CLOTHES SUPPORTING APPARATUS

Abstract

A clothes supporting apparatus is provided having a shaping member defining a flexible periphery for supporting an item of clothing. An adjustable mechanism is provided for selectively decreasing a transverse extent of the periphery, wherein the adjustable mechanism extends between joints on opposing portions of the periphery and causes the opposing portions of the periphery to flex towards each other when the adjustable mechanism is operated. The shaping member is elastically deformable causing the opposing portions of the periphery to return to an unflexed position when the adjustable mechanism is released.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a clothes supporting apparatus for storing an item of clothing when not being worn.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Coat hangers are well known as having a hook extending from a transverse member shaped to act like a person's shoulders and to hold a garment with the transverse member inserted into the garment and with the hook extending from a neck of the garment.

Clothing often becomes creased and does not look smart when worn. A known coat hanger supports a garment but does not help to remove and prevent creases. Furthermore, when a garment is packed in a suitcase it becomes crumpled due to a lack of space and compression of the garment.

Travelers, particularly business travelers, look for a solution to keep garments, such as suits, dresses, etc., wrinkle-free whilst keeping garments compact saving space in suitcases and in closets. A discerning traveler wishes to spend less time with the tedious process of packing, unpacking and re-ironing clothes after traveling whether for business or for pleasure.

The preceding discussion of the background to the invention is intended only to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. It should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgment or admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge in the art as at the priority date of the application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the technology there is provided a clothes supporting apparatus comprising: a shaping member defining a flexible periphery for supporting an item of clothing; and an adjustable mechanism for selectively decreasing a transverse extent of the periphery, wherein the adjustable mechanism extends between joints on opposing portions of the periphery and causes the opposing portions of the periphery to flex towards each other when the adjustable mechanism is operated.

The clothing supporting apparatus provides a shaping member that may be changeable between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration by changing the length of the transverse extent of the periphery defined by the shaping member. An item of clothing may be supported by the apparatus and maintained in a stretched or taut position when in an expanded configuration thereby reducing creasing.

In one embodiment, the adjustable mechanism includes a transverse portion of a cord provided between attachment points on the opposing portions of the periphery, the transverse portion of the cord being adjustable in length thereby causing the opposing portions of the periphery to flex towards each other when the length of the transverse portion is reduced.

The shaping member may be elastically deformable causing the opposing portions of the periphery to return to an unflexed position when the adjustable mechanism is released.

Further features of the technology provide for the cord to extend from each end of the transverse portion through the attachment points in the form of cord guides to a securing mechanism at which the cord is securable at variable positions to adjust the length of the transverse portion of the cord. The cord may form a triangle with a base of the transverse portion and an opposing vertex at which the securing mechanism is provided, wherein the securing mechanism secures the cord to decrease or increase a size of the triangle.

The flexible periphery may be in a plane extending from a hanging member and the opposing portions of the periphery are opposed side portions of the shaping member joining a top portion and a bottom portion of the shaping member and the joints on the opposing portions are universal joints enabling the clothes supporting apparatus to be folded to move the bottom portion to a position adjacent the top portion.

The top portion may include curved corners joining the side portions and wherein one or more slip resistant devices are provided on the curved corners to provide traction for an item of clothing preventing the item from sliding off the curved corners. The bottom portion may have a straight strengthened extent to provide structure to the shaping member.

Further features of the technology provide for the shaping member to be formed of a tubular member housing two or more flexible rods, wherein adjacent ends of the flexible rods are provided at the attachment points on opposing portions of the periphery to provide opposing joints in the shaping member.

The securing mechanism may be a clamp arrangement through which two extents of the cord are threaded to clamp the extents of the cord at a selected position.

An attachment area may be provided at which a hanging member is attached to the shaping member and at which the securing mechanism is provided. This may be provided by a rigid hub that also gives structure to the top portion of the shaping member.

The hanging member may include a hinge member and may be foldable at the attachment area so that in a folded position it is within the periphery of the shaping member. The hinge member may have a pivot housing enabling the hanging member to be foldable flat against the attachment area to minimize the size of the folded position. The hinge member may allow the hanging member to self-rotate into a correct orientation when hanging.

According to another aspect of the technology there is provided a method of use of a clothes supporting apparatus comprising: providing a shaping member defining a flexible periphery adjustable between an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration in which an adjustable mechanism decreases a transverse extent of the periphery between joints on opposing portions of the periphery causing the opposing portions of the periphery to flex towards each other; and, once an item of clothing is supported on the shaping member, increasing the transverse extent of the periphery causing the opposing portions of the periphery to expand to a selected expanded configuration.

Further features of the technology provide for the method to include providing a folded configuration by folding the clothes supporting apparatus at the joints on the opposing portions to fold a bottom portion to a position adjacent a top portion.

The method may fold a hanging member so that in a folded position it is within the periphery of the shaping member. The method may include folding the clothes supporting apparatus with a supported item of clothing with the shaping member in an expanded configuration resulting in the clothing item being supported in a taut arrangement.

Further features of the technology provide for applying heat to an item of clothing supported on the shaping member in the expanded configuration. The step of applying heat may apply heat using a hair dryer or a steamer.

Further features of the technology provide for stacking multiple clothes supporting apparatus with each clothes supporting apparatus in the folded configuration. Yet further features of the technology provide for displaying the supported item of clothing on the shaping member in a shape corresponding to a shape as worn on a person.

According to another aspect of the technology, there is provided a clothes supporting apparatus comprising: a shaping member defining a flexible periphery adjustable in a range between an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration by an adjustable mechanism for adjusting a length of a transverse extent of the periphery between joints on opposing portions of the periphery, wherein contracted configurations cause the opposing portions of the periphery to flex towards each other.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are front views of an example embodiment of a clothes supporting apparatus in an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a joint at an attachment point of the clothes supporting apparatus of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a protrusion on a curved corner of the clothes supporting apparatus of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a detail of the hanging member and hub of the clothes supporting apparatus of FIG. 1A;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are front view of details of a securing mechanism of the of the clothes supporting apparatus of FIG. 1A in an activated and non-activated position;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are side perspective and underneath perspective views of the securing mechanism of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 7 is an internal perspective view of the securing mechanism of FIG. 5A; and

FIG. 8 is a front view of the clothes supporting apparatus of FIG. 1A in a folded configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

The described clothes supporting apparatus enables clothes to be stored and/or transported without undue creasing. The apparatus supports clothes in a manner that keeps them taut and flat either when being hung or when folded and packed for storage or travel.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, front views of an example embodiment of a clothes supporting apparatus (100) are shown. FIG. 1A shows the clothes supporting apparatus in an expanded configuration and FIG. 1B shows the clothes supporting apparatus in a contracted configuration as explained further below. The clothes supporting apparatus may be selectively secured at any position between the contracted configuration and a fully expanded configuration.

The clothes supporting apparatus (100) has a hanging member (101), such as a hook, attached to a shaping member (110) that defines a flexible periphery for supporting an item of clothing.

The shaping member (110) may be formed of an elastically deformable, flexible elongate material forming a periphery of a rounded rectangular shape. In use, when hung by the hanging member (101), the shaping member (110) is provided in a vertical plane with a top portion (111) at which the hanging member (101) is attached, side portions (112, 113), and a bottom portion (114).

An adjustable mechanism (120) is provided for selectively decreasing a transverse extent of the periphery of the shaping member (110). The transverse extent may be a width of the shaping member (110) between two points on the side portions (112, 113). The shaping member (110) may also be folded along the transverse extend and universal joints are provided in each of the side portions (112, 113) to enable the decrease in the transverse extent as well as the folding of the apparatus.

The adjustable mechanism (120) may take various forms including unfolding lever arms or telescopic mechanisms provided across the shaping member. In a described embodiment, the adjustable mechanism (120) is provided by a cord (130) that has a transverse portion (131) provided between attachment points (121, 122) on the side portions (112, 113) of the shaping member (110). The attachment points (121, 122) have cord guides (123, 124) through which parts of the cord (130) pass.

The cord (130) extends from each end (132, 133) of the transverse portion (131) through the cord guides (123, 124) to a securing mechanism (140) at which the cord (130) is securable at variable positions. The cord (130) forms a triangle with a base of the transverse portion (131) and an opposing vertex at which the securing mechanism (140) is provided. The cord (130) is adjustable through the securing mechanism (140) by pulling on a cord end (135) to pull the cord (130) through the securing mechanism (140) and thereby decreasing the size of the triangle and decreasing the length of the transverse portion (131) of the cord (130).

As illustrated in FIG. 1B, decreasing the length of the transverse portion (131) of the cord (130) causes the side portions (112, 113) of the shaping member (110) to flex or bend towards each other at the attachment points (121, 122) causing the shaping member (110) to become narrower in width with a waisted shape.

The cord (130) may be a complete loop with the cord end (135) being a point on the loop or the cord may be have two free ends at the cord end (135). A toggle may be provided at the cord end for ease of gripping and to prevent the cord (130) from retracting through the securing mechanism (140).

In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment points (121, 122) of the transverse portion (131) of the adjustable mechanism (120) are provided at a mid-point in the side portions (112, 113) causing a waist to form in the periphery of the shaping member (110). In alternative embodiments, the attachment points (121, 122) may be provided closer to the top portion (111) resulting in a narrower shouldered shape, or closer to the bottom portion (114) resulting in a broader shouldered shape.

In a further embodiment, two or more adjustable mechanisms (120) may be provided each with a cord (130) and each with a transverse portion (131) at different positions providing alternative configurations of the resultant narrow shape of the shaping member (110).

The shaping member (110) is formed of an elastically deformable material causing the side portions (112, 113) to be variable at different degrees of deformity and to return to an unflexed position when the length of the transverse portion (131) of the cord (130) is extended.

The top portion (111) of the shaping member (110) has curved corners (115, 116) joining it to the side portions (112, 113) and the curved corners (115, 116) have one or more slip resistant devices to provide traction for an item of clothing preventing the item from sliding off the curved corners (115, 116). The slip resistant devices may be multiple protrusions from the surface of the shaping member (110). In one embodiment, the multiple protrusions may be provided by soft O-rings (117), for example formed of a silicon material, surrounding the elongate material of the shaping member (110). In other embodiments, the slip resistant devices may be soft foam cover sheets or tubes. In a further embodiment, the slip resistant devices may be small soft hooks shaped like flowers that fold down when a garment is on and up providing hooks to hang skirt strings from.

The bottom portion (114) of the shaping member (110) has a straight strengthened member (118) extending across at least some of the bottom portion (114) to straighten and strengthen the bottom of the shaping member (110) and to provide structure to the shaping member (110). The straight strengthening member (118) may extend a length chosen to deliver a shape at the bottom half of the shaping member (110) that has a flat bottom and leaving the whole hanger to have a “rounded square” shape inside an item of clothing. This ensures substantial or maximum filling of the clothing piece.

r.

The securing mechanism (140) is formed of a clamp arrangement through which two sections (136, 137) of the cord (130) are threaded to clamp the sections of the cord (136, 137) at variable selected positions. A hub (170) provides an attachment area at which a hanging member (101) is attached to the shaping member (110) and at which the securing mechanism (140) is provided. Further details of the hub (170) are shown in FIG. 4. The hanging member (101) is foldable at the hub (170) so that in a folded position it is within the periphery of the shaping member (110).

The combination of the rounded shape of the shaping member (110) and triangular shape of the adjustment mechanism (120) both under tension delivers enhanced structural strength and this makes it possible for the clothes supporting apparatus (100) to be formed as a thin space saving hanger whilst supporting weighty items.

Referring to FIG. 2, a detail is shown of an example embodiment of the shaping member (110) in the form of a tube (150) with a joint (157) formed at an attachment point (121) of the adjustable mechanism (120). The shaping member (110) may be formed of various elongate members such as tubes or solid rods. Rods may be formed of glass or carbon fiber. The joints (157) formed at the attachment points (121, 122) may be universal joints enabling bending in the plane of the shaping member (110) for flexing of the shaping member (110) between the expanded and contracted configurations and to enable folding of the shaping member (110) such that the bottom portion (114) is moved to be positioned adjacent the top portion (111) as described further below in relation to FIG. 8. The joints (157) may be universal joints in the form of elbow joints, flexible rubber joints, ball joints, etc.

In one embodiment, the shaping member (110) may be formed of a tube member (150) housing two or more flexible rods (151, 152). In the described embodiment, there are two rods (151, 152) with one rod (151) extending from an attachment point (121) on a side portion (112) round the bottom of the shaping member (110) to the attachment point (122) on the opposite side portion (113) and the other rod (152) extending from an attachment point (121) on a side portion (112) round the top of the shaping member (110) to the attachment point (122) on the opposite side portion (113). Adjacent ends (153, 154) of the flexible rods (151, 152) at the attachment points (121) provide opposing universal joints (157) in the shaping member (110) enabling it to be folded at the attachment points (121, 122). The rods (151, 152) may be flexible glass fiber rods and the tube member (150) may be a soft transparent tube of plastic material.

The tube (150) is formed of flexible material and encompasses the ends of two rods (151, 152). As the tube (150) includes a gap (155) at the junction wherein it does not include a rod, it is able to bend enabling the folding of the entire clothes supporting apparatus (100). The gap (155) may be in the between 5 mm and 15 mm, preferably approximately 10 mm in length. At the joint (157), a cord guide (123) is provided with an aperture (156) for the tube (150) and an aperture (157) for the cord (130).

Referring to FIG. 3, a detail is shown of an example embodiment of a slip resistant device in the form of an O-ring (117) as disposed at the curved corners (115, 116) of the shaping member (110). The O-rings (117) may be formed of a soft rubber material that slide over the tube (150) with sufficient friction to prevent their movement along the tube (150) when a garment is supported by the shaping member (110). The tube (150) contains a rod (152) at the curved corners (115, 116).

Referring to FIG. 4, a front view shows a detail of the top area of the example embodiment of the clothes supporting apparatus (100) shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The hanging member (101) is attached to the hub (170) by a hinged attachment (201) enabling the hanging member (101) to be folded over the hub (170), which may be required when folding the clothes supporting apparatus (100) for packing. The hinged attachment (201) may have a pivot housing that enables the hanging member (101) be folded down flat against the hub (170) for increased compactness. The hinged attachment (201) may allow the hanging member (101) to self-rotate relative to the hub (170) into a correct orientation when pushed against a horizontal hanging bar in a closet.

The hub (170) may be formed of a plastic molded member extending along and enclosing part of the top portion (111) of the shaping member (110). This may give rigidity to the top portion (111) of the shaping member (110). The tube (150) of the shaping member (110) enclosing a rod (152) is shown extending from either side of the hub (170). An O-ring (117) is shown on the tube (150) on each side of the hub (170) at the start of the curved corners (115, 116) that support a garment's shoulders in use.

The hub (170) includes a button (202) for operation of the securing mechanism (140) of the adjustable mechanism (120) to change the length of the cord (130) exiting from the adjustable mechanism (120). Sections of the cord (136, 137) enter the adjustable mechanism (120) from the triangle arrangement of the cord (130) and exit leading to a cord end (135) with a toggle (203).

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B details of an example embodiment of a button (202) of the securing mechanism (140) are shown with FIG. 5A showing the button (202) in an unpressed position and FIG. 5B showing the button (202) in a pressed position.

Pressing or pushing down on the button (202) in this embodiment releases the cord (130) enabling a user to pull it through the securing mechanism (140) to result in the contracted configuration of the shaping member (110). Pressing or pushing down on the button (202) also releases the cord (130) to retract it through the securing mechanism (140) when changing from a contracted configuration to an expanded configuration. The button (202) may be released at varying positions of the cord (130) to hold the adjustable mechanism (120) at different degrees of expansion. The resilient nature of the shaping member (110) may cause it to spring back to an expanded configuration, when the cord (130) is released.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, perspective views of the securing mechanism (140) are shown. The cord sections (136, 137) enter the securing mechanism (140) from an underside of the hub (170) at two entry apertures (401, 402) and exit at two exit apertures (403, 404) from which the cord (130) extends to the cord end (135). The cord sections (136, 137) each pass through the securing mechanism (140) and movement of the cord sections (136, 137) is prevented when the securing mechanism (140) is activated by releasing the button (202).

FIG. 7 shows an example embodiment of internal details of the securing mechanism (140) in which the securing mechanism (140) is activated by releasing a button (202) (the underside of which is shown in FIG. 7) to grip the cord sections (136, 137) passing through the securing mechanism (140).

The securing mechanism (140) may have a button spring (501) that is activated by the button (202) and two gripping sections (510, 520) that each grip one of the cord sections (136, 137) when the securing mechanism (140) is activated. Each gripping section (510, 520) has a curved portion (511, 512) following a path of the cord section (136, 137) with two gripping points (512, 513, 522, 523) for gripping the cord sections (136, 137). Gripping each cord section (136, 137) as it passes around a curve with two gripping points on each cord increases the grip and securing action.

FIG. 8 shows the example embodiment of the clothes supporting apparatus (100) of FIG. 1A in a folded configuration suitable for packing for travel or for storage. The folded configuration may be used with the clothes supporting apparatus in an expanded configuration and with a garment supported on the apparatus in order to fold and pack the garment without creasing. The garment is kept in a stretched or taut position whilst being folded along a center line.

The folded configuration may also be used when the clothes supporting apparatus (100) is in a contracted configuration for storing the apparatus (100) when it is not supporting a garment.

The shaping member (110) is folded at the joints (157, 158) in the side portions (112, 113) provided at the attachment points (121, 122). This results in the shaping member (110) being folded along the transverse portion (131) of the cord (130). The rod (151) within the tube (150) of the bottom portion (114) lies against the rod (151) within the tube (150) of the top portion (111). The hanging member (101) may be folded about its hinge member (201) at the hub (140) to result in an easy to pack arrangement.

In use, the clothes supporting apparatus (100) may be used in selected positions between a contracted configuration with the shaping member (110) defining a flexible periphery in which the adjustable mechanism (120) has been used to decrease a transverse extent of the periphery and a fully expanded configuration in which the flexible periphery of the shaping member (110) is fully released. Selected degrees of contraction or expansion may be provided as required for adding or removing a garment and for supporting the garment in a taut arrangement on the clothes supporting apparatus (100).

In the described embodiment, the contracted configuration may be achieved by pulling the cord (130) and reducing a length of the transverse portion (131) of a cord (130). This pulls the attachment points (121, 122) on opposing side portions (112,113) towards each other causing the opposing side portions (112, 113) to flex.

An item of clothing can be put over the shaping member (110) when in a contracted configuration and fastened, if it has an opening, with the hanging member (101) extending from a neck opening of the item of clothing. The clothes supporting apparatus (100) may then be converted to an expanded configuration by releasing the securing mechanism (140) as required and allowing the cord (130) to pass through the securing mechanism (140) and increasing the length of the transverse portion (131) of the cord (130) causing the opposing side portions (112, 113) unflexed to a required position providing an expanded configuration. The expanded configuration pulls the item of clothing taut thereby reducing wrinkles.

To remove an item of clothing from the clothes supporting apparatus, the cord may be pulled to revert to a contracted configuration. The clothes supporting apparatus may be stored in an unflexed configuration.

The clothes supporting apparatus (100) may be folded along an axis of the transverse portion (131) of the cord (130). Folding may be carried out in the expanded configuration in which the item of clothing remains stretched and unwrinkled. Folding may also be carried out in the contracted configuration, which may be used when the clothes supporting apparatus is empty in order to tidy away the clothes supporting apparatus.

The hanging member (101) may be folded inwards so that in a folded position the hanging member (101) is within the periphery of the shaping member (110) and the hanging member (101) is folded flat against the hub (170). Multiple clothes supporting apparatuses (100) may be stacked on top of each other with each clothes supporting apparatus (100) supporting an item of clothing and being in the folded configuration.

Folding multiple garments on the clothes supporting apparatuses (100) may result in folding to the same size. Stacking them on top of each other on a shelf or in a drawer not only makes the stacked items look neat and square, but also allows the user to lift up the top items on a stack of folded garments to remove one form the middle of the stack without the bottom ones getting disturbed. It also facilitates easy switching form hanging to stacking.

Garments may be substantially de-creased by just hanging them under light tension on the clothes supporting apparatus (100) overnight. Some delicate garments may not be suitable for ironing when they are creased from being in a closet or after return from dry cleaning. The decreasing process may be accelerated by applying heat with a hair dryer or steamer while the garment is kept under slight tension on the apparatus.

Garments supported on the clothes supporting apparatus (100) may be displayed in a shape corresponding to a worn shape on a person. For example, a dress may be displayed with a waist to form a body figure as opposed to hanging straight from a conventional hanger.

The described clothes supporting apparatus may therefore increase the ease of the packing and unpacking. Clothes may be folded flat easily while wrinkles are substantially reduced by keeping garments taut, whether in a suitcase or closet.

The clothes supporting apparatus may be used in a suitcase, in a closet, whilst being carried, when laid out ready for use, hanging on a towel rail or on the back of a door, or in many other situations. The apparatus folds clothes flat and taut, and unfolds with reduced creasing. Wrinkles that remain can be removed by applying low heat or hanging in a steamy environment. The features of quick fold and unfold and then into the hanging area in the closet provide ease for travel. The clothes supporting apparatus may be provided in a size suitable to fit within International on board hand luggage sizes.

When a garment is supported on the clothes supporting apparatus in the expanded configuration, it can be inserted into a hanging space between tightly packed hanging clothes without becoming creased or being misplaced from the hanger. Similarly in a folded configuration, the folded garment may be placed between other folded garments.

The combination of the round and triangular structures of the clothes supporting apparatus under tension delivers enhanced structural strength and this makes it possible for this thin space saving hanger to carry much heavier coats and weighty items compared to other thin hangers. Other hangers of this strength may takes up approximately five times more space in the closet. People in large cities live in small apartments and they may need to fit a lot of garments into very small closets and therefore space saving is important.

The clothes supporting apparatus also supports awkwardly shaped garments as well as more conventionally shaped garments. For example, the apparatus supports garments, including but not limited to the following: garments with thin shoulder straps, garments with wide floppy neck openings, garments with low cut V-necks, skirts, tops, jackets, shirts, lose T-shirts, dresses including dresses with one shoulder strap, and coats including heavy long thick coats.

The clothes supporting apparatus does not cause stretched out shoulder marks on soft delicate garments such as cashmere sweaters. The reason for this is that the total weight of the garment is carried over the full arch of the rounded shaping member when expanded to fill the garment. The O-rings provide friction even in the vertical sections of the round structure to help carry the weight of the garment over a larger area.

The hub may display customized branded logos for use in retail high street shops. In one embodiment, such logos may be provided on the button of the adjustment mechanism.

Throughout the specification and claims unless the contents requires otherwise the word ‘comprise’ or variations such as ‘comprises’ or ‘comprising’ will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims

1. A clothes supporting apparatus comprising:

a shaping member defining a flexible periphery for supporting an item of clothing; and,

an adjustable mechanism for selectively decreasing a transverse extent of the periphery, wherein the adjustable mechanism extends between joints on opposing portions of the periphery and causes the opposing portions of the periphery to flex towards each other when the adjustable mechanism is operated.

2. The clothes supporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjustable mechanism includes a transverse portion of a cord provided between attachment points on the opposing portions of the periphery, the transverse portion of the cord being adjustable in length thereby causing the opposing portions of the periphery to flex towards each other when the length of the transverse portion is reduced.

3. The clothes supporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaping member is elastically deformable causing the opposing portions of the periphery to return to an unflexed position when the length of the adjustable mechanism is released.

4. The clothes supporting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cord extends from each end of the transverse portion through the attachment points in the form of cord guides to a securing mechanism at which the cord is securable at variable positions to adjust the length of the transverse portion of the cord.

5. The clothes supporting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cord forms a triangle with a base of the transverse portion and an opposing vertex at which the securing mechanism is provided, wherein the securing mechanism secures the cord to decrease or increase a size of the triangle.

6. The clothes supporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible periphery is in a plane extending from a hanging member and the opposing portions of the periphery are opposed side portions of the shaping member joining a top portion and a bottom portion of the shaping member and the joints on the opposing portions are universal joints enabling the clothes supporting apparatus to be folded to move the bottom portion to a position adjacent the top portion.

7. The clothes supporting apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the top portion includes curved corners joining the side portions and wherein one or more slip resistant devices are provided on the curved corners to provide traction for an item of clothing preventing the item from sliding off the curved corners.

8. The clothes supporting apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bottom portion has a straight strengthened extent to provide structure to the shaping member.

9. The clothes supporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaping member is formed of a tubular member housing two or more flexible rods, wherein adjacent ends of the flexible rods are provided at the attachment points on opposing portions of the periphery to provide opposing the joints in the shaping member.

10. The clothes supporting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the securing mechanism is a clamp arrangement through which two extents of the cord are threaded to clamp the extents of the cord at a selected position.

11. The clothes supporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including an attachment area at which a hanging member is attached to the shaping member and at which the securing mechanism is provided, wherein the hanging member has a hinge member and is foldable at the attachment area so that in a folded position it is within the periphery of the shaping member.

12. The clothes supporting apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the hinge member has a pivot housing enabling the hanging member to be foldable flat against the attachment area.

13. A method of use of a clothes supporting apparatus comprising:

providing a shaping member defining a flexible periphery adjustable between an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration in which an adjustable mechanism decreases a transverse extent of the periphery between joints on opposing portions of the periphery causing the opposing portions of the periphery to flex towards each other; and,

once an item of clothing is supported on the shaping member, increasing the transverse extent of the periphery causing the opposing portions of the periphery to expand to a selected expanded configuration.

14. The method of use of a clothes supporting apparatus as claimed in claim 13, including providing a folded configuration by:

folding the clothes supporting apparatus at the joints on the opposing portions to fold a bottom portion to a position adjacent a top portion.

15. The method of user of a clothes supporting apparatus as claimed in claim 14, including folding a hanging member so that in a folded position it is within the periphery of the shaping member.

16. The method of use of a clothes supporting apparatus as claimed in claim 14, including folding the clothes supporting apparatus with a supported item of clothing with the shaping member in an expanded configuration resulting in the clothing item being supported in a taut arrangement.

17. The method of use of a clothes supporting apparatus as claimed in claim 13, including applying heat to an item of clothing supported on the shaping member in the expanded configuration.

18. The method of use of a clothes supporting apparatus as claimed in claim 14, including stacking multiple clothes supporting apparatus with each clothes supporting apparatus in the folded configuration.

19. The method of use of a clothes supporting apparatus as claimed in claim 13, including displaying the supported item of clothing on the shaping member in a shape corresponding to a shape as worn on a person.

20. A clothes supporting apparatus comprising:

a shaping member defining a flexible periphery adjustable in a range between an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration by an adjustable mechanism for adjusting a length of a transverse extent of the periphery between joints on opposing portions of the periphery, wherein contracted configurations cause the opposing portions of the periphery to flex towards each other.