Abstrict A convenient, easy-to-use calculator computes a person's proper
bra and cup size given a knowledge of that person's chest, overbust,
and band measurements. The calculator comprises a circular slide
rule of three superimposed disks, the intermediate disk being of
larger diameter than the upper disk and the lower disk being of
larger diameter than the intermediate disk. The three disks are
mounted for relative rotation by means of an axially disposed pivot,
pin, rivet, or other means transfixing the disks for ease of rotation
about their centers. Scalar indicia at the periphery of the disks
represent body measurements required for the determination of proper
bra size. Proper bra and cup size are viewable through circular
indexes when a person's chest and overbust measurements are aligned
on the two outermost peripheral scales and the person's underbust
or band measurement is aligned with a fixed index on the intermediate
disk.
Claims Having disclosed my invention in the foregoing specification and
drawings in such a clear and concise manner that those skilled in
the art may readily understand and practice the invention, that
which I claim is:
1. A bra size calculator for use in determining the proper bra
cup size of a person given that person's chest, overbust, and band
or underbust physical measurements comprising:
a first disk having thereon a scalar presentation in numeric sequence
of overbust measurements and including a first index position thereon;
a second disk having thereon a scalar presentation in numeric sequence
of chest measurements and movably coupled to said first disk and
having alphabetical bra cup size indicia alignable with said first
index position when a person's overbust measurement on said first
disk's scalar presentation is aligned with that person's chest measurement
on said second disk's scalar presentation.
2. The calculator of claim 1 further comprising means for determining
bra size, said means comprising:
a second index position on said first scalar presentation;
a third disk having thereon a scalar presentation in numeric sequence
of band or underbust measurements movably coupled to said first
disk and including a third index position thereon; and
a numeric sequence of bra size indicia on said first disk alignable
with said third index position when a person's band or underbust
measurement on said third disk's scalar presentation is aligned
with said second index position on said first disk which bra size
indicia when aligned with said third index position differs from
the person's band or underbust measurement by a commercially established,
industry standard constant.
3. The calculator of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the bra cup size
indicia alignable with said first index position comprise the alphabetical
indicia AA, A, B, C, D, and DD which align with said first index
position when the scalar presentations of overbust measurement on
said first disk and said chest measurement on said second disk differ
by:
(AA) less than 1 inch;
(A) 1 inch;
(B) 2 inches;
(C) 3 inches;
(D) 4 inches;
(DD) 5 inches, respectively.
4. The calculator of claim 2 wherein the bra size indicia alignable
with said third index position comprise indicia differing from a
person's band or underbust measurement by five inches when the band
or underbust-measurement-plus-five-inches is an even number and
by six inches when the band or under-bust-measurement-plus-five-inches
is an odd number.
5. The calculator of claim 4 wherein the bra cup size indicia alignable
with said first index position comprise the alphabetical indicia
AA, B, C, D, and DD which align with said first index position when
the scalar presentations of overbust measurements on said first
disk and said chest measurments on said second disk differ by:
(AA) less than 1 inch;
(A) 2 inches;
(C) 3 inches;
(D) 4 inches;
(DD) 5 inches respectively.
6. The calculator of claim 5 wherein
said first disk is an intermediate sized disk and said scalar presentation
thereon comprises a first annular arrangement of overbust size indicia
in numeric sequence at the periphery of said intermediate sized
disk;
said second disk is a larger sized disk and said scalar presentation
thereon comprises a second annular arrangement of chest size indicia
in numeric sequence at the periphery of said larger sized disk;
said third disk is a smaller sized disk and said third scalar presentation
thereon comprises a third annular arrangement of band or underbust
size indicia in numeric sequence at the periphery of said smaller
sized disk; and further comprising:
coupling means for movably coupling said first, second and third
disks with their annular size indicia arrangements thereon each
for independent movement about a common center.
7. A slide rule bra size calculator for informing a woman of her
correct bra and cup sizes without the need for mental calculations
which slide rule bra size calculator comprises:
(a) three superimposed disks comprising:
a base disk having a peripheral scale graduated with a sequence
of numbers which numbers each represent a measurement of a woman's
chest dimension and an inner scale graduated with letters each representative
of a bra cup size;
an intermediate disk having a peripheral scale graduated with numbers
each representative of a measurement of a women's overbust dimension
and an inner scale graduated with numbers each representative of
a bra size; and
an upper disk having a peripheral scale graduated with numbers
representative of a measurement of a woman's band, i.e. under-the-bust,
dimension, said upper disk generally obscuring said inner scale
of said intermediate disk, and
said intermediate disk generally obscuring said inner scale of
said base disk when said three disks are superimposed with their
centers aligned;
(b) means for coupling said three superimposed disks, each to the
others, for relative rotation of each said disk to the others;
(c) a viewing aperture in the periphery of said intermediate disk
for viewing a selected one of said letters on said inner scale of
said base disk representative of a woman's proper cup size when
a selected number on said base disk's peripheral scale representative
of a woman's chest dimension is aligned with a selected number on
the intermediate disk's peripheral scale representative of a woman's
overbust dimension;
(d) an index mark on said intermediate disk for aligning with a
selected number on said upper disk's peripheral scale representative
of a woman's underbust measurement; and
(e) a viewing aperture in the periphery of said upper disk for
viewing a selected one of said numbers on said inner scale of said
intermediate disk representative of a women's proper bra size when
a selected number on said upper disk's peripheral scale is aligned
with said index mark on said intermediate scale;
whereby a woman is informed of her proper bra and bra cup sizes
without the need for mental calculations by viewing the number and
letter exposed within said viewing apertures.
8. A method for informing women of their correct bra and bra cup
sizes using a slide rule bra size calculator having three superimposed
disks independently rotatable about their aligned centers the upper,
intermediate, and lower of said superimposed disks having scales
graduated respectively in dimensions representative of a women's
underbust, overbust and chest measurements, said intermediate disk
also having bra size scale gradations selectedly viewable through
an indexing aperture in said upper disk and an index mark alignable
with said chest size scale graduations on said upper disk, said
lower disk also having bra cup size scale gradations selectedly
viewable through an indexing aperture in said intermediate disk,
said method for so informing women of their correct bra and bra
cup sizes by using said slide rule comprising the steps of:
(a) aligning a women's chest measurement as found on the scalar
gradations on said lower disk with the woman's overbust measurement
as found on the scalar gradations on said intermediate disk;
(b) viewing the women's proper bra cup size as bound on the scalar
gradation on said lower disk viewable through the indexing aperture
in said intermediate disk;
(c) aligning the index mark on said intermediate disk with the
women's underbust measurement as found on the scalar gradations
on said upper disk; and
(d) viewing the woman's proper bra size as found on the scalar
gradations on said intermediate disk viewable through the indexing
aperture in said upper disk.
Description BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of calculating devices.
The invention particularly relates to portable slide rule type
calculating devices.
The invention specifically relates to a calculating device for
determining a person's proper bra size.
2. Prior Art
Slide rules are well known calculators which are provided in various
styles and sizes. There are relatively flat slide rules having members
movable linearly, one with respect to another, and disc and cylindrical
slide rules wherein the moving members rotate about a common axis.
Special purpose calculators are also familiar to those skilled
in the prior art. Such specialized slide rule calculators include
those for calculating electrical wire sizes, energy consumption
by household appliances, the number of board feet of lumber contained
within a tree log, the volume of a room, etc.
While the high accuracy, simplicity of operation, and relatively
low cost of today's electronic calculators has generally replaced
the slide rule for general and engineering calculations, the hand-operated
slide rule for specialized calculations still finds popular acceptance.
This is particularly true where the elements of a given calculation
are involved, not readily memorized, or are given to misunderstanding.
Because of these factors, it is believed that the bra-size calculator
disclosed herein will find ready acceptance.
Early in the last decade a bra manufacturer sent out a call for
women to model a size 34B bra. Over two hundred applicants applied,
each believing they were size 34B. Only two of the two hundred applicants
were found to be size 34B.
A brochure published by International Playtex, Inc. in 1979 notes
that seven out of ten women may be wearing the wrong size bra. Seven
pages of that brochure are then employed to describe and detail
the manner in which a woman should measure her figure and manipulate
those measurements to determine her proper bra and cup size. The
directions instruct the woman to measure around her bra band or
her underbust and add five to that measurement to determine her
bra size unless, of course, the addition of five to the band measurement
results in an odd number in which case the woman shall add six to
the band measurement to determine her proper bra size.
Having found her bra size in accordance with the above method,
the woman is then instructed to make an overbust measurement about
the fullest part of her bust. This overbust measurement is to be
compared with the bra size just determined. The proper cup size
is then given in terms of the following tabulation:
______________________________________ If overbust measure is:
Cup Size is: ______________________________________ up to 1/2 inch
larger than bra size AA up to 1 inch larger than bra size A up to
2 inches larger than bra size B up to 3 inches larger than bra size
C up to 4 inches larger than bra size D up to 5 inches larger than
bra size DD ______________________________________
The picture is further clouded by the fact that professional undergarment
manufacturers and fitters employ a third measurement made above
the fullness of the bust and close to the underarms. This measurement
takes into account the fact that the fullness of a women's bust,
which extends to the side of her torso and under her arms, affects
the proper fit of the bra and therefore is determinative of the
correct bra size.
It is therefore an objective of the invention to provide a convenient
means for calculating proper bra and bra cup sizes based on the
three measurements: chest, overbust, and band; utilized by professional
undergarment fitters.
It is a particular objective of the invention to provide a simple-to-use,
conveniently carried, inexpensive bra size calculator.
It is a specific objective of the invention to provide a bra size
calculator in the form of a slide rule which a woman, armed with
her chest, overbust, and band measurements, may readily utilize
to determine her correct bra and cup size.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention discloses a calculator for use in determining the
proper bra size of a person, given that person's chest, overbust,
and band, or underbust, physical measurements. The calculator comprises
first scalar presentation means bearing indicia thereon overbust
measurements and including a first index position thereon. A second
scalar presentation means bearing indicia, representative of chest
measurements, is movably coupled to said first scalar presentation
means and further comprises bra size indicia alignable with said
first index position when a person's overbust measurement on said
first scalar presentation means is aligned with that person's chest
measurement on said second scalar presentation means wherein the
bra cup size indicia, aligned with said first index position, is
determined and presented as the difference between said chest and
said overbust measurements.
The calculator further comprises a second index position on the
first scalar presentation means as well as a third scalar presentation
means bearing indicia representative of band, or underbust, measurements.
This third scalar presentation means is movably coupled to the first
scalar presentation means and includes a third index position thereon.
Bra size indicia on the first scalar presentation means are alignable
with the third index position on the third scalar presentation means
such that when a person's band, or underbust, measurement on the
third scalar presentation means is aligned with said second index
position on the first scalar presentation means, the bra size indicia,
aligned with said third index position, differs from the person's
band, or underbust, measurement by a commercially established, industry
standard constant.
The bra cup size indicia of the calculator comprise the alphabetical
indicia AA, A, B, C, D, and DD. Respective ones of these bra cup
size indicia align with said first index position when the difference
between said chest and said overbust measurement is: (aa) less than
one inch; (a) one inch; (b) two inches; (c) three inches; (d) four
inches; (dd) five inches, respectively.
In one embodiment of the calculator disclosed and claimed herein,
the commercially established, industry standard constant selected
is that wherein the bra size indicia alignable with the third index
position comprise indicia differing from a person's band or underbust
measurement by five when the band or underbust-measurement-plus-five
is an even number and by six when the band or underbust-measurement-plus-five
is an odd number.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the calculator comprises
three scalar presentation means wherein the measurement indicia
are presented in an annular arrangement, all three scalar presentation
means being movably coupled for independent movement about a common
center. Thus, the first scalar presentation comprises a first annular
arrangement of overbust size indicia at the periphery of an intermediate
sized disk. The second scalar presentation comprises a second annular
arrangement of chest size indicia at the periphery of a larger sized
disk. The third scalar presentation comprises a third annular arrangement
of band or underbust size indicia at the periphery of a smaller
sized disk.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates scalar presentation means comprising an annular
arrangement of chest size indicia at the periphery of a large size
disk.
FIG. 2 illustrates a scalar presentation of overbust size indicia
in annular arrangement at the periphery of an intermediate size
disk.
FIG. 3 illustrates a third scalar presentation comprising an annular
arrangement of band or underbust size indicia at the periphery of
a smaller sized disk.
FIG. 4 is an assembled bra size calculator illustrating the manner
in which the annular arrangements of size indicia are coupled one
to another for independent movement about a common center.
DETAILS OF THE INVENTION
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles
of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments
illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to
describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation
of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations
and further modifications in the illustrated device; and such further
applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein
being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the
art to which the invention relates.
The bra size calculator preferably comprises three superimposed
disks 10 18 and 26 preferably of a suitable relatively stiff material,
the intermediate disk 18 being of larger diameter than the upper
disk 26 and the lower disk 10 being of larger diameter than the
intermediate disk 18. The three disks are mounted for relative rotation
by means of an axially disposed pivot pin, rivet, or other means
P, coupling the three disks for independent rotation about the center
33. The above construction is best seen in the illustration of FIG.
4.
The lower, larger sized disk 10 is comprised of an annular ring
12 at the periphery of the disk. A major portion of annular ring
12 is subdivided into equally spaced segments 13 and a large segment
14. Annular ring 12 defines an inner circle 15. The large segment
14 of annular ring 12 identifies the numerals 16 contained within
the small segments 13 of annular ring 12 as indicia of a person's
chest size. The chest size indicia 16 are indicated here as the
size of a person's chest measurement in inches. Other scalar measurements,
such as centimeters, would serve equally as well. Letter indicia
17 representative of bra cup size, are presented within inner circle
15 as defined by annular ring 12 and adjacent to the periphery of
inner circle 15.
Intermediate sized disk 18 comprises an annular ring 19 which is
broken into smaller equally spaced segments 20. With the exception
of shaded segment opening 21 each segment 20 of annular ring 19
bears the indicia 22 representative of a person's overbust measurements
in inches. As before, any convenient scalar unit may be utilized.
Annular ring 19 defines an inner field 24 of disk 18. Herein is
indicated a first index position 25 and an annular array of bra
size indicias 23.
When intermediate size disk 18 is superimposed on large size disk
10 so that centers 33 coincide, the bra cup size indicia 17 of disk
10 are viewable through shaded segment opening 21 when a selected
one of the overbust size indicia 22 is aligned with a selected one
of the chest size indicia 16. The indicia 17 of bra cup sizes are
presented through shaded segment opening 21 in accordance with the
tabulation of bra cup sizes set forth in the background discussion
herein.
Small disk 26 is comprised of annular ring 27 which is subdivided
into smaller segments 28 of equal size and spacing. A large segment
27 accommodates shaded segment opening 30 to be used as an index
for viewing the indicia of bra sizes established by use of the bra
size calculator. Indicia 31 representative of a person's band size
measurements, are set forth within segments 28 of annular ring 27.
When small disk 26 is superimposed atop intermediate size disk
18 such that centers 33 coincide, and a selected one of the indicia
of a person's band size measurement 31 is positioned adjacent to
index 25 an appropriate one of the bra size indicia 23 presented
within the inner field 24 of intermediate size disk 18 will be viewable
through shaded segment opening 30. Using a presently accepted industry
standard, the bra size viewable through shaded segment opening 30
will differ from a person's band or underbust measurement as aligned
with index 25 by five when the band or underbust-measurement-plus-five
is an even number and by six when the band or underbust-measurement-plus-five
is an odd number. However, any commercially acceptable industry
standard may be utilized in setting forth the various measurement
indicia on the bra size calculator.
As already noted in this description of the invention, FIG. 4 illustrates
the assembled bra size calculator 34. When the selected one of the
indicia of a person's chest size 35 is aligned with a selected one
of the indicia of a person's overbust measurement, the proper bra
cup size appears in the index provided by shaded segment opening
21. When a person's band or underbust measurement 37 is aligned
with index 25 the proper bra size is indicated and presented for
viewing through shaded segment opening 30. Thus, in the illustration
as shown in FIG. 4 a person having a chest measurement 35 of thirty-five
inches, an overbust measurement 36 of thirty-seven inches, and a
band or underbust measurement 37 of thirty inches, will select a
bra size thirty-six as indicated in shaded segment opening 30 and
of cup size B as indicated in shaded segment opening 21.
What has been disclosed is a convenient, easy-to-use calculator
for computing a person's proper bra and cup size given a knowledge
of that person's chest, overbust, and band measurements. The calculator
comprises a circular slide rule of three superimposed disks, the
intermediate disk being of larger diameter than the upper disk and
the lower disk being of larger diameter than the intermediate disk.
The three disks are mounted for relative rotation by means of an
axially disposed pivot, pin, rivet, or other means transfixing the
disks for ease of rotation about their centers. Scalar indicia at
the periphery of the disks represent body measurements required
for the determination of proper bra size. Proper bra and cup size
are viewable through circular indexes when a person's chest and
overbust measurements are aligned on the two outermost peripheral
scales and the person's underbust or band measurement is aligned
with a fixed index on the intermediate disk.
A presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed.
Those skilled in the art will readily anticipate modifications of
this embodiment drawn from the teachings herein. To the extent that
such modifications are so drawn, it is intended that they shall
fall within the ambit of protection provided by the claims appended
hereto.
|