Patent Publication Number: US-6336840-B2

Title: Article of clothing with built-in bra

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/358,274 filed Jul. 21, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,111 which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Ser. No. 09/345,256, filed Jun. 30, 1999, which claims priority to provisional application U.S. Ser. No. 60/091,374, filed Jul. 1, 1998 the entire disclosure of each application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to women&#39;s clothing apparel, particularly garments which cover a woman&#39;s breasts. Specifically, the invention provides for fixing at least a portion of a bra to the garment under which the bra is worn. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Presently available women&#39;s clothing apparel generally do not include breast support. Typically, breast support systems, such as a bra, are a component separate from the shirt or dress and have a separate strap arrangement for supporting the bra and garment over a woman&#39;s shoulder. 
     One disadvantage of having a separate strap for the bra and for the garment is that the bra strap can be displaced from being completely covered by the garment shoulder strap when a woman performs routine activities while wearing the garment/bra arrangement. Exposure of the bra strap beneath the garment strap can give an unkempt look. This can be a particular problem when the shoulder support straps of the, garment are thin, i.e., about the same width as the bra strap. In addition, the independent movement of the two straps on a woman&#39;s shoulder can be constantly irritating and require repeated manual adjustment to realign the bra strap and the garment strap. 
     One alternative is to use a single strap to provide over-the-shoulder support to both the cup portions of the bra and the garment. Such arrangements are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,398,538 and 4,798,557. However, in general, arrangements having a single strap for both the bra and garment do not provide the support necessary for full figured women. 
     Another alternative is to provide the garment with a built in bra. Such arrangements are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,478,278 and 5,678,246. While these arrangements may provide adequate breast support, the bra and garment are generally fixed together over portions of the body of the bra (i.e., cups, sides and back region) and the strap region. This arrangement can be disadvantageous because the garment cannot move freely relative to the body of the bra. 
     Clasp systems are available for fixing the garment strap and bra strap in position as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,545. However, in addition to being unsightly, clasps generally only provide a localized point of fixation thus allowing relative displacement between the garment shoulder strap and the bra strap at regions that are not directly fixed together by the clasp. 
     Another alternative is to not wear a bra when wearing a sleeveless or thin strapped garment. This, however, is frequently a disadvantage for full figured women or women performing sports or other physical activities. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for women&#39;s garments, particularly garments that are sleeveless or thin strapped, that permits constant coverage of the strap of an underlying bra by the garment shoulder strap. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Throughout the specification, guidance is provided through lists of examples. In each instance, the recited list serves only as a representative group. It is not meant, however, that the list is exclusive. 
     The invention is directed to articles of clothing including a garment and a bra or bra straps. According to the invention, a garment can include a first and second garment support which extend from the front of the garment to the back of the garment. Alternatively, a garment can include a first and second garment support which extend from the front of the garment to behind the wearer&#39;s neck where the first and second garment supports attach to one another. 
     A bra according to the invention includes a bra body and first and second bra straps. The bra body has a front, a back and sides. In a typical embodiment, the first and second bra straps are fastened to the first and second garment supports, respectively. The bra straps can be non-removable or selectively removable from the garment supports. In some embodiments, the body of the bra can be selectively detachable from the bra straps. 
     Articles of clothing according to the invention are particularly advantageous for use with garments having garment supports which are narrow, such as “spaghetti straps.” The garment of an article of clothing according to the invention can be a dress, a blouse, a tank top, halter top, tube top, bathing suit, etc. 
     Fastening the bra straps to the garment supports provides the herein disclosed articles of clothing with an overall neater appearance. In addition, the articles provide breast support and comfort for regular use or for use during physical activity. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1 a - 1   c  illustrate an embodiment of a prior art garment and bra arrangement; 
     FIGS. 2 a - 2   c  illustrate one embodiment of a garment and bra arrangement according to the invention; 
     FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b  illustrate one preferred embodiment of the invention wherein the garment is freely moveable over the body of the bra while the garment supports are fastened along a portion of the bra straps; 
     FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b  illustrate a front and back view of a garment with a bra beneath, in phantom lines, wherein the bra straps are fastened substantially along the garment supports; 
     FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a bra according to the invention; 
     FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a garment and bra arrangement according to the invention including the bra of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of an alternative embodiment of an article of clothing according to the invention; 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a back view of the embodiment of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a front view of an alternative embodiment of an article of clothing according to the invention; 
     FIG. 10 illustrates a back view of the embodiment of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 illustrates a front view of an alternative embodiment of an article of clothing according to the invention; 
     FIG. 12 illustrates a back view of the embodiment of FIG. 11; 
     FIGS. 13 a  and  13   b  illustrate an alternative embodiment of an article of clothing according to the invention; and 
     FIGS. 14 a  and  14   b  illustrate another alternative embodiment of an article of clothing according to the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure is directed to women&#39;s garments, worn with a bra underneath, that provides substantial, continuous coverage of the strap of the bra. In a preferred embodiment, the garment is mobile relative to the body of the bra. 
     As used herein, the term “garment” refers to women&#39;s clothing apparel that covers the upper body region including the breasts, for example, dresses, blouses, t-shirts, tank tops, bathing suits, halter tops, tube tops, etc. The “garment shoulder support” or “garment support” refers to that region of the garment that extends from the front of the garment to the back of the garment in the shoulder region to support the garment on a woman&#39;s shoulder (i.e., over-the-shoulder-support). The garment support can be narrow or broad. According to the invention, narrow and broad garment supports include the supports of all sleeveless garments. Narrow and broad support garments may include lateral extensions such as long or short sleeves. The over-the-shoulder supports of a garment having narrow shoulder supports (e.g., straps), may sometimes be referred to as “spaghetti straps.” 
     As used herein, the term “bra” refers to common breast support systems which fall under the term “bra” and which have a “bra strap” that extends from the front of the bra over a woman&#39;s shoulder to the back of the bra. The “body” of the bra includes the front, back and sides of the bra. The “front” of the bra includes that portion of the bra which directly surrounds or supports the breasts (e.g., cups). The “back” of the bra refers to that region of the bra that passes across a woman&#39;s back. The back of the bra often includes a clasp or other similar arrangement to facilitate putting on and taking off the bra. The “sides” of the bra are between the front and the back and in use are generally positioned under a woman&#39;s arm pits. As used herein, the “body” does not include the bra straps which typically support the bra in place over a woman&#39;s shoulder. Examples of bras suitable for the invention include, underwire bras, push-up bras, padded bras, pocket bras with removable padding, wireless bras, lace bras, etc. 
     In a typical embodiment of the invention, the bra straps can be attached to the garment support substantially along the length of the bra strap from the front to the back of the garment. According to the disclosure, the bra straps can be fastened to the garment shoulder supports using fasteners such as hook and loop (e.g., VELCRO®), snaps, zippers, buttons, loops, stitched thread, pattern (e.g., continuous, discontinuous, etc.), etc. 
     Fastening the bra straps to the garment supports, substantially along the length of the bra strap underlying the garment support, provides a neat appearance without constant visualization of the bra straps protruding outside the garment shoulder supports. By fastening the bra to the garment supports only in the over-the-shoulder regions, preferred embodiments of the herein disclosed articles of clothing also provide free movement of the garment relative to the body of the bra. Although not presently preferred, in some embodiments, the bra strap and garment support may be fastened only in the region from the front of the garment to the top of the shoulder or from the back of the garment to the top of the shoulder. According to this embodiment, in the former arrangement (i.e., fastened from front of garment to top of shoulder), the bra strap and garment support could extend to the back of the garment (or bra) not fastened to one another. In the latter arrangement, the bra strap and garment support could extend to the front of the garment (or bra) not fastened to one another. 
     In some embodiments, the garment supports may not extend to the back of the garment. For example, the garment supports may extend from the front of the garment and attach to one another behind the wearer&#39;s neck. In these embodiments, the garment supports and bra straps can be fastened together starting at about the front of the garment and extend together along the length of the garment support to a region of the garment support which in use would be positioned at, or behind, the wearer&#39;s neck. At this point, the support straps can be attached to one another by tying (e.g., a halter top) or using known clasping arrangements. 
     In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the disclosure provides for wearing a bra beneath a garment having narrow shoulder supports, such as “spaghetti straps.” In a preferred embodiment, the garment is freely moveable relative to the body of the bra but fastened from the front to back of the garment along substantially the length of the garment shoulder support. 
     As used herein, the term “substantially” is used to indicate some variation in, for example, the location of a fastener, but the variation still providing the function within the scope and principles of the invention. 
     As will be disclosed below, the bra straps of the invention can be fastened to the garments to provide for removal of the bra from the garment. In some embodiments, the body of the bra can be detached from the straps, regardless of whether the straps are removable or non-removable from the garment supports. This feature advantageously provides for using the bra, or body of the bra, with different garments or the same garment with different bras or bra bodies. This aspect of the invention provides for articles of clothing to be available which have bra straps fastened to the garment supports, but no bra body. A selectively detachable bra body would be available separately. Alternatively, an article of clothing can be available with garment supports which include a fastener capable of fastening a removable bra, but no bra. Separate removable bras would also be available. These embodiments allow the consumer to mix and match garments and bras, or bra bodies. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1 a - 1   c  illustrate one example of a problem with prior art arrangements of a bra and garment which is addressed by the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, tank top  10  has garment supports  11   a  and  11   b  which are narrow and may be relatively displaced so as not to cover the bra straps  12   a  and  12   b  of the bra beneath the tank top  10 . FIG. 1 b  is a side view and FIG. 1 c  is a back view of the same garment arrangement as FIG. 1 a.    
     FIGS. 2 a - 2   c  illustrate one embodiment of a clothing article  40  according to the invention comprising a tank top  41  having garment supports  42   a  and  42   b  which are fastened to the bra straps (not visible) substantially along the length of the bra straps in the region of the garment supports. Referring to FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b , in one preferred embodiment, garment shoulder supports  42   a  and  42   b  of clothing article  40  and bra straps  51   a  and  51   b  (not visible in this view), of bra  50  are fastened together substantially from the front end  55   a  of bra strap  51   a , to the back of garment  41 . FIG. 3 b  illustrates that in preferred embodiments, the region of the garment  41  which covers the body  54  of bra  50  can be freely removable from the body  53  of the bra. 
     FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b  illustrate a front and back view of another embodiment of a clothing article  55 , such as a drape neck top  56 , showing the body  60  of bra  61  in phantom lines. The body  60  of bra  61  includes a front  62 , a back  63  and sides  64   a  and  64   b . The front  62  of bra  61  includes cups  65   a  and  65   b . The bra straps  66   a  and  66   b  (phantom lines) are fastened to the garment supports  67   a  and  67   b  of top  56  by fastener  68   a  and  68   b  which is represented in the illustration by diagonal lines. The fastener can provide for the bra to be non-removable from the garment such as by a threaded stitch, an adhesive, etc. or selectively removable by using, for example, hook and loop (VELCRO®). zipper, snaps, buttons, clasps, etc. If a threaded stitch is used, one or more rows of a continuous or intermittent stitch pattern can be used. 
     The back  63  of bra  61  includes a centrally located clasp  69  to facilitate putting on and taking off bra  61 . In addition, an adjustment arrangement  70   a  and  70   b  can be provided for adjustment of the length of bra straps  66   a  and  66   b , respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the body  60  of bra  63  is not fastened to the top  56 . However, bra straps  66   a  and  66   b  are fastened to garment supports  67   a  and  67   b  substantially along the length of the garment supports  67   a  and  67   b  from the front  71  to the back  72  of garment  56 . Thus, the body  60  of bra  61  is freely moveable beneath top  56  for comfort and neat appearance. The unkempt appearance of the bra straps  66   a ,  66   b  displaced from beneath the garment supports  67   a ,  67   b  is eliminated. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6, illustrate one embodiment of a bra of the invention wherein the body of the bra is selectively detachable from the bra straps. This embodiment permits interchangeability of bra bodies and garments. Referring to FIG. 5, bra  110  includes a body  100 , comprising front  101 , sides  102   a ,  102   b , back  103 , and straps  104   a ,  104   b.    
     Front  101  of bra  110  comprises first cup  150   a  and second cup  150   b . In this embodiment, cups  150   a  and  150   b  include a base region  151   a ,  151   b  and an apex region  152   a ,  152   b . The tear-drop shape of cups  150   a  and  150   b  provides for positioning front attachments  106   a  and  106   b  at apex region  152   a ,  152   b  to provide even and comfortable support for the wearer. This bra cup configuration also provides a smoother appearance under a garment without a visible defining line at the top edge of the bra. In this embodiment, body  100  is attached to the bra straps  104   a ,  104   b  by strap attachment arrangement  105  which provides for selectively attaching and detaching the bra straps  104   a .  104   b  to the front  101  and back  103  of the body  100  of bra  110 . According to this embodiment, strap attachment arrangement  105  can include front attachments  106   a ,  106   b  which are the same or different than back attachments  107   a ,  107   b . In the illustrated embodiment, front attachments  106   a ,  106   b  each include a hook members  108 , mounted at the front ends  109   a ,  109   b  of straps  104   a ,  104   b , to selectively attach and detach from loop members  11   a ,  11   b  at the front  101  of bra  110 . Back attachments  107   a .  107   b  each also include hook members  108  mounted at the back ends  112   a ,  112   b  of straps  104   a .  104   b  which can selectively attach and detach from loop members  113   a ,  113   b  at the back  103  of bra  110 . It will be appreciated that the relative locations of the hook members and loop members can be the inverse of that illustrated. Also, other strap attachment arrangements  105 , which provide for selective detachability of the body of the bra from the straps, such as hook and loop (VELCRO®), buttons, snaps, clasps, zippers, etc., can be used. 
     As illustrated, an adjustment arrangement  120   a  and  120   b  can be included for adjusting the length of bra straps  104   a ,  104   b . Suitable adjustment arrangements are known in the art. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates that the feature of selective detachability of body  100  of bra  110  from straps  104   a  and  104   b  (not visible) still permits for the bra  110  to be freely moveable beneath a garment  160 . In addition, as described previously for other embodiments, a clothing article including a strap attachment arrangement  105  for selective detachment of the bra body  100  can include a fastener  161  which provides for the bra straps to be removably or non-removably fastened to the garment supports. 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an alternative embodiment of an article of clothing  200  according to the invention. According to this embodiment, garment  201  includes garment supports  202   a ,  202   b  which attach to each other using a garment support attachment  203  behind the wearer&#39;s neck. As illustrated in phantom lines, bra  204  includes a body  205  having a front  206 , sides  207   a ,  207   b  and back  208 . Article of clothing  200  includes fastener  209   a  and  209   b  (diagonal lines) to fasten bra straps  210   a  and  210   b  (hatched line) to garment supports  202   a ,  202   b  from the front  220  of the garment  201  to near the garment support attachment  203  using previously described removable or non-removable fasteners. Also, as described for other embodiments, bra  204  can include a body  205  which is selectively detachable or non-selectively detachable to bra straps  210   a  and  210   b.    
     Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, in another embodiment, a halter top  300 , including a removable or non-removable, detachable or non-detachable bra  301 , is illustrated. According to this embodiment, the bra straps  302   a ,  302   b  of bra  301  are fastened by a fastener  303   a ,  303   b  (diagonal lines) along a portion of garment supports  304   a ,  304   b , preferably extending at least a distance along the support straps  303   a ,  303   b  to near the wearer&#39;s neck. The bra straps  302   a ,  302   b  can extend to the end of ties  305   a ,  305   b  (i.e., garment supports) or stop at or near the wearer&#39;s neck as illustrated. 
     In another embodiment of a halter top  400 , shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a bra  401  lacking bra straps may be used. According to this embodiment, small triangular shaped regions  402   a ,  402   b  at the front  403  of bra  401 , near each of the apexes  404   a ,  404   b , are attached to the garment  405 . The small regions  402   a ,  402   b  of attachment can also be used in clothing articles wherein bra straps are present and fastened to the garment support. 
     FIGS. 13 a  and  13   b  illustrate a front and back view of another embodiment of a clothing article  500 , such as tank top  501 , showing the body  502  of bra  503  in phantom lines. The body  502  of bra  503  includes a front  504 , a back  505  and sides  506   a  and  506   b . The front  504  of bra  503  includes cups  507   a  and  507   b . The bra straps  508   a  and  508   b  (phantom lines) are fastened to the garment supports  509   a  and  509   b  of tank top  501  by fastener  510   a  and  510   b  which is represented in the illustration by diagonal lines. The fastener can provide for the bra to be non-removable or removable from the garment as discussed for other embodiments of the invention. FIGS. 13 a  and  13   b  also illustrate that a bra strap adjustment arrangement  521   a ,  521   b  can be located along bra straps  508   a  and  508   b , respectively, near the front  504  of the body  502  of bra  503 . Also, as illustrated in this embodiment, rather than having a central clasp at the back  505  of the body  502  of bra  503  for facilitating putting the bra on and taking bra off, a clasp  520  can be located at the front  504  of the body  502  of bra  503 . 
     FIGS. 14 a  and  14   b  illustrate an article of clothing  600  wherein the body  601  of bra  602  includes a clasp  620  at the front  604  of the body  601 . A strap attachment arrangement  605  for selectively detaching the body  601  of bra  602  is illustrated. In addition, this embodiment shows that an article of clothing  600  can have strap adjustment arrangements  606  located at the front  607   a ,  607   b  of bra straps  608   a ,  608   b  and/or at the back  609   a ,  609   b  of bra straps  608   a ,  608   b.    
     In addition, a bra of the invention can also include a bra body having a clasp arrangement at the front and back of the body of the bra to facilitate putting on and taking off the bra. Such a bra body can be removable or non-removable from the garment and the bra body can be non-detachable or selectively detachable from the bra straps. Also, although not presently preferred, an article of clothing can also have a hook member mounted at the front ends and back ends of the garment supports. A previously described bra body can include loop members at the front and back of the bra body to selectively detach the bra body from the hook members at the garment supports. As discussed previously, the relative locations of the hook members and loop members (or other strap attachment arrangements) can be inverse to that stated. However, because this embodiment lacks bra straps, it is less preferred for providing support than other embodiments of the invention. 
     The disclosed arrangements provide for the bra straps to fully support the body of the bra without relative displacement of the bra straps from beneath the garment supports. Thus, an article of clothing according to the invention eliminates the need for repeated rearrangement of the garment support and the bra strap to keep the bra strap hidden beneath the garment support. Also, unlike safety pins, clasps or other devices that provide a point fixation between the garment support and the bra strap, the fasteners of the present invention not only maintain the relative position of the garment support to the bra strap but also eliminate visualization of the bra strap in regions away from single point fixation when bending, turning or performing some other movement that can cause the bra strap to separate from the garment support if only fixed together at a single point. 
     Fixation of the bra strap to the garment shoulder support is advantageous for use with sleeveless garments, and particularly garments with a narrow (thin) shoulder supports (e.g., spaghetti straps) for providing a neater appearance. Fastening the bra strap to the garment support according to the invention is particularly beneficial to women needing a B-cup bra or larger as well as women needing an A-cup who may wish to include padding within the bra. It will be appreciated that an article of clothing according to the invention can include bras having varied cup sizes, thicknesses, with or without underwires, pads, push-ups or any other components which may be used with or as a part of the bra. 
     The articles of clothing according to the invention advantageously provide breast support with increased comfort for regular use or for jogging, running, skiing or other physical activity with a feeling of security and without the pain which can be associated with un-supported breasts. 
     The entire disclosure of all patents cited in this disclosure are incorporated herein by reference. 
     From the foregoing detailed description it has been shown how the objects of the invention have been obtained in a preferred manner. However, modifications and equivalence of the disclosed concepts such as those which would occur to one of ordinary skill in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.