Resealable and evacuable hanging bag with removable hanging device

Abstract

A hanging storage system comprising a resealable evacuable bag and a hanging device attached to the bag. The hanging device is designed to attach to a portion of the bag in a manner such that a vacuum inside the evacuated bag can be maintained while the bag is hanging, e.g., in a closet. More specifically, the hanging device comprises first and second parts that couple together, the first part being disposed inside the bag and the second part being disposed outside the bag, with a portion of a thin flexible bag wall being disposed between the coupled first and second parts.

1 . A hanging device comprising first and second bodies that can be alternately coupled to and uncoupled from each other, a ring coupled to said first body, and a hook coupled to said second body. 
   
   
       2 . The hanging device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said ring is pivotably coupled to said first body. 
   
   
       3 . The hanging device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said hook is pivotably coupled to said second body. 
   
   
       4 . The hanging device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second bodies slide relative to each other during coupling and uncoupling thereof. 
   
   
       5 . The hanging device as recited in  claim 4 , wherein one of said first and second bodies comprises first and second ledges disposed on opposite sides thereof, said first ledge having a first indentation and said second ledge having a second indentation, and wherein the other of said first and second bodies comprises first and second retaining projections that snap into said first and second indentations respectively during coupling of said first and second bodies. 
   
   
       6 . The hanging device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second retaining projections are made of rigid or semi-rigid material. 
   
   
       7 . The hanging device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second bodies are in the shape of shells. 
   
   
       8 . The hanging device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said hook is made of rigid or semi-rigid material. 
   
   
       9 . A hanging storage system comprising a resealable bag and a hanging device, said resealable bag comprising a receptacle made of thin flexible web material; said hanging device comprising first and second bodies that can be alternately coupled to and uncoupled from each other, a ring coupled to said first body, and a hook coupled to said second body; and a portion of said thin flexible web material being disposed between said first and second bodies. 
   
   
       10 . The hanging storage system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said first body is disposed within an interior volume of said receptacle and said second body is disposed outside of said receptacle. 
   
   
       11 . The hanging storage system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said first and second bodies slide relative to each other during coupling and uncoupling thereof. 
   
   
       12 . The hanging storage system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein one of said first and second bodies comprises first and second ledges disposed on opposite sides thereof, said first ledge having a first indentation and said second ledge having a second indentation, and wherein the other of said first and second bodies comprises first and second retaining projections that snap or lock into said first and second indentations respectively during coupling of said first and second bodies. 
   
   
       13 . The hanging storage system as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising an airtight zipper installed in a mouth located along one side or a bottom of said receptacle, said zipper comprising first and second plastic zipper strips having mutually interlockable closure profiles. 
   
   
       14 . The hanging storage system as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising a one-way vacuum valve attached to said receptacle, said one-way vacuum valve being operable to allow evacuation of an interior volume of said receptacle. 
   
   
       15 . The hanging storage system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said receptacle comprises a gusset located along one side of said receptacle. 
   
   
       16 . The hanging storage system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said hanging device is located at a top of said receptacle. 
   
   
       17 . A hanging storage system comprising an evacuable bag having a mouth, a resealable zipper disposed in said mouth, and a hanging device comprising a hook disposed outside said bag and a ring disposed inside said bag, wherein said bag is airtight when said zipper is fully resealed. 
   
   
       18 . A method of hanging a storage bag comprising the following steps:
 placing a first part of a hanging device inside a receptacle made of thin flexible web material, said first part comprising a first body and a ring, said first body being positioned such that it contacts a portion of said web material;   placing a second part of the hanging device in a position outside said receptacle and adjacent said first part, said second part comprising a second body and a hook; and   coupling said first and second bodies together with said portion of said web material disposed therebetween.   
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said coupling step comprises sliding said first body relative to said second body. 
   
   
       20 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising the steps of placing an article inside said receptacle; hanging said article from said ring; resealing said receptacle with said article inside; and evacuating an interior volume of said resealed receptacle.