IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO BRAS

The Present Invention Relates To Improvements In Or Relating To Bras

It is usual for women to wear a bra. There are many different types, sizes and models. 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 arm movement is inhibited in one way or another.

One particular issue that is not addressed well by bra designers and manufacturers is the fact that often one breast may be a different size to the other. This generally means that the cup size for each breast is different. This may be a natural phenomenon or may be brought about by breast or lump removals in the case of illness. 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 WO2014089762. Whilst addressing some problems these bras are uncomfortable, difficult to fit and difficult to put on.

The present invention attempts to solves at least some of the problems associated with the prior art.

Some of the problems being address are set out below. Bras at 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 if virtually impossible.

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. This generally means the strap is rigid and may dig into the shoulder.

There are generally two or three hooks and eyes depending on the breadth of the band. Most bras have several adjustment positions so that the tightness of the 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 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 bra is widened several centimeters with time. This could be made worse with twisting. The fasteners furthest away may serve in the future but could give rise to squeezing and discomfort.

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 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 and take action to push up one breast or squash down another. 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:

FIG. 1 is an extended front view of a first side of a bra, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2a is a front view of a first side of a bra on a body, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2b is a front view of a second side of a bra on a body, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a first and second side of a bra, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4a is a rear view of a first side of a bra on a body, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4b is a rear view of a second side of a bra on a body, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of a first and second side of a bra on a body, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view of an infinity under band used to attach the bra sides to the user, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a front view of first and second side of a bra for a narrow breast frame, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a front view of a first and second side of a bra for a wide breast frame, according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 9a to 9d show views from above and below to show the fitting of the bra according to on embodiment of the present invention (9a and 9b) when compared to a standard bra (9c and 9d).

The present invention relates to a bra which has two separate sides one for each breast. The two separate sides may be of different sizes to accommodate women having breasts of different cup sizes.

Referring to FIG. 1, a first bra side 100 is illustrated. The bra side includes a cup 102, a shoulder strap 104, a back panel or rear portion 103 and an infinity under band 106 for attaching the bra to the user.

The bra is made up of two bra sides, each one having a different cup size if required. 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. 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 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. 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 close as possible to the breast and hold it in place. 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.

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, 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 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. 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.

FIG. 2a shows the first bra side in situ on a body. The shoulder strap 104 extends over the shoulder. The cup 102 is positioned over the breast. The infinity under band 106 extends around the body underneath the breast and is fixed by the hook 108 to one of the slots 110. FIG. 2b shows the position of a second bra side on the body.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of a user wearing both a RHS and a LHS bra side, where each side is substantially as shown in FIGS. 1, 2a and 2b, except for one bra side is for the RHS and the other for the LHS. Each of the RHS and LHS sides are attached under the opposing arm by a respective hook engaging a respective slot.

In order to put the bra on, the user will first position the first bra side bra by threading the bra onto the 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 in order to allow the flexibility of having two different cup size but also to fit the breast and/or any prosthesis as wearer wishes to use, with no constraints.

The method by which the bra is put on is now described in greater detail and is believed to offer an easy and ergonomic way to put on a bra. In addition, the bra is easy to put on even if the wearer has had recent surgery or has movement issues brought on by age or disability.

The 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 wearer wishes. If the bra includes wire, the wire is already in place and does not need to be twisted or bent to sit below the breast. There is no discomfort. The wearer passes the arm inside the armhole: the fact there is only one cup ease this movement and the wearer can easily thread their arm through the armhole. The 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.

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 will be less painful for the shoulders. 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.

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 will prevent the breasts from bouncing when wearer walk but will appear softer and more forgiving when the wearer is not moving. The straps may be made from a combination of a microfiber and elastane, for example Fiber J TM. The shape and material of the strap means that the strap does not dig into the shoulders.

As previously mentioned the bra makes use of a so called infinity strap for closing the bra around the body. 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. This closure system helps the 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 has got one non-metal hook 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 not having to make different band sizes and the avoidance of many hooks. This can be achieve 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 wearer by means of a bottom band like a standard bra will do. The hook been designed to be ergonomic, easy to grip and thread into any slot, without having to look. This means the wearer can do up their bra without looking as well. The hook has also been developed to be 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.

As can further be seen in FIG. 3 there is no “center front” to the bra. Usually, all bras include a center front albeit small or large depending on the exact nature of the bra. The center front defines a predetermined gap between the two breasts and forces the breasts to be in a position defined by the bra, which may not be natural or comfortable. Again this is a limitation of current bras, as not all women have the same gap between their breasts. If the center front is the wrong length, it may be uncomfortable. By having no center front, the bra of the present invention can be adapted to suit users having different gaps between the two breasts. This is clearly a further advantage of this bra over the prior art. In addition, there is a further advantage of not having a center front; there is still a further saving in terms of the manufacturing process, since attaching a center front between the cups is an additional manufacturing step which is fiddly and time consuming and requires addition material.

As the bra has no center front it addresses one of many standard bra frustrations. Without a pre-linked center front, the wearer is able to place her bra cups above her breast and/or prosthesis the way she feels, without much constraint. Without pre-linked center front, the wearer can take two different cup size or match different types (including a prosthesis pocket or not) or even colors. Without center front pre linked the wearer can clip a special designed removable hook onto her bottom band to feel secure along the day.

Another important feature of the bra which distinguishes it from known bras is that, as there is no center front, there is no gap between the breasts. As each breast is enclosed with an individual cupped half bra. This has further advantages. The gap between the breasts in a traditional bra can easily become wet due to perspiration. This can be so intense that the wearer of the traditional bra is forced to put a tissue or other absorbent material in the gap between the breasts to absorb the perspiration. This can be uncomfortable and unsightly. The fact that there is no center front to the bra of the present invention means that is 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 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 FIGS. 9a.

A still further advantage of not having a center front is that this lack of gap between the breasts means that the breasts are better supported and move around less as the wearer moves. This 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 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 and the wearer is much less likely to suffer from back strain and shoulder pain. This is especially true for large breasted women.

Referring to FIGS. 9a and 9b, when seen from above and below the bra of the present invention does not have any gaps between the bra and the body. From above the crossover of the two cups substantially encloses the two breasts separately and there is no gaps between the breasts when viewed from above. This looks more attractive than a substantial gap between the breasts for wearers with large breasts and is much more comfortable than squeezing the breasts together to produce a large “cleavage”. Whilst many wearers would like to have a good cleavage it is often very uncomfortable and there is a sense of relief when the wearer removes the bra.

From below with a traditional bra there is often a gap between the bottom strap and the body under the breasts. This means that the bra is not supporting the breasts in the correct position. The bra of the present invention does not have this problem and the infinity strap is flush with the 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 breast in all directions without causing ant discomfort to the wearer. Similar views to 9a and 9b are shown for a standard bar in FIGS. 9c and 9d, to highlight the profound difference is fitting using a standard bra as opposed to the bra according to the present invention. The molding of the bra of the present invention to conform to the breasts gives rise to a considerable more comfortable and well-fitting garment as can be seen in FIGS. 9a and 9b.

FIGS. 4a and 4b show the rear of the first and second sides when worn by the user. There is a rear portion 103 or 112 for each bra side which makes the bra comfortable to wear. The rear portion is made of an appropriate microfiber and may be lined with a breathable power mesh in order to adhere to the back. This helps with the natural balance of the bra and avoids the bra slipping. FIG. 5 shows the two sides together from the rear and shows and overlap 114.

FIG. 6 shows the infinity under band or attachment strap 106 in more detail and shows the generally desired position of the hook 108 when engaged with a slot 110. For optimal comfort and ease of closing the bra side, the hook engages a slot under the arm or at the side of the chest of the user, opposite the breast for which the bra side is to be used. This can be done without looking and by a single arm and the user does not need to twist and turn to attach the bra. In a prefered embodiment the hook is not made of metal and is made of a plastics material or a resin.

The infinity under band includes a plurality of slots along the 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 body and keeps the bra in the same place all through the day.

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 person concerned. For a large size the infinity under band may be longer than for a short size, this 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 95C 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 95cm marker on both sides. The user may decide to cut to any appropriate length based on the users 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 added security and comfort. 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 wearer, at a location under the breast, or any other convenient location.

By using the infinity under band 106 bra manufacturers 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.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the bra of the present invention on a narrow breast frame and a wide breast frame respectively showing two morphologies having the same size and different shape. The amount of overlap of the two sides is different for each situation. This further shows the adaptability of the bra of the present invention and the reason why the center front has been left out.

A bra according to the present invention can be manufactured in the following non-limitative manner.

Manufacturing a bra cup of a predetermined cup size; attaching the cup to a back panel via a shoulder strap at an upper portion of the cup; attaching the cup to an attachment strap at a base of the cup; and attaching back panel at a predetermined location on the attachment strap. The attachment infinity under band includes a plurality of slots which can be engaged by a hook located at one end of the infinity under band to thereby regulate the size of the bra for each user.

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.

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO BRAS

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