Patent Publication Number: US-2012028540-A1

Title: Cleavage enhancing bra system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/369,872 filed Aug. 2, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to bras or brassieres, and in particular relates to a bra having an open front between the cups and an enhancing element that adjustably increases the cleavage of a person wearing the bra. 
     2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     Bras have been used to cover, support and enhance a woman&#39;s breasts for many years. Bras typically have over-the-shoulder straps, cups for each breast, a strap or straps around the back, and a strap connecting the cups in the front. 
     Bras are typically worn under clothing and are not visible to others. The trend in women&#39;s clothes has been toward more revealing clothes, creating a similar trend in bras to be smaller, thinner and/or less obtrusive. For example, strapless bras are useful for women wearing clothing that reveals the upper part of the shoulders. 
     Low cut dresses are sometimes worn by women that reveal the area on the chest of a woman between the breasts. 
     United States Patent Application No. 2010/0009598 discusses an open front undergarment having a form that allows the back of the garment to be closed and the front of the garment to be completely open and free from clasps, fabric or fasteners in the front between the cups. The open front undergarment includes a brassiere having an underwire and an overwire to form a frame, a rear band, a pair of cups extending from opposite ends of the rear band a cover material and a slip-resistant band. The underwire runs through the lower perimeter of a lower portion of the brassiere and the overwire runs through the upper perimeter. The underwire and overwire can be formed of a metal or a metal coated with plastic. The frame can also be formed of a single ductile member. The brassiere also includes a flexure region at the rear band to allow for flexure of the back and torso of the wearer. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,511,641 discusses a self-supporting brassiere that fits snugly without completely encircling the torso, permitting free expansion of the chest without injury to the skin, and producing the novel effect of exposing an area of the body between the breasts. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A device for enhancing breasts is provided that includes a member adapted to extend along at least a portion of a back of a user and a first cup coupled to a first end of the frame and adapted to at least partially cover a first breast of the user. The device also includes a first element coupled to the first end of the frame and adapted to exert a first mediolateral compressive force on the first breast. 
     The device may include a second cup coupled to a second end of the member and adapted to at least partially cover a second breast of the user, and a second element coupled to the second end of the member and adapted to exert a second mediolateral compressive force on the second breast. In the device, the first and second cups may be spaced from each on a front of the user when the device is worn by the user. 
     The first element may be adjustable to at least one of increase and decrease the first mediolateral compressive force. The member may include plastic and/or metal. The first cup and/or the first element may be integrally formed with the member. 
     The first element may include metal wire formed in a loop with both ends of the loop terminating at the first end of the member. The first cup may include metal wire formed in a loop with both ends of the loop terminating at the first end of the member. 
     The first element may include a plastic paddle. The member may be rigid and/or semi-rigid. The first cup may be adapted to conceal the first element from view when the device is worn by the user. 
     A device for enhancing breasts is provided that includes first and second cups coupled to a member adapted to extend along at least a portion of a back of a user. The first and second cups are spaced from each on a front of the user when the device is worn by the user. The device also includes means for enhancing breasts of the user situated on the device where the first and second cups are coupled to the member. 
     The first and second cups may be adapted to at least partially cover a first breast and a second breast of the user, respectively. The means for enhancing breasts of the user may be adapted to exert a first mediolateral compressive force on a first breast of the user and a second mediolateral compressive force on a second breast of the user. 
     The means for enhancing breasts may be adjustable to increase and/or decrease the first and second mediolateral compressive forces. The member may include plastic and/or metal. The member may be rigid and/or semi-rigid. 
     The first and second cups may be adapted to at least partially conceal the means for enhancing breasts of the user when the device is worn by the user. The means for enhancing breasts of the user may be integrally formed with the member. The means for enhancing breasts of the user may include first and second metal wire loops coupled to the member proximate to where the first and second cups are coupled to the member. The means for enhancing breasts of the user may include a plastic paddle. 
     The present invention provides a strapless bra that includes a generally “C” shaped spring frame which extends around the back of the user. Each end of the frame engages a bra cup for supporting the breasts and exerts lateral and radial compressive forces through the bra cups for enhancement of cleavage. A projection from the frame may extend into the cup region to press mediolaterally on the breasts. The projection may be integrated in the frame, and may be composed of metal, plastic, or any other appropriate material. 
     The structure of the projection may be rigid or semi-rigid, metal or plastic, for instance coat hanger grade metal wire, arranged in a loop extending from the outer edge of the cup region toward the center. Alternatively, a paddle-shaped plastic element may be used. 
     These objects and the details of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective illustration of a person wearing a strapless bra constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective illustration of the spring frame of the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  without any fabric coverings; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the spring frame; 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of the bra with the spring frame biased open; 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevation view of the bra, with the cups shown in an unstressed position; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear elevation view of the bra with the spring frame biased open; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective illustration of a person wearing a strapless bra constructed in accordance with an alternate exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged scale sectional view taken along the plane  8 -- 8  of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9A  is an enlarged side elevation view of an exemplary cleavage enhancing element for a strapless bra; and 
         FIG. 9B  is an enlarged plan view of an alternative exemplary cleavage enhancing element for a strapless bra. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective illustration of a person shown in dashed lines wearing strapless enhancement bra  10  constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Bra  10  includes a pair of cups  12  which may be formed of fabric or the like and may include a soft lining or padding. Cups  12  may each include exterior loop  16 , which may be rigid or semi-rigid and composed of wire and/or plastic. The lining or padding of cups  12  may extend across a central area defined by exterior loops  16 . Exterior loops  16  may connect to back member  20  at connection point  26 . Back member  20  may be rigid or semi-rigid and composed of wire and/or plastic. Exterior loops  16  may be a continuation of the same wire metal of back member  20 , and therefore connection point  26  may be at a bend in the material forming back member  20  and exterior loops  16 . Interior loop  18  may extend into a cup region of cup  12  and may connect to back member  20  at connection point  26 . Interior loop  18  may be composed of the same material as back member  20 , or alternatively may be connected to back member  20  by a joint, which may be permanently or removably attachable. Interior loops  18  may be positioned away from the skin of a user with some or all of the lining or padding of cups  12  being between interior loops  18  and the user&#39;s skin. Alternatively, interior loops  18  may be directly adjacent to a user&#39;s skin, and/or may include a separate padding or lining extending across a central area defined by interior loops  18 . 
     Bra  10  may provide space  28  between cups  12  on a front side of the user. Interior loop  18  may provide a cleavage enhancing function to bra  10  by pressing mediolaterally, or towards a center line, namely towards space  28 , on the breasts of the user. The mediolateral force provided by interior loops  18  may derive from the rigid or semi-rigid characteristics of back member  20 . The rigid or semi-rigid characteristics of back member  20  may also provide a mediolateral force to cups  12  to improve the covering and/or supporting function of cups  12 . 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective illustration of spring frame  14  of the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , in a position wherein the ends are pulled apart or in the position as worn by a user, not shown. Spring frame  14  is generally “C” shaped and adapted to extend around the back of a user. Spring frame  14  may be formed of metal or plastic rod and may include peripheral spans  17 , which may be contiguous with exterior loops  16  by forming looped ends on a single piece of rod or wire forming peripheral spans  17 . Spring frame  14  may also include interior spans  19 , which may be contiguous with interior loops  18  by forming looped ends on a single piece of rod or wire forming peripheral spans  19 . In this case, cups  12  may be adjusted to change the support and coverage provided by the lining and padding by adjusting a bend in the wire forming peripheral spans  17  and exterior loops  16  at connection point  26  Likewise, in this embodiment, an enhancing effect of interior loops  18  may be adjusted by changing the direction and/or amount of bend in the wire forming interior spans  19  and interior loops  18  at connection point  26 . 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of spring frame  14  comprising bent rods forming back member  20 . The peripheral spans  17  of back member  20  are bent at connection point  26  and form exterior loops  16 . Exterior loops  16  form the periphery of a bra cup that is adapted to cover and/or support a breast, and internal loop  18  forms a cleavage enhancing element that exerts a lateral compressive force on the breast. The end portions of internal loop  18  may form loops within the confines of the looped ends of the peripheral span, and may include additional padding material in the form of a plastic covering, foam covering, or any other appropriate fabric or material. 
       FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of bra  10 , with cups  12  being pulled apart against the bias of the spring frame. When strapless bra  10  is worn by user, apex portions  22 ,  24  of cups  12  are spaced from one another, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Exterior loops  16  define the periphery of cups  12  and include apex portions  22 ,  24 , and fabric and/or padding is stretched between exterior loops  16 . Similar padding or fabric may be used to cover back member  20 . 
       FIG. 5  is a front elevation view of bra  10 , with cups  12  in an unstressed position. When bra  10  is not being worn by a user, the spring frame urges apex portions  22 ,  24  of cups  12  to overlap, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 6  is a rear elevation view of bra  10 , with cups  12  illustrated in an unstressed position. Back member  20  includes the spring frame, and the spring frame urges apex portions  22 ,  24  of cups  12  to overlap, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of bra  10   a  in which bra cup  12   a  is formed of a semi-rigid molded material and spring frame  14   a  comprises rods having ends which are adjustably slidably received in cup  12   a.  In the alternate embodiment, strapless enhancement bra  10   a  includes a pair of cups  12   a,  each of which is formed of a rigid or semi-rigid material such as plastic or foam. A “C” shaped spring frame  14   a  is comprised of a plurality of rods  17   a,    19   a,  having generally parallel end portions. The cleavage enhancement provided by bra  10   a  may be adjusted by positioning the ends of the rods  17   a,    19   a  at connection point  26  to adjust the size of enhancing element  36 . Alternatively, spring frame  14   a  may be made of plastic or any other appropriate material. 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged scale fragmentary sectional view taken along the plane  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7  and showing sockets which receive the rods of the spring frame. A pair of cups  12   a  is formed of a rigid or semi-rigid material such as plastic or foam and may include inner padded liner  30   a  of fabric or foam. A “C” shaped spring frame  14   a  is comprised of a plurality of rods  17   a,    19   a,  having generally parallel end portions which are slidingly received in mating apertures  32   a,  which extend laterally into each bra cup  12   a.  The cleavage enhancement provided by bra  10   a  may be adjusted by positioning the ends of the rods  17   a,    19   a  within the apertures  32   a  to adjust the size of enhancing element  36 . 
       FIG. 9A  is an enlarged side elevation view of connection point  26  of an exemplary cleavage enhancing element for bra  10  or  10   a.  Back member  20   a  includes receiving element  35  that is adapted to receive cleavage enhancing member  36  at adjustment point  34 . By increasing or decreasing the distance which cleavage enhancing member  36  is inserted into receiving element  35 , the cleavage enhancing aspect of the invention may be increased or decreased. Any appropriate connection mechanism may be used by receiving element  35  and cleavage enhancing member  36 , for instance a friction fit or a spring loaded latch interacting with a notched element. Such a spring loaded element may be actively controlled by a button, or may be activated by pushing or pulling the associated member or element to compress the spring to release the latch from the notch. 
       FIG. 9B  is an enlarged plan view of connection point  26  of an alternative cleavage enhancing element for bra  10  or  10   a.  Paddle  38  is connected by hinge  39  to back member  20   a.  Paddle  38  is internal to cup  12   a  in  FIG. 9B . However, in alternative exemplary embodiments, paddle  38  may be integrally formed with cup  12   a  and may be sandwiched between different padding and/or lining layers of cup  12   a.  Hinge  39  may be operated by any appropriate method, including for instance by direct adjustment by a user and/or by a button allowing free movement, the release of which button would lock hinge  39  in position. 
     While only a limited number of preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it is obvious that many modifications and variations could be made thereto. For instance, the cleavage enhancing element described herein may be used with a bra having over-the-shoulder straps, and/or with a bra that has cups that connect in the front of a user. It is intended to cover all of those modifications and variations which fall within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.