Patent ID: 8758082

Claim:
A bra, comprising: a pair of cups that are self-supporting, each cup having an inboard end and an outboard end, wherein the inboard ends of the cups generally face each other and are connected together; a shoulder strap connected to each cup, each shoulder strap having a primary strap portion that is configured to extend over a shoulder of a wearer and downwards towards an end that is associated with one of the cups; and a band extending from the cups and configured to extend around the back of the wearer, wherein, when the bra is worn by the wearer, each cup is foldable along a fold line that extends between an inboard end that is proximate the inboard end of the cup and an outboard end that is along an edge of the cup and that is generally vertically aligned with the end of the primary strap portion associated with the cup between an unfolded position wherein the cup covers a nipple of the wearer and a folded position wherein a portion of the cup is folded over to expose the nipple of the wearer, wherein, when the bra is worn by the wearer, self-support of each cup permits each cup to generally retain an unfolded shape when in the unfolded position, and wherein each cup is stable in the folded position by tension in the shoulder strap pulling upwardly on the folded over portion of the cup.