Abstract:
A cushion insert having a cushion material, a support member, and a cover is provided. The cushion material is enclosed by an upper ply and a lower ply. The support member is disposed on the upper ply. The cover secures the support member to the upper ply so that the support member restrains expansion of the cushion material toward the upper ply.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is related to a cushion insert for a strap. More particularly, the present invention is related to straps for a device or garment, such as a brassiere, having a cushion insert. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Many items require a strap that traverses one or more shoulders of a user to aid in supporting the weight of a carried object. For example, a backpack, a piece of luggage, a briefcase, a purse, a sport equipment bag, and other items can include a strap that traverses a user&#39;s shoulder(s) 
     Additionally, garments such as a medical sling, a brassiere, a woman&#39;s bathing suit, a leotard, and other garments, can aid in supporting a portion of a wearer&#39;s body. In these applications, the garment can include one or more straps positioned to traverse the wearer&#39;s shoulder(s) and, thus, transfer a portion of the supported load to the shoulders. 
     In order to improve the comfort to the wearer, some straps have included padding, cushioning, and/or load spreading surfaces incorporated into the strap. 
     However, there is a continuing desire for new and better cushion straps to further increase the comfort of a wearer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a cushion insert for a strap. 
     It is another object to provide a strap that is cushioned with a gel material. 
     It is yet another object to provide a gel cushioned strap that restrains movement of the gel material away from the body of the wearer. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are provided by a cushion insert having a cushion material, a support member, and a cover. The cushion material is enclosed by an upper ply and a lower ply. The support member is disposed on the upper ply. The cover secures the support member to the upper ply so that the support member restrains expansion of the cushion material toward the upper ply. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are also provided by a cushioned strap having a first layer facing a first direction and a second layer facing a second, opposite direction. The cushioned strap has a gelatinous cushion enclosed between a first ply and a second ply. The gelatinous cushion is positioned between the first and second layers so that the second ply is adjacent the second layer. The support member is secured on the first ply by a cover, which is adjacent the first layer. The support member restrains movement of the gelatinous cushion in the first direction upon application of a force to the cushioned strap from the second direction. 
     Further, the objects and advantages of the present invention are provided by a brassiere having a body-encircling portion having, a strap, and a cushion insert. The body-encircling portion has a pair of breast cups for receiving the breasts of a wearer. The strap secures the body-encircling portion across an interface region of the wearer. The cushion insert is disposed at the interface region. The cushion insert has a gel material proximate the interface region and a support member covering the gel material remote from the interface region. Thus, a force applied to the cushion insert by the interface region is restrained from expanding the gel material away from the interface region. 
     The above-described and other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a garment having a cushion strap according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is top view of the cushion strap of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the cushion strap taken along lines  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and in particular to  FIG. 1 , a supporting device  10  is illustrated by way of example as a garment, particularly a brassiere. Device  10  includes one or more straps  12  positioned to traverse the shoulder of a wearer at an interface region  14 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment where device  10  is a brassiere, the brassiere includes breast cups  16  defined in a body-encircling portion  18 . In use, portion  18  is positioned around the body so that the breasts of the wearer are received in and supported by breast cups  16 . In this position, straps  12  transfer a portion of the load supported by device  10  from portion  18  and, thus, cups  16  to interface region  14 . 
     It should be recognized that device  10  is illustrated by way of example as a brassiere having two straps  12  such that interface region  14  is the shoulders of the wearer. Of course, it is contemplated by the present invention for the brassiere to have a single strap  12  that traverse the back of the neck of the wearer (i.e., interface region  14  is the neck of the wearer). Moreover, it is contemplated for interface region  14  to be any support surface such as a shoulder, arm, neck, or other region of the body of the wearer. 
     In order to cushion the effect of straps  12  on interface region  14 , device  10  includes a cushion insert  20  according to the present invention at the interface region. 
     Cushion insert  20  is described with simultaneous reference to  FIGS. 2–4 . Insert  20  is a multi-layer structure configured to provide cushioning for region  14 , as well as to spread the load of device  10  across a larger area than possible with strap  12  alone. 
     Insert  20  is, preferably, disposed in strap  12 . Specifically, strap  12  has a first layer  22  and a second facing layer  24 . First and second layers  22 ,  24  are, preferably, fabric layers. For example, layers  22 ,  24  can be formed of fabric made of natural fibers (e.g., cotton), synthetic fibers (e.g., nylon), and any combination thereof. 
     First layer  22  faces the body of the wearer, while second layer  24  faces away from the body of the wearer. Insert  20  is, preferably, disposed between first and second layers  22 ,  24 , respectively. 
     Of course, it is contemplated by the present invention for insert  20  to be secured to first layer  22  or second layer  24  of the strap. Alternately, it is contemplated for strap  12  to have only one layer and for insert  20  to be secured to either side of the single layer strap. 
     Insert  20  includes a cushion material  26 , which is, preferably, a gelatinous material. As used herein, “gelatinous” shall mean a semi-solid material having flowable or viscous properties. For example, cushion material  26  can be a silicone gel commercially available from Grupo Empressarial of Columbia and having a brookfield viscosity of about 4100 centipoise (cps) at 25 degrees Celsius. Of course, it is contemplated by the present invention for cushion material  26  to be other gelatinous materials having a higher or lower viscosity. 
     Cushion material  26  is contained between a lower ply  28  and an upper ply  30  of plastic material. For example, upper and lower plies  28 ,  30  can be polyvinyl chloride (e.g., PVC). 
     In use, region  14  applies a force on insert  20  in the direction of arrow  32 . It has been found that force  32  causes cushion material  26  to move away from region  14 , which can limit the cushioning effects of the cushion material. For example, it has been found that force  32  causes cushion material  26  to exert pressure on upper ply  30  in a direction away from the force, which can cause the upper ply to expand outward away from region  14 . 
     Advantageously, insert  20  includes a support member  34  positioned at upper ply  30 . In this position, support member  34  can mitigate the occurrence of cushion material  26  expanding outward away from region  14 . Namely, support member  34  can aid in applying a restraining force to cushion material  26  in a direction opposite force  32 . Thus, support member  34  has been found to be effective at maintaining the cushioning effects of cushion material  26  to a greater degree than is possible without the support member. 
     Support member  34  can be formed of a rubber material, such as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) rubber. Preferably, support member  34  is an open or closed celled foam EVA rubber material. In addition, support member  34  is, preferably, secured to upper ply  30  with a cover  36 . Cover  36  can be the same material as upper and lower plies  28 ,  30 . Alternately, cover  36  can be a different material than upper and lower plies  28 ,  30 . 
     Accordingly, insert  20  is a multi-layer structure including cover  36 , support member  34 , upper ply  30 , cushion material  26 , and lower ply  28 . Cushion material  26 , preferably, has viscous properties to distribute and cushion force  32  across region  14 . In addition, support member  34  aids in mitigating the flow of cushion material  26  outwards away from region  14 , which has been found to increase the cushioning effect of the cushion material. 
     Thus, insert  20  is particularly suited for insertion into and/or securement to strap  12  to easily and quickly render the strap a cushioned strap. 
     It should also be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, “upper”, “lower”, and the like may be used herein to modify various elements. These modifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential, or hierarchical order to the modified elements unless specifically stated. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.