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).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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:

(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.

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

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which:

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;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the clip of the preferred embodiment, and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the clip of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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”.

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.