Bra structure having rigid under-arm support members

Abstract

A bra structure comprising: (a) a frontal assembly including a pair of cup shaped support members; (b) a pair of shoulder straps each of which is adapted to extend forwardly and rearwardly over one shoulder of the wearer in use; (c) respective means for interconnecting the front and rear ends of each strap under the corresponding arm of the wearer, for each strap, the means for interconnecting the front and rear ends of the strap including a rigid support member which is connected directly or indirectly to the rear end of the strap and also to the corresponding side of the frontal assembly, whereby the load of the frontal assembly is balanced between the front and rear ends of the strap.

Description

[0001] Human breasts are often supported by a garment known as a bra, whose main purpose is to transfer the forces involved in breast support to other body structures principally the shoulders and the rib cage.

[0002] This invention relates to a bra of the conventional type in which each shoulder of the wearer supports weight by means of a flexible band, usually of cloth, which passes over each shoulder and approximately at right angles to the line between the two shoulders; this is known as the bra strap. In other arrangements the band passes around the neck—the “halter neck” bra—the present invention is not concerned with these. In a conventional bra it is tension in the front part of each bra strap which carries the weight of each breast.

[0003] In order to stabilise the position of the structure, some means must be provided to ensure that the bra strap tension is equalised front to back. The breast weight, however, is in front only and this, in the conventional bra, has to be balanced by equal forces produced in the remainder of the bra structure. A major contribution to this is made by the back band tension and the forces in the bra wings. Distortion is common and the back band often rises to equilibrate forces with the vertical strap tension at the back.

[0004] The present invention seeks to provide a bra structure in which the strap tension can be better equalised front and back so as to avoid distortion of the structure and consequent discomfort for the wearer by halving the strap tension.

[0005] Accordingly the present invention provides a bra structure comprising:

[0006] (a) a frontal assembly including a pair of cup shaped support members;

[0007] (b) a pair of shoulder straps each of which is adapted to extend forwardly and rearwardly over one shoulder of the wearer in use;

[0008] (c) respective means for interconnecting the front and rear ends of each strap under the corresponding arm of the wearer;

[0009] for each strap, the means for interconnecting the front and rear ends of the strap including a rigid support member which is connected directly or indirectly to the rear end of the strap and also to the corresponding side of the frontal assembly, whereby the load of the frontal assembly is balanced between the front and rear ends of the strap.

[0010] Preferably the means for interconnecting the front and rear ends of each strap comprises a rigid support member whose lower end is connected to the rear end of the strap and whose upper end is connected to an upper region of the corresponding side of the frontal assembly to which the front end of the strap is also attached.

[0011] In this way the bra strap tension can be equilibrated front and back so as to provide a stable node capable of supporting the breast weight.

[0012] An additional strap member may be provided which extends between the two rigid support members, and is connected to each of them at a point which is offset in a vertical plane from the connection point with the interconnecting means, in such a way as to counteract any tendency of the front end of each rigid support member to rotate downwardly, under the load from the frontal assembly.

[0013] In one embodiment the additional strap member is connected to each rigid support member at a point which is above the connection point and is arranged to extend across the back of the wearer.

[0014] In another embodiment the additional strap member is connected to each rigid support member at a point which is below the connection point and is arranged to extend across the front of the wearer, below the frontal assembly.

[0015] Some embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation view of a first embodiment of a bra structure;

[0017] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the arrangement of FIG. 1; and

[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective frontal view of an alternative embodiment.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, a rigid interconnecting member 1 joins the two ends of the shoulder strap 2, and midway (in side elevation) between the points where the straps are attached is the node of balance 3.

[0020] At this node a rigid support member 4, is pivotally connected. A back band 7, FIG. 2 is connected between the rear ends of the two rigid support members and supplies a tension T. The weight of a breast is W and is carried by cup 6, attached to the front end of component 4.

[0021] The loads on the structure can be analysed as follows:

[0022] If the vertical distance between the backband attachment point 5, and node 3 is “a”, (FIG. 1) and the horizontal distance between the node and the point at which the weight W of the breast can be considered to act is “b”.

[0023] Resolving moments about the node 3:

Wb=Ta

[0024] It can be seen that component 1 is in equilibrium and it functions to ensure that the weight is carried equally by both the front and back of the bra strap.

[0025] Resolving forces in component 1 vertically:

W =front strap tension+back strap tension

[0026] i.e. the strap tension is W/2—half that of a conventional bra strap. Also the tension T is balanced horizontally by a front chest tension through the frontal assembly (the same as in a conventional bra).

[0027] Although the interconnecting member 1 is illustrated as a rigid elongate link, its length chould be reduced—even to zero. The two ends of each shoulder strap would be connected directly together, under the arm of the wearer, since this would still provide a stable connection point 3 for the rigid support member 4.

[0028] In addition, the rigid support member 4 can be made in various different shapes. In the illustrated embodiment it is shown as generally T-shaped with the ends of the arms of the T, and the lower end of the leg of the T, forming connection points to the other parts of the structure. However the rearwardly extending arm of the T is not strictly necessary for it to function in the required manner, so it could be replaced by a more simply shaped member, having part connected to the interconnecting member 1 at the balance point 3, and the other part connected to the corresponding side of the frontal assembly. The back band 7 would then be connected to it, above the balance point 3.

[0029] The back tension may also be applied directly to the interconnecting member 1, or directly to the support node 3; such tension components are to prevent any tendency of the rigid support member to rotate.

[0030] In an alternative arrangement a front band could be provided to stabilise the rigid support members 4, which would be connected to each of them below the connection point 3 rather than above it, so that it would still counteract the tendency of the rigid support member 5 to rotate.

[0031] However in this case it will be necessary to provide a retaining strap extending across the back of the wearer, which may be connected either between the interconnecting members 1, or between the rigid support members 4.

[0032] FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the strap10 has its front end 12 connected to the upper region of one side of the frontal cup assembly, while its lower rear end 14 is connected to an upwardly extending rigid link or strut 16. The upper end of the link 16 is also connected to the upper region of the frontal assembly, and in this way the link acts to interconnect the front and rear ends of the strap, whilst at the same time acting to directly support the weight of the corresponding side of the frontal assembly. Compared to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the structure is thus considerably simplified because only a single rigid link (16) is required on each side to achieve the same supporting effect as both of the interconnected rigid members 1 and 4 of the first embodiment.

Claims

1. A bra structure comprising: (a) a frontal assembly including a pair of cup shaped support members; (b) a pair of shoulder straps each of which is adapted to extend forwardly and rearwardly over one shoulder of the wearer in use; and (c) respective means for interconnecting the front and rear ends of each strap under the corresponding arm of the wearer; for each strap, the means for interconnecting the front and rear ends of the strap including a rigid support member which is connected directly or indirectly to the rear end of the strap and also to the corresponding side of the frontal assembly, whereby the load of the frontal assembly is balanced between the front and rear ends of the strap.

2. A bra structure according to claim 1 in which the means for interconnecting the front and rear ends of each strap comprises a rigid support member whose rear end is connected to the rear end of the strap and whose front end is connected to an upper region of the corresponding side of the frontal assembly the front end of the strap also being attached to the corresponding side of the frontal assembly.

3. A bra structure according to claim 1 in which the means for interconnecting the front and rear ends of each strap includes a first rigid link or pivotable connection between the ends, and a second rigid support member which is connected to the central region of the rigid link, or to the pivotable connection, so as to distribute the load of the corresponding side of the frontal assembly evenly between the two ends of the strap.

4. A bra structure according to claim 3 further comprising an additional strap member which extends between the two rigid support members, and is connected to each of them at a point which is offset in a vertical plane from the connection point with the interconnecting means, in such a way as to counteract any tendency of the front end of each rigid support member to rotate downwardly, under the load from the frontal assembly.

5. A bra structure according to claim 4 in which the additional strap member is connected to each rigid support member at a point which is above the connection point and is arranged to extend across the back of the wearer.

6. A bra structure according to claim 4 in which the additional strap member is connected to each rigid support member at a point which is below the connection point and is arranged to extend across the front of the wearer, below the frontal assembly.

7. A bra structure according to claim 6 further comprising a retaining strap connected between both rigid support members or both interconnecting means and arranged to extend across the back of the wearer.

8. A bra structure according to claim 4 in which each rigid support member comprises a first portion which extends forwardly from the connection point, to the frontal assembly, and a second portion which extends rearwardly and/or upwardly for connection of the said additional back strap member.

9. A bra structure according to claim 5 or claim 6 in which each rigid support member comprises a first portion which extends forwardly from the connection point, to the frontal assembly, and a second portion which extends downwardly for connection of the additional front strap member.