WO2017031485A1

WO2017031485A1 - Sports bra/bikini top combination

Info

Publication number: WO2017031485A1
Application number: PCT/US2016/047968
Authority: WO
Inventors: Holly E. GRAVES
Original assignee: Graves Holly E
Priority date: 2015-08-20
Filing date: 2016-08-22
Publication date: 2017-02-23

Abstract

A sports bra/bikini top combination in which the sports bra portion is easily removable. The bikini top having a series of slots in the straps. The sports bra encircling the wearer and having hooks for removably attaching to the slots in the straps of the bikini top.

Description

SPORTS BRA / BIKINI TOP COMBINATION

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Application No. 62/207,455 filed on August 20, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to women's active wear and, more particularly, to a sports bra / bikini top combination.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Female sports and fitness enthusiasts commonly wear sports bras, particularly during activities that involve, running, jumping, bending, etc. to provide necessary support. These athletic / fitness activities, if performed vigorously and/or in warm environments produce sweat to one degree or another.

Many of these athletic / fitness activities take place at gyms, the beach, lakes, or the like, where there is a nearby body of water. Particularly after vigorous activity, it is commonplace to go into the body of water to cool off or simply relax. However, generally speaking, women will remove the sports bra and replace it with a bikini top or the like prior to entering the water. This change of clothing can be aggravating on several levels. For one, it requires privacy to remove the sports bra and put on a bikini top. Secondly, and particularly after vigorous activity, the sports bra is wet from sweat and can be both difficult and uncomfortable to remove.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a combination sports bra and bikini top, wherein the sports bra can be releasably attached to the bikini top.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a sports bra / bikini top combination which enables a female to engage in physical vigorous activity requiring a sports bra and then easily and quickly convert to a bikini top mode.

These and further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, wherein reference is made to the figures in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of a bikini top for use with the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a sports bra for use with the bikini top shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows the bikini top and the sports bra prior to being connected.

Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 3 but shows the bikini top and sports bra just prior to connection.

Fig. 5 shows the sports bra of Fig. 2 attached to the bikini top of Fig. 1 Fig. 6 shows an another embodiment of a bikini top for use with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As used herein the terms "up," "down," "vertical," "encircling," "back," "front," and variants of these, refer to the orientation of the wearer in a standing position. Similarly, the terms "left" and "right", and variants of these, are with respect to the wearer's perspective, thus the "left strap" is with respect to the wearer and may appear on the right side when viewing the drawings.

Referring first to Fig. 1 there is shown in elevation a typical bikini top of the cross-back type. Bikini top 10 comprises left and right generally triangular shaped cups 12 and 14, respectively, of a suitable fabric. It will be appreciated that cups 12 and 14 can vary in shape and size to accommodate different body types and can be formed as flat sections, can be cup shaped by means of well- known sewing techniques, e.g., darts, or can include additional support features, e.g., foam inserts, as often seen in conventional bras and bathing suits. Cups 12 and 14 are connected at their lower edges to a band 16 which encircles the torso of the wearer and which has free ends 16A and 16B which can be connected together using clasp 18 conventionally used on bikini tops. Connected to cup 12 is a first strap 20 which, as well known, crosses over the left shoulder of the wearer generally diagonally across the back of the wearer, connecting to the back side (not shown) of the band 16. Likewise, a strap 22 connected to the upper end of panel 14 extends over the right shoulder of the wearer, diagonally across the back and is connected at a point (not shown) on the back of the band 16. Thus, left and right arm openings 24 and 26, respectively, are formed. Strap 20 has at least one slot 21 shown in dotted lines formed by overlying pieces of strap 20 while strap 22 has a similar slot(s) 23. In a preferred embodiment, straps 20 and 22 have a plurality of spaced slots 21 and 23. The purpose of the slots 21 and 23 will be discussed more fully hereafter.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown the sports bra component of the present invention. As shown, the sports bra, shown generally as 30, is in the fully open position, the inner surface 31 being shown. As described more fully hereafter, sports bra 30 will encircle the wearer. Sports bra 30 comprises an elongate panel 32 of suitable material attached to a band 34 along the lower edge of panel 32, panel 32 having a left portion 36 and a right portion 38, portions 36 and 38 forming a center front panel when connected. One half 40 of a zipper is connected to the edge of left portion 36 while the other half 42 of the zipper is connected to the edge of right portion 38 of the panel 32. In a preferred embodiment and as shown in Fig. 2, zipper halves 40 and 42 are backed by segments of fabric, 40A and 42A, respectively, to protect the wearer from the rough surfaces of zipper halves 40 and 42. Bra 30 includes breast cupping portions 44 and 46 formed integrally with panel 32. Portion 44 is connected at its upper end to a hook 48 while portion 46 is connected at its upper end to a hook 50.

Referring now to Fig. 3, bikini top 10 is shown as lying on sports bra 30 which as depicted is in the fully open position.

Turning now to Fig. 4, sports bra 30 is shown as generally encircling bikini top 10 such that outer surface 35 of the sports bra is now shown. Sports bra 30 is fastened to bikini top 10 by hooks 48 and 50 being received in slots 21 and 23, respectively. In Fig. 4, zipper halves 40 and 42 are not yet connected.

Lastly, in Fig. 5, the zipper halves 40 and 42 of sports bra 30 are connected, forming a front center panel comprised of portions 36 and 38. Fig. 5 thus shows the bikini top/sports bra combination as it would be worn when the wearer was exercising. To convert the combination back into strictly a bikini top, zipper halves 40 and 42 would be separated, and hooks 48 and 50 would be removed from slots 21 and 23, respectively, simply leaving bikini top 10 as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. 6, the racer back version of the bikini top of the present invention is shown generally as 60. The only difference in the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 as compared with the embodiment of Figs. 1-5 is the style of the bikini top 60. Thus, as shown in Fig. 6, cups 62 and 64 are connected at their lower edges to a band 70 which encircles the torso of the wearer and which has free ends 70A and 70B which can be connected together using clasp 78 conventionally used on bikini tops. Connected to cup 62 is a first strap 66 which, as well known, crosses over the left shoulder of the wearer. Likewise, a strap 68 connected to the upper end of cup 64 extends over the right shoulder of the wearer. Straps 66 and 68 connect to a generally T-shaped back portion 69 (commonly known as racer back) which is connected to the back side (not shown) of the band 70. Thus, left and right arm openings 74 and 76, respectively, are formed. In a preferred embodiment, straps 66 and 68 are formed integrally with T-shaped back 69. Straps 66 and 68 have one or more slots 80 and 82 formed as described above with respect to the cross-strap embodiment of Figs. 1-5 through which the hooks 48 and 50 can be received to fasten the sports bra 30 to the bikini top 60. It will be recognized that one or a plurality of such slots can be used in all embodiments for adjustability purposes to suit the wearers physique.

It will be understood that the embodiments depicted in the figures are preferred embodiments and the present invention is not so limited. It will also be understood that the styles and materials of construction can vary widely and that various portions of the bikini tops and the sports bra can be elasticized for snugness. Bikini top 10 can be made of material selected from polyester, Lycra® spandex, nylon, or a combination thereof. It will also be understood that the bikini top could be a simple pull over top, a top that is fastened in the front, as shown, or fastened in the back with hooks, ties, or the like. The shape of the bikini cups can vary as well and need not be the triangle shape depicted.

The sports bra portion of the present invention can be made of a variety of materials, including moisture wicking and quick-dry materials. In particular, sports bra 30 can be made of cotton, polyester, nylon, Lycra® spandex, Coolmax® moisture wicking material, Supplex® water-repellent material, or a combination thereof. The sports bra 30 may also include additional support features such as foam cup inserts, underwires, etc. as needed to provide the desired level of support to the wearer during exercise. The sports bra can also be fastened around the chest of the wearer in various ways other than a zipper, e.g., one or more hooks, Velcro® fasteners, etc. Further, the connection between the sports bra and the bikini top can vary from that shown in the drawings. The slots in the bikini top 10 can comprises eyelets, metal or plastic grommets, etc. The hooks on sports bra 30 can vary in size and shape. Alternatively, sports bra 30 can attach to bikini top 10 by way of buttons, a belt-type clasp, or other means which allows sports bra 30 to be securely but removably attached to bikini top 10.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein in some detail, this has been done solely for the purposes of explaining the various aspects of the invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as defined in the claims which follow. Those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment shown and described is exemplary, and various other substitutions, alterations and modifications, including but not limited to those design alternatives specifically discussed herein, may be made in the practice of the invention without departing from its scope.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A combination bikini top and sports bra assembly comprising:

a bikini top comprising a band, breast-covering cups connected to said band, and a strap arrangement connected to said cups and said band, the strap arrangement comprising left and right strap portions, each of said left and right strap portions having at least one first connecting formation;

a sports bra having an encircling panel portion, left and right breast support panel portions, a fastener for connecting said left and right support panel portions when the sports bra is on a wearer's body, each of said left and right support panels having a second connecting formation for engaging the respective first connecting formations on the left and right strap portions of the bikini top.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first connecting formation comprises an opening formed in said strap portion, and said second connecting formation comprises a hook for fitting into said opening.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein each of said left and right strap portions have a plurality of said openings.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said fastener comprises a zipper.

5. The assembly of claim 4, further comprising a segment of fabric behind said zipper for protecting the wearer's skin.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said bikini top is a cross-back style.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said bikini top is a racerback style.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said bikini top is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyester, spandex, nylon, or a combination thereof.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said sports bra is made of a material selected from the group consisting of cotton, polyester, nylon, spandex, moisture wicking fabric, water-repellent fabric, or a combination thereof.