Abstract:
A foldable one-piece insert (i.e., bra liner) worn between the bra and the body having irritation reducing and/or absorbent material portions which line the bra cup and that lie under the supported breast, and portions which extends toward the torso rear under the bra side straps and a portion extending below the bra line along the torso. The invention further includes a material tab disposed between the material portions lining the bra cups, which can optionally be worn up to bridge the area between the bra cups for added protection, comfort and absorption of perspiration, or be folded down and out of sight when worn with lower cut neckline outer garments. A braless liner may also be used without a bra. The braless liner may be fastened to the female torso at the rear of the female torso with attachment mechanisms.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation in part Application of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 12/366,132, filed on Feb. 5, 2009 which is a continuation in part application of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 12/257,975 filed Oct. 24, 2008, the entire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to bra liners and braless liners. By way of example and not limitation, the liners may have a contoured profile to provide selective contact with the body when used with or without conventional bras. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Wearers of bras experience sores, rashes, skin tags and irritation under the breast resulting from perspiration and skin-to-skin contact. Furthermore, conventional bra construction offers little to address this problem area, having a material or construction which are designed for esthetic concerns. Additional discomfort arises in areas under the bra peripherally related to the breast such as under the side straps, and in areas adjacent to the bra, such as immediately below the bra line along the torso. 
         [0004]    Moreover, for females that do not wear a bra, they do not have an appropriate alternative. 
         [0005]    For the foregoing reasons, there is a need in the art for a device to provide comfort to females when wearing a bra and when braless. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The bra liner accordingly to the present invention provides a foldable one-piece insert worn between the bra and the body having irritation reducing or absorbent material portions which line the bra cup and that lie under the supported breast, and portions which extends toward the torso rear under the bra side straps, and a portion extending below the bra line along the torso. 
         [0007]    A further feature includes a material tab disposed between the bra cup liners which can optionally be worn up to bridge the area between the bra cups for added protection, comfort and absorption of perspiration, or be folded down and out of sight when worn with lower cut neckline outer garments. 
         [0008]    A still further feature according to the present invention provides removable inserts which are retained within the bra cup by material associated with the bra cup liner to help prevent dislocation of the inserts, which may comprise additional irritation reducing or absorbent material which may be desirable for comfort after surgery or exercise. Inserts also include appropriately shaped structures which provide lift, support, protection or esthetic enhancement. 
         [0009]    A still further feature includes a curved front edge of the cup liner portions which are shaped to lie under the breast while avoiding contact with the breast nipple and areola areas to reduce of potential irritation to allow convenient breast feeding. 
         [0010]    When worn, the bra liner according to one aspect of the present invention is foldable with one portion including the cup liners being placed in the bra cups, and a second portion which is unfolded and placed below the bra under the bra cups. Additional members extend from the cup liners and are placed between the bra straps and the wearer. The bra liner may be adjusted by the wearer to separate skin-to-skin contact and otherwise positioned between the bra and the torso for the desired comfort and/or absorption not possible with the bra. While worn, the material tab between the cup liners may be revealed by folding up, between the bra cups, or down, and inserts may be added or removed as desired. 
         [0011]    The liner may also be worn without a bra. To this end, the liner may be secured to the female torso in a similar manner compared to a typical bra. By way of example and not limitation, the portions which extend toward the torso rear under the bra side straps may reach behind the back of the female torso and be removeably attachable to each other such as by hooks and eyelets, hooks and loops, buttons and button holes, snaps or adhesives. Alternatively, the portions may be permanently attached to each other by sewing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same become better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar part throughout the several view, and wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a rear elevation view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an elevation view of exemplary inserts as may be applied to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a rear elevation view of another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5   
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a top view of a fastenable liner wherein terminal end portions are attachable to each other; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7A  is an illustration of hooks and eyelets for attaching the terminal end portions of the fastenable liner to each other; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7B  is an illustration of hooks and loops for attaching the terminal end portions of the fastenable liner to each other; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7C  is an illustration of buttons and button holes for attaching the terminal end portions of the fastenable liner to each other; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7D  is an illustration of snaps for attaching the terminal end portions of the fastenable liner to each other; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 7E  is an illustration of the terminal end portions of the fastenable liner permanently sewn to each other. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    With the construction of a typical bra being understood, an exemplary embodiment of a bra liner  50  according to the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , including cup liners  52  which the wearer inserts into the bra and places under the breast, is attached to a strip  54  which retains the cup liners  52  in relative position and generally symmetrically outward from a midline  60 , and when worn extends at least partially below the bra to be generally disposed over and at least partially in contact the body adjacent to the breast area to provide additional comfort and/or absorption in that area as well. The exemplary bra liner  50  further includes material bands  56  extending from the cup liner  52  parallel and include edges  76  connected to the edge  78  of strip  54  toward the ends thereof to form a foldable seam  55  with an opposing edge  70 . 
         [0026]    In the exemplary embodiment of the bra liner  50 , both the bands  56  and the strip  54  have outer ends  74  and  72  respectively, terminating at substantially the same distance from the midline  60 , but alternate embodiments may have either band(s)  56  or strip  54  extend farther. Typically, the bands  56  extend at least partially under the bra side straps (not shown) when in use. Furthermore, for applications where the bra liner  50  is to be worn to more completely encircle the body of the wearer, at least the bands  56  (and optionally the ends  72  of strip  54 ) can extended further along the bra straps to extend further around the torso of the wearer, and in some embodiments, touch or overlap each other, as discussed below in greater detail. Alternately, embodiments having a shorter terminus  66  of the bands  56  and/or strip  54  may be provided. 
         [0027]    The cup liners  52  typically each have an arcuate edge  80  substantially opposite the edge  82  which edge  82  joins the strip  54  at seam  55 , and further that arcuate edge  80  is generally shorter than edge  82  comprising material shaped or sufficiently pliant to conform to the bra cup when worn by the wearer. The edges  80  and  82  are connected by outer side  84 A and inner side  84 B, which are shaped to conform to provide the desired function as described above. The outer sides  84 A are typically connected to the inner ends  79  of bands  56 . The specific dimensions of the cup liner width between edges  80  and  82 , as well as the shape or radius of the arcuate (e.g., concave) edge  80  is scaled according to the size of the wearer and corresponding bra, and dimensioned to substantially avoid contact with the breast nipple and if desired, the areola as well when placed in the bra. It is also contemplated that the edge  82  may be straight or convex. 
         [0028]    An optional material tab  58  as shown in  FIG. 1 , has an edge  59  connected to the strip  54  edge  78  and is foldable thereon from a ‘down’ position as shown overlaying the strip  54 , to an ‘up’ position  58 A where it at least partially overlaps the cup insert  52  inner edges  84 B. It is also contemplated that the bra liner  50  does not incorporate the material tab  58 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the cup inserts are separated with an intervening space between inner edges  84 A, and the present embodiment bridges at least a portion of that space. The tab  58  may be pulled up ( 58 A) for protection, absorption and comfort as needed. 
         [0029]    Exemplary optional inserts  62 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , may be applied to the present invention, and by reference to the exemplary embodiment  50  of  FIGS. 1-3 , generally retained on the cup liner  52  with optional flaps  64  shown in  FIG. 1 , which flaps  64  have outer edges connected to the cup liner outer edges  84   a  and lower edges connected to the cup liner  52  lower edge  82  to form a pouch to receive an edge, side, end, margin or other portion of the inserts  62  when worn by the wearer. The inserts are selected by the wearer to provide additional protection, to reduce irritation, to enhance absorption, to provide support, lift, and esthetic improvement (including prosthesis) as desired. It is also contemplated that the bra liner  50  does not incorporate the inserts  62  and the flaps  64 . 
         [0030]    A further embodiment  100  of the present invention is depicted in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . This alternative embodiment functions similarly to the embodiment portrayed in  FIGS. 1-4 , but does not include bands  56 . Further, the bra liner  100  comprises round corners  175  at the termination of strip  154 . In this embodiment, the cup liners  152  and tab  158  attach directly to the upper edge  153  of the strip  154 . 
         [0031]    The material used in the embodiments of the present invention in its entirety or individual component members thereof, may comprise irritation mitigating material, perspiration or fluid absorbent material, elastic material, padding, and other material sufficient to provide the embodiments described above. Particular material such as cotton, cotton blends and organic or non-allergenic material may be used for all or portions of the various embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0032]    The embodiments discussed herein may provide different sizing from small to extra large, and offer extended length to accommodate users who wish to extend the liner to farther under the bra side straps to extend to the back of the torso. The embodiments discussed herein may also be adapted for use with nursing bras that may be used in accordance with the opening afforded by the front edge of the cup liner portion. 
         [0033]    As a further alternative, referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the distal end portions  200  of the strip  54  and the material bands  56  may alternatively be fabricated from a single layer stretch material. Terminal end portions  202  (see  FIG. 7 ) of the distal end portions  200  may have mating fasteners  204 A, B as shown in  FIG. 7 . The distal end portions  200  may be sufficiently long such that the terminal end portions  202  may reach behind the female  206  and be attachable to each other to secure the fastenable liner  50 A to the female&#39;s torso. 
         [0034]    The fasteners may be hooks  206  and eyelets  208 , as shown in  FIG. 7A . The hooks  206  may engage eyelets that are disposed along the length of the distal end portions  200 . In this manner, the female may attach the hook  206  to any one of the eyelets  208  by stretching the distal end portions  200  to fit the body size of the female. Other types of fasteners are also contemplated. By way of example and not limitation, the fasteners  204 A, B may be mating hooks  210  and loops  212  (see  FIG. 7B ), buttons  214  and button holes  216  (see  FIG. 7C ), mating snaps  218 ,  220  (see  FIG. 7D ) and/or adhesive. It is also contemplated that the terminal end portions  202  may be permanently attached to each other. By way of example and not limitation, the terminal end portions  202  of the distal end portions  200  may be sewn  222  together (see  FIG. 7E ). 
         [0035]    Referring  FIG. 7A , the hooks  206  can be selectively attached one of the eyelets  208  by stretching the distal end portions  200  to fit the body size of the female. Referring to  FIG. 7B , the distal end portions  200  can be stretched then the hooks  210  attached to the loops  212  to custom fit the braless liner  50 A to the body size of the wearer. Referring now to  FIG. 7C , the buttons  214  may be attached any of the button holes  216  by stretching the distal end portions  202  to fit the body size of the wearer. Referring now to  FIG. 7D , the snaps  220  may be engaged to any one of the mating snaps  218  by stretching the distal end portions  200  to fit the body size of the wearer. 
         [0036]    The distal end portions  200  may be fabricated from any type of material including but not limited to a stretchable fabric, spandex, cotton, paper and combinations thereof. The distal end portions  200  may be a single layer or have multiple layers to control the amount of stretch. 
         [0037]    The benefit of the fastenable braless liner  50 A is that this liner  50 A will stay in position even if the female is not wearing a bra. This may be beneficial for mothers that are nursing and not wearing a bra during normal day to day activities. Also, certain females may prefer the fastenable braless liner  50 A over the non-fastenable liner  50 . Additionally, small busted females may prefer the fastenable braless liner  50 A over the non fastenable liner  50  since it is easier to maintain the position of the fastenable braless liner  50 A during normal day to day activities. The fastenable braless liner  50 A may also provide additional comfort for females who have had surgery and cannot wear a bra during recovery. Additionally, females may prefer to wear the fastenable braless liner  50 A when wearing strapless clothing. 
         [0038]    The material used in the embodiments of the liner  50 A in its entirety or individual component members thereof, may comprise irritation mitigating material, perspiration or fluid absorbent material, elastic material, padding, and other material sufficient. Particular material such as cotton, cotton blends and organic or non-allergenic material may be used for all or portions of the liner  50 A. 
         [0039]    The liner  50 A discussed herein may provide different sizing from small to extra large, and offer extended length to accommodate users who wish to extend the liner  50 A farther under the bra side straps to extend to the back of the torso. The liner  50 A discussed herein may also be adapted for use with nursing bras that may be used in accordance with the opening afforded by the front edge of the cup liner portion. 
         [0040]    The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.