Patent Publication Number: US-2007123148-A1

Title: Adjustable garment system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to garment construction, and more specifically relates to the construction of brassieres or bras.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Modem brassieres were first introduced about one hundred years ago to replace corsets, which had been in use from the late 16 th  century. Corsets disappeared during World War I when the U.S. War Industries Board called on women to stop buying them after it was determined that the steel used to stiffen them amounted to 28,000 tons. Modem bra sizing by cup size appeared in about in 1928.  
      Numerous improvements to brassieres have been developed in the ensuing time. For example, improvements have been made to permit bras to be reconfigured to accommodate wearing beneath different types of outer garments. U.S. Pat. No. 3,311,112 discloses a bra that has a front section and an adjustable band that stretches across the wearer&#39;s back. The cups of this bra can be interchanged for different sizes. A more modem variation is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,857,936, which discloses a modular garment/bra “system.” This patent also recognizes that a bra may function as an outer garment or may be purposely visible.  
      The fit of a bra is highly personalized and requires accommodating numerous body types. Prior art bras disclose straps that are adjustable by sliding buckles and by moving the attachment points between the bra and the strap in finite increments by hooks or the like, in a manner similar to moving the buckle of a belt from hole to hole. U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,839 is directed to a “fitment apparatus” that lets a woman try on different combinations of cups and straps to arrive at size to be used when purchasing a conventional bra. The structure disclosed, provides the ability to try different cup sizes in a modular fashion and uses markings on the back strap to provide a midriff measurement.  
      None of these patents placed emphasis on the adjustability of the back strap by interchanging it, but instead provided the above noted buckles for sliding straps or finite adjustments to the cups and shoulder straps.  
      There exists, therefore, a long felt yet unmet need to provide a bra that has an adjustable back to accommodate different torsos separate and apart form the ability to adjust for cup size. Moreover, it would be desirable to alter the appearance of the back strap of a bra for aesthetic reasons, such as coordinating with other garments.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Accordingly, it has now been found that these and other shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by a garment system comprising a garment partially covering the upper torso of a wearer, configured to receive and retain at least one back portion. The system also includes a plurality of back portions, each comprising at least one back portion having connectors positioned at its first and second ends and being distinct from every other in one or more attributes. Thus, the back portions may be interchanged with another back portion to alter these attributes. Preferably, the garment is a brassiere and the attributes include size, fabric type and color. The connectors can be metal hooks, molded plastic components or hook and loop fabric connectors.  
      The present invention also relates to garment systems comprising an article of clothing and a plurality of attachable back straps, wherein the article of clothing partially covers the upper torso of a wearer, and is configured to receive and retain at least one back strap. Each back strap comprises at least one strap having first and second back strap connectors positioned at its ends to removably attach the back strap at attachment points on the article of clothing. In accordance with the invention, each back strap is distinct every other back strap, and a first back strap is interchangeable with a second distinct back strap. Preferably, the back strap is distinct in at least one of the following characteristics: color, material, back strap width and back strap length.  
      In preferred embodiments the present invention a brassiere garment system is provided that has a brassiere with at least two back strap attachment points, and a plurality of back straps, each of the back straps having first and second back strap connectors positioned at its ends to connect with the attachment points on the brassiere. Each of the back straps is distinct from every other back strap, so that a first back strap is interchangeable with a second back strap to provide a distinct exposed portion of the brassiere when worn in conjunction with an outer garment. Most preferably, the first back strap is a different length than the second back strap, although the first back strap could also be different width than the second back strap, or made of a different material than the second back strap, or be of a different color than the second back strap. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a rear elevation view of a garment system made in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a broken away portion of the garment system illustrated in  FIG. 1  illustrating an alternate attachment system;  
       FIG. 3  is a broken away portion of the garment system illustrated in  FIG. 1  illustrating an alternate attachment system; and  
       FIG. 4  is a broken away portion of the garment system illustrated in  FIG. 1  illustrating an alternate back strap.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an elevation view of a bra  100  made in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. In general, the bra  100  is comprised of a set of cups  101 . The cups may be constructed of any material and suing any technique known in the art and may for example be padded, under wire or any combination of features commonly found in the art. Preferably, the cups  101  are a single assembly and terminate at two ends that have a set of attachment points  103  as explained in further detail below. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  the attachment points  103  are the conventional eyelets known in the art. In accordance with the present invention, the bra  100  further comprises a back strap  102  that has attachment points  104  at each of its ends. As will be readily appreciated, the strap attachment points  104  coordinate with the bra attachment points  103 . Thus, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the strap attachment pints  104  are hooks that engage the bra attachment points  103  as known in the art.  
      In accordance with the present invention, the back strap  102  is made available in a number of variations. First, the consumer is presented with options as to the size of the back strap  102 . The size refers to both length and width. Thus, by choosing different widths, a broader or narrower torso can be accommodated independent of cup size. The minor finite adjustments between the attachment points  103 , 104  further accommodate weight fluctuation, temperature and other comfort factors. Width can similarly be varied for comfort and aesthetics. Therefore, in one aspect of the present invention the wearer cannot choose an appropriate size back strap  102  in conjunction with a set of cups  101  and as a result the number of sliding buckles, straps and other functional pieces is minimized, resulting in a smooth back strap  102  as illustrated. Because the back strap  102  presents a hardware free surface, the bra of the present invention presents a better appearance. Additionally, the interchangeable nature of the back strap allows the facing fabric of the back strap to be varied, regardless of size. The “fabric” can be chosen from sheer, nearly invisible fabrics, to thick substantial fabrics in any variety of colors and constructions. The system disclosed therefore presents a back strap  102  that can be varied or adjusted in a number of attributes—size, color, construction, etc.  
      Further aspects of the present invention are illustrated in  FIGS. 2-3 . As seen in  FIG. 2  the hook and eye attachment points  103 ,  104  are replaced by other structural elements, such as plastic connectors  203 , 204  which are known in the art. These elements or similar elements of any size or material are useful so long as they perform the function of attaching the back strap  102  to the bra  101 .  FIG. 3  shows yet another variation in which Velcro or similar hook and loop fabric fastening systems are used in lieu of discrete attachment devices.  
      As explained above, in addition to providing the ability to interchange back straps for varying sizes and fabrics, it is also possible to vary the overall construction of the back strap  102 . Thus, for one example, the single back strap  102  shown in  FIG. 1  is typically between 1.0-3.0 inches wide and can be replaced by a plurality of thin straps  402  that are only about 0.5-1.0 inches wide. Although the straps  402  are illustrated as parallel, it will be understood that these can be crisscrossed or in any of a number of configurations connecting the two ends of the bra  101 .  
      It will be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For instance, the various back straps exemplified herein can be expanded to include any type of material or construction. A person skilled in the art would be readily able to create many other types of bra systems that would permit the variability described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments. All such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention. Therefore, in order to ascertain the true scope of the present invention, reference should be made to the appended claims.