The present disclosure relates to an article that is created to provide support for women, for example, during various activities. More particularly, a sports bra is constructed in such a manner as to provide comfort and support for the breasts and back of the wearer.
In the state of the art, various sports bras have been proposed to provide support for a wearer by including an elastic band disposed at or near the ribs of a wearer to supplement any inherent elasticity in the other portions of the sports bra. Such elastic bands may be less elastic than a material of panels forming the body of the sports bra to secure the sports bra to the torso of the wearer.
As an example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,174,717 and 4,311,150 to Schreiber et al. each discloses an athletic brassiere which is designed to hold the breasts snugly to the body. A wide elastic rib band and elastic strips which cross in the back hold the brassiere firmly in place.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,544 to Flanagan et al. describes a sports bra having an elastic band attached to the bottom of said front and rear panels and extending continuously around said brassiere.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,005 to Braaten describes a sports bra having a continuous bottom edge with an elastic band secured to the bottom edge and coextensive with front and rear panel sections.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,381,113 to Hori describes a sports bra having an elastic band disposed about the lower edges of an inner fabric layer and an outer fabric layer to limit the transverse movement of breast cups of the bra.
In many instances, the sports bras of the prior art including a circumferential elastic band may cause irritation or discomfort to a wearer at a region where the elastic band secures the sports bra to the wearer. As such, improvements in sports bras and other articles of clothing are needed.
The present disclosure relates to articles of clothing such as bras, and in particular sports bras.
A sports bra may comprise: a front panel comprising a bust panel, a first shoulder strap, and a second shoulder strap, wherein the first shoulder strap and the second shoulder strap are spaced from each other and extend from the bust panel to define at least a portion of a neck hole configured to receive a neck of a wearer, and wherein the bust panel does not comprise a supplemental elastic circumferential band; and a rear panel comprising a first back strap and a second back strap configured in a crossback pattern, wherein the first back strap is coupled to the first shoulder strap at a first shoulder seam and the second back strap is coupled to the second shoulder strap at a second shoulder seam, wherein the first back strap is coupled to the bust panel at a first side seam, the first back strap having a curve-linear shape exhibiting a tapered width between the first side seam and the first shoulder seam, wherein the first side seam has a length that is greater than a length of the first shoulder seam, and wherein the second back strap is coupled to the bust panel at a second side seam, the second back strap having a curve-linear shape exhibiting a tapered width between the second side seam and the second shoulder seam, wherein the second side seam has a length that is greater than a length of the second shoulder seam.
An article may comprise: a front panel comprising a bust panel, a first shoulder strap, and a second shoulder strap, wherein the first shoulder strap and the second shoulder strap are spaced from each other and extend from the bust panel to define at least a portion of a neck hole configured to receive a neck of a wearer; and a rear panel comprising a first back strap and a second back strap configured such that one of the first back strap or the second back strap overlays a portion of the other of the first back strap and the second back strap, wherein the first back strap is coupled to the first shoulder strap at a first shoulder seam and the second back strap is coupled to the second shoulder strap at a second shoulder seam, wherein the first back strap is coupled to the bust panel at a first side seam, the first side seam having a length that is greater than a length of the first shoulder seam, and wherein the second back strap is coupled to the bust panel at a second side seam, the second side seam having a length that is greater than a length of the second shoulder seam.
An article may comprise: a front panel comprising a bust panel, a first shoulder strap, and a second shoulder strap, wherein the first shoulder strap and the second shoulder strap are spaced from each other and extend from the bust panel to define at least a portion of a neck hole configured to receive a neck of a wearer; and a rear panel comprising a first back strap and a second back strap configured in a crossback pattern, wherein the first back strap is coupled to the first shoulder strap at a first shoulder seam and the second back strap is coupled to the second shoulder strap at a second shoulder seam, wherein the first back strap is coupled to the bust panel at a first side seam, the first back strap having a curve-linear shape exhibiting a tapered width between the first side seam and the first shoulder seam, and wherein the second back strap is coupled to the bust panel at a second side seam, the second back strap having a curve-linear shape exhibiting a tapered width between the second side seam and the second shoulder seam.
There has thus been outlined, certain embodiments of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In order to facilitate a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are referenced with like numerals. These drawings should not be construed as limiting the invention and intended only to be illustrative.
An article of clothing such as a bra (e.g., sports bra, everyday bra) is described.
The first back strap 110a may be coupled to the first shoulder strap 106a at a first shoulder seam 108a. The second back strap 110b may be coupled to the second shoulder strap 106b at a second shoulder seam 108b.
The article 100 may comprise one or more arm holes, such as a first arm hole 118a and a second arm hole 118b. A portion of the first back strap 110a, a portion of the second back strap 110b, and a portion of the front panel 102 may define an arm hole 118 configured to receive an arm of a wearer. For example, the first arm hole 118a may be defined by a top portion of the first back strap 110a and a bottom portion of the second back strap 110b. The second arm hole 118b may be defined by a top portion of the second back strap 110b and a bottom portion of the first back strap 110a.
The first back strap 110a may be coupled to the bust panel 107 at a first side seam 112a. The first back strap 110a may have a curve-linear shape. The first back strap 110a may have a curve-linear shape exhibiting a tapered width between the first side seam 112a and the first shoulder seam 108a. The first side seam 112a may have a length that is greater than a length of the first shoulder seam 108a. The second back strap 110b may be coupled to the bust panel 107 at a second side seam 112b. The second back strap 110b may have a curve-linear shape. The second back strap 110b may have a curve-linear shape exhibiting a tapered width between the second side seam 112b and the second shoulder seam 108b. The second side seam 112b may have a length that is greater than a length of the second shoulder seam 108b.
The article 100 may comprise a first cup 202 and a second cup 204 coupled to the front yoke 200. One or more of the cups 202, 204 may be formed from a shaped foam material and may define an interior layer adjacent at least a portion of the bust panel 107 (
The article 100 may comprise a gore 206 coupled to the front yoke 200 and the cups 202, 204 and disposed between the first cup 202 and the second cup 204. The gore 206 may be formed from a wicking, breathable jersey material. As an example, the cups 202, 204 may be spaced form each other and the gore 206 may define the material disposed between the cups 202, 204. Various materials may be selected for wicking, moisture management, cooling, and absorbency, for example.
The article 100 may comprise a first overlay 210 and a second overlay 208. The overlays 208, 210 may be formed from various materials including a mesh material. The overlays may be formed form the same material as an interior surface of the back straps 110, as discussed herein. For example, the overlays 208, 210 may be configured to overlay at least a portion of one or more side seams 112, when viewed from an interior perspective (e.g., see
The first back strap 110a may comprise a first inner elastic band 212a disposed adjacent a first inner edge 214a. The second back strap 110b may comprise a second inner elastic band 212b disposed adjacent a second inner edge 214b. The first back strap 110a may comprise a first outer elastic band 216a disposed adjacent a first outer edge 218a. The first back strap 110a may comprise a second outer elastic band 216b disposed adjacent a first outer edge 218b. The first back strap 110a may comprise a first interior surface 222a. The second back strap 112b may comprise a second interior surface 222b. The first interior surface 222a and the second interior surface 222b. One or more of the elastic bands may be formed as provide structure to the respective seam or edge and to hold the respective seam or edge in or near a position.
As shown in
The first back strap 110a may comprise a first outer layer 122a. The second back strap 110b may comprise a second outer layer 122b. One or both of the first outer layer 122a and the second outer layer 122b may comprise spandex (e.g., a spandex outer layer). The spandex or other material of the outer layers 122 may comprise elastane, such as from about 11% to about 12% elastane (or from 11% to 12% elastane). The article 100 may comprise a front surface 120. The front surface 120 may comprise spandex.
One or both of the first back strap 110a and the second back strap 110b may comprise a mesh liner. The mesh liner may be disposed adjacent a spandex outer layer (e.g., the first outer layer 122a, the second outer layer 122b). The mesh liner may be configured to abut a wearer. The mesh liner may comprise from about 80% to about 81% nylon. For example, the first interior surface 222a and/or the second interior surface 222b may comprise the mesh liner. The yoke 200, the first overlay 210, the second overlay 208, or a combination thereof may also comprise a mesh liner. The mesh liner may be configured to abut a wearer. The mesh liner may comprise from about 80% to about 81% nylon.
The article 100 may be manufactured in a variety of sizes. As an illustration, the length of one or both (e.g., separately) of the first side seam 112a and the second side seam 112b may be between about 4½″ and about 4⅝″. The length of one or both (e.g., separately) of the first shoulder seam 108a and the second shoulder seam 108b may be between about 1″ and about 1.5″. A ratio of the length of the first side seam 112a and a length of the first shoulder seam 108a may be about 2.5:1. A ratio of the length of the second side seam 112b and a length of the second shoulder seam 108b may be between about 2.5:1. The tack 124 (e.g., bar tack) may have a length between about ⅜″ and about ½″.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments or embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Reference in this application to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “one or more embodiments,” “aspects,” or the like means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of, for example, the phrases “an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by the other. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not by other embodiments.
The following exemplary embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and fully convey the scope to those skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices and schematic configurations to provide a thorough understanding of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these specific details need not be employed, that the exemplary embodiments may be embodied in many different forms, and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
In various aspects, the present disclosure may pertain to one or more of the following examples.
A sports bra comprising: a front panel comprising a bust panel, a first shoulder strap, and a second shoulder strap, wherein the first shoulder strap and the second shoulder strap are spaced from each other and extend from the bust panel to define at least a portion of a neck hole configured to receive a neck of a wearer, and wherein the bust panel does not comprise a supplemental elastic circumferential band; and a rear panel comprising a first back strap and a second back strap configured in a crossback pattern, wherein the first back strap is coupled to the first shoulder strap at a first shoulder seam and the second back strap is coupled to the second shoulder strap at a second shoulder seam, wherein the first back strap is coupled to the bust panel at a first side seam, the first back strap having a curve-linear shape exhibiting a tapered width between the first side seam and the first shoulder seam, wherein the first side seam has a length that is greater than a length of the first shoulder seam, and wherein the second back strap is coupled to the bust panel at a second side seam, the second back strap having a curve-linear shape exhibiting a tapered width between the second side seam and the second shoulder seam, wherein the second side seam has a length that is greater than a length of the second shoulder seam.
An article comprising: a front panel comprising a bust panel, a first shoulder strap, and a second shoulder strap, wherein the first shoulder strap and the second shoulder strap are spaced from each other and extend from the bust panel to define at least a portion of a neck hole configured to receive a neck of a wearer; and a rear panel comprising a first back strap and a second back strap configured such that one of the first back strap or the second back strap overlays a portion of the other of the first back strap and the second back strap, wherein the first back strap is coupled to the first shoulder strap at a first shoulder seam and the second back strap is coupled to the second shoulder strap at a second shoulder seam, wherein the first back strap is coupled to the bust panel at a first side seam, the first side seam having a length that is greater than a length of the first shoulder seam, and wherein the second back strap is coupled to the bust panel at a second side seam, the second side seam having a length that is greater than a length of the second shoulder seam.
The article of Example 2, wherein the first back strap is tacked to the second back strap.
The article of Example 2, wherein the first back strap is coupled to the second back strap using a bar tack, and therein the bar tack has a length between ⅜″ and ½″.
The article of any one of examples 2-4, wherein the front panel and the rear panel are configured such that one or more of the side seams are biased towards a central axis of a back of the wearer.
The article of any one of examples 2-5, wherein the bust panel does not comprise a supplemental elastic circumferential band.
The article of any one of examples 2-6, wherein a portion of the first back strap, a portion of the second back strap, and a portion of the front panel define an arm hole configured to receive an arm of a wearer.
The article of any one of examples 2-7, wherein the length of one or both of the first side seam and the second side seam is between 4½″ and 4⅝″.
The article of any one of examples 2-8, wherein the length of one or both of the first shoulder seam and the second shoulder seam is between 1″ and 1.5″.
The article of any one of examples 2-9, wherein a ratio of the length of the first side seam and a length of the first shoulder seam is about 2.5:1
The article of any one of examples 2-10, wherein a ratio of the length of the second side seam and a length of the second shoulder seam is about 2.5:1.
The article of any one of examples 2-11, wherein the front panel is at least partially formed from a foam.
The article of any one of examples 2-12, wherein one or both of the first back strap and the second back strap comprises an outer layer (e.g., spandex or elastane) and a mesh liner disposed adjacent the outer layer and configured to abut a wearer.
The article of example 13, wherein the outer layer comprises from 11% to about 12% elastane.
The article of example 13, wherein the mesh liner comprises from 80% to 81% nylon.
The article of any one of examples 2-15, wherein one or both of the first back strap and the second back strap has a curve-linear shape.
The article of any one of examples 2-16, wherein one or both of the first side seam and the second side seam is overlaid by a mesh material coupled to a corresponding one of the first back strap and the second back strap.
An article comprising: a front panel comprising a bust panel, a first shoulder strap, and a second shoulder strap, wherein the first shoulder strap and the second shoulder strap are spaced from each other and extend from the bust panel to define at least a portion of a neck hole configured to receive a neck of a wearer; and a rear panel comprising a first back strap and a second back strap configured in a crossback pattern, wherein the first back strap is coupled to the first shoulder strap at a first shoulder seam and the second back strap is coupled to the second shoulder strap at a second shoulder seam, wherein the first back strap is coupled to the bust panel at a first side seam, the first back strap having a curve-linear shape exhibiting a tapered width between the first side seam and the first shoulder seam, and wherein the second back strap is coupled to the bust panel at a second side seam, the second back strap having a curve-linear shape exhibiting a tapered width between the second side seam and the second shoulder seam.
The article of example 18, wherein the first back strap overlays at least a portion of the second back strap, thereby defining the crossback pattern.
The article of any one of examples 18-19, wherein the first back strap is tacked to the second back strap.
The article of any one of examples 18-19, wherein the first back strap is coupled to the second back strap using a bar tack, and therein the bar tack has a length between ⅜″ and ½″.
The article of any one of examples 18-21, wherein the front panel and the rear panel are configured such that one or more of the side seams are biased towards a central axis of a back of the wearer.
The article of any one of examples 18-22, wherein the bust panel does not comprise a supplemental elastic circumferential band.
The article of any one of examples 18-23, wherein a portion of the first back strap, a portion of the second back strap, and a portion of the front panel define an arm hole configured to receive an arm of a wearer.
The article of any one of examples 18-24, wherein the length of one or both of the first side seam and the second side seam is between 4½″ and 4⅝″.
The article of any one of examples 18-25, wherein the length of one or both of the first shoulder seam and the second shoulder seam is between 1″ and 1.5″.
The article of any one of examples 18-26, wherein a ratio of the length of the first side seam and a length of the first shoulder seam is about 2.5:1.
The article of any one of examples 18-27, wherein a ratio of the length of the second side seam and a length of the second shoulder seam is about 2.5:1
The article of any one of examples 18-28, wherein the front panel is at least partially formed from a foam.
The article of any one of examples 18-29, wherein one or both of the first back strap and the second back strap comprises an outer layer (e.g., spandex or elastane) and a mesh liner disposed adjacent the outer layer and configured to abut a wearer.
The article of example 30, wherein the outer layer comprises from 11% to 12% elastane.
The article of example 30, wherein the mesh liner comprises from 80% to 81% nylon.
While the system and method have been described in terms of what are presently considered to be specific embodiments, the disclosure need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/784,640, filed Oct. 16, 2017, now granted U.S. Pat. No. 10,321,723, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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Child | 16405222 | US |