Bra and Top Assembly

Abstract

A bra and top assembly, including a bra, a top with one or more shoulder straps wherein each of the one or more shoulder straps is discontinuous to a front chest portion of the top, each of the one or more shoulder straps has a loop on the underside of the strap, the front chest portion has one or more loops adjacent the top peripheral edge of the front chest portion, a connector to attach the underside loop of each of the one or more shoulder straps to one of the one or more loops adjacent the top peripheral edge of the front chest portion to form a separate top and bra configuration, or said connector to attach each of the one or more shoulder straps to a bra strap and a two part fastener to attach the bra to the front chest portion to form a connected top and bra.

Claims

1. A bra and top assembly for a breast feeding woman, comprising: a breast feeding bra having a two part clasp that allows a bra cup portion to detach at or adjacent the bra strap attachment; a top with one or more shoulder straps wherein each of the one or more shoulder straps is discontinuous to a front chest portion of the top, each of the one or more shoulder straps has a loop on the underside of the strap, the front chest portion has one or more loops adjacent the top peripheral edge of the front chest portion; and a connector to attach the underside loop of each of the one or more shoulder straps to one of the one or more loops adjacent the top peripheral edge of the front chest portion to form a separate top and bra configuration; or said connector to attach each of the one or more shoulder straps to a bra strap and a two part fastener to attach the bra cup portion to the front chest portion to form a connected top and bra.

2. A bra and top assembly for a breast feeding woman, comprising: a breast feeding bra having a two part clasp that allows a bra cup portion to detach at or adjacent the bra strap attachment; a top with one or more shoulder straps wherein each of the one or more shoulder straps has a loop on the underside of the strap, the front chest portion has one or more loops adjacent the top peripheral edge of the front chest portion; and a connector to attach the underside loop of each of the one or more shoulder straps to one of the one or more loops adjacent the top peripheral edge of the front chest portion to form a separate top and bra configuration; or said connector to attach each of the one or more shoulder straps to a bra strap and a two part fastener to attach the bra cup portion to the front chest portion to form a connected top and bra.

3. The bra and top assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein different tops can be used with the same bra or a single top can be used with different bras.

4. The bra and top assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein when each connector attaches each of the one or more shoulder straps to a bra strap, the shoulder straps are fixedly attached to a front chest portion of the top.

5. The bra and top assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shoulder straps are sewn onto or into the front chest portion of the top.

6. The bra and top assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clasp is a two part interconnecting clasp that has a hook part with an additional attachment portion.

7. The bra and top assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the additional attachment portion is an arm that extends from one end of the hook part to form a narrow recess between the extended arm and remainder of the hook part.

8. The bra and top assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two part fastener is a complementary press stud that allows the top to move relative to the bra.

9. The bra and top assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector is a device with one or more hooks or retaining portions.

10. The bra and top assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the one or more hooks or retaining portions are preferably attached to the loops on the underside of the garment strap and the loop adjacent to the periphery of the top of the chest portion.

11. The bra and top assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector is a two part complementary press stud, a hook and eye loop arrangement, a button or toggle and a corresponding slit, or a hook and loop arrangement.

12. A bra and top assembly, comprising: a bra; a top with one or more shoulder straps wherein each of the one or more shoulder straps is discontinuous to a front chest portion of the top, each of the one or more shoulder straps has a loop on the underside of the strap, the front chest portion has one or more loops adjacent the top peripheral edge of the front chest portion; and a connector to attach the underside loop of each of the one or more shoulder straps to one of the one or more loops adjacent the top peripheral edge of the front chest portion to form a separate top and bra configuration; or said connector to attach each of the one or more shoulder straps to a bra strap and a two part fastener to attach the bra to the front chest portion to form a connected top and bra.

13. A bra and top assembly, comprising: a bra; a top with one or more shoulder straps, wherein each of the one or more shoulder straps has a loop on the underside of the strap, the front chest portion has one or more loops adjacent the top peripheral edge of the front chest portion; and a connector to attach the underside loop of each of the one or more shoulder straps to one of the one or more loops adjacent the top peripheral edge of the front chest portion to form a separate top and bra configuration; or said connector to attach each of the one or more shoulder straps to a bra strap and a two part fastener to attach the bra to the front chest portion to form a connected top and bra.

14. The bra and top assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein different tops can be used with the same bra or a single top can be used with different bras.

15. The bra and top assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein when each connector attaches each of the one or more shoulder straps to a bra strap, the shoulder straps are fixedly attached to a front chest portion of the top.

16. The bra and top assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the shoulder straps are sewn onto or into the front chest portion of the top.

17. The bra and top assembly as claimed in claim 1, further including a cover being a substantially domed shaped piece of fabric with a plurality of tabs on the sides and connection means at the top of the dome section of the dome shaped fabric wherein in use the connection means connects to the bra and the side tabs are tucked underneath a portion of the bra to hold the cover in position.

18. The bra and top assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein the connection means is a hook or loop.

19. The bra and top assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein the hook is operatively attachable to the one or more bra straps.

20. The bra and top assembly as claimed in claim 1, further including a cover being a substantially domed shaped piece of fabric with a plurality of tabs on the sides and a second ring part of a clasp at the top of the dome section of the dome shaped fabric wherein in use the second ring part interconnects with a first part of the bra clasp and the side tabs are tucked underneath a portion of the bra to hold the cover in position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] In order that the present invention can be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

[0047] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a ring part of a two part interlocking clasp;

[0048] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the hook part of the two part interlocking clasp;

[0049] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the two parts of the interlocking clasp;

[0050] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a bra of the first preferred embodiment;

[0051] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a bra and top of the first preferred embodiment showing the lowering of part of the top;

[0052] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the bra and top assembly of the first preferred embodiment showing part of the top and bra cup lowered;

[0053] FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the bra and top assembly of a second preferred embodiment showing the lowering of part of the top;

[0054] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the second preferred embodiment of the bra and top assembly showing the top and bra cup lowered;

[0055] FIG. 9 is a cover for use to cover the top of the breast when the bra cup and part of the top have been lowered;

[0056] FIG. 9A is an alternate cover for use to cover the top of the breast when the bra cup and part of the top have been lowered;

[0057] FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the top without a bra; and

[0058] FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view of a top without a bra according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0059] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 there is shown a clasp 10. The clasp 10 consists of two parts. FIG. 1 shows a ring part 11 while FIG. 2 shows a hook part 12. Parts 11 and 12 are inter-locking and together form a clasp 10. To interlock, ring part 11 has an aperture 14 which can be positioned over a hook portion 15 on hook part 12. The ring part 11 has a protruding tongue portion 16 that protrudes into aperture 14 and serves to provide frictional resistance in positioning and removing the ring part 11 from the hook part 12. There is an elongate aperture 18 at the opposite end to aperture 14. Elongate aperture 18 serves as an attachment point to a bra cup. The clasp 10 is used to attach one end of the bra cup 30 to the bra strap 32.

[0060] A first preferred embodiment of the breast feeding bra 29 is shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. The breast feeding bra 29 includes releasable bra cups 30, bra support portion 31, bra straps 32 and two part hook and eye adjustment 33. The bra straps 32 are adjustable in length with strap adjusters 35. The hook and eye adjustment 33 serves to fit the bra according to the frame of the person. The bra 29 has one part of a press stud 36 on each bra cup 30 adjacent the clasp 10. The clasp 10 is similar to the standard maternity bra clasp except that it has an additional elongate arm 23.

[0061] With particular reference to FIG. 5, there is shown a top 40 having a chest portion 41 and a strap portion 42. The front section of the strap portion 42 is connectable to the bra strap 32 via the elongate arm 23 of the hook portion 12 of the clasp 10. The elongate arm 23 can slideably attach within an elastic loop 45 on the underside of the strap portion 42. In this way the strap portion 42 covers the bra strap 32 to provide a more discreet and aesthetically pleasing appearance. In the situation where there is no connected bra 29, the strap portion 42 can attach to the chest portion 41 via a connector 46 having a retainer portion 47 and hook portion 48. The retainer portion 47 can attach to an elongate loop 50 in an underside top section of the chest portion 41 while the hook portion 48 can be slideably attached to the elastic loop 45 on the underside of strap portion 42. A press stud portion 52 is mounted on the inside of chest portion 41 and can fasten to complementary press stud portion 36 on bra 29. When the press stud portions 36, 52 are fastened, the bra cup 30 and a top section of the chest portion 41 are lowered and raised together. There can also be a bra strap retainer 43 that secures the strap portion 42 of the top 40 to the bra strap 32 to hide the bra strap 32 from view.

[0062] With reference to FIG. 6, there is shown the lowering of the bra cup 30 and part of the chest portion 41 to reveal the breast 60 for nursing purposes. The bra cup 30 and the lowered section 61 of the chest portion 41 acts together because of the press stud fastening 36, 52. To further secure the bra cup 30 with lowered section 61, the top of the bra cup 30 can insert through a slot formed by a retaining portion 63 on the inside of lowered section 61. The bra cup 30 has the ring part 11 attached to the top of bra cup 30. The ring part 11 is fixedly attached to the bra cup 30 so that the aperture 14 is exposed and able to interlock with hook portion 15 in hook part 12 of the clasp 10.

[0063] The use of the top bra assembly as described provides a quick and relatively easy transition with one movement to provide the baby with access to the mother's breast. To provide additional privacy, a cover 70 shown in FIG. 9 can be placed over the top of the mother's breast using a connection means in the form of a second ring part 73 to interlock with the hook part 12 of clasp 10 and side tags 74 tucked underneath the A-frame of the bra to maintain the position of the cover 70. The cover 70 can also have one or more press stud portions 75 that will allow the wearer to adjust the length of the cover to account for different breast sizes and/or preferred length to wear it relative to the distance from the baby's face. FIG. 9A shows an alternate embodiment of a cover 70 having a draw string 75B that will allow the wearer to adjust the length of the cover to account for different breast sizes and/or preferred length to wear it relative to the distance from the baby's face. FIG. 9B shows a rear view of the cover 70 of FIG. 9A. The cover 70 also has a loop 71 in the form of a tab of fabric 71A having an aperture 71B. In use, the loop 71 connects with a bra clasp of a bra (not shown), typically the loop 71 connects to a hook portion of a bra clasp.

[0064] FIGS. 9C and 9D show a front view and a rear view of an alternate embodiment of a cover 70. The cover 70 has a hook 76. In use, the hook 76 hooks onto a strap of a bra or top (not shown), typically, the hook 76 hooks into a fold of a bra strap (not shown).

[0065] The advantage of the press stud arrangement 36 and 52 is that it allows the chest portion 41 to move to a natural position via the swivel connection when the clasp parts are interlocked. Because of this the overlying top 40 falls naturally without wrinkles or creases in the fabric.

[0066] In FIGS. 7 and 8, there is shown a second preferred embodiment of the invention where a standard maternity bra clasp is used rather than the redesigned clasp shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. As mentioned earlier, the standard maternity bra clasp is similar to the clasp 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 except that it does not have the elongate arm 23 extending from one end of the hook part 12. The top 80 has a lowered portion 81 that is fastenable to the bra 82 by a two part complementary press stud arrangement 84 and 85. When the complementary press stud 84 and 85 are fastened, the bra cup 87 moves together with the lowered portion 81 to reveal the breast 89. To provide further security, retainer overlay 90 fixed on the inside of the lowered portion 81 provides a slot through which part of the bra cup 87 with the ring part 11 passes through to expose aperture 14 in the ring part 11 of the clasp. The aperture 14 can fasten to the hook portion 91 of the standard hook part 92. The strap 93 is attachable to the loop formed in the bra strap with the bra fastener adjacent the hook part 92 using a connector 46 or a standard slide hook that employs the elongate arm to slideably insert in the loop.

[0067] When the top 80 is used without connecting to the bra or a different bra type is used, the connector 46 or a standard slide hook can be used to connect directly with an elongate loop 95 in the lowered portion 81 of the top 80.

[0068] In FIG. 10 there is shown a diagrammatic view of the top 100 when the straps 101 can be fitted via connectors 46 or a standard slide hook to loops 95, 50 near the end of the top 100. The straps 101 are adjustable and can extend to cover the press stud 103.

[0069] FIG. 11 shows a diagrammatic view of a top 100, having straps 101 fixedly attached to the front portion of the top 100. The straps 101 are sewn onto the front portion of the top 100.

[0070] There can also be a bra strap retainer that secures the strap of the top to the bra strap to hide the bra strap from view in respect of the different embodiments.

[0071] The press studs provided in the different embodiments can optionally be double sided press studs to also hold the ends of the strap(s) in position.

[0072] In use, the bra and top of the preferred embodiments are put on separately. A nursing bra or standard bra is put on in the normal manner with arms through the straps, the bra cup portions over the breasts and the bra secured by the hook and eye closure arrangement which takes into account different frame sizes. The top is then placed over the bra and the attachments are made in line with the descriptions in the abovementioned preferred embodiments. To undress, the process is reversed.

Advantages

[0073] An advantage of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is that it allows easy access for breast feeding purposes in releasing the interconnecting clasp and lowering the top and bra cup in a single one handed movement.

[0074] A further advantage, particularly for women with large breasts, is that they can use fully supporting bras and breast feeding bras with any garment they choose by employing the inter changeable feature to allow a single preferred bra to be used with a variety of different garments.

[0075] With the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a strap of a top is associated with and overlies a bra strap. The assembly provides a more fashionable and aesthetically pleasing appearance. The preferred embodiment of the present invention employs a two part press stud connecting the top with the bra cup which allows movement of the fabric to provide a substantially wrinkle free finished appearance. Unlike other nursing mother's wear, the bra and top assembly are easy to put on as they are separate pieces that are connectable after they are on the wearer.

[0076] Another advantage of the preferred embodiment is that both the top and bra are interchangeable and a nursing mother may only require a couple of breast feeding bras and use them with a variety of tops. With fewer numbers of bras and garments to purchase, the preferred embodiment of the top and bra assembly provides a financial advantage to a person as well as enable them to use the garments after breast feeding has stopped.

Variations

[0077] While the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

[0078] Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word comprise and variations of that word such as comprises and comprising, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.