Patent Application
20110117818
This invention relates generally to a sport bra, and more specifically to a sports bra having additional wrap-around support.
Sports bras come in many configurations and are primarily selected to provide support that is not available from traditional, under-garment bras. U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,917 discloses a “therapeutic brassiere” having straps that extend over the shoulders and cross over to the lateral sides of the cups. The therapeutic brassiere is constructed from a one-piece, breathable, stretchable fabric. The left side strap passes over the left shoulder of the wearer, crosses in the back and fastens to the outside edge proximate the right breast cup. Likewise, the right side strap passes over the right shoulder, crosses in the back and fastens to the outside edge proximate the left breast cup.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,191 discloses a sports bra having wrap-around members to provide support in various regions. This sports bra operates as a vest-like gside panelent that includes a front and back panel, both made from a non-elastic material. The front panel serves to limit and/or prevent undue vertical breast movement. Elastic straps are disposed on either the inner or the outer surface of the front panel to further restrict breast movement during jogging.
Another sports bra configuration is called the “Carolien Bra” made by Body by Brazil. The Carolien Bra utilizes a wrap-around style with shoulder straps that extend up from the front support cups, along the back and under the side panels. The straps are securely stitched to the left and right sides of the support cups. A separate band surrounds the lower peripheral edge of the bra and attaches beneath each support cup.
The present invention relates to a sports bra having a main body coupled to or integrally formed with wrap-around side panels that support at least a portion of the main body. The main body includes support cups and is configured to encircle the upper torso of the wearer. In one embodiment, the main body and wrap-around side panels are formed from a continuous, unitary piece of fabric material. In another embodiment, the main body and wrap-around side panels are formed separately and then selectively stitched or otherwise coupled together. The shoulder straps extend upward from the main body, over the shoulders of the wearer and may be coupled to a back panel, which in turn is coupled to the side panels. The wrap-around side panels are configured to extend around the torso and beneath the support cups to provide additional support thereto. The free ends of the side panels may be fastened together directly or independently secured to the main body.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a sports bra includes a pair of shoulder straps; a torso panel sized to snugly and elastically fit over an upper torso of a wearer, the panel coupled to the pair of shoulder straps; and a pair of wrap-around side panels extendable in opposite directions originating from a back portion of the torso panel, the side panels extendable around the upper torso with a portion of each side panel configured to provide additional support beneath a cup region of the torso panel, the side panels having end portions attachable proximate a front, center portion of the torso panel beneath the cup region.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method for making a sports bra includes the steps of (1) cutting a fabric material to form a torso panel, shoulder straps and a pair of wrap-around side panels that extend in opposite directions from a back portion of the torso panel; (2) arranging each wrap-around side panel to have at least a portion that provides additional support beneath a cup region of the torso panel; and (3) positioning free ends of the wrap-around side panels to be securable proximate a front, center region of the torso panel.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a sports bra includes a pair of shoulder straps; a continuous panel sized to snugly fit over an upper torso of a wearer and having a cup region, the panel coupled to the pair of shoulder straps; and a pair of wrap-around side panels extendable in opposite directions from and coupled to the shoulder straps, the side panels extendable around the upper torso with a portion of each side panel configured to provide additional support beneath the cup region of the panel and the side panels fastenable proximate a front region of the panel beneath the cup region
Preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings:
As will be described in further detail below, a sports bra includes a main body coupled to or integrally formed with wrap-around side panels that support at least a portion, such as support cups, of the main body. The main body is configured to encircle the upper torso of the wearer. In one embodiment, the main body and wrap-around side panels are formed from a continuous, unitary piece of fabric material. In another embodiment, the main body and wrap-around side panels are formed separately and then selectively stitched or otherwise coupled together. The wrap-around side panels may be coupled to a back panel, which in turn is coupled to the shoulder straps that extend upward from back panel toward a front portion of the main body. Further, the wrap-around side panels extend around the torso of the wearer to provide additional support while being adjustable to provide a comfortable, yet secure fit.
Wrap-around side panel or side panels 114 (e.g., left and right side panels) extend in opposite directions as originating from the back panel 112. In one embodiment, the side panels 114 and the back panel 112 are arranged with an upside down T-back shape. The side panels 114 extend around the upper torso and each side panel may include a cup support portion 116 that is generally positioned under a respective cup region of the main body 102 to provide additional support. Each side panel 114 includes a free end portion 118 and these end portions 118 may be directly connected to one another proximate a front, center portion the torso panel 104 or may be fastened to the torso panel 104, yet remain separated from each other. In one embodiment, the free end portions 118 are coupled to mating clasps that engage to secure the sports bra 100 to the wearer. The mating clasps may take a variety of forms as described below and illustrated in
In one embodiment, the material used for the main body 102, the shoulder straps, the back panel and the side panels of the sports bra 100 may be cut from the same monolithic piece of material, thus the transition from one component to next is seamless. The material for the sports bra 100 may take the form of, but not be limited to, a breathable, stretchable and wicking material.
Since, in the preferred embodiment, the side panels 214 are not fixed to the main body 202, the user is able to adjust the fit of the side panels 214 by adjusting the positioning relative to main body 202 and by adjusting the tension with the clasp 224. Thus, the side panels 214 may be positioned higher or lower relative to the cup support regions 204, 206.
In one alternate embodiment, loops or sleeves may be provided along the front or sides of the main body 202, through which the side panels 214 may extend. Such loops or sleeves would help maintain the general positioning of the side panels 214 relative to the main body 202 within a certain area while still allowing substantially independent support provided by the side panels 214. Other fasteners to permit vertical adjustment of the side panels 214 relative to the main body 202 by alternatively be provided, such as hook-and-loop fasteners or snaps. Such arrangements provide the benefits of allowing adjustable under-cup support.
The sports bra 400 further includes wrap-around side panels 408 coupled to an over back panel 410. The side panels 408 and over back panel 410 may have an upside down T-back shape, as illustrated, but again other shapes are possible. As best shown in
Referring specifically to
While the preferred embodiments of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined by reference to the claims that follow.
