Garment organizing system,assembly, and method

Abstract

A garment organizing system, assembly, and method enables users to organize garmentry for travel. The basic assembly comprises a support panel, a pair of restraint bindings, a series of spaced binding attachment structures for attaching each restraint binding to the support panel at spaced intervals, and an optional panel linking mechanism for linking the first support panel to an adjacent support panel. The support panels support garmentry placed thereupon. Each restraint binding is fixedly attached to a first edge of the first respective support panel, and the restraint bindings restrain garmentry supported by the support panels intermediate the periodically spaced binding attachment structures. The panel linking mechanism enables the user to fold a series of interconnectable garment restraint assemblies into a back-to-back garment restraint assembly arrangement for travel.

Description

PRIOR HISTORY

This patent application is a continuation-in-part patent application claiming the benefit of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/587,815, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Oct. 14, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to an assembly for restraining garmentry and similar other travel items during travel. More particularly, the present invention relates to an assembly or series of interconnected or linked assemblies for organizing garmentry during travel.

2. Description of Prior Art

The prior art is replete with examples of garmentry-receiving and/or garmentry-organizing luggage and the like. Separate systems and/or assemblies for organizing garmentry, which separate systems and/or assemblies may be used in conjunction with standardized luggage, are less well known. Some of the more pertinent prior art relating to luggage-organizing assemblies and the like usable in combination with standardized luggage are described hereinafter.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,952 ('952 patent), which issued to Chinman, discloses a Wrapper for Clothing. The '952 patent describes a wrapper for clothing and the like comprising a flexible member having a central area with a plurality of outwardly extending wing sections. A reinforcing base is provided in the central area. The wrapper also includes a shape retainer having the same geometric shape as the reinforcing member but being of a lesser dimension. Accordingly, articles of clothing may be folded around the shape retainer so that the articles are folded into the geometric shape, and the articles may then be placed on top of the base. The wing sections may then be folded over the articles to wrap the articles therein.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,431 ('431 patent), which issued to Pulichino, Jr. et al., discloses a Suitcase with Compartment for a Foldable Garment Bag. The '431 patent describes a suitcase comprising a generally rectangular container, a partition dividing said container into two compartments, a full length garment bag having at least one clothes hanger, said garment bag consisting of an elongated fabric sheath for enclosing a suit or dress and including means for opening said bag while it is unfolded with a garment hanging freely in it and thereafter closing said bag upon a garment, said garment bag being folded upon itself in one of said compartments.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,324 ('324 patent), which issued to Franklin et al., discloses a Soft-Sided Luggage Case with Interfitting and Foldably Separate Packing Compartments. The '324 patent describes an openable and closeable soft-sided luggage case having an external flexible panel, an internal frame structure surrounding an internal cavity, and a carrying handle or a carrying strap connected to the frame structure, includes a first packing compartment which is connected to the external panel. The first packing compartment extends into the interior cavity and consumes a portion of the interior cavity when the case is closed.

The remaining portion of the interior cavity forms a second packing compartment. The first packing compartment includes a cover member which is selectively closeable for separating the first and second packing compartments when the case is closed and which is selectively openable for allowing access to the first packing compartment when the case is opened. The first and second packing compartments are equally accessible and available for packing. The first packing compartment may function as a garment bag. A packing and unpacking method is also used for the case.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,297 ('297 patent), which issued to Myers, discloses a Garment Bag Construction to Minimize Wrinkling. The '297 patent describes a garment bag of the type having an elongate body substantially formed of flexible fabric or sheet material, and defining a cavity with a hanger support at the top for receiving hanging clothes on hangers. The bag folds double on itself for transport, and includes a pair of rigid wall portions which when the bag is folded double on itself are urged forcefully together.

These rigid wall portions substantially immobilize the clothing items therebetween to greatly reduce creasing and wrinkling of the clothing items which would otherwise result from their shifting about in transit. The garment bag also includes features preserving the efforts of careful packing during folding and unfolding of the bag to further reduce clothes wrinkling. Also, the garment bag includes a specially configured toiletries kit which by its shape and placement in the folded bag further contributes to a reduction of clothes wrinkling. The garment bag is also self-supporting in its transport conditions so that it is more convenient to carry by hand.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,766 ('766 patent), which issued to Deconinck, discloses a Travelling or Packing Bag. The '766 patent describes a bag enabling personal belongings to be packed and carried inside a case comprises a rigid inner tray having a support edge of rounded profile and a packing wall which is at least partly solid. The tray is pivotable between a horizontal position and a vertical position. Personal belongings can be laid flat on the packing wall when the tray is in the horizontal position. In the vertical position a jacket previously folded in two in the longitudinal direction and a pair of trousers can be laid astride the edge.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,026 ('026 patent), which issued to Chernoff, discloses a Garment Holding Device for use with Various Types of Luggage. The '026 patent describes a novel garment holding device for use with various types of luggage comprising a substantially cylindrical hollow tube about which suits and other garments can be completely wrapped, a fabric cover for holding garments securely about the outside surface of the tube, and a flexible hanger which is capable of holding suits and other garments against the outside of the tube while being flexible enough to conform to the curvature of the tube.

A fabric cover wraps around the garments and the tube and holds the garments securely against the outer surface of the tube. Because the garments will be rolled instead of folded, wrinkling of the garments will be reduced. The hollow center of the cylinder is utilized to carry bulky and awkward shaped objects such as shoes and shaving or makeup kits. The tube, when holding a garment wrapped around its outer surface, can be carried inside any luggage of appropriate size. Because of the novel way the suits and garments are wrapped around the outside of a cylinder the overall shape of the luggage can be more compact and easier to carry.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,391 ('391 patent), which issued to Gerch, discloses a Garment Carrier within Suitcase and Method for Packing. The '391 patent describes a luggage piece and a method for packing and transporting the same. A first compartment has an interior for carrying first items. A second compartment is provided for carrying second items. The second items are distinguishable from the first items in that the second compartment includes a hanging device for hanging articles from the hanging device.

The second compartment, therefore, acts as a garment carrier and the first compartment acts as a standard luggage compartment. The first compartment and the second compartment are integrally formed as a single luggage piece for simple packing and unpacking of articles as well as simplified transport of the luggage piece following packing of the articles. An extendable arm having a handle and wheels is provided for transport of the luggage piece.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,207,426 ('426 patent), which issued to Godshaw et al., discloses a Combination Duffle and Garment Bag. The '426 patent describes a luggage item convertible from a duffle bag form to a garment bag form by disengaging duffle end panels from the lateral sides of the garment bag and folding those end panels against the inside of the garment bag. Various arrangements of handles and carry straps are disclosed which facilitate transport of the luggage item as a duffle bag or a garment bag.

It may be seen from a review of the prior art that the prior art fails to disclose a garment organizing system, assembly, and method whereby one or more support panels support garmentry placed thereupon, and one or more restraint panels are fixedly attached to respective support panels for selectively restraining panel-supported garmentry. A plurality of support panels may then be linked together and stacked into columns, and the columnar stacks may then be neatly inserted into standardized luggage for further travel. The prior art thus perceives a need for such a garment organizing system, assembly, and method as described in more detail hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention essentially provides a garment organizing system for use with travel, which garment organizing system comprises a series of linkable or linked garment restraint assemblies. The preferred embodiment according to the present invention is reflected in FIGS. 23-27 of the drawings supporting this specification. Each garment restraint assembly preferably comprises a support panel; a pair of garment restraint bindings; certain binding attachment means for removably attaching the garment restraint bindings to a support surface of the support panel; and certain panel linking means for linking or interconnecting each support panel to an adjacent support panel.

It is contemplated that said binding attachment means may be defined by any number of attachment devices or attachment mechanisms. The attachment devices or mechanism allow or enable the user to restrain garmentry in spaced relation intermediate the garment restraint bindings and the support panel against the support surface of said panel. The panel linking means intermediate adjacent support panels enable the user to fold adjacent garment restraint assemblies at the panel junction site to allow the support panels to be stacked into back-to-back relation to one another such that the garment restraint bindings and garments restrained thereby face outwardly on opposed sides of the folded arrangement. The back-to-back garment restraint assembly arrangement may then be placed into luggage for further travel purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features of my invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following brief description of patent drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a first alternative embodiment of a garment restraint assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 1(a) is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view of a portion of a support panel with parts broken away to show structure for maintaining the form and function of the support panel periphery.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a second alternative embodiment of a garment restraint assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a series of interconnected garment restraint assemblies showing the first alternative embodiment of the garment restraint assembly (otherwise depicted in FIG. 1) connected to a series of three second alternative embodiments of the garment restraint assembly (otherwise depicted in FIG. 2).

FIG. 3(a) is an enlarged, fragmentary side view of the junction site between adjacent support panels otherwise depicted in FIG. 3 showing a first alternative panel linking mechanism, namely, a snap fastener assembly.

FIG. 3(b) is an enlarged, fragmentary side view of the junction site between adjacent support panels showing a second alternative panel linking mechanism, namely, a hook and loop type fastener arrangement.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the first alternative embodiment of the garment restraint assembly showing garmentry in broken lines as received and restrained intermediate the restraint panel and support panel.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the second alternative embodiment of the garment restraint assembly showing garmentry in broken lines as received and restrained intermediate the restraint panel and support panel.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a first arrangement of previously depicted and interconnected garment restraint assemblies showing restraint panels facing or pointing in a uniform direction before being stacked.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a second arrangement of previously depicted and interconnected garment restraint assemblies showing adjacent restraint panels facing opposing directions before being stacked.

FIG. 8 is a top exploded type perspective view of a series of garment restraint assemblies showing the restraint panels of successfully stacked assemblies facing a uniform direction.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of a series of interconnected garment restraint assemblies stacked into a garment restraint assembly column wherein the restraint panels are facing or pointing in a uniform direction.

FIG. 9(a) is an enlarged fragmentary side view depiction of a first edge of the garment restraint assembly column otherwise depicted in FIG. 9 showing a fastening mechanism fastening the top support panel to the bottom support panel of the stack.

FIG. 10 is a depiction of a garment restraint assembly column received within luggage designed for receiving and transporting a golf bag for travel.

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a standard suitcase with its lid open receiving various pieces of travel items (shown in broken lines) including a garment restraint assembly column.

FIG. 12 is a side view depiction of a standard suitcase with its lid open receiving various pieces of travel items (shown in broken lines) including a garment restraint assembly column in the process of being inserted into the suitcase.

FIG. 13 is a top exploded type perspective view of a series of third alternative embodiments of the garment restraint assemblies showing the restraint panels of successfully stacked assemblies facing opposing directions.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of two third alternative embodiments of the garment restraint assembly according to the present invention showing the top of the left assembly with its restraint panel facing a first direction and the bottom of the right assembly with its restraint panel facing a second direction opposite the first direction.

FIG. 14(a) is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view as sectioned from FIG. 14 showing the details of a third type of panel linking mechanism linking the two third alternative embodiments of the garment restraint assemblies, which panel linking mechanism is a looped cord-like structure.

FIG. 14(b) is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view as sectioned from FIG. 14 showing the details of a cord length adjustment mechanism made a part of the restraint panel.

FIG. 15(a) is an enlarged view of a snap fastener arrangement axially displaceable along a length of fragmentary elastic cord.

FIG. 15(b) is an enlarged view of a loop assembly axially displaceable along a length of fragmentary elastic cord.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary view of the back edge of a support panel of a third alternative embodiment of the garment restraint assembly showing an elastic cord and edge of a respective restraint panel being looped over flanged buttons attached to the back side of the support panel.

FIG. 16(a) is an enlarged side view of a flanged button attached to an edge of the support panel with a cord being removably received intermediate the edge of the support panel and the flanged portion of the button.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary view of the front edge of a support panel of a third alternative embodiment of the garment restraint assembly showing a respective restraint panel being folded over the edge of the support panel.

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of a third alternative embodiment of the garment restraint assembly showing a restraint panel having a length greater in magnitude than the width of the underlying support panel.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary depiction of a cord-type, panel linking mechanism showing cord-pinching devices for (1) adjusting the length of the panel linking mechanism and/or (2) the size of the loop formed at the end of the panel linking mechanism.

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary plan type depiction of an edge of a fourth alternative, embodiment of the garment restraint assembly showing the support panel outfitted with hooks and the restraint panel having exposed elastic cord portions receivable by the hooks for removably attaching the restraint panel to the support panel.

FIG. 20(a) is an enlarged fragmentary view showing details of the hooked junction site otherwise depicted in FIG. 20.

FIG. 20(b) is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the support panel of the fourth alternative embodiment of the garment restraint assembly showing a cord being received by a hook.

FIG. 21(a) is a fragmentary view of a first lateral back edge of a fourth alternative embodiment of the garment restraint assembly showing a male snap fastener structure attached thereto.

FIG. 21(b) is a fragmentary view of a second lateral front edge of a fourth alternative embodiment of the garment restraint assembly showing an extended female snap fastener structure attached thereto.

FIG. 21(c) is an enlarged depiction of the extended female snap fastener structure otherwise depicted in FIG. 21(b).

FIG. 22(a) is a fragmentary view of a first lateral edge of a fifth alternative, preferred embodiment of the garment restraint assembly showing a length of rigid material attached to the first lateral edge with a cord.

FIG. 22(b) is a fragmentary view of a second lateral edge of a fifth alternative, preferred embodiment of the garment restraint assembly showing an extended grommet assembly attached thereto.

FIG. 23 is a top perspective view of two, linked, sixth alternative embodiments of the garment restraint assemblies according to the present invention showing a pair of garment restraint bindings extending the length of the linked sixth alternative embodiments.

FIG. 24 is a top perspective view of the two, linked, sixth alternative embodiments of the garment restraint assemblies otherwise shown in FIG. 23, showing a series of rolled garments restrained by the garment restraint bindings intermediate paired binding attachment structures.

FIG. 25 is a side edge view of the two, linked sixth alternative embodiments of the garment restraint assemblies otherwise depicted in FIG. 24 showing the garment restraint assemblies being folded at the junction therebetween so as to form a back-to-back garment assembly arrangement.

FIG. 26 is a side edge view of the two, linked sixth alternative embodiments of the garment restraint assemblies otherwise depicted in FIG. 25 showing the garment restraint assemblies folded to form a back-to-back garment assembly arrangement.

FIG. 27 is a plan view of the two, linked, sixth alternative embodiments of the garment restraint assemblies otherwise shown in FIG. 23 outfitted with a hook at a first end and a travel accessory bag at a second end of the interconnected garment restraint assemblies as hung upon a fragmentary door (shown in broken lines).

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring now to the drawings with more specificity, the preferred embodiment of the present invention essentially provides a garment organizing assembly and/or system for use with travel, which garment organizing system comprises a series of linkable or interconnectable garment restraint assemblies as at 110. Each garment restraint assembly 110 comprises a support panel as at 111; certain garment binding means; certain binding attachment means for attaching said garment binding means to a support surface 113 of the support panel 111 in spaced relation along the length of said garment binding means and optionally certain panel linking means for linking or interconnecting each support panel 111 to an adjacent support panel 111.

The support panels 111 are akin to support panels 11 otherwise described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/587,815, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Oct. 14, 2009, to which this specification claims a benefit, and the specification of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto. It will thus be understood that support panels 11 and 111 both function to support garmentry 101 placed thereupon as generally depicted in FIGS. 4, 5, 8, 9, and 24-26. The support panels 11 and 111 are preferably constructed from flexible material such as fabric or netting 20, and preferably comprise certain peripheral support means for maintaining a substantially planar support panel periphery as at 21 about the garmentry supportive fabric, netting 20, or similar other garment supportive material.

With regard to the peripheral support means, it is contemplated that the same may be defined by a form or frame-providing structure such as heavy gauge wire 18 or similar other structure, to which the fabric, netting 20 or similar other structure is permanently attached. The support panel peripheries 21 of support panels 11 or 111 are preferably sized and shaped for cooperable use with standardized luggage 102 as generally depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12. Luggage 103 for receiving and transporting a golf bag is further shown in FIG. 10 into which the stacked assemblies 10 or garment restraint assembly stacked column 50 or back-to-back garment restraint assembly arrangement 150 may be placed.

The garment organizing system is thus contemplated to further comprise, in combination, an article of luggage (as at 102 and 103) as generally and generically depicted where the luggage has an interior as at 120 capable of receiving a garment restraint assembly column 50 or back-to-back restraint assembly arrangement 150. It will thus be seen from an inspection of FIGS. 10-12 that the stackable garment restraint assemblies 10 or garment restraint assembly column 50 or garment restraint assembly arrangement 150 may thus be received in the spacious interior 120.

It is contemplated that the garment binding means may be preferably defined by a pair of opposed or parallel garment restraint bindings as at 112. Each garment restraint binding 112 is preferably constructed from flexible, cord-like material, and is preferably and fixedly attached to a first edge 122 of a respective support panel 111 (as for example by way of stitching). The second ends of the bindings 112 are preferably unattached to the support panel 111.

Each garment restraint binding 112, however, is attached to the support surface 113 of one or more support panels 111 via certain binding attachment means, which may be preferably defined by looped fabric structures as at 123. Notably, the looped fabric structures 123 are spaced along the length of each garmentry restraint binding 112 such that (rolled) garmentry 101 may be restrained therebetween via the binding(s) 112 as generally depicted in FIGS. 24-26.

The garment restraint bindings 112 may preferably comprise certain length adjusting means such as cord stops (as at 44) for adjusting the effective length of the garment restraint bindings 112 and enhancing restraint characteristics of the garment restraining assemblies 110. It is further contemplated that the bindings 112 may be formed from elastic material(s) for altering the effective length of the bindings 112 for improving the restraint characteristics of the garment restraint bindings 112.

The panel linking means may be defined by any number of linking devices or linking mechanisms. In this last regard, several examples of linking type mechanisms have been depicted in the various figures. The preferred panel linking means according to the present invention is exemplified in FIGS. 24-27 and may be defined by a flexible piece of fabric 124 stitched or otherwise fixedly attached to adjacent edges (as at 125 and 126) of adjacent or opposed support panels 111.

The flexible piece of fabric 124 enables the user to fold the connected assemblies 110 at the junction site such that the assemblies 110 may be folded into a back-to-back garment restraint assembly arrangement 150 as generally depicted in FIGS. 25 and 26. In this regard, the reader is directed to FIG. 25, which figure depicts the back sides or back surfaces 115 of the support panels 111 being moved toward one another as generally depicted by vector arrow 116.

Alternatively, FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 3(a), 4, and 5 show or attempt to depict a first alternative type of panel linking mechanism, namely, cooperative extended snap-type fastener assemblies 31 attached to laterally opposite edges 32 of the support panel(s) 11. FIGS. 13, 14, 14(a), and 19 show or attempt to depict a second type of linking mechanism, namely, raised (flange-headed) buttons 52 (akin to buttons 26) attached to a first lateral edge 33 that operate to receive and retain an extended loop 34 attached to a second lateral edge 35 of each support panel 11.

Notably, from a comparative inspection of FIGS. 13, 14, and 16-18, it may be seen that the buttons 52 may be formed on either a support side 29 of the second edge 23 or a back side 29 of the second edge 23. In this regard, it is noted that bulky or weighty garmentry and the like may require additional restraint holding forces enabled by more fully extending the elastic cord 27 over the edge 23 and loop the same over the buttons 26 as located on the back side 29 of the second edge 23. A flanged head 40 extends from a post 41, which head 40 functions to retain the received cord 27 as generally depicted in FIG. 16(a). Less bulky or weighty garmentry and the like may require less stretching of the elastic cord 27 to retain the restrained items upon the support panel(s) 11.

FIGS. 21(b) and 21(c) show extended female type snap fastener structures 36 attached to a first lateral edge 37 that operate to receive and retain a male snap fastener 38 attached to a second lateral edge 39. FIGS. 22(a) and 22(b) depict a fifth alternative, preferred means for selectively and removably linking adjacent support panels 11 to one another. In this regard, the reader will note that FIG. 22(a) depicts a rigid length of material or pin 61 attached via a length of cord to a second lateral edge 39. The pin 61 may be inserted through grommet 60 attached to a first lateral edge 37 as depicted in FIG. 22(b). Notably, the length of pin 61 is greater in magnitude than the inner diameter of grommet 60 so as to provide fastening stop structure after the grommet 60 receives the pin 61.

Other, alternative, less preferable forms may include such arrangements as hook and loop type fasteners such as VELCRO brand type hook and loop fastening structure 16 as generally depicted in FIG. 3(b). It is contemplated that the panel linking means essentially function to enable the user to interconnect, stack, or fold the series of interconnectable garment restraining assemblies 10 or assemblies 110 for allowing the user to organize garmentry during or for travel.

While the above description contains much specificity, this specificity should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of the invention. For example, it is contemplated that the present invention essentially provides a garment organizing assembly 110 for use with travel, which garment organizing assembly 110 essentially comprises a support panel (as at 111); certain garment restraint means as may be exemplified by paired garment restraint bindings 112; certain binding attachment means for attaching at spaced intervals each garment restraint binding 112 to a support panel 111; and certain panel linking means for linking each support panel 111 to an adjacent support panel 111 as heretofore exemplified.

The support panel 111 supports garmentry 101 (or similar other travel items) placed thereupon. The garment restraint means or binding(s) 112 are fixedly attached to a first edge of a respective support panel 111. The binding attachment means attach the restraint means or bindings 112 at spaced intervals along the length of the bindings 112 to a support surface 113 of the support panels 111, and thus the restraint bindings 112 essentially function to selectively restrain garmentry 101 otherwise supported by the support panel 111. The panel linking means enable the user to interconnect and fold a series of garment restraint assemblies 110 into a back-to-back garment restraint assembly arrangement for organizing garmentry 101 for travel.

A first end of the assembly 110 may be further outfitted with certain means for hanging the assembly 110. In this regard, it is contemplated that the means for hanging the assembly 110 may be exemplified by a hook as at 130 attached adjacent the edge 122. Further, the assembly 110 may comprise certain means for holding travel accessories, which means may be exemplified by a travel bag 140 or similar other construction, but which construction may be hung from the second end of assembly 110 or interconnected assemblies 110, which end is opposite the edge 122 for first end of the assembly 110 or interconnected assemblies 110.

The foregoing specifications are further believed to support certain methodology for organizing garmentry for travel, which garmentry organizing method may be said to essentially comprise a series of steps. In this regard, it is contemplated that one or more garment restraint assemblies are initially provided, wherein each garment restraint assembly comprises a support panel, certain garment binding means, and certain binding attachment means for removably attaching in spaced relation said garment binding means to a support surface of a respective support panel. Garmentry may thus be supported by a select support panel intermediate said binding attachment means, and restrained upon the select support panel via said garment binding means.

The garmentry organizing method may comprise certain additional steps, including the provision of certain panel linking means for linking each support panel to an adjacent support panel; and the linkage a series of garment restraint assemblies to one another via the panel linking means. Once the support panels are linked, the method may comprise the step of folding the linked garment restraint assemblies into a back-to-back garment restraint assembly arrangement. The method may further comprise the step of hanging a garment restraint panel or a series of interconnected garment restraint assemblies from a first end of the series of interconnected garment restraint assemblies.

The garment organizing method may further comprise the steps of providing certain means for holding travel accessories as exemplified by bag 140, and hanging said means for holding travel accessories from a second end of the series of interconnected garment restraint assemblies, said second end being opposite said first end.

Accordingly, although the invention has been described by reference to certain preferred and alternative embodiments, and certain methodology, it is not intended that the novel disclosures herein presented be limited thereby, but that modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosure, the following claims and the appended drawings.

Claims

1. A garment organizing system for use with travel, the garment organizing system comprising:

a series of interconnectable garment restraint assemblies, each garment restraint assembly comprising a support panel, a pair of garment restraint bindings, binding attachment means for removably attaching each garment restraint binding to a support surface of a respective support panel, and panel linking means for linking each support panel to an adjacent support panel, the binding attachment means being cooperably spaced along the length of each garment restraint binding for receiving garmentry intermediate said spacing, the support panels for supporting garmentry placed thereupon, each garment restraint binding being fixedly attached to an outer, first edge of a first support panel, the restraint bindings for selectively restraining garmentry supported by the support panels intermediate said binding attachment means, said panel linking means enabling the user to link the series of interconnectable garment restraint assemblies, the linkable garment restraint assemblies for organizing garmentry for travel.

2. The garment organizing system of claim 1 wherein the support panels are each constructed from flexible material, the support panels each comprising peripheral support means for maintaining a substantially planar support panel periphery, the support panels being sized and shaped for cooperable use with standardized luggage.

3. The garment organizing system of claim 2 being usable in combination with an article of luggage, the article of luggage having a spacious interior, the linkable garment restraint assemblies being foldable at the panel linking means for folding the garment restraint assemblies into a back-to-back garment restraint assembly arrangement, the garment restraint assembly arrangement being receivable in the spacious luggage interior.

4. The garment organizing system of claim 1 wherein said pair of garment restraint bindings are substantially parallel to one another.

5. The garment organizing system of claim 1 wherein said garment restraint bindings comprise length adjusting means for adjusting the effective length of the garment restraint bindings for enhancing restraint of garmentry.

6. The garment organizing system of claim 1 wherein said garment restraint bindings are elastic, the elastic garment restraint bindings for enhancing restraint of garmentry.

7. The garment organizing system of claim 1 comprising means for hanging the series of interconnected garment restraint assemblies from a first end of the series of interconnected garment restraint assemblies.

8. The garment organizing system of claim 7 comprising means for holding travel accessories, said means being hung from a second end of the series of interconnected garment restraint assemblies, said second end being opposite said first end.

9. A garment organizing assembly for use with travel, the garment organizing assembly comprising:

a support panel for supporting garmentry placed thereupon, garment binding means for restraining garmentry against the support panel, and binding attachment means for removably attaching said garment binding means to a first surface of a the support panel, the binding attachment means being cooperably spaced along the length of said garment binding means for receiving garmentry intermediate said spacing, the garment binding means for selectively restraining garmentry supported by the support panel intermediate said garment binding means.

10. The garment organizing assembly of claim 9 comprising panel linking means for linking the support panel to an adjacent support panel, said panel linking means for enabling the user to interconnect a series of garment restraint assemblies for organizing garmentry for travel.

11. The garment organizing assembly of claim 9 wherein the support panel is constructed from flexible material, the support panel comprising peripheral support means for maintaining a substantially planar support panel periphery, the support panel being sized and shaped for cooperable use with standardized luggage.

12. The garment organizing assembly of claim 10 wherein said panel linking means are flexible, the flexible panel linking means for enhancing foldability of interconnected garment restraint assemblies.

13. The garment organizing assembly of claim 9 said garment binding means comprise length adjusting means for adjusting the effective length of the garment binding means for enhancing restraint of garmentry.

14. The garment organizing system of claim 9 comprising means for hanging the garment restraint assembly from a first end of the garment restraint assembly.

15. The garment organizing system of claim 14 comprising means for holding travel accessories, said means being hung from a second end of the garment restraint assembly, said second end being opposite said first end.

16. A garmentry organizing method for organizing garmentry with travel, the garmentry organizing method comprising the steps of:

providing a first garment restraint assembly, the first garment restraint assembly comprising a support panel, garment binding means, and binding attachment means for removably attaching in spaced relation said garment binding means to a support surface of the first support panel;

supporting garmentry upon the first support panel intermediate said binding attachment means; and

restraining garmentry upon the first support panel via said garment binding means.

17. The garmentry organizing method of claim 16 comprising the additional steps of:

providing panel linking means for linking the first support panel to an adjacent support panel; and

linking at least one additional garment restraint assembly to the first support panel via the panel linking means.

18. The garment organizing method of claim 17 comprising the step of folding the linked garment restraint assemblies into a back-to-back garment restraint assembly column.

19. The garment organizing method of claim 17 comprising the step of hanging the series of interconnected garment restraint assemblies from a first end of the series of interconnected garment restraint assemblies.

20. The garment organizing method of claim 19 comprising the steps of:

providing means for holding travel accessories; and

hanging said means for holding travel accessories from a second end of the series of interconnected garment restraint assemblies, said second end being opposite said first end.