occluding at least one of the at least two openings. One of the side walls includes at least one pleat, the pleat movable to an extended configuration greater than the spaced distance.

1 . A temporary storage sleeve for holding an article of clothing comprising:
 a front wall and a generally parallel back wall, the front wall and the back wall at a spaced distance and interconnected along at least two edges forming a first side wall and a second side wall and open along at least two edges;   a first releasable closure mechanism for securing the front wall relative to the back wall and at least partially occluding at least one of the at least two openings, wherein the first side wall includes at least one pleat, the pleat movable to an extended configuration greater than the spaced distance.   
   
   
       2 . The temporary storage sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the pleat expands to a maximum of 6½ inches. 
   
   
       3 . The temporary storage sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the spaced distance of the front wall and the back wall is equal to the width of the second side wall. 
   
   
       4 . The temporary storage sleeve of  claim 1  further comprising a lateral seal to interconnect the front wall and the back wall along one of the at least two edges that form the first side wall and the second sidewall. 
   
   
       5 . The temporary storage sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve is formed from thermoplastic material and is heat sealed to couple one of the at least two edges that form the first side wall and the second side wall. 
   
   
       6 . The temporary storage sleeve of  claim 1  further comprising a second releasable closure mechanism for securing the front wall relative to the back wall. 
   
   
       7 . The temporary storage sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the releasable closure mechanism comprises a tongue-and-groove closure mechanism affixed to one of the open edges. 
   
   
       8 . The temporary storage sleeve of  claim 6  wherein the first and second releasable closure mechanism comprises a tongue-and-groove closure mechanism affixed to one of the open edges. 
   
   
       9 . The temporary storage sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the first releasable closure mechanism comprises a tab affixed to at least a portion of one of the open edges and having a flap for coupling the tab to the back wall and at least one vertical fold line corresponding to the at least the portion of one of the open edges. 
   
   
       10 . The temporary storage sleeve of  claim 9  wherein the flap further comprises a snap for coupling the tab to the back wall. 
   
   
       11 . The temporary storage sleeve of  claim 9  wherein the flap further comprises an adhesive for coupling the tab to the back wall. 
   
   
       12 . The temporary storage sleeve of  claim 9  wherein the flap further comprises a hook and loop fastener for coupling the tab to the back wall. 
   
   
       13 . The temporary storage sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the first releasable closure mechanisms comprises a tab integrally connected with a portion of the back wall and having a flap for coupling the tab to the back wall and at least one vertical fold line corresponding to the portion of the back wall. 
   
   
       14 . The temporary storage sleeve of  claim 13  wherein the flap further comprises a snap for coupling the tab to the back wall. 
   
   
       15 . The temporary storage sleeve of  claim 13  wherein the flap further comprises an adhesive for coupling the tab to the back wall. 
   
   
       16 . The temporary storage sleeve of  claim 13  wherein the flap further comprises a hook and loop fastener for coupling the tab to the back wall. 
   
   
       17 . The temporary storage sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve is formed from polyethylene. 
   
   
       18 . The temporary storage sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve is formed from polypropylene. 
   
   
       19 . A method of temporarily storing an article of clothing comprising:
 opening at least two edges of a sleeve having a front wall and a generally parallel back wall the front wall and the back wall at a spaced distance and interconnected along at least two edges forming a first side wall and a second side wall;   disposing the article of clothing within the sleeve;   expanding the first side wall to accommodate the article of clothing; and   fastening a releasable closure mechanism to secure the first wall relative to the back wall and at least partially occluding at least one of the at least two open edges.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising expanding the second side wall to accommodate the article of clothing. 
   
   
       21 . A method of making a plurality of storage sleeves for temporarily storing an article of clothing comprising:
 longitudinally folding a continuous sheet of flexible material to form a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall and an open edge;   inserting at least one crease into the longitudinal fold to form a pleat along the first side wall;   placing a plurality of lateral seals along the front wall and back wall, each seal forming a second side wall;   perforating the front wall and back wall to form a plurality of perforated lines parallel to each lateral seal; and   forming a tab below each perforated line, wherein each tab is arranged to at least partially occlude the open edge.   
   
   
       22 . The method of making a plurality of storage sleeves of  claim 21  wherein the step of forming a tab below each perforated line includes affixing separate tabs to the back wall. 
   
   
       23 . The method of making a plurality of storage sleeves of  claim 21  wherein the step of forming a tab below each perforated line includes forming integrally connected tabs along the back wall. 
   
   
       24 . The method of making a plurality of storage sleeves of  claim 21  wherein the step of placing a plurality of lateral seals along the front wall and back wall includes forming lateral heat seals. 
   
   
       25 . The method of making a plurality of storage sleeves of  claim 21  further comprising:
 forming a flap along each tab, each flap being arranged to at least partially occlude an opening formed by separating one of the perforated lines.