Patent Application
20170202272
The present invention relates to bras and undergarments. The present invention has particular but not exclusive application for women who travel and to store small valuable items. The definition of bras in the specification is broad and encompasses all forms of corsetry and support clothing used to support a woman's breasts including tops with integrated support bras.
Bras or brassieres with concealed pockets and compartments are well known. US20110244758, US2012/0276812 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,597,072 disclose bras with pockets in the cup sections of the bra. These pockets are concealed on the inside of the bra and open at the top. The disclosures in US2013/0303052, US2013/0288569, and US2014/0051331 disclose bras with top-opening pockets on the side or wings of the garment. In the disclosure of US20090209173 there is a bra having multiple concealed pockets including one on the inside of a cup section, one on the bra strap and one between the two cup sections.
The disclosed bras with their concealed pockets and compartments have limited capacity in the type of items they can hold and can only hold small items such as a credit card and keys. Furthermore the placement of items in the concealed pockets and compartments can make the bra very uncomfortable for the wearer. The placed items in the pockets and compartments can be difficult to retrieve and return while wearing clothing over the bra.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative bra that can hold valuable items and overcome at least in part one or more of the abovementioned problems.
The present invention was developed by the inventor who took a different approach to storing items in a bra and considered making the bra comfortable for the wearer when the bra stored items. The invention was also developed with the view of discretely holding items by using the natural contours of the woman's body and avoid unsightly bulges in the bra when items are stored therein.
In one aspect the present invention broadly resides in a bra with one or more retractable storage pockets extendable from the bra, wherein in use the one or more retractable storage pockets extend from a lower portion of the bra.
In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a bra with one or more retractable storage pockets extendable from one or both cup sections or chest band of the bra, wherein in use the one or more retractable storage pockets extend from a lower portion of the one or both cup sections or chest band of the bra.
In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a bra with one or more retractable storage pockets extendable from one or both cup sections of the bra, wherein in use the one or more retractable storage pockets extend from a lower portion of the one or both cup sections of the bra.
Preferably there is one pocket on one or both cup sections of the bra.
Preferably the one or more pockets can be furled or folded to or beneath the lower portion of the cup sections or within the cup sections when not used.
The one or more pockets preferably open at the top.
The one or more pockets are preferably shaped and positioned to locate against the body to provide discrete storage without causing the clothing to bulge and indicate the presence of the stored item.
The one or more pockets is preferably of any suitable size. More preferably the one or more pockets are large enough to hold a passport or the like.
Preferably the one or more pockets are made of stretchable fabric and more preferably elastic containing fabric.
In one form the bra is adjustable so that the wearer can adjust the comfort of the bra depending on the wearer's activity and the number and type of items stored in the one or more pockets.
More preferably the bra is adjustable while the wearer is wearing the bra. Preferably the bra is adjustable with an adjustment means at the front of the bra. The bra preferably has an adjustment mechanism to loosen or tighten the chest band or portion of the bra around a wearer's body during use. More preferably the adjustment mechanism is positioned so that a wearer can loosen or tighten the chest strap or portion of the bra without removing the bra.
The bra can be any type of bra such as a sports bra, T shirt bra, racerback bra, underwire bra, bra with spaghetti type straps, seamless bra, French knit bra, strapless bra, backless bra, push up bra, full cup bra, demi-cup bra, shelf bra and padded bra.
The bra can optionally include one or more additional pockets. Preferably the one or more additional pockets are selected from one or more side pockets, one or more pockets in the bra straps, one or more pockets in the one or both cup sections, and one or more pockets in a portion between the cup sections. The bra can include any combination of additional pockets selected from those mentioned above.
The side pocket is preferably located on one or more of the wings of the bra. Preferably the side pocket is opened from the side. More preferably the side pocket is partially closed near the top of the opening. The partial closure is preferably formed by one or more stitches. The side pocket can preferably hold a credit card, hotel room key card or key.
Preferably the one or more pockets in the one or more bra straps is top opening and can hold small items such as rings and the like.
The one or more pockets between the cup sections is preferably a single top-opening pocket. More preferably the single top-opening pocket does not overlap the cup sections. The single top opening pocket is suitable for storing jewelry such as rings and lipstick and the like.
The bra can preferably have one or more top-opening pockets internal of one or both cup sections.
Different combinations of described features even when not expressly stated are herein described and claimed.
The one or more retractable storage pocket as described in the first aspect allows the wearer to readily unfurl or unfold the pocket and use the pocket for storing items such as a passport which need to be stored securely. The pocket is a drop down pocket. The drop down pocket preferably allows the wearer to discreetly and comfortably secure her passport or other valuables in a way that is inaccessible to a thief. It preferably allows the wearer to keep her valuables close to her person and so prevent accidental loss of a valuable item. It preferably hides valuable items and the wearer will not be separated from her valuables. The retractable storage pocket is preferably designed to allow the user to fold or roll up the storage pocket and conceal the storage pocket under the chest strap and/or the cup portion of the bra when the storage pocket is not needed for storage.
In a preferred embodiment, the bra comprises a first portion adapted to extend from a left cup portion and a right cup portion and around the back of the wearer, a second portion adapted to be positioned over the wearer's shoulder; and a retractable storage pocket extendable downwardly relative to the first panel and a side pocket on each side of the bra.
In one preferred embodiment the bra has a small compartment in the shoulder strap for storing rings; a retractable pocket attached to the chest band or cup section for storing a passport; a side pocket forming a sleeve in the side of the band wherein the side pocket is for holding a credit card and hotel room key card, and a removable slip pouch inside the one or both cups for comfortably and discreetly storing money. The bra is adjustable at the front and/or side so the wearer can loosen off the bra band when seated while travelling without having to remove the bra or reach around to the back.
In order that the present invention can be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:
With reference to the figures there are shown a number of different preferred embodiments. With reference to
The bra 10 has a top-opening pocket 25 in the shoulder strap 12. The top-opening pocket 25 is adjacent the cup section 11. In another embodiment there is a top-opening pocket 25 in both shoulder straps 12. The top-opening pocket 25 is suitable for securely storing smaller items such as rings and other jewelry.
The bra 10 also has a side-opening pocket 27 along one of the sides or wings of the bra 10. The side opening pocket 27 is suitable for securely storing elongate items such as credit cards, key cards and keys. The side opening pocket 27 is shown in
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
The invention of having one or more drop down retractable pockets and optionally additional pockets in the shoulder strap V section or wing or side sections or in the cup sections can be applied to or used with different types of bras and is not limited to one particular type of bra.
The bra of the invention can also include an adjustable mechanism so that it can be loosened when the wearer is sitting down or tightened when the wearer is walking and moving around. The adjustable mechanism can be any suitable form of mechanism known in the industry such as an adjustable hook and loop system or clip system between the cup sections that allow the release and attachment of the cup sections or increase and decrease of the space between the cup sections. Alternatively, there can be a form of a tightening dial or similar device to increase or decrease the spacing between the cup sections.
The advantages of the preferred embodiment of the bra include providing a safe and secure retractable pocket for the storing of a passport (and other large items) while not visibly revealing the presence of the passport under the clothes. The preferred embodiment also provides the advantage of optional pockets in the bra shoulder strap for hiding rings, a side opening sleeve for a credit card or hotel room key card in the side band and a pocket formed between the inner and outer surfaces of the one or more cups for storing money. The bra of the preferred embodiment also has an adjustment mechanism at the front and/or side so the wearer can loosen off the bra band when seated while travelling without having to remove the bra or reach around to the back.
The advantage of the preferred embodiment of the bra is that the wearer can discreetly and comfortably store valuables such as credit card, hotel room key card, cash, a passport and/or small jewelry in the bra while it is worn while she is travelling on foot, on planes, on trains, in cars and buses. Furthermore the wearer can discreetly adjust the bra band while seated without having to remove the bra or reach to the back of the bra to adjust the tightness. As well the overall appearance of the bra is not affected by the storage pockets and adjustment mechanism.
It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.
Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word “comprise” and variations of that word such as “comprises” and “comprising”, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014100840 | Jul 2014 | AU | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/AU2015/000435 | 7/24/2015 | WO | 00 |
