Patent Grant
10750807
The present system relates to a cover that overlays a strap of an article of clothing and more specifically, embodiments of an underlying garment with an interchangeable designer cover that fastens to an outer surface of a garment strap.
Articles of clothing for women include various types of sleeveless clothes including bras, dresses, lingerie, shirts, tank tops, halter tops and pants that include straps. The phrase “article of clothing” should be interpreted broadly to include those items set forth above and including blouses, skirts, and pants. Other types of articles of clothing include those having belt loops or other straps that may engage the body of a wearer. The strap cover may be modified to fit belt loops and other straps.
In modern society, some consider it unsightly for a woman to wear an article of clothing that reveals her bra strap. Thus, various types of bras are provided in the marketplace. Some of these bras include strapless versions of bras or bras having removable straps to be worn with sleeveless or even strapless garments. However, often these bras can be costly as well as uncomfortable for the wearer. Thus, a cover concealing and decorating the bra straps would make their display more acceptable.
In modern society there is also a fashion trend of garments that purposefully reveal a woman's bra straps. Here, the wearer of the bra often has to purchase numerous bras of different color and design. This can be costly and the straps of each bra may still resemble a bra strap instead of a decorative article of clothing.
What is needed is a system and method for providing garments that have the ability to interchangeably integrate designer straps with the garment such that the problems identified above are overcome.
Disclosed is a system for integrating a plurality of designer strap covers with an underlying garment. In any number of embodiments, the system includes an underlying article of clothing comprising at least one garment strap, at least one designer strap cover, and a means for attaching a designer strap cover to an underlying garment strap.
In any number of embodiments, hook-and-loop style fastener tapes cover a top surface of a garment strap as well as a bottom surface of a designer strap (also referred to as an ornamental covering). The corresponding hook-and-loop style fastener tape(s) on the bottom surface of the designer strap allow for the ornamental covering to removably attach to and overlay a garment strap and thereby conceal the garment strap.
In any number of embodiments, the ends of a designer strap cover are rounded such that they are more comfortable for the wearer and do not stick into the wearer. In addition, the designer strap covers are slightly wider than the corresponding garment straps such that the garment straps are not visible once the designer strap covers have been applied. Because the underlying garment of the present invention has been designed to incorporate the designer strap covers, the designer strap covers are easier to apply and remove than previous inventions. Furthermore, the garment straps are still adjustable and the garment can be worn with or without the designer coverings, which is different from previous covering assemblies that cannot be detached from the garment.
In any number of embodiments, the underlying garment is a padded bra, wherein a thin layer of material covers the padded bra cups. At the top of each cup where a garment strap attaches to the cup portion of the bra, there is a small opening in the thin layer of material covering the padded bra cup. This opening forms a pocket (also referred to as a pouch) such that the end of a designer strap can be inserted into the opening, thereby resting between the thin layer of material and the padded bra cup. This creates a more secure and aesthetically pleasing fit between the bra and the designer cover. Alternatively, the top of each cup where a garment strap attaches to a cup portion of a bra can be covered with hook-and-loop style fastener tape such that a designer cover can be secured to the cup portion of the bra as well as to a bra strap. Again, this allows for a more secure fit. Alternatively, in embodiments that use the variously-described alternative attachment systems for securing the strap cover to the bra strap, the top of each cup where a garment strap attaches to a cup portion of a bra can include one or more female-sided snap fasteners, one or more openings each of which is configured to receive a button and/or a magnet, and one or more magnets sewn into the fabric of the cup.
In any number of embodiments, the underlying garment is a bra including two over-the-shoulder bra straps. Soft, flexible “stretchy” fastener tapes cover a top surface of the garment straps. Designer covers include corresponding “stretchy” fastener tapes on their bottom surface to permit the covers to be removably attached to an overlay and thereby conceal the garment straps. The elasticity of the underlying tapes or base of these “stretchy” fasteners provides an increase in comfort for the wearer as compared to other fastening mechanisms as well as solving the “bunching” issue. As an elastic bra strap is worn, the strap length will elongate and retract to accommodate the movement of the wearer. When a non-elastic or substantially less-elastic cover is attached to an elastic strap, as the strap extends and retracts the cover will fail to extend and retract with the strap. As a result, the cover can detach from the strap in intervals and fail to re-attach, resulting in a “bunching” of the cover. Bunching occurs where there is visible discontinuity in the attachment of the strap to the cover. For example, the discontinuity in attachment may be seen as the cover forming an arc above the strap between the remaining points of attachment. Bunching” of the cover is unsightly, allows the underlying garment strap to be seen, and draws attention to the underlying garment strap. Furthermore, fasteners such as hook-and-loop style fastener tapes, snaps, magnets and buttons are preferred over adhesives as adhesives can stiffen the cover and garment straps such that they fail to extend, retract, or bend with the movement of the wearer causing discomfort and increasing the likelihood that the garment strap and cover will slide off of the shoulder of the wearer.
Some embodiments of the present approach are directed to bra strap cover systems having a bra with at least one shoulder strap, said at least one shoulder strap having a top surface, a bottom surface, a strap length, and a strap width. The top surface of the at least one shoulder strap may include or support a plurality of first fastener halves that are disposed along the strap length. At least one bra strap cover may be included, with the cover having a decorative upper face, a lower face, a cover length, and a cover width. The lower face of the cover may include a plurality of second fastener halves disposed along the cover length. In this way, the bra strap is configured to be removably attached to the shoulder strap by mating or engaging the plurality of first and second fastener halves together. The cover width may be greater than the strap width and, advantageously, for a given stress, the bra strap cover may have a relative strain of 0.1 or greater, relative to the shoulder strap. The bra strap cover substantially covers and overlies the top surface of said shoulder strap, so that the decorative upper surface may be displayed by the wearer, and the relative strain prevents the cover from bunching.
As noted, the plurality of first and second fastener halves mate to form fasteners. Such fasteners may be selected from the group consisting of male and female snap fasteners, magnets, buttons and button holes, clasp halves, buttons and loops, hook and loop style fastener tape, hooks and eyes, and combinations thereof. The plurality of first and second fastener halves may also be stretchy loop-style fastener tape.
Other embodiments of the present approach may be directed to a bra strap cover system having a bra comprising at least one shoulder strap, with the at least one shoulder strap having a top surface, a bottom surface, a strap length, and a strap width. A first set of magnets disposed along the strap length of the bra shoulder strap. At least one bra strap cover may be included, with the cover having a decorative upper face, a lower face, a cover length, and a cover width. A second set of magnets disposed along the cover length, and the cover width may be greater than the strap width. The second set of magnets may be complementary to the first set of magnets, so that the bra strap is configured to be removably attached to the shoulder strap by mating the first set of magnets with the second set of magnets. In this manner, the bra strap cover substantially covers and overlies the top surface of said shoulder strap. Optionally, the shoulder strap may define or include a plurality of openings disposed along said cover length, with the first set of magnets being disposed within the plurality of openings. The second set of magnets may be disposed along the lower face of said at least one bra strap cover. In some embodiments, the at least one shoulder strap may define a strap interior; the strap cover may define a cover interior, and the first set of magnets may be sewn into the strap interior and the second set of magnets may be sewn into the cover interior. For such embodiments, for a given stress, the at least one bra strap cover may be selected of a material such that it exhibits a relative strain of 0.1 or greater, relative to the at least one shoulder strap.
Other embodiments of the present approach may extend to a bra strap cover system having a bra with at least one shoulder strap, and the shoulder strap having a top surface, a bottom surface, a strap length, and a strap width. The shoulder strap may have a plurality of openings disposed along said strap length. Included is at least one bra strap cover having a decorative upper face, a lower face, a cover length, and a cover width. The cover width may be greater than said strap width. The cover lower face may include a plurality of buttons attached thereto along said cover length. The bra strap may be thus configured to be removably attached to the shoulder strap by engaging or mating the plurality of buttons with the plurality of openings. Attached in this manner, the bra strap cover may substantially cover and overlie the top surface of said shoulder strap. Optionally, for a given stress, the at least one bra strap cover has a relative strain of 0.1, relative to the at least one shoulder strap.
Other embodiments of the present approach may include a bra strap cover system having a first and a second snap fastener tape. The first and second snap fastener tape may be configured to attach to each other by a plurality of male and female snap fasteners disposed on the first and second snap fastener tape. Optionally, the first and second snap fastener tape is elastic. Included is a bra and a bra strap cover. The bra may have at least one shoulder strap, at least one body strap, and at least one cup, with the shoulder strap having a top surface, a bottom surface, a strap length, and a strap width, where the upper side of said at least one shoulder strap includes the first snap fastener tape attached thereto. The cover may have a decorative upper face, a lower face, a cover length, and a cover width, said lower face having the second snap fastener tape attached thereto and extending along said cover length. The cover width may be greater than said strap width. A first end of the bra strap cover may be configured to be attached to a top portion of said cup, a second end of said bra strap cover may be configured to be attached to the rear portion of said body strap, and an intermediate portion of said bra strap cover may be configured to be attached to said shoulder strap such that the bra strap cover substantially covers and overlies the top surface of said shoulder strap. Optionally, for a given stress, the at least one bra strap cover has a relative strain of 0.1 or greater, relative to the at least one shoulder strap.
Other embodiments may be a bra strap cover system having a first and a second hook-and-loop fastener tape, with the first and second hook-and-loop fastener tape configured to attach to each other by a plurality of hooks and loops disposed on the first and second hook-and-loop fastener tape. Included are a bra and a bra strap cover. The bra may have at least one shoulder strap, at least one body strap, and at least one cup, said at least one shoulder strap having a top surface, a bottom surface, a strap length, and a strap width, where the upper side of the shoulder strap includes the first hook-and-loop fastener tape attached thereto. The at least one bra strap cover may have a decorative upper face, a lower face, a cover length, and a cover width. The lower face may have the second hook-and-loop fastener tape attached thereto and extending along said cover length, with said cover width being greater than said strap width. A first end of the bra strap cover may be configured to be attached to a top portion of said cup, a second end of said bra strap cover may be configured to be attached to said rear portion of the body strap, and an intermediate portion of the bra strap cover may be configured to be attached to said shoulder strap such that the bra strap cover substantially covers and overlies the top surface of said shoulder strap. Optionally, the first and second hook-and-loop fastener tapes are elastic and for a given stress, the at least one bra strap cover has a relative strain of 0.1 or greater, relative to the at least one shoulder strap.
Disclosed is a system for integrating a plurality of designer strap covers with an underlying garment, such as a bra. In any number of embodiments, the present invention includes an underlying article of clothing 1 comprising at least one garment strap 2; at least one designer strap cover (also referred to as an ornamental covering) 6; and a means or device 4 for attaching the designer strap cover to the underlying garment or bra shoulder strap 2.
As shown in
The corresponding strip(s) of hook-and-loop style fastener tape 4 on the bottom surface 8 of the designer strap cover 6 allow for the ornamental covering to removably engage with or attach to and overlay a garment strap 2 such that an ornamental top surface 7 of the designer strap cover 6 is displayed and further conceals the garment strap 2, as shown in
As shown in
Because an underlying garment 1 of the present invention has been designed to incorporate the designer strap covers, the designer strap covers 6 are easier to apply and remove than with conventional or prior approaches. Furthermore, the garment straps 2 are still adjustable and the garment can be worn with or without the designer coverings, which is different from previous covering assemblies that cannot be detached from the garment. It may be preferable for strip(s) of the softer hook-and-loop style fastener tape 4 to be applied to the top surface 3 of the underlying garment straps such that in the case where a wearer chooses not to utilize a designer cover 6, the underlying garment is not uncomfortable to wear.
In some embodiments, stretchy hook-and-loop style fastener tape may be the device 4 for attaching the designer strap cover to the underlying garment or bra shoulder strap 2. In other cases, device 4 may be a plurality of other fasteners, such as a plurality of first and second fastener halves adapted to mate or engage together. The plurality of first and second fastener halves may mate to form fasteners such as (male and female) snap fasteners, attracting/engaging magnets, buttons and button holes, clasp halves, buttons and loops, hook and loop style fastener tape, hooks and eyes, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the fasteners may be: 1) stretchy snap tape—wherein an elastic fabric base further comprises female-sided or male-sided snaps disposed at intervals along its length; or 2) stretchy button tape—wherein an elastic fabric base further comprises buttons or openings to receive buttons at intervals along its length. Specifically, stretchy female-sided snap fastener tape or stretchy button-opening-style fastener tape may be employed in any of the described embodiments, for example, as an alternate fastening approach to embodiments described using stretchy loop-style fastener tape. Several embodiments may use such alternatives for the elastic qualities which reduce bunching and slipping problems described above and increase the comfort of the wearer.
In any number of embodiments where the underlying garment may be a padded bra 16, as shown in
As discussed above, some embodiments may address the problems of bunching by relative elastic covers 6 to enable cover strain as an elastic shoulder strap is strained for a given level of tensile stress caused by the movement of the wearer. In certain of such embodiments, the top surfaces of shoulder straps may be covered by a strip of soft, flexible, elastic or first “stretchy” hook-and-loop-style fastener tape(s) 21 (
Thus, stretchy loop style fastener tape (or stretchy hook and loop style fastener tape) is intended to enable cover 6 to be elastic and stretchable, while hook-and-loop style fastener tape may or may not be elastic, depending on the embodiment. For clarity, the category of hook-and-loop style fastener tape would include stretchy loop-style fastener tape and non-stretchy or inelastic hook-and-loop style tape. However, stretchy loop style fastener tape would not include inelastic hook-and-loop style tape.
Embodiments of elastic covers 6 or shoulder straps 3 may include inelastic hook-and-loop style tape, so long as (i) the inelastic hook-and-loop style tape does not impair the overall elasticity of the cover or shoulder strap, such as by use of multiple, separate segments (see, e.g.,
The use of elastic or stretchable strap covers 6 may avoid or solve the bunching experienced with inelastic materials when used with elastic shoulder straps 20. As noted above, bunching is a discontinuity between an inelastic form of strap cover and an elastic form of shoulder strap 20; conventional strap covers and strap cover fasteners are substantially inelastic. Young's modulus (E) can provide a measure of elasticity. Young's modulus represents the linear elasticity of a material when placed under a given stress. Young's modulus (E) is calculated by dividing the tensile stress by the extensional strain in the material, e.g. the change in the length divided by the initial length.
E=(F/A0)/(ΔL/L0)=(Force/Area)/(Change in Length/Initial Length)
For a consistent or given stress or force over area, Young's modulus is inversely related to the strain. In other words, the modulus decreases with an increase in elasticity. Substantial differences in relative strain performance at a given stress can contribute to the problem of bunching.
There is considerable variability in the characteristics of materials used in the manufacture of garments and their fasteners. Table 1 shows relative elasticity information for four sample elastic straps (Straps 1-4) and one substantially inelastic sample strap (Strap 5), as various straps were tested with 160 psi applied in axial tension. While strap 60 might have elasticity or strain characteristics of any of the samples among Straps 1-4, for example. Strap 3 in particular was a sample of stretchy loop style fastener tape. Relative values were calculated based on the most elastic (Strap 1) of these sample Straps 1-4 among a variety of strap materials
with relative Young's modulus E calculated similarly.
An elastic strap cover (and its fastener) that exhibit greater strain (or elongation) than an associated shoulder strap at a particular stress produced no bunching, in that the elements (cover and strap) formed a single elastic unit when engaged to each other. In addition, various combinations of elastic Straps 1-4 did not bunch when strained, it is believed for the same reason. However, Strap 5 exhibited bunching when used with any of a variety of the above elastic straps. Thus, bunching may be avoided by selecting cover and fastener materials having advantageous relative strain characteristics, which may be considered for a given stress to be a relative strain of 0.1 or greater, or preferably 0.25 or greater, but with 0.025, for example, being dissimilar and relatively inelastic. Thus, “elastic” does not connote a particular fabric, but a performance characteristic evidenced by strain.
In any number of embodiments, shoulder straps 20 may be detachable to permit bra 18 to become a strapless bra (See, e.g.,
In another embodiment, the shoulder straps may include at least one strip of stretchy female-sided snap fastener tape arranged such that the female-sided snaps are arranged on the top surface of the shoulder strap. In this embodiment, the bra may be configured for use with a bra strap cover which may be similar to the cover embodiments previously described. The cover in this embodiment may have at least one strip of stretchy male-sided snap fastener tape disposed along the bottom surface of the cover, the at least one strip of stretchy male-sided snap fastener tape is configured and arranged along the length of the cover in a manner that permits attachment to the at least one strip stretchy female-sided snap fastener tape of the shoulder straps.
In one or more alternative embodiments, a bra strap cover can be secured to a bra strap via other attachment systems. For example, hook-and-eye style fasteners may be used.
The dimensions described herein will be understood to be exemplary and provided as embodiments associated with proper working operation of the present invention. Furthermore, while the preferred embodiment disclosed herein is illustrated as applying to or incorporating a bra, alternative shapes and sizes of garments are to be considered. For example, a garment incorporating interchangeable designer straps as described herein could be a dress, a shirt, lingerie, tank tops, halter tops, or any other article of clothing.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the approach. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims of the application rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/807,325, titled “Garment System for Interchangeable Covers for Garment Straps”, filed on Jul. 23 2015, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/479,505, titled “Garment System for Interchangeable Covers for Garment Straps”, filed on Sep. 8, 2014, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/728,690, titled “Garment System for Interchangeable Covers for Garment Straps”, filed on Dec. 27, 2012, now abandoned, which claimed a priority benefit to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/580,694, filed Dec. 28, 2011. The foregoing disclosures are expressly incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61580694 | Dec 2011 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14807325 | Jul 2015 | US |
| Child | 16258261 | US | |
| Parent | 14479505 | Sep 2014 | US |
| Child | 14807325 | US | |
| Parent | 13728690 | Dec 2012 | US |
| Child | 14479505 | US |
