BRAS

Abstract

A bra including respective first and second sides each adapted to fit respective breasts; each side including a cup adapted to fit a predetermined cup size; a hook free shoulder strap; and an attachment strap capable of attaching the bra to a body in use, wherein the attachment strap includes a plurality of slots which can be engaged by a hook located at one end of the strap to thereby regulate the size of the bra for each user.

Claims

1. A bra including separate respective first and second sides (100) each adapted to fit respective breasts; each side (100) including a cup (102) adapted to fit a predetermined cup size; a shoulder strap (104); and an attachment strap (106) capable of attaching the bra side (100) to a body in use, wherein the attachment strap (106) includes a plurality of slots (110) which can be engaged by a hook (108) located at one end of the attachment strap (106) to thereby regulate the size of the bra side (100) for each user further including a back portion for balancing a bra side (100) and holding the same in place; wherein the bra does not include a center front portion between the cups (102) such that the bra is adaptable to suit users having different gaps between the two breasts; wherein the bra sides (100) overlap at the front thereof by different amounts depending on the separation of the breasts; wherein each bra side (100) includes a back wing which is integral with the shoulder strap (104) such that there is no shoulder strap adjustment; wherein the shoulder strap (104) has a fixed length; and wherein the attachment strap (106) includes a number of marks for indicating a location to cut the attachment strap for different bra sizes.

2. The bra of claim 1, further including each bra side (100) having the same or different cup sizes.

3. The bra of claim 1, wherein each bra side (100) is wireless.

4. A method for manufacturing each separate bra side (100) of the bra according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises steps of: making a cup (102) of a predetermined cup size; attaching the cup (102) to a back wing via a shoulder strap (104) at an upper portion of the cup (102); attaching the cup (102) to an attachment strap (106) at a base of the cup (102); attaching the back wing at a predetermined location on the attachment strap (106); wherein the attachment strap (106) is capable of attaching the bra side (100) to a body in use; wherein the attachment strap (106) includes a plurality of slots (110) which can be engaged by a hook (108) located at one end of the attachment strap (106) to thereby regulate the size of the bra side (100) for each user; wherein the back portion balances the bra side (100) and holds the same in place; wherein the bra does not include a center front portion between the cups (102) such that the bra is adaptable to suit users having different gaps between the two breasts; wherein the bra sides (100) overlap at the front thereof by different amounts depending on the separation of the breasts; wherein each bra side (100) includes a back wing which is integral with the shoulder strap (104) such that there is no shoulder strap adjustment; wherein the shoulder strap (104) has a fixed length; and wherein the attachment strap (106) includes a number of marks for indicating a location to cut the attachment strap (106) for different bra sizes.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein each bra side (100) has the same or different cup size.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAGRAMS

[0040] Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0041] FIG. 1 is an extended front view of a first side of a bra, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] FIG. 2A is a front view of a first side of a bra on a body, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] FIG. 2B is a front view of a second side of a bra on a body, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] FIG. 3 is a front view of a first and second side of a bra, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] FIG. 4A is a rear view of a first side of a bra on a body, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] FIG. 4B is a rear view of a second side of a bra on a body, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] FIG. 5 is a rear view of a first and second side of a bra on a body, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] FIG. 6 is a view of an infinity under band used to attach the bra sides to the user, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] FIG. 7 is a front view of first and second side of a bra for a narrow breast frame, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0050] FIG. 8 is a front view of a first and second side of a bra for a wide breast frame, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0051] FIGS. 9A to 9D show views from above and below to show the fitting of the bra according to on embodiment of the present invention (FIGS. 9A and 9B) when compared to a standard bra (FIGS. 9C and 9D);

[0052] FIG. 10 is a flow chart including steps of a first method for manufacturing a bra as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9B as described above; and

[0053] FIG. 11 is a flow chart including steps of a second method for manufacturing a bra as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9B as described above.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0054] The present invention relates to a bra which has two separate sides, one side for each breast. The two separate sides may be of different sizes to accommodate women having breasts of different cup sizes.

[0055] Referring to FIG. 1, a first bra side 100 is illustrated. The bra side includes a cup 102, a shoulder strap 104, a back panel or rear portion 103 and an infinity under band 106 for attaching the bra to the user.

[0056] The bra is made up of two bra sides, each one having a different cup size if required. It will be appreciated that there are other bras that exist and have two sides; these have many disadvantages and are in many cases difficult to wear and to put on. In contradistinction to these other bras that exist, the manner in which a person can put on the bra according to the present invention is described below.

[0057] The bra cup can be sized according to known sizing such as A, D, C, D, DD etc. The cup of the bra of the present invention is made of a soft material such as a microfiber cloth which can be positioned over the breast in an optimal position for each user. In the bra of the present invention, there are no wires to dig into the flesh of the user, which can be very uncomfortable, especially for the larger woman. By having the correct cup size for each breast, the cup will conform as closely as possible to the breast and hold it in place. For the bra of the present invention, there will be no sagging of the bra and no bad fitting of each cup. The cup can be sewn or molded in a microfiber material.

[0058] In the bra of the present invention, the shoulder strap can be of a fixed length as the cup size is correct and the user does not need to shorten or lengthen the shoulder strap to accommodate for a poor fitting cup size, as is the case of many previously existing bras. In addition, as there is no need to adjust the length of the strap of the bra of the present invention, an adjustment mechanism on the shoulder strap is not necessary. This makes the bra more comfortable and much less fiddly to wear and adjust. In addition, there is a saving in manufacturing costs and time as a shoulder strap adjustment mechanism does not need to be added to the bra. The reason why no strap adjustment is due in part to the back panel or rear portion 103, which is wide enough to keep control of the bra balance and to avoid the strap digging into the user.

[0059] As the user can buy different cup sizes for each breast for the bra of the present invention, the final bra is completely adapted to be the right size for both breasts. There is no longer a need to have a bra which is saggy on one side because it is too big for the breast size on that side. Pursuant to the present invention, users can now have a bra which fits perfectly even if there is a large different in cup size from one breast to the other.

[0060] In FIG. 2A, there is shown the first bra side in situ on a body of a user. The shoulder strap 104 extends over the user's shoulder. The cup 102 is positioned over the user's breast. The infinity under band 106 extends around the user's body underneath the user's breast and is fixed by a hook 108 to one of slots 110, as illustrated in FIG. 6. In FIG. 2B, there is shown the position of a second bra side on the user's body.

[0061] In FIG. 3, there is shown a front view of a user wearing both a RHS and a LHS bra side, where each side is substantially as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, except for one bra side is for the RHS and the other for the LHS. Each of the RHS and LHS sides are attached under the opposing arm by a respective hook engaging a respective slot.

[0062] In order to put the bra on, the user will first position the first bra side bra by threading the bra onto the user's arm. The bra side is then close and then the second side is similarly positioned and closed. Which side is positioned first is not important and depends on the user's preferences.

[0063] The bra of the present invention has been separated into two pieces not only in order to allow the flexibility of having two different cup size, but also to fit the breast and/or any prosthesis as the user (wearer) wishes to use, with no constraints.

[0064] The method by which the bra is put on the user is now described in greater detail and is believed to offer an easy and ergonomic way for the user to put on a bra. In addition, the bra is easy to put on even if the user (wearer) has had recent surgery or has movement issues brought on by age or disability.

[0065] The user (wearer) selects a desired cup size for each bra part. The bottom band is fastened either at the front or a side the opposite breast to which the cup is to be worn. The attachment can be as loose or tight as the user (wearer) wishes. For example, the user may wear the bra loosely if the user is worried about cancer; such loose wearing is according to the user's choice. If the bra includes wire, the wire is already in place and does not need to be twisted or bent to sit below the user's breast. There is no discomfort. The user (wearer) passes the arm inside the armhole: the fact there is only one cup ease this movement and the user (wearer) can easily thread her arm through the armhole. The user (wearer) then arranges the breast and center front as required. If necessary, the band tightness can be adjusted if necessary. The other side of the bra is fitted in the same way.

[0066] The fact that the bra has no strap adjusters means there is no need to adjust strap length. As will be clear from the following, the shape, form and fabric of the back of the bra and the specific special strap composition play a major role in the balance of the bra.

[0067] For the bra of the present invention, back wings of the bra are a continuation of the front cup coverage. Straps been placed in a predetermined area, when compared with traditional bras to mean that the bra of the present invention will be less painful for the shoulders of the user. The back wing covers enough the back in order to grip the body and adds to the bra balance. The back wing may be made from a breathable microfiber with a high percentage of elastane.

[0068] For the bra of the present invention, the strap is soft and not hard and rigid as is often the caser with traditional bras. The strap is made of a special material that will prevent the breasts from bouncing when the user (wearer) walks, but will appear softer and more forgiving when the user (wearer) is not moving. The straps may be made from a combination of a microfiber and elastane, for example Fiber J. The shape and material of the strap means that the strap does not dig into the shoulders of the user.

[0069] As previously mentioned the bra makes use of a so-called infinity strap for closing the bra around the body of the user. There is no fixed hook and eye fastener. Instead, the band is very flexible from a size point of view and one bra will fit many different sizes as is described in greater detail elsewhere. The body strap has been created as a special slotted band that can be hooked at any point along its length. However, optionally, it will be appreciated that the body strap may be implemented in other ways, for example using a continuously-adjustable magnetic strap, a Velcro implemented strap including micro-loops and micro-hooks implemented in a plastics material, and so forth. This closure system helps the user (wearer) to place on her bra in a first step by closing her bra at front area, passing her opposite arm to the armhole with ease and then to adjust the band tightness as required when the breast is in place. The closure is flexible which means the wearer does not need to squeeze her body. The bra is well fitted and once adjusted in the first place will remain in that orientation for as long as necessary.

[0070] The bra of the present invention has got one non-metal hook (optionally, alternatively, at least partially metal) for each cup and an infinity band comprising a plurality of slots (that replace the function of the eye in a traditional bra) that are spaced along the band every few millimeters. This may result in simplified manufacture by not having to make different band sizes and the avoidance of having to include many hooks. This can be achieved by virtue of the fact that the shape and form of the front and back bra and special strap are doing the fit and balance without having to squeeze the user (wearer) by means of a bottom band like a standard bra will do. The hook has been designed to be ergonomic, easy to grip and thread into any slot, without having the user having to look. This means the user (wearer) can do up her bra without looking as well. The hook has also been developed to be manufactured from a non-metallic material in order to allow wearer to keep the bra on for any medical exam or scan. An example of an appropriate material for the hook is a resin type material or a plastics material, for example a plastics material such as glass-filled plastics material, polypropylene, polyacetate, polycarbonate, and so forth.

[0071] As can further be seen in FIG. 3, there is no center front to the bra; in other words, the bra is devoid of a centre front. Usually, all bras include a center front, albeit small or large depending on the exact nature of the bra. The center front defines a predetermined gap between the two breasts and forces the breasts to be in a position defined by the bra, which may not be natural or comfortable. Again, this is a limitation of current bras, as not all women have the same gap between their breasts. If the center front is the wrong length, it may be uncomfortable. By having no center front, the bra of the present invention can be adapted to suit users having different gaps between their two breasts. This is clearly a further advantage of the bra of the present invention over the prior art. In addition, there is a further advantage of not having a center front; there is still a further saving in terms of the manufacturing process, since attaching a center front between the cups is an additional manufacturing step which is fiddly and time consuming and requires addition material.

[0072] As the bra has no center front, it addresses one of many frustrations encountered by user of standard bras. Without a pre-linked center front in bras of the present invention, the user (wearer) is able to place her bra cups above her breast and/or prosthesis the way she feels, without much constraint. Without such a pre-linked center front, the user (wearer) can take two different cup size or match different types (including a prosthesis pocket or not) or even colors. Without the center front being pre-linked, the user (wearer) can clip a special designed removable hook onto her bottom band to feel secure throughout a diurnal period (namely, along the day).

[0073] Another important feature of the bra of the present invention which distinguishes it from known bras is that, as there is no center front, there is no gap between the breasts; each breast is enclosed with an individual cupped half bra. This form of breast enclosure has further advantages. The gap between the breasts in a traditional bra can easily become wet due to perspiration. This perspiration can be so intense that the user (wearer) of the traditional bra is forced to put a tissue or other absorbent material in the gap between her breasts to absorb the perspiration. This tissue can be uncomfortable and unsightly. The fact that there is no center front to the bra of the present invention means that it provides a covering to each breast completely around the breast and no gap exists between the two breasts which is not retained in the respective cup. This covering of each breast means there is no gap in which perspiration can build up. The material in this area of the present invention can further be adapted, if necessary, to be more absorbent to deal with any residual perspiration that may occur. This is shown in FIG. 9A.

[0074] A still further advantage of not having a center front, in bras of the present invention, is that this lack of gap between the breasts means that the breasts are better supported and move around less as the user (wearer) moves. This healthy movement is particularly relevant to movement of the breast in a sideways direction but can apply to any movement. As a result, there is less strain on the back and shoulders of the user due to the weight of the breasts and the momentum caused by movement of the breasts. The result is the bra of the present invention is that it provides more balance and comfort than traditional bras, wherein the user (wearer) of the bra of the present invention is much less likely to suffer from back strain and shoulder pain. This is especially true for large breasted women.

[0075] Referring to FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B, when seen from above and below, the bra of the present invention does not have any gaps between the bra and the user's body. From above the crossover of the two cups, the bra substantially encloses the two breasts separately and there are no gaps between the breasts when viewed from above. Such an arrangement looks more attractive than a substantial gap between the breasts for wearers with large breasts and is much more comfortable than squeezing the breasts together to produce a large cleavage. Whilst many users (wearers) would like to have a good cleavage, it is often very uncomfortable and there is a sense of relief when the users (wearers) removes their bras.

[0076] When viewing a conventional existing traditional bra from below, there is often a gap between the bottom strap and the body under the breasts. This means that the conventional bra is not supporting the breasts in the correct position. In contradistinction, the bra of the present invention does not have this problem and the infinity strap is flush with the user's body along its length even under the breasts where traditional bras may have gaps. The bra of the present invention thus provides full support for the user's breast in all directions without causing ant discomfort to the user (wearer). Similar views to FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B are shown for a standard conventional traditional bar in FIG. 9C and FIG. 9D, to highlight the profound difference is fitting using a standard bra as opposed to the bra according to the present invention. The molding of the bra of the present invention to conform to the breasts gives rise to a considerably more comfortable and well-fitting garment as can be seen in FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B.

[0077] In FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, there is shown the rear of the first and second sides of the bra of the present invention when worn by the user. There is a rear portion 103 or 112 for each bra side which makes the bra comfortable to wear. The rear portion is made of an appropriate microfiber and may be lined with a breathable power mesh in order to adhere to the back of the user. This adhesion helps with the natural balance of the bra and avoids the bra slipping. In FIG. 5, there is shown the two sides together from the rear and shows and overlap 114.

[0078] In FIG. 6, there is shown the infinity under band or attachment strap 106 in more detail and shows the generally desired position of the hook 108 when engaged with a slot 110. For optimal comfort and ease of closing the bra side, the hook engages a slot under the arm or at the side of the chest of the user, opposite the user's breast for which the bra side is to be used. Such a manoeuvre can be done without looking and by the user using a single arm movement, wherein a the user does not need to twist and turn to attach her bra. In a preferred embodiment, the hook is not made of metal and is made of a plastics material or a resin.

[0079] The infinity under band includes a plurality of slots along its length thereof. The infinity under band 106 includes a hook 108 which can engage with one of the plurality of slots 110 located along the length of the infinity under band 106. The infinity under band is made of a combination of microfiber and elasticated yarn that gives a light pressure on the user's body and keeps the bra in the same place all through the day. Alternatively, optionally, metal and plastics materials are used for manufacturing the infinity under band 106. It will be appreciated that the infinity band is optionally configured to lift the user's breasts based on breast and band measurements.

[0080] The size of the infinity under band 106 is regulated by the position of the hook along the length thereof in the most suitable slot 110 for the user (person) concerned. For a large size of the bra of the present invention, the infinity under band may be longer than for a short size of the bra of the present invention; this length of the infinity under band can be determined by the user after purchase of the bra and the infinity under band may be cut to size by the user to avoid excessive overlap. The infinity under band may include one or more marks indicating where the cut should be made based on the normal size of the user. For example, if a user is size 95B for one breast and 95 C for the other, the user can buy a B cup side and a C cup side for the relevant breast and then cut the infinity under band to the 95 cm marker on both sides. The user may decide to cut to any appropriate length based on the user's own comfort and tightness requirements. It may not be necessary to cut the band to size for different cup sizes as the length of the infinity under band under the cup will be different for different cup sizes and as a result may be suitable to fit the user without a further adjustment. The infinity under band ensures that the fitting is completely personalized.

[0081] The infinity strap may be adapted to facilitate more than one hook for providing added security and comfort to the user. The additional hook may be located at a different location than the end of the strap, for example at the front near to the center of the chest of the user (wearer), at a location under the user's breast, or any other convenient location.

[0082] By using the infinity under band 106, bra manufacturers manufacturing the bra of the present invention may make a single sized bra side for each cup size for each breast. In this way, manufacturing costs may be significantly reduced. The only changes from one bra side to the next is the cup size and whether the breast is on the right-hand side or the left-hand side.

[0083] In FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, there is shown the bra of the present invention on a narrow breast frame and a wide breast frame respectively, namely showing two morphologies having the same size and different shape. The amount of overlap of the two sides is different for each situation. This difference further shows the adaptability of the bra of the present invention and the reason why the center front has been left out of (namely, omitted from) the bra.

[0084] A bra according to the present invention can be manufactured in the following non-limitative manner by using a method whose steps are illustrated in FIG. 10.

[0085] The method for manufacturing a bra cup of a predetermined cup size includes steps of: [0086] STEP 1: attaching the cup to a back panel via a shoulder strap at an upper portion of the cup; [0087] STEP 2: attaching the cup to an attachment strap at a base of the cup; and [0088] STEP 3: attaching the back panel at a predetermined location on the attachment strap.
The attachment infinity under band includes a plurality of slots which can be engaged by a hook located at one end of the infinity under band to thereby regulate the size of the bra for each user.

[0089] In other words, there is provided a method for manufacturing each separate bra side 100 of the bra as aforementioned, wherein the method comprises steps as illustrated in FIG. 11, wherein the steps include: [0090] STEP 1A: making a cup 102 of a predetermined cup size; [0091] STEP 1B: attaching the cup 102 to a back wing via a shoulder strap 104 at an upper portion of the cup 102; [0092] STEP 2: attaching the cup 102 to an attachment strap 106 at a base of the cup 102; [0093] STEP 3: attaching the back wing at a predetermined location on the attachment strap 106; [0094] wherein the attachment strap 106 is capable of attaching the bra side 100 to a body in use; [0095] wherein the attachment strap 106 includes a plurality of slots 110 which can be engaged by a hook 108 located at one end of the attachment strap 106 to thereby regulate the size of the bra side 100 for each user; [0096] wherein the back portion balances the bra side 100 and holds the same in place; [0097] wherein the bra does not include a center front portion between the cups 102 such that the bra is adaptable to suit users having different gaps between the two breasts; [0098] wherein the bra sides 100 overlap at the front thereof by different amounts depending on the separation of the breasts; [0099] wherein each bra side 100 includes a back wing which is integral with the shoulder strap 104 such that there is no shoulder strap adjustment; [0100] wherein the shoulder strap 104 has a fixed length; and [0101] wherein the attachment strap 106 includes a number of marks for indicating a location to cut the attachment strap 106 for different bra sizes.

[0102] Optionally, when implementing the method, each bra side 100 has the same or different cup size.

[0103] The present invention has been described by way of examples as presented above; these are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which may include alternatives and different features without limitation.