Abstrict A bra structure comprising: (a) a frontal assembly including a
pair of cup shaped support members; (b) a pair of shoulder straps
each of which is adapted to extend forwardly and rearwardly over
one shoulder of the wearer in use; (c) respective members for interconnecting
the front and rear ends of each strap under the corresponding arm
of the wearer. For each strap, the member for interconnecting the
front and rear ends of the strap includes a rigid support member
which is connected directly or indirectly to the rear end of the
strap and also to the corresponding side of the frontal assembly,
whereby the load of the frontal assembly is balanced between the
front and rear ends of the strap.
Claims What is claimed is:
1. A bra structure comprising: (a) a frontal assembly including
a pair of cup shaped support members to support a breast load; (b)
a pair of shoulder straps each having a front end and a rear end
adapted to extend respectively forwardly and rearwardly over one
shoulder of the wearer in use; and (c) respective means for interconnecting
the front and rear ends of each strap under the corresponding arm
of the wearer; for each strap, the means for interconnecting the
front end rear ends of the strap including a rigid support member
which is connected to the rear end of the strap and also to a corresponding
side of the frontal assembly, whereby the load of the frontal assembly
is balanced between the front end rear ends of the strap.
2. A bra structure according to claim 1 in which the means for
interconnecting the front and rear ends of each strap comprises
a rigid support member whose rear end is connected to the rear end
of the strap and whose front end is connected to an upper region
of the corresponding side of the frontal assembly the front end
of the strap also being attached to the corresponding side of the
frontal assembly.
3. A bra structure according to claim 1 in which the means for
interconnecting the front and rear ends of each shoulder strap further
includes a rigid interconnecting member between the ends of each
shoulder strap and wherein the rigid support member is connected
to a central region of the rigid interconnecting member at a connection
point, so as to distribute the load of the corresponding side of
the frontal assembly evenly between the two ends of the strap.
4. A bra structure according to claim 3 further comprising an additional
strap member which extends between the two rigid support members,
and is connected toe rear end of each of them at a point which is
offset in a vertical plane from the connection point with the rigid
interconnecting member, in such a way as to counteract any tendency
of the front end of each rigid support member to rotate downwardly,
under the load from the frontal assembly.
5. A bra structure according to claim 4 in which the additional
strap member is connected to each rigid support member at a point
which is above the connection point and is arranged to extend across
the back of the wearer.
6. A bra structure according to claim 3 further comprising an additional
strap member connected between both rigid support members and arranged
to extend across the back of the wearer.
7. A bra structure according to claim 4 in which each rigid support
member comprises a first portion which extends forwardly from the
connection point, to the frontal assembly, and a second portion
which extends rearwardly and/or upwardly for connection of the additional
strap members, which functions as a back band of the bra structure.
8. A bra structure according to claim 5 in which each rigid support
member comprise a first portion which extends forwardly from the
connection point, to the frontal assembly, and a second portion
which extends downwardly for connection of the additional strap
member.
9. A bra structure according to claim 1 wherein the means for interconnecting
the front and rear ends of each shoulder strap comprises a pivotable
connection located between the ends of the rigid support member.
10. A bra structure comprising: (a) a frontal assembly having a
left and a right side, including a pair of cup shaped support members
to support a breast load; (b) a pair of shoulder straps each having
a front end extending to the front of the wearer and a rear end
extending to the back of the wearer; and (c) respective means for
interconnecting the front and rear ends of each strap under the
corresponding arm of the wearer; the interconnecting means including
a rigid support member beneath each strap and a means for connecting
each rigid support member to the corresponding side of the frontal
assembly, whereby the load of the frontal assembly is balanced between
the front and rear ends of the strap.
11. A bra structure according to claim 10 in which each rigid support
member includes a rear end which is connected to the rear end of
the respective shoulder strap and a front end which is connected
to an upper region of the corresponding side of the frontal assembly
and wherein the front end of each shoulder strap is also attached
to the corresponding side of the frontal assembly.
12. A bra structure according to claim 10 in which the means for
interconnecting the front and rear ends of each shoulder strap further
includes a rigid interconnecting member which is connected to a
central region of the rigid support member at a connection point
so as to distribute the load of the corresponding side of the frontal
assembly evenly between the two ends of the respective shoulder
strap.
13. A bra structure according to claim 12 further comprising an
additional strap member which extends between the two rigid support
members, and is connected to each of them at a point which is offset
in a vertical plane from the connection point with the rigid interconnecting
member, in such a way as to counteract any tendency of the front
and of each rigid support member to rotate downwardly, under the
load from the frontal assembly.
14. A bra structure according to claim 12 in which the additional
strap member is connected to each rigid support member at a point
which is above the connection point and is arranged to extend across
the back of the wearer.
15. A bra structure according to claim 12 further comprising a
back band connected between both rigid support members or both interconnecting
means and arranged to extend across the back of the wearer.
16. A bra structure according to claim 13 in which each rigid support
member comprises a first portion which extends forwardly from the
connection point, to the frontal assembly, and a second portion
which extends rearwardly and/or upwardly for connection of the said
additional back strap member.
17. A bra structure according to claim 13 in which each rigid support
member comprises a first portion which extends forwardly from the
connection point, to the frontal assembly, and a second portion
which extends downwardly for connection of the additional strap
member.
18. A bra structure comprising: (a) a frontal assembly including
a pair of cup shaped support members to support a breast load; (b)
a pair of shoulder straps each having a front end and a rear end
adapted to extend respectively forwardly and rearwardly over one
shoulder of the wearer in use; and (c) respective members for interconnecting
the front and rear ends of each strap under the corresponding arm
of the wearer; for each strap, the members for interconnecting the
front and rear ends of the strap including a rigid support member
which is connected to the rear end of the strap and also to a corresponding
side of the frontal assembly, whereby the load of the frontal assembly
is balanced between the front and rear ends of the strap.
Description FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Human breasts are often supported by a garment known as a bra,
whose main purpose is to transfer the forces involved in breast
support to other body structures--principally the shoulders and
the rib cage.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a bra of the conventional type in which
each shoulder of the wearer supports weight by means of a flexible
band, usually of cloth, which passes over each shoulder and approximately
at right angles to the line between the two shoulders; this is known
as the bra strap. In other arrangements the band passes around the
neck--the "halter neck" bra--the present invention is
not concerned with these. In a conventional bra it is tension in
the front part of each bra strap which carries the weight of each
breast.
In order to stabilise the position of the structure, some means
must be provided to ensure that the bra strap tension is equalised
front to back. The breast weight, however, is in front only and
this, in the conventional bra, has to be balanced by equal forces
produced in the remainder of the bra structure. A major contribution
to this is made by the back band tension and the forces in the bra
wings. Distortion is common and the back band often rises to equilibrate
forces with the vertical strap tension at the back.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide a bra structure in which
the strap tension can be better equalised front and back so as to
avoid distortion of the structure and consequent discomfort for
the wearer by halving the strap tension.
Accordingly the present invention provides a bra structure comprising:
(a) a frontal assembly including a pair of cup shaped support members;
(b) a pair of shoulder straps each of which is adapted to extend
forwardly and rearwardly over one shoulder of the wearer in use;
(c) respective means for interconnecting the front and rear ends
of each strap under the corresponding arm of the wearer;
for each strap, the means for interconnecting the front and rear
ends of the strap including a rigid support member which is connected
directly or indirectly to the rear end of the strap and also to
the corresponding side of the frontal assembly, whereby the load
of the frontal assembly is balanced between the front and rear ends
of the strap.
Preferably the means for interconnecting the front and rear ends
of each strap comprises a rigid support member whose lower end is
connected to the rear end of the strap and whose upper end is connected
to an upper region of the corresponding side of the frontal assembly
to which the front end of the strap is also attached.
In this way the bra strap tension can be equilibrated front and
back so as to provide a stable node capable of supporting the breast
weight.
An additional strap member may be provided which extends between
the two rigid support members, and is connected to each of them
at a point which is offset in a vertical plane from the connection
point with the interconnecting means, in such a way as to counteract
any tendency of the front end of each rigid support member to rotate
downwardly, under the load from the frontal assembly.
In one embodiment the additional strap member is connected to each
rigid support member at a point which is above the connection point
and is arranged to extend across the back of the wearer.
In another embodiment the additional strap member is connected
to each rigid support member at a point which is below the connection
point and is arranged to extend across the front of the wearer,
below the frontal assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Some embodiments of the invention will now be described by way
of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation view of a first embodiment
of a bra structure;
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the arrangement of FIG. 1;
and
FIG. 3 is a perspective frontal view of an alternative embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1 a rigid interconnecting member 1 joins the
two ends of the shoulder strap 2 and midway (in side elevation)
between the points where the straps are attached is a node of balance
or pivotable connection 3. At this node of balance 3 a rigid support
member 4 is pivotally connected. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a back
band or additional strap member 7 is connected between the rear
ends 5 of the two rigid support members 4 and supplies a tension
T. The weight of a breast is W and is carried by a cup 6 which
is attached to the front end of the rigid support member 4.
The loads on the structure can be analysed as follows:
If the vertical distance between the back band attachment point
5 and the node of balance or pivotable connection 3 is "a",
(FIG. 1) and the horizontal distance between the node of balance
3 and the point at which the weight W of the breast can be considered
to act is "b".
Resolving moments about the node of balance 3:
It can be seen that component 1 is in equilibrium and it functions
to ensure that the weight is carried equally by both the front and
back of the bra strap. Resolving forces in component 1 vertically:
i.e. the strap tension is W/2--half that of a conventional bra
strap. Also the tension T is balanced horizontally by a front chest
tension through the frontal assembly (the same as in a conventional
bra).
Although the rigid interconnecting member 1 is illustrated as a
rigid elongate link, its length could be reduced--even to zero.
The two ends of each shoulder strap would be connected directly
together, under the arm of the wearer, since this would still provide
a stable node of balance 3 for connection of the rigid support member
4.
In addition, the rigid support member 4 can be made in various
different shapes. In the illustrated embodiment it is shown as generally
T-shaped with the ends of the arms of the T, and the lower end of
the leg of the T, forming connection points to the other parts of
the structure. However the rearwardly extending arm of the T is
not strictly necessary for it to function in the required manner,
so it could be replaced by a more simply shaped member, having part
connected to the interconnecting member 1 at the balance point 3
and the other part connected to the corresponding side of the frontal
assembly. The back band 7 would then be connected to it, above the
balance point 3.
The back tension may also be applied directly to the interconnecting
member 1 or directly to the support node 3; such tension components
are to prevent any tendency of the rigid support member to rotate.
In an alternative arrangement a front band (not illustrated could
be provided to stabilize the rigid support members 4. The front
band could be connected to each of the rigid support members below
the connection point 3 rather than above it so that it would still
counteract the tendency of the rigid support member 4 to rotate.
However in this case it will be necessary to provide a retaining
strap, such as back band 7 extending across the back of the wearer,
which may be connected either between the interconnecting members
1 or between the rigid support members 4.
FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the shoulder
strap 10 has its front end 12 connected to the upper region of one
side of the frontal cup assembly, while its lower rear end 14 is
connected to an upwardly extending rigid link U support member or
strut 16. The upper end of the link 16 is also connected to the
upper region of the frontal assembly, and in this way the link acts
to interconnect the front and rear ends of the strap, whilst at
the same time acting to directly support the weight of the corresponding
side of the frontal assembly. Compared to the embodiment of FIG.
1 the structure is thus considerably simplified because only a
single rigid link (16) is required on each side to achieve the same
supporting effect as both of the interconnected rigid members 1
and 4 of the first embodiment.
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