Multi-adjustable backless bra

Abstract

This invention relates to a multi-adjustable bra which is constructed for adequate support of the breasts yet permitting it to be worn with backless, strapless, and/or halter neck evening gowns, dresses or tops without disclosing unsightly straps either across the back or over the shoulders of the wearer.

Claims

1. A multi-adjustable strap configuration backless bra comprising: two form-shaping cups, each comprising a reinforcing underwire and each cup having an inward facing end and an outward facing end, wherein the inward facing ends of the cups generally face each other; an under bust band underlying the form-shaping cups and which attaches to and connects the form-shaping cups; two side portions, one connected to the outward facing end at an upper side portion and lower side portion of one of the two cups and the other connected to the outward facing end at the upper side portion and lower side portion of the other cup, and which are attached to the under bust band; body band straps being configured to extend and to loop around a circumference of a torso of a wearer, where the body band strap ends join to couple for closure, and each of the body band straps comprise a pair of length adjustment means for independently adjusting a length of the band to extend around the circumference of a torso of a wearer leaving a backless area; and at least one detachable and adjustable strap comprising a length adjustment means and securing means, is detachably connected to the form-shaping cups and/or to an upper part of the side portions.

2. The bra of claim 1, further comprising a front-opening component, which connects the inward facing ends of the form-shaping cups, to adjust cleavage.

3. The bra of claim 1, comprising two detachable and adjustable straps, wherein one end of each of the detachable straps is connected to a top edge of one form-shaping cup and the other end is connected to a top edge of a corresponding side portion, to form a shoulder-strap/backless configuration.

4. The bra of claim 1, comprising one detachable and adjustable strap, wherein one end of the detachable strap is connected to a top edge of one form-shaping cup and the other end of said detachable strap is connected to a top edge of the other form-shaping cup to form a halter-strap/backless configuration.

5. The bra of claim 1, comprising one detachable and adjustable shoulder strap, wherein one end of the detachable strap is connected to a top edge of one form-shaping cup and the other end is connected to a top edge of the corresponding side portion or the opposite side portion, to form a one shoulder-strap/backless configuration.

6. A multi-adjustable strap configuration bra comprising: two form-shaping cups, each comprising a reinforcing underwire and each cup having an inward facing end and an outward facing end, wherein the inward facing ends of the cups generally face each other; an under bust band underlying the form-shaping cups and which attaches to and connects the form-shaping cups; two side portions, one connected to the outward facing end at an upper side portion and lower side portion of one of the two cups and the other connected to the outward facing end at the upper side portion and lower side portion of the other cup, and which are attached to the under bust band; body band straps being configured to extend and to loop around a circumference of a torso of a wearer, where the body band strap ends join to couple for closure, and each of the body band straps comprise a pair of length adjustment means for independently adjusting a length of the band to extend around the circumference of a torso of a wearer; and two detachable and adjustable shoulder straps, wherein one end of each of the detachable straps is connected to a top edge of one form-shaping cup and the other end is connected to a top edge of the opposite side portion, and wherein the shoulder straps are configured to form a shoulder-strap alternating crisscross configuration.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIGS. 1 (A&B) is a combined plan view of the details of the bra showing both configurations.

(2) FIG. 1A is a plan view of the details of the bra showing the shoulder strap/backless configuration.

(3) FIG. 1B is a plan view of the details of the bra showing the halter-neck/backless configuration.

(4) FIGS. 2 (A&B) are general front view perspectives of two embodiments of the bra according to this invention.

(5) FIG. 2A is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 1A design configuration (shoulder-strap/backless configuration).

(6) FIG. 2B is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 1B design configuration (halter-neck/backless configuration).

(7) FIGS. 3 (A&B) are a general side view perspective of the bra.

(8) FIG. 3A is a side view perspective corresponding to FIG. 1A design configuration (shoulder-strap/backless configuration).

(9) FIG. 3B is a side view perspective corresponding to FIG. 1B design configuration (halter-neck/backless configuration).

(10) FIGS. 4(A&B) are general rear view perspectives of the bra.

(11) FIG. 4A is a rear view perspective corresponding to FIG. 1A design configuration (shoulder-strap/backless configuration).

(12) FIG. 4B is a rear view perspective corresponding to FIG. 1B design configuration (halter-neck/backless configuration).

(13) FIG. 4C is a rear view perspective corresponding to FIG. 1A design configuration (shoulder-strap/backless configuration) with a modification of alternating the shoulder straps in the back in a crisscross manner to adapt for a shoulder-strap:cross-back/backless design.

(14) FIG. 5 is a plan view of a stretchable non-slip shoulder or a halter strap C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(15) The bra comprises two form-shaping cups, each comprising a reinforcing underwire and each cup having an inward facing end and an outward facing end, wherein the inward facing ends of the cups generally face each other;

(16) an under bust band underlying the form-shaping cups and which attaches to and connects the form-shaping cups;

(17) two side portions, one connected to the outward facing end of one of the two cups and the other connected to the outward facing end of the other cup;

(18) back body band straps extending to the lower back of the wearer and looping around to the front of the torso of the wearer, where the back body band strap ends join to couple for closure, and the back body band straps comprise a pair of length adjustment means for independently adjusting the length of the band to the circumference of the wearer; and

(19) at least one detachable and adjustable strap comprising a length adjustment means and securing means, detachably connected to the form-shaping cups and/or to the upper part of the unconnected ends of the side portions.

(20) An optional front opening hook or clasp may be provided between and connected to the two cups in addition to the under bust band for cleavage adjustment if worn under a more revealing garment.

(21) The bra can be made of any suitable material that is flexible and supportive. The cups are normally composed of conventional fabric used for bra manufacturing, such as cloth, lace, silk, net, transparent material or other desired materials, and maybe padded, and more preferably, substantially padded. The cups are preferably formed of a single piece of material, but may be fabricated from numerous pieces and layers. They may be ornamental or decorated. The cups maintain their contour or form by any convenient means, preferably by means of a reinforcing underwire. The underwire may be plastic or metal or any other suitable material.

(22) The straps preferably are made of either stretchable elastic, conventional non-transparent fabric material with a non-slip backing, or made of a transparent or substantially transparent elastomeric polyurethane material, of which a wide variety are available in the marketplace such as the trade mark LYCRA (i.e., spandex). Preferred plastic materials may themselves be stretchable and light tinting may also be appropriate. The same applies to the material of the cups when they are also composed of transparent material. The straps include detachable securing means, which may be any means that can be easily attached or detached, such as clasps, hooks, eyes, buttons, loops, openings snaps, rings and other fasteners are used to allow either the shoulder straps to be fastened to the cups and the sides, if used, or one of the straps be fastened to each cup for a halter-neck design if desired. The straps also include length adjusting means, which may be any means that allows for the adjustment of the length of the straps, such as a sliding or adjustable ring or bracket.

(23) The band comprises a front under bust band attached to and underlying the bra cups and bottoms of the two side portions and back band straps extending beyond the side portions to the back of the wearer and adapted to be wrapped about the waist of the user in opposite directions, terminating at the front of the user, where they are secured together in any convenient manner by a securing means, such as by clasps, hooks, eyes, buttons, loops, openings snaps, rings and other fasteners. The back bands are provided with length adjustment means, which may be any means that allows for the adjustment of the length of the straps, such as a sliding or adjustable ring or bracket. The band including the front under bust band, side portions and back band straps can be made of any suitable material that is flexible and supportive such as conventional bra manufacturing fabrics including lace, silk, net, transparent material or other desired materials.

(24) Various adjusting means are employed on the shoulder, halter and back straps, so that the lengths of the straps may be adjusted as required. FIG. 5 shows the components of an exemplary embodiment of the detachable straps C which include the loop F at the end of the strap which connects to a hook H. An adjustable ring G allows for length adjustment, as the other end F the strap terminates in the terminal hook H for attachment to the other side of the bra. Detachable securing means may be any means that can be easily attached or detached, such as clasps, hooks, eyes, buttons, loops, openings snaps, rings and other fasteners are used to allow either the shoulder straps to be fastened to the cups and the sides, if used, or one of the straps be fastened to each cup for a halter-neck design if desired. Length adjusting means may be any means that allows for the adjustment of the length of the straps, such as a sliding or adjustable ring or bracket.

(25) The transformation-associated method for dressing is provided contemplating an elastic strap (elastic means under tension removably retains the undergarment in the desired position) that is operably trained around a user's back and to be worn as a halter-neck for strapless configurations, or be worn as a shoulder strap with sleeveless configurations. A bra cup is attached at each end of the strap, with an adjustable attachment feature connecting the cups together. The side portions are constructed to provide maximum support of the breasts and minimum slippage of the bra.

(26) The Figures show non-transparent underwire W form-shaping (push-up optional) cups A, each having an inward facing end I and an outward facing end J. The inward facing ends generally face each other and are connected together by a front under bust band K. There may also be an optional front-opening means such as a clasp or hook piece E for connecting the inward facing ends of the cups to allow for cleavage adjustment. This piece can be removed to offer more cleavage for front revealing gowns or can be attached to move the breasts towards the center of the chest to assist as a push-up function for the bra. The bra has two side portions L, one connected to the outward facing end of one of the two cups and the other connected to the outward facing end of the other cup.

(27) The cups are provided with detachable shoulder straps C, preferably composed of a transparent plastic material, and a detachable halter strap D, also preferably composed of a transparent plastic material. Both the shoulder straps and the halter strap are provided with hooks H for attachment to the bra cups A. A front under bust band K is composed of either a conventional fabric material or a transparent plastic material and is attached to the bra cups and side portions. The back band straps B are adjustable in length and long enough to stretch backwards down and across the user's back, approximating at the lower portion of the back around the lumbar spine (the lumbar spine refers to the lower back, where the spine curves inward toward the abdomen) and sacral region (the sacral region is at the bottom of the spine and lies between the fifth segment of the lumbar spine (L5) and the tailbone), pulling the cups and loops around to the front of the torso, where it joins with the connecting hook H on one end, and fabric loop F at the other end of the band. The loop is preceded with a length-adjustable ring G.

(28) The bra straps and band may also be secured using securing tabs (e.g., via any way now known or later developed such as adhesive, tape, hooks and eyes, hook and loop, etc.).

(29) Also, only one shoulder strap can be removed or detached for a one shoulder backless configuration. In this embodiment, the bra includes one detachable shoulder strap, wherein one end of the detachable strap is connected to a top edge of one form-shaping cup and the other end is connected to a top edge of the corresponding side portion or the opposite side portion, to form a one shoulder-strap/backless configuration.

(30) It should be noted that any part of the bra of the present invention may be made of a suitable transparent material.

(31) It is contemplated that the constructions of the bra of the present invention may use any combination of nylon, cotton, spandex or any other suitable material and have any manner of lace, color or aesthetic design in its manufacturing. The detachable straps are secured by any suitable manner, including means of small metal or plastic hooks, fabric loops or snaps in its manufacturing. Additionally, various other adjustable constructions for use with various types of apparel such as sportswear, swimwear, evening gowns and formal wear, and casual wear including strapless, backless, one shoulder, and/or halter type designs or other convertible bra designs are also contemplated. Thus, although particular embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful convertible bra have been described, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitation upon the scope of this invention, except as set forth in the following claims.