Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41C—CORSETS; BRASSIERES
  • A41C3/00—Brassieres
  • A41C3/0028—Brassieres with size and configuration adjustment means
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41C—CORSETS; BRASSIERES
  • A41C3/00—Brassieres
  • A41C3/0035—Brassieres with pockets
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41C—CORSETS; BRASSIERES
  • A41C3/00—Brassieres
  • A41C3/12—Component parts
  • A41C3/14—Stiffening or bust-forming inserts
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41F—GARMENT FASTENINGS; SUSPENDERS
  • A41F1/00—Fastening devices specially adapted for garments
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41F—GARMENT FASTENINGS; SUSPENDERS
  • A41F1/00—Fastening devices specially adapted for garments
  • A41F1/002—Magnetic fastening devices

Definitions

• the present disclosure generally relates to bras, and more particularly, to bras for people with limited physical function or ability.
• a bra also referred to as a "brassiere" is an undergarment commonly worn by women to support the breasts.
• a bra typically includes a bra band that wraps around the torso of the wearer, two cups, and shoulder straps.
• the bra band is usually closed at the back by one or more hook-and-eye fasteners. Accordingly, fastening and removal of such a conventional back- closure bra requires the wearer to reach behind her back with both arms, and attach or detach the hooks and eyes of the fastener using both hands.
• this operation may be difficult or inconvenient for people with a disability in using one of their hands, and may cause pain for people with a disease or injury in one side of their body.
• people who suffer a brain injury after a stroke may only be able to use one hand or one side of their body, and thus may find it difficult to fasten the conventional back-closure bra.
• a bra including:
• At least one end portion of the back strap is adapted to overlap and be fastened to at least one corresponding end portion of the front strap, so that the bra can be put on and fastened to a wearer's torso by using a single hand;
• At least one of the end portions of at least one of the front strap and the back strap includes an elongated stiffening element, the stiffening element stiffening the end portion horizontally to maintain a horizontal orientation of the end portion when the bra is hanging on the wearer's body before being fastened.
• the present invention also provides a method including:
• the present invention also provides a bra including:
• a back strap for wearing across the wearer's back
• At least one end portion of the back strap is adapted to overlap and be fastened to at least one corresponding end portion of the front strap at the wearer's side, so that the bra can be put on and fastened to the wearer's torso using a single hand;
• At least one of the end portions of the back strap includes an elongated stiffening element, the stiffening element stiffening the end portion horizontally to maintain a horizontal orientation of the end portion when the bra is hanging on the wearer's body before being fastened.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the front of a bra according to a first exemplary implementation
• FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the back of the bra according to the first exemplary implementation
• FIG. 3 is a front view showing the front half of the bra according to a second exemplary implementation
• Fig. 4 is a back view showing the back half of the bra according to the second exemplary implementation
• Fig. 5 is a partial back view showing the back half of the bra and a stiffening element being inserted into the back strap in a manufacturing or assembly process;
• Figs. 6 to 9 are sketches of a wearer putting on the bra in a plurality of steps
• FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the front of the bra according to a third exemplary implementation.
• Fig. 1 1 is a schematic diagram showing the back of the bra according to the third exemplary implementation
• FIG. 12 is a front view showing the front half of the bra according to a fourth exemplary implementation.
• Fig. 13 is a back view showing the back half of the bra according to the fourth exemplary implementation
• Fig. 14 is a partial back view showing the back half of the bra according to the fourth exemplary implementation
• Fig. 15 is a back view showing the back half of the bra according to a fifth exemplary implementation.
• Described herein is a bra 100 that allows a wearer to more easily put on and take off the bra using only one hand, being either the left hand or the right hand.
• Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 illustrate a first exemplary implementation of the bra 100.
• the bra 100 includes an elongated front strap in the form of a bra band 102, an elongated back strap 104, a cup portion 106 and a pair of shoulder straps 108 and 110.
• the bra band 102, the back strap 104, the cup portion 106 and the shoulder straps 108 and 110 may be made of any suitable material for making underclothes, e.g., fabric fibres such as nylon, polyester, cotton, Lycra, or any other suitable material.
• the cup portion 106 is attached to the bra band 102, which fits around the front part of the wearer's torso when the bra 100 is worn by the wearer.
• the cup portion 106 includes a centre panel or bridge, and a pair of cups or multi-part cups 107, 109 for receiving breasts of the wearer.
• the two shoulder straps 108 and 110 extend from the bra band 102 to the back strap 104.
• each of the two shoulder straps 108 and 110 includes an adjustment member for adjusting the length of the shoulder strap 108, 110.
• the adjustment members may take the form of a buckle 112, 114.
• the buckles 112, 114 may be made of any suitable material that provides sufficient mechanical strength for securing the length of the shoulder strap as adjusted, e.g., a plastic or metallic material.
• the bra band 102 includes two front end portions 116 and 118 (also referred to as "bra sides" or "wings").
• the back strap 104 includes two back end portions 120 and 122 (also referred to as "bra sides” or “wings”), to which the front end portions 116 and 118 of the bra band 102 are adapted to be fastened respectively, by using fastening members.
• the two free ends of the bra band 102 can be overlapping with and secured to the two free ends of the back strap 104 at the wearer's sides under her arms, thereby allowing the bra to fit to the wearer's torso.
• the fastening members include at least one fastener, e.g., a hook-and-loop fastener.
• the hook-and-loop fastener may be, e.g., hook-and-loop fasteners supplied by Velcro BVBA, e.g., VELCRO® ULTRA-MATE® hook fasteners, VELCRO® sew-on hook and loop fasteners, VELCRO® Soft & Flexible sew-on fasteners.
• any other hook-and-loop fastener suitable for being used with flexible fabrics and garments may be selected.
• the fastening members can include a right fastener 124 for fastening the front right end portion 116 to the corresponding back right end portion 120, under a right arm of the wearer, and a left fastener 126 for fastening the front left end portion 118 to the corresponding back left end portion 122, under a left arm of the wearer.
• the right fastener 124 can include a front member 128 attached to an interior surface of the front right end portion 116, and a back member 130 attached to the exterior surface of the corresponding back right end portion 120.
• the second fastener 126 can include a front member 132 attached to an interior surface of the front left end portion 118, and a back member 134 attached to the exterior surface of the corresponding back left end portion 122.
• the fasteners 124, 126 are hook-and-loop fasteners.
• the interior-facing ones, i.e., front members 128 and 132, are loops, and the exterior-facing ones, i.e., back members 130 and 134, are hooks. This arrangement may prevent or reduce the possibility of the hooks contacting the wearer's body, as the exterior-facing fasteners are provided on the exterior surface of the back end portions 120 and 122.
• each of the front members 128, 132 and the back members 130, 134 has a rectangular shape.
• the front members 128, 132 and the back members 130, 134 may be formed of the same size, or be formed of different sizes.
• each of the front members 128, 132 with the loops are formed with a larger size than the corresponding back member 130, 134 with the hooks. This may allow the hooks on the back members to be fully covered by the loops on the front members when the bra is fastened, thereby preventing or reducing potential damage to the wearer's clothes caused by the hooks on the back members.
• Each of the front members 128, 132 and the back members 130, 134 of the hook-and-loop fasteners may be attached to the corresponding end portion of the bra band 102 or the back strap 104 by any suitable means of attachment, e.g., sewing, taping, gluing, riveting, or any other suitable manner of attachment that allows securing the fasteners to the corresponding end portions.
• Each of the end portions 116, 118, 120 and 122 includes a horizontally elongated stiffening element which stiffens the end portions 116, 118, 120 or 122, so that these end portions maintain a horizontal orientation when the bra 100 is hanging on the wearer's body by the shoulder straps 108, 110 before fastening the two free ends. This may make the fastening operation easier for a wearer who can only use one hand because the stiffening element holds one or more of the end portions under the user's arm at the user's side when hanging on the body before fastening, to mitigate the end portion dropping, or falling away from the body.
• the stiffening element may take any suitable form, e.g., one or more bones (also known as "ribs").
• the bones may be made of bone, or a plastic or metallic material (e.g., thin ridged pieces of plastic, or wires), and may be attached to the end portions 116, 118, 120 and 122 by any suitable means of attachment, e.g., sewing, taping, gluing, riveting, or any other suitable manner of attachment.
• the bones are covered by fabric, so that they do not directly contact the wearer's body.
• the bones are separated from the wearer's body by soft material (e.g., the fabric), which provides more comfort for the wearer when the bra is fastened.
• the end portions 116, 118, 120 and 122 may be formed in three layers:
• stiffening layer including the stiffening element with only one bone, or only two bones, or at least two bones, or three bones, or four bones (depending on bra size);
• a hook-and-loop fastener tab e.g., a hook member or a loop member
• the stiffening element may be inserted between the inner fabric layer and the outer fabric layer, as illustrated in Fig. 5.
• the back strap 104 further includes an elastic portion 136 located between the two back end portions 120 and 122.
• the elastic portion 136 is made of an elastic fabric, and thus allows stretching of the back strap 104.
• the elastic portion 136 takes the form of an elongated elastic strap.
• the elongated elastic strap can include only one piece of elastic material, or two or more pieces of elastic material, each extending between the two back end portions 120 and 122 (e.g., for larger bras).
• each of the two cups 107 and 109 of the cup portion 106 includes an inner pocket 138, 140 for holding prosthetics (breasts).
• the inner pocket may only be provided on one of the two cups 107 and 109.
• the cup portion 106 further includes a decorative panel 142, 144 on each of the two cups 107 and 109.
• Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 illustrate another exemplary implementation of the bra 100.
• the bra 100 takes a similar form to the implementation shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.
• the front members 128, 132 and the back members 130, 134 have a pentagonal shape, e.g., an arrow shape pointing away from the centre panel when unfastened.
• the front members 128, 132 and the back members 130, 134 can be oval, round or rectangular, so long as the shapes of the corresponding members overlap sufficiently for fastening.
• each stiffening element includes two parallel bones 146, 148, which extend respectively on or approximate to the upper edge and lower edge of each of the end portions 116, 118, 120 and 122.
• the horizontal bones 146, 148 may be curved to adapt to the circumference of the torso of the wearer. The curvature would be selected by sewing the elastic, and the curvature would be the same as a standard bra.
• each pair of bones 146, 148 on the back strap 104 extend in line with a longitudinal direction (i.e., horizontally when worn), and extend through a joint area on the backs strap 104 where the corresponding shoulder strap 108/110 and the back strap 104 are joined. This facilitates the stiffening elements in providing a stable support to the back end portions 120 and 122 when the bra is hanging on the wearer's body before being fastened.
• the bones 146, 148 are sewn to the end portions 116, 118, 120 and 122, and covered by suitable fabric, e.g., the same fabric as that of the end portions 116, 118, 120 and 122.
• the bra may be made in various sizes and dimensions.
• the bra band 102 may extend from each side of the cup portion 106 for a length of 10cm.
• the back strap 104 may have a width of 6cm, and extend from each side of the elastic portion 136 for a length of 19cm.
• the elastic portion 136 may have a width of 6cm, and a length of 8cm.
• each of the front members 128, 132 and the back members 130, 134 of the hook-and-loop fasteners has a pentagonal shape.
• the front members 128, 132 may have a length of 4cm along the longitudinal direction (i.e., horizontal when worn) of the bra band 102, and a width of 5.7cm in a transversal direction (i.e., vertical when worn) of the bra band 102, the transversal direction being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
• the back members 130, 134 may have a length of 4cm along the longitudinal (i.e., horizontal when worn) direction of the back strap 104, and a width of 5.7cm along the vertical direction of the back strap 104.
• the width of the front member 128, 132 and/or the back members 130, 134 in the longitudinal (i.e., horizontal when worn) direction can also be 6cm, or at least 6cm, or at least 7cm, or at least 8cm, or at least 9cm, or at least 10cm.
• the bones 146, 148 extend respectively approximate to the upper edge and lower edge of each of the end portions 116, 118, 120 and 122 along the longitudinal direction of the bra band 102 or the back strap 104.
• Each of the bones 146 and 148 on the bra band 102 has a length of 6cm and a width of 0.9cm.
• Each of the bones 146 and 148 on the back strap 104 has a length of 19cm and a width of at least 0.9cm.
• the bra 100 may have any other suitable dimensions to suit the body size of the potential wearer.
• the bra 100 may be provided in different sizes to suit the body size of different wearers.
• a wearer with limited physical functionality on one arm/hand or one side of her body may fasten one of the fasteners on her non-functioning or less-functioning side before putting the bra on her body.
• the user may then put on the bra, and fasten the other of the fasteners on her functioning or more-functioning side of her body using the functioning hand.
• the wearer may put on and fasten the bra 100 using one hand only by the following steps: a. Step 1 : The wearer fastens the fastener on her non-functioning or less- functioning side before putting the bra 100 on her body. b.
• Step 2 The wearer pulls the bra 100 over her head, and wears the bra 100 by positioning the shoulder straps 108 and 110 on her shoulders, so that the front and back end portions of the fastener on the wearer's functioning or more-functioning side hang against the wearer's torso and against or close to each other, held in position by the shoulder straps 108, 110 and the fastened fastener, as shown in Fig. 6.
• the stiffening elements on these two unfastened end portions hold these end portions horizontally and against or close to each other, and the wearer's torso, prior to being fastened.
• Step 3 The wearer pulls the back end portion 120 or 122 to a forward
• Step 4 The wearer grabs the front end portion 116 or 118 with the fingers of her functional hand (while simultaneously holding the back end portion 120 or 122 in the forward location against her torso with the palm heel), e.g., by grasping it between the thumb and the fingers, and pulls the front end portion 116 or 118 in a backward direction to a backward location that overlaps the forward location on the torso, i.e., pulls the front end portion
• Step 5 The wearer pushes the fingers or palm of her functioning hand along the front end portion 116 or 118 towards the end of the front end portion
• Step 6 The wearer releases her hand from the bra 100, and the bra 100 is now fastened on her body.
• the wearer may fasten the bra on her functioning or more- functioning side before putting the bra 100 on her body, and then fasten the bra on her nonfunctioning or less-functioning side when the bra is hanging on her body, by following steps: a. Step 1 : The wearer fastens the fastener on her functioning or more- functioning side before putting the bra 100 on her body. b.
• Step 2 The wearer pulls the bra 100 over her head, and wears the bra 100 by positioning the shoulder straps 108 and 110 on her shoulders, so that the front and back end portions of the fastener on the wearer's non-functioning or less-functioning side hang against the wearer's torso and against or close to each other, held in position by the shoulder straps 108, 110 and the fastened fastener.
• the stiffening elements on these two unfastened end portions hold these end portions horizontally, and against or close to each other, and to the wearer's torso, prior to being fastened.
• Step 3 The wearer pulls the back end portion on her non-functioning or less-functioning side to a forward location, e.g., with her fingers, then holds the back end portion in the forward location against her torso with the fingers of her functioning hand, so that the back half of the bra 100 contacts the wearer's body closely, and the elastic portion 136 may be under some tension. d.
• Step 4 The wearer grabs the front end portion on her non-functioning or less-functioning side with the fingers of her functional hand (while simultaneously holding the corresponding back end portion in the forward location against her torso with her fingers), e.g., by grasping it between the thumb and the fingers, and pulls the front end portion in a backward direction to a backward location that overlaps the forward location on the torso, i.e., pulls the front end portion backwards towards the corresponding back end portion, while the fingers of her functional hand holds the back end portion, so that the inner side of the front end portion comes into contact with the outer side of the corresponding back end portion, thereby fastening one end of the fastener.
• the fingers of her functional hand holds the back end portion, so that the inner side of the front end portion comes into contact with the outer side of the corresponding back end portion, thereby fastening one end of the fastener.
• Step 5 The wearer pushes the fingers or palm of her functioning hand along the front end portion towards the end of the front end portion (i.e., towards the wearer's torso), thereby fastening the whole fastener.
• Step 6 The wearer releases her hand from the bra 100, and the bra 100 is now fastened on her body.
• the bra 100 can be fastened to the wearer's body using only one hand.
• the user may use one hand to pull the end portions 116 and 120 of the bra band 102 from the end portions 118 and 122 of the back strap 104.
• the bra 100 allows a wearer to more easily put on and take off the bra 100 using one hand only.
• the described bra 100 may be used by any wearer who finds it difficult to operate or fasten a conventional back-closure bra or front closure bra, e.g., people with an injury, a disability, infirmity or suffering a disease such that they have difficulty in using one of their hands or one side of their bodies.
• bra 100 is generally sized specifically for each person, and not therefore readily replaceable, having manually openable fasteners on both sides may assist a second person, e.g., a carer, who is removing the bra 100 from the wearer, or putting the bra 100 on the wearer, when the wearer is seated, e.g., in a wheelchair.
• a second person e.g., a carer
• the bra 100 can be put on without the wearer standing up or stepping into the bra 100. This may be particularly advantageous for people having difficulties in standing up or moving their legs, e.g., it allows the bra to be put on by a wearer sitting in a wheelchair.
• the bra 100 When being put on by one person (e.g., a carer) who dresses the wearer who is incapable of dressing herself alone, the bra 100 does not require the first person to touch the breasts of the wearer at any time.
• the bra 100 can be placed over the shoulders of the wearer whilst in the open configuration on both sides. The bra can then be pulled down at the front to gather the breasts of the wearer without the dresser touching the breasts. The bra 100 can then be done up under the arms of the wearer.
• the back strap 104 includes the elastic portion 136 located between the two back end portions 120 and 122.
• the provision of elastic portion 136 is optional.
• Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 show a third exemplary implementation of the bra 100, in which the back strap 104 does not include the elastic portion 136.
• the fastening members include a first fastener 124 for fastening the front right end portion 116 to the corresponding back right end portion 120, and a second fastener 126 for fastening the front left end portion 118 to the corresponding back left end portion 122.
• the fastening members may only include one of the first fastener 124 and the second fastener 126, e.g., for use by only people have an injury or disability on one side.
• providing the fastening members on both sides may allow the bra to be used by people with limited physical functionality on either left or right side of their body (e.g., variably due to different injuries or afflictions), and may reduce the overall manufacturing cost of a plurality of bras.
• the fasteners 124, 126 could be replaced and/or enhanced with magnetic fasteners, i.e., a magnet in one portion of each of the fasteners 124, 126, and a cooperating magnet or magnetic element (e.g., of ferrous metal) in the other portion of each of the fasteners 124, 126.
• magnetic fasteners i.e., a magnet in one portion of each of the fasteners 124, 126, and a cooperating magnet or magnetic element (e.g., of ferrous metal) in the other portion of each of the fasteners 124, 126.
• the stiffening element is provided on each of the end portions 116, 118, 120 and 122, the stiffening element may alternatively be provided only on the back end portions 120, 122 of the back strap 104: in this implementation, the front end portions 116, 1 18 of the bra band 102, which are generally shorter than the back end portions 120, 122, would hold their shape due to the hook-and-loop material.
• Fig. 12 - Fig. 14 illustrate a fourth exemplary implementation of the bra 100.
• the stiffening element in the form of a pair of bones is only provided on the back end portions 120, 122 of the back strap 104.
• each of the bones is sandwiched between two fabric layers of the back strap 104.
• the two fabric layers are sewn together around the bones so as to fix the bones to their allocated position, e.g., one bone being positioned proximate to an upper edge of the corresponding end portion, and another bone being positioned proximate to a lower edge of the corresponding end portion.
• the sewing lines for fixing one or more of the bones form an containing area 150 (also referred to as a "pocket") that is at least 5% or 10% longer than the corresponding bone, extending beyond each end of the bone when not worn, such that when the bone is positioned in the pocket, the extra space of the pocket allows the fabric to stretch or shrink without deforming the bone.
• a containing area 150 also referred to as a "pocket”
• the bra to better adapt to the wearer's torso when being used. This also increases the service life of the bra.
• each of the front members 128, 132 and the back members 130, 134 of the hook-and-loop fasteners has a rectangular shape.
• the back strap 104 does not include the elastic portion 136.
• the stiffening element may alternatively take any other suitable form.
• the stiffening element on each of the end portions may be: a single horizontal bone or more than two horizontal bones, a rigid strap, a plurality of ribs, or any other suitable form that can maintain a horizontal orientation of the corresponding end portion when the bra is hanging loosely on the wearer's body before being fastened. Having more than two bones may allow the bra to be suitable for wearers of a larger body size, and it provides better support for the end portions which would presumably be longer and heavier.
• each of the shoulder straps 108 and 110 may have two branches (108a, 108b; and 110a, 110b) which join the back strap 104 at two joint points (108c, 108d; and 110c, 1 lOd) respectively.
• the bones 146 and 148 may extend through the area between the two joint points 108c and 108d, and the area between the two joint points 110c and 1 lOd. In this way, the triangle structures provided by the two branches of each shoulder strap and the corresponding stiffening elements provide more stable support to the back end portions 120 and 122 when the bra is hanging on the wearer's body before being fastened.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Corsets Or Brassieres (AREA)
• Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)
• Buckles (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=66331117

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (2)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 2018
  • 2018-10-31 JP JP2020544067A patent/JP2021501838A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 2018-10-31 US US15/733,035 patent/US20200260803A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2018-10-31 WO PCT/AU2018/051179 patent/WO2019084613A2/en unknown
  • 2018-10-31 EP EP18873038.6A patent/EP3703522A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2018-10-31 AU AU2018360621A patent/AU2018360621A1/en not_active Abandoned

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