Patent ID: 12193525

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of several illustrative embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, a specific preferred embodiment in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments described herein, the description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the illustrative embodiments are defined only by the appended claims.

FIGS.1and2are perspective views of a bra10while on a user's body, withFIG.1depicting a right perspective of the bra10andFIG.2a rear perspective of the bra10, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The bra10may include a wing12, two cups14, and two straps16. The wing12may further include a fastener18. In a preferred embodiment, the fastener18is a hook and eye fastening system. Additionally, the wing12may be a single piece that is capable of being wrapped around the user. In alternative embodiments the wing12may instead be comprised of multiple pieces (e.g., a left and right wing, or a left, rear, and right wing) that are joined together upon construction of the bra10. Construction of the wing12is discussed in detail withFIGS.3-7below.

The cups14of the present invention may be of a molded and lightly lined full coverage floating construction and may further provide a clean finish neckline and underarm. Use of floating construction provides an increase in adjustability of the cups14. The cups14may also incorporate the use of a flexible underwire in its construction (not shown). This is in contrast to traditional underwires that are firm and do not change shape. Alternative embodiments of the invention may include different sizes, including unequal sizes for each of the cups14. The straps16may be constructed out of continuous elastic, with printed silicone alphanumeric characters and/or figures on the elastic. In addition, the straps16may include strap adjusters15to assist with proper fitting of the bra10. The strap adjusters15may be constructed or molded from colored (e.g., silver, rose gold) metal or plastic. However, the cups14and the straps16may be constructed in other ways, consistent with those understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the present invention.

Joining of the wing12, the cups14, and the straps16may be achieved in various ways that are known to those skilled in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the seam between each of the cups14and the wing12may be made using traditional stitching (e.g., bar tack, straight, machine basting, zigzag, lightning) along the lower portion of the cup. The upper portion of each of the cups14may also connect to a respective strap16using traditional stitching. Other methods of joining, such as with ultrasonic welding, may be used without departing from the present invention.

As shown inFIG.2, the non-stitched end of the straps16may attached to the wing12via rings17. The rings17may be constructed or molded from a colored (e.g., silver, rose gold) metal or plastic. Each strap16may be looped through a ring17and double back to a strap adjuster15. The rings17may be joined to the wing12during the construction of the wing12, which is discussed below. Alternatively, the rings17may be joined to the wing12after wing construction, by traditional stitching that may include an additional patch of fabric or use the available hem of the wing12.

FIGS.3-5Aare perspective views of the bra according to an embodiment of the invention and will be used principally to describe the wing12. In the preferred embodiment, the wing12is comprised primarily of a single piece of fabric, which is folded to create a 2-ply wing. Said another way, the wing12is constructed so that no seam or hem is required along a portion of the wing while still permitting the wing12to have a 2-ply structure. Each ply is hereafter identified as the outer fabric layer42and the inner fabric layer32. Additionally, the wing12may be constructed without traditional elastic material.

InFIG.3, an off-body front perspective of the wing12, the wing fold20is shown in the upper perimeter of the wing12. The 2-ply structure may have sections removed along the wing fold20to accommodate joining of the cups14. The removal of these sections may leave behind a smaller fold in the upper portion of the centre front. The remaining perimeter of the wing12, that which is not joined to each of the cups14, is hemmed. The wing bottom hem22and wing ballet back hems24identify these sections of the perimeter. In the front perspective presented inFIG.3, the outer fabric layer42, and more specifically the outer fabric layer external surface44, is visible.

FIG.4is an off-body rear perspective of the wing12. In this view, the inner fabric layer32, and more specifically the inner fabric layer external surface34, is visible. Also in this view, the outer fabric layer overhang52of the wing bottom hem22and the wing ballet back hems24are visible. The construction of both the wing bottom hem22and the wing ballet back hems24is discussed withFIGS.6and7below. Embodiments of the invention may include a rigid stabilizer bonded against the inner centre front cradle (not shown) using a seam-creating technique such as ultrasonic welding.

The hook and eye fastening system used for the fastener18is also seen inFIG.4. The fastener18is comprised of an eye patch30aand a hook patch30b, with a plurality of eyes26extending from the eye patch30aand a plurality of hooks28extending from the hook patch30b. The eye patch30amay be sized at a standard length (e.g., 1¼″) in order to include multiple points of fastening the plurality of hooks28. Both the eyes26and hooks28attach to their respective patches by methods known by those of ordinary skill in the art. Also, both the eye patch30aand the hook patch30bare cushioned and are joined to the wing12primarily along the wing bottom hem22and the wing ballet back hems24. The joining may be done via traditional stitching or utilize more contemporary techniques such as ultrasonic welding. Additionally, upon being joined to the wing12, the plurality of eyes26traverse the wing12so as to extend out of the outer fabric layer external surface44. In this fashion the eyes26may engage with the hooks28upon the bra10being worn. Requisite hardware for the fastener18—the eyes26and the hooks28in the present embodiment—may be constructed or molded from a colored (e.g., silver, rose gold) metal or plastic. Alternative embodiments may include other fastening systems (e.g., zipper, buttons, fabric ties) without departing from the present invention.

FIGS.5A and5Bare partial, enlarged views of primary and alternate embodiments of the wing12. AlthoughFIGS.5A and5Bdepict only one portion of the wing12, namely the rightmost side when viewing the bra from the rear perspective, the forthcoming discussion, including the discussion aroundFIGS.6and7, is also applicable to the opposite portion of the wing12, the leftmost side, as the sides of the wing12are mirror images of each other notwithstanding the fastener18.FIGS.5A and5Bdiffer primarily in the top wing angle θ, withFIG.5Adepicting a top wing angle θ smaller than inFIG.5B. Varying the top wing angle θ alters the orientation of the wing fold20which in turn alters the proportion of the wing12on the body. With an increased on-body proportion for the wing12, more support and comfort is experienced by the user.

FIGS.6and7are cross-sectional views of the wing12.FIG.6depicts the wing fold20along with the wing bottom hem22whileFIG.7shows the wing ballet back hem24along with the wing bottom hem22. In reference toFIG.6, the single fabric 2-ply construction of the wing12is readily apparent. As previously mentioned, folding the fabric to create the wing fold20also creates the inner fabric layer32and the outer fabric layer42. Each fabric layer is further characterized with respective external and internal surfaces—the inner fabric layer external surface34and inner fabric layer internal surface36for the inner fabric layer32, as well as the outer fabric layer external surface44and outer fabric layer internal surface46for the outer fabric layer42. A laminate film40is applied to the inner fabric layer internal surface36. The laminate film40serves as an adhesive (i.e., fusible glue) to bond the inner fabric layer internal surface36to the outer fabric layer internal surface46post-creation of the wing fold20. In addition, the laminate film40may provide a smoothing effect to the fabric layers. The resulting 2-ply structure in conjunction with the wing fold20provides sufficient structural integrity to the wing12that the upper portions of the wing12, the areas denoted by the wing fold20, are able to remain seamless. In addition, the laminate film40may provide a stretch and recovery ability to the wing12. Alternative embodiments of the invention may substitute the laminate film40with another bonding solution to join the two fabric layers while maintaining the same desired effect.

Importantly, when the fabric for the wing12is folded to create the wing fold12, the fabric ends that are distal to the wing fold20are not in line. Instead, the distal end of the outer fabric layer42extends past the distal end of the inner fabric layer32to create an overhang, namely outer fabric layer overhang52. In alternative embodiments, the distal end of the inner fabric layer32may extend past the distal end of the outer fabric layer42to create the overhang. This overhang is used to create the wing bottom hem22and the wing ballet back hem24. The overhang52may be sized to create hems ranging in size from 8 mm to 10 mm.

As shown inFIGS.6and7, both the wing bottom hem22and the wing ballet back hem24are comprised of the outer fabric layer overhang52, which has an overhang external surface54and overhang internal surface56, and a hem fold60. The overhang internal surface56is joined to a portion of the inner fabric layer external surface34with an adhesive film58. An adhesive film tape, such as those made available by Bemis™ may be used for the adhesive film58. In alternative embodiments, where the outer fabric layer overhang52is based on the inner fabric layer32, the wing bottom hem22and the wing ballet back hem24can be mirror images of the preferred embodiment. Namely, that an inner fabric layer overhang (not shown) folds over and joins to the outer fabric layer42at the outer fabric layer external surface44.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Since modifications, combinations, sub-combinations, and variations of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.