Customizable bag with integrated storage capability

Abstract

A customizable bag for use in transporting articles of clothing is presented. In some embodiments, the bag may include a packing enclosure similar to that of a traditional duffel bag, in addition to a garment compartment area for transporting formalwear and the like that traditionally requires transportation in a full-length garment bag to avoid undesirable wrinkles, etc. The garment compartment area may be integrated into the body of the bag so as to provide the presently disclosed dual-purpose bag and allow for, among other things, efficient travel without additional baggage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bag, comprising:
 a body, a first side panel, and a second side panel, wherein the body comprises an exterior lining and an interior lining forming a garment compartment area substantially therebetween;   wherein, in a first configuration of the bag, the body can be laid substantially flat; and   wherein, in a second configuration of the bag, the body can be positioned substantially about a longitudinal axis passing through the first and second side panels and secured at its opposite ends such that the body forms a substantially cylindrical shape having first and second side openings that can be operatively coupled to the respective first and second side panels, thereby forming a packing enclosure therein.   
     
     
         2 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the interior lining comprises an opening for accessing the garment compartment area. 
     
     
         3 . The bag of  claim 2 , wherein the opening extends substantially along a centerline of a length of the body substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the bag. 
     
     
         4 . The bag of  claim 2 , wherein the opening comprises a fastener for securely closing the opening. 
     
     
         5 . The bag of  claim 4 , wherein the fastener for securely closing the opening is a zipper mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the garment compartment area comprises a garment hanger receiver. 
     
     
         7 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the garment compartment area comprises a strap extending along a width of the body. 
     
     
         8 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the first and second side panels comprise one or more pockets. 
     
     
         9 . The bag of  claim 1  further comprising one or more handles for carrying the bag. 
     
     
         10 . The bag of  claim 1  further comprising a shoulder strap for carrying the bag. 
     
     
         11 . The bag of  claim 10 , wherein the shoulder strap is adjustable in length. 
     
     
         12 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the interior lining further comprises one or more pockets. 
     
     
         13 . The bag of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more pockets of the interior lining may be operatively closed using a fastener. 
     
     
         14 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the body can receive one or more garments in the garment compartment area when the bag is in the first configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the bag can be placed in the second configuration with one or more garments positioned in the garment compartment area. 
     
     
         16 . A bag, comprising:
 a first side panel, a second side panel, and a substantially rectangular body having a length and a width;   wherein the body further comprises an exterior portion and an interior portion, and further wherein the interior portion is coupled to the exterior portion substantially along three sides of a perimeter of the body, and a flap extends from the perimeter along the fourth side of the body, thereby forming a substantially enclosed garment compartment area between the exterior and interior portions;   wherein, in a first configuration of the bag, the body can be laid substantially flat on a surface for optionally receiving one or more garments in the garment compartment area; and   wherein, in a second configuration of the bag, the body can be positioned substantially about a longitudinal axis passing through the first and second side panels and secured at its opposite ends such that the body forms a substantially cylindrical shape having first and second side openings that can be operatively coupled to the respective first and second side panels, thereby forming a packing enclosure therein.   
     
     
         17 . The bag of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second side panels, in the first configuration of the bag, are attached along a portion of a perimeter of the side panels on opposite sides of the body and each adjacent to one end of the body. 
     
     
         18 . The bag of  claim 17 , wherein in the second configuration of the bag, the first and second side panels operatively couple to respective sides of the body along the remainder of the perimeters of the side panels by way of one continuous zipper that also secures the opposite ends of the body to one another, thereby securely enclosing the packing enclosure. 
     
     
         19 . The bag of  claim 16 , wherein the interior portion further comprises an opening extending along the length of the body. 
     
     
         20 . The bag of  claim 19 , wherein the opening comprises a fastener for securely closing the opening, and further wherein the fastener is a zipper mechanism.