STRAPLESS ADHESIVE BREAST COVERS

Abstract

There are provided a pair of breast covers, each breast cover forming a cup shape defining a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface, defining an ovular cross section having a major axis and a minor axis, being symmetric with respect to the major axis and asymmetric with respect to the minor axis. Each cover further comprises a peripheral adhesive layer on the inner surface thereby defining an adhesive-free central portion at an intersection of the axes. Wearing the covers comprises adhering the covers to respective breasts in first orientations generally symmetric with a centre line therebetween for a first type of garment and in second orientations generally symmetric with the centre line therebetween for a second type of garment.

Claims

1-38. (canceled)

39. A breast cover forming a cup shape defining a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface, defining an ovular cross section having a major axis and a minor axis and being symmetric with respect to the major axis and asymmetric with respect to the minor axis and having a peripheral adhesive layer on the inner surface, the peripheral adhesive layer thereby defining an adhesive-free central portion at an intersection of the axes and wherein the peripheral portion occupies less than half the width of the inner surface along the minor axis and less than half the width of the inner surface along the major axis, wherein a radial width of the peripheral adhesive layer is substantially uniform so that the adhesive-free central portion has the same shape as a boundary of the inner surface.

40. The cover as claimed in claim 39, wherein the peripheral adhesive layer comprises a reusable adhesive.

41. The cover as claimed in claim 39, further comprising a removable covering for the peripheral adhesive layer.

42. The cover as claimed in claim 41, wherein the removable covering has an ovular cross-section matching that of the inner surface.

43. The cover as claimed in claim 42, wherein the removable covering has an opening for the adhesive-free central portion.

44. The cover as claimed in claim 39, wherein the adhesive-free central portion has a length along the major axis.

45. The cover as claimed in claim 39, wherein the peripheral adhesive layer avoids a boundary of the inner surface.

46. The cover as claimed in claim 45, wherein the peripheral adhesive layer avoids a boundary of the inner surface by between 2 and 10 mm.

47. The cover as claimed in claim 39, wherein the cover has a minimum diameter of 10 cm.

48. The cover as claimed in claim 39, wherein the cover has a length of approximately 13 cm and a width of approximately 10.5 cm.

49. The cover as claimed in claim 39, wherein the cover has a length of approximately 14 cm and a width of approximately 11 cm.

50. The cover as claimed in claim 39, wherein the cover has a length of approximately 15 cm and a width of approximately 12 cm.

51. The cover as claimed in claim 39, wherein each cover comprises material so that that each cover is stretchable along either axis.

52. The cover as claimed in claim 51, wherein each cover comprises a sponge layer having a stretchable fabric covering.

53. The cover as claimed in claim 39, wherein the adhesive layer comprises perforations therethrough.

54. A method of wearing a pair of breast covers, each breast cover forming a cup shape defining a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface, defining an ovular cross section having a major axis and a minor axis; and being symmetric with respect to the major axis; and asymmetric with respect to the minor axis and having a peripheral adhesive layer on the inner surface thereby defining an adhesive-free central portion at an intersection of the axes, the method comprising: adhering the covers to respective breasts: in first orientations generally symmetric with a centre line therebetween for a first type of garment; and in second orientations generally symmetric with the centre line therebetween for a second type of garment, wherein a radial width of the peripheral adhesive layer is substantially uniform so that the adhesive-free central portion has the same shape as a boundary of the inner surface.

55. The method as claimed in claim 54, wherein one of the orientations is wherein the major axis is orientated upwardly for a low V-neck-style dress.

56. The method as claimed in claim 54, wherein one of the orientations is wherein the major axis is orientated upwardly inwardly for a halter-neck-style top.

57. The method as claimed in claim 54, wherein the peripheral adhesive layer avoids a boundary of the inner surface.

58. A pair of breast covers, each breast cover forming a cup shape defining a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface, defining an ovular cross section having a major axis and a minor axis and being symmetric with respect to the major axis and asymmetric with respect to the minor axis and having a peripheral adhesive layer on the inner surface, the peripheral adhesive layer thereby defining an adhesive-free central portion at an intersection of the axes and wherein the peripheral portion occupies less than half the width of the inner surface along the minor axis and less than half the width of the inner surface along the major axis and a radial width of the peripheral adhesive layer is substantially uniform so that the adhesive-free central portion has the same shape as a boundary of the inner surface, so that, in use, the breast covers may be adhered to respective breasts: in first orientations generally symmetric with a centre line therebetween for a first type of garment; and in second orientations generally symmetric with the centre line therebetween for a second type of garment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows an inner surface of a breast cover in accordance with an embodiment;

[0025] FIG. 2 shows an outer surface of a breast cover in accordance with an embodiment;

[0026] FIGS. 3-6 illustrate methods of wearing a pair of the covers in different orientations according to different types of garments;

[0027] FIG. 7 shows a side cross-sectional view of the cover; and

[0028] FIG. 8 shows various layers of the cover in accordance an embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0029] FIG. 7 shows a breast cover 100 forming a cup shape and defining a concave inner surface 101 as shown in FIG. 1 and a convex outer surface 102 is shown in FIG. 2.

[0030] With reference to FIG. 2, the cover 100 defines an ovular cross-section having a major axis 103 and a minor axis 104. The cover 100 is symmetric with respect to the major axis and asymmetric with respect to the minor axis 104.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, the cover 100 has a peripheral adhesive layer 105 on the inner surface 101. The peripheral adhesive layer 105 defines an adhesive-free central portion 106 at an intersection of the axes 103, 104.

[0032] The peripheral adhesive layer 105 preferably occupies less than approximately half the width of the inner surface 101 along the minor axis 104. Furthermore, the peripheral adhesive layer 105 also preferably occupies less than approximately half the width of the inner surface 101 along the major axis 103.

[0033] In the embodiment shown, the peripheral adhesive layer 105 comprises a substantially uniform radial width. In other words, the peripheral adhesive layer 105 forms a substantially uniform width ovular band around the edge of the inner surface 101. As such, the adhesive-free central portion 106 may have substantially the same shape as a boundary 107 of the inner surface 101 which maximises the length thereof along the major axis 103.

[0034] The peripheral adhesive layer 105 preferably comprises a reusable adhesive. Preferably, the reusable adhesive is natural and/or hypoallergenic so as to be suited for the sensitive skin of the breast.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 8, the cover 100 may comprise a removable covering 108 for the peripheral adhesive layer 105. The removable covering 108 may have an ovular cross-section matching that of the entire inner surface 101 or alternatively be generally annular, thereby covering the peripheral adhesive layer 105 only.

[0036] The peripheral adhesive layer 105 preferably avoids the boundary 107 of the inner surface 101. Preferably, the peripheral adhesive layer 105 avoids the boundary 107 by between 5 and 10 mm, approximately 5 mm in an embodiment.

[0037] The cover 100 may comprise a minimum diameter of 10 cm. The cover 100 may be divided in three sizes comprising a small size having a length of approximately 13 cm and a width of approximately 10.5 cm, a medium-size having a length of approximately 14 cm and a width of approximately 11 cm and a large-size having a length of approximately 15 cm and a width of approximately 12 cm.

[0038] The cover 100 preferably comprises a material so that the cover 100 is stretchable along either axis 103, 104.

[0039] With reference FIG. 8, the cover 100 may comprise a sponge layer 109 between by stretchable fabric cover layers 110.

[0040] The adhesive layer 105 preferably comprises perforations 111 therethrough. Preferably, each perforation 111 is greater than 1 mm in diameter and have a maximum 5 mm apart density. Where the cover 100 comprises the sponge layer 109 and the fabric covering 110, the perforations 100 may allow breathability therethrough.

[0041] In embodiments, the cover 100 may have a triaxial symmetry wherein, in a particular embodiment, the cover 100 is the shape of a curved triangle, which may be a Reuleaux triangle having a constant width. In accordance with this embodiment, the cover 100 may be worn with any of the corners aligned in various orientations for different types of dresses. In accordance with this embodiment, the peripheral adhesive layer may yet form a band conform in shape with the edges of the cover 100.

[0042] FIGS. 3-6 illustrate wearing the breast covers 100 for different types of garments. More specifically, the method comprises wearing the covers 100 in first orientation which is generally symmetric with a centre line 112 therebetween is shown in FIG. 1 for a first type of garment and wearing the covers 100 in a second orientation which is also generally symmetric with the centre line 112,

[0043] Specifically, FIG. 4 shows the covers 100 orientated upwardly for a low V-neck-style dress 103, FIG. 6 shows the covers 100 orientated inwardly for a halter-neck-style top 104, FIG. 3 shows the covers 100 orientated outwardly for a racer-style top 105 and FIG. 5 shows the covers 100 inverted and orientated inwardly for a strapless top 106.

[0044] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.