METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED BRA
A bra including first and second breast portion each having a top and a bottom, and a junction section which is substantially smaller than the first and second breast portions. In at least one embodiment, the junction section connects the top of the first breast portion to the top of the second breast portion, and there is an open area from the junction section to the bottom of the first and second breast portions; and the open area is substantially greater than the junction section. The bra may further include first, second, third, and fourth straps, which are connected at their first ends to left side at the top of the first breast portion, right side at the top of the first breast portion, left side at the top of the second breast portion, and right side at the top of the second breast portion, respectively.
This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus concerning bras.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThere are various devices known in the prior art for bras.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAt least one embodiment of the present invention provides a bra comprising a first breast portion having a top and a bottom, a second breast portion having a top and a bottom, and a junction section which is substantially smaller than the first breast portion and the second breast portion. In at least one embodiment, the junction section connects the top of the first breast portion to the top of the second breast portion, and there is an open area from the junction section to the bottom of the first breast portion and the second breast portion, and the open area is substantially greater than the junction section.
The bra may further include a first strap, which is connected at its first end to a left side at the top of the first breast portion, a second strap which is connected at its first end to a right side at the top of the first breast portion, a third strap which is connected at its first end to a left side at the top of the second breast portion, and a fourth strap which is connected at its first end to a right side at the top of the second breast portion.
The first strap may have a second end which is opposite its first end, and wherein the first strap is connected at its second end to a second end of the second strap, wherein the second end of the second strap is opposite its first end. The third strap may have a second end which is opposite its first end, and wherein the third strap is connected at its second end to a second end of the fourth strap, wherein the second end of the fourth strap is opposite its first end.
In at least one embodiment a method is provided which includes placing a bra on a woman's body, wherein the bra includes a first breast portion having a top and a bottom, a second breast portion having a top and a bottom, and a junction section which is substantially smaller than the first breast portion and the second breast portion; and wherein the junction section connects the top of the first breast portion to the top of the second breast portion, there is an open area from the junction section to the bottom of the first breast portion and the second breast portion, and the open area is substantially greater than the junction section. The bra may have other features as previously described.
In order to wear the bra 1, a woman would put her right arm through the opening 24a, put her left arm through the opening 24b, and attach hook 22a to hook 22b around her back. With the right and left arm inserted through the openings 24a and 24b, respectively, and the hooks 22a and 22b connected around the woman's back, the strap portions 28a and 28b should be made to rest on the woman's right and left shoulders, respectively, and the woman's right and left breasts should be placed in the cups 4a and 4b, respectively.
The bra 1 includes a gap or open area 30, which is substantially larger than the junction section 10. The double strap configuration on each side, i.e. straps 8a and 14a on one side and straps 8b and 14b on the other side, allow the use of a small and/or narrow junction 10 to join the right side or cup 4a with the left side or cup 4b, which allows the formation of the gap 30. The gap 30 prevents the bra 1 from contacting a scar or stitches from a surgery, or from contacting an injured or sensitive area on the body of a woman who is wearing the bra 1.
In order to wear the bra 100, a woman would put her right arm through the opening 118a, put her left arm through the opening 118b, and attach hook 112a to hook 112b around her back. With the right and left arm inserted through the openings 118a and 118b, respectively, and the hooks 112a and 112b connected around the woman's back, the strap portions 120a and 120b should be made to rest on the woman's right and left shoulders, respectively, and the woman's right and left breasts should be placed in the cups 102a and 102b, respectively.
The bra 100 includes a gap 116. The double strap configuration on each side, i.e. straps 110a and 108a on one side and straps 108b and 110b on the other side, allow the use of a small and/or narrow junction 114 to join the right side or cup 102a with the left side or cup 102b, which allows the formation of the gap 116. The gap 116 prevents the bra 100 from contacting a scar or stitches from a surgery, or from contacting an injured or sensitive area on the body of a woman who is wearing the bra 100.
A woman may put in right and left arms through openings, not shown, similar or identical to openings 24a and 24b of
Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of the present invention's contribution to the art.
Claims
1. A bra comprising:
- a first strap having a first end and an opposing second end;
- a second strap having a first end and an opposing second end;
- a third strap having a first end and an opposing second end;
- a fourth strap having a first end and an opposing second end;
- a first cup;
- a second cup;
- a first strap portion;
- a second strap portion;
- wherein the first end of the first strap and the first end of the second strap are connected together at the first strap portion;
- wherein the first end of the third strap and the first end of the fourth strap are connected together at the second strap portion;
- wherein the second end of the first strap and the second end of the second strap are spaced apart from each other and the first cup is between the second end of the first strap and the second end of the second strap;
- wherein the second end of the third strap and the second end of the fourth strap are spaced apart from each other and the second cup is between the second end of the third strap and the second end of the fourth strap;
- wherein the first strap portion is spaced apart from the first cup; and
- wherein the second strap portion is spaced apart from the second cup.
2. The bra of claim 1
- wherein the first strap portion is configured to rest on a first shoulder of a woman while a first breast of the woman is located in the first cup, and simultaneously the second strap portion is configured to rest on a second shoulder of the woman while a second breast of the woman is located in the second cup.
3. The bra of claim 1 further comprising
- a first opening located in a region delineated by the the first strap, the second strap, and the first cup; and
- a second opening located in a region delineated by the third strap, the fourth strap, and the second cup.
4. A method comprising
- connecting a first end of a first strap of a bra and a first end of a second strap of the bra at a first strap portion of the bra;
- connecting a first end of a third strap of the bra and a first end of a fourth strap of the bra at a second strap portion of the bra;
- connecting a second end of the first strap, which is opposite the first end of the first strap, and a second end of the second strap, which is opposite the first end of the second strap, to a first cup of the bra so that the second end of the first strap and the second end of the second strap are spaced apart and the first cup is between the second end of the first strap and the second end of the second strap, and spaced apart from the first strap portion; and
- connecting a second end of the third strap, which is opposite the first end of the third strap, and a second end of the fourth strap, which is opposite the first end of the fourth strap, to a second cup of the bra so that the second end of the third strap and the second end of the fourth strap are spaced apart and the second cup is between the second end of the third strap and the second end of the fourth strap, and spaced apart from the second strap portion.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising
- placing the bra on a body of a woman, so that the first strap portion rests on a first shoulder of the woman, the second strap portion rests on a second shoulder of the woman, a first breast of the woman is inserted inside the first cup, and a second breast of the woman is inserted in the second cup.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein
- there is a first opening located in a region delineated by the first strap, the second strap, and the first cup; and
- there is a second opening located in a region delineated by the third strap, the fourth strap, and the second cup.
7. The bra of claim 1 wherein
- the first strap, the second strap, and the first cup delineate a first triangular region; and
- the third strap, the fourth strap, and the second cup delineate a second triangular region.
8. The bra of claim 7 wherein
- the first triangular region has three vertices and the second triangular region has three vertices, and only one of the three vertices of the first triangular region is in common with only one of the three vertices of the second triangular region.
9. The method of claim 4 wherein
- the first strap, the second strap, and the first cup delineate a first triangular region; and
- the third strap, the fourth strap, and the second cup delineate a second triangular region.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein
- the first triangular region has three vertices and the second triangular region has three vertices, and only one of the three vertices of the first triangular region is in common with only one of the three vertices of the second triangular region.
11. The bra of claim 1 wherein
- the bra includes a first closed loop which is defined by the first strap portion, the first strap, the first cup, a first bra band, and a fifth strap,
- wherein the first strap portion is connected to the first strap, the first strap is connected to the first cup, the first cup is connected to the first bra band, the first bra band is connected to the fifth strap, and the fifth strap is connected to the first strap portion to form the first closed loop;
- wherein the fifth strap has a length which is about equal to a combined length of the first strap and the first cup;
- wherein the bra includes a second closed loop which is defined by the second strap portion, the third strap, the second cup, a second bra band, and a sixth strap,
- wherein the second strap portion is connected to the third strap, the third strap is connected to the second cup, the second cup is connected to the second bra band, the second bra band is connected to the sixth strap, and the sixth strap is connected to the second strap portion to form the second closed loop; and
- wherein the sixth strap has a length which is about equal to a combined length of the third strap and the second cup.
12. The bra of claim 11 wherein
- the first strap has a length which is about half the length of the fifth strap; and
- the third strap has a length which is about half the length of the sixth strap.
13. The bra of claim 1 wherein
- the first strap comes in contact with the first cup at only the second end of the first strap, the second strap comes in contact with the first cup at only the second end of the second strap, the third strap comes in contact with the second cup at only the second end of the third strap, and the fourth strap comes in contact with the second cup at only the second end of the fourth strap.
14. The bra of claim 1 wherein
- the second end of the first strap and the second end of the second strap are connected to the first cup so that a majority of the first cup lies below a first straight line which includes the second end of the first strap and the second end of the second strap, when the bra is worn by a woman standing in an upright position, such that a first breast of the woman is in the first cup, a second breast of the woman is in the second cup, the first strap portion is on a first shoulder of the woman, and the second strap portion is on a second shoulder of the woman; and
- wherein the second end of the third strap and the second end of the fourth strap are connected to the second cup so that a majority of the second cup lies below a second straight line which includes the second end of the third strap and the second end of the fourth strap, when the bra is worn by the woman standing in an upright position, such that the first breast of the woman is in the first cup, the second breast of the woman is in the second cup, the first strap portion is on the first shoulder of the woman, and the second strap portion is on the second shoulder of the woman.
15. The bra of claim 1 wherein
- the second end of the first strap and the second end of the second strap are connected to the first cup so that the entire first cup lies below a first straight line which includes the second end of the first strap and the second end of the second strap, when the bra is worn by a woman standing in an upright position, such that a first breast of the woman is in the first cup, a second breast of the woman is in the second cup, the first strap portion is on a first shoulder of the woman, and the second strap portion is on a second shoulder of the woman; and
- wherein the second end of the third strap and the second end of the fourth strap are connected to the second cup so that the entire second cup lies below a second straight line which includes the second end of the third strap and the second end of the fourth strap, when the bra is worn by the woman standing in an upright position, such that the first breast of the woman is in the first cup, the second breast of the woman is in the second cup, the first strap portion is on the first shoulder of the woman, and the second strap portion is on the second shoulder of the woman.
16. The bra of claim 1 wherein
- the first cup is fixed to the second cup at one and only one junction; and
- wherein the majority of the first cup and the majority of the second cup lie below the one and only one junction when the bra is worn by a woman standing in an upright position, such that a first breast of the woman is in the first cup, a second breast of the woman is in the second cup, the first strap portion is on a first shoulder of the woman, and the second strap portion is on a second shoulder of the woman.
17. The method of claim 4 wherein
- the bra includes a first closed loop which is defined by the first strap portion, the first strap, the first cup, a first bra band, and a fifth strap,
- wherein the first strap portion is connected to the first strap, the first strap is connected to the first cup, the first cup is connected to the first bra band, the first bra band is connected to the fifth strap, and the fifth strap is connected to the first strap portion to form the first closed loop;
- wherein the fifth strap has a length which is about equal to a combined length of the first strap and the first cup;
- wherein the bra includes a second closed loop which is defined by the second strap portion, the third strap, the second cup, a second bra band, and a sixth strap,
- wherein the second strap portion is connected to the third strap, the third strap is connected to the second cup, the second cup is connected to the second bra band, the second bra band is connected to the sixth strap, and the sixth strap is connected to the second strap portion to form the second closed loop; and
- wherein the sixth strap has a length which is about equal to a combined length of the third strap and the second cup.
18. The method of claim 14 wherein
- the first strap has a length which is about half the length of the fifth strap; and
- the third strap has a length which is about half the length of the sixth strap.
19. The method of claim 4 wherein
- the first strap comes in contact with the first cup at only the second end of the first strap, the second strap comes in contact with the first cup at only the second end of the second strap, the third strap comes in contact with the second cup at only the second end of the third strap, and the fourth strap comes in contact with the second cup at only the second end of the fourth strap.
20. The method of claim 4 wherein
- the first cup is fixed to the second cup at one and only one junction; and
- wherein the majority of the first cup and the majority of the second cup lie below the one and only one junction when the bra is worn by a woman standing in an upright position, such that a first breast of the woman is in the first cup, a second breast of the woman is in the second cup, the first strap portion is on a first shoulder of the woman, and the second strap portion is on a second shoulder of the woman.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 5, 2014
Publication Date: Feb 11, 2016
Inventor: Jennifer Cronin (Lavallete, NJ)
Application Number: 14/451,823