Garment storage receptacle and method of using same

Abstract

A receptacle for protectively storing at least one brassiere includes a garment support deck and a pair of brassiere cup support members. Each of the support members is rotatable with respect to the support deck and is coupled to the support deck during storage of at least one brassiere. In preferred form, the support members are rotatable relative to the support deck so that non-concentrically positioned domed-shaped contacting surfaces of the support members can be moved toward and away from each other to correspond to the natural distance between the cups of the brassiere(s). In one embodiment, the support deck defines two sets of apertures disposed in corresponding, approximately circular patterns and each of the support members includes a set of protrusions extending from a bottom surface thereof that are adapted to be removably connected within a corresponding set of the apertures defined by the support deck.

1 . A garment storage receptacle comprising: 
 a first housing member defining two sets of apertures disposed in corresponding, approximately circular patterns; and    a pair of brassiere cup support members, each of the brassiere cup support members including a set of protrusions extending from a bottom surface thereof that are adapted to be removably connected within a corresponding set of the apertures defined by the first housing member.    
   
   
       2 . The garment storage receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the brassiere cup support members are rotatable with respect to the first housing member.  
   
   
       3 . The garment storage receptacle of  claim 1 , further comprising a second housing member adapted to be placed in detachably secured engagement with the first housing member.  
   
   
       4 . The garment storage receptacle of  claim 3 , wherein the second housing member is hingedly connected to the housing member along corresponding edges thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The garment storage receptacle of  claim 3 , wherein the brassiere cup support members form convex raised projections extending from the first housing member toward the second housing member.  
   
   
       6 . The garment storage receptacle of  claim 3 , wherein the brassiere cup support members form concave depressed projections extending from the first housing member away from the second housing member.  
   
   
       7 . The garment storage receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the brassiere cup support members includes a generally domed brassiere cup contacting element and a base element, the base element and the brassiere cup contacting element defining non-concentric circular peripheries.  
   
   
       8 . The garment storage receptacle of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one brassiere strap support connected to the second housing member.  
   
   
       9 . A receptacle for protectively storing one or more brassieres, comprising: 
 a lower housing member defining two sets of apertures disposed in corresponding, approximately circular patterns;    an upper housing member hingedly attached to the lower housing member and adapted to be moved between an open position and a closed position with respect to the lower housing member; and    a pair of brassiere cup support members, each of the brassiere cup support members including a set of protrusions extending from a bottom surface thereof that are adapted to be removably connected within a corresponding set of the apertures defined by the lower housing member, the brassiere cup support members further including non-concentrically mounted brassiere cup receiving surfaces which are movable toward and away from each other by rotation of the brassiere cup support members with respect to the lower housing member.    
   
   
       10 . A garment storage receptacle comprising: 
 a garment support deck; and    a pair of brassiere cup support members, each of the brassiere cup support members being rotatable with respect to the garment support deck and being coupled to the garment support deck during storage of at least one brassiere.    
   
   
       11 . The garment storage receptacle of  claim 10 , wherein the garment support deck defines a pair of cutouts therein and wherein the brassiere cup support members are adapted to be removably connected within the pair of cutouts.  
   
   
       12 . The garment storage receptacle of  claim 10 , wherein the garment support deck defines two sets of apertures disposed in corresponding, approximately circular patterns and wherein each of the brassiere cup support members includes a set of protrusions extending from a bottom surface thereof that are adapted to be removably connected within a corresponding set of the apertures defined by the garment support deck.  
   
   
       13 . The garment storage receptacle of  claim 10 , wherein the brassiere cup support members form convex raised projections extending upward from the garment support deck.  
   
   
       14 . The garment storage receptacle of  claim 10 , wherein the brassiere cup support members form concave depressed projections extending downward from the garment support deck.  
   
   
       15 . The garment storage receptacle of  claim 10 , wherein each of the brassiere cup support members includes a generally domed brassiere cup contacting element and a base element, the base element and the brassiere cup contacting element defining non-concentric circular peripheries.  
   
   
       16 . The garment storage receptacle of  claim 10 , wherein each of the brassiere cup support members further includes non-concentrically mounted brassiere cup receiving surfaces that are movable toward and away from each other by rotation of the brassiere cup support members with respect to the garment support deck.  
   
   
       17 . A method for protectively storing one or more brassieres utilizing a garment storage receptacle that includes a first housing member defining two sets of apertures disposed in corresponding, approximately circular patterns and a pair of brassiere cup support members, each of the brassiere cup support members including a set of protrusions extending from a bottom surface thereof that are adapted to be removably connected within a corresponding set of the apertures defined by the first housing member, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least one brassiere to be stored, the brassiere having brassiere cups spaced apart by a predetermined distance;    placing the at least one brassiere in the garment storage receptacle in such a way that the brassiere cups at least partially cover the brassiere cup support members; and    rotating the brassiere cup support members relative to the first housing member so that the brassiere cup support members are spaced by a distance corresponding to the predetermined distance by which the brassiere cups are spaced.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of rotating the brassiere cup support members relative to the first housing member precedes the step of placing the at least one brassiere in the garment storage receptacle.  
   
   
       19 . A method for protectively storing one or more brassieres utilizing a garment storage receptacle that includes a garment support deck and a pair of brassiere cup support members, each of the brassiere cup support members being rotatable with respect to the garment support deck and being coupled to the garment support deck during storage of the brassiere, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least one brassiere to be stored, the brassiere having brassiere cups spaced apart by a predetermined distance;    placing the at least one brassiere in the garment storage receptacle in such a way that the brassiere cups at least partially cover the brassiere cup support members; and    rotating the brassiere cup support members relative to the garment support deck so that the brassiere cup support members are spaced by a distance corresponding to the predetermined distance by which the brassiere cups are spaced.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the step of rotating the brassiere cup support members relative to the garment support deck precedes the step of placing the at least one brassiere in the garment storage receptacle.  
   
   
       21 . A garment storage receptacle comprising: 
 a first housing member;    a second housing member hingedly connected to the first housing member and including an integrally formed pair of brassiere cup support members extending toward the first housing member, the brassiere cup support members being positioned a predetermined distance apart; and    a closure mechanism that retains the first housing member and the second housing member in releasable connection with each other to fully enclose at least one brassiere placed upon the pair of brassiere cup support members.