Patent Application
20240324701
Athletic clothing is often designed for both comfort and fashion. Athletic bras, tights, shorts, and so on, become popular, sometimes ubiquitous, when their designs balance form and function. Thus, a wearer (e.g., from amateur to professional) may be drawn to certain clothing styles that enhance their athletic or leisurely pursuits and also make them look and feel good.
Embodiments of the present technology will be described and explained through the use of the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings, some components are not drawn to scale, and some components and/or operations can be separated into different blocks or combined into a single block for discussion of some of the implementations of the present technology. Moreover, while the technology is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specific implementations have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The intention, however, is not to limit the technology to the particular implementations described. On the contrary, the technology is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the technology as defined by the appended claims.
An article of clothing, such as a bra (e.g., an athletic bra, jog bra, or sports bra) used during exercise activities, is described herein. The athletic bra, in some embodiments, includes multiple, configurable straps. The athletic bra, via the configurable straps, can be adapted, converted, or configured into a variety of patterns, positions, or styles, based on the support and/or aesthetic choices of a wearer of the athletic bra.
In some embodiments, the athletic bra includes a back portion having a strap attachment mechanism, which facilitates the attachment/removal of the straps from one of multiple different locations of the back portion of the bra. For example, the strap attachment mechanism can include slots, slits, holes, or other fasteners or attachment devices that facilitate the fixing of a strap to and/or the removal of a strap from the strap attachment mechanism.
Thus, the athletic bra can facilitate the reconfiguration of the straps of the athletic bra into many different patterns or configurations (e.g., 4 straps on each side, 6 straps on one side and two on the other, and so on). Thus, a user/wearer can convert, modify, or design the athletic bra (e.g., the appearance and/or functionality of the bra) to their liking in an easy and efficient manner, and as many times as they wish, among other benefits.
Various embodiments of the athletic bra will now be described. The following description provides specific details for a thorough understanding and an enabling description of these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand, however, that these embodiments may be practiced without many of these details. Additionally, some well-known structures or functions may not be shown or described in detail, so as to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the relevant description of the various embodiments. The terminology used in the description presented below is intended to be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific embodiments.
The technology described herein is directed to articles of clothing, such as an athletic bra, used during exercise, sporting, or other activities. While the description is often directed to an athletic bra, various aspects of the technology can be utilized by other tops or articles (e.g., tank top, dress, and so on) that include multiple straps placed or disposed over the shoulders of a wearer into different configurations.
For example, the athletic bra 100 can include four straps 120, where two straps are connected or attached to the front portion 115 on a right side of the top area, and two straps are connected or attached to the front portion 115 on a left side of the top area. As shown, one strap 120 on each side is placed or disposed to extend over a shoulder (on that side) and connect to the back portion 117, and one strap 120 on each side is placed or disposed to cross (with another strap) and connect to the back portion 117. Thus, the athletic bra 100 can take on a first configuration, as shown.
Of course, there can be other configurations not depicted in the Figures. For example, there can be more or fewer straps (e.g., 3-8 total straps), and thus, the total number of configurations may be limited only by the number of straps. Further, the straps can have the same thickness or varying thicknesses, as well as similar or different geometries or shapes.
As described herein, the athletic bra 100 can include a back portion having a strap attachment mechanism, which facilitates the attachment/removal of the straps from one of multiple different locations of the back portion of the bra. For example, the strap attachment mechanism can include slots, slits, holes, or other fastening or attachment devices that facilitate the fixing of a strap to and/or the removal of a strap from the strap attachment mechanism.
As shown, the back portion 117 includes a strap attachment mechanism 310, which includes multiple slots 320 disposed along the hem or edge of the back portion 117. The slots 320 are located on an inner surface of the back portion 117, such that straps attach to the back portion 117 in a hidden manner.
The strap attachment mechanism 310, as shown, can include various types of slots, slits, or openings, such as devices that receive a hook or other connector. Further, other connection or coupling devices can be employed, such as hook-and-loop fasteners, touch fasteners, snaps, buttons, and so on. For example, the slots, slits, or openings can be part of the fabric or layer of the back portion 117, and be bonded, laser-cut, and sized to receive an S-hook that is at the end of a strap to be attached.
As shown, the strap attachment mechanism 310 includes many slots or slits 315 disposed in a regular pattern across the back portion 117 of the athletic bra 100. However, the mechanism 310 can include other patterns or configurations of slots/slits 315, such as irregular spacings of the slots/slits 315, clusters of slots/slits 315 at either side of the bodice 310, slots/slits 315 that are vertically spaced from one another (e.g., multiple stacked rows of slots/slits 315), slots/slits 315 that can receive multiple straps 120, and so on.
Further, in some cases, the front portion 115 of the bodice 110 can include a similar strap attachment mechanism 310, to enable a wearer to add, remove, or modify how straps attach to the front portion. For example, the inner area of the front portion 115 can include slots, slits, or openings, and a wearer can configure the athletic bra into various unique patterns or styles (e.g., only use two straps, attach two straps on one side and one strap on the other, and so on).
Thus, in some cases, a user can purchase additional straps (e.g., having different colors, sizes, and so on), to further configure the look and use of their athletic bra. The straps can be sold separately and/or as a kit or bundle with one or more bodices.
Of course, the athletic bra 500 can be configured in other patterns or configurations and may only be limited by the number of straps or attachment locations, as described herein.
Thus, in some embodiments, an article of clothing (e.g., an athletic bra) can include a bodice having a front portion and a rear portion, multiple straps, where each strap includes a front end and a back end, and where front ends of the multiple straps are fixed to the front portion, and a strap attachment mechanism, disposed on an inner surface of the rear portion of the bodice, which includes multiple openings to removably receive the back end of each strap of the multiple straps.
The following are example embodiments of the article of clothing described herein.
In some embodiments, an article of clothing includes a bodice having a front portion and a rear portion, multiple straps, wherein each strap includes a front end and a back end, and wherein front ends of the multiple straps are fixed to the front portion, and a strap attachment mechanism, disposed on an inner surface of the rear portion of the bodice, which includes multiple openings to removably receive the back end of each strap of the multiple straps.
In some cases, the multiple openings of the strap attachment mechanism include slots or slits.
In some cases, the multiple openings of the strap attachment mechanism are disposed in a regularly spaced configuration along the inner surface of the rear portion of the bodice.
In some cases, the multiple openings of the strap attachment mechanism are disposed in an irregularly spaced configuration along the inner surface of the rear portion of the bodice.
In some cases, the multiple openings of the strap attachment mechanism are disposed as a group of openings on each side of the inner surface of the rear portion of the bodice.
In some cases, each back end of each strap includes a hook that is configured to attach the strap to any opening of the multiple openings of the strap attachment mechanism.
In some cases, each strap includes a slider mechanism that adjusts a length of the strap.
In some cases, the multiple straps include two straps that are fixed to a first side of the front portion of the bodice and two straps that are fixed to a second side of the front portion of the bodice.
In some cases, the multiple straps include three straps that are fixed to a first side of the front portion of the bodice and one strap that is fixed to a second side of the front portion of the bodice.
In some cases, the article of clothing is an athletic bra.
In some cases, the article of clothing is a tank top.
In some embodiments, an athletic bra includes a bodice, multiple straps that are fixed to a front portion of the bodice, and multiple openings disposed on a back portion of the bodice and configured to removably attach strap of the multiple straps.
In some cases, a number of openings of the multiple openings on the back portion of the bodice is greater than a number of straps of the multiple straps.
In some cases, the multiple openings are disposed on an inner surface of the back portion of the bodice.
In some cases, each strap of the multiple straps includes an attachment end having a hook, and wherein each opening of the multiple openings includes a slot configured to receive the hook.
In some cases, each strap of the multiple straps includes a slider mechanism that adjusts a length of the strap.
In some cases, the multiple straps include two straps that are fixed to a first side of the front portion of the bodice and two straps that are fixed to a second side of the front portion of the bodice.
In some cases, the multiple straps include three straps that are fixed to a first side of the front portion of the bodice and one strap that is fixed to a second side of the front portion of the bodice.
In some embodiments, an athletic bra includes a bodice, multiple straps that are fixed to a front portion of the bodice, and an attachment section disposed on an inner surface of a rear portion of the bodice that is configured to receive each strap of the multiple straps at multiple attachment areas of the attachment section.
In some cases, the attachment section includes slots configured to receive each strap of the multiple straps, wherein a number of slots is greater than a number of straps of the multiple straps.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” or any variant thereof, means any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling of connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the above Detailed Description using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word “or”, in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list.
The above detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the teachings to the precise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the disclosure are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the disclosure, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.
The teachings of the disclosure provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments.
Any patents and applications and other references noted above, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the disclosure can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the disclosure.
These and other changes can be made to the disclosure in light of the above Detailed Description. While the above description describes certain embodiments of the disclosure, and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the teachings can be practiced in many ways. Details of the technology may vary considerably in its implementation details, while still being encompassed by the subject matter disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the disclosure should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the disclosure with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the disclosure to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the disclosure encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the disclosure under the claims.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the embodiments. Accordingly, the embodiments are not limited except as by the appended claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/492,876, filed on Mar. 29, 2023, entitled ATHLETIC BRA WITH CONFIGURABLE STRAPS, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63492876 | Mar 2023 | US |
