Abstrict A bra strap converter for pulling bra straps closer together is
provided. The bra strap converter includes a slide and a fastening
apparatus, which can be constructed in three different ways. The
slide allows the size of the bra strap converter to be adjusted,
and may include hooks at each end that functions by attaching to
each shoulder strap of the bra in the area across the shoulder blades.
Alternatively, an elastic strap may include a hook-and-eye closure
apparatus which allows the bra strap converter to be looped around
the shoulder strap of the bra and hook together. In addition, a
method is disclosed for using a detachable bra strap which includes
a first attachment part at one end of the attachable bra strap and
a second attachment part at another end attachable bra strap. The
attachable bra strap is looped around both should straps of the
bra in an area across the shoulder blades of a wearer and the first
part is attached to the second part thereby pulling the shoulder
straps closer together with a result of concealing the shoulder
straps beneath garments which would otherwise reveal the shoulder
strap.
Claims We claim:
1. A bra strap converter for pulling bra straps closer together,
comprising:
an elastic strap fitted with a slide by way of looping said elastic
strap through said slide and attaching said slide to said elastic
strap;
a first hook, wherein said first hook is attached to said elastic
strap by threading a first end of said elastic strap, which is not
attached to said slide, through said first hook before said first
end of said elastic strap is threaded through said slide;
a second hook wherein said second hook is attached to said elastic
strap by threading a second end of said elastic strap, which is
not attached to the slide, through said second hook and fastening
said second hook to said second end of said elastic strap.
2. The bra strap converter of claim 1 wherein said slide is attached
to said elastic strap by sewing.
3. The bra strap converter of claim 1 wherein said first hook
is fastened to said elastic strap by sewing.
4. A method of using a detachable bra strap having a first attachment
part at one end of the detachable bra strap, and a second attachment
part at another end of the detachable bra step, the method comprising
the steps of:
looping the detachable bra strap around both shoulder straps of
a bra in an area across the shoulder blades of a wearer; and
attaching the first attachment part to the second attachment part
thereby pulling the shoulder straps closer together with the result
of concealing the shoulder straps beneath garments which would otherwise
reveal the shoulder strap.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein said first attachment part is
a hook and said second attachment part is a loop.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein said first attachment part is
a hook part of a hook-and-eye closure device and said second attachment
part is an eye part of a hook-and-eye closure device.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein said second attachment part is
a series of three eye parts.
8. A bra strap converter, comprising:
a pre-fabricated hook-and-eye closure apparatus including two parts
wherein the first part is comprised of at least one hook which is
embedded in a first piece of fabric and the second part is at least
one eye part which is imbedded in a second piece of fabric;
said first part of said pre-fabricated hook-and-eye closure apparatus
is attached to one end of said elastic strip;
said second part of said pre-fabricated hook-and-eye closure apparatus
is attached to another end of said elastic strip.
9. The bra strap converter of claim 8 wherein said second part
is a series of three eye parts.
10. The bra strap converter of claim 8 wherein said hook-and-eye
closure apparatus is made from metal.
11. The bra strap converter of claim 8 wherein said first hook
is attached to one end of said elastic strip by sewing.
12. The bra strap converter of claim 8 wherein said eye part is
attached to the remaining end of said elastic strip by sewing.
13. The bra strap converter of claim 8 wherein said first and
second pieces of fabric are made from polyester and are rectangular
in shape.
Description FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is a device which pulls bra straps closer together
in the area across the shoulder blades for the purpose of concealing
the bra straps beneath racerback-style tops and dresses and consists
of an elastic strap, a size adjustment device known as a slide,
and a hook and loop fastening apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many sleeveless tops and dresses are designed in a racerback style
wherein the arm holes are cut more deeply into the area over the
shoulder blades in such a way that allows the straps of a conventional
bra to remain exposed in the area over the shoulder blades.
A conventional bra is defined as a bra wherein the shoulder straps
originate at the tops of the breast cups, curve vertically over
the tops of the shoulders and attach to the top of the main strap
which originates from the lower outer edges of both breast cups,
curves horizontally around the sides and back of the ribcage and
attaches in the center back with a hook-and-loop apparatus. The
shoulder straps attach to the ribcage strap at a point which is
approximately 3" to 31/2" from the center back causing
a 6" to 7" separation between the shoulder straps.
The typical way of addressing the problem of bra straps showing
beneath racerback-style garments is to wear a front-closure racerback-style
bra wherein the shoulder straps originate at the top of the breast
cups, curve over the tops of the shoulders and attach to a trapezoid
shaped center matrix made of poly-directional elastic in the back.
This type of design, allows for a 1" to 3" separation
between the bra straps at the point of attachment in the back which
causes the bra straps to remain concealed beneath clothing which
has arm holes cut in the racerback style.
There are several drawbacks to the design of the racerback bra.
First, the ribcage portion of the racerback bra cannot be adjusted
in size. But the ribcage strap of a conventional bra can be adjusted
in size by way of an adjustable hook-and-loop apparatus which attaches
the two ends in the back.
In addition, the front closure of the racerback bra can pose a
problems for some women. Large breasted women need a more secure
closure to avoid the embarrassment of the closure apparatus becoming
detached at an unexpected moment.
Another problem could simply be a matter of availability or personal
preference. An individual who wishes to wear a racerback-style top
or dress may not own a racerback bra or may not have it on hand
at the moment. Or they may simply prefer the color, styling and
texture of a particular conventional bra.
A click-back bra involves a metal ring sewn into each shoulder
strap of the bra in the area over the shoulder blades approximately
2" above the ribcage strap. The bra straps can either be worn
as a conventional bra or a small metal device can be used to bind
the two aforementioned rings together, thereby pulling the shoulder
straps closer together.
Though this type of bra allows the wearer to convert a conventional
style bra to a racerback style bra, the characteristic that allows
this conversion to take place is designed into the structure of
the bra itself, This means that the apparatus which allows the conversion
of the bra straps cannot be transferred from bra to bra. It also
means that a bra wearer will have to pay full price for a bra rather
than the price of one inexpensive bra strap converter that can be
used on every conventional-style bra that she owns.
U.S. Pat. No. 4858249 to Stewart pertains to a shoulder strap
fastening device comprised of a strap made of nylon web and a hook
and pile release-fastening material. The strap fastening device
forms loops at either end that circle around the straps. This device
was designed to be used to secure shoulder straps, or suspenders,
on an outer garment. The device is completely inadequate to solve
the problem of converting a conventional bra into a racerback style
bra for several reasons.
First, this device would be quite bulky and would likely be conspicuous
beneath the garment. It would also scratch the skin causing discomfort.
Even if the device was scaled down so as to avoid a conspicuous
bulky appearance, the smaller hook and pile release-fastening material,
commonly known as VELCRO, would likely not be strong enough to withstand
the tension of bra straps being pulled closer together. It would
also still be scratchy.
Design Pat. No. D383888 is a bra strap holder similar in shape
and design to the shoulder strap fastening device mentioned above
but comprised of a smaller adjustable strap with snap closures at
each end that form loops that circle the bra straps in back for
the purpose of holding them in place.
This device is also inadequate for the purpose of converting a
conventional bra to a racerback bra. Though the device is adjustable
in length, it is designed to hold bra straps in place, not pull
them closer together. Because of this design specification, if the
strap was adjusted to its smallest length, it would not provide
the proper range of size necessary to pull bra straps an all sizes
of bras close enough together so that the straps would not show
beneath some of the more extreme racerback style clothing.
An even greater limitation inherent in this design is the male/female
snap closures on either end of the device which loop around the
straps of the bra. Though this type of closure is adequate for holding
bra straps in place, the naps could not provide a secure enough
closure for pulling the straps closer together. The process of pulling
the straps closer together, especially if the bra is being worn
by a woman with large breasts, places tension on the closing apparatus
of the bra strap converter. For this reason, the closure apparatus
must be of the type that could withstand the extra tension, providing
security for the wearer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Several objects and advantages of the bra strap converter are:
(a) to allow the wearer an easy solution to the problem of her
bra straps showing while wearing certain styles of clothing;
(b) to allow the wearer to adjust the amount of space between the
bra's shoulder straps in the area across the shoulder blades for
the sake of comfort and fit;
(c) to solve the problem of the less secure front closure of the
racerback bra;
(d) to allow the wearer a larger choice when deciding which bra
to wear with a racerback style garment;
(e) to allow the wearer a less expensive alternative to the racerback-style
bra; and
(f) to allow the wearer the capability of converting all of her
conventional bras to racerback-style bras with just one simple device.
The present invention comprises:
an adjustable elastic strap approximately 6" to 8" in
length, fitted a size adjustment device known as a slide, with hooks
at each end of the invention that fasten onto each bra strap in
the area over the shoulder blades;
an elastic strap, approximately 3" in length, with a prefabricated
hook-and-eye closure apparatus attached to each end of said elastic
strap such that the hook portion of said hook-and-eye closure apparatus
is attached to one end said elastic strap and the eye portion of
said hook-and-eye closure apparatus is attached to the other end
of said elastic strap;
a new use for a detachable bra strap.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a first embodiment of
the present invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the first embodiment of
the invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the first embodiment shown in
FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 illustrates the first embodiment of the invention in usage.
FIG. 5 illustrates the first embodiment of the invention in usage.
FIG. 6 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention in usage.
FIG. 7 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 8 illustrates the third embodiment of the invention.
The first aforementioned strap is worn by securing each bra strap
into each hook in the area several inches above the ribcage strap
of the bra;
The second aforementioned strap is worn by looping it around the
bra straps in the area across the shoulder blades and securing the
strap by connecting the pre-fabricated hook-and-eye closure apparatus;
The third aforementioned strap is worn by looping it around the
bra straps in the area across the shoulder blades and securing the
strap by inserting the hook into the loop formed by the end of the
strap.
The aforementioned elastic strap could be sateen bra-strap elastic
either 3/8" or 1/2" or 1" in width.
The slide on the invention allows for adjustability as to how wide
the device will be and thus how closely the bra's shoulder straps
are pulled together, accommodating various fits and sizes.
The device can be adjusted either up or down along the bra straps
for comfort or fit. The tension created when the bra straps are
pulled closer together has the effect of preventing slippage.
The invention will be more fully understood from the following
detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawing in which: FIGS. 1 2 and 3 consist of a strip of elastic
approximately 12" long and 1/2" wide 20 a metal or plastic
slide 12 and two hooks made of shaped wire 16 and 18.
In FIG. 1 the slide is attached to the invention by threading
the first end of the elastic strip 20A up through the first opening
of the slide 12A and down through the second opening 12B. The slide
12 is attached to the elastic 20 by forming a loop at the first
end of the elastic 20A and securing it by sewing or some other means.
The first metal hook 18 is attached to the invention by threading
the second end of the elastic strip 20B through the hook 18 and
moving the hook 18 halfway down the length of the elastic strip
20. The second end of the elastic strip 20B is then threaded up
through the second opening of the slide 12B and down through the
first opening 12A. The second end of the elastic strip 20B is then
threaded through the second hook 16 and attached by forming a loop
at the second end of the elastic 20B and securing it by sewing or
some other means.
FIG. 3 shows the lateral view of the bra strap converter.
FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrates the way the bra strap converter device
functions in actual usage. In FIG. 4 the bra strap sizing device
10 is attached to the bra 30 by attaching the hooks 16 and 18 to
the bra straps 32 and 34 thereby pulling the bra straps closer together.
FIG. 5 shows how the bra straps 32 and 34 are concealed beneath
a racerback style garment. It also shows the alternative position
of the bra straps 32A and 34A if the bra strap converter device
was not in use.
FIG. 6 shows how bra straps are pulled more closely together by
a detachable bra strap.
FIGS. 7 and 8 shows how an elastic strap 66 with a pre-fabricated
hook 64 and loop 62 closure apparatus, attached to each end of said
elastic strap 66 by sewing or some other means of attachment, can
be fastened into a eye FIG. 8 which can serve the same purpose of
pulling bra straps closer together.
Accordingly, the reader will see that the bra strap converter provides
a reliable, inexpensive and convenient means of solving the problem
of bra straps showing beneath racer-back style garments. One bra
strap converter could be used on a number of bras and can be adjusted
in size to accommodate a variety of fits and sizes.
Although the description above contains many specifications, these
should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but
as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred
embodiments of this invention. For example, the strip used to make
the bra strap converter could be either elastic or non-elastic and
could be a variety of colors. The bra strap converter could be assembled
without the slide to make way for ornamentation of the strap such
as lace, rhinestones, chains, etc.
The hooks used could be of a variety of different shapes, sizes,
or styles. The hooks could be made out of a variety of materials
such as plastic, metal, or resin and come in a variety of-different
colors.
The hooks could also be of a style which would allow for ornamentation.
For example, the hook portion of the bra strap converter could be
comprised of a flat surface that could accommodate a decal, a logo,
or some other type of ornamentation and be equipt with a hook type
of structure on the side or underside of this arrangement.
Clips could be used to secure the bra straps instead of hooks.
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