The present invention relates to bra devices and more particularly pertains to a new bra-strap covering device to cover the straps of a bra and to securely fasten the bra cover, without the need to purchase a special bra or the need for adhesives to prevent the bra-strap covering from sliding.
There are various types of women's clothing, which, may, at times allow the straps of a bra, worn underneath the article of clothing, to be visible. These include various types of “sleeveless garments” including but not limited to shirts, tank-tops, tube-tops, lingerie, halter tops, dresses, blouses, coats, and the like.
Many people find the appearance of bra straps to be unsightly, and tacky and there is a need to identify a product that can help to hide bra straps, without having to purchase a specialty bra, designed to eliminate straps. Bras are often costly and some women find that only certain types of bra's fit their body shape and provide the necessary support. It may, therefore, not be practical for some women to purchase additional bra's for certain clothes, so that the straps are not seen.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,833,085 identifies a bra cover that requires the use of double sided adhesive to secure the bra cover to the strap of the bra. The use of such adhesive is problematic as it may damage the strap material, and leave sticky residue from the adhesive. Furthermore, as the adhesive wears off, the bra cover will not be useable.
Accordingly, there is a need for a cover for a bra-strap or straps of a sleeveless garment that can be selectively secured to said straps without the use of adhesives. The present invention provides an effective device to cover the strap of a bra, to prevent the unsightly view of bra-straps when worn with clothing that would allow the bra-straps to be seen.
A covering device for attachment around a bra-strap wherein the covering device has three panels, wherein the panels are substantially the same length as the strap length and at least as wide as the strap width, where the two side panels having complementary pairs of fastening devices to secure the side panels around the bra-strap, thereby securing the bra-strap between the panels.
A further embodiment of the invention is a covering device for attachment to a sleeveless garment strap and optionally a bra-strap wherein the covering device has three panels, wherein the panels are substantially the same length as the strap length and at least as wide as the strap width, where the two side panels having complementary pairs of fastening devices to secure the side panels around the bra-strap, thereby securing the bra-strap between the panels.
A further embodiment of the invention is a covering device for attaching around the straps of a bra or sleeveless garment, wherein the covering device comprises five panels, a center panel, two elastic panels attached to the center panel, and two side panels attached to the elastic panels, where the two side panels having complementary pairs of fastening devices to secure the side panels around the bra-strap, thereby securing the bra-strap between the panels, and where said center and side panels are made of a fabric material comprising at least two layers of fabric.
The embodiments of the invention and the various features and advantages thereto are more fully explained with references to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings and set forth in the following descriptions of those drawings. The figures in the accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale and the features of one embodiment may be employed with the other embodiments as the skilled artisan recognizes, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and techniques may be omitted to avoid obscuring the invention. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the invention may be practiced and to further enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments set forth herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.
As used herein, the term “about” means within 10% of a stated number.
As used herein the term “sleeveless garment” means any article of clothing where the amount of material from the neck to the end of the sleeve is less than about 6 inches. “Sleeveless garments” may include but not limited to shirts, tank-tops, tube-tops, lingerie, halter tops, dresses, blouses, coats, and the like. Typically, a sleeveless garment includes tank-tops or tops with “spaghetti” type straps, where the shoulders are visible. These garments often allow for the straps of a bra to be seen when a bra is worn underneath the sleeveless garment.
As used herein the term “complementary pair of securing means” means a paired mechanism for securing two pieces of fabric together, such as a hook and eye, button and hole, zipper, hook and look material, male and female snaps, eye and string, snap tape, magnets, and other such mechanisms that require a pair of features to secure two pieces of fabric together.
Panels 14, 15, and 16, may be be made of a variety of materials, including fabrics of materials like cotton, polyester, silk, wool, mohair, velvet, satin, angora, linen, twill, denim, cashmere, taffeta, leather, crepe, calico, rayon, lace, elastic cotton, spandex, elastic or stretchable blends of the foregoing fabrics, and other natural and synthetic fibers. The panels 14, 15, and 16 may be made of a single piece of fabric, so that there are no seams 25 between panels, or may be made of multiple pieces of fabric, so that panels 14, 15, and 16 are attached and contain a seam 25. The panels are attached to one another, typically with thread, and sewn together creating the seam 25. The seam 25 also represents a latitudinal edge of the panels. Each panel may be a single layer of fabric, or multiple layers of fabrics, as necessary. Different fabrics may be used for each layer, where multiple layers are used, and panels 14, 15, and 16, need not be made of the same material or fabric. In certain instances, the materials to make panels 14, 15, and 16 may also include plastics or metal.
The snaps 5, and 6 utilized in
Panel 14, as identified in
The hooks 11 are oriented approximately perpendicular to the seam 25 and thus are about parallel with the longitudinal edge of panel 14. The hooks 11 are intended to be about 0.1 to about 20 mm from the longitudinal edge of panel 14, and are to be centered on panel 14 between the seams 25. In instances where panel 14 is longer than panels 15 and 16, the hooks 11, may be situated forward of the longitudinal edge of panels 15 and 16.
In this manner, the hooks 11, may be placed at one or both ends of the bottom face of panel 14, which secures the underside of panel 14 to a sleeveless garment. The hooks 11 are made of metal, plastic, or other suitable material such that they are secured within the material of either a bra, or a sleeveless garment, and serve as a sort of “hooks” as in a hook and loop fastening system, where the garment is the loop portion of the system. The hooks 11 are to be long enough to secure the bra-strap cover 2, but no longer than 5 mm in total length. It is expected that the hooks 11 will be about 1 or 2 mm in total length at an optimal length, but for some clothes, such as wool or heavy knit fabrics, longer lengths, such as 3-5 mm may be appropriate to secure the bra-strap 1 without risk of scratching the wearer. The hooks 11 should have a diameter of no more than 1 mm, so that it may pierce clothing, but not damage the fabric. The Hooks may be straight or be curved, such that a portion of the hook 11 is about parallel with the bottom face of panel 14. It is intended that there will be at least one hook 11, but that two or three hooks 11, or one to three pairs of hooks 11 (as identified in
The invention now being fully described, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many changes and modification can be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims.
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