Garment Bag System and Methods of Use

Abstract

The present invention includes methods and apparatus in which a reusable bag is provided for the collection and return of soiled garments, laundry and/or other clothing items. The bag may be provided in the form of a hamper that is open at the top, with one or more hooks that allow the bag to be hung from a clothing rod, a central opening at the bottom of the bag, and a pair of skirts on the sides of the bag. When the bag is inverted, clean garments on hangers may be inserted into the bag with the hanger hooks extending through the central opening, with the skirts dangling from the sides of the bag thereby providing protection to the lower portions of the garments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bag for transporting garments comprising:
 a pair of oppositely positioned side panels joined together forming said bag, said bag being open at an upper end, and having a bottom end with a central opening on a portion thereof for receiving at least one hanger hook when said bag is inverted, and having an interior and an exterior;   a pair of hanger hooks, one provided on each panel of said side panels at said upper end; and   a pair of skirts, each skirt being attached to one of said side panels near said upper end such that said skirts dangle from said side panels when said bag is inverted.   
     
     
         2 . The bag of  claim 1  further comprising a pair of handles, one provided on each panel of said side panels at said upper end of said bag; 
     
     
         3 . The bag of  claim 1  wherein said bottom end of said bag has a substantially semi-circular shape capable of covering a portion of one or more hangers whose one or more hooks protrude through said elongated opening in said bottom end of said bag. 
     
     
         4 . The bag of  claim 1  further comprising a closable inspection opening along a portion of said bottom end for viewing items inside said bag. 
     
     
         5 . The bag of  claim 4  wherein said inspection opening comprises at least one engagement device selected from the group consisting of a zipper, a button, a snap, a hook, a loop, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The bag of  claim 1  further comprising an invoice panel on one of said side panels of said bag. 
     
     
         7 . The bag of  claim 6  wherein said invoice panel comprises a see-through portion capable of allowing viewing contents of said invoice panel. 
     
     
         8 . A bag for transporting garments comprising:
 a pair of oppositely positioned side panels and a bottom panel joined together forming said bag, said bag being open at an upper end, having a bottom end with a central opening on a portion thereof for receiving one or more hanger hooks when said bag is inverted, and having an interior and an exterior;   a pair of hanger hooks, one provided on each panel of said side panels at said upper end; and   a pair of skirts, one provided on each panel of said side panels.   
     
     
         9 . The bag of  claim 8  further comprising a pair of handles, one provided on each panel of said side panels at said upper end of said bag; 
     
     
         10 . The bag of  claim 8  wherein said bottom panel of said bag has a substantially semi-circular shape capable of covering a portion of one or more hangers whose one or more hooks protrude through said elongated opening in said bottom end of said bag. 
     
     
         11 . The bag of  claim 8  wherein each skirt of said pair of skirts is attached to an upper portion of a corresponding panel of said side panels so that said skirts dangle from said bag when said bad is inverted. 
     
     
         12 . The bag of  claim 8  further comprising an inspection opening along a portion of said bottom end for viewing items inside said bag. 
     
     
         13 . The bag of  claim 12  wherein said inspection opening comprises at least one engagement device selected from the group consisting of a zipper, a button, a snap, a hook, a loop, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The bag of  claim 8  further comprising an invoice panel on one of said side panels of said bag. 
     
     
         15 . The bag of  claim 14  wherein said invoice panel comprises a see-through portion allowing for viewing contents of said invoice panel. 
     
     
         16 . A method of transporting garments for cleaning comprising the steps of:
 a. collecting soiled items in a garment bag, said bag comprising a pair of oppositely positioned side panels joined together forming said bag, said bag being open at an upper end, having a bottom end with an elongated opening thereon for receiving one or more hanger hooks when said bag is inverted, and having an interior and an exterior; a pair of hanger hooks, one provided on each panel of said side panels at said upper end; and a pair of skirts, one provided on each panel of said side panels, to protect items inside said bag from outside materials;   b. delivering said garment bag to a cleaning service;   c. cleaning said soiled items;   d. hanging said cleaned items on hangers with hooks;   e. inverting said garment bag so the bottom of said bag with said elongated opening is a topmost edge, causing said skirts to dangle below said inverted bag; and   f. inserting said cleaned items into said garment bag such that said hooks of said hangers protrude through said elongated opening in said bag, and said skirts provide protection to garments extending downward from said bag.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  comprising the additional step of engaging edges of said skirts with each other to surround said garments. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said bag further comprises an invoice panel located on one of said side panels, and comprising the additional step of inserting an invoice into said invoice panel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said garment bag further comprises an inspection opening located along said bottom end of said garment bag, and comprising the additional step of viewing said cleaned items through said opening when said bag is inverted.