Abstract:
A brassiere having a front opening and a dynamic adjustable back section and a first side panel and a second side panel is provided. The brassiere also has a pair of breast receiving cups and a connector between the breast receiving cups for selectively opening and selectively closing the brassiere. The dynamic adjustable back section elongates from a first length to a second length to automatically adjust a size of the brassiere.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/583,528 filed on Jun. 28, 2004, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a garment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a brassiere or bra having a front closure and a dynamic adjustable section in a rear portion of the brassiere. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     There exist in the art of brassieres, brassieres with a front closure device and others with a rear closure device. A front closure brassiere is closed in the front or normally between the breast cups. A rear closure brassiere is closed in a rear or opposite the breast cups. The rear closure brassiere has some adjustability or device in the rear of the brassiere to adjust the garment around the torso of the wearer. Front closure brassieres do not have a device to adjust the fit around the torso that would reduce the aesthetic appeal of the garment. 
     A front closure brassiere is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,269 to Weintraub. Weintraub discloses a brassiere with a manually adjustable static friction device located on a rear strap for selectively adjusting a length of a back strap around the torso of the wearer. While the garment can be adjusted around the torso, the device only provides static adjustment. Repeated removal and manual adjustments of the brassiere are required to obtain a comfortable fit. Further, the friction device is in contact with the wearer&#39;s skin. A pulling force that may be needed to close the brassiere around the torso as well as active everyday movement may cause the device to rub or press against the wearer&#39;s skin and, thus, possibly cause redness and chafing of the skin. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a garment that provides dynamic automatic adjustability around the torso of the wearer and comfort during movement. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a brassiere having a front opening that can easily be applied and removed from a wearer. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a brassiere having a front opening with a front closure. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a brassiere that has a front opening with a dynamic adjustment section that automatically adjusts to fit the brassiere around a torso of the wearer. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a brassiere that has a front closure with a dynamic adjustment section having a first elastic adjustment section and a second elastic adjustment section both in a rear of the brassiere. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a brassiere that has a dynamic adjustment section having a first adjustment section and a second adjustment section with at least one of the first adjustment section and the second adjustment section made from an elasticized material. 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a brassiere that has a dynamic adjustment section that automatically adjusts to fit a wearer with a first adjustment member and a second adjustment member disposed in an overlapping, crisscross arrangement with at least one of the members being made from an elasticized material. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a brassiere that has a front opening with a front closure that automatically and self adjusts around the torso of the wearer without any need to remove the brassiere or manipulate any device in a rear of the brassiere. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by a brassiere of the present invention. The brassiere has a first side panel and a second side panel. A pair of breast cups are preferably connected to the first and the second side panels. A connector is between the first breast cup and the second breast cup for selectively opening and selectively closing the brassiere. The brassiere also has a dynamic adjustment section between the first side panel and the second side panel that has at least one elastic member for selectively and automatically elongating from a first length to a second length in response to a size of a wearer. Thus, a brassiere with this dynamic adjustment section is conducive to an active and/or average or full-figured individual. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a brassiere in a closed position of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the brassiere of  FIG. 1  in an opened position. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the brassiere of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic top view of the brassiere of  FIG. 1  in an initial state. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic top view of the brassiere with the dynamic adjustment section in a second elongated state. 
         FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of the brassiere of  FIG. 1  showing the dynamic adjustment section with a first adjustment member and a second adjustment member. 
         FIG. 7  is a close up view of the dynamic adjustment section of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and, in particular, to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a brassiere of the present invention generally represented by reference numeral  10 . Most preferably, the brassiere  10  provides an automatic size adjustment while simultaneously persevering the appearance of the brassiere. The brassiere  10  has a front opening  12  and a closure device  14 . One skilled in the art should appreciate that the closure device  14  may have mating or cooperative portions commonly known in the art. 
     Brassiere  10  preferably has a first strap  18  and a second strap  20 . Both the first strap  18  and the second strap  20  are connected to a torso encircling structure, that for explanation purposes will be called a first side panel  22  and a second side panel  24 . Brassiere  10  has a first breast cup  26  and a second breast cup  28 . Closure device  14  is preferably between the first breast cup  26  and the second breast cup  28 . One skilled in the art should appreciate that the first and the second breast cups  26 ,  28 , respectively, may be made from any suitable material known in the art and may be in any suitable size to accommodate a wearer&#39;s proportions. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , brassiere  10  is in an opened position. When brassiere  10  is being worn, the wearer will pull the first side panel  22  and the second side panel  24  together in contact with one another. The wearer will then close the closure device  14  as shown in  FIG. 1  to close the front opening  12  of brassiere  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , brassiere  10  has a dynamic adjustable section  30 . The dynamic adjustable section  30  preferably has a first side  32  and a second side  34  opposite the first side. The first side  32  of the dynamic adjustable section  30  is connected to the second side panel  24 . The second side  34  is connected to the first side panel portion  22 . The arrangement preferably allows the dynamic adjustable section  30  to be comfortably positioned about the wearer and in contact with the back of the wearer opposite the breast tissues without causing any rubbing or chafing. Alternatively, the dynamic adjustable section  30  may be in other locations, such as, for example on the lateral sides of the wearer. First side  32  and second side  34  of dynamic adjustable section  30  are preferably connected to the second side panel  24  and first side panel  22 , respectively, by a stitching operation. 
     Preferably, the dynamic adjustable section  30  has two sections. Each section is an elastic material or an elastomeric type material, such as, for example, a powernet. Alternatively, the dynamic adjustable section  30  may have more than two sections of elastic material or elastomeric type material, such as for example, powernet. 
     When brassiere  10  is being donned, the dynamic adjustable section  30  preferably elongates from a first length to a second length. This elongation preferably changes a circumference of brassiere  10  about the torso of the wearer. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in an unworn or relaxed state, brassiere  10  has a first circumference  36 . The first circumference  36  is preferably measured from a sum of a first length  38  of the first side panel  22 , a second length  40  of the second side panel  24 , and a third initial length  42  of the dynamic adjustable section  30 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , when brassiere  10  is donned and worn, the dynamic adjustable section  30  will provide a second circumference  44  where the brassiere fits around the torso of the wearer. The second circumference  44  is measured from a sum of the first length  38  of the first side panel  22 , the second length  40  of the second side panel  24 , and a fourth elongated length  46  of the dynamic adjustable section  30 . This sizing change preferably occurs in a dynamic manner that happens without any manual wearer operation while the brassiere  10  is donned and worn. The dynamic adjustment section  30  obviates any need for removal the brassiere  10  for size adjustment. 
     One skilled in the art will also appreciate that dynamic adjustable section  30  readily accommodates fluctuations in breast and/or torso size resulting from monthly menstrual cycles or slight weight gain or loss. Dynamic adjustable section  30  allows the woman to wear the same brassiere throughout the month and maintain a desired level of appearance, comfort and support without compromise. Furthermore, the dynamic adjustable section  30  allows for continual multi-directional support as the wearer moves in different directions. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , one skilled in the art should appreciate that although the dynamic adjustable section  30  shown is made from an elastic material, the dynamic adjustable section may be made from one or more elastomeric yarns, spandex, bare elasthane, nylon elasthane, polyester elasthane, or any combinations thereof. 
     Preferably, the dynamic adjustable section  30  has the first normal state, the second elongated state, and a number of elongated states therebetween. Upon the wearer stretching the brassiere around torso by pulling both the first side panel  22  and the second side panel  24  together an amount to manipulate the closure device  14 , the dynamic adjustable section  30  will also be pulled. Upon being pulled, the dynamic adjustable section  30  will elongate from the relaxed state to the stretched state to accommodate a desired size of the wearer. This will cause the dynamic adjustable section  30  to expand a certain amount and, thus, improve an overall fit of the brassiere around the wearer. 
     Preferably, the dynamic adjustable section  30  has a first member  48  and a second member  50 . First member  48  and second member  50  are elasticized along their longitudinal axes. First member  48  and second member  50  are positioned relative to one another in a crisscross arrangement as shown in  FIG. 2 . When first member  48  and second member  50  are in a crisscrossed arrangement, dynamic adjustable section  30  can flex in both lateral and longitudinal directions to provide for active movement such as during physical activity. One skilled in the art should appreciate that the first member  48  is positioned on the second member  50 . Alternatively, the second member  50  may be over the first member  48 , or they may be positioned in parallel side-by-side relation relative to one another, as shown in  FIG. 7A . 
     The first member  48  may have a first modulus of elasticity and the second member  50  may have a second modulus of elasticity, with the first modulus of elasticity and the second modulus of elasticity being the same or different relative to one another. Most preferably, the first modulus of elasticity and the second modulus of elasticity are both lower than any modulus of elasticity of the first side panel  22  and the second side panel  24  so the both the first member  48  and the second member  50  will be more elastic than the first side panel and the second side panel and elongate as desired. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a close up view of the dynamic adjustable section  30  having the first member  48  and the second member  50 . Preferably, the first member  48  and the second member  50  are positioned in a rear of the brassiere  10  arranged in a substantially “X” shaped arrangement relative to one another. Preferably, a location of the first member  48  and the second member  50  is in a complementary location relative to a middle and an upper back of the wearer opposite the breast tissues, and provides elasticity and support to adjust the brassiere in a dynamic and comfortable manner. One skilled in the art should appreciate that the dynamic adjustable section  30  is placed so as to be in a complementary location of the wearer&#39;s back. 
     One skilled in the art should appreciate that the size of the first member  48  and the second member  50  may vary depending upon size of the brassiere  10 . In one embodiment, each of the first member  48  and second member  50  have a length of about four inches and a width of about three inches to three and one half inches. Each of the first member  48  and the second member  50  further preferably has a thickness of less than about one sixteenth of an inch. However, one skilled in the art should appreciate that the first member  48  and the second member  50  may be formed with any length, width and thickness. Varied dimensions of first member  48  and second member  50  will accommodate women having fuller figures. Each of the first member  48  and the second member  50  is preferably lightweight and allows the brassiere to be used as a sports brassiere. Each of the first member  48  and the second member  50  also preferably has a smooth wearer contacting surface so as to avoid any chafing or rubbing during everyday wear or active movement. 
     Brassiere  10  may be a cut and sewn brassiere as is known in the art. Breast cups  26  and  28  can be formed by methods commonly known in the art such as by molding, stretch molding, cutting and sewing, or circularly knitting. Breast cups  26  and  28  may be made from cotton, nylon, one or more elastic or inelastic yarns, or any other material known in the art. Side panels  22  and  24  and underbust support are preferably made from a material manufactured under the trade name “Spannette”. Alternatively, the side panels and underbust support may be made from cotton, nylon, one or more elastic or inelastic yarns, or any other material known in the art. Preferably, the closure device  14  is formed from a suitable resilient material, such as a thermoplastic or a metal, and is durable and capable of repeated usage. The closure device  14  may be one or more hook and loop fasteners, one or more buttons, one or more hook and eye fasteners, one or more clasps, a zipper, or any other closure device known in the art. The closure device  14  preferable allows the wearer to selectively open and selectively close the brassiere  10  in a comfortable manner without any abrasions or uncomfortable sensation. 
     Turning to  FIG. 7A , an alternative embodiment of the dynamic adjustable section  130  is shown. Rather than being configured in an “X” shaped arrangement relative to one another, in some applications the first elasticized member  148  and the second elasticized member  150  are arranged in a parallel side-by-side relation. As in the embodiment described above, the relative size (width) of the first member  148  and second member  150  may vary depending upon the size of the brassiere  100 . In all other respects, however, the first side panel  122  and the second side panel  124  may again be pulled together an amount sufficient to elongate the dynamic adjustable section  130  from a relaxed state to a stretched state to accommodate the size of the wearer. 
     It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances.