Abstract:
The bra strap holder is used to secure the bra straps in the back of the bra from sliding down the shoulders. It is comprised of a clear TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) strap welded to unique three prong flexible plastic ends which attach to the bra strap.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to clothing and garments. More specifically, it relates to an improved design for supporting garments, particularly bras (brassieres), across the back to eliminate slippage of straps off the shoulder without exerting constrictive force between the garment&#39;s straps. 
     Many garments are made with straps that go from the front up over the shoulder and join a laterally connecting portion that fastens around the back. Bras are generally configured this way. The straps support breast weight by distributing pressure across the shoulders. Because of the bra&#39;s fabric texture, cut, or a particular person&#39;s body shape, these straps may slip off of the optimal support position on the shoulder and down the arm. This decreases the support efficiency of the straps and may result in discomfort or annoyance for the wearer, who has to continually replace the strap to the support position. 
     Although bra strap retainers have been disclosed in the past, the prior art only addresses lateral adjustment of the straps themselves or relies on pressure that constrains the straps from slipping off the shoulders of the wearer by pulling the straps together. 
     In order to keep the straps of a bra or other strapped garment in place, the present invention attaches to the straps of the garment and holds them in the optimal support position. Each strap is held in position such that it will remain on the shoulder and not slip. The position is maintained not by pulling the straps together, but by restraining them from outward movement. The present invention connects the straps to each other, and holds each strap in place. Because it is made of clear, moderately flexible material, it is virtually invisible and comfortable for the wearer. 
     The brassiere shoulder strap securement apparatus includes a thermoplastic polyurethane (tpu) strip with a first and second opposite end. Each end of the tpu strip has a flexible plastic holder attached thereto for securing a brassiere shoulder strap there through. The flexible plastic holders have a smooth quasi-circular shaped outer perimeter edge and a central pronged portion. The central pronged portion has a longer middle prong and two shorter angled prongs adjacent the perimeter wherein each one of the shoulder straps are intertwined there through and secured thereto to thereby prevent said shoulder straps from sliding off of a wearer&#39;s shoulders. Each of said holders includes an inward tpu strap attachment side portion that includes an opening there through so that each of said opposite ends of the tpu strip is looped there through and about and inward side portion and then permanently attached to the outward surface of the strip by thermoplastic welding. The quasi-circular shape has a smooth perimeter edge in the shape of an octagon with all eight corners being smooth as seen in the figures. The holder is structured with sooth, flat surfaces so that they lie flat on the skin surface of wearer in use and so that the three prongs extend outwardly away from the tpu strip surface so that the shoulder straps on the brassiere are easily intertwined through the prongs and securely held therein. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is designed for use with bras or other garments that have straps running up and over the shoulders of the wearer. Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , the present invention utilizes a pair of flexible plastic holders  10  having a distinct configuration including three prongs  20 ,  30 , and  40 . These three-pronged plastic holders (hereinafter “holders”)  10  are connected by a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) strip  50 . The bra&#39;s straps  60  are passed between the prongs of the holders as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the present invention incorporates a clear, slightly flexible TPU strip  50 . This strip  50  is passed through an opening  55 , then wrapped around and attached to the holders by thermoplastic welding. 
     In a typical configuration, the bra holder is positioned above the lateral bra strap  70  to optimize support and balance the straps. In the embodiment as drawn in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the TPU strip  50  passes across the back perpendicular to the bra&#39;s straps  60 . 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a top view, looking down on the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a three dimensional view of the back of a bra with the invention placed between the bra&#39;s straps  60 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a three dimensional front view of a bra with the invention positioned between the bra&#39;s straps  60  which would rest across the wearer&#39;s back. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows the top view of the invention, and illustrates the parts of the bra strap holder. It incorporates a clear thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) strip  50  attached by thermoplastic welding to unique three prong flexible plastic holders  10  that attach to the wearer&#39;s bra&#39;s straps  60  or other strapped garment. 
     To attach the bra&#39;s strap  60  to the bra strap holder  10 , the invention is placed between the bra&#39;s straps  60  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The bra&#39;s straps  60  are run inside of the top prong  20 , around the middle prong  30  and back outside of the prongs below the lower prong  40 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , the preferred embodiment of the invention can be seen from the front and side of the wearer. The flexible plastic holders  10  are held in their optimal support position, connected by the TPU strip  50 . The TPU strip  50 , although moderately flexible, is not elastic enough to result in pulling the bra&#39;s straps  60  together. Instead, it disallows the bra&#39;s straps  60  from falling off the shoulders of the wearer by restricting outward motion. The TPU strip&#39;s  50  limited flexibility constricts outward movement; the flexibility it does allow provides for comfort for the wearer. It can be manufactured to a plurality of lengths (i.e., small, medium, large, etc.) that would ensure only restriction of outward motion of the bra&#39;s straps  60  without inward pull. 
     The TPU strip  50  is attached to the flexible plastic holders  10  by passing the TPU material through an opening  55  in the flexible plastic holder  10  and wrapping it back on itself and attaching by thermal welding process. 
     The flexible plastic holders  10  maintain their vertical position on the bra&#39;s straps  60  because of their unique configuration. The bra&#39;s straps  60  attach by being positioned between three prongs. The two outside prongs ( 20  and  40 ) are positioned on either side of a middle, longer prong  30 . The two outer prongs face generally inward towards the wearer&#39;s spine, while the center prong  30  extends outward towards the outside of the back. These outside prongs are also curved slightly outward. The result of these inward facing, curved prong end portions is that on the inside top, the upper prong  20  curves upward, holding the invention from sliding upwards on the bra strap vertically, while the lower curved prong on the bottom  40  of the bra strap prevents the invention from slipping downwards on the bra&#39;s strap  60 .