Top of a two - piece swim or sport suit

Abstract

The invention is based on the common top of a two-piece swim- or sport suit which is usually held to the body of the wearer by a neck strap and a back strap. In order to offer more hold and therefore additional security, especially when the wearer is performing sporting activities, the invention features an additional strap system which effects that the tensile forces coming from the front of the garment are shifted to the back strap. Because of the additional distribution of the forces affecting the straps, especially when the body of the wearer is moving, increased comfort is gained as the straps do not cut into the wearer so much and the top is held to the body more tightly. Apart from that, the invention solves another problem of everyday life by including a little container is integrated in the described strap system. In the container, little items like keys, credit card or money can be carried. In this way, such items can be carried at the body of the wearer in a perfect way, without restricting the freedom of movement or making it necessary to wear an extra garment or to carry a bag.

Description

[0001] The invention concerns the top of a two-piece swim- or sport suit. This kind of top is commonly known as a bikini top.

[0002] A bikini top usually has two either rounded or triangularly shaped cups at the front connected by a strap, tie or bar.

[0003] A sports top is usually characterized as being one piece of material with or without cups.

[0004] The front of the top is held to the body by at least one securable back strap. The top also has either shoulder straps joining the cups at the front to the back strap or a neck strap leading from the cup over the neck.

[0005] Two-piece swimsuits or their tops are increasingly worn not only for swimming but are used to replace two piece sport suits. Bikini tops are also worn in conjunction with other clothing for sporting activities like running, jogging, walking or playing sports at the beach, surfing, water-skiing, beachvolleyball, roller-skating or similar activities. Whilst performing these activities, traveling to them or just going to the beach one usually carries some small items such as money, jewelry, credit cards, keys, mobile phone and other accessories.

[0006] The kind of swimsuit or sport suit worn for these kinds of sporting activities usually covers only part of the torso, in order to allow more freedom of movement, less sweating and a better tan. The freedom of movement gained by wearing such a top is lost if the individual has to carry small items as they are then required to use a bag or wear an extra piece of clothing in which the items can be carried. Sporting activities also put more stress on the garment than it is usually required to withhold. This can lead to the straps cutting into the wearer, slipping or even breaking.

[0007] The invention aims to redesign the classic bikini top or sport top to give the wearer better security when performing sporting activities whilst allowing the wearer the option of carrying small items without the need to wear extra garments or carry a bag. This also provides the wearer the advantages of a better tan.

[0008] The invention offers more hold of the top and therefore more security to the wearer as the risk of slipping or breaking of the straps is dramatically reduced whilst offering the wearer increased comfort and the option of keeping small items near the wearer.

[0009] The invention fulfils the above by altering the known straps and adding additional straps within which a small container is integrated, or to which a container is attached detachably. As the additional strap system and the container can be removed by the wearer if desired, the wearer is given the option of an unbroken tan if the extra straps are not required.

[0010] The thus freed strap construction with the integrated container can be used by the wearer as a handbag or hip bag.

[0011] According to a preferred version of the invention the strap system is connected to the main top via two shoulder straps which can be joined releasably to the front of the garment using rings, clips, magnets, Velcro, poppers, screws, hooks or ties. The front of the garment is connected using one of the above mentioned methods with the shoulder straps or neck strap. These straps are then connected to the back of the garment either centrally attached to the back strap or connected via the back and under the arm of the wearer to the front of the garment.

[0012] According to this preferred version of the invention, the two sides of the top are connected releasably by two back straps with fasteners and by a neck strap at the upper part of the top.

[0013] A further development of the invention features a detachable attachment of the shoulder straps to the back strap (the shoulder straps can also be removed by the wearer if desired), which offers two design variants: first, the option of adding a joining element at the back of the wearer, which is designed to receive one of the two back straps. The joining element may be a ring, for example, at which the ends of the shoulder straps leading to the back are secured. When the wearer wants to put on the additional strap construction, she can easily do so by releasing one of the two releasable fasteners of the back straps, (presumably the upper back strap in most cases), by putting the loose end of the back strap through the ring and by closing the fastener again. In this operation the top is sustained by the second back strap and the neck strap.

[0014] The second option of adding a joining element at the back of the wearer is the use of one or several clips, magnets, Velcro, poppers, screws, hooks or ties, etc. which are attached to one or both back straps of the top releasably. By this means the wearer does not have to loosen one of the two back straps in order to put the strap construction (with or without a container) on or off.

[0015] The advantage of the strap system is that it can be put on and off easily. The strap system absorbs a great part of the forces affecting the top, which are created by the movements of the body of the wearer. The distribution of tensile forces on the shoulder straps and back straps improves the adaptation of the garment to the body when it is worn for sporting activities. The advantages of the invention become obvious especially when small items are carried in the container integrated in the strap construction because it is held tightly to the body and therefore cannot make any unpleasant movements that are independent of the movement of the body. Besides, the fact that the strap system with the container is positioned on the back of the wearer so that it does not interfere the movements of the wearer when doing sports is of great advantage. Also the straps of the bikini top do not cut into the wearer so much because the shoulder straps which are connected with the bikini-top adjust themselves mechanically in a way that the tensile forces both at the front and at the back are dispersed evenly over the whole back of the wearer.

[0016] The distribution of forces when the tensile forces affecting the different straps and parts of the material of the whole construction are compensated can be divided schematically by three triangles of power: two of them are created at the front of the wearer by tensile forces that pull the front of the garment downward when the torso is moving, and tensile forces in the opposite direction that come from the same area, which the neck strap exerts diagonally upward to the middle and the shoulder straps exert diagonally upward to both sides of the garment. The third division of forces comes from where the tensile forces of the two shoulder straps pull to the top left-hand area and to the top right-hand area, and where the back strap counters these forces.

[0017] Another advantage the strap system with a preferable second back strap offers is that tensile forces which the two back straps, which are held releasably under the arms of the wearer at the sides of the top with a certain distance to each other, exert on the material at the front of the garment let the material fit tightly on the breasts of the wearer so that she is offered both more hold and additional security because the danger of the top slipping is reduced. New kinds of material, which are preferably used for this invention are very elastic and therefore spread the tensile forces exerted evenly and thus fit more tightly on the body of the wearer.

[0018] A second version of the invention features a loose strap or a loose flexible bar with two releasable joining elements at both ends, which are either stretched horizontally from one side of the top to the other over the back of the wearer or horizontally from one shoulder strap to the other. This variant requires no neck strap or second back strap but it does require two shoulder straps that are attached to a back strap in any case. The two shoulder straps enable the stretching of the strap and balance the tensile force occurring because of a container attached to the strap or when the body of the wearer is moving.

[0019] In a third version the neck straps running between the two shoulder straps are lengthened and lead further from the neck down the back of the wearer. The two neck straps are tied together at the back of the wearer, or they are joined by a bar and fastened releasably at the back strap with one or several joining elements or stretched releasably between the two shoulder straps, for instance at the point where the shoulder straps are connected with the back straps. Alternatively, they may be leading under the arms of the wearer and be attached releasably to both sides of the front.

[0020] According to the invention, the bar between the shoulder straps and neck straps is made into a container that is either integrated in it or which can be removed by the wearer if desired. The container is round, triangular, rectangular, or has the form of a trapezium and can be closed. When the container is integrated in the strap system it is preferably framed by the shoulder straps and neck straps of the strap system. A removable container is attached to the straps with loops, buttons, poppers, tongs, plugs, screws, clips, magnets, Velcro etc.

[0021] It is also a part of the invention that the wearer can release the strap system from the back strap and take the shoulder straps or neck straps over the head to be able to put small items in and out of the integrated container.

[0022] A further development of the invention enables the wearer to carry rather heavy containers or little rucksacks and to still have the strap system balancing even these increased forces in a way that the strap system fits on the body tightly. This quality proves its worth mainly in the following two versions:

[0023] One of these versions has the two shoulder straps connected with each other by a bar that is rigid or at least not very flexible, to which the container can be attached releasably. Apart from that, a second rigid or at least not very flexible bar may 5 connect the two shoulder straps additionally a little further down and thus may enhance the stableness of the construction even more. In this version the shoulder straps under the lower second bar are best lengthened and lead to the releasable fasteners under the arms of the wearer to both sides of the front of the garment.

[0024] In the other version the shoulder straps are joined at the back of the wearer, for example by a knurling-stop or any other device that can be used for adjustable fastening. From there they are lengthened and lead to fasteners under the arms on both sides of the front of the garment. Between the upper tangential point of the shoulder straps to the fasteners under the arms each of the two shoulder straps is leading through a capsule or a component that is apt for individual adjustment and connected with the ends of a bar, at which the capsule or adjustable fastener is secured. The bar runs horizontally over the back and offers the option of adjusting the distance between the two shoulder straps, as it balances the tensile forces, too. The two shoulder straps and the additional horizontal strap over the back of the wearer form a triangle and balance the forces exerted from the upper part of the garment and from the sides perfectly. Besides, they hold even rather large containers and little rucksacks tightly to the body because the straps are adjustable exactly as it is required at the upper tangential point and the points at the sides and prevent containers or little rucksacks from moving unintentionally, especially when they are loaded. These containers or little rucksacks are attached releasably to knurling-stops or any other components that are apt for adjustable fastening with loops, buttons, poppers, tongs, plugs, screws, clips, magnets, Velcro etc.

[0025] In the following, the invention is explained on the basis of a draft of only one of its versions. It is displayed schematically by

[0026] FIGS. 1 and 2 front view and rear view of an example with arrows for the schematic display of the forces

[0027] FIG. 3 top view on a top of a swimsuit or sport suit

[0028] FIGS. 4 and 5 front view and rear view of the object displayed in FIG. 2

[0029] FIGS. 6 and 7 the top displayed in FIGS. 4 and 5 with the additional strap system put off

[0030] FIGS. 8 to 11 further versions of the top with the shoulder straps attached releasably to fastenings at the sides of the front of the garment, each displayed in a rear view

[0031] FIGS. 12 to 13 further versions of the top with the shoulder straps attached releasably to the back straps with the help of a joining element at the back of the wearer, each displayed in a rear view

[0032] FIGS. 14 to 15 a second version preferably without neck strap with a horizontal strap system, each displayed in a rear view

[0033] FIGS. 16 to 17 a third version with a lengthened neck strap, each displayed in a rear view

[0034] FIG. 18 a version of the invention, suited for rather heavy containers or little rucksacks, each displayed in a rear view

[0035] FIG. 19 a version of the invention with an adjustable triangle on the back of the wearer, each displayed in a rear view

[0036] The tops of a ladies two-piece swimsuit or sport suit displayed in the figures, called “top” in the following, consist (as described above) of two either round (1), or triangularly shaped cups (1), or it has the form of a sports top, characterized as being one piece of material with or without cups (1). The tops are held by at least one back strap (2) and a neck strap (3) to the body of the wearer. According to the invention, an additional, strap system (4) is featured, consisting of preferably two shoulder straps leading over the shoulders, which are attached releasably to the front of the top (1) and which are tied together at the back of the wearer, or connected to each other by a bar (6). Furthermore they are attached releasably to a back strap (2) (FIGS. 4 to 5), or they are lead under the arms to the front of the garment and attached to it releasably (9) (FIGS. 8 to 13).

[0037] The bar is preferably made into a little rucksack (7) or a container (7), which can be attached to it by releasable joining elements (8) like clips, magnets, Velcro, poppers, screws, ties or hooks. etc.

[0038] In the example of FIGS. 4 and 5 the top of the two-piece swimsuit consists of two triangular cups (1), which are held by one of the two back straps (2). Furthermore the two cups (1) are connected to each other by the two back straps (2) at the back of the wearer, which run parallel to each other when the strap system (4) is put off (FIGS. 6 and 7). Each of the back straps (2) has a fastener (9) for putting the top on and off. A ring is fastened (e.g. sewed on) to the upper end of each triangular cup (1). A neck strap (3) is attached to the rings, which may also be sewed on. The additional strap system (4) is put on when the wearer is doing sports or when small items are carried. It consists of two shoulder straps (5) that are connected to each other, like in the versions in FIGS. 4 and 5, at the back with a bar (6) that is made into a container, and below this bar with a joining element (12) in the form of a ring. Circles symbolize the fastening points in FIG. 1. The ring (12) holds the two shoulder straps (5) on the back at the point, where they run into a triangle. At the same time, the ring receives one of the two back straps (2). Putting the garment on is easily done by releasing the fastener (9) of the upper back strap (2) for instance, pulling it through the ring (12), and by finally closing the fastener again. The front ends of the two shoulder straps (5) are attached to the rings (10) that are attached to the cups (1), for example also with the help of a joining element that is not displayed here, like a clip, magnet, Velcro, popper, screw, tie or hook. As a result of this, triangles of forces are created at both rings (10), which relieves the strain on the straps of the garment, as can be seen in FIG. 1.

[0039] In the schematic draft in diagram 3, which shows a top view of the top lying on a plane, it can be seen that the additional strap system (4) consisting of two shoulder straps (5) can be put on by the wearer taking it over the head. The joining element in the form of a ring on the back of the wearer (12) receives the upper back strap (2), which is attached to it releasably, The front ends (compare FIG. 4) of the two shoulder straps (5) are attached releasably (symbolized by open circles in diagram 3) to the two rings (10).

[0040] Arrows symbolize the forces affecting the straps in diagrams 1 to 3. When the additional strap system (4) is put on, the upper back strap (2) absorbs the two tensile forces created by the resulting force “R”, which creates more security on the one hand, and which improves the adjustment to the individual size of the wearer or the adjustment of the items carried to the movements.

[0041] The area marked by a circle in diagram 4 shows the two back straps (2) attached releasably to the two fasteners at the sides (9) of the top (1). The two back straps are fastened releasably at a certain distance to each other so they hold the top at two different points at the sides and lead the tensile forces in two different directions, namely horizontally to the side and diagonally upward. Thus the material fits more tightly around the breasts of the wearer and thereby provides more support and additional security as the risk of the top (1) slipping is reduced.

[0042] In the versions displayed in FIGS. 8 to 11 the shoulder straps (5) are joined by a bar at the back of the wearer (6) and lead under the arms to the front of the garment and attached to it releasably. In these versions the bars (6) are made into an integrated container or attachment or bearing surface for a container that can be removed by the wearer if desired. The container is can be closed, for example by a zipper (14), and is designed to receive small items such as money, jewelry, credit cards, keys, mobile phone. It is advisable that the container (7) consists of a fabric and watertight material and is sewed on the shoulder straps (5) or connected releasably with an attachment or bearing surface by loops, buttons, poppers, tongs, plugs, screws, clips, magnets, Velcro etc.

[0043] According to the versions preferred by the inventor that are displayed in FIGS. 4 and 5 the container (7) is triangular and arranged in a gusset between the shoulder straps (5) converging on the back of the wearer.

[0044] FIGS. 12 to 13 correspond with the descriptions of FIGS. 8 to 11 in regard to the shoulder straps (5) joined at the back of the wearer by a bar (6) and the bar preferably made into a container (7). But they differ inasmuch as the bar (6) and the shoulder straps (5) meet in one or several joining elements on the back of the wearer (8) and are attached to one or both back straps (5) releasably.

[0045] In FIG. 14 a loose strap or a loose flexible bar (6) is fastened releasably with two joining elements (8) at both sides of the top if required, and is fastened preferably by another joining element (8) in addition, like a Velcro fastener for instance, which is attached at the center to the back strap (2) and on the backside of the container. The back strap (2) is joined firmly with the shoulder straps and can therefore balance the exerted tensile forces additionally.

[0046] FIG. 15 shows a single strap or elastic bar (6) with two joining elements (8) at both ends, which is attached releasably to the back straps (5). As this strap system (4) is attached releasably to the sides of the back straps it can be fixed at different levels.

[0047] In the version of FIG. 16 the strap system (4) is formed by the two neck straps (3) and connected to each other at the back of the wearer with a bar (6) made into a container (7), which can be put on between the two shoulder straps (5). The two joined neck straps (3) are lead under the arms of the wearer to both sides of the front and attached to it releasably.

[0048] The neck straps (3) in the FIG. 17 feature two joining elements at the back of the wearer (8), which are stretched releasably between the two shoulder straps (5) and the back strap (2) at the same time.

[0049] The versions of FIGS. 18 and 19 are suited for carrying rather heavy containers (7) or little rucksacks (7) that are made of watertight material with a waterproof fastener. They balance the tensile forces created by loading the container in a way that the strap system (4) fits on the body tightly even under these circumstances.

[0050] The version of FIG. 18 is formed in a way that the shoulder straps (5) attached releasably to the front of the top (1) are joined by a rigid or at least sparsely flexible bar (6). A little further down they are joined once more by a second rigid or at least sparsely flexible bar (6) and lead to fasteners under the arms at both sides of the front and are attached to it releasably. The container (7) may be attached to the rigid twin-bar (6), which provides particularly strong support for heavy loads, by Velcro surfaces (8) for instance, which are attached releasably both to the backside of the container and to the rigid twin-bar (6).

[0051] In FIG. 19, the shoulder straps (5) are joined on the back of the wearer by a knurling-stop (13) or any other component (13) suited for adjustable fastening. They are lead through it to fasteners under the arms of the wearer at both sides of the front of the garment (9). Between the upper point of contact of the shoulder straps (5) and the fasteners under the arms (9) each of the two shoulder straps (5) is connected with the ends of a bar (6) leading through a further capsule (13) or a component suited for individual adjustment (13), to which the capsule (13) or component (13) is attached.

[0052] In FIG. 19, on contrary to FIG. 18 the back straps (5) can be adjusted individually and as required, and therefore putting on the strap system (4) for sporting activities is as advisable as when heavy loads are carried. In this version, any container (7) or bag (7) can be attached releasably to the knurling-stops (13) or the horizontal lower strap (6), as long as it has loops, straps or other components for releasable attachment.

Claims

1. Top of a two-piece swim or sport suit, the front of which has a breast covering (1) that is held to the body of the wearer by at least one back strap (2), characterized by an additional detachable strap system (4).

2. Top as in claim 1 characterized in that the top is attached releasably via two over shoulder straps (5) to the breast covering (1) and either to the back strap of the wearer (2) or lead via the shoulder and under the arm and attached releasably to the breast covering (9).

3. Top as in claim 2 characterized in that the shoulder straps (5) joined on the back of the wearer by a bar (6) which features means of attachment for attaching a container (7).

4. Top as in claim 2 characterized in that shoulder straps (5) feature means of attachment for attaching a container (7), which acts as a bar between the shoulder straps (5), at the back of the wearer.

5. Top as in claim 2 characterized in that the ends of the shoulder straps (5) at the back of the wearer are sewed onto a ring through which a back strap (2) is threaded.

6. Top as in claim 1 characterized in that an additional detachable strap system (4) consisting of two over the shoulder straps (5), which are attached releasably to the front of the top (1) and which lead through a knurling-stop (13) or any other component (13) suited for adjustable attachment and which are joined to detachable fastenings (8) under the arms of the wearer at both sides of the front of the garment. Between the upper connecting point of the shoulder straps (5) and the fasteners under the arms of the wearer, each of the two shoulder straps (5) is connected with the ends of a bar (6), with the help of a further knurling-stop (13) or adjustable component (13), which is attached releasably to the bar (6); thus the bar runs horizontally over the back of the wearer.

7. Top as in claim 6 characterized in that the horizontal bar (6) is made into a container (7), or with the container (7) attached releasably to the bar (6).

8. Top as in claim 1 characterized in that the additional detachable strap system (4) features a loose bar (6) with joining elements (8) at both ends. The bar (6) is made into a container (7) and attached either to two shoulder straps releasably (5) at the back of the wearer, or the container (7) is put on at the back of the wearer and attached releasably to the front of the garment under the arms of the wearer (8).

9. Top as in claims 2 to 4 characterized in that the additional detachable strap system (4) features two neck straps (3) in addition to the shoulder straps (5). The neck straps are attached releasably to the front of top (1) and joined on the back of the wearer and lead under the arms of the wearer to both sides of the front of the garment and they are attached to it (8) releasably.

10. Top as in claim 9 characterized in that the neck straps (3) are joined by a bar (6) which is made into a container (7).