WO2020180253A1

WO2020180253A1 - A strap for an undergarment

Info

Publication number: WO2020180253A1
Application number: PCT/SG2020/050106
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sadhira WIMALASEKERE
Original assignee: MATTEUCCI, Gianfranco
Priority date: 2019-03-06
Filing date: 2020-03-05
Publication date: 2020-09-10
Also published as: SG10201902006WA

Abstract

The invention provides a strap comprising an exposed face, said strap arranged for use with an undergarment, wherein the strap includes a pigment element, to provide a shading that corresponds to a skin tone, on the exposed face.

Description

A Strap for an Undergarment

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to undergarments and, in particular bras.

Background

In the present day, when a woman wishes to wear sleeveless clothing, her choice would be to wear an undergarment with transparent or lace material strap. Alternatively, a woman may choose to wear a strapless undergarment. However, the woman may have to sacrifice elegance and comfort, as the transparent or lace strap are visible and the strapless alternative, does not provide the same comfort and support.

It is therefore an object of this invention to alleviate the problems of the prior art.

Summary of the Invention

The invention provides a strap for an undergarment comprising the strap having an exposed face, wherein the strap having a pigment element to provide a shading that corresponds to a skin tone on the exposed face.

In one embodiment, the strap having a first face and a second face and the second face having the pigment element.

In another embodiment, the strap includes a first layer and a second layer such that the first layer and the second layer are bounded and a face of the second layer being the exposed face.

In one embodiment, the strap may be incorporated into the undergarment.

Alternatively, the strap may be integrally joined to the undergarment.

Further, the strap may include a first connecting member at a first end and a second connecting member at a second end of the first layer, the first and second connecting members attachable to the undergarment. In the first and second connecting members, the members having a hook element for engaging with the undergarment.

In one embodiment, the first layer may be made of an elastically resilient material that may provide support and comfort for the wearer. In addition, the second layer may be made of a mesh material which envelops the first layer, providing an extra support and at the same time providing a camouflage effect, where the strap remains barely visible. The strap is bonded by a heating process or an adhesive process.

A bra having at least one portion wherein the at least one portion includes a pigment element, to provide a shading that corresponds to a skin tone, on an exposed face.

In one embodiment, the bra may have at least one portion that includes a panel, said exposed face on said panel and positioned over the decolletage.

In one embodiment, the bra may have at least one portion includes a strap, said strap arranged for use with an undergarment, wherein the strap includes a pigment element, to provide a shading that corresponds to a skin tone, on the exposed face.

In one embodiment, the bra may have perforations such that light is able to pass through the perforations providing a translucent effect to the bra.

In another embodiment, the bra may have an opacity that corresponds to the amount of light passing through the bra.

In one embodiment, the bra may have an exposed face includes a pigment element, to provide a shading that corresponds to a skin tone, on the exposed face such that the exposed face substantially covers the whole bra.

Further, the bra may be a plunge neck bra. In one embodiment, the bra may have a mesh fabric includes any one of a mesh fabric warp knit, a circular knit, a mesh like fabric, an illusion mesh, a sheer fabric including cotton or polyester.

Brief Descriptions of Drawing

Fig.lA is a perspective view of a strap according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig.lB is a perspective view of the strap according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Fig.2 is a perspective view of a strap with connecting members according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig.3 is a back view of a strap, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig.4 is a back view of an undergarment with wing band, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig.5 is a rear view of an undergarment, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig.6A-6F shows various embodiments of the present invention.

Fig.7 shows a further embodiment according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figs. 1A and IB show an embodiment of the present invention being a strap 100 which is made up two longitudinal layers 108 and 110 which are bonded together. The two layers 108 and 110 may be held together by an adhesive layer 104 forming the strap 100. The layers 108 and 110 may be of the same length. The two layers 108, 110 provide at least one exposed face 106, 112 of the strap 100. The two straps 108, 110 may be bonded by a thermal process, an adhesive bonding or peripheral stitched.

To this end, the strap, according to this embodiment, includes an assembly of two outer layers 108, 110, at least one of which includes a pigment corresponding to the skin tone of the wearer.

In one embodiment, both layers 108, 110 may have a pigment corresponding to the skin tone of the wearer. In a further embodiment, where only one layer 108 corresponds to the skin tone, the layer 110 on the opposed side may have a colour that does not detract from that of the first layer 108, and so may be substantially transparent or translucent.

Further, the bonding layer 104 may be of a width equal to, or less than, the two outer layers 108, 110, so as to remain unexposed. Further, an edge of the bonding layer 104 may be unidentifiable through the layer having the at least one exposed face.

Further, the bonding layer 104 may be of a colour that doesn’t not contrast from the skin tone of the wearer, so as to be unidentifiable through the at least first layer 108. Further still, the bonding layer 104 may be a polymer based adhesive layer. As many polymers may have a reflective surface, the bonding layer 104 may include be a matt finish, and so reducing the reflective nature of the polymer, or is such that the layer having the at least one exposed face may be selected so as to shield the reflective nature, or mitigate any such reflection.

The two longitudinal layers 108, 110 are made up of a mesh material that contains a pigment that matches a skin tone of a wearer. The pigments correspond to a proprietary colour space such as the Pantone SkinTone Guide. The wearer may choose from a plethora of strap colours and pick a strap that closely matches the skin tone of the wearer. Advantageously, this allows the strap 100 to have a near invisible when worn by the wearer.

In one embodiment, the layers 108, 110 may be made up of sheer fabric. The sheer fabric may include a pigment that provides a shading that corresponds to a skin tone of the wearer. In addition, the sheer fabric may include perforations, the perforations allow light to pass through the sheer fabric and thus provide a translucent effect to the strap. When the sheer fabric is worn close to the skin, the fabric material sits tightly on the wearer acting like a second skin. When light shines on the fabric, light is allowed to pass through the perforations onto the wearer’s skin, in combination with the pigment that has a colour that matches the wearer’s skin tone that is present in the sheer fabric. This combination allows the reflected light to reflect a colour that matches the wearer’s skin tone thus providing the optical illusion of the fabric not being visible. If the layer of fabric is subsequently increased, less light may pass through the fabric and an opacity of the fabric may increase making the fabric less translucent. Alternatively, the sheer fabric may include a grid like netting structure or a matrices like structure.

Additionally, the two longitudinal layers 108, 110 may be made up of any suitable fabric material. In one embodiment, the fabric material may be dyed such that the dye is infused into the fabric material. The colour dye correspond to a colour in the proprietary color space.

Advantageously by constructing both layers of the strap 108, 110 from a mesh material or a fabric material instead of a clear plastic, the consequential undergarment will be more comfortable to wear for a long period of time. In addition, the mesh or fabric material may provide elasticity such that it provides adequate support for the cups 402, 408. The mesh or fabric material may be stretchable or non-stretchable.

In addition, the wearer may choose a strap that contains a colour that closely matches the wearer’s skin tone, such that the strap blends with the wearer’s skin acting like a second skin. This provides a camouflaging effect without the look and feel of a transparent, lace or other straps which are visible on the wearer’s skin. Moreover, the wearer may also choose a bra where the exposed areas or the desired areas corresponds to the skin tone of the wearer. This provides an invisibility effect, and the wearer does not need to sacrifice elegance, comfort and support. The wearer does not need to worry about the exposed undergarment been visible or clearly seen by others.

In one embodiment, the strap 100 may comprise only one layer, and the exposed face of the layer includes a pigment that provides a shading that corresponds to the skin tone of a wearer.

Alternatively, the strap 100 may be folded at least one times to increase the strength of the fabric material and to provide more support for the undergarment.

Alternatively, the strap 100 may be bonded to an existing undergarment. The undergarment may include a bra.

Alternatively, the mesh or fabric material may be used to construct the undergarment. Alternatively, the first layer 108 may be longer than the second layer 110 such that the ends of the first layer are exposed when both straps are bonded together.

In one embodiment, the longitudinal layers 108, 110 may be of the same colour and having the same width. The different layers may be cut or folded to an exact size having the same specifications. The layers may be made up of sheer fabric. Alternatively, one layer of fabric may be used.

As mentioned, the strap may comprise several layers being formed from a single section of material being folded to provide the layers. This differs from the embodiments where each layer is a discrete section of material, which are bonded to form the strap. In this embodiment, a single section of material may be folded onto itself as many times as is required to provide the necessary number of layers. This has the advantage of avoiding a bonding arrangement and so benefitting from less manufacturing steps, as well as avoiding visibility issues that the bonding arrangement may pose. In this arrangement, as each layer is part of the same material, colour matching is ensured between the layers.

In one embodiment, the required strength of the strap may require several layers, rather than a single layer. The sheemess of the strap may be a function of the size and density of voids in the material. The sheemess of two layers of the same material, however, may be less than half as the alignment of such voids will be imperfect, whereby a proportion of voids may align and a portion may not. Therefore, for two layers of sheer material, the sheemess of the strap may not be halved, whereas the strength of the strap will be doubled by providing two layers, either folded or bonding discrete layers.

Advantageously, having the layers of all same width provide the desired effect of camouflaging the strap.

Alternatively, another method of bonding the strap may include stitching, where the second layer 110 and the first layer 108 are held together by stitching the two longitudinal layers 108, 110 together. The threads used in the stitching may be infused with a dye such that the threads match the colour of the strap 100. Alternatively, other method of bonding the strap may include fused, welded, ultrasonically or sewn.

Fig. 2 shows a connecting member attach to one end of the strap 100, the connecting member 200 includes a hook end 202, an closed opening 204 and a divider 206 that separates the hook end 202 on one end and the closed opening 204 on the other end. The other end of the strap 100 (not shown) is integrally joined to the back of the undergarment 400, to attach, the hook end 202 engaged with a cup. Other methods of attaching the strap to the cup may be employed.

Alternatively, both ends of the strap 100 may include a connecting member attach to each end. Advantageously, this allows the strap to be attachable, where the wearer can attach the strap to an undergarment.

The connecting member material and construction may be according to accepted industrial practices.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment where the straps are permanently attached to an undergarment. The strap includes a first adjusting bracket 302 and a second adjusting bracket 304 which allows the wearer to adjust the strap to a length to fit accordingly. In one embodiment, the first adjusting bracket 302 has a first opening 308, a second opening 310, a divider 306 and the divider is rectangular shaped. The strap is loop into the adjusting bracket 302 by taking one end of the strap loop through the first opening 308 passing over the top of the divider 306 and through the second opening 310. The second adjusting bracket 304 includes an opening 312 and a lateral end 314 where the end of the strap loop after passing through the first adjusting bracket 302 loops through the opening 312 of the second adjusting bracket 304 and passes through the lateral end 314. By having two adjusting brackets 302, 304, the wearer can adjust the length at the top of the strap and the length at the bottom of the strap. In another embodiment, the first and second adjusting bracket 302, 304 are made of material that are clear and colourless. Alternatively, the strap 100 may include only one adjusting bracket or no adjusting brackets. Having no adjusting brackets would allow the strap to not have any protruding parts and may enhance the effect of the strap not being visible.

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of the undergarment 400 with a wing band 410, where the wing band 410 is a single rectangular shaped band, a side bonding 404 is sewn into the undergarment to provide extra support. A rectangular shaped connecting member 406 is adapted at the center bridge of a first and second cups 402, 408. The connecting members 406 having a hook and eyelet (not shown) to form the connecting member 406. To connect the first cup 402 to the second cup 408, the hook is engaged on the eyelet. Other methods of connecting the first cup 402 to the second cup 408 such as a clasp mechanism may also be used. In one embodiment, the wing band 400 may be made up of mesh material that may contain a pigment that matches a skin tone. The strap 100 may be integrally connected to the wing band 410.

Alternatively, the connecting member 406 may be located on the wing band 400. The wing band 400 may also be a thin rectangular strip integral with the first and second cups 402, 408.

Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of rear view of an undergarment 500 with a longitudinal band 510 and a horizontal band 520 integrally connected to form the undergarment 500. The longitudinal band 510 and the horizontal band 520 may be constructed by the mesh or fabric. The mesh material may be made up of mesh fabric warp knit or circular knit or mesh like fabric or illusion mesh or warp net or circular net or clean-cut mesh or cotton or polyester. The undergarment 500 may include a thong or a G-string.

Fig. 6A shows an embodiment of an undergarment of a backless solution 601. A strap 612 having g-hooks adapted to be engaged with a pair of cup having opposing connecting members. The opposing connecting members having a clasping mechanism 610 to allow the cup to be open and close. The pair of cup are integrally connected to a back strap mesh 614.

Fig. 6B shows an embodiment of an undergarment of a sleeveless solution 602. A rectangular backstrap 620 having opening member 622 to allow the backstrap 620 to open and close. A pair of straps 624 is integrally connected to the backstrap 620. Fig. 6C shows an embodiment of an undergarment 603 according to the present invention. A rectangular back fully coverage in mesh 632 and a pair of cups 630 for bustier front opening at the front.

Fig. 6D shows an embodiment of an undergarment 604 according to the present invention, the rear having a racer back mesh 640 integrally connected to a tank top 642. A halter strips is incorporated into the tank top 642.

Fig. 6E shows an embodiment of an undergarment 605 according to the present invention, a cross strip, halter strip and a pair of straight straps.

Fig. 6F shows an embodiment of an undergarment 606 according to the present invention, a plunge neck bra 660 having a panel 662 at the centre of the neck bra 660. The panel 662 provides support for the wearer and providing an augmented effect. The panel 662 may be made up a mesh fabric having a pigment element, to provide a shading that corresponds to a skin tone, on the exposed face. The bra 660 wherein the at least on portion includes a panel 662. The exposed face on the panel 662 may be positioned over the decolletage.

Alternatively, the bra 660 may have an exposed face, wherein the exposed face includes a pigment element, to provide a shading that corresponds the wearer’s skin tone, on the exposed face.

In one embodiment, the bra 660 wherein the at least one portion includes a strap. The strap arranged for use with an undergarment. The strap may include a pigment element, to provide a shading that corresponds to a skin tone, on the exposed face.

Alternatively, the bra 660 may have an exposed face, the exposed face includes a pigment element, to provide a shading that corresponds to a skin tone, on the exposed face such that the exposed face substantially covers the whole bra 660. Fig. 7 shows a further embodiment, whereby the strap 705 according to the present invention is a single layer. In this case, the strap is not an assembly with subsequent layers, but merely a single layer of sheer material. In this embodiment, and as mentioned previously, the melding of the colour of the layer with the skin tone of the wearer enhances the camouflage effect rendering the strap substantially invisible. Further, by using the strap 705 having a single layer, bonding with subsequent layers is irrelevant, and so avoiding issues of the bonding material being visible.

Further still, the potential of loss of the translucent effect of the colour meld between the layer and skin tone is avoided. As previously discussed, the tolerance in the colour of the layer and the skin tone is at least in part a function of the opacity of the strap. Each layer may add to the opacity, increasing the tolerance of colour matching, as too may any bonding arrangement. Thus, subject to the sheemess of the material used for the single layer, the use of a single layer may reduce the opacity of the strap and so reduce the required tolerance matching between the skin tone of the wearer and the colour of the layer.

By comparison, a strap 710 according to the prior art requires a polymer material having a reflective surface. Although transparent, the reflective nature of the material makes the strap 710 easily visible, undermining the visual effect of a shoulderless garment.

Claims

1. A strap comprising an exposed face; said strap arranged for use with an undergarment; wherein the strap includes a pigment element, to provide a shading that corresponds to a skin tone, on the exposed face.

2. The strap according to claim 1, wherein the strap includes a second face, and the second face having the pigment element.

3. The strap according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the strap having perforations such that light passes through the perforations providing a translucent effect on the exposed face.

4. The strap according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the strap includes a first and second layer such that the first layer and the second layer are bonded; and a face of the second layer being the exposed face.

5. The strap according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the strap is incorporated into the undergarment.

6. The strap according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the strap is integrally joined to the undergarment.

7. The strap according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further including a first connecting member at a first end and second connecting member at an end of the strap, the first and second connecting members attachable to the undergarment.

8. The strap according to claim 7, wherein the first and second connecting members having a hook element for engaging with the undergarment.

9. The strap according to claim 7, wherein the first and second connecting members includes a clasp mechanism for engaging with the undergarment.

10. The strap according to claim 1, wherein the first layer and second layer comprise a mesh fabric.

11. The strap according to claim 10, wherein the mesh fabric includes any one of a mesh fabric warp knit, a circular knit, a mesh like fabric, an illusion mesh, a sheer fabric.

12. The strap according to claim 5, wherein the bond includes a heating process or an adhesive process.

13. The strap according to claim 8, wherein the connecting members are clear and

transparent.

14. The strap according to claim 1, wherein the undergarment includes any of a bra, a thong and a G-string.

15. A bra having at least one portion wherein the at least one portion includes a pigment element, to provide a shading that corresponds to a skin tone, on an exposed face.

16. The bra according to claim 15 wherein the at least one portion further includes a panel; said exposed face on said panel and positioned over the decolletage.

17. The bra according to claim 15; wherein the at least one portion includes a strap; said strap arranged for use with an undergarment; wherein the strap includes a pigment element, to provide a shading that corresponds to a skin tone, on the exposed face.

18. The bra according to claim 15, wherein the strap having perforations such that light passes through the perforations providing a translucent effect on the exposed face.

19. The bra according to claim 15, wherein the exposed face includes a pigment element, to provide a shading that corresponds to a skin tone, on the exposed face such that the exposed face substantially covers the whole bra.

20. The bra according to claim 15, wherein the bra is a plunge neck bra.

21. The bra according to claim 15, having a mesh fabric includes any one of a mesh fabric warp knit, a circular knit, a mesh like fabric, an illusion mesh, a sheer fabric.