Cushioned strap

Abstract

A cushioned strap, comprising: a cushion member, including: a first, substantially flat, film, having a length and width; a second film having a plurality of contours, such that, when the second film and the first film are securely affixed to one another along a common length and width, encapsulated areas are formed between the first and second layers; a gel disposed between the first and second films, including within the encapsulated areas; and gel communication structures adapted to permit the gel to communicatively flow between and among selected ones of the encapsulated areas. An outer strap member, within which the cushion member is provided, includes: a first layer; and a second layer laminated to the first layer to form a pocket, the pocket enclosing the cushion member and the first and second layers being laminated to one another to securely to conform substantially to contours of the cushion member.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/463,721, filed Apr. 18, 2003, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a cushioned shoulder strap. More particularly, the present invention relates to a shoulder strap for a brassiere that is provided with a cushioning and comfort-inducing structure to provide comfort and support to the user of the brassiere.

2. Description of the Related Art

It is well known that brassiere shoulder straps may cause discomfort to the shoulder of the wearer. In particular, the strap may dig into the shoulder. This is a particular problem for full-figured women.

In attempting to relieve this discomfort, the use of shoulder pads of cotton or foam rubber, interposed between the strap and the wearer's shoulder, has been proposed. However, such pads have proven to be inconvenient since they have a tendency to become disengaged from, or shift position on, the shoulder strap.

More recently, there has been proposed the use of gel filled compartments in the shoulder strap. However, such compartments, once sealed with the gel therein, maintain their original filled shape and thus do not tend to conform to the contours of the shoulder of the wearer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cushioned shoulder strap that allows for transference of gel between plural gel-filled compartments, the transference being caused by contact with and pressure from the contours of the shoulder of the wearer, to allow for a comfortable and therapeutic massage while wearing the garment.

In a particular embodiment, the shoulder strap includes a cushioning member including a flat first layer and a second layer adhered to the first layer. The second layer includes plural encapsulated areas, at least some of which are connected to one another, and each of which includes a gel, or other fluid or liquid, disposed therein. The movement of the gel between and among the compartments is effected by the connections between the compartments to provide comfort and a therapeutic massage to the wearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purposes of illustrating the present invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred, it being understood however, that the invention is not limited to the precise form shown by the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a strap in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the strap illustrated in FIG. 1 taken across line 2-2; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a brassiere having a cushioned shoulder strap in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of the shoulder strap of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the side of a strap 10 that contacts the shoulder of the user. As seen from the figures, in a preferred embodiment, the strap 10 is substantially flat and tapered at two ends thereof. The strap 10 is provided with hemispherical protrusions or bumps 12, each of which deviates from the generally planar surface of the strap between the bumps 12.

When used in a brassiere, the end portions of the cushioned strap of the present invention preferably continue and connect with the top of the cup of the brassiere and with the back of the brassiere, in a well-known manner, as illustrated by way of example in FIG. 3. Brassiere straps extend vertically from the back of the brassiere, horizontally across the shoulder of the user, and then vertically to connect at or near the cup portion of the brassiere.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, along lines 2-2, of the strap 10 of FIG. 1. As shown most clearly in FIG. 2, the strap 10 is preferably of a multilayer construction. Outer fabric layers 14a and 14b are configured in relation to one another to form a space therebetween. In that space, a cushion member is provided. Films 16a and 16b, preferably of plastic, are laminated together to form the cushion member. Film 16a is a substantially flat film, while film 16b is formed so as to have preferably generally hemispherical concavities on the side facing the first film so as to form bumps or protrusions 12 on the outer side of the portion of the cushion member formed by the film 16b. When laminated together, the films form therebetween encapsulated compartments 18 at the bumps.

In the preferred embodiment, the compartments 18 are filled with a gel or other liquid or fluid (“liquid” and “fluid” being used interchangeably throughout this application) to provide, among other things, cushioning for the shoulder. The films 16a and 16b are preferably constructed so as to form, when laminated together, connecting channels 19 between the compartments 18. This can be effected in any known manner of molding plastic films, for example by forming channels connecting the concavities in the plastic film 16b. These channels allow the gel or liquid to migrate between compartments 18 upon application of pressure, such as occurs when the strap contacts the shoulder of the wearer.

In the illustrated embodiment, each of the encapsulated compartments 18 is connected to at least one other encapsulated compartment 18. However, it is not necessary for every compartment 18 to be connected to another compartment 18. To allow for the maximum effect of the flow of gel between compartments, it is preferable that most of the compartments 18 be connected to at least one other compartment 18. It is highly preferable that 90% or more compartments be so connected.

In the preferred embodiment, the outer fabric layers 14a and 14b are themselves laminated together to form an outer strap member that securely encloses the cushion member formed by the laminated films. Specifically, the fabric layer 14b is laminated so as to closely and tightly conform to the contour of the bumps formed by the compartments of the cushion member held within the outer strap member, so that even when the cushion member is securely enclosed between the fabric layers, the wearer will feel the bumps, instead of only a flat surface.

The gel used in the compartments 18 of cushion member is preferably a “smart” gel that changes viscosity with temperature, such as Morph™ gel by Foster-Miller, Inc. and Smart Materials, Inc. Morph™ gel is in liquid form when cold and becomes more viscous when warmed up due to contact with the human body. This property allows the gel to be liquid until it reaches a predetermined temperature, after which its viscosity increases until reaching a desired level of firmness.

Alternatively, a “dumb” gel may be used instead, which may be oil, and glycerin and is usually liquid at most temperatures. Other types of gel may be substituted, such as for example, silicone gel, as would be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The gel, whether “smart” or “dumb,” may be inserted into the encapsulated areas by any known means, such as by injection, either prior to lamination of the films, or after.

When the compartments have been filled with the gel and the films and fabric layers have been laminated to form the shoulder strap, and the shoulder is within the garment utilizing the strap, pressure applied on the strap caused by contact with the shoulder will permit gel to flow between the compartments in the cushion member to conform the shape of the cushion member to the contours of the wearer's shoulder. Moreover, in the preferred embodiment, the Morph™ gel gradually becomes more viscous from contact with the body heat of the wearer, so that the form fit caused by contact with the shoulder will be maintained.

FIG. 3 shows a brassiere equipped with the cushioned shoulder strap of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the shoulder strap 10 is attached to the front and back of the brassiere so as to fit over the shoulders of the wearer of the garment. The strap 10 is attached preferably with the side having the bumps facing down, so that the bumps contact the shoulder of the wearer, the bumps and the gel provided therein providing a cushioning and messaging effect to the shoulder, and the contact with the shoulder permitting the gel to move between the encapsulated areas via the channels.

While the present application has been described in the context of a brassiere shoulder strap, the invention is not limited to this application. The advantageous features of the cushioned strap of the present invention may be applied to any type of shoulder or other strap in which comfort is desired. For example, the cushioned strap of the present invention could be used in backpack shoulder straps, or shoulder straps for side-carry bags, or other types of carrying bags. It can also be used, for example, on shoe straps or other areas where cushioning is desired. Moreover, the strap of the present invention can be used for sports applications and music applications, for example in guitar shoulder straps.

Further, while the pattern of connection of the channels is shown in the preferred embodiment to be a grid-like pattern, the invention is in no way limited to this exemplary embodiment. The pattern of the channels may instead be other ordered patterns or random patterns. Further, while in the illustrated embodiment connection channels connect adjacent encapsulated areas, the connections may include connections to more remotely located encapsulated areas. Moreover, while the cushion member is shown in the illustrated embodiment as being constructed of two layers, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The cushion member could instead, for example, be integrally formed, for example by molding, so as to have encapsulated regions and connective channels integrally formed therein, without using laminated films. The scope of the invention is limited only by the claims appended hereto

Claims

1. A cushioned strap, comprising:

(a) a cushion member, including:

a first, substantially flat, film, having a length and width;

a second film having a plurality of contours, such that, when the second film and the first film are securely affixed to one another along a common length and width, encapsulated areas are formed between the first and second layers;

a gel disposed between the first and second films, including within the encapsulated areas; and

gel communication structures adapted to permit the gel to communicatively flow between and among selected ones of the encapsulated areas; and

(b) an outer strap member within which the cushion member is provided, the outer strap member including:

a first layer; and

a second layer laminated to the first layer to form a pocket therebetween, the pocket enclosing the cushion member, and the first and second layers being laminated to one another so as to conform substantially to contours of the cushion member.

2. The strap according to claim 1, wherein the gel is a gel that changes viscosity with temperature.

3. The strap according to claim 1, wherein the first and second films of the cushion member are plastic films affixed to one another by lamination.

4. The strap according to claim 1, wherein the gel communication structures comprise channels connecting selected ones of the encapsulated areas.

5. The strap according to claim 1, wherein the strap is a shoulder strap for a brassiere and the communicative flow between and among selected ones of the encapsulated areas is initiated by the strap contacting the shoulder of a wearer of the brassiere.

6. The strap according to claim 1, wherein the first and second layers are fabric layers.

7. A cushion member for a cushioned strap that includes an outer strap member within which the cushion member is located, the cushion member comprising:

a first, substantially flat, film, having a length and width;

a second film having a plurality of contours, such that, when the second film and the first film are securely affixed to one another along a common length and width, encapsulated areas are formed between the first and second layers;

a liquid disposed between the first and second films, including within the encapsulated areas; and

liquid communication structures adapted to permit the liquid to communicatively flow between and among selected ones of the encapsulated areas.

8. The cushion member according to claim 7, wherein the liquid is a gel that changes viscosity with temperature.

9. The cushion member according to claim 7, wherein the first and second films of the cushion member are plastic films affixed to one another by lamination.

10. The cushion member according to claim 7, wherein the liquid communication structures comprise channels connecting selected ones of the encapsulated areas.

11. The cushion member according to claim 7, wherein the strap is a shoulder strap for a brassiere and the communicative flow between and among selected ones of the encapsulated areas is initiated by the strap contacting the shoulder of a wearer of the brassiere.

12. A cushion, comprising:

a cushion member including:

fluid-filled open chambers distributed throughout the cushion member; and

channels connecting at least some of the open chambers to one another so that fluid can move between the open chambers.

13. The cushion according to claim 12, wherein the fluid is a gel.

14. The cushion according to claim 13, wherein the gel is a gel that changes viscosity with temperature.

15. The cushion according to claim 13, wherein substantially all of the open chambers are connected to at least one other open chamber.

16. The cushion according to claim 13, wherein at least 90% of the open chambers are connected to at least one other chamber.

17. The cushion according to claim 13, wherein the cushion forms part of a shoulder strap for a brassiere.

18. The cushion according to claim 13, wherein the cushion is covered on at least one side by a fabric.