The invention relates to an attachable mock sleeve which is preferably designed as a fashion accessory solution to give coverage to the shoulder and upper arm area for a person wearing sleeveless clothing.
With the variety of fashions that are currently on the market, many clothes are designed to be sleeveless. Currently, for the mature woman who wants to find a fashionable solution that hides problem areas such as the upper arm area, they have no other accessory alternative except for the use of a wrap, scarf or cardigan. The present invention is directed to overcoming this problem currently associated with wearing sleeveless clothing.
The present invention provides an attachable/detachable mock sleeve which is preferably designed to be secured to the bra strap of the wearer. In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve can be customized to clip on or otherwise attach to the strap of a bra before putting on the desired article of clothing. In a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the sleeve can be constructed of a sheer fabric, such as, but not limited to, a chiffon-like material, that drapes over the shoulder and gives partial concealment or a veil like coverage as a short sleeve in a fashionable manner. Once the article of clothing is put on over the mock sleeve, the sleeve can preferably appear as if it was always part of the original design of the clothing and the article of clothing can preferably cover the securement area or mechanisms used to attach the present invention sleeve to the bra strap. The mock sleeve offers versatility as it can attach and remove easily from the bra strap. Thus, the present invention provides a unique fashion accessory that creates a comfortable solution to enhance and transform any outfit from daytime to evening.
As seen in
In one non-limiting embodiment, the length of sleeve 10 can be approximately 19″ in length and approximately 10½″ in width. Sleeve 10 is preferably secured to the strap 52 of the bra 50 being worn by the wearer 40. Sleeve 10 can be secured to bra strap 52 by various mechanisms in addition to the two embodiments illustrated and disclosed herein. In a first embodiment, a plurality of straps, such as elastic straps 20, can be used. One end of each strap 20 is permanently or removably secured to sleeve 10. Each strap is preferably provided with a securement mechanism, such as a mating snap mechanism 22. Other securement mechanism's can also be used, and are considered within the scope of the invention, such as, hook and loop fasteners, button/button hole(s), hooks/eyelets, etc.
In a preferred embodiment, sleeve/panel 10 can be comprised of three elastic straps 20, with snaps 22, with each strap 20 approximately 3″ in length. Straps 20 line the diameter of the sleeve/panel 10 and are designed to snap for easy attachment and removal of sleeve 10. The perimeter of sleeve can be reinforced with a border 18, though such is not considered limiting.
Though not limiting, it is anticipated in most instances that a sleeve 10 will be worn over each shoulder/upper arm area of wearer 40.
As seen in
In one non-limiting embodiment, the length of sleeve 100 can be approximately 18½″ in length and approximately 10½″ in width for its non panel portion. A portion 110, which can be a panel, of sleeve 100 can be reinforced at areas 112 and 114. Panel 110 can be attached by conventional means to portion 120 to form a one-piece clam-shell shape sleeve 100 or portions 110 and 120 can be monolithically formed or otherwise constructed from a single piece of material to form one-piece sleeve 100.
Portion 110 can be rectangular in shape. However, in a preferred embodiment, though resembling a rectangle in shape, portion 110 can have an end 116 larger in length as compared to its opposite end 118 in view of the bra increasing in width at the front as compared to the bra strap length. In one non-limiting embodiment, the length of the panel or portion 110 can be approximately 12″ in horizontal length and approximately 3″ in length at end 116 and approximately 2½″ at end 118.
Sleeve 100 is preferably secured to the strap 52 of the bra 50 being worn by the wearer 40. In a second preferred securing embodiment for securing sleeve 100 to bra strap 52, panel 110 is tucked underneath strap 52 (
In one securement configuration, mating magnetic closures 120a and 120b and 122a and 122b can be attached or otherwise secured, by conventional means, to designated areas (i.e. preferably a respective corner of panel 110) of either reinforced member 112 or reinforced member 114 and a mating snap closure 124a and 124b can be secured to a designated area (i.e. preferably middle area) of either reinforced member 112 or reinforced member 114.
As seen in
In one non-limiting embodiment, the length of sleeve 100a can be approximately 18″ in length and approximately 10″ in width for its non-panel portion. A portion 110a, which can be a panel, of sleeve 100a can be reinforced at areas 112a and 114a. Panel 110a can be attached by conventional means to portion 120a to form a one-piece clam-shell shape sleeve 100a or portions 110a and 120a can be monolithically formed or otherwise constructed from a single piece of material to form one-piece sleeve 100a.
Portion 110a can be rectangular in shape and can have a first end 116a and a second end 118a. End 116a can be larger in length than end 118a or they can be of the same or substantially the same length. In one non-limiting embodiment, the length of the panel or portion 110a can be approximately 11″ in horizontal length and approximately 3″ in length at end 116a and end 118a.
Sleeve 100a is preferably secured to the strap 52 of the bra 50 being worn by the wearer 40. In a third preferred securing embodiment for securing sleeve 100a to bra strap 52, panel 110a is tucked underneath strap 52, similar to panel 110 in
In the securement configuration shown in
Snap tape 117a can be provided with one or more snaps, preferably constructed from plastic, though such is not considered limiting. Preferably, a plurality of snaps can be provided on snap tape 117a. As seen in
In all embodiments, other securement mechanisms can also be used, and are considered within the scope of the invention, such as, hook and loop fasteners, clips, hooks, button/button hole(s), hooks/eyelets, all snaps, all magnetic closures, etc., as well as any combination of any of the various securement mechanisms.
Panel 110 or 110a used for attaching sleeve 100 or sleeve 100a, respectively, to bra 50 is designed for easy attachment and removal of sleeve 100 or 100a.
Preferably the material selected for sleeve 10, sleeve 100 and/or sleeve 100a can be a washable fabric. Sleeve 10, sleeve 100 and sleeve 100a are not considered limited to any specific size or color and various colors and sizes can be used and all are considered within the scope of the invention.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention sleeve is independent and separate from any article clothing and not permanently secured to any article of clothing, including the bra strap. However, it is also considered within the scope of the invention to permanently secure the sleeve to the bra strap by any conventional means.
Though in a preferred embodiment, a short sleeve appearance is provided with the present invention, the present invention is not considered limited to any particular length and the design of the exposed portion of the sleeve can be of a longer or long sleeve configuration.
Preferably the panel 110 and/or 110a is either rectangular/substantially rectangular or square/substantially square in shape, though such is not considered limiting. Panel 110 and/or 110 can be permanently or removably secured to the remaining first portion of sleeve 100 and/100a. Similarly, straps 20 can be permanently or removably secured to the remaining first portion of sleeve 10.
Features or components discussed for one embodiment of the present invention sleeve are also considered to be used in other embodiments for the present invention sleeve even if not specifically discussed above.
All measurements, dimensions, amounts, sizes, shapes, percentages, configurations, securement or attachment mechanisms, numbers, ranges, values, percentages, materials, orientations, methods of manufacture, etc. discussed above or shown in the drawing figures are merely by way of example and are not considered limiting and other measurements, dimensions, amounts, sizes, shapes, percentages, configurations, securement or attachment mechanisms, numbers, ranges, values, percentages, materials, orientations, methods of manufacture, etc. can be chosen and used and all are considered within the scope of the invention.
Dimensions of certain parts as shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purpose of clarity of illustration and are not considered limiting. Component values shown in the drawings, including the electrical schematics, are merely examples of component values and part numbers that can be used and the present invention is not considered limited to these specific component values and part numbers.
Unless feature(s), part(s), component(s), characteristic(s) or function(s) described in the specification or shown in the drawings for a claim element, claim step or claim term specifically appear in the claim with the claim element, claim step or claim term, then the inventor does not considered such feature(s), part(s), component(s), characteristic(s) or function(s) to be included for the claim element, claim step or claim term in the claim for examination purposes and when and if the claim element, claim step or claim term is interpreted or construed. Similarly, with respect to any “means for” elements in the claims, the inventor considers such language to require only the minimal amount of features, components, steps, or parts from the specification to achieve the function of the “means for” language and not all of the features, components, steps or parts describe in the specification that are related to the function of the “means for” language.
While the invention has been described and disclosed in certain terms and has disclosed certain embodiments or modifications, persons skilled in the art who have acquainted themselves with the invention, will appreciate that it is not necessarily limited by such terms, nor to the specific embodiments and modification disclosed herein. Thus, a wide variety of alternatives, suggested by the teachings herein, can be practiced without departing from the spirit of the invention, and rights to such alternatives are particularly reserved and considered within the scope of the invention.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/504,191, filed Jul. 2, 2011, which application is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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