U.S. patent application number 12/306310 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-17 for brassiere.
This patent application is currently assigned to HUNKEMOLLER B.V.. Invention is credited to Augustinus Henricus Wilhelmus Marie Schlatmann.
Application Number | 20090233522 12/306310 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38542048 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090233522 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schlatmann; Augustinus Henricus
Wilhelmus Marie |
September 17, 2009 |
Brassiere
Abstract
The invention relates to a brassiere, comprising; two mutually
coupled cups, two back fastening straps which each connect to a
different longitudinal side of one or the two different cups and
which can be coupled releasably to each other on the sides remote
from the cups, and two shoulder straps which each engage on a
different upper side of one of the two different cups.
Inventors: |
Schlatmann; Augustinus Henricus
Wilhelmus Marie; (Uden, NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE WEBB LAW FIRM, P.C.
700 KOPPERS BUILDING, 436 SEVENTH AVENUE
PITTSBURGH
PA
15219
US
|
Assignee: |
HUNKEMOLLER B.V.
Hilversum
NL
|
Family ID: |
38542048 |
Appl. No.: |
12/306310 |
Filed: |
July 3, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
July 3, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/NL07/50326 |
371 Date: |
December 23, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
450/39 ; 450/58;
450/70; 450/79; 450/86 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41C 3/0057 20130101;
A41C 3/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
450/39 ; 450/86;
450/58; 450/70; 450/79 |
International
Class: |
A41C 3/00 20060101
A41C003/00; A41C 3/02 20060101 A41C003/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 3, 2006 |
NL |
2000124 |
Claims
1. A brassiere, comprising: two mutually coupled cups, two back
fastening straps which each connect to a different longitudinal
side of one of the two different cups and which can be coupled
releasably to each other on the sides remote from the cups, and two
shoulder straps which each engage on a different upper side of one
of the two different cups, wherein both shoulder straps are
connected on the sides remote from the cups to a back wrap, to
which back wrap one of two back wrap straps connects in each case
on two opposite longitudinal sides, and wherein the back wrap
straps can be releasably coupled to each other on the sides remote
from the back wrap, wherein an armhole part connects to the two
cups on each of the sides remote from each other, and that each of
the two back fastening straps, just as each of the two shoulder
straps, engages on an armhole part associated with the relevant
back fastening strap and the relevant shoulder strap.
2. The brassiere as claimed in claim 1, wherein the back wrap is
manufactured at least partially from an elastic material.
3. The brassiere as claimed in claim 2, wherein the back wrap is
elastic in a direction which connects the engaging position of a
back wrap strap on the back wrap to the engaging position of the
associated shoulder strap on the back wrap.
4. The brassiere as claimed in claim 1, wherein both armhole parts
are force-transmitting such that the transmission of force between
a back fastening strap and an associated shoulder strap is
substantially not transmitted to the associated cups.
5. The brassiere as claimed in claim 1, wherein a centre line
through a shoulder strap and a centre line through the associated
back wrap strap, both at the position of engagement on the back
wrap, enclose a mutual angle which is greater than 90.degree.,
preferably between 100 and 130.degree..
6. The brassiere as claimed in claim 1, wherein on the sides remote
from the back wrap the back wrap straps are located in a coupled
active position at a distance of less than 2 centimeters from the
underside of the cups.
7. The brassiere as claimed in claim 1, wherein the back fastening
straps are permanently connected to each other on the sides remote
from the cups.
8. The brassiere as claimed in any of claim 1, wherein the back
wrap straps can be coupled in a plurality of relative positions on
the sides remote from the back wrap.
9. The brassiere as claimed in claim 1, wherein the back wrap
straps can be coupled with a Velcro fastening on the sides remote
from the back wrap.
10. The brassiere as claimed in claim 1, wherein the back wrap
straps can be coupled with at least a single hook-eye fastening on
the sides remote from the back wrap.
11. The brassiere as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cups can be
coupled in mutually releasable manner.
12. The brassiere as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cups are
connected via a middle front part.
13. The brassiere as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cups connect
on the underside to a chest strap, which chest strap transposes on
both opposite longitudinal sides into the two back fastening
straps.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a brassiere according to
the preamble of claim 1.
[0002] Such a brassiere (also referred to as bra and bikini top)
has been known for a long time. When engaging in vigorous physical
exertion, particularly exertion wherein the female body undergoes
abrupt changes in speed, a conventional brassiere usually provides
insufficient support, or at least a limited support such that the
breasts can begin to move in irksome manner because of their mass
inertia. This is particularly the case during for instance sport
and dancing. Diverse brassieres therefore exist which provide an
increased measure of support. Such sports bras are generally
characterized in that they have an extra-tight fit compared to
conventional brassieres, optionally in combination with a
non-releasable coupling of the back fastening straps. A popular
type of the already existing sports bra thus has to be put on and
taken off over the head. The drawback of existing brassieres which
provide an increased measure of support to the breasts is that they
are generally less easy to put on and take off, and furthermore do
not often succeed in providing the required level of support. This
is of course more of a problem in the case of larger cup sizes.
[0003] The American patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,236 describes a
brassiere comprising two mutually coupled cups, two back fastening
straps which connect to a longitudinal side of one of the two
different cups and which can be releasably coupled to each other on
the sides remote from the cups, two shoulder straps which each
engage on a top side of one of the two different cups, which
shoulder straps connect to a back panel on the sides remote from
the cups. One of two back panel straps connects in each case to two
opposite longitudinal sides of the back panel, wherein the back
panel straps are releasably coupled on the side remote from the
back panel. While the brassiere described in this document is easy
to put on and take off, the wearer comfort of the brassiere leaves
something to be desired. When the back panel straps are firmly
tightened (tensioned), a great force will thus be exerted on the
breasts, which will result in considerable deformation (squeezing)
of the breasts, and so little wearer comfort. The present invention
has for its object to provide an improved brassiere of the type
stated in the preamble which combines a high measure of support to
the breasts with wearer comfort.
[0004] The present invention provides for this purpose a brassiere
as according to claim 1. For a further elucidation of the concept
of the present invention the individual components of the brassiere
and their associated functionality will be discussed. The cups are
designed such that they can each at least partially engage round a
breast. The best-fitting cup size will be chosen subject to the
size of specific breasts. The cups are urged against the breasts
with the back fastening straps; the back fastening straps are
mutually connected at the back by means of a suitable closing
mechanism. The shoulder straps hold the cups at the desired height
and provide a significant part of the forces required to support
the breasts. The back wrap is a component known in the prior art;
in the above mentioned publication however, the shoulder straps
generally connect to the back fastening straps, while in the
brassiere according to the present invention the back wrap is a
separate component of the brassiere which on the contrary does not
go together with the back fastening straps. The back wrap lies
against the back of a wearer of the present brassiere and is held
in place by, among others, the two back wrap straps. The back wrap
straps come from the back to the front side of the wearer such that
they can be coupled to each other (most advantageously under the
cups).
[0005] The back wrap straps now make it possible to support the
shoulder straps in simple manner without the forces running through
the shoulder straps being exerted on the cups; a specific
positioning of the breasts can thus be realized by means of the
cups without considerable force being exerted on the breasts, this
being undesirable because of wearer comfort. In the present
invention the force exerted by the shoulder straps is after all not
transmitted wholly through the cups. This is because armhole parts
are arranged for this purpose on the cups (n.b. on the arm side of
each of the two cups). A substantial part of the forces will now be
transmitted through these armhole parts between a shoulder strap
and a back fastening strap without the relevant cup hereby being
loaded. When the supporting action of the shoulder straps and the
position in which they position the cups are varied in simple
manner by tensioning the back wrap straps more tightly or less
tightly (i.e. the working length of the co-acting back wrap straps
is variable), the changing play of forces will be "perceived"
particularly by the armhole parts and not, or at least to a much
lesser extent, by the cups and the breasts held by the cups. A
significant advantage here is that forces transmitted through the
shoulder straps can now be absorbed very well while the supporting
action can be very readily adjusted by making the co-acting back
wrap straps (easily accessible on the front side of the wearer)
longer or shorter. The brassiere according to the invention is also
easy to put on and take off. Particularly after great exertion has
been made the brassiere can be unfastened on two sides, i.e. the
back fastening straps and the back wrap straps can be unfastened
from each other such that it is no longer necessary to displace
close-fitting parts of the brassiere over the (transpiring) body.
The brassiere according to the invention can therefore be applied
particularly advantageously while engaging in vigorous physical
exertion. The brassiere as described can further be given an
extremely comfortable form; wearing thereof does not therefore need
result in any hindrance to the wearer, while this advantage is
combined with the option of a very specific positioning of the
breasts. The armhole part thus prevents too heavy loading of the
cups locally and can engage on a cup on a large part of a
longitudinal side and thus further contribute toward an increased
measure of support for the breasts.
[0006] In a preferred variant of the brassiere the back wrap is
manufactured at least partially from an elastic material. The
direction in which the back wrap particularly advantageously has to
be elastic is in a direction which connects the engaging position
of a back wrap strap on the back wrap to the engaging position of
the associated shoulder strap on the back wrap. Such an elasticity
can absorb shocks during support of the breasts by the shoulder
straps and can thus be compared to a "damping" built into the
brassiere. The elasticity must not be too great that it thus
reduces the action of supporting the breasts too much. Other
components of the brassiere can also advantageously be manufactured
from an elastic material, such as more particularly the back
fastening straps and the shoulder straps. Other components are on
the other hand preferably manufactured with a less elastic or
non-elastic material; specifically the cups and the back wrap
straps are envisaged here. A further advantage of applying
resilient (elastic) material is that this results in a good fitting
of the brassiere on the body.
[0007] Both armhole parts are preferably embodied such that they
are force-transmitting during use. This is understood to mean that
the transmission of force between a back fastening strap and an
associated shoulder strap is substantially not transmitted to the
associated cups. Undesirable (excessive or considerable)
deformation of the cups, also resulting in a deformation of the
breasts held in the cups, can thus be prevented. Both armhole parts
may for this purpose be given only limited resilience, or even none
at all.
[0008] It is noted in respect of all materials used that they can
advantageously be manufactured from breathing and/or
moisture-absorbing fabrics. Use can of course also be made of
layered materials in order to thus enable the function of the
individual material layers to be optimized for their specific
use.
[0009] It is also advantageous if a centre line through a shoulder
strap and a centre line through the associated back wrap strap,
both at the position of engagement on the back wrap, enclose a
mutual angle which is greater than 90.degree., preferably between
100 and 130.degree.. A desired play of forces can hereby be
obtained, as a result of which a substantial part of the forces
exerted by the shoulder straps on the cups (and breasts) are
transmitted via the back wrap to the back wrap straps. This
considerably enhances wearer comfort, particularly in circumstances
where considerable forces are transmitted through the shoulder
straps.
[0010] It is also desirable that on the sides remote from the back
wrap the back wrap straps are located in a coupled active position
at a distance of less than 2 centimetres from the underside of the
cups. In this way the back wrap straps are used not only to absorb
a considerable part of the forces transmitted through the shoulder
straps, but also function as a support for the cups (breasts).
[0011] In yet another alternative embodiment variant the back
fastening straps are permanently connected to each other on the
sides remote from the cups; they can even be embodied as a single
material part. Putting on and taking off the brassiere will be less
easy with such a construction, but the embodiment thereof is also
simpler. This embodiment variant of the brassiere according to the
invention differs to a lesser extent from the existing sports bras
than the embodiment variant with a releasable coupling of the back
fastening straps, but is however still very different. The presence
of the back wrap with the back wrap straps fixed on two opposite
longitudinal sides also makes this brassiere wholly different from
the existing one. The advantages of an improved support and a
readily adjustable support (by means of adjusting the coupling of
the back wrap straps) also result in this embodiment variant
realizing the advantages sought after according to the
invention.
[0012] The back wrap straps can preferably be coupled in a
plurality of relative positions on the sides remote from the back
wrap. The coupling of the back wrap straps can for instance consist
of a velcro fastening and/or an at least single hook-eye fastening.
Such fastenings are easy to operate, certainly on the front of the
female body. A velcro fastening even makes possible a continually
adjustable length, so that exactly the correct support of the
shoulder straps can be adjusted. Conversely, a hook-eye fastening
has the advantage that it can be readily fastened in fixed discrete
positions and that it is little susceptible to wear.
[0013] In yet another embodiment variant the cups can be coupled in
mutually releasable manner. In addition to the advantage that it
thus becomes simple to (temporarily) leave clear one or both
breasts, for instance for the purpose of breast-feeding, the
brassiere can thus also be divided into two completely separate
components. This can be advantageous in the manufacture, washing
and repair of the brassiere. Furthermore, brassiere parts of
different sizes can be combined as required, for instance in the
case the brassiere is used with a non-symmetrical female body.
[0014] The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of the
non-limitative exemplary embodiments shown in the following figures
Herein:
[0015] FIGS. 1A-1D show four different perspective views of a
brassiere according to the present invention,
[0016] FIG. 2 shows the brassiere as in FIGS. 1A-1D in removed
position, and
[0017] FIGS. 3A-E show five successive stages in putting on the
brassiere as in the foregoing figures.
[0018] FIGS. 1A-1D show a brassiere 1 on a display FIG. 2.
Brassiere 1 is provided with two cups 3, 4, to the longitudinal
sides of which connect respective armhole parts 5, 6. On the top
side the armhole parts 5, 6 transpose into respective shoulder
straps 7, 8. The cups are mutually connected via a middle front
part 9 while a chest strap 10, less clearly discernible in these
figures, is situated under cups 3, 4. Shoulder straps 7, 8
transpose into a back wrap 11, this back wrap 11 in turn
transposing on the longitudinal sides into back wrap straps 12, 13.
Back wrap straps 12, 13 are mutually connected on the front side
with a velcro fastening 14 such that the supporting force exerted
by shoulder straps 7, 8 on cups 3, 4 can be regulated. Chest strap
10 transposes on the two opposite longitudinal sides into back
fastening straps 15, 16. These back fastening straps 15, 16 are
releasably coupled on the back of display FIG. 2 with a back
fastening 17 (of the hook-eye type). The parts of brassiere 1 shown
darker in this FIG. are manufactured from an elastic material, and
the lighter parts are manufactured from a material which is less
elastic or not elastic at all. It is noted that this relates only
to a single embodiment variant; it is possible to opt for differing
choices of material or alternative design. It is finally noted that
shoulder straps 7, 8 are still provided with more traditional
length adjusting means 18, 19.
[0019] All the stated parts can be seen clearly in the divested
brassiere 1 shown in FIG. 2. It will be apparent that being able to
fully unfasten the back fastening straps 15, 16 and back wrap
straps 12, 13 simplifies putting on and taking off brassiere 1.
Velcro fastening 14 has now been taken apart into two velcro
fastening parts 14A and 14B, while back fastening 17 has been
unfastened into two back fastening parts 17A and 17B.
[0020] FIGS. 3A-3E show the successive stages of putting on
brassiere 1. In FIG. 3A a model 20 shows the placing of back wrap
11 over the head 21, whereby shoulder straps 7, 8 can be placed on
shoulders 22, 23 on either side of head 21. Cups 3, 4 are now
situated in front of the breasts and back wrap 11 is situated at
the back of model 20. In FIGS. 3B and 3C the back fastening straps
15, 16 are tightened such that back fastening parts 17A and 17B can
be coupled to each other. Once the back fastening parts 17A and 17B
have been coupled, the back wrap straps 12, 13 can, as shown in
FIG. 3D, be moved to the chest side and there fixed relative to
each other by coupling the velcro fastening parts 14A and 14B at a
desired relative position. This final stage of putting on brassiere
1 is shown in FIG. 3E, where tightening of the velcro fastening
parts 14A and 14B is almost completed.
* * * * *