U.S. patent application number 11/816183 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-27 for brassiere strap clip.
Invention is credited to Nicole L. Brideson.
Application Number | 20090215360 11/816183 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36916102 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090215360 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brideson; Nicole L. |
August 27, 2009 |
BRASSIERE STRAP CLIP
Abstract
The present invention discloses a brassiere strap clip (20)
having three first fingers (31, 32, 33) joined at a first base (21)
and all pointing in a first direction, three second fingers (41,
42, 43) joined at a second base (22) and pointing in a second
direction opposite to the first direction, and a pair of joining
members (23, 24) extending between the first and second bases (21,
22) with each joining member (23, 24) being positioned between a
corresponding pair of the first and second fingers (31, 32, 33, 41,
42, 43). Furthermore, a method of modifying the rest position of
shoulder straps (6, 7) of a brassiere (2) is disclosed whereby the
method includes the step of applying an inwardly directed force to
each shoulder strap (6, 7) substantially mid way between the
shoulder and the point of rear attachment (9) of each strap (6, 7)
to the brassiere back strap (4).
Inventors: |
Brideson; Nicole L.;
(Ashmore, AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CONNOLLY BOVE LODGE & HUTZ LLP
1875 EYE STREET, N.W., SUITE 1100
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Family ID: |
36916102 |
Appl. No.: |
11/816183 |
Filed: |
January 23, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
January 23, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AU2006/000074 |
371 Date: |
August 15, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
450/86 ; 2/323;
450/92 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B 11/04 20130101;
A41F 15/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
450/86 ; 450/92;
2/323 |
International
Class: |
A41C 3/00 20060101
A41C003/00; A41F 19/00 20060101 A41F019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 15, 2005 |
AU |
2005900690 |
Claims
1. A brassiere strap clip comprising three first fingers joined at
a first base and all pointing in a first direction, three second
fingers joined at a second base and pointing in a second direction
opposite to said first direction, and a pair of joining members
extending between said first and second bases with each joining
member being positioned between a corresponding pair of said first
and second fingers.
2. The clip as defined in claim 1 wherein said joining members are
substantially longer than said fingers thereby defining a gap
between the opposed tips of the first fingers and the second
fingers.
3. The clip as defined in claim 1 wherein said fingers and joining
members are substantially parallel.
4. The clip as defined in claim 1 wherein said fingers and joining
members are arranged in the sequence: initial first and second
fingers, first joining member, middle first and second fingers,
second joining member and last first and second fingers.
5. A method of modifying the rest position of the shoulder straps
of a brassiere, and method comprising the step of: (i) joining said
straps with a clip to thereby apply an inwardly directed force to
each said shoulder strap substantially mid way between the shoulder
and the point of rear attachment of each strap to the brassiere
back strap.
6. The method as defined in claim 5 comprising the further step of:
(ii) releasably clipping said shoulder strap mid way locations
together.
7. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein said shoulder straps
are intertwined with spaced apart fingers of a clip device.
8. The method as defined in claim 7 wherein said clip has first
fingers pointing in a first direction and second fingers pointing
in an opposing direction, one of said shoulder straps is
intertwined with said first fingers and the other of said shoulder
straps is intertwined with said second fingers.
9. A brassiere modified in accordance with the method of any one of
claims 5.
10. The clip as defined in claim 2 wherein said fingers and joining
members are substantially parallel.
11. The clip as defined in claim 2 wherein said fingers and joining
members are arranged in the sequence: initial first and second
fingers, first joining member, middle first and second fingers,
second joining member and last first and second fingers.
12. The clip as defined in claim 3 wherein said fingers and joining
members are arranged in the sequence: initial first and second
fingers, first joining member, middle first and second fingers,
second joining member and last first and second fingers.
13. A brassiere modified in accordance with the method of claim
6.
14. A brassiere modified in accordance with the method of claim
7.
15. A brassiere modified in accordance with the method of claim 8.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to brassieres and, in
particular, to the modification of the rest position of the
shoulder straps of a brassiere so as to hide same when the
brassiere is worn with garments having an enlarged armhole.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Conventional brassieres have a pair of cups and a back strap
which extends around the upper torso of the wearer. Two shoulder
straps are provided which extend from the top of each cup over the
shoulder of the wearer and join the back strap at a rear
attachment. Normally the shoulder strap is sewn into position so
that in its rest position the shoulder strap lies just inside the
arm hole of a sleeveless garment such as a sleeveless frock. As a
consequence, when such garment is worn, the shoulder strap in its
rest position is unable to be seen by an observer standing behind
the wearer.
[0003] However, some garments such as tank tops, sporting blouses,
and the like are provided with an enlarged arm hole to provide for
a maximum degree of freedom of movement of the wearer during
sporting activity, for example. A drawback of such a sporting
garment is that the shoulder straps of a conventional brassiere are
able to be observed from the rear because of the enlarged arm hole.
Many women regard this as unsightly or unseemly and therefore feel
obliged to buy a special purposed brassiere in which the shoulder
straps are differently placed so as to not to be able to be seen
when worn with such a garment.
[0004] Prior art searches conducted after the priority date have
disclosed U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,853 (Hopson) and U.S. Pat. No.
6,163,937 (McKinnis et al) and U.S. Design Pat. No. 383,888
(Smith). All these arrangements disclose an adjustable strap which
is substantially horizontal in use and is used to draw the shoulder
straps of a conventional brassiere together. Such arrangements are
inherently awkward and difficult to apply and adjust.
GENESIS OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The genesis of the present invention lies in a desire to
provide a means of preventing the shoulder straps of a conventional
brassiere being seen whilst wearing a garment with enlarged arm
holes thereby avoiding the need to purchase a special purpose
brassiere.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention,
there is disclosed a brassiere strap clip comprising three first
fingers joined at a first base and all pointing in a first
direction, three second fingers joined at a second base and
pointing in a second direction opposite to said first direction,
and a pair of joining members extending between said first and
second bases with each joining member being positioned between a
corresponding pair of said first and second fingers.
[0007] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention,
there is disclosed a method of modifying the rest position of the
shoulder straps of a brassiere, said method comprising the step
of:
[0008] (i) joining said straps with a clip to thereby apply an
inwardly directed force to each said shoulder strap substantially
mid way between the shoulder and the point of rear attachment of
each strap to the brassiere back strap.
[0009] In according to a third aspect of the present invention,
there is disclosed a brassiere modified in accordance with the
abovementioned method.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be
described with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the rear of a woman
wearing a conventional brassiere to which a clip of the preferred
embodiment has been attached;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the clip of the preferred
embodiment, and
[0013] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the clip of FIGS. 1 and 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] As seen in the drawings, a woman 1 is illustrated wearing a
brassiere 2 having a cup 3 and a back strap 4. Two shoulder straps
6, 7 are provided which respectively extend from the upper
extremity (not illustrated) of the corresponding cup 3 to the rear
attachments 9, 10 of the shoulder straps 6, 7 to the back strap
4.
[0015] For the left shoulder strap 6, illustrated by broken lines
in FIG. 1 is the rest position 6A of the shoulder strap 6 without
the presence of the clip 20. Also illustrated by broken lines in
FIG. 1 is the position of the conventional armhole 16 of a
sleeveless garment such as a sleeveless frock, or the like. It will
be seen that since the armhole 16 is to the left of the rest
position 6A of the shoulder strap 6, the shoulder strap 6 is
normally obscured from view as intended by the manufacturers of the
conventional brassiere 2.
[0016] However, also illustrated in FIG. 1 by means of a dot-dash
line 18 is the approximate position of an enlarged arm hole such as
is present on a tank top, athletic singlet, sporting blouse or a
like sleeveless garment intended for athletic pursuits. Since the
shoulder strap in the rest position 6A extends to the left the
enlarged arm hole 18, the shoulder strap in the rest position 6A is
visible from the rear through the arm hole 18 when the conventional
brassiere is worn.
[0017] In order to prevent the shoulder straps 6, 7 being seen
through the enlarged arm holes 18, the clip 20 as illustrated in
FIGS. 1 to 3 is intertwined or interengaged with the shoulder
straps 6, 7 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0018] As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the clip 20 is provided with two
curved bases 21, 22 between which extend two joining members 23,
24. Interspersed with and substantially parallel to, the two
joining members 23, 24 are three left hand fingers, 31, 32 and 33
and three right hand fingers 41, 42 and 43. The clip 20 is
preferably moulded from plastics material so that the fingers 31 to
33, 41 to 43 are relatively strong and yet resilient.
[0019] In order to engage the clip 20 with the left shoulder strap
6, the shoulder strap 6 is first formed into a U-shaped
configuration and bight of the U-shaped is passed under the middle
left hand finger 32. Then the arms of the U-shaped are bent over
and passed under the top left hand finger 31 and the bottom left
hand finger 33 respectively. Next, this procedure is repeated for
the right shoulder strap 7 and the right hand fingers 41 to 43.
Thereafter, with the back strap 4 undone, the head of the woman 1
can be passed between the shoulder straps 6 and 7, the cups of the
brassiere placed over the breasts, and the back strap 4 done up to
arrive at the position as illustrated in FIG. 1. This procedure is
reversed when undressing.
[0020] Alternatively, the straps 6 and 7 can be intertwined with
the clip 20 in the reverse manner from that illustrated in FIG. 1.
In this procedure the U-shaped bight of the strap is first passed
over the middle finger (32 or 42) and then under the joining
members 23 and 24 and over the top fingers 31 and 41 and over the
bottom fingers 33 and 43. As a consequence, the view of the clip 20
is the reverse of that illustrated in FIG. 1. This configuration
has the advantage that the clip 20 is less visible through
lightweight fabrics.
[0021] It will be apparent to those skilled in relation to female
undergarments that the clip 20 can be manufactured for a small cost
and enables the woman to avoid the purchase of special purpose
brassiere for use with garments having enlarged arm holes 18.
Instead the conventional brassiere can be modified to hide the
shoulder straps, not withstanding the increased size of the arm
holes 18. An additional benefit of the clip 20 is that it
effectively shortens the length of the straps 6, 7 slightly thereby
elevating the cups 3 in a way which flatters the feminine
figure.
[0022] The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present
invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art,
can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present
invention. For example, the clip 20 can be fabricated in two pieces
which snap engage with each other.
[0023] The term "comprising" (and its grammatical variations) as
used herein is used in the inclusive sense of "including" or
"having" and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only
of".
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