US20070270078A1

US20070270078A1 - Undergarment with security compartment

Info

Publication number: US20070270078A1
Application number: US11/745,639
Authority: US
Inventors: Annie Henry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-05-08
Filing date: 2007-05-08
Publication date: 2007-11-22

Abstract

An undergarment having a first cup and a second cup that are symmetric to one another for securing over a woman's upper body. A first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap are secured to an upper portion of said first cup and said second cup, respectively. A back strap is provided for support underneath said first cup and said second cup and having a first end and an opposing second end so that said back strap can be wrapped and secured around the upper's back. A first compartment is disposed underneath an upper portion of said first cup and a second compartment is disposed underneath an upper portion of said second cup so that said first and second compartments are concealed from view and can be used for carrying small personal articles but that are also easily accessible to the user.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/798,539 filed May 8, 2006. The disclosure of the provisional application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to undergarments, and more specifically to using a novel undergarment to provide a secret compartment to store and secure various items on person's body.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There exists a variety of types of undergarments or devices that are used to store money, credit cards, notes and other personal items. These include money belts that are worn around a person's waist and have pockets to carry items. The belt can be worn under a person's clothing or over the clothing. Although a money belt is secure, it can be uncomfortable to wear on a regular basis. If worn over clothing, it is not concealed and is susceptible to theft. Other prior art describes a pouch that attaches to the belt itself.
Another similar type of device to the money belt is worn around a person's leg as a leg band, which has a concealed compartment. The leg band is secured to the leg using elastic. The band has an outer covering made from fabric and an inner panel separated from the outer covering that forms the concealed compartment between the inner panel and outer covering. A shortcoming of this type of device can also be uncomfortable to wear and access to the leg band can be difficult.
Still yet another type of device is attached to an undergarment such as a woman's bra. It attaches between the cups of a woman's bar. The pouch includes a container and fastening mechanism for securing the container to the undergarment or other items of wearing apparel. A shortcoming of this prior art is that it is not integrated into an undergarment. Still yet another shortcoming is that accessing the secure pouch can be difficult and in some public circumstances inappropriate. Accordingly, what is needed in the art is an undergarment that has an integrated compartment that is completely concealed.
Another need exists in the art for an undergarment with an integrated secret compartment that is easy to access.
Another need exists in the art for an undergarment with an integrated compartment that is comfortable to wear.
It is, therefore, to the effective resolution of the aforementioned problems and shortcomings of the prior art that the present invention is directed.
However, in view of the prior art at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art how the identified needs could be fulfilled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is an undergarment comprising a first cup and a second cup that are symmetric to one another so as to cover and support a woman's upper body; a first shoulder strap and a second strap are secured to an upper portion of said first cup and said second cup, respectively, so that said first should strap and said second should strap are placed over a user's shoulders to maintain said undergarment in a desired position on said user's body; a back strap for providing support underneath said first cup and said second cup and having a first end and an opposing second end so that said back strap can be wrapped and secured around said user's back; a first compartment is irremovably disposed underneath an upper portion of said first cup and a second compartment is irremovably disposed underneath an upper portion of said second cup so that said first and second compartments are concealed from view; said first compartment having a first outer wall and an opposing first inner wall wherein a first securing means is disposed on said first outer wall and a second means is disposed on said first inner wall; said second compartment having a second outer wall and an opposing second inner wall wherein a third securing means is disposed on said second outer wall and a fourth securing means is disposed on said second inner wall; and said first and third securing means is a loop material attached to said first and second outer walls and said second and fourth securing means is a hook material attached to said first and second inner walls.
It is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide an improved undergarment that provides an integrated secret compartment for carrying personal items.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an undergarment that has an integrated compartment that is completely concealed.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an undergarment with an integrated secret compartment that is easy to access.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an undergarment with an integrated compartment that is comfortable to wear.
These and other important objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become clear as this description proceeds.
The present invention, accordingly, comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts that will be exemplified in the description set forth hereinafter and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing the location of the concealed compartments disposed on the undergarment;
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the present invention showing the securing means and void between the outer and inner walls of the compartment; and
FIG. 3 is a top view of the present invention showing the aperture of the concealed compartment and the open top edge of the compartment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows the new undergarment 100 is comprised of a typical prior art brassiere. Undergarment 100 includes shoulder straps 130, 135, cup portion 120, 125 and backstrap 110. As shown in FIG. 1, a compartment 140, 145 is formed in the upper portion of each cup portion 120, 125. However, in alternative embodiments, compartment 140 can be integrated into either the right 120 or left cup 125. Compartments 140, 145 are able to accommodate folded paper money, a note, a key or other similar items.
Referring now to FIG. 2 showing a cross sectional view of compartment 140. Compartment 140 and 145 are similar in construction and no limitations are intended by referring only to compartment 140 for illustrative purposes. Compartment 140 has outer wall 150 and inner wall 160 fixed to each other along the bottom and opposing side edges. The walls 150, 160 define an aperture of compartment 140 and hold articles therein.
Compartment 140 also includes a securing means to allow compartment 140 to open and close. The securing means to open and close compartment 140 is preferably mating pieces of hook-and-loop material such as Velcro. As shown in the preferred embodiment a loop material 170 is secured to a top edge of outer wall 150 whereas a loop material 180 is secured to an opposing top edge of inner wall 160.
In alternative embodiments, the securing means is comprises of a zipper or buttons. The securing means is provided for sealing the open top edge of compartment 140 to secure articles within compartment 140. In yet another embodiment, compartment 140 does not have a securing means and the contents of compartment 140, 145 remain secure therein due to the positioning of compartment 140, 145 on cup 120, 125, respectively.
Referring now to FIG. 3 shows top view of compartment 140. Outer wall 150 provides the foundation for securing means 170. Opposing inner wall 160 includes securing means 180 for mating to securing means 170.
The particular embodiments disclosed above and in the drawings are illustrative only, as the invention may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the invention.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between.
Now that the invention has been described,

Claims

1. An undergarment comprising:

a first cup and a second cup that are symmetric to one another so as to cover and support a woman's upper body;

a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap are secured to an upper portion of said first cup and said second cup, respectively, so that said first shoulder strap and said second shoulder strap are placed over a user's shoulders to maintain said undergarment in a desired position on said user's body;

a back strap for providing support underneath said first cup and said second cup and having a first end and an opposing second end so that said back strap can be wrapped and secured around said user's back; and

a first compartment is irremovably disposed underneath an upper portion of said first cup so that said first compartment is concealed from view.

2. The undergarment of claim 1 wherein said first compartment having a first outer wall and a first opposing inner wall.

3. The undergarment of claim 2 wherein said first compartment further comprises a first securing means on said first outer wall and a second securing means on said first inner wall.

4. The undergarment of claim 3 wherein said first securing means is a loop material attached to said first outer wall and said second securing means is a hook material attached to said first inner wall.

5. The undergarment of claim 2 wherein said first compartment further comprises a zipper enclosure so that said first compartment can be opened and closed to access contents contained herein.

6. The undergarment of claim 3 wherein said first securing means is a plurality of button holes integrated to said first outer wall and said second securing means is a plurality of buttons attached to said first inner wall.

7. An undergarment comprising:

a back strap for providing support underneath said first cup and said second cup and having a first end and an opposing second end so that said back strap can be wrapped and secured around said user's back;

a first compartment is removably disposed underneath an upper portion of said first cup and a second compartment is removably disposed underneath an upper portion of said second cup so that said first and second compartments are concealed from view;

said first compartment having a first outer wall and an opposing first inner wall wherein a first securing means is disposed on said first outer wall and a second securing means is disposed on said first inner wall; said second compartment having a second outer wall and an opposing second inner wall wherein a third securing means is disposed on said second outer wall and a fourth securing means is disposed on said second inner wall; and

said first and third securing means is a loop material attached to said first and second outer walls and said second and fourth securing means is a hook material attached to said first and second inner walls.

8. An undergarment comprising:

a first should strap and a second shoulder strap are secured to an upper portion of said first cup and said second cup, respectively, so that said first shoulder strap and said second shoulder strap are placed over a user's shoulders to maintain said undergarment in a desired position on said user's body;

a back strap for providing underneath said first cup and said second cup and having a first end and an opposing second end so that said back strap can be wrapped and secured around said user's back;

a first compartment is irremovably disposed underneath an upper portion of said first cup wherein an opening edge of said first compartment is substantially parallel to an edge of said first cup and interposed between said first shoulder strap and an edge of said first cup and a second compartment is irremovably disposed underneath an upper portion of said second cup wherein an opening edge of said second compartment is substantially parallel to an edge of said second cup and interposed between said second shoulder strap and an edge of said second cup so that said first and second compartments are concealed from view;

said first compartment having a first outer wall and an opposing first inner wall forming a first aperture therebetween with said first opening edge wherein a first securing means is disposed on said first outer wall and a second securing means is disposed on said first inner wall; said second compartment having a second outer wall and an opposing second inner wall forming a second aperture therebetween with said second opening edge wherein a third securing means is disposed on said second outer wall and a fourth securing means is disposed on said second inner wall; and