U.S. patent application number 10/108764 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-02 for positionable brassiere shoulder strap pad.
This patent application is currently assigned to Playtex Apparel, Inc.. Invention is credited to Batcha, Deborah, Falla, Gloria.
Application Number | 20030186619 10/108764 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28452931 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030186619 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Falla, Gloria ; et
al. |
October 2, 2003 |
Positionable brassiere shoulder strap pad
Abstract
There is provided a shoulder strap pad having a pad assembly and
a fabric cover. The fabric cover is connected to the pad assembly
along each side or axial edge by a binder to form an opening or
channel therebetween. The shoulder strap of the brassiere is
positioned in the channel formed by the fabric cover and the pad
assembly. The shoulder strap pad is movably positionable anywhere
along the shoulder strap of the brassiere, thereby maximizing the
comfort level provided to the wearer. The fabric cover has a first
end positioned toward the front of the wearer and a second end
positioned toward the back of the wearer. The first or front end is
cut along a diagonal on one end to provide a larger opening for
receipt of a brassiere shoulder strap. This diagonal first end also
facilitates easier movement of the shoulder strap pad along the
brassiere shoulder strap.
Inventors: |
Falla, Gloria; (Demarest,
NJ) ; Batcha, Deborah; (New York, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Charles N.J. Ruggiero, Esq.
Ohlandt, Greeley, Ruggiero & Perle, L.L.P.
10th Floor
One Landmark Square
Stamford
CT
06901-2682
US
|
Assignee: |
Playtex Apparel, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
28452931 |
Appl. No.: |
10/108764 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
450/86 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41F 15/007
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
450/86 |
International
Class: |
A41C 003/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A brassiere shoulder strap pad comprising: a first fabric layer
having one or more longitudinal edges, said first fabric layer
having a first end and a second end, said first end being cut on a
diagonal at an acute angle with respect to said second end; a pad
assembly having longitudinal edges that mate with said longitudinal
edges of said first fabric layer, said pad assembly having a first
end and a second end; a binder for connecting together said
longitudinal edges of said first fabric layer and said longitudinal
edges of said pad assembly, and forming a channel therebetween;
wherein a brassiere shoulder strap is positioned between said first
fabric layer and said pad assembly.
2. The brassiere shoulder strap pad of claim 1, wherein said
shoulder strap pad is movably positionable along said brassiere
shoulder strap.
3. The brassiere shoulder strap pad of claim 1, wherein said
channel has a front opening and a rear opening.
4. The brassiere shoulder strap pad of claim 3, wherein said front
opening is directed toward a breast cup of brassiere and said rear
opening is directed toward a back panel of a brassiere.
5. The brassiere shoulder strap pad of claim 3, wherein said front
opening is larger in width than said rear opening.
6. The brassiere shoulder strap pad of claim 3, wherein said rear
opening is cut in a line perpendicular to said brassiere shoulder
strap.
7. The brassiere shoulder strap pad of claim 1, wherein said first
fabric layer is made of a rigid fabric.
8. The brassiere shoulder strap pad of claim 3, wherein said rigid
fabric is a material selected from the group consisting of nylon,
polyester and a combination of nylon and polyester.
9. The brassiere shoulder strap of claim 1, wherein said first end
of said first fabric layer is cut on an angle of 40 degrees.
10. The brassiere shoulder strap pad of claim 1, wherein said pad
assembly is comprised of a top layer, a bottom layer, and a cushion
layer positioned in between said top layer and said bottom
layer.
11. The brassiere shoulder strap pad of claim 1, wherein said top
layer is made of nylon.
12. The brassiere shoulder strap pad of claim 1, wherein said top
layer is made of a three bar tricot or knit marquisette fabric.
13. The brassiere shoulder strap pad of claim 1, wherein said
bottom layer is made of polyester fleece.
14. The brassiere shoulder strap pad of claim 1, wherein said
bottom layer is a two bar tricot knit fabric.
15. The brassiere shoulder strap pad of claim 1, wherein said
cushion layer is made of a non-woven fiberfill web.
16. The brassiere shoulder strap pad of claim 1, wherein said
cushion layer is made of polyester.
17. The brassiere shoulder strap pad of claim 1, wherein said pad
assembly has an elongated oval shape.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a shoulder strap
pad. More particularly, the present invention relates to a
positionable or moveable shoulder strap pad for use in a brassiere
shoulder strap.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] A well known problem associated with a brassiere shoulder
strap is the discomfort caused by the strap on the shoulder of the
wearer. Specifically, each brassiere strap will normally cause
either a depression or irritation in the shoulder and may even
interfere with arterial or venous drainage. Numerous attempts have
been made to relieve this discomfort. Some attempts have included
use of shoulder pads of cotton or foam or rubber that are
interposed between the strap and the wearer's shoulder, and some
are releasably attachable to the strap.
[0005] Significantly, such pads have proven to be bulky and
unsightly. Also, there are inconveniences attendant with such
attachments since such pads will normally need to be removed, and
subsequently reattached, each time the brassiere is washed.
[0006] Some brassiere straps have attempted to incorporate a pad
structure in the strap itself. Such brassiere straps may have
achieved a modicum of success in relieving discomfort. However,
such brassieres have limited user life since they fail to maintain
their desired appearance after several machine washings apparently
due to the effect cleaning detergents have on the construction and
materials of the brassiere strap. For example, pads and straps made
of foam have been found to yellow after a few washings. It is also
common that brassieres that have incorporated a pad therein have a
knotted or bumpy appearance after repeated machine washings.
[0007] Other attempts to relieve discomfort, yet provide a modicum
of pleasing appearance, have included widening the shoulder strap
to better distribute the weight in the shoulder area. Still other
attempts have been to incorporate elastic bands with a padded cover
in the strap to provide more flexibility and thus attempt to better
distribute the pressure in the shoulder area.
[0008] All such attempts have, heretofore, failed to achieve the
desired results, namely relief of the discomfort in the shoulder
area, with a smooth attractive appearance that is maintained even
after repeated wear and machine washing. Thus, long wear life and
comfort have evaded prior art shoulder straps.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
shoulder strap pad that is movable along the shoulder strap of a
brassiere.
[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
shoulder strap pad that is positionable along the strap, and thus
anywhere along the shoulder of a wearer.
[0011] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide a shoulder strap pad that may be utilized by wearers of
varying body types.
[0012] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
a shoulder strap pad that has that conforms to the anatomy of the
shoulder area of the wearer.
[0013] It is a further object of the present invention is to
provide such a brassiere shoulder strap that has one and,
preferably, all of the following attributes: alleviates discomfort
and irritation of the shoulder area of the wearer, has a non-bulky,
aesthetic appearance, and has a long wear life.
[0014] These and other objects and advantages of the present
invention are achieved by a shoulder strap pad having a pad
assembly and a fabric cover. The fabric cover is connected to the
pad assembly along each side or axial edge by a binder to form an
opening or channel therebetween. The shoulder strap of the
brassiere is positioned in the channel formed by the fabric cover
and the pad assembly. The shoulder strap pad is movably
positionable anywhere along the shoulder strap of the brassiere,
thereby maximizing the comfort level provided to the wearer. The
fabric cover has a first end positioned toward the front of the
wearer and a second end positioned toward the back of the wearer.
The first or front end is cut along a diagonal on one end to
provide a larger opening for receipt of a brassiere shoulder strap.
This diagonal first end also facilitates easier movement of the
shoulder strap pad along the brassiere shoulder strap.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The objects and advantages of the present invention will
become more apparent from the following detailed description of the
present invention, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings
wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a front view of a brassiere having a pair of the
brassiere straps each incorporating the shoulder strap pad of the
present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the brassiere of FIG.
1;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a top view of the shoulder strap pad of FIG.
1;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the shoulder strap pad of FIG.
1;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the shoulder strap pad
taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Referring to the figures and, in particular, FIG. 1, there
is provided a brassiere generally represented by reference numeral
10. Brassiere 10 has a pair of breast cups 100 and a pair of
shoulder straps 150. Each shoulder strap 150 has positioned
thereon, as shown more clearly in FIG. 2, a shoulder strap pad 20
of the present invention. As seen in FIG. 2, brassiere 10 also has
a pair of back panels 125 each connected to a separate one of the
pair of breast cups 100.
[0022] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, shoulder strap pad 20 is made of
a fabric cover 200 and a pad assembly 300. Shoulder strap pad 20 is
preferably in the shape of an elongated oval. More preferably,
shoulder strap pad 20 is kidney shaped. The shape of shoulder strap
pad 20 deviates from the vertical plane created by a conventional
brassiere strap. This deviation permits the shoulder strap pad 20
to fit, as desired, in accordance with the contour or anatomy of
the shoulder of the wearer. Shoulder strap pad 20 has an outer
curve 260 and an inner curve 270. Shoulder strap pad 20 is
positioned on the shoulder of a wearer such that outer curve 260 is
directed toward the wearer's neck. This allows shoulder strap pad
20 to conform to the shape of the wearer's shoulder.
[0023] Fabric cover 200 is connected to pad assembly 300 along each
longitudinal edge by a binder 205. Referring to FIG. 5, binder 205
creates a channel or opening 230 between fabric cover 200 and pad
assembly 300. Channel 230 provides for receipt and movement along
of shoulder strap 150.
[0024] Fabric cover 200 has a first end 210 directed toward the
front of brassiere 10, and thus breast cups 100, and a second end
220 directed toward back panel 125. First end 210 of fabric cover
200 is cut along a diagonal so as to provide a larger than normal
front opening 240 for receipt of shoulder strap 150. Shoulder strap
150 does not consume all of front opening 240 so that it moves
easier through the front opening. Thus, front opening 240
facilitates easier movement of shoulder strap pad 20 along shoulder
strap 150.
[0025] Preferably, first end 210 of fabric cover 200 is cut at an
acute angle with respect to the axis of shoulder strap 150. This
angle is about 35 degrees to about 45 degrees, and preferably about
40 degrees. The diagonal may be angled either toward or away from
the breast of the wearer.
[0026] In this embodiment, rear end 220 of fabric cover 200 is cut
in a line that is almost perpendicular to the axis of shoulder
strap 150. Accordingly, rear end 220 creates a rear opening 250
with pad assembly 300 that is sized, as shown in FIG. 3, so that
there is very little space on either side of shoulder strap 150.
Accordingly, rear opening 250 acts as a guide for shoulder strap
150. With front opening 240 and rear opening 250, fabric cover 200
does not cover portion 330, 340 of pad assembly 300. Accordingly,
portions 330, 340 act as surfaces that absorb the initial movement
of shoulder strap 150 through shoulder strap pad 20 and, thus
avoids frictionally contacting the wearer's shoulder. Since
shoulder strap pad 20 is movably positionable along the axis of
shoulder strap 150, shoulder strap pad 20 can be positioned
anywhere along the shoulder of the wearer to provide the maximum
amount of comfort to the wearer.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 5, fabric cover 200 is made of a rigid
material, such as nylon or polyester or a combination of nylon and
polyester. Preferably, fabric cover 200 is made of one hundred
percent nylon.
[0028] Pad assembly 300 has three portions, namely a top layer 305,
a bottom layer 315, and a cushion layer 310 that is positioned
between top layer 305 and bottom layer 315. Preferably, top layer
305 is made of one hundred percent nylon. More preferably, top
layer 305 is made of a three bar tricot or knit marquisette fabric.
Bottom layer 315 forms the outer or bottom part of the shoulder
strap pad that contacts the skin of the wearer.
[0029] Preferably, bottom layer 315 is made of one hundred percent
polyester fleece. However, bottom layer 315 may be made of other
materials, for example cotton or nylon. More preferably, bottom
layer 315 is made of a two bar tricot knit fabric. Cushion layer
310 is made of a one hundred percent polyester non-woven fiber web,
marketed under the trade name Densafil.RTM..
[0030] The present invention provides relief from the normal
discomfort associated with shoulder straps, while maintaining the
desired aesthetic appearance even after repeated machine
washings.
[0031] The present invention having been thus described with
particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be
obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention as defined in the appended claims.
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