Garment carrier

Abstract

A garment carrier is disclosed, comprising a former ( 3 ) having a body ( 6 ) with the opposed edges ( 8, 9 ) radiussed so that a garment wrapped round the former is not creased by being wrapped round the radiussed edges. The former is preferably generally rectangular in shape having a collar support ( 7 ) extending from one end, and the radiussed edges extending along its sides and optionally its other end. A shirt is mounted to the former by spreading out the buttoned shirt face down, placing the former on the back of the shirt with the collar support inside the back of the collar, and folding the sleeves round the radiussed edges. The shirt and former are then placed in a protective container ( 4 ) for transport, located within the container by cushioned blocks ( 20 ). The protective container may be weatherproof, and may be adapted to be secured to a bicycle.

1 . A transport assembly for transporting a shirt or blouse, comprising a shirt former and a container adapted to receive the shirt former, the shirt former comprising:
 a body portion round which a shirt may be folded, the body portion having front and rear faces, upper and lower edges and opposed side edges; and   a collar support extending from the upper edge of the body portion;   wherein the front face of the body portion is adapted to engage the outside of the back of the shirt, with the collar support received in the back of the collar of the shirt;   and wherein the opposed side edges and the lower edge of the body portion are shaped in substantially cylindrical form to present an external radius of curvature such that a shirt folded round the side and lower edges is not creased thereby.   
     
     
         2 . The transport assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the body portion of shirt former is substantially planar and formed from sheet material; and   the opposed side edges and the lower edge of the body portion are thickened relative to the body portion of the shirt former.   
     
     
         3 . The transport assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the body portion of the former is a substantially rectangular planar element, and cylindrical elements are attached to the side edges of the planar body portion. 
     
     
         4 . The transport assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the cylindrical elements are formed from resilient material. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The transport assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the shirt former is provided at its rear face with a retaining clip adapted to hold a folded shirt in place on the shirt former. 
     
     
         9 . The transport assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the retaining clip is attached to the body of the shirt former by a hinge. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The transport assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises at least one flexible or resilient sidewall. 
     
     
         12 . The transport assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is a substantially rigid container. 
     
     
         13 . The transport assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises external attachment means. 
     
     
         14 . The transport assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises internal cushioning and locating means to locate a shirt and former within the container. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The transport assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the shirt former is provided with engagement means for engaging a complementary formation on the inner surface of the container to locate the former in a predetermined position within the container. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A shirt former for preserving the finish of at least a front portion of a shirt during transit, the shirt former comprising:
 a body portion round which a shirt may be folded, the body portion having front and rear faces, upper and lower edges and opposed side edges;   wherein the front face is adapted to engage the back of a shirt and a collar support adapted to be received in the back of a collar of the shirt extends from the upper edge of the front face of the body portion; and   wherein the opposed side edges and the lower edge of the body portion are shaped in substantially cylindrical form to present an external radius of curvature such that a shirt folded round the side and lower edges is not creased thereby.   
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The shirt former according to  claim 18 , wherein the body portion is a substantially rectangular planar element, and cylindrical elements are attached to the side edges and lower edge of the planar body portion. 
     
     
         21 . The shirt former according to  claim 20 , wherein the cylindrical elements are formed from resilient material. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The shirt former according to  claim 18 , further comprising a retaining means operable to retain a folded shirt to the body portion of the former. 
     
     
         27 . The shirt former according to  claim 26 , wherein the retaining means comprises a resilient element mounted to the body portion of the former. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The shirt former according to  claim 26 , wherein the retaining means is attached to the body of the former by a hinge. 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . (canceled)