Hanging soft-sided container

Abstract

A soft-side silo container is sized to fit inside larger luggage such as a suitcase. It has a vertical zipper with doubled zipper cars to permit several different opening configurations. It also has a suspension system, namely its hook from which the container's collapsible upstanding peripheral wall is suspended that permits the container to be hung from a hanger rod, or from another container of the same type. The peripheral wall breathes, and is foldable to fit inside a suitcase. It has sub-compartment dividers that function as shelves. It can be used in conjunction with hard sided carry-on luggage or general luggage. Alternatively, it can be used in conjunction with a cascade of soft-sided hanging shelves.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A soft-sided container comprising:
 a soft-sided containment envelope defining at least a first storage chamber therewithin;   the soft-sided containment envelope having a top and a bottom;   a hanger mounted to the top of said soft-sided containment envelope;   said containment envelope having an opening through which to introduce articles into said containment envelope;   said soft sided containment envelope having at least a first spreader and a second spreader, said first spreader being above, and spaced apart from, said second spreader;   said spreader defining a perimeter having an hydraulic diameter; and   said first and second spreaders being spaced apart by a distance greater than said hydraulic diameter.   
     
     
         2 . The soft-sided container of  claim 1  wherein at least said second spreader defines a platform upon which to place objects. 
     
     
         3 . The soft-sided container of  claim 1  wherein said containment envelope includes a peripheral wall made of a breathable mesh. 
     
     
         4 . The soft-sided container of  claim 1  wherein said containment envelope is bendable and collapsible. 
     
     
         5 . The soft-sided container of  claim 1  wherein said containment envelope is in combination with a hard-sided container, said hard sided container having a length and a width, and said soft sided container folds to fit within said hard sided container. 
     
     
         6 . The soft-sided container of  claim 5  wherein said soft-sided container has a height that corresponds to the sum of said length and said width of said hard-sided container. 
     
     
         7 . The soft-sided container of  claim 6  where the height is less than the sum of said length and said width of the hard-sided container. 
     
     
         8 . The soft-sided container of  claim 2  wherein said soft-sided container has at least a third said spreader, said third spreader is spaced downwardly from said second spreader; said third spreader defines another platform upon which to place objects; there being a first sub-compartment of said first chamber defined between said first and second spreaders; and a second sub-compartment of said first chamber defined between said second and third spreaders, said opening has at least a first closure member by operable to open and close at least a portion of said opening. 
     
     
         9 . The soft-sided container of  claim 8  wherein said first closure member is movable between a first position in which to obtain access to said first sub-compartment; and a second position in which to obtain access to said second sub-compartment, and a third position in which to obtain access to both said first and said second sub-compartments of said first chamber, said first position being different from said second position; said first position being different from said third position; and said third position being different from said second position. 
     
     
         10 . The soft-sided container of  claim 1  wherein said container has a hanger and a retainer, said hanger being operable to suspend said container and said container is collapsible and manipulable to a compacted position, and in said compacted position said hanger engages said retainer to maintain said container in said compacted position. 
     
     
         11 . The soft-sided container of  claim 1  wherein said containment envelope has an upstanding peripheral sidewall and said upstanding peripheral sidewall is cylindrical. 
     
     
         12 . The soft-sided container of  claim 1  wherein said opening of said containment envelope of said upstanding sidewall is closely cinched adjacent to at least one of said first and second separators. 
     
     
         13 . The soft sided container of  claim 12  wherein said opening of said containment envelope is bounded by mutually engaging halves of a tracked fastener, said halves having fabric bindings sewn to opposed wings of said upstanding sidewall; said fabric binding of said tracked fastener are free of at least said first separator, and said upstanding sidewall is sewn to said first separator up to said fabric bindings. 
     
     
         14 . The soft-sided container of  claim 12  wherein said containment envelope has wings to either side of said opening, and there is a non-cinched portion of said upstanding peripheral wall adjacent to said opening that is up to about 1/12 of the peripheral arc about said first separator.