Reversible upper-body support garment

Abstract

Provided herein is a reversible upper-body support garment comprising a light-toned layer; a dark-toned layer; the layers overlying each other and dimensioned to together be stretched in a supporting fit around the upper body of a wearer with either the light-toned layer or the dark-toned layer facing outwards from the wearer; and at least one breast pad between the light-toned layer and the dark-toned layer, the at least one breast pad having a dark-toned surface that is adjacent to the light-toned layer thereby to face outwards from behind the light-toned layer when the light-toned layer is facing outwards from the wearer. In embodiments, the upper-body support garment is a bra.

Claims

1. A reversible upper-body support garment comprising: a light-toned layer; a dark-toned layer; the layers overlying each other and dimensioned to together be stretched in a supporting fit around an upper body of a wearer and reversible with either the light-toned layer or the dark-toned layer facing outwards from the wearer; and at least one breast pad positioned between the light-toned layer and the dark-toned layer, the at least one breast pad having a dark-toned surface that is adjacent to the light-toned layer thereby to face outwards from behind the light-toned layer when the light-toned layer is facing outwards from the wearer.

2. The reversible upper-body support garment of claim 1, wherein the reversible upper-body support garment is incorporated into a garment that is selected from the group consisting of: a bra, an exercise top, a dress, a one-piece bathing suit, and a bikini swimsuit.

3. The reversible upper-body support garment of claim 1, wherein the light-toned layer has a color that is selected from the group consisting of: white, light nude, purple, blue, pink, green, and grey.

4. The reversible upper-body support garment of claim 1, wherein the dark-toned layer has a color that is selected from the group consisting of black, dark nude, purple, blue, pink, green, and grey.

5. The reversible upper-body support garment of claim 1, wherein the dark-toned surface of the at least one breast pad matches the color of the dark-toned layer.

6. The reversible upper-body support garment of claim 1, wherein the dark-toned surface of the at least one breast pad differs in color from the color of the dark-toned layer.

7. The reversible upper-body support garment of claim 1, wherein the light-toned layer and the dark-toned layer are each formed of nylon and spandex.

8. The reversible upper-body support garment of claim 1, wherein the light-toned layer and the dark-toned layer are each formed of one or more of: nylon, cotton, polyester, elastane, spandex, bamboo and merino wool.

9. The reversible upper-body support garment of claim 1, wherein the at least one breast pad is permanently retained between the light-toned layer and the dark-toned layer.

10. The reversible upper-body support garment of claim 1, wherein the shapes of the light-toned layer and the dark-toned layer are mirror images of each other.

11. The reversible upper-body support garment of claim 1, wherein the light-toned layer and the dark-toned layer are seamlessly bonded to each other.

12. The reversible upper-body support garment of claim 1, wherein the dark-toned surface of the at least one breast pad is matched in tone to the dark-toned layer.

13. The reversible upper-body support garment of claim 1, wherein the at least one breast pad is removably positioned between the light-toned layer and the dark-toned layer.

14. The reversible upper-body support garment of claim 1, wherein the reversible upper-body support garment is a bra.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the appended drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a prior art bra having a nude (i.e. light-toned) breast pad arranged between an outward-facing light-toned layer and an inner dark-toned layer, demonstrating the headlight effect;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a dark-toned breast pad, in this embodiment a black semilunar breast pad, seen from the surface intended to face towards the wearer;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a dark-toned breast pad, in this embodiment a black semilunar breast pad, seen from the surface intended to face away from the wearer;

(5) FIGS. 4A and 4B are elevation front views from two sides of an upper body support garment, in this embodiment a reversible wireless bra;

(6) FIG. 5A is an elevation back view of bra oriented such that the light-toned layer is to face outward from the wearer;

(7) FIG. 5B is an elevation back view of a bra when reversed from the state shown in FIG. 5A, such that the dark-toned layer is to face outwardly from the wearer; and

(8) FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of a bra according to the invention having a black (i.e. dark-toned) breast pad arranged between an outward-facing light-toned layer and an inner dark-toned layer, demonstrating a significant and beneficial reduction in contrast as compared to the configuration of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(9) The present invention provides a reduced or eliminated contrast or headlight effect that tends to manifest in the prior art when the light-toned layer of a two-toned reversible upper body garment such as a bra incorporating a light-toned breast pad is facing outwards from the wearer while the dark-toned layer was adjacent the wearer. This is done by including one or more dark-toned breast pads, or at least one or more breast pads that have a dark-toned surface that is adjacent to the light-toned layer. The dark-toned surface of the one or more breast pads faces outwards from behind the light-toned layer when the light-toned layer is facing outwards from the wearer.

(10) It is expected that this reduction of the headlight effect using such dark-toned surface of a breast pad would occur with garments made from various kinds of materials and constructions, in particular those in which the outward-facing layer stretches to a sufficient degree when worn that the darker tone of the underlying layer begins to manifest itself through the outward-facing layer enough that would have caused an observer to visually register its contrast with a lighter-toned breast pad. Using the darker tone for the breast pad reduces the likelihood that the observer could visually register such a contrast.

(11) FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a prior art reversible bra 5 being worn with its light-toned layer facing outward from the wearer W. The prior art bra has a nude (i.e. light-toned) breast pad arranged between the outward-facing nude (i.e. light-toned) layer and an inner black (i.e. dark-toned) layer. There is a contrast between the light-toned layer and the dark-toned layer that is visually noticeable, and thus particularly susceptible to the headlight effect. The headlight effect can be observed and is due to the contrast manifesting itself at various locations, some of which are denoted with the letter C, at the edge of the light-toned breast pad where it contrasts with the inner dark-toned layer when at least the light-toned layer is thinned slightly upon being stretched around the upper body of the wearer for normal wearing. This contrast is not as immediately apparent when the bra is not stretched around the upper body of the wearer because the light-toned layer is not as thinned when it is not as stretched, but yet it manifests itself despite the outward facing layer being a smooth, single-toned layer.

(12) FIG. 2 shows a dark-toned breast pad 10, in this embodiment a black semilunar breast pad, seen from one of its dark-toned surfaces. The breast pad 10 can be easily flexed to be concave or convex from the perspective shown in order to be reversible along with the bra within which it is held, and in FIG. 2 is shown in a concave configuration that would be appropriate for facing towards the wearer. FIG. 3 shows the dark-toned breast pad 10 in a convex configuration that would be appropriate for facing away from the wearer.

(13) FIGS. 4A and 4B are elevation front views from two sides of an upper body support garment 20, in this embodiment a reversible wireless bra. Bra 20 includes a light-toned layer 22 seamlessly bonded to a dark-toned layer 24. In this embodiment, the light-toned layer 22 is a nude tone and the dark-toned layer 24 is a black tone. In this embodiment, the layers 22 and 24 are each formed of nylon and spandex, and overlie each other in a mirror image. Two dark-toned breast pads 10 are positioned between the light-toned layer 22 and the dark-toned layer 24 in respective breast pad pockets 26A and 26B. In this embodiment, each domed dark-toned breast pad 10 is formed of a flexible but resilient foam-based material that can be selectively pushed inside-out thereby to be either convex or concave in relation to any of the layers 22 or 24 depending upon the orientation of the bra 20 with respect to the wearer W. That is, to receive the breast of a wearer W from either side and to be domed and support the breast once received. In this embodiment, two removable bra straps 28A, 28B are also shown, which each are operable to hook onto corresponding loops thereby to provide support and hold the bra 20 into place on the wearer. In this embodiment, the removable bra, straps 28A and 28B can have their own light-toned and dark-toned sides and can be worn with respect to the rest of bra 20 in various configurations.

(14) FIG. 5A is an elevation back view of bra 20 when bra 20 is oriented such that the light-toned layer 22 is to face outward from the wearer of bra 20. FIG. 5B is an elevation back view of bra 20 when bra 20 is reversed from the state shown in FIG. 5A, such that the dark-toned layer 24 is to face outward from the wearer of bra 20. As shown in both FIGS. 5A and 5B, the back of bra 20 includes a hook fastening mechanism 30 which holds the garment in place once it has been stretched around the upper body of the wearer.

(15) FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of a wearer W wearing bra 20 having a black (i.e. dark-toned) breast pad 10 arranged between an outward-facing light-toned layer 22 and an inward-facing dark-toned layer 24, demonstrating a significant and beneficial reduction in or elimination of contrast as compared to the high-contrast configuration of FIG. 1. The reduction in contrast provides a significantly smoother, more uniform and therefore generally more aesthetically-desirable appearance for the overall garment.

(16) While in the embodiments described the garment is equipped with a hook-fastening mechanism 30 that allows fastening of the garment equally irrespective of whether the garment is worn on the first or second position, in another embodiment the garment is formed as permanent loop not requiring a back-fastening mechanism but instead being reversibly wearable by, for example, simply pulling the garment down over the head and upper body of the wearer W. For example, a pull over bra or another garment such as a padded exercise top, a dress, a padded one-piece swimsuit or a bikini swimsuit.

(17) While in the embodiment described the bra straps are removable, in alternative embodiments the bra straps are more permanently affixed to the rest of the bra such as by being stitched to the bra.

(18) While an embodiment has been described in which the dark-toned and light-toned layers being made of nylon and spandex, alternatives are possible in which such layers are made of other generally universally stretchable, absorbent and/or wicking materials.

(19) While an embodiment has been described in which the breast pads are permanently retained between the light-toned and dark-toned layers, in an alternative embodiment, the dark-toned breast pads are removable.

(20) While an embodiment has been described in which there are two breast pads, alternatives are contemplated in which there is a single breast pad.

(21) While embodiments described pertain to a bra, many of the principles herein may be applied to other garments having breast pads, such as for example padded exercise tops, dresses, and padded one-piece and bikini swimsuits. In such examples, and as illustrated in FIG. 6, the garment may be described as including upper body support garment 20 having breast pads as disclosed herein, optionally in combination with a lower torso portion 40 that extends below upper-body support garment 20. Other types of garments and/or upper-body support garments may incorporate the features described herein.

(22) While embodiments described have a black or dark-nude coloured dark-tone layer, alternatives are possible, such as for example dark-tone layers having for example a purple, blue, pink, green, grey, or other colour.

(23) While embodiments described have a white or light-nude coloured light-tone layer, alternatives are possible, such as for example light-tone layers having for example a purple, blue, pink, green, grey, or other colour.