BRA WITH POCKETS

Abstract

A bra comprising first and second layers. The first layer having front, rear, left and right sides, and a top and bottom. The second layer is attached to the front side of the first layer. The second layer defines first and second cup shaped portions, the first and second cup shaped portions and the front side of the first layer defines first and second pockets. The front side of the first layer is responsive to a wearer's breasts such that a wearer's breasts are accommodated by the first and second cup shaped portions. The front side of the first layer is sandwiched between the wearer's breasts and the first and second cup portions of the second layer.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to an article of clothing. More particularly, this invention is directed to an article of clothing which is a bra (brassiere) having a structure suited for carrying articles such as keys, identification cards, and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,280 discloses a surgical brassier having a first pocket with an opening for receiving a front breast prosthesis and a second pocket with an opening for receiving a side prosthesis. The second pocket is disposed in overlapping relation to the first pocket such that any tab on the front prosthesis in the first pocket which extends out of the first pocket opening will be covered by the second pocket to prevent contact of the prosthesis tab with the skin of the wearer.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,205 discloses a brassiere (bra) having concealed pockets which are configured and sized for adaptability to breast variations and cup configurations. The concealed closable pockets are configured and sized to dwell within the upper section of each brassiere cup, having upper and lower sheet portions folded over and stitched together. The pocket opening is designed with an inner lip portion, which is reinforced and includes fasteners, such as VELCRO® fastener strips to secure enclosed valuables in the pocket.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,174,217 discloses an undergarment that comprises a skin-contacting panel and an outer sheer panel which define a pocket therebetween. The pocket is adapted for interchangeably receiving an insert wherein the insert can be seen through the sheer panel. Inserts are provided in a variety of colors, appearances, or scents for placement into the undergarments to change the decorative scheme of the undergarment. Attachments may also be provided that comprise button covers or bows which are attached to the undergarments, wherein the attachments preferably match the color of a particular insert.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,761 discloses a sports bra with a storage pouch. The '761 bra includes a pair of cups joined by a cleavage portion between the proximate edges of the cups and a back strap portion between the distal edges of the cups. The cups and cleavage portion are made of cloth having substantially universal elasticity so as to provide adequate support. A rectangular panel made of cloth having substantially universal elasticity is fastened along its bottom and side edges to an inside wall of the cleavage portion of the bra to form a storage pouch of approximately credit card dimensions. A plurality of short hook and loop segments extending substantially fully across the upper inside edge of the panel with mating segments of hook and loop material oppositely fixed along the inside wall of the cleavage portion of the bra allows the pouch to be completely sealed while still affording the desired universal elasticity. Preferably, the panel is made of back-to-back pieces of cloth with the inner one being non-absorbent and the cleavage portion is also made of back-to-back pieces of cloth with the inner one being non-absorbent so as to allow the sports bra to be fully absorbent along its body contact surfaces and yet provide a no-absorbent storage pouch to protect its contents. A flat member may be disposed between the panel cloths to stiffen the storage pouch.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,364,491 discloses a combination sports bra and secure pocket garment having a front mounted three section pocket with a single zipper closure. A cord hole in the pocket and a cord loop on the bra enables a cord to be retained from an electronic device in the closed pocket to a headset on the wearer.

U.S. Design Patent No. D529,259 shows a brassiere (bra) includes storage. pockets to hold valuables such as money, keys, and jewelry.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,234,996 discloses a brassiere with two breast-receiving cups each having an inner breast-receiving surface and an opposing outer surface. A pocket component is affixed to the outer surface of one of the breast-receiving cups. The pocket component opposes a portion of the outer surface of the one of the breast-receiving cups. The pocket component and the portion of the outer surface of the one of the breast-receiving cups forms a storage space having a first shape and an opening into the storage space. A substrate, having a second shape, is disposed in the storage space and is capable of accepting writing applied thereto by a writing instrument, in which the substrate is removable from the storage space through the opening. The second shape of the substrate conforms substantially to the first shape of the storage space.

There is a need for an article of clothing for conveniently and securely storing needed personal articles such as keys and credit cards and the like. In particular, there is a need for a brassiere (bra) for conveniently and securely storing needed personal articles such as keys and credit cards and the like.

It is accordingly a problem in the prior art to provide a brassiere (bra) for conveniently and securely storing needed personal articles such as keys and credit cards and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a bra according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the bra of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bra of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a section view with respect to line 3-3 shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bra of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a section view with respect to line 4-4 shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an environmental section view based on the section view shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a section view with respect to line 5-5 shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is an environmental section view based on the section view shown in FIG. 8.

FIGS. 10 through 12 show various views of an optional snap device according to the invention.

FIGS. 13A, 13B and 13C show Table 1.

FIG. 14 shows a rear perspective view of a bra according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14A shows a personal item stored in a pouch of the bra shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 15 shows an exploded view of the bra of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 shows a perspective top view of the bra of FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 shows a perspective front view of the bra of FIG. 14.

FIG. 18 is a section view with respect to line 3a-3a shown in FIG. 17.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A bra comprising first and second layers. The first layer having front, rear, left and right sides, and a top and bottom. The second layer is attached to the front side of the first layer. The second layer defines first and second cup shaped portions, the first and second cup shaped portions and the front side of the first layer defines first and second pockets. The front side of the first layer is responsive to a wearer's breasts such that a wearer's breasts are accommodated by the first and second cup shaped portions. The front side of the first layer is sandwiched between the wearer's breasts and the first and second cup portions of the second layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION dddddddddddddddddddddddddd

This invention is directed to an article of clothing. More particularly, this invention is directed to an article of clothing which is a brassiere (bra), having a structure suited for carrying articles such as keys, identification cards, and the like. The terms “brassiere” and “bra” are hereinafter regarded as equivalent terms. The bra of the present invention is denoted generally by the numeric label “100”.

Referring to FIG. 1 with regard to which the meaning of the numbers and labels shown in FIG. 1 are described in Table 1. FIG. 1 shows an environmental, perspective view of a bra 100 according to the invention, which is shown being worn by a wearer 120. The bra 100 includes first and second pockets 160 and 180, which enable a wearer 120 to safely carry personal items, such as the illustrated item 140, while enjoying firm support. The bra 100 has an unusual design feature wherein the first and second pockets 160 and 180, and in particular first and second cup shaped portions 200 and 220 as described below, also function as bra cups. The first and second pockets 160 and 180 respectively define first and second openings 184 and 186.

The bra 100 has an optional snap device 190 for supporting a personal item 140 or for holding a key ring 191 or the like, as shown in FIGS. 10-12. The optional snap 190 includes a body portion 192 having first and second opposite ends 193a and 193b. First and second cooperating snap members 194 and 196 are respectively located at first and second opposite ends 193a and 193b. The optional snap device 190, and more particularly body portion 192, can be bent back to form a loop shape 197. The optional snap device 190 can be affixed to the bra 100 by any known means such as stitching or use of adhesive glue. One of the cooperating snap members 194 or 196 can be inserted through the first layer 400 at, for example, the side 400s2. For example, cooperating snap member 194 can be inserted through first layer 400 at side 400s2, wherein snap member 194 is held in place by attaching cooperating snap member 196 to cooperating snap member 194. The optional snap device 190 is shown in FIGS. 10 through 12.

Referring generally to the Figures with regard to which the meaning of numbers and labels shown in the Figures are described in Table 1 (see FIGS. 13A, 13B and 13C). The bra defines front 240, rear 260, left 280 and right 300 sides as viewed looking directly at the front side 240. The bra 100 further defines top 320 and bottom 340 ends, and includes first 360 and second 380 shoulder straps. The bra 100 comprises first and second layers 400 and 420. The alpha-numeric labels “400f” and “400r” merely refer to the front and rear portions of the first layer 400, i.e., the front and rear portions 400f and 400r are integral with and form part of the first layer 400. In FIG. 3 the first 360 and second 380 shoulder straps form part of, and are integral with, the first layer 400. However, the shoulder straps 360 and 380 can be separate components attached to the first layer 400 by any suitable method such as stitching. The first layer defines a top 400t and bottom 400b (see FIG. 2) which can coincide with the top 320 and bottom 340 ends of the bra 100. The first layer 400 extends around the bra 100 to form the rear side 260, and the left and right sides 280 and 300 of the bra 100 (see, for example, FIG. 4). The first layer 400 defines an outer-surface 440 and an inner-surface 460; for convenience the outer-surface 440 of the first layer 400 at the front 240 of the bra 100 is designated by the alpha-numeric label “440f”, and the inner-surface of the first layer at the rear 260 of the bra 100 is designated the alpha-numeric label “460r”. The second layer 420 is attached to the outer-surface 440f of the first layer 400 thereby in combination defining the front side 240 of bra 100; see, e.g., FIGS. 3 and 2. The second layer 420 can be attached to the outer surface 440f by any suitable means such as, but not limited to, stitching. The second layer 420 defines first and second cup shaped portions 200 and 220. First and second breast cups 200 and 220 respectively define exterior surfaces 480 and 500 and interior surfaces 520 and 540. The interior surfaces 520 and 540 form part of the outer-surface 440f of the first layer 400. An optional sewn seam 410 can be applied to separate the first and second pockets 160 and 180, as shown in FIG. 12.

When worn the wearer's breasts 120b and 120c press up against the first layer 400 and more particularly against the inner-surface 460f at the front side 400f of first layer 400. The materials of the front side 400f of the bra 100 is sufficiently flexible and lose to allow the wearer's breasts to push into the first and second breast cups 200 and 220 albeit separated from the cups 200 and 220 by the front side 400f of first layer 400 (see FIGS. 6 through 9). The first and second cups 200 and 220 can be any suitable size such as full cup size, three-quarter cup size or half-cup size.

It is preferred, but not essential, that the second layer 420 extends across and beyond both wearer's breasts 120b and 120c. In one embodiment the second layer 420 lacks optional sewn seam 410 thus allowing the wearer 120 to place lengthy personal items that extend between the first and second pockets 160 and 180.

In one embodiment the bra 100 comprises first and second layers 400 and 420, the first layer 400 having front 400f, rear 400r, left and right sides 400s1 and 400s2, top and bottom ends 400t and 400b. The bra 100 has top and bottom ends 320 and 340 ends; bottom and top ends 320 and 340 respectively define and coincide with the top 400t and bottom 400b ends of the first layer 400. The second layer 420 is attached to the front side 400f of the first layer 400, the second layer 420 defines first and second cup shaped portions 200 and 220. The first and second cup shaped portions 200 and 220 are located opposite the front side 400f. The first and second cup shaped portions 200 and 220 in combination with the front side 400f of the first layer 400 respectively define first and second pockets 160 and 180.

The first and second pockets 160 and 180 respectively include first and second openings 184 and 186. The front side 400f of the first layer 400 being responsive to a wearer's breasts 120b and 120c such that a wearer's breasts are accommodated by the first and second cup shaped portions 200 and 220. The front side 400f of the first layer is continuously disposed without interruption across the wearer's breasts 120b and 120c and opposite the first and second cup portions 200 and 220. The front side 400f is sufficiently flexible to allow a wearer's breasts 120b and 120c to flow into the first and second cup shaped portions 200 and 220 defined by the second layer 420 without coming into direct contact with the first and second cup portions 200 and 220.

The first layer 400 is continuously present between both of the wearer's breasts and the first and second cup shaped portions 200 and 220. More specifically, the term “continuously present” in the context of the first layer 400 is intended to mean that the front side 400f forms a layer between both of the wearer's breasts and the first and second cup shaped portions 200 and 220. Put another way, the front side 400f is sandwiched between the wearer's breasts and said first and second cup portions 200 and 220.

Another embodiment the bra is shown in FIGS. 14 through 18 with regard to which the meaning of numbers and labels are found in FIG. 13C, which forms part of Table 1. In this embodiment, a bra 100a is a two piece bra with a second layer 420a is stitched inside a first layer 400a as shown, for example, by the exploded view of FIG. 15. An optional snap device 190a is shown attached on the inner-surface 460af of the first layer 400a as shown, for example, in FIG. 14A. The optional snap device 190a is typically used to hold one or more keys.

The invention being thus described, it will be evident that the same may be varied in many ways by a routineer in the applicable arts. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A bra comprising:

a first layer and a second layer, said first layer comprises a front side, a rear side, a left side, a right side and top and bottom ends, said second layer is attached to the front side of said first layer, said second layer defining first and second cup shaped portions, said first and second cup shaped portions and said front side of said first layer defining first and second pockets, said front side of said first layer being responsive to a wearer's breasts such that a wearer's breasts are accommodated by said first and second said cup shaped portions wherein said front side is sandwiched between the wearer's breasts and said first and second cup portions;

a first shoulder strap; and

a second shoulder strap.

2. The bra according to claim 1 further comprising a snap device for supporting a personal item.

3. The bra according to claim 1 further comprising a snap device for supporting a personal item, said snap device comprising a body portion having first and second opposite ends, wherein first and second cooperating snap members are respectively located at first and second opposite ends of said body portion of said snap device.

4. A bra comprising:

a first layer and a second layer, said first layer comprises a front side, a rear side, a left side, a right side and top and bottom ends, said front side of said first layer defines an inner-surface, said second layer is attached to the inner-surface of said front side of said first layer, said front side of said first layer and said second layer defining a pouch, wherein a snap device for holding one or more keys is attached to the inner-surface of said front side of said first layer;

a first shoulder strap; and

a second shoulder strap.