Combination garment bag, hamper, and duffle bag

Abstract

The present device is a reusable bag for laundry and laundry hangers. The reusable bag includes an enclosure made from a flexible web material having an open end and a closed end. The open end has a closure means, while the closed end includes an aperture adapted to receive a portion of each laundry hanger therethrough. With the open end of the enclosure facing upward in a hamper configuration, dirty laundry may be collected and, when the bag is full, the open end of the enclosure may be selectively closed with the closure means. The reusable bag may be transported to a laundry cleaning facility by carrying with a handle strap, and returned with clean laundry hanging on the laundry hangers inside the enclosure. The closed end of the enclosure may be facing upward in a garment bag configuration for protecting the clean laundry.

1 . A reusable bag for laundry and laundry hangers, comprising:
 an enclosure made from a flexible, water resistant web material and having an open end and a closed end, the open end having a closure means, the closure means includes a hem around the open end of the enclosure through which a selectively cinchable drawstring is slidably enclosed, the closed end of the enclosure including an aperture adapted to receive a portion of each laundry hanger therethrough, the enclosure including an inside surface and an outside surface; and   at least one shoulder strap for facilitating carrying of the bag, the shoulder strap fixed at one end of the outside surface of the bag, proximate the closed end of the enclosure, and at another end to the outside surface of the bag, proximate the open end of the enclosure;   wherein the enclosure comprises a front sheet of the flexible web material, a back sheet of the flexible web material, and a gusset sheet of the flexible web material, a peripheral edge of the gusset sheet sewn at least partially to each of the front and back sheets to form the enclosure, the gusset sheet forming a peripheral edge thereof;   whereby with the open end of the enclosure facing upward in a hamper configuration, dirty laundry may be collected and, when the bag is full, the open end of the enclosure may be selectively closed with the closure means, transported to a laundry cleaning facility by carrying with the shoulder strap, and returned with clean laundry hanging on the laundry hangers inside the enclosure, the enclosure and clean laundry suspendable and transportable on a dry-cleaning conveyor system, each hanger traversing the aperture in the closed end of the enclosure, the closed end of the enclosure facing upward in a garment bag configuration for protecting the clean laundry.   
     
     
         2 . The reusable bag of  claim 1  wherein the flexible web material is an air-permeable polypropylene material. 
     
     
         3 . The reusable bag of  claim 1  wherein the flexible web material is an air-permeable cotton web material. 
     
     
         4 . The reusable bag of  claim 1  wherein the flexible web material is an air-permeable linen web material. 
     
     
         5 . The reusable bag of  claim 1  wherein the flexible web material is a polyester material. 
     
     
         6 . The reusable bag of  claim 1  wherein the flexible web material is a non-woven nylon material. 
     
     
         7 . The reusable bag of  claim 1  further including a selectively closable pocket fixed to the outside surface of the enclosure. 
     
     
         8 . The reusable bag of  claim 1  further including at least one handle strap affixed on a back sheet of the bag, proximate the open end, running substantially parallel to the opening, the at least one handle strap centrally disposed between sides of the back sheet; 
     
     
         9 . The reusable bag of  claim 8  wherein the at least one handle strap includes a pair of handle straps, one each proximate the closed and open ends of the enclosure. 
     
     
         10 . The reusable bag of  claim 1  wherein the enclosure further includes a peripheral edge portion that includes a zipper adapted to facilitate insertion of clean laundry into the enclosure when the bag is in the garment bag configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The reusable bag of  claim 1  wherein the enclosure is divided into a dirty laundry compartment and a clean laundry compartment by a central sheet of the flexible web material sewn to the gusset sheet, the dirty laundry compartment including the hem and the closure means, the clean laundry compartment closed at both ends and including a zipper in the peripheral edge thereof adapted to facilitate insertion of clean laundry into the clean laundry enclosure when the bag is in the garment bag configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The reusable bag of  claim 1  further including a hamper frame selectively attachable proximate the open end of the enclosure, the frame adapted to support the enclosure on a ground surface in the hamper configuration with the open end of the bag open. 
     
     
         13 . The reusable bag of  claim 1  further including a laundry hanger retaining means fixed to the inside surface of the enclosure. 
     
     
         14 . The reusable bag of  claim 13  wherein the laundry hanger retaining means is a strap fixed, at either end thereof to the inside surface of the enclosure, whereby a plurality of the hangers may be looped around the strap for retention thereof inside the enclosure.