Sports bra with mobile phone pocket

Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20240373951
  • Publication Number
    20240373951
  • Date Filed
    May 11, 2023
    a year ago
  • Date Published
    November 14, 2024
    8 days ago
  • Inventors
    • Chima; Faith (Fayetteville, NC, US)
Abstract
A brassiere or bra disclosed herein includes a cup, a band coupled to and disposed below the cup, and a pocket disposed on the band. The pocket may be formed by an inner panel and an outer panel that are coupled together at their edges. The pocket may be sized and shaped to store a large portable electronic device. The outer panel of the pocket may be constructed from a stretchable fabric which may consist of a blend of nylon and spandex. The inner material may be constructed with a mesh material that allows the large portable device to be stored snugly while the wearer is engaging in athletic activities.
Description
PRIOR ART

U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 15/810,882 and U.S. Pat. No. 9,943,120 contain a summary of the prior art relating to brassieres which is incorporated herein by reference. None, have the most essential feature of the present invention, namely a pocket that is large enough to store a large cellular phone like an iPhone 13 pro-max with a zipper opening that prevents these items from falling out during high-impact activities like running, cycling, and hiking, giving the user an added layer of security.


Other sports bras are in circulation with small pockets that can accommodate small items. However, these pockets are too small to hold varying sizes of cellular phones, making it difficult for women to carry their phones while running, hiking, or engaging in other athletic activities.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the current design of sports brassieres, or sports bras for workouts and other athletic activities, mobile phones are stored in the upper bra areas, in front of the bra pads, under the armpit, and back of the upper bra. The most common sports bra pockets are without zipper closure and use gravity and other passive compression closure design function to keep items secure and from falling out of place.


A challenge with these pockets for storing mobile phones and other items is that there need to be operational components for keeping things fully secure and from falling out of place during fitness and physical activities. Thus, the current designs are not completely practical storage pockets for a wearer engaged in an upside-down position of physical activity where gravity can cause items to fall out of the pocket areas.


Some sports bra pocket designs do include zipper closures. However, the locations of these storage pockets for mobile phones are only partially practical for a wearer engaged in physical activity, such as running, who wants to retrieve their mobile phone easily.


In other designs, a pocket with zipper closure is located at the back of the sports bra or on a closure inside the bra. A problem with this approach is that accessibility and ease of use pose a challenge for the wearer. Moreover, the difficulty in the wearer reaching the pocket closures could, over time, compromise the condition of the closure and pocket, rendering the method less effective. Some designs feature pockets in the front area of the bra, but a problem with these designs is those pockets are not large enough to store a large portable mobile device like an iPhone 13 pro max. Therefore, a sports bra with a large and secure mobile phone pocket is needed to solve the above limitations. The problem stated above is that ease of use and secure closure is desirable for a sports bra pocket that stores a mobile phone. Still, many conventional means for sports bras storing mobile phones, such as storage locations and closures, need to provide ease of use or operation.


The inventor realized, in an inventive moment, that if during the operation of storing and retrieving a mobile phone, the pocket could be in an area where a wearer of a sports bra would easily place their hands, it would significantly improve ease of use. Therefore, after considering all the ergonomic functions and components for a mobile phone pocket on a sports bra, the inventor determined that the ideal place would be at the lower portion of the sports bra.


It is also important to have easily accessible storage for items such as phones, keys, safety whistles, or ID cards, energy bars and snacks while engaging in physical activities.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a brassiere or bra with pockets in the lower band area and reflective materials. The pockets are designed to provide easy access to essential items while engaging in physical activities without hindering movement or adding bulkiness. The reflective materials increase visibility in low-light conditions, improving safety for the wearer. The design would require lengthening the length of a typical sports bra to more of a crop style, widening the standard width of the bra lower band. The design calls for zippered opening on one side of the pocket-a significant improvement in operational consistency results, with no impediment to motion nor complexity of use created.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS


FIG. 1 presents an embodiment of a sports bra equipped with a mobile phone pocket positioned in the lower band of the bra.



FIG. 2 is an illustration of the back view of the bra.



FIG. 3 depicts an illustration of the sports bra with a mobile phone pocket depicting the left-side view.



FIG. 4 depicts an illustration of the sports bra with a mobile phone pocket depicting the right-side view.



FIG. 5a depicts an embodiment of the sports bra with an exploded view of the mobile phone pocket.



FIG. 5b is an illustration of the inner view of the mobile phone pocket embodied in the sports bra.



FIG. 6 is an embodiment of a sports bra with a mobile phone inside the mobile phone pocket in lower band of bra depicting storage.



FIG. 7 is an illustration of an embodiment of the sports bra depicting a section view the inner design of the sports bra and the storage space for the mobile phone pocket.



FIG. 8 is an illustration of an embodiment of the sports bra depicting a back view of the inner design of the sports bra.



FIG. 9 is an illustration of an embodiment of the sports bra depicting a side view of the inner design of the sports bra.



FIGS. 10 and 11 is an illustration of an embodiment of the lower band of the sports bra depicting the outer fabric, the inner fabric, and the space for the mobile phone pocket in the band.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following Detailed Description of the present sports bra invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Instead, the inventor has contemplated that the claimed or disclosed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, including different steps or combinations, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. At a high level, aspects herein relate to a support garment, such as a bra, having storage pockets to meet the different preferences of the wearer.


In exemplary aspects, the mobile phone pocket on the lower-band portion comprises of at least a first, and second layer of material. The first material is made from a stretchable fabric and the second layer of material being mesh. A pocket space is formed between the inner second layer of material after it is sewn with the first layer on the outside after both layers are folded.


Although the term “bra” is used herein, it is contemplated that the term “bra” may apply to other types of support garments such as tank tops, camisoles with built-in support. Further, positional terms used herein such as “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “back,” and the like are to be given their anatomical meaning with respect to the bra being worn by a hypothetical wearer standing in anatomical upright position.



FIG. 1 illustrates, in this embodiment the front view of an exemplary sports bra 099 having mobile phone pocket 102 shown in accordance with the aspects herein. In exemplary aspects, the bra 099 comprises an upper front portion 099, a lower-band portion 098, a mobile phone pocket 102, an invisible zipper 100, and a zippered pocket opening 101. The different portions 098, 099, 101, and 102 may comprise different steps or combinations of construction that are joined to the upper integrally knit or woven portions using affixing technologies described herein. Any and all aspects, and any variation thereof, are contemplated as being within aspects herein.



FIG. 2 is an illustration of the back view of the bra.



FIG. 3 depicts an illustration of the left-side view of the bra. In one aspect, the zipper opening 101 may comprise a different position (e.g., horizontally on the wearer's side). Similarly, in one aspect, the inner pocket in the upper may comprise a different zipper position



FIG. 4 depicts an illustration of the right-side view of the bra. In one aspect, the zipper opening 101 may comprise a different position (e.g., horizontally on the wearer's side). Similarly, in one aspect, the inner pocket in the upper may comprise a different zipper position



FIG. 5a depicts an overview of various components of the sports bra mobile phone pocket.



FIG. 5b is an illustration of an embodiment of a sports bra with a mobile phone pocket.



FIG. 5b is an illustration of the inner view of the mobile phone pocket embodied in the sports bra. In exemplary aspects, the bra comprises of different components. Item 102 depicts the outer view of the mobile phone pocket. Item 100 is the invisible zipper over the zippered pocket opening 101. Item 103 is the inner view of the mobile phone pocket comprising of a mesh fabric.



FIG. 6 is an embodiment of a sports bra with a mobile phone inside the pocket in the lower-band area of the bra.



FIG. 7 is an illustration of an embodiment of the sports bra depicting a section view of the inner design of the sports bra. Item 200 shows the inner view of the mobile phone pocket.



FIG. 8 is an illustration of an embodiment of the sports bra depicting a back view of the inner design of the sports bra.



FIG. 9 is an illustration of an embodiment of the sports bra depicting a side view of the inner design of the sports bra.



FIG. 10 is an illustration of the edges of the mobile phone pocket area of the sports bra



FIG. 11 depicts the mobile phone pocket space 102, comprising of stretchable outer fabric and an inner fabric that is made with mesh. In another aspect, the mobile phone pocket may comprise multiple layers of fabric, and varied fabric materials, either internally or externally to form additional pockets within the parameter of the mobile phone pocket.


Aspects of the present disclosure have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative aspects will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope, and a skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention. Although the invention has been described in the foregoing detail with respect to preferred embodiments, other embodiments can achieve the same results. Variations and modifications of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the same art and are intended to be covered in the appended claims. The entire disclosures of all references, applications, patents and publications cited above are hereby incorporated by reference.

Claims
  • 1. A composition of matter claim of a bra comprising: a front portion; a back portion; and a lower-band portion extending from a lower margin of the front portion, and the back portions of the bra, that is lengthened in height for the purpose of a pocket that fits a mobile phone, laying in a horizontal position, inside the defined pocket area in the front of the lower-band.
  • 2. The bra of claim 1, wherein the entire lower-band portion is lengthened in height to fit a mobile phone width, and the defined pocket space at the front of the lower-band extending from a horizontal zipper opening, on one end, to an opposite defined end that is large enough to fit a mobile phone height.
  • 3. The bra of claim 1, wherein the upper front portion and the upper back portion may be comprised of a variety of different shapes, designs, and fabrics, with the lower-band portion, retaining it's widened lower-band width with mobile phone pocket area as the aforementioned, and the lower-band may also be comprised of a variety of different fabrics materials and designs.
  • 4. The bra of claim 1, wherein the pocket opening runs horizontally along one or both outer edges of the pocket but may also be vertically along the upper length of the pocket.
  • 5. The bra of claim 1, wherein the pocket closure may be comprised of a zipper or velcro or any other form of closures, fixtures or bonding material that is currently available or not yet created. A system claim of a bra lower band comprising: a first layer of material, and an inner second layer of material, and the second layer of material being mesh. The first layer of material of the lower-band is the outer material, and the second layer of material lays inside the first layer of material, then both are folded and stitched at the top cut edges. The mobile phone pocket area is formed inside the second non-body contacting surface after it is folded. The cut edges after folding are affixed to the upper front and upper back portions of the bra. The perimeter edges of the pocket on the lower-band is defined by a horizontal zippered opening on one edge and stitching on the opposite side of the pocket edge, creating the enclosed pocket area.
  • 6. The bra of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first layer of material, the second layer of material, and in other variations a third layer of material may be designated as a mobile phone pocket space within the parameter of the defined pocket area.
  • 7. The bra of claim 1, wherein, in one embodiment, both vertical perimeter edges of the mobile phone pocket area on the lower-band are defined by a vertical zippered openings or of velcro or any other form of closures, fixtures or bonding material that is currently available or not yet created.