WO2016175805A1

WO2016175805A1 - Strap adjuster for a bra

Info

Publication number: WO2016175805A1
Application number: PCT/US2015/028380
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shuai ZHOU; Sharon Joines
Original assignee: North Carolina State University
Priority date: 2015-04-29
Filing date: 2015-04-29
Publication date: 2016-11-03

Abstract

A strap adjuster, for use with a garment, includes opposed first and second ends configured to be engaged by a user, a plurality of posts extending between the first and second ends around which a strap is at least partially wrappable, and a plurality of protrusions extending from the first and second ends to enhance the user's grip on the strap adjuster.

Description

STRAP ADJUSTER FOR A BRA

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a garment, and more particularly, a bra.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Most bras today are sold by band and cup size. It is cost prohibitive to

manufacture every combination of band and cup size, so manufacturers and retailers offer only a limited selection of combinations, i.e., typically 34A-C, 36B-D, 38C-DD, 40 D-F. However, this limited size selection makes it difficult for women with different body types that do not fit this size selection to find a bra that fits comfortably. Moreover, this limited size selection does not take into account the body fluctuations of an individual woman that may result from day to day dieting and weight gain, cold and hot climates, and pregnancy and nursing. Many women wear the wrong bra size for their bodies, and this is likely a result of the lack of size combinations available and/or the limited flexibility within each bra to accommodate body changes or adjust to fabric changes after multiple uses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention provides, in one aspect, a strap adjuster for use with a garment. The strap adjuster includes opposed first and second ends configured to be engaged by a user, a plurality of posts extending between the first and second ends around which a strap is at least partially wrappable, and a plurality of protrusions extending from the first and second ends to enhance the user's grip on the sternum slide.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a strap adjuster in accordance with an

embodiment of the invention, attached to a strap.

[0005] FIG. 2 is perspective view of the strap adjuster of FIG. 1.

[0006] FIG. 3 illustrates the strap adjuster of FIGS. 1 and 2 being grasped by a user and adjusted along a strap. [0007] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates a sternum slide or strap adjuster 10 attached to a strap 14 of a garment (e.g., a bra or other undergarment). The strap adjuster 10 includes opposed first and second ends 18, 22 that are engageable by a user. The first and second ends 18, 22 each include an inner wall and an outer wall 26, 30. Additionally, the first and second ends 18, 22 have a substantially oblong (i.e., oval) profile 34 extending between the inner wall 26 and the outer wall 30. The profile 34 is configured to increase the surface area of the first and second ends 18, 22, which subsequently provides more contact surface for the user.

[0009] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the strap adjuster 10 also includes a plurality of protrusions 38 extending from each of the first and second ends 18, 22. More specifically, the protrusions 38 are disposed on the outer wall 30 of the first and second ends 18, 22. In the illustrated embodiment of the adjuster 10, the protrusions 38 are configured as nodules having a hemispherical shape. Also, the protrusions 38 extend outward from the outer wall 30 of each of the ends 18, 22, in a direction opposite that of posts 42a-c interconnecting the ends 18, 22. Alternatively, the protrusions 38 may assume any number of different shapes (e.g., ridges) provided that they are raised from the outer walls 30 and graspable by the user. The protrusions 38 increase friction between the user and the outer wall 30 of the first and second ends 18, 22. As a result, the protrusions 38 enhance the user's grip on the first and second ends 18, 22 and more particularly, the strap adjuster 10. The relatively large surface area of the first and second ends 18, 22 provided by the oblong profile 34 also enhances the user's grip on the first and second ends 18, 22.

[0010] With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the protrusions 38 are arranged with regular spacing therebetween on the ends 18, 22. Furthermore, the protrusions 38 are both vertically and horizontally offset from one another in a repeating pattern. Alternatively, the protrusions 38 may be irregularly spaced on the ends 18, 22.

[0011] With reference to FIG. 2, the strap adjuster 10 further includes a plurality of posts 42a-c extending between the inner wall 26 of the first and second ends 18, 22. In particular, a middle one of the posts is a sternum post 42a. In the illustrated embodiment, the sternum post 42a is centrally positioned relative to the oval profile 34 and generally coaxial with the ends 18, 22. Further, the posts 42a-c are generally co-planar such that the longitudinal axis of each of the posts 42a-c lies in a single plane. Alternatively, the sternum post 42a may be positioned elsewhere within the profile of the oval profile 34. The other posts 42b, 42c are arranged on either side of the sternum post 42a, and are blended with opposite sides of the profile 34. One of the first and second posts 42b, 42c (42b in the illustrated embodiment) includes a plurality of teeth 46 configured to engage the strap 14. The teeth 46 are regularly spaced along the length of the post 42b and extend towards the sternum post 42a.

[0012] The posts 42a-c are spaced appropriately to facilitate wrapping the strap 14 around at least a portion of each of the posts 42a-c (FIG. 1). With reference to FIG. 2, the strap 14 is insertable through slots 50, 54 defined by the posts 42a-c. One of the slots 50 is defined between the first post 42b and the sternum post 42a, whereas the other one of the slots 54 is disposed between the second post 42c and the sternum post 42a. Furthermore, the slots 50, 54 extend between the inner walls 26 of the first and second ends 18, 22.

[0013] Additional aspects of the invention are described in further detail below.

[0014] A bra strap adjuster for a bra includes, among other things, a side area, a plurality of bumps, and a plurality of teeth. The side area of the bra strap adjuster is bigger than conventional side areas. The bigger side area facilitates a user to more easily hold and pinch the bra strap adjuster in order to move the bra strap adjuster along a strap.

[0015] The plurality of bumps are positioned on the side area of the bra strap adjuster. The plurality of bumps significantly increase the productive friction between the fingers of the user and the side area of the bra strap adjuster. The plurality of bumps are configured to allow easier operation of the bra strap adjuster.

[0016] The plurality of teeth on the bra strap adjuster fix tightly to the strap to prevent the strap from unexpected sliding. [0017] Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A strap adjuster for use with a garment, the strap adjuster comprising:

opposed first and second ends configured to be engaged by a user;

a plurality of posts extending between the first and second ends around which a strap is at least partially wrappable; and

a plurality of protrusions extending from the first and second ends to enhance the user's grip on the strap adjuster.

2. The strap adjuster of claim 1, wherein the protrusions extend from the first and second ends in opposite directions as the posts.

3. The strap adjuster of claim 1, wherein the protrusions are configured as nodules.

4. The strap adjuster of claim 1, wherein the protrusions have a hemispherical shape.

5. The strap adjuster of claim 1, wherein the protrusions are integrally formed with the first and second ends.

6. The strap adjuster of claim 1, wherein the posts include spaced first, second, and third posts.

7. The strap adjuster of claim 6, wherein the second post is positioned between the first and third posts.

8. The strap adjuster of claim 6, wherein the first, second, and third posts are generally co-planar.

9. The strap adjuster of claim 1, wherein at least one of the posts includes teeth configured to engage the strap.

10. The strap adjuster of claim 9, wherein the teeth extend from a first of the posts toward a second of the posts.

11. The strap adjuster of claim 1 , wherein the each of the first and second ends includes an oblong profile.

12. The strap adjuster of claim 1, wherein the protrusions are arranged on the first and second ends in a spaced pattern.

13. The strap adjuster of claim 1, wherein the protrusions are both horizontally and vertically spaced from each other.

14. The strap adjuster of claim 1, wherein the protrusions include an arcuate profile.

15. The strap adjuster of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second ends includes an inner wall between which the posts extend, and an outer wall from which the protrusions extend.