Abstract
A decorative strap cover that is fastened to a strap on an article of clothing that may cover a portion of a bra, a dress, lingerie, shirt, tank top, halter top, pants, belt loops or belt and may provide a decorative compartment. The decorative strap cover may be worn as a single component or combined with others as desired.
Claims
1. A decorative strap cover for attachment to a bra worn by a wearer, the bra having at least one strap extending longitudinally for a strap length with a transverse strap width and a strap thickness, the strap further defining an upper side and an under side, the decorative strap cover comprising: a flexible strap cover material having an upper face, a lower face, a cover length and a cover width, wherein the cover length is substantially equal to the strap length of the at least one strap, and wherein said strap cover width is wider than the strap width, the upper face having a substantially rectangular shape; an attachment system for demountably attaching the strap cover to the at least one strap wherein the strap cover material substantially covers and overlies the upper side of the at least one strap, wherein the attachment system is a longitudinally disposed plurality of brackets, each of the brackets having a hook with a hook width substantially equal to or greater than the transverse strap width, the bracket being fixed on the lower face of the strap cover material, hooks further comprising an opening and being adapted to receive the strap by the opening and to retain strap and strap cover in a fixed relative position; and an ornament disposed on the upper face of the strap cover material.
2. The decorative strap cover of claim 1, wherein the strap cover comprises one or more strap covers attached along a length of an edge.
3. The decorative strap cover of claim 1, wherein said strap cover is worn in combination with a sleeveless, shoulder-less article of clothing.
4. The decorative strap cover of claim 1, wherein said strap cover material is arranged between a spaghetti strap of a first article of clothing and a second article of clothing.
5. The decorative strap cover of claim 1, wherein said strap cover material provides a compartment.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an ornamental strap cover that is provided on a bra strap arranged underneath a strapless, sleeveless article of clothing. FIG. 1B is a prior art sleeveless article of clothing shown in FIG. 1A and showing bra straps extending from beneath the article of clothing. FIG. 1C is a cross section view of the strap cover taken from line A-A in FIG. 1A, and showing the fastening means, and the underlying strap.
(2) FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a decorative strap cover for a bra strap worn with an article of clothing that includes spaghetti straps. FIG. 2B is a prior art blouse shown in FIG. 2A.
(3) FIG. 2C is a cross section view of the strap cover taken from line B-B of FIG. 2A and showing the fastening means, the overlying strap and an underlying bra strap.
(4) FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a decorative strap cover for a tank top strap. FIG. 3B is a prior art tank top. FIG. 3C is a cross section view of the strap cover taken from line C-C of FIG. 3A, and showing the fastening means, and the two underlying straps.
(5) FIGS. 4A-4D depicts various decorative embodiments.
(6) FIG. 5A is a backside view of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5B is an elevated view taken from the side FIG. 5A.
(7) FIG. 6A is an overhead plan view of another embodiment of the invention with a fastening means comprising a snap-fastener having complementary fastening means arranged in a pair of wings along a side of the strap cover. FIG. 6B is a back view showing one of the snap-fasteners encapsulating a portion of the bra strap and fastened thereto via a snap fastener arranged in the wings. FIG. 6C is a cross section view taken from line D-D of FIG. 6A.
(8) FIG. 7 is a back view showing another embodiment of a strap cover comprising two longitudinal panels configured to be wrapped around the bra strap and be secured to one another via a plurality of snap fasteners having complementary portions.
(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a buckle that can be used to secure a bra strap cover to a bra strap so as to prevent excessive sliding or bunching of the bra strap cover.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(10) The embodiments of the invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are more fully explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and set forth in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and the features of one embodiment may be employed with the other embodiments as the skilled artisan recognizes, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and techniques may be omitted to avoid obscuring the invention. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the invention may be practiced and to further enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments set forth herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims. Although the figures are drawn to a bra strap illustration, the objective is to include such items as purse straps, belt loops, belts and other apparel accessories as described. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
(11) FIG. 1A shows one method of wearing the strap cover 1 with a strapless, sleeveless article of clothing 100 under which a bra (not shown) is being worn. The strap cover 1 is substantially equal in length to the underlying bra strap 105. As shown in FIG. 1B, a bra strap 105 extends from beneath the article of clothing 100 and would be unsightly if worn in this manner. A strap cover 1 is affixed to each bra strap as shown in FIG. 1A. FIG. 1C is a cross section view taken from line A-A of FIG. 1A and shows the arrangement of parts of the strap cover 1. The strap cover 1 includes a strap cover material 7 that is preferably wider than the strap to which it will be attached to ensure complete coverage of the underlying strap, bra strap 105. Likewise, the length of the strap cover material 7 is substantially equal to the length of the underlying strap. In this embodiment, the fastening means 9 for fastening the strap cover material 7 to the underlying bra strap 105 comprises a strip of adhesive 9 arranged between an underside of the strap cover 71 and an upper side of the underlying strap 105, as shown in FIG. 5B. Ornaments 5 may be arranged on or fastened to an upper side 70 of the strap cover material 7, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 5A. The strap cover material 7 may comprise cloth, a woven material, elastic or any cloth-like material that includes a flexibility comparable or substantially equal to a material comprising a bra strap, a tank top strap or a spaghetti strap.
(12) FIG. 2A shows a second method of wearing the strap cover 1 atop a bra strap 105 (shown in FIG. 2B) and beneath a sleeveless article of clothing 108 that includes spaghetti straps 110. In this instance, the strap cover 1 is arranged between the spaghetti straps 110 and the bra strap 105 (shown in FIG. 2B). As seen in FIG. 2B, the sleeveless article of clothing 108 is presents an unsightly showing of the bra strap 105. As previously discussed, material 7 is broader than bra strap 105 which is attached to the strap cover 1 via adhesive 9. Strap 1 may have at least one other strap 1 attached along the length to provide a complementary and desired appearance.
(13) FIG. 3A depicts another sleeveless article of clothing, a tank top 112, that the strap cover 1 may also be worn atop. The tank top 112 includes a pair of tank top straps 115 (shown in FIG. 3B) that are wider than the spaghetti straps 110 of the sleeveless article of clothing 108. In this instance, the tank top strap 115 is arranged above the bra strap 105, the strap cover material 7 is fastened to the tank top strap 115 via adhesive 9.
(14) FIGS. 4A-4D shows various ornaments or ornamental features that may be included in or on the strap cover 1. As shown in FIG. 4A, the strap cover 1 may comprise a strap cover material 7A that includes one or more integrated ornaments, such as the ornamental lines shown integrated in or disposed on the material upper face or surface that are perpendicular to the sides of the strap cover 1. Alternatively, ornaments such as stars 8 may be disposed on by adhering to or sewing on the upper face or side of the strap cover material 7A. Otherwise, the ornaments may be removably fastened or disposed onto the strap cover material 7 via hook and loop material 35A, 35B or a snap fastener, represented by elements 12A and 12B. In FIG. 4B, the strap cover material 7B is depicted as having diagonal lines in or on the material 7B and having a flower ornament 5 adhered or fastened to an upper side of the strap cover material 7B. In FIG. 4C, the material may comprise perpendicular lines and having a name or other indicia integrated or sewn or fastened to an upper side of the strap cover material 7C. In FIG. 4D, the strap cover material 7D includes a brick pattern. A safety pen 24 pierces the strap cover material 7D to secure a pair of heart ornaments 25 and a purse ornament 26 onto the strap cover 1. It should be noted that any type of material having any pattern provide thereon or therein may be used as the strap cover material 7. Likewise, any type of ornament or stitching may be included on the strap cover material in realizing the invention, whether attached or integrated (i.e., disposed). In addition, strap cover 1 may be combined such as FIGS. 4A-4D drawn together edge to edge in a desired combination or combined end to end as a sash accessory.
(15) FIG. 5A is a back side view of the strap cover 1 that comprises strap cover material 7 having an adhesive arranged on an underside 71 of the strap cover material 7. A protective overlay 10 is arranged on a side of the adhesive 9 opposite the strap cover material 7. The protective overlay 10 is removed before the strap cover 1 is secured to an underlying strap. After being laundered, the adhesive 9 may be removed and replaced with double-sided tape for use.
(16) FIG. 6A is a further embodiment of the strap cover 1 that includes one or more sets of paired wings or panels 11A, 11B that include complementary portions of a snap fastener indicated as elements 12A, 12B. As can be understood by FIG. 6B, the paired wings or panels 11A, 11B are stitched onto or fastened with adhesive to an underside of the strip of strap cover material 7 to wrap around the bra strap 105, or other such strap and secure the strap cover 1 thereto via a snap fastener comprising complementary portions 12A, 12B as shown in FIG. 6C. Strap cover 1 may be formed around a belt loop in a similar fashion.
(17) FIG. 7 depicts another embodiment of a strap cover 40 having panels 41a, 41b configured to wrap around bra strap 105 or other such strap and secure the strap cover 1 thereto via a plurality of snap fasteners comprising complementary portions 42a, 42b. Other suitable fasteners can be used to secure panels 41a, 41b to one another such as, for example, Velcro-style fasteners. Panels 41a, 41b may extend along all or substantially all of the length of strap cover 40. Strap cover 40 also includes one or more fasteners 44 that are configured to secure the strap cover 40 to the bra strap 105 or other such strap so that the strap cover 40 does not slide up or down on the bra strap 105. In the embodiment shown, two fasteners 44 are provided and are disposed at opposite ends of the underside of strap cover 40. Fasteners 44 may comprise safety pins, brackets, clasps, buckles, prongs, S-hooks, Velcro-style fasteners, buttons, or other suitable attachment systems. FIG. 8 depicts one embodiment of a buckle 50 that can be used as a suitable fastener. The fasteners 44 may be removable. Fasteners 44 can be secured to the underside of the strap cover 40 via tabs 46. In certain embodiments, tabs 46 may be flexible and elastic. Such a configuration may advantageously permit some relative longitudinal motion between strap cover 40 and bra strap 105 while preventing excessive sliding or bunching of strap cover 40.
(18) It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact construction illustrated and described above. Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. While the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in limiting sense. From the above disclosure of the general principles of the present invention and the preceding detailed description, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which the present invention is susceptible. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.
