Abstrict A sports bra has a pair of cups joined by a cleavage portion between
the proximate edges of the cups and a back strap portion between
the distal edges of the cups. The cups and cleavage portion are
made of cloth having substantially universal elasticity so as to
provide adequate support. A rectangular panel made of cloth having
substantially universal elasticity is fastened along its bottom
and side edges to an inside wall of the cleavage portion of the
bra to form a storage pouch of approximately credit card dimensions.
A plurality of short hook and loop segments extending substantially
fully across the upper inside edge of the panel with mating segments
of hook and loop material oppositely fixed along the inside wall
of the cleavage portion of the bra allows the pouch to be completely
sealed while still affording the desired universal elasticity. Preferably,
the panel is made of back-to-back pieces of cloth with the inner
one being non-absorbent and the cleavage portion is also made of
back-to-back pieces of cloth with the inner one being non-absorbent
so as to allow the sports bra to be fully absorbent along its body
contact surfaces and yet provide a no-absorbent storage pouch to
protect its contents. A flat member may be disposed between the
panel cloths to stiffen the storage pouch.
Claims What is claimed is:
1. A sports bra comprising:
a pair of cups shaped to receive a woman's breasts, said cups being
joined by a cleavage portion of the bra between proximate edges
thereof and by a back strap portion of the bra between distal edges
thereof, said cups and cleavage portion being made of cloth having
substantially universal elasticity so as to support the woman's
breasts; and
a rectangular panel made of cloth having substantially universal
elasticity fastened along bottom and side edges thereof to an inside
wall of said cleavage portion of the bra to form a storage pouch
of approximately credit card dimensions; and
at least one relatively short segment of hook and loop material
fixed along an upper inside edge of said panel and at least one
mating segment of hook and loop material fixed along said inside
wall of said cleavage section opposite a respective at least one
segment.
2. A sports bra according to claim 2 said back strap portion being
made of cloth having substantially universal elasticity.
3. A sports bra according to claim 2 said panel being lengthwise
vertically aligned.
4. A sports bra according to claim 1 having a plurality of short
hook and loop segments extending substantially fully across said
upper inside edge of said panel.
5. A sports bra according to claim 1 further comprising a pair
of shoulder straps, one extending from an upper edge of each of
said cups to said back strap portion.
6. A sports bra according to claim 5 said shoulder straps extending
to approximately a midpoint of said back strap portion.
7. A sports bra according to claim 5 said shoulder straps being
made of cloth having substantially universal elasticity.
8. A sports bra according to claim 1 said panel being upwardly
extended to conform an upper edge thereof to a contour of an upper
edge of said cleavage portion.
9. A sports bra according to claim 1 said panel bottom edge being
closely coincident with a bottom edge of said cleavage portion.
10. A sports bra according to claim 1 said panel being made of
non-absorbent cloth.
11. A sports bra according to claim 1 said panel comprising a
pair of back-to-back cloth segments.
12. A sports bra according to claim 11 further comprising a flat
member disposed between said back-to-back cloth segments to stiffen
said storage pouch.
13. A sports bra according to claim 11 an inner one of said back-to-back
cloth segments being made of non-absorbent cloth.
14. A sports bra according to claim 13 each of said cups comprising
a pair of back-to-back cloth segments.
15. A sports bra according to claim 1 said cleavage portion comprising
a pair of back-to-back cloth segments.
16. A sports bra according to claim 15 an inner one of said back-to-back
segments being made of non-absorbent cloth.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to clothing and more particularly
concerns women's undergarments.
The inclusion in the structure of a bra of concealed pouches for
storing various types of articles is known. Some bras have storage
cases attached externally to the cups. Such devices are generally
conspicuous and disruptive of the figure line. They also can be
a source of embarrassment if access is necessary in a public place.
Others provide one or more compartments accessible from the inside
of one or both of the cups. This design can be more aesthetically
appealing but is less comfortable and less accessible and does not
resolve the embarrassment problem for the wearer. Still others fix
a zippered compartment to the inside of the bra across the inside
portions of the cups and the cleavage area. This improves aesthetics
and accessibility but, because the inelasticity of the compartment
at its zipper closure and along the fixed seam between the compartment
and the bra renders a significant portion of the entire garment
inelastic, the bra is uncomfortable and not well suited to its purpose.
Other bras contour an accessible pocket to portions of the bra other
than the cups. Such pockets afford little usable storage space unless
they add undesirable extensions to the bra which would otherwise
be unnecessary. Bras of this type also require vertically aligned
closures because of space limitations, but vertical closures make
the contents most inaccessible. Finally, bras generally are made
of nonabsorbent material while sports bras are made of material
which will readily absorb perspiration. However, no known bra combines
absorbent body contacting surfaces in combination with a non-absorbent
wall protecting the contents of a storage pouch.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a bra
with a storage pouch which does not significantly alter the universal
elasticity of the bra. Another object of this invention is to provide
a bra with a storage pouch having a stretchable closure. A further
object of this invention is to provide a bra with a storage pouch
which does not use a zipper. Yet another object of this invention
is to provide a bra with a storage pouch which is easily accessible
from inside the bra through an upper horizontal opening. It is also
an object of this invention to provide a bra with a storage pouch
which does not require the otherwise unnecessary addition of extensions
to the bra structure. Still another object of this invention is
to provide a bra with a storage pouch which is concealed, yet comfortable.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a perspiration
absorbent bra with a storage pouch which protects its contents from
damage due to moisture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, a sports bra has a pair of cups
joined by a cleavage portion between the proximate edges of the
cups and a back strap portion between the distal edges of the cups.
The cups and cleavage portion are made of cloth having substantially
universal elasticity so as to provide adequate support. A rectangular
panel made of cloth having substantially universal elasticity is
fastened along its bottom and side edges to an inside wall of the
cleavage portion of the bra to form a storage pouch of approximately
credit card dimensions.
At least one relatively short segment of hook and loop material
is fixed along an upper inside edge of the panel and at least one
mating segment of hook and loop material is oppositely fixed along
the inside wall of the cleavage portion of the bra. Thus, the pouch
can be sealed without losing the universal elasticity of the garment.
A plurality of short hook and loop segments extending substantially
fully across the upper inside edge of the panel allows the pouch
to be completely sealed while still affording the desired elasticity.
The panel is preferably lengthwise vertically aligned for maximum
comfort and may be upwardly extended to conform its upper edge to
the contour of the upper edge of the cleavage portion of the bra.
The panel bottom edge is preferably closely coincident with a bottom
edge of the cleavage portion of the bra. It is preferred that the
panel be made of non-absorbent cloth or a pair of back-to-back pieces
of cloth with the inner one being non-absorbent. A flat member can
be disposed between the cloth segments to stiffen the storage pouch.
Similarly, the cleavage portion may consist of back-to-back pieces
of cloth with the inner one being non-absorbent. Thus the sports
bra can be fully absorbent along its body contact surfaces and yet
provide a non-absorbent storage pouch to protect its contents.
Preferably, the back strap portion is made of cloth having substantially
universal elasticity. The bra may also include a pair of shoulder
straps, one extending from an upper edge of each of the cups to
the back strap portion, preferably at approximately a midpoint of
the back strap portion, to provide additional support. The shoulder
straps are also preferably made of cloth having substantially universal
elasticity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent
upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference
to the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the sports bra;
FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the cup portion of the sports
bra;
FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the sports bra;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 4--4 of
FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of FIG.
2; and
FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment
of the sports bra storage pouch.
While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred
embodiment, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit
the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended
to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may
be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined
by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Turning first to FIGS. 1-3 a sports bra 10 has a pair of cups
11 and 13 joined by a cleavage portion 15 between the proximate
edges of the cups and a back strap portion 17 between the distal
edges of the cups 11 and 13. The cups 11 and 13 and cleavage portion
15 are made of cloth having substantially universal elasticity so
as to provide adequate support. A rectangular panel 21 made of cloth
having substantially universal elasticity is fastened along its
bottom 23 and side edges 25 and 27 to an inside wall of the cleavage
portion 15 of the bra 10 to form a storage pouch of approximately
credit card dimensions.
As can best be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 at least one relatively short
segment 31 of hook and loop material is fixed along an upper inside
edge of the panel 21 and at least one mating 33 segment of hook
and loop material is oppositely fixed along the inside wall of the
cleavage portion 15 of the bra 10. Thus, the pouch can be sealed
without losing the universal elasticity of the garment. As is shown,
a plurality of short hook and loop segments 31 and 33 extending
substantially fully across the upper inside edge of the panel 21
allows the pouch to be completely sealed while still affording the
desired elasticity.
The panel 21 is preferably lengthwise vertically aligned for maximum
comfort and, as shown, may be upwardly extended 35 and 37 to conform
its upper edge 39 to the contour of the upper edge 41 of the cleavage
portion 15 of the bra 10. The panel bottom edge 23 is preferably
closely coincident with a bottom edge 43 of the cleavage portion
15 of the bra 10. It is preferred that the panel 21 be made of non-absorbent
cloth or, as shown in FIG. 6 a pair of back-to-back pieces of cloth
51 and 53 with the inner one 51 being non-absorbent. A flat member
55 can be disposed between the cloth segments 51 and 53 to stiffen
the storage pouch. Similarly, the cleavage portion 15 may consist
of back-o-back pieces of cloth 57 and 59 with the inner one 57 being
non-absorbent. Thus, the sports bra 10 can be fully absorbent along
its body contact surfaces and yet provide a non-absorbent storage
pouch to protect its contents.
Preferably, the back strap portion 17 is made of cloth having substantially
universal elasticity. The bra 10 may also include a pair of shoulder
straps 61 and 63 one extending from an upper edge of each of the
cups 11 and 13 to the back strap portion 17 preferably at approximately
a midpoint of the back strap portion 17 to provide additional support.
The shoulder straps 61 and 63 are also preferably made of cloth
having substantially universal elasticity.
As shown, the arm edges 71 and 73 mesh edges 75 and wrist edge
77 of the bra 10 are folded and stitched to finish the garment.
As is best seen in FIG. 6 similar finishing techniques can be applied
to the edges of the panel 21 and the cleavage portion 15 of the
bra 10.
Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance
with the invention, a sports bra with a storage pouch that fully
satisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth above. While
the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific
embodiment thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications
and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art and
in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended
to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as
fall within the spirit of the appended claims.
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