Aspects herein are directed to a strap configuration for a support garment.
Typical strap configurations for support garments such as a bra utilize a right shoulder strap and a separate and distinct left shoulder strap. Each of the right and left shoulder straps must be independently manipulated to effect an adjustment of the right breast cup and the left breast cup respectively of the support garment.
Examples of the present invention are described in details below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:
The subject matter of the present invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the claimed or disclosed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different steps or combinations of steps similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Moreover, although the terms “step” and/or “block” might be used herein to connote different elements of methods employed, the terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly stated.
At a high level, aspects herein relate to a support garment having a single strap configuration that enables a wearer to initiate an adjustment of, for example, a first support portion of the support garment using the strap and have that adjustment translate, via the strap, to a second support portion of the support garment, and even to a third support portion of the support garment. For instance, when the support garment is in the form of a bra, the wearer may initiate an adjustment of a first breast contacting surface using the single strap and have that adjustment translate to a substantially simultaneous adjustment of the second breast contacting surface of the bra and to a substantially simultaneous adjustment of an underband portion of the bra.
In example aspects, the support garment may comprise a front portion having at least an upper margin, a first breast contacting surface, a second breast contacting surface, a first side, and a second side. The upper margin may comprise a first securing location positioned at an upper portion of the first breast contacting surface and a second securing location positioned at an upper portion of the second breast contacting surface. Continuing, a first wing may extend laterally away from the first side of the front portion and terminate in a first terminal end. Similarly, a second wing may extend laterally away from the second side of the front portion and terminate in a second terminal end. A first through-aperture may be positioned on the first wing proximate the first terminal end, and a second through-aperture may be positioned on the second wing proximate the second terminal end. In example aspects, the first aperture is ipsilateral to the first securing location and contralateral to the second securing location, and the second aperture is ipsilateral to the second securing location and contralateral to the first securing location.
Regarding the strap configuration, the support garment comprises a single, continuous strap having a first end, a second end, and an intervening portion extending between the first end and the second end. In one example configuration, the first end of the strap is adjustably secured to the first securing location of the front portion, and the second end of the strap is adjustably secured to the second securing location of the front portion. In one example configuration, the intervening portion is configured such that as the strap extends from its first end, it crosses diagonally to the second aperture through which it passes. It then crosses horizontally from the second terminal end of the second wing to the first terminal end of the first wing where it passes through the first aperture. It then crosses diagonally to the second securing location where it terminates at its second end.
This configuration enables a single adjustment movement to be translated to several different portions of the support garment. For example, when the strap is shortened using a first adjustment mechanism located at the first end of the strap, an upward tension is applied to the first breast contacting surface. The shortening of the strap is also translated to an upward tension applied to the second breast contacting surface. Further, due to the strap crossing horizontally between the first and second apertures located on the wings of the front portion, tightening of the strap via the first adjustment mechanism would cause the first terminal end to be tensioned toward the second terminal end thereby decreasing the girth of the support garment and increasing the support in the underband portion of the support garment.
Accordingly, aspects herein are directed to a support garment comprising a front portion comprising at least an upper margin having a first securing location and a second securing location, where the front portion further comprises a first aperture and a second aperture. The support garment further comprises a single, continuous strap having a first end, a second end, and an intervening portion extending between the first end and the second end. The first end of the strap is adjustably secured to the first securing location of the front portion, the second end of the strap is adjustably secured to the second securing location of the front portion, and the intervening portion extends through the first aperture and the second aperture.
In another aspect, a support garment is provided comprising a front portion comprising an upper margin with a first securing location and a second securing location, where the front portion further comprises a first side, and a second side. The support garment additionally comprises a first wing extending laterally away from the first side of the front portion and terminating in a first terminal end, the first wing comprising a first aperture, and a second wing extending laterally way from the second side of the front portion and terminating in a second terminal end, the second wing comprising a second aperture. The first aperture of the first wing is ipsilateral to the first securing location and contralateral to the second securing location, and the second aperture of the second wing is ipsilateral to the second securing location and contralateral to the first securing location. The support garment additionally comprises a single strap having a first end adjustably secured to the first securing location, a second end adjustably secured to the second securing location, and an intervening portion extending between the first end and the second end, where the intervening portion traverses the first aperture and the second aperture.
In yet another aspect, a support garment is provided comprising a front portion comprising an upper margin with a first securing location and a second securing location. The front portion further comprises a lower margin, a first side, and a second side. The support garment additionally comprises a first wing extending laterally away from the first side of the front portion and terminating in a first terminal end, the first wing comprising a first aperture, and a second wing extending laterally away from the second side of the front portion and terminating in a second terminal end, the second wing comprising a second aperture. The first aperture of the first wing is ipsilateral to the first securing location and contralateral to the second securing location, and the second aperture of the second wing is ipsilateral to the second securing location and contralateral to the first securing location. The support garment additionally comprises a strap extending from the first securing location and traversing the second aperture, the strap subsequently traversing the first aperture, and the strap terminating at the second securing location.
The term “support garment” as used herein is meant to encompass any number of support garments such as bras, tank tops, camisoles with built-in support, swimming suit tops, body suits, and other styles or types of support garments used to support breast tissue. Further, the term “breast contacting surface” as used herein is meant to encompass any type of structure that is in contact with the wearer's breasts when the support garment is worn. For instance, each breast contacting surface may comprise a breast cup such as a molded cup, or an unmolded cup. The breast contacting surfaces may comprise separate distinct components with each contacting surface configured to cover or encapsulate a separate breast, or the breast contacting surfaces may comprise a unitary or continuous band of material that makes contact with both of the wearer's breasts. Any and all aspects, and any variation thereof, are contemplated as being within aspects herein.
Positional terms used herein such as “superior,” “inferior,” “medial,” “lateral,” “upper,” “lower,” “side,” “front,” “back,” “horizontal,” “contralateral,” “ipsilateral,” “outer-facing surface,” “inner-facing surface,” and the like are to be given their common meaning with respect to the support garment being worn as intended and as shown and described herein by a hypothetical wearer standing in an upright position (i.e., standing in anatomical position). Still further, the phrase “configured to contact,” or other similar phrases used when describing different portions of the support garment in relation to a wearer refer to a support garment appropriately sized for the particular wearer. Terms such as “fixedly secured” as used herein generally refer to attachment methodologies between two or more elements that generally maintain the elements in a fixed relationship with respect to one another. Terms such as “adjustably secured” as used herein refer to attachment methodologies that allow at least one element, such as a strap, to be adjusted (e.g., shortened or lengthened) in relation to another element, such as a breast contacting surface.
Turning now to
Continuing, the front portion 110 further comprises the lower margin 122, a first side 124, and a second side 126. In aspects, the lower margin 122 may comprise a separate underband portion configured to at least partially encircle a torso area of a wearer below the wearer's breasts when the support garment 100 is worn, or the lower margin 122 may not comprise a separate component (i.e., it may, instead, comprise an integral extension of the front portion 110) but still function as an underband portion configured to at least partially encircle a torso area of a wearer below the wearer's breasts when the support garment 100 is worn. Any and all aspects, and any variation thereof, are contemplated as being within the scope herein. The first side 124 of the front portion 110 is generally positioned lateral to the first breast contacting surface 112, and the second side 126 of the front portion 110 is generally positioned lateral to the second breast contacting surface 114.
With further respect to
An example adjustment mechanism comprising a single loop slider in combination with a double loop slider is shown in
Turning now to
Continuing, in example aspects, the first wing 210 comprises at least a first aperture 218 that extends through the thickness of the first wing 210 such that it acts as a through-passage. Similarly, the second wing 212 comprises at least a second aperture 220 that extends through the thickness of the second wing 212 such that it also acts as a through-passage. Both the first aperture 218 and the second aperture 220 may be located proximate to the first terminal end 214 and the second terminal end 216 respectively. As used herein, and unless noted otherwise, the term “proximate” may mean within 1.0 mm to 10 cm of a defined reference point. In the example configuration shown in
In example aspects, the first and second apertures 218 and 220 may be reinforced with a reinforcement material. A depiction of this is shown in
Returning to
With respect to the passage or traversal of the strap 128 through the first and second apertures 218/220, the strap 128 may pass from an outer-facing surface of the second wing 212 to an inner-facing surface of the second wing 212 via the second aperture 220, and then pass from an inner-facing surface of the first wing 210 to an outer-facing surface of the first wing 210 via the first aperture 218 as shown in
As shown in
In use, a wearer may initiate a substantially simultaneous adjustment of multiple portions of the support garment 100 by manipulating, for example, the first adjustment mechanism 132 associated with the first end 130 of the strap 128. In instances where the strap 128 is shortened, an upward tension force would be applied to the first breast contacting surface 112. Because the strap 128 comprises a single, continuous strap, the tightening of the strap 128 would be translated to a simultaneous adjustment of the second breast contacting surface 114. In other words, the shortening of the strap 128 at the first end 130 would cause an upward tension to also be applied to the second breast contacting surface 114. Further, due to the traversal of the strap 128 through the first and second apertures 218 and 220, a shortening of the strap 128 would also cause the first terminal end 214 of the first wing 210 to be tensioned toward the second terminal end 216 of the second wing 212. In other words, due to the tightening of the strap 128 at the first end 130, the portion of the strap 128 that horizontally extends between the first and second terminal ends 214 and 216 is also shortened causing the two ends 214/216 to be pulled toward each other. This, in turn, causes a decrease in the circumferential girth of the support garment 100 at its lower margin 122 which can help to increase support to, for example, the lower portions of the wearer's breasts. A loosening of the strap 128 via the first adjustment mechanism 132 would cause an opposite effect to occur—a decrease in tensioning forces applied to the upper portions of the first and second breast contacting surfaces 112 and 114, and an increase in the girth of the support garment 100. Similar results would occur if the second adjustment mechanism 136 is used to tighten or loosen the strap 128 at its second end 134.
The support garment 300 further comprises a single, continuous strap 330 that has a similar configuration to the strap 128 of the support garment 100. To better distribute the tensioning forces imparted to the first and second wings 310/314 by the strap 330, the strap 330 may, in example aspects, have a greater width than the strap 128, although it is also contemplated herein that the strap 330 may have the same or substantially the same width as the strap 128. To also help evenly distribute the tensioning forces imparted to the first and second wings 310/314 by the strap 330, the first and second apertures 318/324 may be positioned approximately midway between the respective upper and lower margins of the first and second wings 310/314.
Adjusting the support garment 300 may occur similar to the adjustment of the support garment 100. For example, shortening or lengthening the strap 330 at one end of the strap may cause a simultaneous adjustment of the first breast contacting surface, the second breast contacting surface, and the first and second wings 310 and 314 of the support garment 300.
Continuing, the support garment 400 comprises a single, continuous strap 422 having a first end, such as first end 130 of
With further respect to
The support garment 500 comprises a single, continuous strap 530 that has a configuration similar to the strap 422 of the support garment 400. The support garment 500, however, may not comprise the second strap as shown for the support garment 100 and the support garment 400. To help more evenly distribute the tensioning forces imparted to the first and second wings 510/514 by the strap 530, the strap 530 may comprise a wider width than, for example, the strap 422. And the location of the first and second apertures 518/524 may be adjusted to be positioned more centrally between the upper and lower margins of the first and second wings 510/514 as opposed to being located proximate the upper margin of the wings 510/514 as shown for the support garment 100 and the support garment 400.
With respect to the apertures 618 and 620, the first aperture 618 is located proximal to the first terminal end 612 and is further located proximal to an upper margin 632 of the first wing 610. The second aperture 620 is located inferior to the first aperture 618 and is further located proximal to the first terminal end 612 and proximal to a lower margin 634 of the first wing 610. Continuing, with respect to the apertures 622 and 624, the third aperture 622 is located proximal to the second terminal end 616 and is further located proximal to an upper margin 636 of the second wing 614. The fourth aperture 624 is located inferior to the third aperture 622 and is further located proximal to the second terminal end 616 and proximal to a lower margin 638 of the second wing 614.
The support garment 600 comprises a single, continuous strap 630 having a first end (not seen in
The different strap configurations shown for the support garments 100, 300, 400, 500, and 600 are all contemplated as being within aspects herein. The different strap configurations shown for the support garments 100, 300, 400, 500, and 600 allow for the simultaneous adjustment of multiple, different support garment portions via manipulation of a single adjustment mechanism.
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. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention.
It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order described.
This application entitled “Strap Configuration for a Support Garment,” is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/028,847, entitled “Strap Configuration for a Support Garment,” and filed Jul. 6, 2018, which claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Prov. App. No. 62/540,376, entitled “Strap Configuration for a Support Garment,” and filed Aug. 2, 2017. The entireties of the aforementioned applications are incorporated by reference herein.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20200352257 A1 | Nov 2020 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16028847 | Jul 2018 | US |
Child | 16943066 | US |