US20110217903A1

US20110217903A1 - Sports Bra

Info

Publication number: US20110217903A1
Application number: US13/038,434
Authority: US
Inventors: Shannon M. Harlow
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-03-02
Filing date: 2011-03-02
Publication date: 2011-09-08

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to sports bras with breast enhancement features.

Description

This application claims priority to Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/309,435, filed on Mar. 2, 2010, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to sports bras. More particularly, the present invention relates to sports bras with enhancement features.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sports bras are used to provide additional support to a female's breasts during physical exercise. Sturdier than typical bras, they minimize breast movement, alleviate discomfort, and reduce potential damage to chest ligaments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention recognizes and addresses the foregoing considerations, and others, of prior art construction and methods.
According to an aspect, the present invention is directed to a sports bra having a first layer forming an outer portion of the sports bra and defining the shape of the sports bra. The sports bra also includes a second layer interior from the first layer and having the same shape as the first layer. The sports bra includes a third layer which forms an inner-most portion of the sports bra and an enhancer that simulates the look of a female's breast. The enhancer is removable through an opening that allows access to an internal area defined between the second and third layer. The internal area is positioned on the sports bra in an area corresponding to the placement of a female's breast when the sports bra is worn. The internal area is bound by an internal seam only between the second and third layer, and the first layer, second layer, and third layer are connected along an outer seam of the sports bra.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a sports bra in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a back view of the sports bra of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enhanced back view of the sports bra of FIG. 1 where the third layer is transparent;

FIG. 4 is a front view of an enhancer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the enhancer of FIG. 4 taken along line 4A-4A, where a variation in the size of the protrusion is shown.

Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elements of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
A sports bra 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 through 3. As shown in the Figures, sports bra 100 includes a first layer 102, a second layer 104, and a third layer 106. First layer 102 forms the outwardly facing portion of sports bra 100 when it is positioned on a user. First layer 102 also forms the shape of sports bra 100 and may be constructed in any shape known in the art for creating bras or sports bras. For example, and as shown in FIG. 1, first layer 102 may form a V-shape on the front of sports bra 100 and form an X-shape on the rear of sports bra 100. In additional embodiments, first layer 102 may form a U-shape on the front of sports bra 100 and include more traditional straps on the back of sports bra 100. The user's specifications will dictate the shape of first layer 102 and sports bra 100.
Second layer 104 is interior of first layer 102 and, in some embodiments, second layer 104 may match the shape of first layer 102. Third layer 106 is the inner most layer and makes contact with second layer 104 and the user when sports bra 100 is worn. Third layer 106 may be constructed of any shape to meet the user's specifications. For example, and as shown in FIG. 3, third layer 106 may be sized to only fit over the user's breasts. In additional embodiments, third layer 106 may be constructed to match the shape of first layer 102 or second layer 104.
Sports bra layers 102, 104, and 106 may be made of any material known in the art for the construction of bras or sports bras. For example, sports bra layers 102, 104, and 106 may be made of polymers (e.g. nylon or polyester), cotton or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, sports bra layers may be constructed of a combination of nylon, cotton, polyester, and spandex. In other embodiments sports bra layers may be constructed of a combination of nylon and elastane. Each layer 102, 104, and 106 may be made of the same material or different materials. The user's specifications will dictate the materials utilized.
Sports bra layers 102, 104, and 106 may be connected along an outside seam 108 of sports bra 100. In such embodiments, sports bra layers 102, 104, and 106 may be sown together along outside seam 108 or may be connected through other forms of adhesion. In some embodiments, a band 110 may also be utilized for the connection of sports bra layers 102, 104, and 106. As shown in the Figures, if band 110 is utilized, it may aid in the connection of sports bra layers 102, 104, and 106 along a bottom portion 112 of sports bra 100. In embodiments where band 110 is utilized, band 110 may be constructed of an elastic material to aid in maintaining the proper placement of sports bra 100 on the user.
Sports bra 100 further includes an internal area 114 located between second and third layers 104, 106 and placed where a user's breasts would be located when sports bra 100 is worn. Internal area 114 is formed by the connection of second and third layers 104, 106 around an outline 116 that simulates the outline of a user's breast. Second and third layers 104 and 106 may be sown together along outline 116 to form the connection or other forms of adhesion may be utilized to form the connection along outline 116. In some embodiments, and as shown in FIG. 3, internal area 114 may include an opening 118 that provides a user access to internal area.
Sports bra 100 further includes enhancers 120 which generally match the shape of a woman's breast. Enhancers 120 are utilized to provide the effect of fuller looking breasts on the user when sports bra 100 is worn. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 4A, enhancers 120 include protrusions 122 that may vary based on the user's specifications. For example, if the user desires the look of fuller breasts, enhancer protrusion 122 may be larger (as indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 4A) than if the user desired the look of less full breasts from sports bra 100.
Enhancer 120 may be made of any material known in the art used to simulate the look of a woman's breast. For example, in some embodiments, enhancer 120 may be made of silicon, cotton, foam, water or other known materials. In embodiments where silicon is utilized, enhancer 120 may be constructed of an addition-cured silicon gel within a polymer made outer shell, i.e. a polyurethane outer shell.
In operation, when an opening 118 is utilized, a user may insert the desired enhancer 120 into internal area 114 prior to wearing. In embodiments where there is no opening, enhancer 120 is placed in internal area 114 prior to the connection of second layer 104 and third layer 106 along outline 116.
Sports bra 100 provides a user with fuller looking breasts while still providing the look and feel of natural breasts. In addition, in embodiments where a silicon enhancer is utilized, the enhancer may avoid retaining water and perspiration better than existing enhancing sports bras. Such advantages further aid in avoiding unsightly sweat spots around the user's breast that would typically indicate some form of enhancement is utilized. Further, the use of additional layers avoids unsightly seams on the outer most portion of sports bra 100.
These and other modifications and variations to the present invention may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged in whole or in part. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the invention so further described in such appended claims. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the versions contained therein.

Claims

1. A sports bra comprising:

a. a first layer forming an outer-most portion of the sports bra;

b. a second layer interior from the first layer;

c. a third layer forming an inner-most portion of the sports bra;

d. an enhancer that simulates the look of a female's breast;

wherein the enhancer is situated in an internal area defined between the second layer and the third layer;

wherein the internal area is positioned on the sports bra in an area corresponding to the placement of a female's breast when the sports bra is worn; and

wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer are connected along an outer seam of the sports bra.

2. The sports bra of claim 1, wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer are manufactured from the same material.

3. The sports bra of claim 1, wherein each of the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer are manufactured from different materials.

4. The sports bra of claim 1, wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer are manufactured from polymer, cotton, or combinations thereof.

5. The sports bra of claim 1, wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer are manufactured from one of nylon, cotton, polyester, and spandex.

6. The sports bra of claim 1, wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer are manufactured from one of nylon and elastane.

7. The sports bra of claim 1, wherein the enhancer is made of addition-cured silicon gel within a polymer made outer shell.

8. The sports bra of claim 1, wherein the internal area includes a pocket that allows the removal and insertion of the enhancer.

9. A sports bra comprising:

a. a first layer forming an outer portion of the sports bra and defining the shape of the sports bra;

b. a second layer interior from the first layer and having the same shape as the first layer;

c. a third layer forming an inner-most portion of the sport bra;

d. a silicone enhancer that simulates the look of a female's breast;

wherein the enhancer is removable through an opening that allows access to an internal area defined between the second layer and the third layer;

10. The sports bra of claim 9, wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer are manufactured from the same material.

11. The sports bra of claim 9, wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer are manufactured from one of polymer, cotton, or combinations thereof.

12. The sports bra of claim 9, wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer are manufactured from one of nylon, cotton, polyester, and spandex.

13. The sports bra of claim 9, wherein the third layer is sized to only cover a females breast when the sports bra is worn.

14. The sports bra of claim 9, wherein the enhancer is made of addition-cured silicon gel within a polymer made outer shell.

15. The sports bra of claim 9, wherein the internal area is bound by an internal seam only between the second layer and the third layer.

16. A sports bra comprising:

c. a third layer forming an inner-most portion of the sport bra;

d. an enhancer that simulates the look of a female's breast;

wherein the internal area is positioned on the sports bra in an area corresponding to the placement of a female's breast when the sports bra is worn;

wherein the internal area is bound by an internal seam only between the second layer and the third layer; and