Patent Application
20240032612
The present disclosure relates to a continuation-in-part (CIP) patent application based on pending US patent application US2021/219627A1.
The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to bras.
It is usual for women to wear a brassier, colloquially referred as being a “bra”. There are many different types, sizes and models of bras. Some bras are more comfortable than others. Some bras fit well and some do not. Some bras are easy to put on and some are not, especially when a bra user's arm movement is inhibited in one way or another; for example, arthritic elderly women may potentially experience difficulties when manipulating their bras. Moreover, on account of diurnal changes in body fluid balance and cartilage compression, women slightly change shape as a function of time that may make a well-fitted bra in a morning period be uncomfortable by an evening period.
One particular issue that is not addressed well by bra designers and manufacturers is the fact that a given woman often has one of her breasts that may be a different size to the other of her breasts. This difference generally means that the bra cup size for each breast is different. Moreover, this difference may be a natural phenomenon, for example during breast feeding, or may be brought about by breast or lump removals in the case of illness, for example breast cancer. Whatever the reason, women have been looking long and hard for a comfortable bra which addresses some or all of the problems associated with current bras.
Bras which have different cup sizes for each breast have been proposed, for example in a published PCT patent application WO2014/089762. Whilst addressing some problems, these bras are uncomfortable, difficult to fit, difficult to put on and difficult to adjust.
Various designs of bras are described in published US patent applications U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,192A (Darmante), U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,326A (Williams), U.S. Pat. No. 3,378,013A (Enrico), U.S. Pat. No. 2,762,052A (Olsen) and U.S. Pat. No. 2,753,569A (Schmalz).
Scientific research has found that bras that are worn too tightly by women have a clear tendency to result in an increased risk of breast cancer for the women; namely, a scientific research paper addressing the issue is “Wearing a Tight Bra for Many Hours a Day is Associated with Increased Risk of Breast Cancer”; Salete Da Silva Rios, Ana Carolina Rios Chen, Juliana Rios Chen, Carlos Marino Calvano Filho, Natacha Thalita Santos Amorim, Chen Wen Lin and Maria De Fátima Brito Vogt; Adv. Oncol. Res. Treat 2016. 1:1, Vol 1(1). In this published research paper, it was concluded as follows: “This study demonstrated the existence of a relationship between the use of a tight bra when associated with an increased number of hours wearing it and the risk of breast cancer among pre- and post-menopausal women. This result was observed even after multivariate analysis was performed with confound factors. In addition, the study revealed new data that may help to better elucidate the risk factors for breast cancer and to prevent this disease, which has increasing incidence in developing countries and is one of the biggest killers of women worldwide.” Thus, for health reasons, a well-fitting bra that is designed to cope with mutually different breast sizes for a woman user of the bra at least partially addresses a technical problem of a risk of breast cancer developing.
Some contemporary bras include numerous hooks and corresponding loops for wearers of the contemporary bras to be able to adjust the bras. These hooks and loops are generally fiddly and time consuming to couple and adjust.
The present invention attempts to solves at least some of the problems associated with the prior art.
According to a first aspect, there is provided a bra including separate respective first and second sides each adapted to fit respective breasts; each side including
According to a second aspect, there is provided a method for manufacturing each separate bra side of the bra according to the first aspect, wherein the method comprises steps of:
Some of the problems being addressed are set out below. Bras are difficult to put on, especially if the wearer is elderly or has some type of disability. Some wearers attach the bra at the back, but this needs their arms to be sufficiently supple. Some wearers attach their bra at the front and then twist the bra around the body. At least with bras for larger sizes, the twisting method is virtually impossible.
Conventional bras include a back wing on each side. Back wings are made of power fabric that generally covers a small area in order to link the side cup to the hook and eye that will link the bra band. Constraints on the hook and eye oblige the pattern maker to rely on strap length and quality for any stability when the bra is worn. This generally means the strap is rigid and may dig into the shoulder of the user wearing the conventional bra.
There are generally two or three hooks and eyes depending on the breadth of the band of the conventional bra. Most conventional bras have several adjustment positions so that the tightness of the conventional bra can be adjusted. The distance thus varies from 4 cm for 3 positions to 6 cm for maximum adjustment on 5 positions (i.e. for a maternity bra). It is advisable, when buying a conventional bra, to attach the bra with the closest combination of hook and eye. This means there may be a variance of up to 4.5 cm in the length of the bra band for different users. An issue with this is that it will not guarantee the wearer will a “tight fit” and it is likely that this will worsen when the band starts to “give” with time. The nature of the band means that the conventional bra is widened by several centimeters with time. This lack of tight fit could be made worse with twisting. The fasteners furthest away may serve in the future, but could give rise to squeezing and discomfort to the user of the bra (for example, when the breast is falling).
The standard bra closure is composed of one or more small metal hooks and corresponding metal eyes. These can be difficult to fasten, especially if they are not visible. Standard hook and eye are composed of 1 to 4 rows and 1 to 5 columns and misalignment is common. The more rows, the tighter the bra grips the body. Wearers having arthritis and the like may actually be unable to put on a standard bra without help.
A conventional standard bra is linked at the center front in order to guide the wearer's breast to find its place into the cup volume area. The center front is generally beautiful made and factories are working hard to make a perfect symmetrical bra with a perfect center front that becomes very difficult to stitch especially with bras having large cups. Often some of the breast may show at a neckline and unless the wearer is perfectly symmetrical in terms of breast size the size difference is often noticeable. Many wearers do not like this asymmetry and take action to push up one breast or squash down another. Conventional standard bras simply cannot correct for the lack of symmetry of just about every wearer.
This may be even more significant if the wearer has undergone some type of breast surgery.
The invention is defined in the independent claims. Various optional features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.
Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present invention relates to a bra which has two separate sides, one side for each breast. The two separate sides may be of different sizes to accommodate women having breasts of different cup sizes.
Referring to
The bra is made up of two bra sides, each one having a different cup size if required. It will be appreciated that there are other bras that exist and have two sides; these have many disadvantages and are in many cases difficult to wear and to put on. In contradistinction to these other bras that exist, the manner in which a person can put on the bra according to the present invention is described below.
The bra cup can be sized according to known sizing such as A, D, C, D, DD etc. The cup of the bra of the present invention is made of a soft material such as a microfiber cloth which can be positioned over the breast in an optimal position for each user. In the bra of the present invention, there are no wires to dig into the flesh of the user, which can be very uncomfortable, especially for the larger woman. By having the correct cup size for each breast, the cup will conform as closely as possible to the breast and hold it in place. For the bra of the present invention, there will be no sagging of the bra and no bad fitting of each cup. The cup can be sewn or molded in a microfiber material.
In the bra of the present invention, the shoulder strap can be of a fixed length as the cup size is correct and the user does not need to shorten or lengthen the shoulder strap to accommodate for a poor fitting cup size, as is the case of many previously existing bras. In addition, as there is no need to adjust the length of the strap of the bra of the present invention, an adjustment mechanism on the shoulder strap is not necessary. This makes the bra more comfortable and much less fiddly to wear and adjust. In addition, there is a saving in manufacturing costs and time as a shoulder strap adjustment mechanism does not need to be added to the bra. The reason why no strap adjustment is due in part to the back panel or rear portion 103, which is wide enough to keep control of the bra balance and to avoid the strap digging into the user.
As the user can buy different cup sizes for each breast for the bra of the present invention, the final bra is completely adapted to be the right size for both breasts. There is no longer a need to have a bra which is saggy on one side because it is too big for the breast size on that side. Pursuant to the present invention, users can now have a bra which fits perfectly even if there is a large different in cup size from one breast to the other.
In
In
In order to put the bra on, the user will first position the first bra side bra by threading the bra onto the user's arm. The bra side is then close and then the second side is similarly positioned and closed. Which side is positioned first is not important and depends on the user's preferences.
The bra of the present invention has been separated into two pieces not only in order to allow the flexibility of having two different cup size, but also to fit the breast and/or any prosthesis as the user (wearer) wishes to use, with no constraints.
The method by which the bra is put on the user is now described in greater detail and is believed to offer an easy and ergonomic way for the user to put on a bra. In addition, the bra is easy to put on even if the user (wearer) has had recent surgery or has movement issues brought on by age or disability.
The user (wearer) selects a desired cup size for each bra part. The bottom band is fastened either at the front or a side the opposite breast to which the cup is to be worn. The attachment can be as loose or tight as the user (wearer) wishes. For example, the user may wear the bra loosely if the user is worried about cancer; such loose wearing is according to the user's choice. If the bra includes wire, the wire is already in place and does not need to be twisted or bent to sit below the user's breast. There is no discomfort. The user (wearer) passes the arm inside the armhole: the fact there is only one cup ease this movement and the user (wearer) can easily thread her arm through the armhole. The user (wearer) then arranges the breast and center front as required. If necessary, the band tightness can be adjusted if necessary. The other side of the bra is fitted in the same way.
The fact that the bra has no strap adjusters means there is no need to adjust strap length. As will be clear from the following, the shape, form and fabric of the back of the bra and the specific special strap composition play a major role in the “balance” of the bra.
For the bra of the present invention, back wings of the bra are a continuation of the front cup coverage. Straps been placed in a predetermined area, when compared with traditional bras to mean that the bra of the present invention will be less painful for the shoulders of the user. The back wing covers enough the back in order to “grip” the body and adds to the bra balance. The back wing may be made from a breathable microfiber with a high percentage of elastane.
For the bra of the present invention, the strap is soft and not hard and rigid as is often the caser with traditional bras. The strap is made of a special material that will prevent the breasts from bouncing when the user (wearer) walks, but will appear softer and more forgiving when the user (wearer) is not moving. The straps may be made from a combination of a microfiber and elastane, for example Fiber J™. The shape and material of the strap means that the strap does not dig into the shoulders of the user.
As previously mentioned the bra makes use of a so-called infinity strap for closing the bra around the body of the user. There is no fixed hook and eye fastener. Instead, the band is very flexible from a size point of view and one bra will fit many different sizes as is described in greater detail elsewhere. The body strap has been created as a special slotted band that can be hooked at any point along its length. However, optionally, it will be appreciated that the body strap may be implemented in other ways, for example using a continuously-adjustable magnetic strap, a Velcro® implemented strap including micro-loops and micro-hooks implemented in a plastics material, and so forth. This closure system helps the user (wearer) to place on her bra in a first step by closing her bra at front area, passing her opposite arm to the armhole with ease and then to adjust the band tightness as required when the breast is in place. The closure is flexible which means the wearer does not need to “squeeze” her body. The bra is well fitted and once adjusted in the first place will remain in that orientation for as long as necessary.
The bra of the present invention has got one non-metal hook (optionally, alternatively, at least partially metal) for each cup and an infinity band comprising a plurality of slots (that replace the function of the eye in a traditional bra) that are spaced along the band every few millimeters. This may result in simplified manufacture by not having to make different band sizes and the avoidance of having to include many hooks. This can be achieved by virtue of the fact that the shape and form of the front and back bra and special strap are doing the fit and balance without having to “squeeze” the user (wearer) by means of a bottom band like a standard bra will do. The hook has been designed to be ergonomic, easy to grip and thread into any slot, without having the user having to look. This means the user (wearer) can do up her bra without looking as well. The hook has also been developed to be manufactured from a non-metallic material in order to allow wearer to keep the bra on for any medical exam or scan. An example of an appropriate material for the hook is a resin type material or a plastics material, for example a plastics material such as glass-filled plastics material, polypropylene, polyacetate, polycarbonate, and so forth.
As can further be seen in
As the bra has no center front, it addresses one of many frustrations encountered by user of standard bras. Without a pre-linked center front in bras of the present invention, the user (wearer) is able to place her bra cups above her breast and/or prosthesis the way she feels, without much constraint. Without such a pre-linked center front, the user (wearer) can take two different cup size or match different types (including a prosthesis pocket or not) or even colors. Without the center front being pre-linked, the user (wearer) can clip a special designed removable hook onto her bottom band to feel secure throughout a diurnal period (namely, “along the day”).
Another important feature of the bra of the present invention which distinguishes it from known bras is that, as there is no center front, there is no gap between the breasts; each breast is enclosed with an individual cupped half bra. This form of breast enclosure has further advantages. The gap between the breasts in a traditional bra can easily become wet due to perspiration. This perspiration can be so intense that the user (wearer) of the traditional bra is forced to put a tissue or other absorbent material in the gap between her breasts to absorb the perspiration. This tissue can be uncomfortable and unsightly. The fact that there is no center front to the bra of the present invention means that it provides a covering to each breast completely around the breast and no gap exists between the two breasts which is not retained in the respective cup. This covering of each breast means there is no gap in which perspiration can build up. The material in this area of the present invention can further be adapted, if necessary, to be more absorbent to deal with any residual perspiration that may occur. This is shown in
A still further advantage of not having a center front, in bras of the present invention, is that this lack of gap between the breasts means that the breasts are better supported and move around less as the user (wearer) moves. This healthy movement is particularly relevant to movement of the breast in a sideways direction but can apply to any movement. As a result, there is less strain on the back and shoulders of the user due to the weight of the breasts and the momentum caused by movement of the breasts. The result is the bra of the present invention is that it provides more balance and comfort than traditional bras, wherein the user (wearer) of the bra of the present invention is much less likely to suffer from back strain and shoulder pain. This is especially true for large breasted women.
Referring to
When viewing a conventional existing traditional bra from below, there is often a gap between the bottom strap and the body under the breasts. This means that the conventional bra is not supporting the breasts in the correct position. In contradistinction, the bra of the present invention does not have this problem and the infinity strap is flush with the user's body along its length even under the breasts where traditional bras may have gaps. The bra of the present invention thus provides full support for the user's breast in all directions without causing ant discomfort to the user (wearer). Similar views to
In
In
The infinity under band includes a plurality of slots along its length thereof. The infinity under band 106 includes a hook 108 which can engage with one of the plurality of slots 110 located along the length of the infinity under band 106. The infinity under band is made of a combination of microfiber and elasticated yarn that gives a light pressure on the user's body and keeps the bra in the same place all through the day. Alternatively, optionally, metal and plastics materials are used for manufacturing the infinity under band 106. It will be appreciated that the infinity band is optionally configured to lift the user's breasts based on breast and band measurements.
The size of the infinity under band 106 is regulated by the position of the hook along the length thereof in the most suitable slot 110 for the user (person) concerned. For a large size of the bra of the present invention, the infinity under band may be longer than for a short size of the bra of the present invention; this length of the infinity under band can be determined by the user after purchase of the bra and the infinity under band may be cut to size by the user to avoid excessive overlap. The infinity under band may include one or more marks indicating where the cut should be made based on the normal size of the user. For example, if a user is size 95B for one breast and 95 C for the other, the user can buy a B cup side and a C cup side for the relevant breast and then cut the infinity under band to the 95 cm marker on both sides. The user may decide to cut to any appropriate length based on the user's own comfort and tightness requirements. It may not be necessary to cut the band to size for different cup sizes as the length of the infinity under band under the cup will be different for different cup sizes and as a result may be suitable to fit the user without a further adjustment. The infinity under band ensures that the fitting is completely personalized.
The infinity strap may be adapted to facilitate more than one hook for providing added security and comfort to the user. The additional hook may be located at a different location than the end of the strap, for example at the front near to the center of the chest of the user (wearer), at a location under the user's breast, or any other convenient location.
By using the infinity under band 106, bra manufacturers manufacturing the bra of the present invention may make a single sized bra side for each cup size for each breast. In this way, manufacturing costs may be significantly reduced. The only changes from one bra side to the next is the cup size and whether the breast is on the right-hand side or the left-hand side.
In
A bra according to the present invention can be manufactured in the following non-limitative manner by using a method whose steps are illustrated in
The method for manufacturing a bra cup of a predetermined cup size includes steps of:
In other words, there is provided a method for manufacturing each separate bra side 100 of the bra as aforementioned, wherein the method comprises steps as illustrated in
Optionally, when implementing the method, each bra side 100 has the same or different cup size.
The present invention has been described by way of examples as presented above; these are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which may include alternatives and different features without limitation.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP16305793.8 | Jun 2016 | EP | regional |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16314305 | Dec 2018 | US |
| Child | 18365272 | US |
