GB2540156A

GB2540156A - Bra

Info

Publication number: GB2540156A
Application number: GB1511859.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Smickle Tanya
Original assignee: MEME COUVERTURE Ltd
Current assignee: MEME COUVERTURE Ltd
Priority date: 2015-07-07
Filing date: 2015-07-07
Publication date: 2017-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 2035-07-07
Also published as: GB201511859D0; GB2540156B

Abstract

A bra comprises a resilient spine part 9 upstanding from the medial point of a chest strap 2, with shoulder straps 4 are attached one each to each cup 1 and to a round upper part (12, figure 2B) of the spine part by connectors 13. Lateral straps 14 extend from each bra cup 1 to corresponding strap connectors (16, Figure 2B) on a lower part (11, Figure 2B) of the spine part 9. The connectors facilitate repositioning of the lateral straps to improve support of the bra cups 1. Each cup may be divided laterally into a lateral part 17 and a medial part 18 connected by a fastening so that the relative position of the lateral and medial parts can be adjusted and fixed by the user. The fastening may be a flexible fabric element (19, Figure 2D) with associated lacing.

Description

Bra

Technical field

The invention relates to improvements in the function of a bra, being an undergarment worn by women to support the breasts.

Prior art

The closest known prior art is exemplified by CN 203897301U. This document discloses a bra as illustrated in prior art figure 1 comprising a pair of cups 1L and 1R each sized and shaped to envelop or partially envelope one breast. Each cup may be formed of flexible or resilient material and or formed of a flexible fabric reinforced by stiffening wire to form a resilient structure. Each cup is attached to a chest band 2 or belt which when worn encircles the torso especially in the region of the lower ribcage.

In this example the single chest band is a continuous, unbroken band connecting the left cup 1L to the right cup 1R. A separable fastening 3 is provided bridging between the cups. In this case the fastening is provided by rigid hooks 3a engageable with rigid loops 3b. One of a pair of shoulder straps 4R, 4L is attached to a shoulder strap fastening point 5R, 5L on each cup and extends around to connect to the chest band at a respective chest band fastening point 6R, 6L. A connecting belt or back strap 7 is provided to extend substantially horizontally between a rear portion of each shoulder strap 4R and 4L. A flexible traction belt or vertical strap 8 connects a mid-point of the back strap 7 and the mid-point of the chest band 2 and acts in tension to prevent the back strap 7 being pulled up by the weight applied to the cups 1R and 1L.

Women with large sized breasts are particularly prone to suffer from discomfort caused by the weight of each breast being supported mainly by shoulder straps 6R and 6L and in some cases this can cause actual deformation of the shoulder induced by prolonged application of forces by the shoulder straps.

Large breasts are also prone to swing laterally during activity and this can further cause discomfort.

Large breasts are also prone to significant changes in shape and size caused by activity, passivity, hormonal cycles or temporary changes in weight. It is inconvenient to purchase a range of bra sizes to accommodate these changes and more inconvenient to carry a large range of bra sizes when travelling in order to accommodate such changes.

The present invention aims to alleviate at least some of these technical problems.

Accordingly to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a bra comprising a right cup and a left cup each attached to a single chest band, a right shoulder strap and a left shoulder strap attached one each to each one of the corresponding cups at a shoulder strap fastening point, a spine member extending up from the mid-point of the chest band and wherein each shoulder strap is attached to the spine member.

The spine member may be formed of a resilient material or may be formed of flexible fabric stiffened by a resilient wire frame. The resilient material may be a plastics material, possibly a foamed plastics material, and preferably a porous plastics material. In a preferred variant of the invention each shoulder strap may be connected to the spine member by a spine connector which can be manually repositioned or which can actually self-adjust to a position to minimise tension on the straps. Preferably the spine member consists of an elongate part extending from the chest strap to support a round part having an arcuate periphery. The spine connector or connectors are preferably attached to the arcuate periphery. In order to facilitate donning or discarding the bra a clip may be provided between the cups.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a bra comprising a right cup and a left cup each attached to a single chest band, a right shoulder strap and a left shoulder strap attached one each to each one of the corresponding cups at a shoulder strap fastening point, a spine member extending up from the mid-point of the chest band and wherein each of a right lateral strap and a left lateral strap is provided separately from the chest strap to extend from the spine member to connect with corresponding lateral strap connection points on each corresponding cup.

The features of the second aspect of the present invention may be provided in combination with the features of the first aspect of the present invention. Preferably the spine member consists of an elongate part and a round part, with the elongate part extending from the chest strap. The spine member is preferably formed of a resilient material or may be formed of flexible fabric stiffened by a resilient wire frame to form a resilient structure. Preferably the lateral straps connect to the elongate part of the spine member. The connection of the lateral straps to the spine member may be via connectors which allow the vertical position of the connector to be adjusted relative to the chest strap. The lateral straps can thereby be adjusted to improve the support and stability provided by the bra and may be able to relieve some of the load borne by the shoulder straps.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a bra comprising a right cup and a left cup each attached to a single chest band, a right shoulder strap and a left shoulder strap attached one each to each one of the corresponding cups at a shoulder strap fastening point, wherein each cup has a resilient construction and a volume adjuster whereby the volume and shape contained by either cup can be adjusted.

The third aspect of the present invention may be combined with any feature or preferred feature of the first or second aspect of the invention.

The volume adjuster may take the form of a region of elastic material, or a region of foldable flexible material. Each cup may be divided into a first and second part, joined by the region of material so that the first part can move relative to the second part. A fastening may be provided to control and constrain the relative movement of the first and second parts. In a preferred form of the invention the fastening may enable a progressive adjustment of the separation of the first and second parts. In one example the fastening may be provided by laces. Preferably the first and second parts are respectively a medial and lateral part. Preferably the region of material is of substantially triangular shape with two sides adjacent the apex much longer than the base and the apex disposed close to the chest band. Preferably the long sides are at least 5 times as long as the base. More preferably the long sides are at least ten times as long as the base. In some variants each cup may be divided into three or more parts each separated by a region to provide multiple volume adjusters

Brief description of the drawings A bra constructed in accordance with each aspect of the present invention will now be described, byway of example only, with reference to the accompanying illustrative figures; in which:

Figure 2A is a NE dimetric view of the bra with minimal volume;

Figure 2B is a NW dimetric view of the bra with minimal volume;

Figure 2C is a NE dimetric view of the bra with maximum volume; and

Figure 2D is an enlarged Ne dimetric view of the right bra cup with maximum volume.

Detailed description of the drawings

Figures 2A-2D show a bra comprising a right cup 1R and a left cup 1L each attached to a single chest band 2. A separable clip 3 of conventional design is disposed between the cups to facilitate donning and discarding the bra. A right shoulder strap 4R and a left shoulder strap 4L are attached one each to each one of the corresponding cups at a shoulder strap fastening point 5R and 5L respectively. A spine member 9 is attached to the mid-point of the chest band 2 so that in use it will overly the spine of the wearer. The spine member 9 is formed of flexible fabric and attached to a frame of resilient wire 10 which extends around the periphery of the spine member 9 so that the assembled flexible fabric and wire forms a resilient structure.

The spine member 9 is formed of a lower part 11 extending up from the chest belt 2 to support a round part 12 with an arcuate periphery. The wire 10 may attach to the periphery of the spine member via a sleeve or any other convenient means.

Each shoulder strap 4R, 4L attaches to the spine member 9 by means of an arcuate connector 13R, 13L which incorporates an arcuate sleeve to envelope the arcuate portion of the wire encircling the round part 12. The sleeve of each shoulder strap connector 13 is sized to slide around the arcuate periphery and take up an optimum position to support the tension on the shoulder strap. Each shoulder strap may include buckles or similar conventional means (not shown) to enable adjustment of the length of the strap. A right lateral strap 14R and a left lateral strap 14L are provided separately from the chest strap to extend from the spine member 9 to connect with corresponding lateral strap connection point 15R and 15L provided on each corresponding cup 1R and 1L. Each of the lateral straps connects to the lower part 11 by means of clips 16R and 16L which are sleeved onto the wired periphery to be slidably movable. Each clip includes a passage 17 into which the wire is received. The passage is sized to form a tight interference fit so that the clip 16 resists unintentional repositioning. Thus the lateral straps 14 can be adjusted to provide additional support and resistance to lateral movement of the cups 1.

Each cup 1 has a resilient construction either by virtue of moulding from a resilient material or fabrication from a flexible material and support provided by resilient wire to forma resilient structure. Each cup 1 is divided into two parts 17R, 17L and 18R, 18L respectively. The structure of only one cup will be described since the other is a mirror image. Each part 17, 18 is divided substantially vertically and connected by a triangular shaped flexible fabric element 19 as can be seen in figures 2C and 2D. Sleeves 20 are attached along the adjacent edges of the parts 17 and 18 to accommodate laces (not shown). Thus by adjusting the length of the laces the separation of the two parts can be altered to provide a volume adjuster whereby the volume and shape contained by either cup can be adjusted. In an alternative variant of the bra lace may be replaced by clips or hook and eye fastenings.

Claims

Claims A bra comprising a right cup and a left cup each attached to a single chest band, a right shoulder strap and a left shoulder strap attached one each to each one of the corresponding cups at a shoulder strap fastening point, a spine member extending up from the mid-point of the chest band and wherein each shoulder strap is attached to the spine member. A bra according to claim 1 wherein the spine member is a structure sufficiently resilient to hold its shape and configuration. A bra according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the spine member is formed from a flexible fabric supported on a resilient wire frame. A bra according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the spine member is formed of a resilient material. A bra according to claim 4 wherein the resilient material is a foamed plastics material. A bra according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each shoulder strap connects to the spine member by means of a spine connector which can be manually repositioned. A bra according to claim 6 wherein the spine connector is capable of self-adjustment to optimize its position and minimize the stress on the shoulder strap. A bra according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the spine member comprises a first part fastened to and upstanding from the chest strap and supporting an overlying round part spaced from the chest strap. A bra according to claim 8 wherein the shoulder strap connects to a spine connector connected to the periphery of the round part. A bra comprising a right cup and a left cup each attached to a single chest band, a right shoulder strap and a left shoulder strap attached one each to each one of the corresponding cups at a shoulder strap fastening point, a spine member extending up from the mid-point of the chest band and wherein each of a right lateral strap and a left lateral strap is provided separately from the chest strap to extend from the spine member to connect with corresponding lateral strap connection points on each corresponding cup. A bra according to claim 10 wherein the spine member is a structure sufficiently resilient to hold its shape and configuration. A bra according to claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the spine member is formed from a flexible fabric supported on a resilient wire frame. A bra according to claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the spine member is formed of a resilient material. A bra according to claim 13 wherein the resilient material is a foamed plastics material. A bra according to one of claims 10 to 14 wherein the spine member comprises a first part fastened to and upstanding from the chest strap and supporting an overlying round part spaced from the chest strap. A bra according to claim 15 wherein each lateral strap connects to lateral edges of the first part. A bra according to one of claims 10 to 16 wherein the connection of the lateral straps to the spine member may be via connectors which allow the vertical position of the connector to be adjusted relative to the chest strap. A bra comprising a right cup and a left cup each attached to a single chest band, a right shoulder strap and a left shoulder strap attached one each to each one of the corresponding cups at a shoulder strap fastening point, wherein each cup has a resilient construction and a volume adjuster whereby the volume and shape contained by either cup can be adjusted. A bra according to claim 18 wherein each cup is divided into a first and second cup part, so that the first cup part can be move relative to the second cup part. A bra according to claim 19 wherein a fastening is provided to constrain the movement and relative positioning of the first and second cup part. A bra enabling a progressive adjustment of the relative position of the first and second cup part. A bra according to claim 21 wherein the fastening is a lace. A bra according to any of claims 18 to 22 wherein the first and second cup parts are respectively a medial and lateral part. A bra according to any of claims 18 to 22 wherein the first and second cup parts are joined by a region of flexible or elastic material. A bra according to claim 24 wherein the region of material is of substantially triangular shape with two sides adjacent the apex much longer than the base and the apex disposed close to the chest band. A bra as herein described with reference to the accompanying figures 2A to 2D.