BRA

Abstract

An adjustable bra having ribs (3) and a connector (4), a process for making a bra, and adjustment means for use in a bra, said adjustment means comprising ribs (3) and a connector (4).

Claims

1. A bra comprising a pair of bra cups, each bra cup having an outer side portion and inner side portion; each bra cup comprises (i) a rib having a proximal end and a distal end, and (ii) a connector; the connector is located at the inner side portion of the bra cup for connecting the pair of bra cups to one another; the proximal end of the rib is connected to the connector; and the distal end of the rib is adapted to transfer a force applied to the connector to the outer side portion of the bra cup.

2. A bra according to claim 1, wherein said bra is selected from a backless and strapless bra; a bra further comprising a band which connects the outer sides of each bra cup, is adapted to span a wearer's back, and is optionally strapless; a backless bra comprising a pair of shoulder straps; and a bra further comprising a band which connects the outer sides of each bra cup and is adapted to span a wearer's back, and one or more straps.

3-6. (canceled)

7. A bra according to claim 1, wherein the ribs are directly connected to the connector and are optionally formed integrally with the connector.

8. (canceled)

9. A bra according to claim 1, wherein the ribs are joined to the connector via an intermediate portion.

10. A bra according to claim 1 wherein the ribs are curved in shape and optionally wherein the curve of the rib extends around substantially the whole underside of the bra cup.

11. (canceled)

12. A bra according to claim 1 wherein each rib is wider at its distal end than at its proximal end and is optionally paddle shaped.

13. A bra according to claim 6 wherein the rib is paddle shaped and a blade portion of the paddle is substantially coplanar with the interior surface of the bra cup.

14. (canceled)

15. A bra according to claim 1 wherein an interior facing side of the rib is concave and mirrors the curvature of an interior surface of the bra cup.

16. A bra according to claim 1 wherein an external surface of the rib is smooth.

17. A bra according to claim 1 wherein the rib is at least partially encapsulated by the bra cup.

18. (canceled)

19. A bra according to claim 1 wherein the rib is encapsulated by the bra cup and the connector extends out of the bra cup.

20. A bra according to claim 1, wherein the rib is contained in a sleeve or pocket attached to the bra cup.

21. A bra according to claim 1 wherein the rib and/or the connector is formed from polyurethane.

22. (canceled)

23. A bra according to claim 1 wherein the connector is formed of two or more separate portions which are designed to engage with one another to join the bra cups and where a first portion of the connector is attached to the first bra cup and a second portion of the connector is attached to the second bra cup.

24. A bra according to claim 1 wherein the connector is adjustable and optionally comprises two portions each comprising one or more apertures and a thread which may be laced through the apertures, optionally wherein each portion of the connector is provided with 1 to 5 apertures.

25-28. (canceled)

29. A bra according to claim 1 wherein the bra cup comprises a silicone gel.

30. A bra according to claim 1 wherein the interior surface of the bra cup is an adhesive surface, which adhesive surface is optionally an un uncoated surface of the bra cup.

31-32. (canceled)

33. A bra according to claim 16 wherein the bra cup is provided with a release liner.

34-35. (canceled)

36. Adjustment means for use in a bra, said adjustment means comprising a first rib adapted to be included in a first bra cup, a second rib adapted to be included in a second bra cup, and engagement means for joining the bra cups, said engagement means comprising a first connector connected to, linked with, or formed integrally with said first rib, and a second connector connected to, linked with, or formed integrally with said second rib.

37. A rib for use in a bra, which rib is curved in nature and is generally paddle shaped such that it has a broad blade-like portion at an end intended for placement at an outer-side portion of a bra cup, and a narrower portion at an end intended for placement at an inner-side portion of a bra cup, the blade-like portion oriented in a plane transverse to the plane of the portion of the narrower portion intended for placement at an inner-side of the bra cup.

38-39. (canceled)

Description

[0096] The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

[0097] FIG. 1 is a front view of a bra cup, rib and connector according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0098] FIGS. 2a, b, c and d are cross-sectional views along lines A-A, B-B, C-C and D-D in FIG. 1;

[0099] FIGS. 3a and 3b are front views of the ribs and connector of the bra according to an embodiment of the invention with the position of the bra cup relative to the ribs shown by dotted lines, FIG. 3b is an enlarged view of the connector; and

[0100] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a method of constructing a bra cup according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0101] FIG. 5 illustrates a bra in accordance with the invention, including a back portion and a pair of shoulder straps.

[0102] FIG. 6 illustrates a bra in accordance with the invention, including a back portion and without shoulder straps.

[0103] FIG. 7 illustrates a bra in accordance with the invention, including a pair of shoulder straps and without a back portion.

[0104] In FIGS. 1 and 2a-d there is shown an embodiment of a bra cup according to the invention, generally designated 1. A single bra cup is shown but a bra according to the invention would comprise two bra cups. Each bra cup comprises a silicone gel bra form 2 and a rib 3 with integral connecting means 4. Each bra form is formed of a silicone gel and has a concave skin-facing side which is uncoated and acts as a pressure sensitive adhesive and a convex exterior facing side which is coated with a thermoplastic polymer membrane.

[0105] As shown in FIGS. 2a-d, the ribs 3 are each encapsulated within the bra cups 2 with only the connecting means 4 extending out from the surface of the bra cup 2. Each rib extends from the interior edge 5 of each bra cup where the connecting means extends out from the bra cup to the vicinity of the exterior edge 6 of the bra cup. The rib ends approximately 6 mm from the exterior edge of the bra cup. Each rib is paddle shaped with the distal end 7 larger in width than the proximal end 8 but having a substantially planar shape. The wider paddle shaped portion of each rib lies parallel with the internal surface of the exterior edge of the bra cup. Each rib is curved and follows the shape of the underside of the bra cup.

[0106] The connecting means forms the proximal end of the rib and comprises a series of three apertures 9 located, in use, vertically one above the other. A ribbon 10 is, in use, laced between the apertures 9 to draw the two ribs 3 together.

[0107] As illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b, in use a bra cup 1 is applied to each of the wearer's breasts and then the connecting means 4 are subsequently laced up using the ribbon 10. By lacing the connecting means 4 together more tightly the two bra cups 1 are pulled further towards each other. The ribs 3 in turn transfer the force to the outer side of the bra cup 1 and hence the outer side of the breast of the wearer. The wearer's breasts are therefore pulled towards each other thus enhancing the cleavage of the wearer.

[0108] Each bra cup is formed as shown in FIG. 4. Two silicone gel precursor sections 11,12 are brought together with the rib 3 located in the desired position between the two sections 11,12. The connecting means 4 extends beyond the silicone precursor sections 11,12. The silicone precursor is subsequently cured by thermal compression of the combined sections.

[0109] FIG. 5 illustrates a bra with a back portion Y, and two shoulder straps X, each with adjusting means W. The rib and connector is represented as V.

[0110] FIG. 6 illustrates a bra with a back portion Y. The rib and connector is represented as V.

[0111] FIG. 7 illustrates a bra with two shoulder straps X, each with adjusting means W. The rib and connector is represented as V.