Patent Application
20220183401
The present invention relates to women's apparel, and more particularly to brassieres.
The prevalence of women's apparel that do not include pockets presents challenges for women in need of carrying small items. While the purse is a fashion accessory utilized by many women, there are often situations where carrying a purse may be inconvenient or prohibitive.
Likewise, there are times when a woman may want to discretely carry small items on their person. In these circumstances, some women may place such items within the cup of their brassiere against their breast. While convenient, this is by no means secure as the item may slip out. Moreover, such placement can introduce germs and bacteria carried by the item against the sensitive skin areas of the woman's breast.
As can be seen, there is a need for an improved brassiere for the sanitary carriage of small items against a woman's breast.
In one aspect of the present invention, a brassiere is disclosed. The brassier includes a left cup and a right cup formed of a fabric material. The cups are dimensioned to contain a breast of a wearer. Each cup has, a top edge, a bottom edge, a medial edge and a lateral edge. The medial edge is oriented along a medial centerline of the wearer's torso between the breasts and the lateral edge oriented along a lateral side of the wearer's torso when worn. A bridge element interconnects the medial edge of each of the left cup and the right cup. A lateral support band interconnects the lateral edge of each of the left cup and the right cup and, the lateral support band dimensioned to extend around the wearer's torso. A pocket is formed by a pocket panel attached within at least one of the left cup and the right cup. A pocket opening extends along the top edge, the opening providing access to an interior compartment of the pocket.
In some embodiments, a pocket closure extends along the top edge, the pocket closure operable to selectively open or close the pocket opening.
In some embodiments, the pocket panel overlays a majority of an inner face of the at least one of the left cup and the right cup.
In some embodiments, the pocket closure further comprises a cooperating fastener. The cooperating fastener may include a zipper.
In yet other embodiments, the pocket is provided in each of the left cup and the right cup.
In other aspects of the invention, a brassiere cup is disclosed. The brassiere cup includes a cup having, a top edge, a bottom edge, a medial edge and a lateral edge. The cup is formed of a fabric material dimensioned to contain a breast of a wearer. A pocket panel is attached to an inner surface of the cup. The pocket panel defines a pocket opening that extends along the top edge of the cup. The opening provides access to an interior compartment of the pocket between the pocket panel and the cup.
In some embodiment, a pocket closure extends along the top edge of the cup and a top edge of the pocket panel, the pocket closure operable to selectively open or close the pocket opening.
In some embodiments, the pocket panel overlays a majority of the inner surface of the cup.
In other embodiments, the pocket closure includes a cooperating fastener. The cooperating fastener may be a zipper.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.
Broadly, embodiments of the present invention include a pocket integrally formed with a cup of a brassiere. The pocket is used to contain small objects, such as an identification card, a credit card, currency, and the like. The pocket allows the objects to be securely held while avoiding contact of the item with the skin of the wearer's breast. Accordingly, the pocket provides a convenient, secure storage space that protects the wearer from germs that may be carried by the small object.
As seen in the drawings of
Each cup 12 has a top edge, a bottom edge, a medial edge, and a lateral edge. The medial edge is oriented along a centerline of the wearer's torso between the breasts. The lateral edge oriented along a lateral side of the wearer's torso. The cup 12 and the brassiere 10 may be constructed to various styles and sizes depending upon the wearer's preference. For example, in some styles the cup 12 may include an underwire 20. The brassiere 10 may also be made with a front closure, a back closure, or in a pullover sport style.
A bridge element 14 interconnects the medial edges of the left cup 12 and the right cup 12. As with a conventional brassiere, the bridge 12 may include a band of fabric, a cooperating hook and loop closure, a snap, and the like.
A lateral support band 16 interconnects the lateral edge of left cup 12 and the right cup 12. The lateral support band 16 is dimensioned to extend around the wearer's torso. The lateral support band 16 may have a cooperating fastener 22 oriented along the wearer's spinal area. The cooperating fastener 22 may allow adjustment of the tension of the lateral support band 16 about the wearer's torso.
The brassiere 10 may also include a pair of shoulder support bands 18 extending between the top end of the cup 12 and the lateral support band 16 such that the shoulder support bands 18 attaches with the lateral support band proximal the wearer's shoulder blades.
As indicated previously, the pocket pouch 26 is formed from a pocket panel 24 attached within at least one of the left cup 12 and the right cup 12. A pocket opening extends along the top edge of the cup 12. The pocket opening provides access to an interior compartment of the pocket pouch 26. A pocket closure 28 extends along the top edge of the cup 12. The pocket closure 28 is operable to selectively open or close the pocket opening. In embodiments with a single pocket pouch 26, the placement of the pocket pouch 26 may be selected based on the wearer's handedness, such that the pocket pouch 26 would be placed on the left cup for a right-handed wearer and placed on the right cup for a left-handed wearer.
In some embodiments, the pocket closure 28 is a zipper. The zipper 28 spans the pocket opening and is joined to each of the cup 12 and the pocket panel 24 via a zipper tape 30. The zipper tape 30 has a plurality of cooperating zipper teeth 32. The zipper 28 is operable by a zipper pull 34.
In the open condition, the user may insert a small object, such as an identification card 36 or a credit card 36 within the pocket pouch. The user may also insert a change purse 38 into the interior compartment of the pocket pouch 26. In the close position the small objects 36, 38 are securely retained within the pocket pouch 26. The pocket panel 24 protects the skin area of the user's breast from germs that may be carried on the objects 36, 38.
The brassier 10 or the cup 12 may be provide with a panel 40 for applying a brand or a logo to the garment.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
