Patent Abstract:
A cover up torso top outer garment provides increased coverage and support for women wearing bikini bras formed of right and left side front stretchable portions of an outer fabric and an inner fabric with an open-ended front zipper releasably securing the portions, and elastic material along the bottom edge of each portion to form gathers along each bottom edge. Each portion has an elongated neck edge, and an elongate arm edge, with an elongated adjustable neck strap connected to the neck and arm edges of each portion, and an elongated adjustable back strap connected to the neck and bottom edges of each portion.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    This invention relates to an auxiliary torso top outer garment to be worn by women wearing revealing bathing suits, primarily bikinis, during activities other than sunbathing. 
         [0006]    2. Prior Art 
         [0007]    Women that are fashionable and desirous of tanning much of their bodies when lying on the beach or poolside often wear bikini bathing suits to minimize tan lines on their backs, necks and elsewhere. This usually presents no problem when sitting or lying still on a towel or chaise lounge or the like. However, when bikini-clad women actively move about, playing volleyball, swimming, playing with and/or attending to children, where they may need to bend at the waist and/or crawl on the sand, the fashionable bikini tops pose risks of the breasts “popping out” of the bikini tops and/or being overly exposed. 
         [0008]    Currently, the available possible solution to this problem is to buy and wear a sports bra or triathlon styled top where the shoulder straps merge into a one piece central leg forming a “Y” shaped back member by which unwanted tan lines would be made on the back of a woman wearing same. Other sports bras have shoulder straps connected to a wide torso band at the back, which would be unwanted by a woman wearing a bikini top. Not only do sports bras cover too much of the torso, but the fabric is much thicker than bathing suit material and they are more binding and uncomfortable to wear. Also, to put on a sports bra over a bikini top while on the beach or at poolside would present some difficulties in properly positioning the sports bra and/or the underlying bikini top. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, this invention seeks to overcome the above problems by providing a cover up in the form of an auxiliary torso top outer garment which is readily donned and doffed without the normal motions of the bikini top wearer in attempting to also put on a sports bra over the bikini top being worn. Women using the torso top outer garment would normally preset the adjustable straps of the torso top outer garment in the privacy of their own home or hotel room, for example, over their bikini tops so that the auxiliary torso top outer garment would be preset and ready to be put on, much like a bolero or short jacket with a simple front closure, such as an open ended zipper. 
         [0010]    Another feature of the auxiliary torso top outer garment is that it should provide the wearer with comfort and support so that it may be worn comfortably for extended periods of time if necessary without detracting from the ability to obtain a tan over most of the back of the wearer and which looks more stylish than sports bras and can withstand repeated washings, wetting and drying substantially like a swimsuit. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The torso top outer garment in accord with this invention provides increased coverage and support for women wearing bikini bra swimsuits, and the garment includes right and left side front portions respectively having a generally horizontal lower edge and a generally vertical edge extending perpendicular and upward from an end of said lower edge. The side front portions are made of a stretchable outer fabric for swimsuits that stretches vertically and horizontally and side front portions have a stretchable inner fabric that lines the outer fabric and also stretches vertically and horizontally. Both of the fabrics are thin and readily dry after being wet. An open-ended front zipper of a predetermined length is attached to each of the right and left side front portions along the vertical edges for releasably securing the right and front side portion to said left side front portion. A length of elastic material of a predetermined width is disposed along each of the lower edges and located between the inner and outer fabric within a casing formed between the opposite ends of the lower edge and having a length shorter than the lower edge, the elastic material having ends secured to respective side front portions to provide gathers of the fabrics along the lower edge. Each of the side front portions having a slightly curved elongated neck edge connected to respective upper ends of the vertical edges at one end of the neck edge and having another end spaced away a predetermined distance. Each of the side front portions has a greater curved elongated arm edge with opposite ends one end thereof being adjacent another end of the neck edge and another arm edge end being adjacent another end of the lower edge. An elongated neck strap connects and spans between another end of the neck edge of the right and left front portions, and an elongated back strap connects and spans between another end of the arm edge of the right and left front portions. 
         [0012]    Other aspects of the invention are seen in the neck strap being adjustable in length and includes a length of elastic material. The neck strap carries a closed slide by which the elastic material is effectively shortened to substantially have overlapping parts and by which the elastic material is effectively lengthened to substantially have non-overlapping parts. 
         [0013]    Additional aspects are provided by the back strap being adjustable in length and includes a length of elastic material. The back strap carries a closed slide by which the elastic material is effectively shortened to substantially have overlapping parts and by which the elastic material is effectively lengthened to substantially have non-overlapping parts. 
         [0014]    Further aspects are provided by forming attachment zones for securing the back strap by another end of the lower edge and another arm edge end of each of the side front portions. Attachment zones are formed for securing the neck strap by another end of the neck edge and the one end of the arm edge of each of the side front portions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0015]    The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is an outer front elevational view of the auxiliary torso top outer garment in accord with the invention showing the open-ended front zipper, the adjustable neck strap and the adjustable back strap; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an inner front elevational view of the right side portion of the garment of  FIG. 1 , as viewed from inside the garment, without the major portion of the neck and back straps; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is an inner front elevational view of the left side portion of the garment of  FIG. 1 , as viewed from inside the garment, without the major portion of the neck and back straps; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is an outer front elevational view of another embodiment of the auxiliary torso top outer garment in accord with the invention, with modified adjustable neck and back straps. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    The auxiliary torso top outer garment is generally designated by numeral  10  in  FIG. 1 , and includes a right side breast portion  12  and a left side breast portion  14  releasably secured together by an open-ended front zipper  16  having an insertion pin  18 , a retainer box  20  mounted at the bottom  21  of left side of the zipper tape  22 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The top stop  23  is on the right side of the zipper tape  24 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , and is spaced from insertion pin  18 . Stop  23  and pin  18  are disposed at opposite ends of the zipper tape  24 , as sewn into the garment  10 . The zipper slider  25  has a pull tab  26  movably connected to the slider  25  so that it may assume the position shown in  FIG. 1  or be folded 180° downwardly to lie against the slider  25  and some of the interlocking fasteners  27  and  28  on respective tapes  24  and  22 , all of which are well known to those having ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0021]    The tapes  22  and  24  are sewn as depicted by broken lines  30  and  31  in respective  FIGS. 2 and 3  to the completely lined bathing suit fabric of nylon Lycra spandex or the like which may be 80 or 90% nylon and 20 or 10% Lycra spandex and usually with four way stretch, as known in the art of swimsuits. 
         [0022]    The upper edge  32  of each breast portion  12  and  14  has a shallow curve to form a U-neck or may be straighter to form a V-neck and has a length of about 7″ to 8″. The bottom edge  29  is gathered and has a length of about 9″ to 10″. The more deeply curved edge  33  is about 12″ to 13″. The breast portions  12  and  14  are sewingly connected to short casing end attachment zones  41  and  44  respectively, forming parts of neck strap  39  and back strap  42 . Spanning between attachment zone  41  is an adjustable elastic strap  40  which is adjusted to the minimum length, as shown with the elastic being doubled, and may be adjusted to its maximum singled length by a closed slider  46 , commonly found on adjustable bra shoulder straps and the like. Likewise, casing end attachment zones  44  of the back strap  42  are connected to doubled elastic  43  and the back strap  42  is provided with a closed slider  48 . 
         [0023]    A typical torso top outer garment when sewn in accord with this invention may have the following attributes:
       A. zipper  16 —length 5″ to 6″   B. side breast portion  12  and  14  unstretched bottom length—9″
           stretched bottom length—13″   
           C. elastic  34  width ½″ sewn at ends by sew lines  35  and  36  to create gathers  37  in the casing  38  between the inner and outer fabric forming the fully lined garment   D. unstretched upper edge  32  length—8″
           stretched upper edge  32  length—11″   
           E. unstretched side curved edge  33  length—15″
           stretched side curved edge  33  length—20″   
           F. neck strap  39  with unstretched elastic  40  doubled—12″
           stretched elastic  40  doubled—16″   elastic  40  single stretched—21″   width of elastic  40 —¾″   
           G. back strap  42  with unstretched elastic  43  doubled—11″
           stretched elastic  43  doubled—16″   elastic  43  single stretched—22″   
           H. elastic  40  doubled about 3″ and connected to end attachment zones  41  by respective closed slide  46  and side open slide  47     I. elastic  43  doubled about 3″ and connected to end attachment zones  44  by respective closed slide  48  and side open slide  49         
 
         [0041]    Preferably, the upper edge  32  of each breast portion  12  and  14  is provided with elastic  52  sewn at ends by sew lines  53  and  54  to create gathers  55  in the casing  56  between the inner and outer fabric forming the fully lined garment  10 . Likewise the curved edge  33  of each breast portion  12  and  14  is provided with elastic  57  sewn at ends by sew lines  58  and  59  to create gathers  60  in the casing  61  between the inner and outer fabric forming the fully lined garment  10 . 
         [0042]    It is to be understood that the width of the elastic  52  and/or  57  may be the same or differ to provide a comfortable fit around the breast of the wearer. Also, that the elastic  52  and/or  57  may be the same or differ from the width of elastic  40  and/or may be pre-stretched differently from the stretching of elastic  40  within its casing  38 . 
         [0043]    Sliders  47  and  49  may be closed sliders like sliders  46  and  48 , or may be one side open sliders so that each or either of the neck strap  39  and back strap  42  may be opened to provide even greater versatility for the user in properly presetting the garment  10  in privacy. 
         [0044]    With the above attributes, the drawings and the description, a person having ordinary skill in the sewing arts and particularly in the swimsuit sewing arts would be able to cut out, assemble and sew the auxiliary torso top outer garment  10  of this invention. It is intended that perhaps only two or perhaps three different sizes would be needed to adequately fit most women in a supportive and comfortable manner, such as,
       Small—Medium,   Large—Extra Large, and   2x-3x       
 
         [0048]    The various adjustable features of the straps  39  and  42  and the stretchability of not only the elastics  40  and  43  (and  34 ) but the stretchability of the entire side breast portions  12  and  14  and casing attachments  41  and  44 , provide the garment with the ability of proper fitting of most women&#39;s upper torso over bikini tops. 
         [0049]    As hereinbefore mentioned, the auxiliary torso top outer garment  10  would normally be adjusted by the bikini top wearer at the house or hotel prior to going to the beach or pool. She would remove the torso top outer garment  10  from her body after adjustments and would be ready to go to the beach or pool wearing her bikini bathing suit, perhaps exposing more of her skin, as many bikini tops do. Before swimming or playing volleyball, or running or overly bending or playing with and/or attending to her children, she would put on the auxiliary torso top outer garment  10 , which neatly and comfortably covers more of her breasts and would more effectively support and maintain the breasts inside the torso top  10  even if the breasts somehow “pop out” from the bikini top she is wearing. Likely this would not occur if the woman properly adjusted the auxiliary torso top outer garment  10  before she wore it over her bikini top 
         [0050]      FIG. 4  depicts an alternate embodiment with most of the same components identified by the same numerals. The casing attachments  41  and  44  are substantially shortened or eliminated so that longer elastics  52  and  53  primarily and respectively form substantially the entire neck strap  39 A and back strap  42 A, as shown. Each of those straps  39 A and  42 A have corresponding respective closed slides  46 ,  47 ,  48  and  49  which function in the same manner as heretobefore described. This embodiment, while perhaps being more easily sewn and less costly, is not as comfortable to the wearer, as the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         [0051]    While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0