Patent Application
20170215616
1. Field of the Invention
The disclosed invention relates to the care and maintenan of women's bras. More particularly, the disclosed invention relates to a method and device construction for the care and maintenance of bras. Most specifically, the disclosed invention relates to a method and device construction for the care and maintenance of bras, including the ventilated storage, washing, drying and packing thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 8,109,417 to Phan teaches a bra-washing device with a removable shell form having a central divider removably inserted into the shell, which divider designed to keep bra cup in one location (half) of the shell and the other cup of the bra in the other portion (half) of the ball-shaped shell.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,683, also to Phan, describes a washing, drying, and storage device for brassieres and bikini tops also using an outer shell having two halves that have (in each half) a plurality of holes.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,176,761 and 6,517,410 to Underbill show sports bras with storage capability built into the bra itself with differing constructions.
Interestingly, U.S. Pat. No. 7,867,058 to Sweeny also teaches a sports bra having an integral storage integral pouch disposed within the cleavage portion is disclosed.
None of these patents or any other prior art known to the applicant, however, either teaches or suggests the invention described and claimed herein.
Though each individual element comprising the system described herein for the care and maintenance of women's bras, including ventilated storage, washing, drying and packing thereof may in some form itself be found, the disclosed novel and unobvious combination within one device or constitution, nevertheless, is unavailable in ihe current state of the art to achieve a combination of the various listed functions.
Briefly, the invention system construction, called the Bra-Bestie™, comprises an air and water permeable bag suitable for containment of the bras for storage or travel and for use in washing. Such air and water permeable bag is made of a meshed fabric, such as a typical lingerie bag, which also serves as the base unit around which differing elements are brought together to achieve the purposes disclosed and claimed herein. Secured within a top seam of the lingerie bag is an extended ribbon-like strap, or cloth tape, along the length of which a number of clips are attached. A preferred means of securing the strap (or tape) is by sewing, but other known and obvious means of attachment may be employed. One or more bras are clipped to the strap by one side of the bra's closure point, rather than by a shoulder strap, allowing them to hang down without any damage caused by stretching. (The bra's “closure point” is considered to be where the each end of the bra is typically designed to connect each end of the bra together alone the spine of the wearer.) A loop, or other type of connection design, at the top of the bag permits the system construction to be hung (such as, from a hook), giving easy access to the bras, near to the clothes they will be worn under. After a day of wear, the bra is returned to the strap to air out, rather than having to be stuffed in a drawer with the day's perspiration. When it is time to wash the bras, both sides of each bra closures are clipped together, keeping the hooks from snagging and the various bras from getting entangled. The long strap, with bras clipped thereon, is inserted into the lingerie bag, the top of which is maintained closed during the washing cycle is completed, further projecting the bras and other garments in the washing machine. The means of securing the bag may involve a zippered closure, a hook-and-loop or zip-lock closure, or other means consistent with protecting the bag contents and not harmful to other items in the wash cycle. Once the delicate wash cycle is completed, the bag is hung with the bra-laden strap outside of the bag again. One side of the bra end closures are then unclipped for convenient air-drying. Also, the strap, with dried bras attached, may be placed back into the lingerie bag for easy and convenient storage in a dresser or in a travel bag for traveling.
The FIGURE presents a schematic representation of the invention as disclosed herein.
With reference to the FIGURE, the product for storage, ventilation, washing, drying and packing of bras is constructed around the lingerie bag 1 suitable for use in keeping lingerie contained and segregated from the remaining items in a washing machine and designed to allow water to permeate the bag to clean its contents. Such lingerie bags are typically constructed of mesh fbrics to achieve the desired results, and are preferred; though the lingerie bag may be made from other air and water permeable materials. Lingerie bags 1 are typically formed with three closed sides with a remaining fourth side in the form of a scalable opening 4 for receiving and containing the lingerie for washing. The sealing function may be performed by various closure means, including zippers, hook-and-loop (Velcro), and even buttons or snaps. In addition to employment of the lingerie bag in washing the bras, its sealing function is also convenient in its use for containing the bras in one place, which is useful in storing and for packing for traveling.
Just as critical to the method of storage, ventilation, washing, drying and packing of bras as the lingerie bag is the empolyment of a strap (or tape) 2 attached to the lingerie bag near its top (re-sealable) opening and hanging to a length to accommodate a number of bras from one to as many as the size of the lingerie bag 1 can contain and continue to allow adequate cleaning during washing. Naturally, the larger the bras or the larger the number of bras sought to be stored in the bag will determine the optimum size for the bag. The strap, or tape, preferably is made of a flexible material that will permit rolling up the bras preparatory to storing, packing or washing and also may withstand being subjected to immersion during washing. The most preferred material is a fabric material or cloth, either natural or man-made. Other materials, though less suitable, may be employed, such as leather or plastic. Of course, leather would not retain softness and flexibility over multiple washing. Obviously, though not recommended by many bra manufacturers, if the bag's use entailed also a drying cycle, neither leather nor plastic would be desirable. The purpose of such cloth tape is to provide a spine for the disclosed invention construction (Bra-Bestie™) with means of attachment of bras thereto, primarily for airing after use. Such attachment means 3 are preferably clips with the back of such clips attached to the strap 2 leaving the clipping portion of such clips available to clip onto at least one closure end of a bra, permitting the attached bra to hang loosely from the strap 2 for airing after a day's use and for drying alter washing. Other suitable attachment means are also useable for this function and are considered within the scope of the invention described herein. These may include simple clothes pins, a construction like a bobby pin (or other hair pin), or other similar alternative clasping attachment means, and are within the scope of the disclosed invention.
Finally., as the product for storage, ventilation, washing, drying and packing of bras to allow strap attached bras to hang freely for airing and drying, as mentioned above, the Bra-Bestie™ itself, conveniently hangs from a hook 5 (or loop) located at the center of the top of the lingerie bag 1. Hook 5 may be a simple fabric loop, a metal hook, or other suitable hanging means conducive to the purpose of the claimed method and product.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presently disclosed embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative ami not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore to be embraced therein.
Additional advantages and modification will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and illustrative examples shown una described. Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general inventive concept.
The instant application claims the benefit of previously filed Provisional Application No. 62/238,763 filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Sep. 10, 2015.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62283763 | Sep 2015 | US |
