Abstrict The present invention is directed to women's clothing apparel including
a built-in bra. In preferred embodiments, the straps of the bra
are fastened to the shoulder supports of a top garment substantially
along the length of the shoulder supports from the front to the
back of the garment. The invention also provides novel bras which
can be advantageously used according to the invention.
Claims What I claim is:
1. An article of clothing comprising:
a garment including a first garment support having a first length
and a second garment support having a second length;
a bra, the bra comprising:
(i) a body having a front, a back and a side; and
(ii) a first bra strap attached to the front and back of the body
of the bra and a second bra strap attached to the front and back
of the body of the bra; and
a fastener which fastens the first bra strap substantially along
the length of the first garment support and the second bra strap
substantially along the length of the second garment support;
the bra and garment not being fastened at any one of the front,
back and side of the body of the bra.
2. The article of clothing according to claim 1 wherein the fastener
provides for selectively removing the bra straps from the garment
supports.
3. The article of clothing according to claim 1 wherein the first
and second garment supports are spaghetti straps.
4. The article of clothing according to claim 3 wherein the garment
is a dress.
5. The article of clothing according to claim 3 wherein the garment
is a tank top with spaghetti straps.
6. The article of clothing according to claim 3 wherein the garment
is a blouse.
7. The article of clothing according to claim 1 wherein the fastener
is a stitch pattern.
8. The article of clothing according to claim 7 wherein the fastener
is a continuous stitch pattern.
9. The article of clothing according to claim 1 wherein the first
and second bra straps include a strap attachment arrangement for
selectively detaching the first and second bra straps to the body
of the bra.
10. The article of clothing according to claim 9 wherein the strap
attachment arrangement includes a plurality of hook members and
loop members.
11. The article of clothing according to claim 2 wherein the fastener
is hook and loop.
12. An article of clothing comprising:
an outer garment including a first garment support having a first
length and second garment support having a second length;
a bra, the bra comprising:
(i) a body having a front, a back and a side; and
(ii) a first bra strap selectively detachable to the front and
back of the body of the bra and a second bra strap selectively detachable
to the front and back of the body of the bra; and
a fastener which fastens the first bra strap to the first garment
support and the second bra strap to the second garment support.
13. The garment according to claim 12 wherein the bra and garment
are not fastened at any one of the front, back and side of the body
of the bra.
14. The article of clothing according to claim 12 wherein the fastener
fastens the first bra strap to the first garment support substantially
from the front to the back of the body of the bra and the second
bra strap to the second garment support substantially from the front
to the back of the body of the bra.
15. The article of clothing according to claim 12 wherein the fastener
provides for selectively removing the bra from the garment.
16. The article of clothing according to claim 12 wherein the first
and second garment supports are spaghetti straps.
17. The article of clothing according to claim 12 wherein the garment
is a tank top.
18. The article of clothing according to claim 12 wherein the garment
is a dress.
19. The article of clothing according to claim 12 wherein the garment
is a blouse.
20. The article of clothing according to claim 12 wherein the garment
is a halter top.
21. The article of clothing according to claim 12 wherein the fastener
is a stitch pattern.
22. The article of clothing according to claim 12 wherein the first
and second bra straps include a plurality of hook members for selectively
detaching the first and second straps to the front and back of the
bra.
23. The article of clothing according to claim 16 wherein the bra
includes an underwire breast support.
24. The article of clothing according to claim 21 wherein the fastener
fastens the first bra strap substantially along the length of the
first garment support and the second bra strap substantially along
the length of the second garment support.
25. The article of clothing according to claim 12 wherein the
front of the bra comprises a first and second cup, each cup having
a broad base and a narrow apex.
26. An article of clothing comprising:
an outer garment including a first garment support having a first
length and a second garment support having a second length; and
a first bra strap fastened to the first garment support and having
a first and second strap attachment arrangement at a first and second
end, respectively, of the first bra strap, the first and second
strap attachment arrangement of the first bra strap providing for
selectively attaching and detaching a body of a bra to the outer
garment;
a second bra strap fastened to the second garment support and having
a first and second strap attachment arrangement at a first and second
end, respectively, of the second bra strap, the first and second
strap attachment arrangement of the second bra strap providing for
selectively attaching and detaching the body of the bra from the
outer garment.
27. A method for providing breast support in an article of clothing
for women comprising:
selecting a garment that covers a woman's breasts, the garment
having a first garment support extending from a front to back of
the garment and a second garment support extending from the front
to the back of the garment;
selecting a bra for supporting the woman's breasts wherein the
bra includes:
(i) a body having a front and back;
(ii) first and second bra straps; and
fastening the first and second bra straps to the first and second
garment supports, respectively, from the front to the back of the
garment;
the body of the bra being selectively attachable and detachable
from the first and second bra straps.
Description FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to women's clothing apparel,
particularly garments which cover a woman's breasts. Specifically,
the invention provides for fixing at least a portion of a bra to
the garment under which the bra is worn.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Presently available women's clothing apparel generally do not include
breast support. Typically, breast support systems, such as a bra,
are a component separate from the shirt or dress and have a separate
strap arrangement for supporting the bra and garment over a woman's
shoulder.
One disadvantage of having a separate strap for the bra and for
the garment is that the bra strap can be displaced from being completely
covered by the garment shoulder strap when a woman performs routine
activities while wearing the garment/bra arrangement. Exposure of
the bra strap beneath the garment strap can give an unkempt look.
This can be a particular problem when the shoulder support straps
of the garment are thin, i.e., about the same width as the bra strap.
In addition, the independent movement of the two straps on a woman's
shoulder can be constantly irritating and require repeated manual
adjustment to realign the bra strap and the garment strap.
One alternative is to use a single strap to provide over-the-shoulder
support to both the cup portions of the bra and the garment. Such
arrangements are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4398538
and 4798557. However, in general, arrangements having a single
strap for both the bra and garment do not provide the support necessary
for full figured women.
Another alternative is to provide the garment with a built in bra.
Such arrangements are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.
5478278 and 5678246. While these arrangements may provide adequate
breast support, the bra and garment are generally fixed together
over portions of the body of the bra (i.e., cups, sides and back
region) and the strap region. This arrangement can be disadvantageous
because the garment cannot move freely relative to the body of the
bra.
Clasp systems are available for fixing the garment strap and bra
strap in position as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5590545. However,
in addition to being unsightly, clasps generally only provide a
localized point of fixation thus allowing relative displacement
between the garment shoulder strap and the bra strap at regions
that are not directly fixed together by the clasp.
Another alternative is to not wear a bra when wearing a sleeveless
or thin strapped garment. This, however, is frequently a disadvantage
for full figured women or women performing sports or other physical
activities.
Accordingly, there is a need for women's garments, particularly
garments that are sleeveless or thin strapped, that permits constant
coverage of the strap of an underlying bra by the garment shoulder
strap.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Throughout the specification, guidance is provided through lists
of examples. In each instance, the recited list serves only as a
representative group. It is not meant, however, that the list is
exclusive.
The invention is directed to articles of clothing including a garment
and a bra or bra straps. According to the invention, a garment can
include a first and second garment support which extend from the
front of the garment to the back of the garment. Alternatively,
a garment can include a first and second garment support which extend
from the front of the garment to behind the wearer's neck where
the first and second garment supports attach to one another.
A bra according to the invention includes a bra body and first
and second bra straps. The bra body has a front, a back and sides.
In a typical embodiment, the first and second bra straps are fastened
to the first and second garment supports, respectively. The bra
straps can be non-removable or selectively removable from the garment
supports. In some embodiments, the body of the bra can be selectively
detachable from the bra straps.
Articles of clothing according to the invention are particularly
advantageous for use with garments having garment supports which
are narrow, such as "spaghetti straps." The garment of
an article of clothing according to the invention can be a dress,
a blouse, a tank top, halter top, tube top, bathing suit, etc.
Fastening the bra straps to the garment supports provides the herein
disclosed articles of clothing with an overall neater appearance.
In addition, the articles provide breast support and comfort for
regular use or for use during physical activity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1a-1c illustrate an embodiment of a prior art garment and
bra arrangement;
FIGS. 2a-2c illustrate one embodiment of a garment and bra arrangement
according to the invention;
FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate one preferred embodiment of the invention
wherein the garment is freely moveable over the body of the bra
while the garment supports are fastened along a portion of the bra
straps;
FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate a front and back view of a garment with
a bra beneath, in phantom lines, wherein the bra straps are fastened
substantially along the garment supports;
FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a bra according
to the invention;
FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a garment and bra
arrangement according to the invention including the bra of FIG.
5;
FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of an alternative embodiment of
an article of clothing according to the invention;
FIG. 8 illustrates a back view of the embodiment of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 illustrates a front view of an alternative embodiment of
an article of clothing according to the invention;
FIG. 10 illustrates a back view of the embodiment of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 illustrates a front view of an alternative embodiment of
an article of clothing according to the invention;
FIG. 12 illustrates a back view of the embodiment of FIG. 11;
FIGS. 13a and 13b illustrate an alternative embodiment of an article
of clothing according to the invention; and
FIGS. 14a and 14b illustrate another alternative embodiment of
an article of clothing according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present disclosure is directed to women's garments, worn with
a bra underneath, that provides substantial, continuous coverage
of the strap of the bra. In a preferred embodiment, the garment
is mobile relative to the body of the bra.
As used herein, the term "garment" refers to women's
clothing apparel that covers the upper body region including the
breasts, for example, dresses, blouses, t-shirts, tank tops, bathing
suits, halter tops, tube tops, etc. The "garment shoulder support"
or "garment support" refers to that region of the garment
that extends from the front of the garment to the back of the garment
in the shoulder region to support the garment on a woman's shoulder
(i.e., over-the-shoulder-support). The garment support can be narrow
or broad. According to the invention, narrow and broad garment supports
include the supports of all sleeveless garments. Narrow and broad
support garments may include lateral extensions such as long or
short sleeves. The over-the-shoulder supports of a garment having
narrow shoulder sup ports (e.g., straps), may sometimes be referred
to as "spaghetti straps."
As used herein, the term "bra" refers to common breast
support systems which fall under the term "bra" and which
have a "bra strap" that extends from the front of the
bra over a woman's shoulder to the back of the bra. The "body"
of the bra includes the front, back and sides of the bra. The "front"
of the bra includes that portion of the bra which directly surrounds
or supports the breasts (e.g., cups). The "back" of the
bra refers to that region of the bra that passes across a woman's
back. The back of the bra often includes a clasp or other similar
arrangement to facilitate putting on and taking off the bra. The
"sides" of the bra are between the front and the back
and in use are generally positioned under a woman's arm pits. As
used herein, the "body" does not include the bra straps
which typically support the bra in place over a woman's shoulder.
Examples of bras suitable for the invention include, underwire bras,
push-up bras, padded bras, pocket bras with removable padding, wireless
bras, lace bras, etc.
In a typical embodiment of the invention, the bra straps can be
attached to the garment support substantially along the length of
the bra strap from the front to the back of the garment. According
to the disclosure, the bra straps can be fastened to the garment
shoulder supports using fasteners such as hook and loop (e.g., VELCRO.RTM.),
snaps, zippers, buttons, loops, stitched thread, pattern (e.g.,
continuous, discontinuous, etc.), etc.
Fastening the bra straps to the garment supports, substantially
along the length of the bra strap underlying the garment support,
provides a neat appearance without constant visualization of the
bra straps protruding outside the garment shoulder supports. By
fastening the bra to the garment supports only in the over-the-shoulder
regions, preferred embodiments of the herein disclosed articles
of clothing also provide free movement of the garment relative to
the body of the bra. Although not presently preferred, in some embodiments,
the bra strap and garment support may be fastened only in the region
from the front of the garment to the top of the shoulder or from
the back of the garment to the top of the shoulder. According to
this embodiment, in the former arrangement (i.e., fastened from
front of garment to -top of shoulder), the bra strap and garment
support could extend to the back of the garment (or bra) not fastened
to one another. In the latter arrangement, the bra strap and garment
support could extend to the front of the garment (or bra) not fastened
to one another.
In some embodiments, the garment supports may not extend to the
back of the garment. For example, the garment supports may extend
from the front of the garment and attach to one another behind the
wearer's neck. In these embodiments, the garment supports and bra
straps can be fastened together starting at about the front of the
garment and extend together along the length of the garment support
to a region of the garment support which in use would be positioned
at, or behind, the wearer's neck. At this point, the support straps
can be attached to one another by tying (e.g., a halter top) or
using known clasping arrangements.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the disclosure provides
for wearing a bra beneath a garment having narrow shoulder supports,
such as "spaghetti straps." In a preferred embodiment,
the garment is freely moveable relative to the body of the bra but
fastened from the front to back of the garment along substantially
the length of the garment shoulder support.
As used herein, the term "substantially" is used to indicate
some variation in, for example, the location of a fastener, but
the variation still providing the function within the scope and
principles of the invention.
As will be disclosed below, the bra straps of the invention can
be fastened to the garments to provide for removal of the bra from
the garment. In some embodiments, the body of the bra can be detached
from the straps, regardless of whether the straps are removable
or non-removable from the garment supports. This feature advantageously
provides for using the bra, or body of the bra, with different garments
or the same garment with different bras or bra bodies. This aspect
of the invention provides for articles of clothing to be available
which have bra straps fastened to the garment supports, but no bra
body. A selectively detachable bra body would be available separately.
Alternatively, an article of clothing can be available with garment
supports which include a fastener capable of fastening a removable
bra, but no bra. Separate removable bras would also be available.
These embodiments allow the consumer to mix and match garments and
bras, or bra bodies.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT
FIGS. 1a-1c illustrate one example of a problem with prior art
arrangements of a bra and garment which is addressed by the present
invention. In the illustrated embodiment, tank top 10 has garment
supports 11a and 11b which are narrow and may be relatively displaced
so as not to cover the bra straps 12a and 12b of the bra beneath
the tank top 10. FIG. 1b is a side view and FIG. 1c is a back view
of the same garment arrangement as FIG. 1a.
FIGS. 2a-2c illustrate one embodiment of a clothing article 40
according to the invention comprising a tank top 41 having garment
supports 42a and 42b which are fastened to the bra straps (not visible)
substantially along the length of the bra straps in the region of
the garment supports. Referring to FIGS. 3a and 3b, in one preferred
embodiment, garment shoulder supports 42a and 42b of clothing article
40 and bra straps 51a and 51b (not visible in this view), of bra
50 are fastened together substantially from the front end 55a of
bra strap 51a, to the back of garment 41. FIG. 3b illustrates that
in preferred embodiments, the region of the garment 41 which covers
the body 54 of bra 50 can be freely removable from the body 53 of
the bra.
FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate a front and back view of another embodiment
of a clothing article 55 such as a drape neck top 56 showing the
body 60 of bra 61 in phantom lines. The body 60 of bra 61 includes
a front 62 a back 63 and sides 64a and 64b. The front 62 of bra
61 includes cups 65a and 65b. The bra straps 66a and 66b (phantom
lines) are fastened to the garment supports 67a and 67b of top 56
by fastener 68a and 68b which is represented in the illustration
by diagonal lines. The fastener can provide for the bra to be non-removable
from the garment such as by a threaded stitch, an adhesive, etc.
or selectively removable by using, for example, hook and loop (VELCRO.RTM.),
zipper, snaps, buttons, clasps, etc. If a threaded stitch is used,
one or more rows of a continuous or intermittent stitch pattern
can be used.
The back 63 of bra 61 includes a centrally located clasp 69 to
facilitate putting on and taking off bra 61. In addition, an adjustment
arrangement 70a and 70b can be provided for adjustment of the length
of bra straps 66a and ()6b, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment,
the body 60 of bra 63 is not fastened to the top 56. However, bra
straps 66a and 66b are fastened to garment supports 67a and 67b
substantially along the length of the garment supports 67a and 67b
from the front 71 to the back 72 of garment 56. Thus, the body 60
of bra 61 is freely moveable beneath top 56 for comfort and neat
appearance. The unkempt appearance of the bra straps 66a, 66b displaced
from beneath the garment supports 67a, 67b is eliminated.
FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate one embodiment of a bra of the invention
wherein the body of the bra is selectively detachable from the bra
straps. This embodiment permits interchangeability of bra bodies
and garments. Referring to FIG. 5 bra 110 includes a body 100
comprising front 101 sides 102a, 102b, back 103 and straps 104a,
104b.
Front 101 of bra 110 comprises first cup 150a and second cup 150b.
In this embodiment, cups 150a and 150b include a base region 151a,
151b and an apex region 152a, 152b. The tear-drop shape of cups
150a and 150b provides for positioning front attachments 106a and
106b at apex region 152a, 152b to provide even and comfortable support
for the wearer. This bra cup configuration also provides a smoother
appearance under a garment without a visible defining line at the
top edge of the bra. In this embodiment, body 100 is attached to
the bra straps 104a, 104b by strap attachment arrangement 105 which
provides for selectively attaching and detaching the bra straps
104a, 104b to the front 101 and back 103 of the body 100 of bra
110. According to this embodiment, strap attachment arrangement
105 can include front attachments 106a, 106b which are the same
or different than back attachments; 107a, 107b. In the illustrated
embodiment, front attachments 106a, 106b each include a hook members
108 mounted at the front ends 109a, 109b of straps 104a, 104b,
to selectively attach and detach from loop members 111a, 111b at
the front 101 of bra 110. Back attachments 107a, 107b each also
include hook members 108 mounted at the back ends 112a, 112b of
straps 104a, 104b which can selectively attach and detach from loop
members 113a, 113b at the back 103 of bra 110. It will be appreciated
that the relative locations of the hook members and loop members
can be the inverse of that illustrated. Also, other strap attachment
arrangements 105 which provide for selective detachability of the
body of the bra from the straps, such as hook and loop (VELCRO.RTM.),
buttons, snaps, clasps, zippers, etc., can be used.
As illustrated, an adjustment arrangement 120a and 120b can be
included for adjusting the length of bra straps 104a, 104b. Suitable
adjustment arrangements are known in the art.
FIG. 6 illustrates that the feature of selective detachability
of body 100 of bra 110 from straps 104a and 104b (not visible) still
permits for the bra 110 to be freely moveable beneath a garment
160. In addition, as described previously for other embodiments,
a clothing article including a strap attachment arrangement 105
for selective detachment of the bra body 100 can include a fastener
161 which provides for the bra straps to be removably or non-removably
fastened to the garment supports.
FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an alternative embodiment of an article
of clothing 200 according to the invention. According to this embodiment,
garment 201 includes garment supports 202a, 202b which attach to
each other using a garment support attachment 203 behind the wearer's
neck. As illustrated in phantom lines, bra 204 includes a body 205
having a front 206 sides 207a, 207b and back 208. Article of clothing
200 includes fastener 209a and 209b (diagonal lines) to fasten bra
straps 210a and 210b (hatched line) to garment supports 202a, 202b
from the front 220 of the garment 201 to near the garment support
attachment 203 using previously described removable or non-removable
fasteners. Also, as described f-or other embodiments, bra 204 can
include a body 205 which is selectively detachable or non-selectively
detachable to bra straps 210a and 210b.
Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10 in another embodiment, a halter top
300 including a removable or non-removable, detachable or non-detachable
bra 301 is illustrated. According to this embodiment, the bra straps
302a, 302b of bra 301 are fastened by a fastener 303a, 303b (diagonal
lines) along a portion of garment supports 304a, 304b, preferably
extending at least a distance along the support straps 303a, 303b
to near the wearer's neck. The bra straps 302a, 302b can extend
to the end of ties 305a, 305b (i.e., garment supports) or stop at
or near the wearer's neck as illustrated.
In another embodiment of a halter top 400 shown in FIGS. 11 and
12 a bra 401 lacking bra straps may be used. According to this
embodiment, small triangular shaped regions 402a, 402b at the front
403 of bra 401 near each of the apexes 404a, 404b, are attached
to the garment 405. The small regions 402a, 402b of attachment can
also be used in clothing articles wherein bra straps are present
and fastened to the garment support.
FIGS. 13a and 13b illustrate a front and back view of another embodiment
of a clothing article 500 such as tank top 501 showing the body
502 of bra 503 in phantom lines. The body 502 of bra 503 includes
a front 504 a back 505 and sides 506a and 506b. The front 504 of
bra 503 includes cups 507a and 507b. The bra straps 508a and 508b
(phantom lines) are fastened to the garment supports 509a and 509b
of tank top 501 by fastener 510a and 510b which is represented in
the illustration by diagonal lines. The fastener can provide for
the bra to be non-removable or removable from the garment as discussed
for other embodiments of the invention. FIGS. 13a and 13b also illustrate
that a bra strap adjustment arrangement 521a, 521b can be located
along bra straps 508a and 508b, respectively, near the front 504
of the body 502 of bra 503. Also, as illustrated in this embodiment,
rather than having a central clasp at the back 505 of the body 502
of bra 503 for facilitating putting the bra on and taking bra off,
a clasp 520 can be located at the front 504 of the body 502 of bra
503.
FIGS. 14a and 14b illustrate an article of clothing 600 wherein
the body 601 of bra 602 includes a clasp 620 at the front 604 of
the body 601. A strap attachment arrangement 605 for selectively
detaching the body 601 of bra 602 is illustrated. In addition, this
embodiment shows that an article of clothing 600 can have strap
adjustment arrangements 606 located at the front 607a, 607b of bra
straps 608a, 608b and/or at the back 609a, 609b of bra straps 608a,
608b.
In addition, a bra of the invention can also include a bra body
having a clasp arrangement at the front and back of the body of
the bra to facilitate putting on and taking off the bra. Such a
bra body can be removable or non-removable from the garment and
the bra body can be non-detachable or selectively detachable from
the bra straps. Also, although not presently preferred, an article
of (clothing can also have a hook member mounted at the front ends
and back ends of the garment supports. A previously described bra
body can include loop members at the front and back of the bra body
to selectively detach the bra body from the hook members at the
garment supports. As discussed previously, the relative locations
of the hook members and loop members (or other strap attachment
arrangements) can be inverse to that stated. However, because this
embodiment lacks bra straps, it is less preferred for providing
support than other embodiments of the invention.
The disclosed arrangements provide for the bra straps to fully
support the body of the bra without relative displacement of the
bra straps from beneath the garment supports. Thus, an article of
clothing according to the invention eliminates the need for repeated
rearrangement of the garment support and the bra strap to keep the
bra strap hidden beneath the garment support. Also, unlike safety
pins, clasps or other devices that provide a point fixation between
the garment support and the bra strap, the fasteners of the present
invention not only maintain the relative position of the garment
support to the bra strap but also eliminate visualization of the
bra strap in regions away from single point fixation when bending,
turning or performing some other movement that can cause the bra
strap to separate from the garment support if only fixed together
at a single point.
Fixation of the bra strap to the garment shoulder support is advantageous
for use with sleeveless garments, and particularly garments with
a narrow (thin) shoulder supports (e.g., spaghetti straps) for providing
a neater appearance. Fastening the bra strap to the garment support
according to the invention is particularly beneficial to women needing
a B-cup bra or larger as well as women needing an A-cup who may
wish to include padding within the bra. It will be appreciated that
an article of clothing according to the invention can include bras
having varied cup sizes, thicknesses, with or without underwires,
pads, push-ups or any other components which may be used with or
as a part of the bra.
The articles of clothing according to the invention advantageously
provide breast support with increased comfort for regular use or
for jogging, running, skiing or other physical activity with a feeling
of security and without the pain which can be associated with un-supported
breasts.
The entire disclosure of all patents cited in this disclosure are
incorporated herein by reference.
From the foregoing detailed description it has been shown how the
objects of the invention have been obtained in a preferred manner.
However, modifications and equivalence of the disclosed concepts
such as those which would occur to one of ordinary skill in the
art are intended to be included within the scope of the present
invention.
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