NIPPLE COVERING APPARATUS FOR GARMENTS

Abstract

A nipple covering apparatus includes at least one layer of heat transfer vinyl (HTV), and a plurality of gaps in at least one of the layers of heat transfer vinyl (HTV). The apparatus is configured for being attached to a garment to cover a person's nipple. The apparatus can be attached to the garment by a heat activated adhesive. The heat transfer vinyl (HTV) can be polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: at least one layer of heat transfer vinyl (HTV); and a plurality of gaps in at least one of the layers of heat transfer vinyl (HTV); wherein the apparatus is configured for being attached to a garment to cover a person's nipple.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a heat activated adhesive configured for attaching the at least one layer of heat transfer vinyl (HTV) to the garment.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat transfer vinyl (HTV) is polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or a combination thereof.

4. An assembly comprising: a garment; and a nipple covering apparatus, wherein the nipple covering apparatus is attached to the garment and the apparatus comprises at least one layer of heat transfer vinyl (HTV) with multiple pieces separated by gaps.

5. The garment as claimed in claim 4, wherein the nipple covering apparatus is attached to the garment by a heat activated adhesive.

6. The garment as claimed in claim 4, wherein the heat transfer vinyl (HTV) is polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or a combination thereof.

7. A method of manufacturing a nipple covering apparatus for a garment comprising: a. cutting a layer of heat transfer vinyl (HTV) into a plurality of pieces; and b. attaching the layer of heat transfer vinyl (HTV) to the garment by a heat activated adhesive such that each piece of the heat transfer vinyl (HTV) is separated from the other pieces of the heat transfer vinyl (HTV) by a gap.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the heat transfer vinyl (HTV) is polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or a combination thereof.

9. A nipple covering apparatus comprising: at least one layer of heat transfer vinyl (HTV), wherein one of the at least one layer of heat transfer vinyl (HTV) is cut into a plurality of pieces such that each piece of the heat transfer vinyl (HTV) is separated from another piece of the heat transfer vinyl (HTV) by a gap.

10. The nipple covering apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a heat activated adhesive configured for attaching at least one of the at least one layer of heat transfer vinyl (HTV) to a garment.

11. The nipple covering apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the heat transfer vinyl (HTV) is polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or a combination thereof.

12. The nipple covering apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein a composition of a material of the heat transfer vinyl (HTV) comprises a combination of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0038] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the garment with the multiple layers of the garment along with the covering apparatuses.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows the placement of the covering apparatuses on the inner layer of the garment.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a magnified view of the covering apparatus.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the garment with the two layers of the garment and the covering apparatuses.

[0042] FIG. 5 shows the placement of the covering apparatuses on the inside surface of the front layer of the garment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] The implementation of the embodiments of the present disclosure is discussed in detail below. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure provides a broad scope of inventive concepts that can be embodied in a variety of specific implementations. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to implement the disclosure and do not, in any manner, limit the scope of the disclosure.

[0044] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the present disclosure may be practised without some of these specific details.

[0045] If the specification discloses a component or feature that may, can, could, or might be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or have the characteristic.

[0046] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of a, an, and the includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of in includes in and on unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0047] Throughout this specification, the use of the word comprise and include, and variations such as comprises, comprising, includes, and including may imply the inclusion of other elements, not specifically recited as well.

[0048] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully hereafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Moreover, all statements herein reciting embodiments of the disclosure, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure).

[0049] Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, and equivalents of the embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

[0050] There are several types of clothes, garments and accessories available in the market that are worn by women for the purposes of either supporting their breasts or covering their nipples or both. This includes bras, pads, nipple tapes and nipple covers. There are even tops with pre-fit pads available. However, none of these garments or accessories provide a solution that covers the nipple(s) of the wearer and keeps the wearer comfortable.

[0051] The preferred embodiment of the present disclosure discloses a covering apparatus that can be integrated into a garment, such as a top, t-shirt, kurta or shirt, such that the wearer's nipple(s) are covered and there is negligible compromise with the wearer's comfort. The wearer's comfort is of higher importance for loungewear and nightwear, when the clothes are to be worn at home. This covering apparatus is lightweight, washable and durable as well.

[0052] The area covered by the covering apparatus can be larger than the pad area of the bra being used by the wearer. This would help with the variation in nipple and breast size and location on the wearer's body.

[0053] The method of making the covering apparatus and integrating it with the garment is also disclosed as a part of the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0054] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the multiple layers 102, 104 and 108 of the garment 100. Layer 102 is the back of the garment. Layer 104 is the inner layer of the front of the garment 100 and layer 108 is the outer layer of the front of the garment 100. The two covering apparatuses 106a and 106b that are integrated into the garment 100 are also shown in FIG. 1. The covering apparatuses are placed between inner layer 104 and outer layer 108 of the front of the garment 100.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a front view 200 of the layer 104 of the garment 100 with the covering apparatuses 106a and 106b placed in the desirable position for integration with the garment. This position for the covering apparatuses may vary depending on various factors including the size of the garment, size of the breasts etc.

[0056] FIG. 3 shows a detailed and magnified view 300 of one of the covering apparatuses 106b. The covering apparatus 106b is made using a material such as Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) which encompasses several materials including Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polyurethane (PU), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) or a combination/mixture of them.

[0057] In order to make the covering apparatus, HTV is used. Cuts are made in the HTV layer in order to make the covering apparatus take the shape of the breasts effectively and without crumpling. In the preferred exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, straight line cuts 112 are made in the HTV layer, such that the pieces of HTV are separated by gaps in order to form triangles 110. However, other forms of cuts, gaps and shapes may also be formed in other embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0058] After making the cuts 112, the HTV, which generally has a layer of heat activated adhesive, is integrated with the garment at the desirable location as the covering apparatus by applying heat, as shown in FIG. 2. An iron or a heat press may be used to apply this heat and integrate the HTV based covering apparatus with the garment.

[0059] Another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 4, which is the exploded view showing the two layers 402 and 408 of the garment 400. Layer 402 is the back of the garment 400 and layer 408 is the front of the garment 400. The two covering apparatuses 106a and 106b that are integrated into the garment 400 are also shown in FIG. 4. The advantage of this embodiment over the preferred embodiment disclosed in FIG. 1 is that this embodiment contains only two layers (front and back), which will make it more comfortable and light-weight for wearers in hot climatic conditions. On the other hand, the preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, has a layer of the garment present between the skin of the wearer and the covering apparatus, which would be more comfortable for the wearer and will improve the durability of the covering apparatus.

[0060] FIG. 5 shows the layer 408, which is the front of the garment 400. It comprises two surfaces, 408a (the outside surface) and 408b (the inside surface). The two covering apparatuses 106a and 106b are adhered to the inside surface 408b of layer 408 of the garment 400, in the desirable position for integration with the garment. This position for the covering apparatuses may vary depending on various factors including the size of the garment, size of the breasts etc. The non-adhesive side of the covering apparatuses 106a and 106b will be in direct contact with the skin of the wearer, the non-adhesive side being soft and skin friendly. The adhesive side of the covering apparatuses 106a and 106b is in contact with the fabric of the garment 400.

[0061] In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the covering apparatus 106a and 106b can be manufactured using materials such as Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) which can be sourced from materials such as Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polyurethane (PU) and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) or a combination/mixture thereof. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the composition of the material used to manufacture the covering apparatus 106a and 106b comprises a combination of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Furthermore, in another embodiment of the present disclosure, the covering apparatus may be manufactured using synthetic materials including plastics. The said synthetic materials may have their own adhesive properties or they may have an additional adhesive layer on them, as described in the preferred embodiment hereinabove. In another alternate embodiment of the present disclosure, the covering apparatus may be manufactured by using naturally occurring materials such as leather. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the material used for manufacturing the covering apparatus may have its own adhesive properties such that it may not require the additional adhesive layer in order to effectively and permanently integrate with/stick to the garment.

[0062] The covering apparatus as disclosed in embodiments of the present disclosure may also use multiple layers of HTV and the same would be within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0063] The present disclosure also provides an embodiment wherein the covering apparatus may be attached to the garment by using several different means including sewing, stitching or knitting as opposed to the use of the adhesives.

[0064] The above described embodiments of the present are exemplary and non-limiting. They describe specific implementations of the present disclosure which are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure. The present disclosure can be implemented in different manners and with modifications, which would be obvious to a person skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.