Carrier Apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for carrying one or more garments is described. The apparatus comprises a housing ( 12 ) and a first member ( 18 ) to be adapted to be stored within the housing. The first member is adapted to receive one or more garment and is deformable.

1 . An apparatus for carrying one or more garments comprising:
 a housing comprising an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion, the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion moveable from a first position in which the housing is open and said one or more garments can be placed within the housing to a second position in which the housing is closed and said one or more garments are stored within the housing; and   a first member adapted to be stored within the housing and to deform under compression, the first member adapted to receive said one or more garments.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a second member adapted to be stored within the housing and to receive said one or more garments, and wherein the first member is adapted to be received within a shoulder portion of a coat or jacket. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first member defines a shoulder portion of a torso. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first member is wider than a conventional hanger. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first member is flexible, wherein the first member comprises a foam, and wherein the first member comprises a resilient foam. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the second member is adapted to be used to roll up said one or more garments. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the second member is hollow. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a sleeve adapted to receive said one or more garments, and wherein the sleeve defines a garment compartment to receive said one or more garments. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the sleeve defines a second member compartment adapted to receive the second member. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the second member compartment is separate from the garment compartment. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the second member compartment is releasably sealable. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upper housing portion defines a recess adapted to receive the first member. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the recess is delta shaped. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first member defines an aperture. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first member further comprises a hanging device for permitting the first member to be hung from a rail or door handle or the like. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the hanging device is a fabric strap, and wherein the fabric strap is adapted to pass through an aperture defined in the first member. 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the fabric strap is releasably securable to a rail of door handle or the like, and wherein the hanging device is secured using a temporary fastening mechanism. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a storage compartment. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the storage compartment is separate from the housing. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the housing is releasably attachable to the storage compartment. 
     
     
         40 . A method of storing a garment for carrying, the method comprising:
 draping said garment over a first deformable member; and   placing said garment in a housing, the housing comprising an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion, the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion moveable from a first position in which the housing is open and said garment can be placed within the housing to a second position in which the housing is closed and said garment is stored within the housing;   wherein when the housing is closed, any compressive force applied by the housing to said garment is dispersed by the first deformable member.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the method further comprises the step of rolling said garment around a second member towards the first member. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the method further comprises the step of placing said garment and the first deformable member in a sleeve. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein where the method comprises the step of placing said garment and the first deformable member in a sleeve, the method further comprises inserting a second member in a compartment defined by the sleeve. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion are releasably connected. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion are hingedly connected.