Patent Publication Number: US-2011055994-A1

Title: Woman&#39;s garment with side closure devices

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a garment to be worn by a woman, and, more particularly, to a garment having a pair of cup shaped portions adapted to cover and support the breasts of a woman and includes a lateral strap having a closure device at its distal end that connects with another closure device affixed to, or proximate to, the garment such that the closure devices, when connected, are located along the side of the woman. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are, of course, a wide variety of woman&#39;s garments and many different ways to secure the garment to the woman. On type of garment, however, is intended for covering and supporting the breasts of a woman and which includes a pair of cup shaped portions that carry out that purpose. Typical examples include a brassiere (bra), bathing suit or the like, however there are other garments that can be applicable. 
     In such instances, there are normally one or more straps that are used to secure the cup shaped portions in the proper position and the strap or straps normally have some closure devices at their distal ends to facilitate securing the garment in place and those closure devices must be readily, but securely, attachable and detachable by the wearer. In the case of a bra, for example, however, it is also important that the location of the connection between the closure devices be at a location where the connection is not visible through an outer garment so that the closure connection presents a seamless appearance of the wearer. 
     At the present, such garments may have two straps that extend outward from the cup shaped portions and are joined together by the closure devices at or proximate to the middle of the back of the woman. Such location creates a bulge and the connection can therefore be visible to others through an outer garment. 
     Another location is to have a closure devices connected together at a location intermediate the cup shaped portions such that the connection between the closure devices of the garment is located in the front, center area of the of the wearer. 
     In either instance, the connection between the closure devices can be visible through the outer garment and therefore the look of the seamless appearance is simply not present. 
     It would therefore be advantageous to have a woman&#39;s garment having a connection location for closure devices that secure the garment to the wearer at a location where the connection is not visible through an outer garment so as to create a seamless exterior appearance. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention relates to a woman&#39;s garment, such as a bra or bathing suit, that includes two cup shaped portions adapted to cover and support the breasts of the woman. While the present invention is particularly suitable for garments such as a bra or bathing suit, it can be seen that it is also applicable to other garments, including dresses and the like. 
     A lateral strap extends outwardly from one of the cup shaped portions and encircles the back of the woman and is attached to the other cup shaped portion. The lateral strap may be constructed integral with the cup shaped portion from which it extends or may be secured thereto by sewing and the like. A closure device is located at the distal end of the lateral strap and which interacts with another closure device located at or proximate to the other cup shaped portion to form the connection therebetween that is readily attachable and detachable by the wearer. 
     The closure device proximate to the other cup shaped portion may be actually located on the cup shaped portion or there may be a small strap that extends outwardly a short distance from the cup shaped portion to properly position the ultimate connection between closure devices in the desired position of the present invention. 
     When the two closure devices are connected together as the garment is being worn by the woman, due to the length of the lateral strap, the location of the connection is proximate to and underneath the arm pit of the woman, such that the connection location of the closure devices is not visible to others and is not visible through an outer garment. 
     Due to the particular location of the connection between the closure devices of the present invention, the garment is easy to put on by the wearer and the closure devices are invisible to outside viewing. The closure devices can be conventional devices such as buttons, snaps or closure devices of other types and which are hidden for others as well as comfortable to the wearer. 
     The garment may also optionally have vertically oriented straps that extend upwardly from the cup shaped portions so as to pass over the shoulders of the woman and be secured to the lateral strap at the back of the woman. The vertically oriented straps can be integral with the material of the garment or may be separately made components that are sewn to the cup shaped portions and the lateral strap. 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent during the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a woman&#39;s garment constructed in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a woman wearing the garment of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of a woman&#39;s garment  10  constructed in accordance with the present invention. As can be seen, the garment  10  includes two cup shaped portions  12 ,  14  that are adapted to cover and support the breasts of the woman wearing the garment  10 . Extending outwardly from the cup shaped portion  12  is a lateral strap  16  that, when worn by a woman, encircles the back of the woman. The lateral strap  16  has a distal end  18  having a closure device  20  provided thereon. The lateral strap  16  may be constructed integral with the cup shaped portion  12  or may be secured thereto by sewing and the like. 
     A further closure device  22  is located at the outer edge  24  of the cup shaped portion  14  and is compatible with the closure device  20  such that the closure devices  20 ,  22  can be used to attach and detach the lateral strap  16  and the cup shaped portion  14  as the woman dons or removes the garment. 
     The closure devices  20 ,  22  can be conventional devices currently used with women&#39;s garments and may be hook and eye devices, zipper, snaps, buttons or other devices used in the attaching and detaching garments. 
     In addition, there can be vertically oriented straps  26 ,  28  that extend upwardly from the cup shaped portions  12 ,  14  and which then pass over the shoulders of the woman wearing the garment and are secured to the lateral strap  16 . Again, the vertically oriented straps can be integral with the material of the garment  10  of may be separately made components that are sewn to the cup shaped portions  12 ,  14  and the lateral strap  16 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a perspective view of a woman  30  wearing the garment  10  of  FIG. 1 . As can be seen, the garment  10  includes a pair of cup shaped portions  32 ,  34  that cover and support the breasts of the woman  30 . Only one vertically oriented strap  36  is shown in  FIG. 2 , it being seen that there are two of such vertically oriented straps. 
     A closure device  38  is shown slightly extended from the cup shaped portion  32  and, as stated, the closure device  38  may be directly affixed to the cup shaped portion  32  or there may be a small strap  40  extending from the cup shaped portion  32  so as to locate the closure device  38  in the desired location in accordance with the present invention. 
     Another closure device  42  is provided at the distal end  44  of the lateral strap  46  and the closure device  42  is compatible and readily attachable and detachable from the closure device  38 . A noted with respect to  FIG. 1 , the lateral strap  46  extends around the back of the woman  30  and is attached to or is integral with the cup shaped portion  34 . 
     From  FIG. 2 , the location of the connection between the closure devices  38  and  42  can be seen to be proximate to and just below the arm pit  48  of the woman  30 , that is, when the woman&#39;s arm  50  extends downwardly in its normal relaxed position, the location of the connection between the closure devices  38  and  42  lies under the arm of the woman  30  so that the connection is not visible through any outer garment and the outer garment so as to create a seamless appearance. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the side connection garment of the present invention which will result in an improved garment, yet all of which will fall within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and their equivalents.