ADJUSTABLE CUP AND BAND BRALETTE

Abstract

An adjustable bralette for supporting breasts of a wearer of the bralette includes: first and second cups each having a pointed top apex and a lower portion having a wraparound support portion; and an adjustable support band. The adjustable support band has: adjustable straps comprising a slidable length adjuster, each of the straps being connected, at one end, to one pointed top apex of one of the cups, and an adjustable length lower support band portion arranged at the lower portion of the first and second cups and wrapping at least partially around the wearer.

Claims

1. An adjustable bralette for supporting breasts of a wearer of the bralette, the bralette comprising: first and second cups each having a pointed top apex and a lower portion having a wraparound support portion; and an adjustable support band, the adjustable support band having: adjustable straps comprising a slidable length adjuster, each of the straps being connected, at one end, to one pointed top apex of one of the cups, and an adjustable length lower support band portion arranged at the lower portion of the first and second cups and wrapping at least partially around the wearer.

2. The bralette according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable straps comprise a shoulder strap portion adapted to be worn over the shoulders of the wearer.

3. The bralette according to claim 2, wherein each of the shoulder strap portions is connected to the top pointed apex of each of the cups.

4. The bralette according to claim 1, wherein the lower support band portion is adjustable by a sliding adjuster.

5. The bralette according to claim 2, wherein the shoulder strap portions are connected to one another in a region of a back of the wearer.

6. The bralette according to claim 2, wherein the shoulder strap portions are configured to separately extend vertically down the back of the wearer such that each shoulder strap portion connects to the lower support band portion.

7. The bralette according to claim 1, wherein the lower support band portion comprises plural bands.

8. The bralette according to claim 1, wherein the lower support band portion extends from at least one wraparound support portion.

9. The bralette according to claim 1, wherein the lower support band portion comprises a break at the back of the wearer and is length adjustable by hook and loop connection between two ends of the break.

10. The bralette according to claim 4, wherein the lower support band portion comprises a break at the back of the wearer and connects together by a coupling mechanism.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The above and/or other aspects and advantages will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a conventional triangle cup bralette;

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a conventional wireless soft bralette;

[0039] FIG. 3 shows a conventional bra with no delineation between the cup and side of the bra;

[0040] FIG. 4 shows conventional hook and loop brassiere back clasps;

[0041] FIGS. 5A and 5B are views of another conventional bra design;

[0042] FIGS. 6A and 6B are views of yet another conventional bra design;

[0043] FIGS. 7A and 7B are views of a bralette according to a first embodiment of the present invention; and

[0044] FIGS. 8A and 8B are views of a bralette according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0045] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a first embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, and FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate a second embodiment of the invention. Each embodiment represents an improved bra, specifically a bralette, that addresses the problems associated with conventional rigid underwire, thermoformed support structures, and conventional bralettes and soft bras. The invention being disclosed consists, in each embodiment, of a cup or separate cups each of which extends towards the back of the wearer and tapers off to connects to an adjustable band.

[0046] In each embodiment, the cups cover, contain, and support the wearer's breasts. Also, as will be developed in the description of each embodiment, in each instance each cup extends beyond the wearer's sides and tapers off towards the wearer's back. This allows for more coverage at the underarm of the wearer, or coverage of breast tissue in case of larger breast size. This extension of the cup allows for more breast sizes to be served, whether smaller or larger, within the same or fewer number of cup sizes.

[0047] Also, in each embodiment, an adjustable band is provided that extends from the cups across the wearer's back.

[0048] As can be seen in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the bralette 70 in accordance with the first embodiment, has straps. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “band” will be used in some contexts to refer to the combination of the straps and the horizontally extending band structure.

[0049] The straps comprise a shoulder strap portion 72, a coupler 74, and a back strap portion 76. As can be seen in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the straps connect the upper point of the cups 78 to a counterpart cup extension 84 in the other, i.e., counterpart cup. For instance, the shoulder strap portion 72 that originates at the top of the right cup, after passing through the coupler 74, becomes the back strap portion 76 that connects to the cup extension 84 of the left cup, and vice versa.

[0050] Alternatively, squared off ring coupler 74 can be used, in which case the back strap portions 76 each originate at the coupler 74 and each shoulder strap portion 72 terminates at the squared off ring coupler 74.

[0051] As can be seen in the figures, each cup has an extension 84 that provides side support to the breasts, especially in a case in which a wearer has larger breasts, e.g., at the high end of breast sizes that can be accommodated by the bralette. Moreover, in a preferred aspect, the cups overlap one another at the lower portion of the bralette to provide additional support in the middle of the wearer's breast. As an alternative, instead of the cups overlapping as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a seam could be included that has approximately the same height as the overlap to provide similar support.

[0052] In the first embodiment, the lower portion 82 of the band begins from the bottom of the outer edges of the cups 78 and extends past the wearer's sides and across the wearer's back, as can be seen in FIGS. 7A and 7B. The extra portion 82a can be connected to a connector on the extension 84 on the cup at the other side of the bralette 70.

[0053] The band of the bralette in accordance with the first embodiment is fully adjustable, comprising the set of straps 72, 76 adjustable with the use of sliders 86 or other similar components. By virtue of the sliders and adjustable straps, if the band is too long, in effect the fit is too loose, the wearer will not feel sufficient support and, by use of the sliders 86, the wearer can tighten the band straps until the most comfortable amount of support is achieved. On the other hand, if the band is too short, i.e., the fit is too tight, the wearer can adjust the band straps making them longer so the bra fits better and the straps do not dig into the wearer.

[0054] The lower band portion 82 extends past the end of the extension 84 on one cup, and terminates at a connection (extra) portion 82a, which has a connector 82c with can engage a corresponding connector 82d that is attached to the extension 84 on the other cup.

[0055] Thus, the band of the first embodiment is fully adjustable by the straps that are adjustable with the use of the sliders 86. Adjustability is not limited to the use of sliders and can be achieved using other similar components. The purpose of the band is to allow the cups to stay in place on the body and add support in addition to that of the cups. For the band to provide comfortable support, it needs to be snug without being too tight. Typically with existing bras there is either no adjustment available at the back of the bra or only a few columns of hooks and eyes (FIG. 4). This by itself, not combined with any other adjustable back features, does little to accommodate a wide variety of wearer back sizes.

[0056] The second embodiment bralette 90 is illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B and has shoulder strap portions 92 affixed by respective connector rings 93 to the top region/point 94 of each respective triangular cup 96. In this embodiment, the shoulder strap portions 92 descend vertically after passing over the wearer's shoulders. In the rear, the shoulder straps terminate by engaging a ring coupler 102 that allows the shoulder strap portions to attach to the rear multi-strap lower band 100, which has a upper band 100a and a lower band 100b. Also, the shoulder straps 92 are adjustable via sliding adjusters 98. The upper and lower bands 100a, 100b each terminate in a connector portion 100c, which may, for example, together form a hook and loop adjustable bra connector of the type shown in FIG. 4.

[0057] As in the first embodiment, the lower outer corners of the cups 96 end in folded back portions 103, which provide side support to the sides of the breast, especially in the case in which the wearer's breasts are at the upper end of the breast sizes supported by the bralette.

[0058] As illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the adjustable band of the bralette comprises additional sets of straps/bands, e.g., bands 100a and 100b, that are also adjustable, giving the wearer additional points of support.

[0059] In both embodiments, the purpose of the band, which includes the straps, is to allow the cups to stay in place on the body and add support in addition to that provided by the cups. For the band to provide comfortable support, it needs to be snug without being too tight. Typically with prior art bras there is either no adjustment available at the back of the bra or only a few columns of hooks and eyes. This by itself, without being combined with the inventive adjustable back features and side features of the first and second embodiments, does little to accommodate a wide variety of wearer back sizes.

[0060] Thus, while there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.