HANGING CARRIER FOR STORING AND DISPLAYING PERSONAL ITEMS

Abstract

A hanging carrier includes a first storage pocket carried by a first panel, a second storage pocket carried by a second panel, and a spine, formed with opposed inner and outer hangers, connecting the first panel to the second panel. The first and second panels are mounted to the spine for movement between a storage position, in which the first and second pockets and the inner hanger are stored between the first and second panels and the outer hanger is available for suspending the hanging carrier from the spine in the storage position of the first and second panels, and a display position, in which the outer hanger is stored between the first and second panels, the first and second pockets are exteriorly displayed, and the inner hanger is available for suspending the hanging carrier from the spine in the display position of the first and second panels.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to storage apparatus used for storing and carrying about personal items and for reducing clutter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The need to reduce clutter in personal spaces has produced many innovative storage solutions, including a wide variety of closet organizers, storage containers, storage bins, compartmented storage assemblies, and the like. Because personal workspaces, desktops, dresser tops, closets, and other similar areas are particularly prone to accumulate clutter, skilled artisans have developed a wide variety of specialized storage devices designed to meet specific storage needs. Of further significance are the needs of travelers, which require their own variety of luggage, bags, hanging carriers, and the like, for conveniently organizing and storing personal items for carrying and transport when travelling, whether by land, air, or sea. To meet the needs of travelers, skilled artisans have also developed a wide variety of travel cases, bags, hanging carriers designed to accommodate convenient storage and transport of personal items. Although the field of storage devices has received, and continues to receive, ongoing attention by skilled artisans, resulting innovations continue to prove expensive, cumbersome to use, unwieldy, and otherwise not entirely satisfactory, thereby necessitating continued improvement in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the principle of the invention, a hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items includes a first storage pocket carried by a first panel, a second storage pocket carried by a second panel, and a spine, formed with opposed inner and outer hangers, connecting the first panel to the second panel. The first and second panels are mounted to the spine for movement between storage and display positions relative to the spine. In the storage position of the first and second panels, the inner hanger and the first and second pockets are located in a first storage area defined by inner sides of the spine and the first and second panels, and the outer hanger is located exteriorly so as to be available for suspending the hanging carrier from the spine in the storage position of the first and second panels. In the display position of the first and second panels, the outer hanger is located in a second storage area defined by outer sides of the spine and the first and second panels, the first and second pockets are displayed exteriorly from the first and second panels so as to be readily accessible, and the inner hanger is located exteriorly so as to be available for suspending the hanging carrier in the display position of the first and second panel. The first pocket has an item placement and retrieval first opening, and the second pocket has an item placement and retrieval second opening. A first closure element is mounted to the first panel to serve as a closure for the first opening and movable between closed and opened positions for closing and opening the first opening of the first pocket. A second closure element is mounted to the second panel to serve as a closure for the second opening and movable between closed and opened positions for closing and opening the second opening of the second pocket. The first opening of the first pocket is directed toward the spine, and the second opening of the second pocket is directed toward the spine. The first and second pockets are constructed of a material that permits the viewing therethrough of contents placed therein. The spine is stiffened, so as to serve as a stiffened anchor point for the inner and the outer hanger. The first and second panels are coextensive in a preferred embodiment, and the first and second pockets are coextensive in a preferred embodiment. A fastening assembly is mounted to the first and second panels to serve as a retainer for retaining the first and second panel in the storage position and being movable between fastened and unfastened positions. In a particular embodiment, the fastening assembly is a buckle assembly including an element thereof carried by the first panel and a detachably engagable complemental element thereof carried by the second panel.

According to the invention, a hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items includes a first panel that has a first outer face, and an opposed first inner face that includes a first storage pocket, and a second panel that has a second outer face, and an opposed second inner face that includes a second storage pocket, and a spine that connects the first panel to the second panel. The spine includes an outer side formed with an outer hanger for hanging, and an opposed inner side formed with an inner hanger for hanging. The first and second panels are mounted to the spine for movement between a storage position from the inner side of the spine juxtaposing the first and second inner faces of the first and second panels so to locate the inner hanger and the first and second pockets between the first and second inner faces of the first and second panels, and a display position from the outer side of the spine juxtaposing the first and second outer faces of the first and second panels so to locate the outer hanger between the first and second outer faces of the first and second panels and outwardly display the first and second pockets from the first and second inner faces of the first and second panels, respectively. The outer hanger is available for hanging in the storage position of the first and second panels, and the inner hanger is available for hanging in the display position of the first and second panels. The first pocket has an item placement and retrieval first opening, and the second pocket has an item placement and retrieval second opening. A first closure element is mounted to serve as a first closure for the first opening and is movable between a closed position for closing the first opening and an opened position for opening the first opening. A second closure element is mounted to serve as a second closure for the second opening and is movable between a closed position for closing the second opening and an opened position for opening the second opening. The first opening of the first pocket is directed toward the spine, and the second opening of the second pocket is directed toward the spine. The first and second pockets are constructed of a material that permits the viewing therethrough of contents placed therein, such as a transparent material in a preferred embodiment. The spine is stiffened, so as to serve as a stiffened anchor point for the inner and the outer hanger. Preferably, the first and second panels are coextensive, and the first and second pockets are coextensive. A fastening assembly is mounted to the first and second panels to serve as a retainer for retaining the first and second panel in the storage position and being movable between fastened and unfastened positions. In a particular embodiment, the fastening assembly is a buckle assembly including an element thereof carried by the first panel and a detachably engagable complemental element thereof carried by the second panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an inner-side plan view of a hanging carrier for holding personal items for storage and transport and which is shown as it would appear in an open position, and which includes a spine, formed with an inner hanger, connecting opposed panels each formed with a pocket for receiving personal items for storage and transport, and a pocket closure element;

FIG. 2 is an outer-side plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, further illustrating an outer hanger formed with the spine;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrating the pocket closure of one of the pockets shown as it would appear open, and the pocket closure of the other pocket shown as it would appear closed;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, illustrating the panels as they would appear folded relative to the spine into a storage position of the pockets defining a storage orientation of the hanging carrier;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, illustrating the panels as they would appear folded relative to the spine into a display position of the pockets defining a display orientation of the hanging carrier;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrating the pocket closures of the pockets as they would appear closed closing the pockets with contents applied therein;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of the hanging carrier of FIG. 10 shown as it would appear in a storage orientation;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the hanging carrier of FIG. 10 shown as it would appear in a display orientation; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In general, a hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items includes a first storage pocket carried by a first panel, a second storage pocket carried by a second panel, and a spine, formed with opposed inner and outer hangers each useful for suspending/hanging the hanging carrier, connecting the first panel to the second panel. The first and second panels are mounted to the spine for movement between storage and display positions relative to the spine. The storage position of the first and second panel define the storage position of the first and second storage pockets, and the display position of the first and second panel define the display position of the first and second storage pockets. In the storage position of the first and second panels, the inner hanger and the first and second pockets are located in a first storage area defined by inner sides of the spine and the first and second panels, and the outer hanger is located exteriorly so as to be available for suspending the hanging carrier from the spine in the storage position of the first and second panels. In the display position of the first and second panels, the outer hanger is located in a second storage area defined by outer sides of the spine and the first and second panels, the first and second pockets are displayed exteriorly from the first and second panels so as to be readily accessible, and the inner hanger is located exteriorly so as to be available for suspending the hanging carrier in the display position of the first and second panel. The first pocket has an item placement and retrieval first opening, and the second pocket has an item placement and retrieval second opening. A first closure element is mounted to the first panel to serve as a closure for the first opening and movable between closed and opened positions for closing and opening the first opening of the first pocket. A second closure element is mounted to the second panel to serve as a closure for the second opening and movable between closed and opened positions for closing and opening the second opening of the second pocket. The first opening of the first pocket is directed toward the spine, and the second opening of the second pocket is directed toward the spine. The first and second pockets are constructed of a material that permits the viewing therethrough of contents placed therein. This material is preferably a transparent material having the property of transmitting rays of light through its substance so that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen, such as transparent plastic. The spine is stiffened, so as to serve as a stiffened anchor point for the inner and the outer hanger. The first and second panels are coextensive in a preferred embodiment, and the first and second pockets are coextensive in a preferred embodiment. A fastening assembly is mounted to the first and second panels to serve as a retainer for retaining the first and second panel in the storage position and being movable between fastened and unfastened positions. In a particular embodiment, the fastening assembly is a buckle assembly including an element thereof carried by the first panel and a detachably engagable complemental element thereof carried by the second panel.

Turning now to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is first directed in relevant part to FIG. 1, which is an inner-side plan view of a hanging carrier 20 for holding and storing personal items and shown as it would appear in an open position, and to FIG. 2, which is an outer-side plan view of hanging carrier 20 as in FIG. 1. Hanging carrier 20 is useful for storing contents, such as personal contents in the nature of personal items, such as shoes, clothing, toiletries, and the like, and adjusts between a storage orientation, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 11, for temporary or long-term storage of the contents stored therein, and a display orientation, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 12, and 13, for displaying the contents stored therein for viewing and for providing convenient access thereto for the retrieval of the storage contents for use thereof in the normal and customary manner.

With continuing reference in relevant part to FIGS. 1 and 2, hanging carrier 20 consists of opposed sheets or panels 21 and 22, and a spine 23 positioned therebetween that connects panel 21 to panel 22. Panels 21 and 22 are identical and are coextensive relative to each other in this embodiment. Panels 21 and 22 are fashioned of sheet material constructed of canvas, woven nylon, or other like or similar material or combination of materials having the inherent properties of pliancy so as to yield under applied influences, resistance to tearing, and resilience. Spine 23 is, like panels 21 and 22, fashioned of sheet material constructed of canvas, woven nylon, or other like or similar material or combination of materials.

Panel 21 has an outer side/face 30 and an opposed inner side/face 31, panel 22 has an outer side/face 35 and an opposed inner side/face 36, and spine 23 has an outer side/face 40 and an opposed inner side/face 41. As shown in FIG. 2, outer face 30 of panel 21, outer face 35 of panel 22, and outer side 40 of spine 23 cooperate to form the exterior or back side of hanging carrier 20, in which outer face 30 of panel 21 leads to, and is contiguous with, outer side 40 of spine 23, which, in turn, leads to, and is contiguous with, outer face 35 of panel 22. As shown in FIG. 1, inner face 31 of panel 21, inner face 36 of panel 22, and inner side 41 of spine 23 cooperate to form the interior, front, or belly side of hanging carrier 20, in which inner face 31 of panel 21 leads to, and is contiguous with, inner side 41 of spine 23, which, in turn, leads to, and is contiguous with, inner face 36 of panel 22.

Outer and inner faces 30 and 31 of panel 21 extend outwardly to opposed, parallel side edges 50 and 51 of panel 21 that extend between opposed parallel inner and outer end edges 52 and 53 of panel 21. Similarly, outer and inner faces 35 and 36 of panel 22 extend outwardly to opposed, parallel side edges 60 and 61 of panel 22 that extend between opposed parallel inner and outer edges 62 and 63 of panel 22. Spine 23 has opposed, parallel side edges 70 and 71 that extend between end 72 thereof, connected between side edge 50 of panel 21 and side edge 60 of panel 22, and opposed end 73 thereof, connected between side edge 51 of panel 21 and side edge 61 of panel 22. Inner edge 52 of panel 21 is connected to side edge 70 of spine 23, and the connection of inner edge 52 of panel 21 to side edge 70 of spine 23 extends along the lengths of inner and side edges 52 and 70 from end 72 of spine 23 and side edge 50 of panel 21, to end 73 of spine 23 and side edge 51 of panel 21. Inner edge 62 of panel 22 is, in turn, connected to side edge 71 of spine 23, and the connection of inner edge 62 of panel 22 to side edge 71 of spine 23 extends currently with respect to the connection of inner edge 52 of panel 21 to side edge 70 of spine 23 along the lengths of inner and side edges 62 and 71 from end 72 of spine 23 and side edge 60 of panel 22, to end 73 of spine 23 and side edge 61 of panel 21.

Inner edge 52 of panel 21 is connected to side edge 70 of spine 23 via sewing, adhesive, heat bonding, or the like, and inner edge 62 of panel 22 is, in turn, connected to side edge 71 of spine 23 via sewing, adhesive, heat bonding, or the like. The connection of inner edge 52 of panel 21 to side edge 70 of spine 23 forms an attachment point, or seam, therebetween, about which panel 21 is free to pivot/fold, as that of a hinged or a pivotal attachment, with respect to side edge 70 of spine 23 between storage and display positions of panel 21 relative to spine 23, and this ability of panel 21 to pivot/fold between storage and display positions relative to spine 23 at the attachment point or seam between panel 21 and spine 23 is facilitated by the aforementioned material characteristics of panel 21. Likewise, the connection of inner edge 62 of panel 22 to side edge 71 of spine 23 forms an attachment point, or seam, therebetween, about which panel 22 is free to pivot/fold, as that of a hinged or a pivotal attachment, with respect to side edge 71 of spine 23 between storage and display positions of panel 22 relative to spine 23, and this ability of panel 22 to pivot/fold between storage and display positions relative to spine 23 at the attachment point or seam between panel 22 and spine 23 is facilitated by the material characteristics of panel 22.

Panels 21 and 22 and spine 23 form a body, similar to that of a book cover or folder, that is rectangular in overall shape when laid open as in FIGS. 1 and 2. Side edges 50 and 51 and outer edge 53 of panel 21, side edges 60 and 61 and outer edge 63 of panel 22, and ends 72 and 73 of spine 23 cooperate so as to define an outer perimeter or marginal edge or extremity, denoted generally at 80, of the referenced rectangular body formed by and between panels 21 and 22 and spine 23.

Preferably, spine 23 is stiffened so as to be made stiff, so as to resist bending or flexing, so as to serve as an anchor from which hanging carrier 20 can be hung, in both the storage and display orientations of hanging carrier 20. Spine 23 is stiffened with an applied elongate backbone, denoted at 90 in FIG. 3, which is a section view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2. Backbone 90 is part of spine 23 and is elongate and extends along the length of spine 23 from end 72 to end 73. Backbone 90 is fashioned of stiff plastic, carbon fiber, wood, metal, such as aluminum or steel, or the like, and is applied to, and held within, a sleeve 91. Sleeve 91 forms a part of spine 23, and sleeve 91 and backbone 90 together form spine 23 of hanging carrier 20. Sleeve 91 of spine 23 is, like panels 21 and 22, fashioned of canvas, woven nylon, or other like or similar material or combination of materials having the properties of pliancy so as to yield under applied influences, resistance to tearing, and resilience. Side edge 70 of spine 23, which is joined to inner edge 52 of panel 21, is part of sleeve 91. Side edge 71 of spine 23, which is joined to inner edge 71 of panel 22, is also part of sleeve 91. Backbone 90 in sleeve 91 stiffens spine 23 so as to make spine 23 stiff, so as to resist bending or flexing. Ends 72 and 73 of spine 23 form the ends of sleeve 91, and are closed, whereby spine 90 is enclosed in sleeve 91 between ends 72 and 73 and side edges 70 and 71 (not shown in FIG. 3) of spine 23, as referenced in FIGS. 1 and 2. The stiffened characteristic of spine 23 provided by the application of spine 90 in sleeve 91 strengthens spine 23 so as to serve as an anchor from which hanging carrier 20 may be suspended or hung, both in the storage orientation of hanging carrier 20 and in the display orientation of hanging carrier 20.

Sleeve 91 and spine 90 applied therein together form spine 23. Outer side 40 is that of spine 23 and, more particularly, that of sleeve 91, as shown in FIG. 2. Inner side 41 is that of spine 23 and, more particularly, that of sleeve 91, as shown in FIG. 1. Outer side 40 is formed with an outer hanger 100 for suspending/hanging, and inner side 41 is formed with an inner hanger 110 for suspending/hanging. Outer hanger 100 is used to suspend/hang hanging carrier 20 in the storage orientation of hanging carrier 20, as is shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 11, and may be taken up by hand for carrying hanging carrier 20 when in the storage orientation, and inner hanger 110 is used to suspend/hang hanging carrier 20 in the display orientation of hanging carrier 20, as is shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 12, and 13, and may also be taken up by hand for carrying hanging carrier 20 when in the display orientation, if so desired.

In reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, outer hanger 100 is centrally located between ends 72 and 73 of spine 23, and is a strap 101 having opposed ends 102 and 103 affixed to outer side 40 via sewing, adhesive, heat bonding, or the like, leaving a loop in strap 101 between ends 102 and 103 that may be used to suspend/hang hanging carrier 20, such as by hand for carrying hanging carrier 20 about, or from a hook or other elevated support. Strap 101 is thus useful as an attachment point for suspending/hanging the hanging carrier 20 in the storage orientation of hanging carrier 20, and also thus serves as a handle that may be taken up by hand for use in carrying hanging carrier 21 about as needed in the storage orientation of hanging carrier 20. As such, hanging carrier 20 is considered to be portable, in that it may be easily taken up by hand at strap 101 so as to be carried about. Looking to FIG. 1, inner hanger 110 is centrally located between ends 72 and 73 of spine 23, and is a looped strap 111 that passes through a D-ring 112, and which has opposed ends 113 and 114 affixed to inner side 41 via sewing, adhesive, heat bonding, or the like. D-ring 112 is useful as a localized attachment point for suspending/hanging the hanging carrier 20 in the display orientation of hanging carrier 20, as shown in FIG. 13. Other hanger or hanger assemblies that will readily occur to those skilled in the art may be used for outer and inner hanger assemblies 100 and 110 without departing from the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, inner face 31 of panel 21 includes a storage pocket 120, and inner face 36 of panel 22 includes a storage pocket 150, both of which are useful for taking on contents, such as shoes, clothing, toiletries, or the like, for long-term or temporary storage. Storage pockets 120 and 150, which are also referred to simply as pockets in this specification, are identical, and are coextensive relative to each other in that they are equal in size and in shape.

Pocket 120 is centrally located along inner face 31 of panel 21, and is formed by a shaped piece of material 121 having a bottom 122 and opposed sides 123 and 124 attached via sewing, adhesive, heat bonding, or the like, to inner face 31 of panel 21 forming a pouch used especially or carrying selected contents as described above. Bottom 122 and sides 123 attached to inner face 31 of panel 21 define or otherwise form the closed bottom and sides of pocket 120. Material 121 forming pocket 120 has a top 125 that opposes bottom 121. Top 125 extends between sides 123 and 124, and is not attached to inner face 31 of panel 21 thereby defining an item placement and retrieval open end or opening 126 of pocket 120 between top 125 and inner face 31 of panel 21 between sides 123 and 124, which leads into the pouch/interior of pocket 120 through which items are passed for placement into pocket 120 and through which items are passed for removal/retrieval from pocket 120. The open end or opening 126 is directed toward spine 23 and away from outer edge 53 of panel 21. Material 121 is flexible and pliant so as to yield to applied influences, and this allows pocket 120 to deform and yield to facilitate the application of contents therein. Material 121 is also transparent having the property of transmitting rays of light through its substance so that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen. Preferably, material 121 is flexible, thin film plastic, which is transparent having the property of transmitting rays of light through its substance so that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen, and this permits the viewing therethrough material 121 of contents placed therein pocket 120. This allows a user to visually inspect contents applied to pocket 120 without having to remove the contents from pocket 120. In alternate embodiments, material 121 can be a sheer material or a mesh material being transparent or otherwise having the characteristic of transparency so as to permit light to pass therethrough so that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen. An array of breather openings, each being denoted at 128, are formed in material 121, which serve as air flow areas to permit air flow through the interior of pocket 120.

Forming a part of pocket 120 is a closure element 130 mounted to serve as a closure for the open end or opening 126 to pocket 120 and which is movable between a closed position as shown in FIG. 2 for closing the open end or opening 126 for retaining contents applied into pocket 120, and an open or opened position as shown in 4 for opening the open end or opening 126 for allowing contents to be applied therethrough into pocket 120 and for allowing contents to be removed therethrough from pocket 120. Closure element 130 is a shaped piece of material or flap 131 having a proximal end 132 attached via sewing, adhesive, heat bonding, or the like, to inner face 31 of panel 21 between opening 126 into pocket 120 and spine 23, and also inner edge 52 of panel 21, and an opposed distal or free end 133. Flap 131 is flexible and pliant so as to yield to applied influences, and this allows flap to be taken up by hand and easily moved between its open position as seen in FIG. 4 away from opening 126 so as to open the open end or opening 126 and its closed position applied toward and over opening 126 and over and across material 121 so as to close open end or opening 126, as shown in FIG. 1. Flap 131 is also transparent having the property of transmitting rays of light through its substance so that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen. Preferably, flap 131 is flexible, thin film plastic, which, identical to that of material 121, is transparent having the property of transmitting rays of light through its substance so that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen, and this permits the viewing therethrough flap 131 of contents placed into pocket 120 in the closed position of flap 131. This allows a user to visually inspect contents applied to pocket 120 in the closed position of flap 131. As a matter of example, FIG. 10 illustrates contents in the form of a pair of ladies shoes applied into pocket 120, and flap 131 shown as it would appear in its closed position closing the open end or opening 126 into pocket 120 so as retain the contents within pocket 120, and which further illustrates said contents as being visible through material 121 and flap 131 of pocket 150 due to the described material characteristics of material 121 and flap 131 of pocket 120. In alternate embodiments, flap 131 can be a sheer material or a mesh material being transparent or otherwise having the characteristic of transparency so as to permit light to pass therethrough so that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen.

A retention assembly 140 is formed between material 121 and flap 131 for releasably attaching distal end 133 to material 121 for releasably retaining flap 131 in its closed position, and which is readily separable for releasing distal end 133 of flap 131 from material 121 to facilitate the movement of flap 131 from its closed position to its open position. With additional reference to FIG. 5, the immediate embodiment of retention assembly 140 is in the form of a hook and loop fastener, such as the one sold under the trademark Velcro®. One element 141 of the hook and loop fastener is secured to the outer side of material 121 of pocket 120. The other element 142 of the hook and loop fastener is secured to the inner side of flap 131 near distal end 133. Here, element 141 is a loop component of the hook and loop fastener, and element 142 is the complementing hook component of the hook and loop fastener, and this arrangement can be reversed if so desired. Other retention assemblies, such as a snap fastener, a button fastener, a zipper fastener, or the like, which can be readily manipulated by hand and that will readily occur to those skilled in the art may be used for retention assembly 140 associated with pocket 150.

Referring to FIG. 1, pocket 150 is the mirror image opposite of pocket 120 and is identical to pocket 120 in every respect, and common reference characters are used for the structural components of pockets 120 and 150. Like that of pocket 120 applied to inner face 31 of panel 21, pocket 150 is centrally located along inner face 36 of panel 22, and is formed by shaped piece of material 121 having bottom 122 and opposed sides 123 and 124 attached via sewing, adhesive, heat bonding, or the like, to inner face 36 of panel 22 forming a pouch used especially or carrying selected contents as described above. Bottom 122 and sides 123 attached to inner face 36 of panel 22 define or otherwise form the closed bottom and sides of pocket 150. Material 121 forming pocket 150 has top 125 that opposes bottom 121. Top 125 extends between sides 123 and 124, and is not attached to inner face 31 of panel 21 thereby defining item placement and retrieval open end or opening 126 between top 125 and inner face 31 of panel 21 between sides 123 and 124, which leads into the pouch/interior of pocket 150 through which items are passed for placement into pocket 150 and through which items are passed for removal/retrieval from pocket 150. Open end or opening 126 is directed toward spine 23 and away from outer edge 63 of panel 22. Material 121 is flexible and pliant so as to yield to applied influences, and this allows pocket 150 to deform and yield to facilitate the application of contents therein. Again, material 121 of pocket 150 is also transparent having the property of transmitting rays of light through its substance so that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen. Preferably, material 121 is flexible, thin film plastic, which is transparent to permit the viewing therethrough of contents placed therein. This allows a user to visually inspect contents applied to pocket 150 without having to remove the contents from pocket 150. Breather openings 128 formed in material 121 serve as air flow areas to permit air flow through the interior of pocket 150. Again, in alternate embodiments material 121 can be a sheer material or a mesh material being transparent or otherwise having the characteristic of transparency so as to permit light to pass therethrough so that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen.

Forming a part of pocket 150 is closure element 130 mounted to serve as a closure for open end or opening 126 to pocket 150 and which is movable between closed and open/opened position as described in connection with pocket 120. Closure element 130 is shaped piece of material or flap 131 having proximal end 132 attached via sewing, adhesive, heat bonding, or the like, to inner face 36 of panel 22 between open end or opening 126 into pocket 150 and spine 23, and also inner edge 62 of panel 22, and opposed distal or free end 133. Flap 131 is flexible and pliant so as to yield to applied influences, and this allows flap to be taken up by hand and easily moved between its open and closed positions. Again, flap 131 of pocket 150 is also transparent having the property of transmitting rays of light through its substance so that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen. Preferably, flap 131 associated with pocket 150 is flexible, thin film plastic, which is transparent to permit the viewing therethrough of contents placed into pocket 150 in the closed position of flap 131. This allows a user to visually inspect contents applied to pocket 150 in the closed position of flap 131. As a matter of example, FIG. 10 illustrates contents in the form of a pair of tennis shoes applied into pocket 150, and flap 131 of pocket 159 shown as it would appear in its closed position closing open end or opening 126 into pocket 150 so as retain the contents within pocket 150, and which further illustrates said contents as being visible through material 121 and flap 131 of pocket 150 due to the described material characteristics of material 121 and flap 131 of pocket 150. Again, in alternate embodiments flap 131 can be a sheer material or a mesh material being transparent or otherwise having the characteristic of transparency so as to permit light to pass therethrough so that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen.

Retention assembly 140 is formed between material 121 and flap 131 of pocket 150 for releasably attaching distal end 133 to material 121 for releasably retaining flap 131 in its closed position, and which is readily separable for releasing distal end 133 of flap 131 from material 121 to facilitate the movement of flap 131 from its closed position to its open position. As with pocket 120, the immediate embodiment of retention assembly 140 of pocket 150 is in the form of a hook and loop fastener, such as the one sold under the trademark Velcro®. One element of the hook and loop fastener, such as the loop component, is secured to the outer side of material 121 of pocket 150. The other element of the hook and loop fastener, such as the hook component, is secured to the inner side of flap 131 near distal end 133. As with pocket 120, other retention assemblies, such as a snap fastener, a button fastener, a zipper fastener, or the like, which can be readily manipulated by hand and that will readily occur to those skilled in the art may be used for retention assembly 140 associated with pocket 150.

As first intimated above, and referring in relevant part to FIGS. 6 and 7, panels 21 and 22 are mounted to spine 23 so as to be free to move relative to spine 23 via pivoting or pivotal movement or folding from either side of spine 23 at the attachment points between panels 21 and 22 and spine 23 between a storage position from inner side 41 of spine 23 juxtaposing inner faces 31 and 36 of panels 21 and 22 so to locate inner hanger 110 and pockets 120 and 150 of panels 21 and 22, respectively, in storage/containment area 152 defined by and between inner faces 31 and 36 of panels 21 and 22, and, referring in relevant part to FIGS. 8 and 9, a display position from outer side 40 of spine 23 juxtaposing outer faces 30 and 35 of panels 21 and 22 so to locate outer hanger 100 in storage/containment area 155 between outer faces 30 and 35 of panels and outwardly display pockets 120 and 150 of the respective panels 21 and 22 from inner faces 31 and 36 of panels 21 and 22, respectively. In the storage position panels 21 and 22 defining the storage orientation of hanging carrier 20, panels 21 and 22 are pivoted/folded inwardly toward inner side 41 of spine 23 and toward one another in the directions of arrowed lines A and B, respectively, in FIG. 7, in which panels 21 and 22 depend downwardly from inner side 41 of spine 23 from the respectively side edges 70 and 71 of spine 23 and are spaced-apart and parallel relative to each other, whereby inner face 31 of panel 21 is spaced-apart from and diametrically opposed inner face 36 of panel 22 so as to define containment area 152 by and between inner faces 31 and 36 of panels 21 and 22 and inner side 41 of spine 23, inner hanger 110 is positioned in containment area 152 near inner side 41 of spine 23, storage pockets 120 and 150 are positioned in containment area 152 between inner side 41 of spine 23 and outer edges 53 and 63 of panels 21 and 22, respectively, and outer hanger 100 is exteriorly exposed along outer side 40 of spine 23 so as to be available for suspending/hanging the hanging carrier 20 in the storage orientation or for being taken up by hand for carrying hanging carrier 20 about while in the storage orientation.

As a matter of example, FIG. 11 illustrates hanging carrier 20 as it would appear in use with the panels 21 and 22 in the storage position defining the storage orientation of hanging carrier 20, with contents in the form of ladies shoes applied to pocket 120 and contents in the form of tennis shoes applied to pocket 150, as previously described in connection with FIG. 10, in which said contents held by pockets 120 and 150 in containment area 155 for convenient short term or long term storage. With said contents applied to pockets 120 and 150 in the storage orientation of hanging carrier 20, outer hanger 100 may be used to hang hanging carrier 20, such as from an elevated hook, for the long or short term storage of the contents held by pockets 120 and 150 in containment area 152, or may be taken up by hand for carrying about as desired so as provide a convenient way to hold and transport the contents of pockets 120 and 150. With the contents of pockets 120 and 150 held by pockets 130 and 150 in containment area 152 in the storage orientation of hanging carrier 20, pockets 120 and 150 and panels 20 and 21 protect the contents of pockets 120 and 150 from damaging external influences. FIG. 11 also illustrates the buckle forming fastening assembly 160 as it would appear detachably secured so as to detachably hold and retain panels 20 and 21 in the storage positions thereof so as to maintain the storage orientation of hanging carrier 20 until no longer needed. FIG. 11 illustrates pockets 120 and 150 as they would appear yielding so as to bulge inwardly toward one another from the respective inner faces 31 and 36 of panels 21 and 22 to accommodate the volume of the applied contents, and further illustrates panels 21 and 22 as they would appear yielding so as to bulge outwardly away from one another to accommodate the volume of the contents applied to pockets 120 and 150. The described material characteristics of panels 20 and 21 and pockets 120 and 150 allow this to take place in the storage of contents applied to pockets 120 and 150.

In the display position of panels 21 and 22 defining the display orientation of hanging carrier 20, panels 21 and 22 are pivoted/folded inwardly toward outer side 40 of spine 23 and toward one another in the directions of arrowed lines C and D, respectively, in FIG. 9, in which panels 21 and 22 depend downwardly from outer side 40 of spine 23 from the respective side edges 70 and 71 of spine 23 and are spaced-apart and parallel relative to each other, whereby outer face 30 of panel 21 is spaced-apart from and diametrically opposed to outer face 35 of panel 22 so as to define containment area 155 by and between outer faces 30 and 35 of panels 21 and 22 and outer side 40 of spine 23, outer hanger 100 is positioned in containment area 155 near outer side 40 of spine 23, storage pockets 120 and 150 are positioned outwardly from inner faces 31 and 36 of panels 21 and 22, respectively, so as to be outwardly displayed for providing convenient user access to storage pockets 120 and 150 for the application and retrieval of selected contents and for allowing the viewing of the contents of storage pockets 120 and 150 through storage pockets 120 and 150 as facilitated by the material characteristics of pockets 120 and 150, and inner hanger 110 is exteriorly exposed along inner side 41 of spine 23 so as to be available for suspending/hanging the hanging carrier 20 in the display orientation, as in FIG. 13.

As a matter of example, FIG. 12 illustrates hanging carrier 20 as it would appear in use with the panels 21 and 22 in the display position defining the display orientation of hanging carrier 20, with contents in the form of ladies shoes applied to pocket 120 and contents in the form of tennis shoes applied to pocket 150, as previously described in connection with FIG. 10, in which said contents held by pockets 120 and 150 are held by pockets 120 and 150 so as to be displayed outwardly from inner faces 31 and 36 of panels 21 and 22 for providing convenient user access to said contents of storage pockets 120 and 150 for the retrieval of said contents and for allowing said contents to be viewed through storage pockets 120 and 150 as facilitated by the material characteristics of pockets 120 and 150. FIG. 13 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 12 as it would appear being hung at an elevated location from D-ring 112.

In sum, the storage position of panels 21 and 22 define the storage position of pockets 120 and 150, and the display position of panels 21 and 22 define the display position of storage pockets 120 and 150, as explained above. And so in the storage position of panels 21 and 22, inner hanger 110 and pockets 120 and 150 are located in storage/containment area 152 defined by the inner sides/faces of spine 23 and panels 21 and 22, and outer hanger 100 is located exteriorly so as to be available for suspending hanging carrier 20 from spine 20 in the storage position of panels 21 and 22 defining the storage orientation of hanging carrier 20. In the display position of panels 21 and 22, outer hanger 100 is located in storage/containment area 155 defined by the outer sides/faces of spine 23 and panels 21 and 22, pockets 120 and 150 are displayed exteriorly from panels 21 and 22 so as to be readily accessible, and inner hanger 110 is located exteriorly so as to be available for suspending hanging carrier 20 in the display position of panels 21 and 22 defining the display orientation of hanging carrier 20. Storage pockets 120 and 150 extend upright from their bottoms 122 to their open ends or openings 126 in a direction from outer edges 53 and 63 of panels 21 and 22, respectively, to spine 23, which prevents contents applied to storage pockets 120 and 150 from inadvertently or unintentionally spilling out from pockets 120 and 150.

Looking back to FIGS. 1 and 2, hanging carrier 20 is formed with a fastening assembly, denoted generally at 160, which is mounted to panels to serve as a retainer for retaining the storage position of panels 21 and 22 in the storage position of panels 21 and 22, as shown in FIG. 11, and which is movable between fastened/locked and unfastened/unlocked positions. The immediate embodiment of fastening assembly 160 is in the form of a conventional buckle or buckle assembly, which is used to detachably secure panel 21 to panel 22 in the storage position of panels 21 and 22 in the storage orientation of hanging carrier 20 so as to retain panels 21 and 22 in the storage position thereof so as to maintain the storage orientation of hanging carrier 20. One element 161 of the buckle or buckle assembly is connected to a strap 162 affixed to outer edge 53 of panel 20. The other detachably engagable element 165 of the buckle or buckle assembly is connected to a strap 166 affixed to outer edge 63 of panel 21. Here, element 161 is a clasp component of the buckle or buckle assembly, and detachably engagable element 165 is the tongue component of the buckle or buckle assembly that detachably receives element 161, and this arrangement can be reversed if so desired. Straps 162 and 166 are preferably elastic straps, which are able to stretch as needed for fastening and unfastening the elements of the buckle of the preferred fastening assembly 160. To accommodate the increased space between panels 20 and 21 due to the application of contents to pockets 120 and 150 as shown in FIG. 11, FIG. 11 illustrates the elements 161 and 165 of the buckle of the preferred example of fastening assembly 160 shown as they would appear detachably secured, and straps 162 and 166 as they would appear elastically stretched to accommodate the increased space between panels 21 and 22 in the storage position of panels 21 and 22 with contents applied to pockets 120 and 150. Other fastener assemblies that can be readily manipulated by hand and that will readily occur to those skilled in the art may be used for fastening assembly 160 without departing from the invention.

The invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from the nature and scope of the invention. Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof.

Claims

1. A hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items, comprising:

a first storage pocket carried by a first panel, a second storage pocket carried by a second panel, and a spine, formed with opposed inner and outer hangers, connecting the first panel to the second panel;

the first and second panels being mounted to the spine for movement between storage and display positions relative to the spine;

in the storage position of the first and second panels, the inner hanger and the first and second pockets are located in a first storage area defined by inner sides of the spine and the first and second panels, and the outer hanger is located exteriorly so as to be available for suspending the hanging carrier from the spine in the storage position of the first and second panels; and

in the display position of the first and second panels, the outer hanger is located in a second storage area defined by outer sides of the spine and the first and second panels, the first and second pockets are displayed exteriorly from the first and second panels so as to be readily accessible, and the inner hanger is located exteriorly so as to be available for suspending the hanging carrier in the display position of the first and second panel.

2. The hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items according to claim 1, wherein the first pocket has an item placement and retrieval first opening, and the second pocket has an item placement and retrieval second opening.

3. The hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items according to claim 2, further comprising a first closure element mounted to the first panel to serve as a closure for the first opening and movable between closed and opened positions for closing and opening the first opening of the first pocket.

4. The hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items according to claim 3, further comprising a second closure element mounted to the second panel to serve as a closure for the second opening and movable between closed and opened positions for closing and opening the second opening of the second pocket.

5. The hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items according to claim 4, wherein the first opening of the first pocket is directed toward the spine.

6. The hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items according to claim 5, wherein the second opening of the second pocket is directed toward the spine.

7. The hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items according to claim 6, wherein the first and second pockets are constructed of a material that permits the viewing therethrough of contents placed therein.

8. The hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items according to claim 7, wherein the spine is stiffened.

9. The hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items according to claim 8, wherein the first and second panels are coextensive.

10. The hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items according to claim 9, wherein the first and second pockets are coextensive.

11. A hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items, comprising:

a first storage pocket carried by a first panel, a second storage pocket carried by a second panel, and a spine, formed with opposed inner and outer hangers, connecting the first panel to the second panel;

the first and second panels being mounted to the spine for movement between storage and display positions relative to the spine;

in the storage position of the first and second panels, the inner hanger and the first and second pockets are located in a first storage area defined by inner sides of the spine and the first and second panels, and the outer hanger is located exteriorly so as to be available for suspending the hanging carrier from the spine in the storage position of the first and second panels;

in the display position of the first and second panels, the outer hanger is located in a second storage area defined by outer sides of the spine and the first and second panels, the first and second pockets are displayed exteriorly from the first and second panels so as to be readily accessible, and the inner hanger is located exteriorly so as to be available for suspending the hanging carrier in the display position of the first and second panel; and

a fastening assembly mounted to the first and second panels to serve as a retainer for retaining the first and second panel in the storage position and being movable between fastened and unfastened positions.

12. The hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items according to claim 11, wherein the fastening assembly comprises a buckle assembly including an element thereof carried by the first panel and a detachably engagable complemental element thereof carried by the second panel.

13. The hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items according to claim 11, wherein the first pocket has an item placement and retrieval first opening, and the second pocket has an item placement and retrieval second opening.

14. The hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items according to claim 13, further comprising a first closure element mounted to the first panel to serve as a closure for the first opening and movable between closed and opened positions for closing and opening the first opening of the first pocket.

15. The hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items according to claim 14, further comprising a second closure element mounted to the second panel to serve as a closure for the second opening and movable between closed and opened positions for closing and opening the second opening of the second pocket.

16. The hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items according to claim 15, wherein the first opening of the first pocket is directed toward the spine.

17. The hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items according to claim 16, wherein the second opening of the second pocket is directed toward the spine.

18. The hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items according to claim 17, wherein the first and second pockets are constructed of a material that permits the viewing therethrough of contents placed therein.

19. The hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items according to claim 18, wherein the spine is stiffened.

20. The hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items according to claim 19, wherein the first and second panels are coextensive.

21. The hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items according to claim 20, wherein the first and second pockets are coextensive.