Patent Publication Number: US-9408421-B2

Title: Interchangeable brassiere device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/988,364 filed on May 5, 2014. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to interchangeable brassiere devices. More specifically, the present invention provides a pair of brassiere cups adapted to be positioned on and provide support to a user&#39;s chest, wherein a plurality of interchangeable side panels are removably secured to the ends of the brassiere cups adapted to allow the brassiere cups to be removably secured to a user&#39;s chest. A first pair of side panels extend from the brassiere cups adapted to be positioned horizontally along a user&#39;s side and terminate at the user&#39;s back. The first pair of side panels are composed of silicone and include an adhesive so as to adhere to a user&#39;s skin. An alternative pair of side panels are adapted to interchange with the first pair of side panels. The ends of the alternative pair of side panels are removably secured to the brassiere cups and adapted to be positioned around the user&#39;s back, wherein the opposing ends of the side panels are removably secured to each other. 
     Many women wear backless or strapless brassieres with summer garments and formal dresses having backless and sleeveless designs. Conventional brassieres, meaning brassieres that wrap around a user&#39;s back and include a pair of shoulder straps, can only be worn in a single manner or the only removable part of the brassiere are the shoulder straps. Additionally, most conventional backless brassieres are only suitable for one use before they are required to be disposed. Furthermore, conventional backless brassieres do not offer sufficient support and are uncomfortable to wear. Many women purchase a number of conventional, backless, and strapless brassieres in order to find a comfortable, well-fitting brassiere that is hidden when worn under various articles of clothing. This is a financial burden due to the expense of a single brassiere. Accordingly, there is a need in the prior art for a device that provides a comfortable pair of brassiere cups having interchangeable side panels and removable straps adapted to be worn under any type of garment and suitable for repeated use. 
     It is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing interchangeable brassiere devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of interchangeable brassiere devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new interchangeable brassiere device wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when wearing various garments, including backless and sleeveless garments. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved interchangeable brassiere device that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an interchangeable brassiere device comprising a pair of brassiere cups removably secured to a plurality of interchangeable side panels adapted to support the chest of a user. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an interchangeable brassiere device wherein a first pair of side panels comprise a first side panel and a second side panel extending from the pair of brassiere cups and adapted to be positioned horizontally along a user&#39;s side and terminate at the user&#39;s back, wherein the side panels include an adhesive so as to adhere to a user&#39;s skin. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an interchangeable brassiere device wherein an alternative pair of side panels adapted to be positioned around a user&#39;s back are interchangeable with the first pair of side panels, wherein the ends of the alternative pair of side panels are removably secured to the brassiere cups and the opposing ends of the alternative pair of side panels are removably secured to each other. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an interchangeable brassiere device further comprising a pair of shoulder straps, wherein each strap is removably secured to a loop disposed on each brassiere cup and a loop disposed on each of the alternative side panels. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an interchangeable brassiere device that may be readily fabricated from materials that permit relative economy and are commensurate with durability. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the interchangeable brassiere device. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of an alternative pair of side panels of the interchangeable brassiere device. 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the interchangeable brassiere device in use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the interchangeable brassiere device. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for wearing under various garments, including backless and sleeveless garments. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the interchangeable brassiere device. The interchangeable brassiere device  11  comprises a pair of brassiere cups  12  adapted to be positioned on and provide support to the chest of a user. The first brassiere cup  12  is a mirror image of the second brassiere cup  12 . Each brassiere cup  12  includes a first end  25  and an opposing second end  26 , wherein the second end  26  of the first brassiere cup  12  is secured to the second end  26  of the second brassiere cup  12 . The upper edge of each brassiere cup  12  includes a loop  19  adapted to fit a shoulder strap therethrough. The shoulder strap provides added support to the user&#39;s chest when wearing the brassiere. The first ends  25  of the brassiere cups  12  are removably secured to a plurality of interchangeable side panels  20  adapted to allow the brassiere cups to be removably secured to a user&#39;s chest. The first end  25  includes one or more fasteners  13  adapted to receive one or more mating fasteners disposed on the first end  27  of a side panel  20 . The brassiere cup  12  is removably secured to a side panel  20  by any suitable fastener  13 , such as hook  15  and eye  13  closures or snap closures 
     In some embodiments, the second ends of the brassiere cups are removably secured together by a fastener, such as a clip, wherein the interchangeable side panel comprises a single elongated panel that is flat. In this way, the interchangeable brassiere device is adapted to be secured to a user from the front of the user between the brassiere cups, wherein the side panel is adapted to rests flush against a user&#39;s back. A front closure is conveniently positioned and desired by some users. A flat side panel is also desired for comfort and is adapted to fit under certain garments in an aesthetically appealing manner. 
     The first pair of interchangeable side panels  20  comprises an identical first side panel  20  and second side panel  20 . Each of these side panels  20  are flat, wherein the edges of the second end  34  are curved so as to prevent a user from exposure to sharp edges when the device  11  is worn. The side panel  20  is preferably composed of silicone  16  in order to provide a comfortable, clear material adapted to be disposed on a user. The side panel  20  further comprises an interior surface, adapted to contact a user&#39;s skin, and an opposing exterior surface. The interior surface comprises an adhesive  17  adapted to adhere the side panel  20  to the user&#39;s skin. Any suitable adhesive can be used, such as pressure sensitive adhesive or hypoallergenic adhesive. In this way, the pair of side panels  20  support the brassiere cups  12  on the user&#39;s chest. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the first pair of interchangeable side panels  20  are removably secured to the pair of brassiere cups  12  by hook  15  and eye  13  closures. The first end  25  of the brassiere cup  12  comprises a plurality of columns and rows of eyes  13  adapted to receive hooks  15  disposed on the first end  27  of the side panel  20 , such that the positioning of the side panel  20  is adjustable. The columns are vertically disposed and the rows are horizontally disposed, wherein the hooks  15  and eyes  13  are each preferably spaced at fixed intervals. The first end  27  of the side panel comprises a column of hooks  15  adapted to be removably secured to a column of eyes  13 , whereby a user chooses such column of eyes  13  according to the desired positioning of the side panel  20 . The adjustability of the length of the side panel  20  is adapted to accommodate weight fluctuation or growth of the user. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a perspective view of an alternative pair of side panels of the interchangeable brassiere device. The first pair of side panels are interchangeable with one or more alternative pairs of side panels  21 . A pair of side panels  21  are adapted to interchange by detaching the hooks of the first pair of side panels from the eyes of the pair of brassiere cups and removably securing an alternative pair of side panels  21  to the pair of brassiere cups  12 . An alternative pair of side panels  21  comprises a first side panel  21  and a second side panel  21  each having an interior  30  surface and an exterior surface. The first ends  29  of each side panel  21  are removably secured to the first ends of the brassiere cups  12  and the second end  29  of the first side panel  21  is removably secured to the second end  29  of the second alternative side panel  21 . The first ends of each side panel  21  comprise a column of hooks adapted to be removably secured to a column of eyes disposed on each brassiere cup  12 , whereby a user chooses such column of eyes according to the desired positioning of the side panel  21 . 
     The second ends  29  of the alternative pair of side panels  21  are removably secured by one or more fasteners, such as hook  33  and eyes  31  closures. A first side panel  21  comprises a plurality of hooks  33  configured in a column on the interior surface  30  and the second side panel  21  comprises a plurality of columns and rows of the corresponding eye  31  closures on the exterior surface, whereby a user chooses such column of eyes  31  according to the desired positioning of the side panel  20 . The columns are vertically disposed and the rows are horizontally disposed, wherein the hooks  33  and eyes  32  are each preferably spaced at fixed intervals. In this way, the interchangeable brassiere device functions as a strapless brassiere, wherein the alternative side panels  21  extend horizontally from the brassiere cups  12  and are adapted to be secured around the user&#39;s back. 
     The upper edge of each of the side panels  21  comprise a loop  35  adapted to receive a shoulder strap  32  therethrough. The shoulder straps  32  are adapted to be positioned in various configurations, such as traditional parallel straps, criss-cross, halter, or one shoulder. Each end of a shoulder strap  32  comprises a fastener  23 , such as a hook  23 , that removably secures to a loop  35 . The shoulder strap  32  further includes an adjustment mechanism  24  adapted to adjust the length of the shoulder strap  32  in order to allow a user to position each shoulder strap  32  in various configurations. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the interchangeable brassiere device in use. The purpose of each pair of side panels  20  is to provide support to the brassiere cups  12  while providing the user with an interchangeable brassiere device  11  adapted to be concealed when worn with a specific type of garment. For example, the first pair of side panels  20  are adapted to be worn under a backless shirt or dress. Each side panel  20  extends from the first end  25  of a brassiere cup  12  and positioned along a user&#39;s side, whereby the panel  20  terminates at the user&#39;s back. 
     The alternative pair of side panels are adapted to be worn with a strapless or any length sleeve shirt or dress. An end of a shoulder strap removably secures to a brassiere cup  12 , whereby the shoulder strap is adapted to extend upward along a user&#39;s chest and over the user&#39;s shoulders. The opposing end of the shoulder strap is adapted to extend downward across a user&#39;s back and connect to an alternative side panel, thereby supporting a user&#39;s chest while providing a suitable brassiere device  11  configuration that allows the brassiere device  11  to remain unexposed beneath a user&#39;s garments. 
     It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.