US3229694A

US3229694A - Protective pad and brassiere strap construction

Info

Publication number: US3229694A
Application number: US227399A
Authority: US
Inventors: Angeline D Koropp
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-10-01
Filing date: 1962-10-01
Publication date: 1966-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 1983-01-18

Description

Jan. 18, 1966 KQRQPP 3,229,694

PROTECTIVE PAD AND'BRASSIERE STRAP CONSTRUCTION Filed 001;. 1, 1962 Ll.-......4....J;; fl;J;; ;;24;-. a Y, I .3/

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United States Patent 3,229,694 PROTECTIVE PAD AND BRASSIERE STRAP CONSTRUCTION Angeline D. Koropp, 1414 Central, Glenview, Ill. Filed Oct. 1, 1962, Ser. No. 227,399 3 Claims. (Cl. 128-510) This invention relates to a protective pad for a brassiere strap and, more particularly, to a brassiere strap and protective pad construction in which the pad is easily removed and adjusted.

An object of this invention is to provide a protective pad for a brassiere strap which can be easily made and which is constructed to be removable from a brassiere strap and easily adjustable to adjust to the requirements of a wearer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination of brassiere strap and protective pad in which the pad has a body with a relatively soft surface on the underside for engaging the shoulder of a wearer and a pair of flexible legs at the ends thereof for positioning within a pocket formed in the brassiere strap with two sets of openings related in spacing so that a uniform space is provided between the first openings of each pair and succeeding openings of said pairs, whereby the protective pads may be worn without any tendency to create visible bulges in a dress or other apparel.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a general view showing the improved construction embodied in a brassiere;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a brassiere strap and pad in combination therewith;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the brassiere strap and pad in associated relation;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the pad and brassiere strap in one position of adjustment;

FIG. 5 is a view, similar to FIG. 4, showing the pad in aonther position of adjustment on the brassiere strap;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIG. 3 and on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken generally along the line 77 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified form of the pad in association with a brassiere strap on a further enlarged scale;

FIG. 9 is a transverse section taken generally along the line 99 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of another form of the pad.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail an embodiment of the invention together with modifications thereof with the undertanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

A brassiere 10, of the type shown in FIG. 1, has a pair of adjustable shoulder straps 11 and 12 which normally are narrow in width and can cause irritation and discomfort to a wearer because of the pressure exerted on these straps.

In order to alleviate such conditions, a new and improved pad is disclosed herein and a pair of these pads are associated, one with each of the brassiere straps 11 and 12.

First, referring to the structure of the pad, as shown in FIGS. 2-6, the pad 20 has a semi-rigid body 21 "ice formed with a curvature, with a concave lower side having a relatively soft surface. This surface is provided by a layer of material 22, such as felt, sponge rubber, or other similar material, which is adhesively bonded to the pad body 21 and which is coextensive with the body. The body 21 has a pair of elongated

flexible legs

25 and 26 extending, one from each end of the body, to provide removable attachment of the pad to the brassiere strap by association of the brassiere strap in a manner sub sequently to be described.

The upper surface of the pad body 21 has a pair of spaced

apart tabs

27 and 28 facing toward each other and spaced from the plane of the pad body to receive the brassiere strap 11 therebenea-th and assist in maintaining the pad in association with the brassiere strap.

The brassiere strap is of a two-ply construction, having

plies

30 and 31 stitched together along their edges to define an interior pocket for receiving the

flexible legs

25 and 26 of the pad body. Access to this pocket is obtained through two sets of openings in the strap ply 30, with one set of openings being indicated at 32-36 and the other set being indicated at 37-41. Any one of the sets (of openings, 32-36 can receive the body leg 25 and any one of the sets of openings 3741 can receive the pad leg 26. The spacing between corresponding openings in each set is uniform. More specifically, the spacing between

openings

33 and 38 is the same as that between

openings

32 and 37, as is the spacing between

openings

36 and 41. This permits adjustment of the pad along the length of the brassiere strap to insure that the pad is centered on the shoulder, even though there are variables in length of brassiere strap and variations in how the brassiere is worn.

Two different positions are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawing.

In placing the pad on the brassiere strap, the strap is placed under the

tabs

27 and 28 and the leg 25, due to its flexibility, can be bent to place the leading end thereof within one of the brassiere strap openings and substantially the entire length of the leg then placed in the strap pocket. The remaining leg 26 is then similarly inserted into a related opening of the other group of openings, as permitted by the flexibility thereof, so that, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, substantially the entire length of the legs is enclosed within the pocket to securely hold the pad in relation with the brassiere strap while permitting easy removal, due to the flexibility of the

legs

25 and 26.

In a preferred embodiment, the pad is given a preformed curvature, as shown in FIG. 2, although the body could be sufficiently flexible so that even though not curved it would readily conform to the curvature of a wearers shoulder. For purposes of illustration, the pad is shown flat in FIGS. 3-7.

Another embodiment is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in

--which parts similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7 are given the same reference numerals with a prime affixed thereto. In this embodiment, the body 21' of the pad 20' is of sufficient thickness to permit formation of a groove 50 therein which is of a depth to receive the brassiere strap 11 and assist in maintaining the pad in position on the brassiere strap. This groove 50 performs the function of the

tabs

27 and 28 in the previously described embodiment and contributes to a smooth upper contour, avoiding unsightly bulges in the wearers apparel.

Still another embodiment is shown in FIG. 10 in which parts similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7 are given the same reference numerals with a double prime aflixed thereto. In this embodiment, the body 21" of the pad 20" has a pair of

integral loops

60 and 61 cut from and extending upwardly above the plane of the body 21". These loops define a space to receive the brassiere strap with a minimum elevation. In the embodiment of FIGS.

3 1 to 7, the tabs '27 and 28 can be a sufficient height to receive a slip strap as well as the brassiere strap.

I claim:

1. In combination: a brassiere having a pair of straps, each of said straps having a section intermediate the ends thereof of tWo-ply-construction to form anelongate pocket, a first plurality of openings to the interior of the brassiere strap, a second plurality of openings to the interior of the brassiere strap with a uniform space between the first openings of each plurality and succeeding pairs of openings; a removable protective pad for each of said straps; each of said pads having a body with a relatively soft surface on the underside thereof, and a pair of flexible legs extending from opposite ends of said body for positioning in said pocket by insertion one through an opening of the first plurality and the other through an opening of the other pluarilty.

2. In combination: a brassiere having a pair of straps, each of said straps having a sectioninter-mediate the ends thereof of two-ply construction to form an elongate pocket, a first plurality of openings to the interior of the brassiere strap, a second plurality of openings to the intef rior of the brassiere strap with a uniform space between the first openings of each plurality andsucceeding pairs of openings; a removable protective pad for each -of said straps, each of said pads having a body with a relatively soft surface on the underside thereof, and a pair 'of flexible legs extending from opposite ends of said body for positioning in said pocket by insertion one through an opening of the first plurality and the other through an opening of the other plurality, and means on the upper side of said body for receiving the brassiere strap to assist in maintaining the pad in desired relation with the brassiere strap.

3. A combination as defined in claim 2 in which said brassiere strap receiving means comprises a pair of spaced apart tabs opening toward each other which are spaced from said body to receive the brassiere strap therebeneath.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,505,272 8/1950 Blalock et al l28510 2,587,101 2/1952 Blalock et al 22 2,589,755 3/1952 Ward et a1. 22 2,763,004 9/1956 Sanders 22 2,823,384 2/1958 Eilertsen 22 2,874,468 2/1959 DeWOSkin 22 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN COMBINATION: A BRASSIERE HAVING A PAIR OF STRAPS, EACH OF SAID STRAPS HAVING A SECTION INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF OF TWO-PLY CONSTRUCTION TO FORM AN ELONGATED POCKET, A FIRST PLURALITY OF OPENINGS TO THE INTERIOR OF THE BRASSIERE STRAP, A SECOND PLURALITY OF OPENINGS TO THE INTERIOR OF THE BRASSIERE STRAP WITH A UNIFORM SPACE BETWEEN THE FIRST OPENINGS OF EACH PLURALITY AND SUCCEEDING PAIRS OF OPENINGS; A REMOVABLE PROTECTIVE PAD FOR EACH OF SAID STRAPS; EACH OF SAID PADS HAVING A BODY WITH A RELATIVELY SOFT SURFACE ON THE UNDERSIDE THEREOF, AND A PAIR OF FLEXIBLE LEGS EXTENDING FROM OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID BODY FOR POSITIONING IN SAID POCKET BY INSETION ONE THROUGH AN OPENING OF THE FIRST PLURALITY AND THE OTHER THROUGH AN OPENING OF THE OTHER PLURALITY.