Patent Grant
7648408
This application relies for priority upon CHINA patent application: No. 200720057004.9 for invention No. 200710030239.3 filed on Sep. 14, 2007.
This invention relates to a user selected and assembled bra system which enables users to customize the selection, style, construction, and usage. The selection and customization can occur at the point of purchase, while the interchangeableness and further customization of the user can occur at home based upon the total number of different types of components available to the user. Interchangeable customization can be based upon component sizes, shapes and colors, and compatibility with outer wear, to name a few.
Women's underwear and particularly bras have become a part of fashionable dressing. As more and more types, functions and designs of bras are available in the market, customers naturally attempt to find the optimum combination of require purchasing more underwear to meet their special needs. On the other hand, most of the structure and accessories of the underwear in the market are standardized. Manufacturers who seek to include a number of different type, and sometimes mutually exclusive options must manufacture an overly large number of models to try to maximize the probability that a user can purchase a model with the user's optimum features and characteristics in one model.
Compounding this difficulty is the fact that, it is estimated that 70% of women have difficulty with their proper bra measurement and selection, even where a specific configuration of bra garment may be available to them. Even where women purchasers know their size and happen to be lucky enough to have a bra garment with the proper configuration for the subtle details in their size, it still can be very difficult to buy fashionable and well fitting clothes.
Many women's bra clothing items use bra or cup size measurements to distinguish differences in fit, but differences between bra models can be significant. Even further compounding this problem is that of habit. When a wearer finds a size and brand which fits well, there is a tendency to continue purchasing and relying on that brand regardless of how subtle or severely the body changes. This is because a woman's breasts change significantly over time, particularly during and after pregnancy. Other factors include weight loss, weight gain and monthly cycle body weight variations, all of which can have an effect on the fit of a bra. It has been suggested that bra wearers consciously check their bra size once or twice a year to detect mis fit due to significant weight changes.
One method of sizing involves simply first determining a bra band size as the rib cage circumference measurement, and then add 5 inches to that measurement to determine the band size. The second step is to perform a full circumferential measurement around the chest at the height of the fullest part of the breast, and then attempting to estimate a cup size by using the difference between the bra band size (which includes the five inches added) minus and circumference measured at the fullest part of the breast.
A chart is typically used which includes corresponding cup sizes including: half inch=AA; one inch=A; two inches=B; three inches=C; four inches=D; five inches=DD; six inches=E; seven inches=F; and eight inches=G. However, this bra measuring system upon which most ratioed sizes will not work optimally for more than some wearers. Bra manufacturers make assumptions based upon chest girth, cup separation, cup shape and depth and more. In fact, some manufacturers try to assemble the bras based upon an ambiguous combination of bra band sizes and cup sizes as follows: (1) Bra band sizes 32-28 may require: “Slender” build: A cup; “Average” build: B cup; “Heavier” build: C cup; (2) Bra band sizes 40-42 may require: “Average” build: B cup; “Heavier” build: C-D cup; (3) Bra band sizes 44-46 may require: “Average” build: C cup; “Heavier” build: D-DD cup.
Thus, it is clear that these types of approximate characterization are a tacit admission that even if the measurements ARE accurate, there are no real “standards” for bra sizing, and the manufacturers set their own dimensional standards, hoping to ratio up and down for a given size in the hopes that most users fall evenly within some range for each aspect of the bras provided.
Users who buy any type of bra appliance are not likely to be enabled to select an item which is optimized to the user's fit, including cup shape, under wire shape, cup thickness/thinness of material, cut of the cup, separation between the cups (the length difference between cups), length modifiable main strap (such as material, elasticity of material, and strap width, to name a few) and much more. In cases where a user is statistically outside the main averages (design assumptions) within bras are constructed are simply out of luck. In extreme cases users can have their bras tailored, which is an expensive proposition which still may not result in the correct construction, even after several iterations with a custom tailor.
Further, the best fit may involve having a user wear the bra for a few hours in a private setting, especially in the home. Many retail outlets either will not let user's try on the bra underwear or discourage on-site customer fittings. Some bras are specially packaged such that opening the package destroys the packaging. In these cases, a bra which is tried on will likely end up not on the main display shelves and either be returned to the factory or wasted.
The above problems are extremely grave for people for whom an ill fitting bra is a major inconvenience. Other, lesser problems can involve the compatibility of a bra with outer wear. The cut of the cups, the thickness of the shoulder straps and the material of the main strap needs to be compatible with the outer wear chosen. Bras having low upper cup edges are needed for low cut dresses. Even for a given style of dress, further optimization can be desired by the user as to how they chose for their bust line to appear with regard to the dress, including a flattening effect or at the other end of the spectrum, a push-up effect. Color is another subtle factor. Sometimes a dark bra material is needed for dark clothing and sometimes a light bra material is needed for light clothing. Clothing which is partially see-through, or which is tight fitting, as well as loose fitting, can present other compatibility problems. In many cases, the user is faced with the possibility of having to select an uncomfortable garment simply because it “goes with” a particular outer wear item.
For all of the above reasons, it is clear that no currently available bra appliance is available which can meet this diverse number of problems and needs of the consumer and wearer. What is needed is a system which enables quick and easy user customization, not only with respect to individual fit, but also for color, shape and outer wear compatibility.
A user selectable interchangeable bra system enables user to customize the selection, style, construction, and usage of a bra both through component purchase and interchangeable fit. Selection can be had with respect to the cup by selecting its size, shape, its cut, and in particular its upper shape and extent, its underwire presence or absence, as well as underwire interchangeableness. The center connector can be selected to provide for user selectable cup separation. Buckle type shoulder strap fittings can be provided with a tiny loop to support body jewelry, and because the shoulder straps are reversible, the body jewelry can be worn on the front or back upper chest, especially where the jewelry can appear to come from underneath the dress to give an appearance of a much more extensive jewelry extent.
The beginnings of the selection and customization can begin at the at the point of purchase, with the user buying components for mix and match employment within the bra system. It is expected that no component purchased will be wasted as it can either be employed for interfit into one aspect of a user constructed bra, or held for future use in a different configuration. Further, as a user begins trying a number of component parts in various combinations, the user will gain a better idea of which component parts might be selected in a completely different configuration. For example, where the user wants a full coverage cup for athletic activity, the user might also select a wider band and a closer connection between the cups. For evening wear, the user might select more abbreviated coverage cups, perhaps even having a lesser amount of material near the center, and then combine the constructed bra to have a longer center connector.
The user can vary and even omit components illustrated in the bra system. When wearing an evening dress which does not cover one shoulder, the shoulder strap associated with that shoulder can simply be omitted. Further, since the cups are interchangeable, the user in that example could choose a full cup for one side and a reduced area cup for the side of the body with the exposed shoulder.
Even with the selection only of colors, the user can select colors to be compatible with outer wear, and are not limited to one color. A colorful see-through blouse might be accented by a bra having different colors for each shoulder strap, each band portion, each cup and its back and front connectors, not to mention a selection of jewelry for which the bra of the bra system described herein is equipped to accept.
Further, the materials of construction of the bra of this bra system, in combination with the hook connectors are set to enable quick change, but long wear and disconnect resistance. The degree of time and effort spent in creating new bra combinations can be finished once an optimum combination is achieved, and thereafter the user can treat that bra as a completed single bra with no further changes. In this case, the bra can be washed, dried and continue in service the same as any other non-custom built, factory available bra.
As familiarity with the components of the system is increased, and where the user has time, the continued mix and match exploration can proceed without the need to ever form what the user considers a complete and permanent bra solution. After wearing, the user can simply launder the bra, and dis-assemble it to its component parts and return the components to the user's full set of components collection awaiting further creative bra construction.
It is of great advantage that the interchangeableness and further customization of the user can occur at home based upon the total number of different types of components available to the user. This solves many of the disadvantages in conventional design in the market. However, the use of a multi-component bra having a hook and eye tape design to hold it in place, yet to enable manual manipulation, also means that the user can choose to put-on and take off the bra from any point that the components can be manually separated. Thus, the user can unfasten the bra from between the front cups, or from the back, or from one side at the point of connection of one of the main straps and the cup. Thus, not only are all users presented with many ways to affix and un-do the bra of the invention, many people who favor one method over another due to injury, disability and the like can more easily dress and undress. For example, some people have limited arm movements and they can select the method of securing and un-securing the bra depending upon the best method their abilities will allow. Moreover, if those abilities change, the user can simply changed the location of the best point at which the bra is secured and unsecured. Further, the ability to quickly secure and un-secure the bra can assist the user by better enabling removal, adjustment (perhaps of the shoulder straps) then re-securing. Not all users may have enough arm movement to adjust the shoulder straps while the bra is in place, and secured on the body.
Further, the bra system described herein does not have so very many parts that it forces the user to the cut and sew level. The components include cups, side straps, rear center connectors, front connectors, shoulder straps and shoulder strap buckle jewelry connectors (optional). All of the components are units which enable the user to have the maximum choice in substitution for fit, securing and un-securing, and color effect, but without causing the user to have to resort to cutting, sewing, or even the use of any special tools.
To overcome the weakness of current commercially available bra designs, a comfortable and flexible bra with plenty of varied accessories is provided for the user to build their customized bra for their special needs and design. The main component parts of the invention sufficient to construct one completed bra includes: (1) a pair of cups, (2) a connection accessory for center-front joining between the pair of cups, (3) a pair of main strap portions which are each used to connect between cup and a back connector which may be a hook and Eye tape to name but one of many, (4) a pair of shoulder strap is used to connect between upper part of cup and the main wing elastic portions, the shoulder strap being preferably length adjustable, although the length adjustment strap and buckle can be replaced by a single solid strap, especially where a plurality of such solid straps are available for use by the user, (5) Other connectivity and decorative parts that can be taken down or assembled easily and separately, (6) an optional bra wire, which may have many shapes, strengths and curvature characteristics which may be, at the user's option, installed in a formed pipeline at the under wire portion of each of the cups. Where the user has a choice from among several bra wire shapes, several different shapes can be impressed on the cup and several different looks and different fits can be obtained for the cups.
It is preferable for there to be available a wide variety of different parts of different shapes, sizes and colors so that user's can make very fine adjustments to the size and configuration of the resulting constructed bra. The production of individual and separate parts of bra accessories which are specially designed to enable customers and user to create different style of bra with choosing different cups, wing elastic, shoulder strap, underwire and ornaments and more. Based on the user's body shape and depending upon the user's whims and the occasion, the user can replace suitable accessories easily to meet their functional needs, and where the user finds a configuration of highest utility, can construct several bras by duplicating the components of the bra of greatest utility or best fit. This can be done without having to buy a series of different styles of different bra sets, with the hope of that the optimum can be obtained.
Any resulting design undressed by the front connective accessory or hook or rear eye tape, or even where the side straps meet the cup, for greater convenience. A front center connector functions not only as an ornament, but also design for the comfortable joining of the cups. As compared with direct connection between cups at the centre-front, this accessory and joining structure can regard as a better junction and better fit the design of human system engineering, which does produce physical stress against the body at the center-front. Unlike a traditional bra, these individual components and accessories can be sold individually or in package, and in which the customers get the different style of the parts easily and can let them to build their own bra.
A hook and eye tape is connected with the wing elastic by additional hook and eye members which make a more secure connection, not dependent upon tension as is the hook and eye tape. For attachment to the edge of the hook and eye tape are further hooks, which can be used to hook the eye of the hook and eye tape at the edge of the wing elastic. Therefore, the user can choose different size, color, style and design of the hook and eye tape for fitting their body and matching their outer garment.
The wing elastic may include a pair of cup connecting side straps and may be made of any material such as a ruffle material on the top of elastic. The elasticity is fit with a larger elongation to give the users extra comfort to their back. This structure may have better expanding and contracting properties. Also, the elasticity is not so strong that it fails to give the users extra pressure to their back. It meets the human system engineering.
Connection accessories may include a W shape slide connector at the center-front. This W shape slide is a junction between cups at the center-front that connect these 2 cups together. W shape slide contains higher stability. It is difficult to disentangle and become deformed. The user can fine-tune the distance between the cups at the center-front to fit their body shape by choosing different size and design of W shape slide.
To improve the connection stability and ensure that the connection accessories do not disengage or deform easily, it may be preferable to use a “9” shaped slide for connecting the junction between wing elastic, shoulder strap and cup. The shape of the “9” shaped slide for the junction in shoulder strap has a portion which has a triangle shape, including a separating overhang. It also contains a barb shaped structure at the hook and jutting part inside the hook part, which is used, in combination with the material of the cup connectors to prevent the slipping of shoulder strap.
The ability to optionally assemble a pre-specified bra wire provides a great many some benefits. The customers can choose and replace the wire easily. Also, it can reduce the chance of corrosion and deformation of the cup when the customers take care to remove the wire before washing the bra.
The shoulder strap may use an “8” shaped slide to adjust the length and form a handy attachment for an ornament. It can help support an ornamental chain or other decorations. The shoulder strap is reversible and thus at the wearer's front, it can appear as if a wider and more gently draping necklace or other ornament is present, especially as attached to the “8” shaped slide by a hook or semi circular eyelet connector, to improve the appearance of the bra design and the user.
The design of the system is multi-functional and structurally utilizable. It is designed for the user to choose the suitable parts and accessories and assemble different style and design of the bra. Since it does not require stitching or special tools to attach the parts, the process of producing a bra for personal use is simplified and the efficiency is improved. The overall design is also considered to give the user maximum flexibility in selecting components which can provide for good feeling and comfort of the user. Moreover the resulting design is stable. The design and materials prevent deformation and disentanglement. Based on the actual needs and requirement, the number of basic accessories can be adjusted to give the user advantages including advantages of variety, selectivity, comfort, and stability. Compared with conventionally available bra designs, this design includes an essential characteristic and improvement.
The invention, its configuration, construction, and operation will be best further described in the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring to
As will be shown more fully, the center connector having a bow 35 is a decorative structure which hides the extent of a double connector to be shown later. The use of the center connector having a bow 35 to hide the connector gives the user assembled bra 31 a more professional appearance, as if it were a factory constructed bra. Further, the lateral width of the center connector located at the center-front having a bow 35 or other decorative item or omitting such decorative item can be of different widths to provide different cup separations.
A right shoulder strap 45 is seen as having a pair of connection members 47 and 49. The right shoulder strap 45 is shown as doubled between the connection member 47 and an “8” shaped buckle fitting 51. Buckle fitting 51 may have a very tiny lateral eyelet 53 which is seen on buckle fitting 51 as a tiny bump. The buckle fitting 51 may have multiples eyelets 53. The connection members 47 and 49 are seen as “9” shaped members which fit through openings in material into which they are attached. Upper extension 37 provides a channel in the material through which a lower hook member in the connection member 47 passes.
At the left side of the first cup assembly 33, the fitting 41 is seen as having a lower hook shape which passes through a portion of the material of the lateral outward extent 39 of the first cup assembly 33. The other side of the fitting 41 is attached to a first main strap 61. At the side and rear of the first main strap 61, a small cloth loop connector 63 is attached to optionally extend slightly from the upper edge of the first main strap 61 and is shown as being engaged by the connection member 49. A second small cloth loop connector 64 may lie opposite the small cloth loop connector 63 where it is desired to enable the first main strap 61 to be completely reversible. Complete reversibility means that first main strap 61 can occupy either side of the user assembled bra 31.
In the configuration shown, the connection members 47 and 49 are shown as being engaged in a position where the lower extension members of the are extending toward the centerline of the user assembled bra 31, but they can extend in either direction. Moreover, where right shoulder strap 45 has its connection members 47 and 49 with oppositely oriented lower extension members, the right shoulder strap 45 will be universal to thus eliminate the need for left and right mirror image bra straps.
At the end of the first main strap 61 near the center back, a pair of hook connectors 65 are seen engaging a pair of eye connectors (not directly show in
The completely replaceable hook and eye tape 69 enables a user to select different colors, and lengths (lateral widths) of hook and eye tape 69 to fit even where all of the other components of the user assembled bra 31 are the same. Take as an example a user who finds all components of the user assembled bra 31 to be comfortable, but only needs additional dimension about the main extent of the circumference of the main extent of the user assembled bra 31. The selection of a larger hook and eye tape 69 is all that is needed, and it can be easily substituted. Further, the opposite side of the of hook and eye tape 69 can have a decoration similar or different from bow 35, such as a flower or other decorative design. As such, the hook and eye tape 69 can be changed out to give different effects to the rear of the user assembled bra 31.
Also seen in
The other half of the user assembled bra 31 includes components which are bilaterally related to the components described, including second cup assembly 93, upper extension 97, lateral outward extent 99, second connector 101, shadow line 103, left shoulder strap 105, pair of connection members 107 and 109, “8” shaped buckle fitting 111, multiple eyelets 113, second main strap 121 (which may be identical to first main strap 61 where its reversible), small cloth loop connector 123 and small cloth loop connector 124, pair of hook connectors 125 (supported by second main strap 121), pair of eye connectors (supported by eye tape portion 71, but not directly shown in
Referring to
Referring to both the first and second cup assemblies 33 and 93, a boundary 151 is seen to form a through passage 153 through which the extension members of the connectors 41 and 101 may extend to enable engagement of the first and second main straps 61 and 121 to the first and second cup assemblies 33 and 93. A boundary 155 is seen to form a through passage 157 through which the extension members (to be shown later) of the a center connector having a bow 35, will extend to enable engagement of the first and second cup assemblies 33 and 93 to each other. A boundary 161 is seen to form a through passage 163 through which the connection members 47 and 107 may extend to enable engagement of the right and left shoulder straps 45 and 105 to the first and second cup assemblies 33 and 93.
Just below the shadow lines 43 and 102 a pair of boundary lines 165 form a pipeline or bore 167 into which the underwire supports 81 and 131 can be inserted. Because the underwire supports 81 and 131 are made of metal, their insertion will control a resulting shape of the shadow lines 43 and 103. The shadow lines are nothing more than a resulting shape of the general under breast supporting shape of the first and second cup assemblies 33 and 93. Other shape indicators can be referred to for a visual change in the support shape of the first and second cup assemblies 33 and 93, with the shadow lines 43 and 103 being simply one method to verbally illustrate the effect of the use of the first and second cup assemblies 33 and 93. The underwire supports 81 and 131 can not only have a differential flexibility along their length to “give” in the direction normal to the body of the user, but will normally have a changing curvature or radius along the length of the underwire supports 81 and 131. This enables the user to change the shape of the first and second cup assemblies 33 and 93, and especially effect movement along the lower part of the first and second cup assemblies 33 and 93 with a gentler change in shape at the shadow lines 43 and 103 due to the separation of the shadow lines 43 and 103 from the bore 167 into which the underwire supports 81 and 131 will be inserted. The curvature of the underwire supports 81 and 131 can significantly deviate from the path of the bore 167 shown. Further, different ones of the first and second cup assemblies 33 and 93 can have different shaped paths for the bore 167. Further, with some shapes and configurations of the first and second cup assemblies 33 and 93, multiple bores 167 can be formed so that the underwire supports 81 and 131 can be inserted in different locations. Further, multiple bores 167 can branch out from a single opening. In addition, it should be noted that the bores 167 seem to terminate just short of the bilaterally innermost extent of their length and this may or may not be so. Thus, the bores 167 can extend completely through or may be in place as a blind bore. Regardless, the friction of placement of the underwire supports 81 and 131 are typically enough to keep them in place regardless of the amount of the user's movements.
Further views related to the details of the first embodiment seen in
Referring to
Also seen in expanded format are the small cloth loop connectors 63 and 64 which can permit the first main strap 61 to be reversible. Also seen are a series of folds 181 of an outer layer of material which enable a non elastic length of material to be used as a covering which is attached to an underlying layer of elastic material (not seen in
Likewise, referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Likewise, referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The user assembled bra 31 of the invention is designed for the user to assemble personal and different styles of bra by choosing accessories freely. The design is also very convenience to use since it can be put on or removed from the front or back of the user body. This invention is not limited to the very few and sparing above examples shown. The user can modify the number, size and color of related accessories to meet their needs.
While the present invention has been described in terms of a user customizable bra system of interconnected components, one skilled in the art will realize that the structure and techniques of the present invention can be applied to many appliances including any appliance which utilizes the embodiments of the instrumentation of the invention or any process which utilizes the steps of the invention.
Although the invention has been derived with reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, included within the patent warranted hereon are all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of this contribution to the art.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 1 0030239 | Sep 2007 | CN | national |
| 2007 2 0057004 | Sep 2007 | CN | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2590915 | Allison | Apr 1952 | A |
| 2638596 | Fridolph | May 1953 | A |
| 2668954 | Frohlich | Feb 1954 | A |
| 2715225 | Gould | Aug 1955 | A |
| 2954031 | Froehlich | Sep 1960 | A |
| 3040750 | Hurwitz | Jun 1962 | A |
| 3311112 | Murray | Mar 1967 | A |
| 3653075 | Gluckin et al. | Apr 1972 | A |
| 4501026 | Seneca | Feb 1985 | A |
| 6006364 | Newsom et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
| 6123601 | Hildebrandt | Sep 2000 | A |
| 6135853 | Hopson | Oct 2000 | A |
| 6390885 | Brooks | May 2002 | B1 |
| 6938440 | Smith | Sep 2005 | B2 |
| 6994606 | Li | Feb 2006 | B2 |
| 7100250 | Fildan et al. | Sep 2006 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20090075562 A1 | Mar 2009 | US |
