Patent Publication Number: US-2018035836-A1

Title: Device and method of removing a sports bra

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of the U.S. Provisional application No. 62/106,854 that was filed Jan. 23, 2015 by Lori Ann Kobyluck, which was entitled “Device and Method of Removing a Sports Bra,” and which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure is directed to a device designed for the ease of removal of sports bras. 
     The first general exercise bra, initially called a “jockbra”, was invented in 1977. Sports bras can either encapsulate or compress breasts. Bras that encapsulate breasts have molded cups, while compression-type bras restrict movement by flattening the breasts. The most common sports bra is basically designed like a tank top with the bottom half cut off. Other designs use gel and water pads, silver fibers, and air bags. A compressed bra is designed to push the breasts against the chest to reduce movement and bounce. A common design uses a stretchable, absorbent fabric such as Lycra designed to reduce irritation by drawing perspiration away from the skin. 
     Sports bras are designed to be very tight and supportive for breast comfort during physical activity. Due to the very tight fit of a sports bra, doffing a sports bra can be very difficult. 
     What is needed is a device that can facilitate easy removal of a sports bra. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided a method of removing a sports bra comprising inserting a sports bra removal device between a band of the sports bra and a torso of a wearer. The sports bra removal device is looped around the band. The method includes cinching the sports bra removal device around the band. The method includes doffing the sports bra from the wearer and removing the device from the sports bra. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the sports bra removal device comprises a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. A ring is coupled to the body adjacent the first end. A handle is formed at the second end, wherein the handle is insertable through the ring. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the inserting step further comprises inserting a first device at an end between a first side of the wearer and the band proximate a first arm hole of the sports bra. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the method further comprises inserting a second device at an end between a second side of the wearer and the band proximate a second arm hole of the sports bra. The method includes looping the second sports bra removal device around the band. The method includes cinching the second sports bra removal device about the band. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the step of looping the device further comprises inserting the handle of the device through the ring of the device. 
     In another and alternative embodiment, the step of cinching further comprises moving the ring along the body away from the handle. The method includes tightening a loop formation of the device about the band. 
     In another and alternative embodiment, the step of doffing the sports bra from the wearer further comprises grasping the first device with a first hand on an opposite side of the torso. The method includes grasping the second device with a second hand on an opposite side of the torso. The method includes raising and extending both arms overhead, wherein the sports bra is pulled off the torso and slides out over shoulders and past the elbows up to the wrists and the first and second hands of each arm. 
     In another exemplary embodiment the removing step further comprises manipulating the first device and second device, un-cinching the loop formation of each of the first and second device. The method includes sliding the ring of each device along each body toward each second end and past each handle. 
     Further in accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided a sports bra removal device comprising a body portion having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. A ring is coupled to the body at the first end. A handle is formed from the body at the second end opposite the ring. The handle is insertable through the ring. 
     Other details of the sports bra remover and method of use are set forth in the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals depict like elements. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of an exemplary sports bra removal device. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of an exemplary sports bra removal device. 
         FIG. 3  is an illustration of a pair of exemplary sports bra removal devices looped over a sports bra on a wearer. 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration of a pair of exemplary sports bra removal devices looped over a sports bra on a wearer beginning to remove the sports bra. 
         FIG. 5  is an illustration of a pair of exemplary sports bra removal devices looped over a sports bra removed from a wearer. 
         FIG. 6  is a process chart of the inventive method. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a sports bra removal device, or simply device  10 . The removal device  10  comprises a body portion  12  having a first end  14  and a second end  16  opposite the first end  14 . The body  12  can be formed from any suitable material that provides both flexibility, good tensile strength, and a relatively soft texture. In an exemplary embodiment the body  12  material can be a strip of webbing made from nylon, polyester, polypropylene, LYCRA, silk, cotton, and the like. The body  12  is configured to bend, flex and loop without undue force. In alternative embodiments, rope, cordage, ribbon or flexible strap can be utilized. In a preferred embodiment, the body  12  can be formed from a length of webbing about 24 inches long and ¾ inch wide. It is contemplated that other dimensions can be utilized. 
     The removal device  10  includes a ring  18  coupled to the body  12  at the first end  14 . The ring  18  can be attached by a variety of means. The ring  18  can comprise an O-shape design or a D-shape, a triangle and the like. The body  12  can be looped through and over the ring  18  and secured by stitching or welding or riveting and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, the ring comprises a polished metal material formed into a ring shape. Brass, chrome plated steel, other metal alloys, plastic, wood, leather and other similarly durable materials can be employed. The ring  18  also possesses very good material strength to resist bending or deformation, and especially fracture. The ring  18  can have a smooth finish. In alternative embodiments the ring  18  can include surface features that improve gripping the ring, such as knurling, pebble, nubs and the like. An overmolding feature can also be incorporated into the ring to provide good tactile properties. 
     The removal device  10  includes a handle  20  formed from the body  12  at the second end  16  opposite the ring  18 . The handle  20  can be formed, in an exemplary embodiment, from the body  12  being looped over, i.e., folded over onto itself and attaching the second end  16  portion of the body  12  proximate the end  16  to the body  12 . The body  12  material can be stitched to maintain the handle  20 . In alternative embodiments, the loop can be held fast by rivets, welding, stitching, and the like and any combination thereof. The attachment means, (stitching, welding, rivet) of the ring  18  and formation of the handle  20  is shown generally by numeral  22 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the body  12  can be formed by braiding or weaving multiple lanyards or core fibers such that the ring and handle are formed integrally to the body by weaving a loop at opposite ends of the body, or weaving the ring  18  into the braided body structure  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the removal device is shown in a looped configuration. The second end  16  is passed through the ring  18  to form a loop formation  24 . The ring  18  slides along the body portion  12  thereby changing the size of the loop formation  24 . The loop formation  24  is employed to cinch over a garment, such as a sports bra  26 , tank top, camisole, shape wear or the like. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a pair of exemplary removal devices  10  are illustrated in use with the sports bra  26 . The sports bra  26  is shown being worn by a wearer  28 . The sports bra  26  fits over the upper torso of the wearer  28  as is common in the art. The sports bra  26  is generally constructed into a pair of support cups  30 , a pair of shoulder straps  32 , and a band  34  that forms a pair of arm holes  36  between the band and the shoulder straps  36 . The band  34  is typically a wide portion of the sports bra that fits completely around the torso  38  of the wearer  28  below the arms. The band  34  is designed to be very snug in order to provide an anchoring support to the other portions of the sports bra  26 . 
     The removal device  10  can be attached to the sports bra  26  proximate the band  34  on either side of the torso  36  of the wearer  28 . Either the handle  20  or the ring  18  of the device  10  is inserted or slid between the sports bra  26  proximate the band  34  and the torso  36  portion of the wearer  28 . The optimal location to insert the device  10  is through the arm holes  36  and around the band  34  proximate the arm holes  36 . The handle  20  is then threaded through the ring  18  to form the loop formation  24  of the device  10 . The method is repeated with another device  10  on the opposite side of the wearer  28  and sports bra  26  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 4 , illustrates a portion of the process of removing the sports bra  26 . Removal of the sports bra  26  by use of a pair of removal devices  10  is done similarly to removing a tee-shirt. The wearer  28  reaches with a right hand  40  to grasp the device  10  attached proximate to the left arm  42 . The wearer  28  grasps the handle  20  portion of the device  10 . By grasping the handle  20  and extending the right arm  44  upward, overhead, the ring  18  cinches down along the body  12  and tightens over the band  34 . For better illustration purposes, only a single hand is shown grasping the device  10 . The wearer  28  also reaches over with the left hand  44  to the other device  10  and grasps the handle  20 . The wearer  28  also extends the left arm  42  upward and overhead simultaneously with the right arm  46 . The sports bra  26  band  34  is lifted up over the torso, breasts and shoulders and past the elbows as a result of the upward lifting motion of the arms  42 ,  46 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a rear view of the wearer  28  in the latter stages of removal of the sports bra  26 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the sports bra  26  has been doffed from the torso  38  and merely remains encircled around the wrists  48  and hands  40 ,  44 . The wearer  28  merely removes the sports bras  26  from the hands  40 ,  44  and releases the handles  20  of the device  10 . The device  10  can be removed from the band  34  of the sports bra  26  by allowing the ring  18  to slide off of the body  12  toward the handle  20  past the second end  16  unlooping the loop formation  24 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, only one device  10  can be utilized to remove one side of the sports bra  26  at a time. With the process repeated for the other side where the sports bra  26  has not yet been doffed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a process diagram of the method of removal is shown. The first step  50  includes inserting the device  12  at one end  14  or  16  between the wearer&#39;s side and the band  34  proximate the arm hole  36 . The next step  52  includes looping the device  12  by inserting the second end  16  (handle  20 ) through the ring  18 . After looping  52 , the device  12  the next step  54  is cinching the device around the band  34  of the sports bra  26 . The ring  18  is moved along the body  12  away from the handle  20  tightening the loop formation  24  about the band  34 . The wearer  28  can now perform the next step  56 , doffing the sports bra  26 . Doffing  56  includes firmly grasping each device  12  with each hand on an opposite side of the torso  38 . That is, the right hand  40  grasps the device  12  below the left arm  42 . The left hand  44  grasps the other device  12  below the right arm  46 . The wearer  28  raises and extends both arms  42 ,  46  overhead. The sports bra  26  is pulled off the torso and slides out over the shoulders and elbows to the wrists  48  and hands  40 ,  44 . The final step  58  includes removing the devices  12  from the sports bra  26 . The devices  12  are manipulated to allow the loop formation  24  to un-cinch, so that the ring  18  slides along the body  12  toward the second end  16  and past the handle  20 . 
     The sports bra removal device  10  is reusable. The device  10  is easily manipulated. The device  10  can be easily manufactured. The device  10  enables the wearer  28  the freedom to remove the sports bra  26  with ease and avoids the hassle of trying to remove the tight fitting garment without the aid of the device  10 . 
     There has been provided a device for the removal of a sports bra and method of removal. While the sports bra removal device has been described in the context of specific embodiments thereof, other unforeseen alternatives, modifications, and variations may become apparent to those skilled in the art having read the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace those alternatives, modifications, and variations which fall within the broad scope of the appended claims.