Front-opening and adjustable bra

Abstract

A front-opening, adjustable bra having an elastic base band having free ends, an inside end portion adjacent one of said free ends and an outside end portion adjacent to other of said free ends, a back flap disposed between said free ends, and a pair of front flaps disposed between said free ends and said back flap, each flap having a breast covering flap. The inside end portion having an outwardly extending latch-engaging structure and a set of at least two spaced latching structures, and the outside end portion having an inwardly extending latch-engaging structure and at least two inwardly spaced extending latch structures. The latch-engaging structures engage a selected one of the respective latching structures to set the size of the bra. The latch-engaging structures and the latch structures can be reversed on the bra. A slide having three loops for receiving shoulder straps of a bra is also described.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to brassieres or bras, and in particular to adjustable brassieres which open from the front, and more particularly to front-opening bras which are easily adjustable in size, having closure devices which are not irritating to the wearer's skin, and which remain in place on the wearer while the wearer undergoes rigorous physical activity. The inventive bra can be adapted for use as a nursing bra, a sports bra or a conventional bra.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There have been many changes in the construction of brassieres since they were first introduced in the beginning of the twentieth century to replace corsets. Brassieres are not only for providing proper support from below the breasts of a wearer, but also to give the breasts an uplift. Brassieres generally are torso encircling, and usually employ shoulder straps attached to breast cup assemblies for providing the required breast support. Brassieres are generally closed by back closings which are often inconvenient to use, particularly for women with large breasts and for women who have physical restrictions such as arthritis in their arms, shoulders or hands, or due to rotator cuff disorders. Brassieres are further designed to mold and support the breasts to follow the body contours of the women who wear them. Many brassieres are of complex construction being made of numerous pieces including separate straps, separate molded cups, a back piece, separate side panels and sometimes a body encircling strap for holding the lower part of the brassiere against the wearer's chest, sides and back.

Since women's breast size and body size vary from woman to woman, adjustable brassieres have been developed. In some cases, structure is provided for engaging the ends of straps along the base of the brassiere. Closing straps have loops or hooks for selectively cooperating with one of sets of buttons, loops, tabs or eyes (or eyelets) provided on the cups of the brassiere to change the size of the brassiere to the women's body. This is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,958,963 (de Got 1934), 2,390,465 (Russo 1942), 2,970,587 (Michel 1961), 3,378,013 (Bruno 1968) and 3,459,190 (Frischer et al. 1969). A similar construction is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,459,190 (Frischer et al. 1969) wherein a pair of adjustable straps for providing uplift to the breasts, extend transversely from the lower inner peripheral portion of one breast cup to the upper inner periphery of the other breast cup in a criss-cross fashion, there being several points of attachment on the upper inner portion of each breast cup. The brassieres shown in each of the foregoing patents had problems. U.S. Pat. No. 1,958,963 (de Got 1934) discloses a brassiere with cross-straps for attachment to the sides of the brassiere, where it is difficult to attach the free end of the strap to fastening elements on the sides, rather than towards the front of the bar. Moreover, one of the straps must pass through a slit in the material in the front of the brassiere. The brassiere disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,390,465 (Russo 1942) has stitching and shirring to form conical shapes to the cups. The brassiere has a pair of strap members with button holes for receiving one of the pair of buttons to adjust the size. One of the cups or breast pockets has a slot for receiving the strap member with the button hole. It is cumbersome to insert the strap member through the slot. Further, as with other brassieres discussed herein, the use of the pair of straps in the back of the undergarment offers little support during physical activity such as athletics, and cause the brassiere to shift uncomfortably during such activity. In addition, the buttons used on the brassiere are relatively large, and would be uncomfortable and irritating to the wearer of the brassiere. Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 2,970,597 (Michel 1961), the brassiere has separate non-elastic tabs extending from the lower, inner portion of each cup, and a slit is provided for receiving one of the tabs—requiring the awkward movement of the wearer's hands to insert the tab in the slit. In addition, the shoulder straps are attached to the back portion of the brassiere at laterally spaced positions, facilitating the slippage of the straps off the shoulder, and allowing the brassiere to shift extensively during physical activity. Additionally, the latter invention is complicated in construction. Adjustment is accomplished by means of fastener elements and vertical slits, but the slits are likely to be torn or stretched—resulting in a loose fitting brassiere. Another embodiment of the latter patent shows a pair of non-elastic tabs secured to the ends of inner lower corners of the cups. A pair of straps with hook-like fibers is attached to the tabs. A pair of straps is attached to the brassiere below the cups having outwardly facing loop material. An aperture is adjacent to one of the straps. This requires the tab to be pulled through the aperture, and the tabs are pressed against the straps to lock them together. This is a cumbersome task to perform. A very complicated brassiere is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,378,013 (Bruno 1968). It has about nine basic components, and while it is adjustable in both its front and back due to is front and back constructions, it opens and closes in its back. U.S. Pat. No. 3,459,190 (Frischer et al. 1969) is somewhat different than the brassieres discussed above, in that it adjusts the uplift of the breasts and is quite complicated in that the adjustments are a series of eyes positioned around the curved area on the upper inside of each cup.

Brassieres which open and close in the front are easier for the wearer to put on and take off. Various front-opening brassieres are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,390,465 (Russo 1942) which was discussed earlier for being adjustable, 2,502,524 (Keller 1950), 2,882,905 (Barg 1959), 2,970,597 (Michel 1961) which was discussed earlier, 3,040,750 (Hurwitz 1962), 3,459,190 (Frischer et al. 1969), 5,378,192 (Darmante 1995), 6,068,538

(Alleyne 2000), 4,804,351 (Raml et al. 1989), 4,917,651 (Rainville 1990), 5,032,104 (Rainville 1991), 5,180,326 (Williams 1993), 7,056,186 (Weyenberg et al. 2006) and U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2006/0228988 A1 (Pub. Date Oct. 12, 2006), a continuation in part of the immediate preceeding patent.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,502,524 (Keller 1950) is a nursing brassiere as discussed below, which is quite complicated in construction, and has both front fasteners and rear fasteners, since the front fasteners were only used when the wearer is breast feeding a baby. The brassiere of the '524 patent has at least ten components, requiring a considerable amount of time to manufacture, thus increasing its cost. Furthermore, the front closing apparatus is rather involved, apparently having stiff strips of material for holding the fasteners, adding to the unwieldy characteristic of this brassiere.

Turning next to U.S. Pat. No. 2,882,905 (Barg 1959), this patent has a relatively large fastening structure, including an apparently stiff shoulder strap on which two rows of eyelets are provided for being engaged by a series of hooks engaged in a single row. This brassiere is also complicated in construction having a body made up of about at least ten components. The front-opening of the brassiere disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,970,597 (Michel 1961) was discussed earlier. It has a pair of non-elastic tabs at the lower inner portions of the front part of the brassiere, one of which extends through a slit for engaging fastening structure at the lower end of the brassiere cup. Operating this device would be difficult, particularly with respect to threading a tab through the slit and engaging it with the fastening structure below the cup which is opposite to the cup where the tab is attached. A rather unusual brassiere construction is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,040,750 (Hurwitz 1962) which includes breast receiving cups which are hollow truncated configurations, being constructed from a plurality of trapezoidal segments, secured together by stitching to form a side wall and a smaller base wall secured to the periphery of the side wall. The brassiere disclosed has opening and closing fasteners located both at the front and rear portions of the garment. An examination of the brassiere disclosed in the '750 patent shows that it has unusual construction, about thirteen major components, making it a fairly complicated piece to manufacture.

An unusual front-opening brassiere is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,459,190 (Frischer et al. 1969). This patent provides a brassiere having straps which are connected to the base of the respective two cups, and are releasably attached to the upper inner edge of the opposite cup to adjustably uplift the breasts of the woman wearing the brassiere. This device is complicated to use due to the shape of the straps, and it is difficult to secure the straps to the fastening means on the upper inner portion of the respective brassiere cups. Furthermore, the manner of the front-opening of the brassiere of the '190 patent is a very unwieldy device due to the position and orientation of the fastening structure. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,326 (Williams 1993), a different of type of brassiere is disclosed because it is the type of brassiere to be worn following a mastectomy. This different type of brassiere is very different in function from that disclosed in the present application. It discloses left and right cups which cross at their lower inner portion, and have hooks at the free ends for attachment to receiving units. The brassiere of the '326 patent is constructed to provide adequate coverage for a woman after surgery, and contains various components which are not found in or relevant to the brassiere of the present invention.

Another front-opening brassiere is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,192 (Darmante 1995). Disclosed is a one piece wide panelled brassiere which is much like a sports brassiere. It has arm holes for receiving the wearer's arms, and pair of front panels which are each drawn over the wearer's respective breasts and have adjustable attaching structure for attaching the end portion of each panel to a cooperating attachment structure on the lower end of the brassiere. Each of the front panels is quite broad, as are the shoulder straps which extend over the wearer's neck to in part form a neck engaging collar, and the wide shoulders are attached to a wide back panel which flares out into the waist portion of the brassiere. It is unlike the present invention which is truly a brassiere having relatively small straps for extending over the shoulders and lacks arm holes as is shown in the '192 patent, other than the gap between the top of the side portion and the respective shoulder straps. Another wrap-around sports brassiere is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,538 (Alleyne 2000). This patent is a wide panelled garment having a front panel section which passes over the wearer's breast and terminates at its lower section in an elasticized band. The band extends all around the brassiere so as to fit around the wearer's rib cage. A second panel section passes over the first panel section, covers the wearer's other breast and passes over the shoulder. Both wide shoulder panels meet at a back portion which covers a large part of the woman's back and supports both the breast tissue and the back muscles. This sports brassiere is dissimilar from the present invention which is truly a brassiere having small straps and not providing support for the back muscles of the wearer.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,351 (Rami et al. 1989) discloses a surgical brassiere for reducing stress along a mid-sternal incisional line of a female patient following cardio-thoracic surgery. This patent discloses a garment with a very different structure and purpose than the brassiere of the present invention. It includes in its front portion a ventilating panel which covers a pair of straps extending across the front of the garment for attaching two front panels together. The ventilated panel covers the attaching structure. Another brassiere of different structure and for a different purpose than the present invention is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,651 (Rainville 1990), which discloses a rather complicated brassiere having crossover front panels. This brassiere is intended for use by handicap persons. A similar brassiere is shown by another patent to Rainville, namely U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,104 (1991).

Two related patents and patent publications are U.S. Pat. No. 7,056,186 (Weyenberg et al. 2006) and U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2006/0228988 A1 (Pub. Date Oct. 12, 2006). As discussed earlier this patent and patent publication disclose a front-opening brassiere having structure for adjusting the cleavage of the wearer, where there is miniscule covering by means of tabs extending from the lower inner portions of the brassiere cups, or no coverage where the inner portions of the cups are attached by means of adjustment straps.

Other brassieres are known which have crossover straps extending from the inside of each of the cups, and crossing over to be attached to another portion of the brassiere extending from the back for attachment of a woman's body. These are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,575,989 (Haven 1926), 2,454,153 (Glick 1948), 2,762,052 (Olsen 1956) and 6,068,538 (Alleyne 2000). A shortcoming of the foregoing brassieres is that it is difficult to operate the fastening structure when it is on the sides of the wearer and not in clear visible view, and it may provide less support than brassieres having front attachment structure.

Embodiments of the present invention can also be used for nursing. Some of the brassieres discussed above, which open from the front or the sides, can also be used for nursing, and there are other brassieres which have cups which can be individually opened for nursing. The latter includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,380,142 (Witkower 1945), which is closed in the back, 2,390,465 (Russo 1945) describing an adjustable front closing brassiere, 2,454,153 (Glick 1948) which also closes in the back, but includes straps which are attached at the sides of the brassiere, 2,502,524 (Keller 1950), which closes in the back, but has front fastening means for exposing the breasts for nursing and 6,068,538 (Alleyne 2000), which as described above is a wrap around brassiere which the inventor states can be used for nursing. All of the foregoing nursing brassieres involve fairly complex manufacturing steps and/or are difficult to use due to the problems in undoing a part of the brassiere to expose a breast for nursing.

A nursing bra called the “Wrap 'N Snap” has been introduced to the market by La Leche League International of Schaumburg, Ill. It consists of a back portion made of fabric to which are stitched a pair of front portions respectively having soft cups. A base portion extending along the bottom of the back portion and each of the front portions. The base portion has at its opposite ends a pair of equal length end bands. The left end band attached to the front portion having the left cup (left and right refer to the wearer of the bra when the bra is worn), extends to a position beneath the right breast, and the right end band attached to the front portion having the right cup extends to a position beneath the left breast. In one (and perhaps the only) model, the left end band has a set of three stud or ball portions on the forward side of the band facing outwardly or away from the wearer. A left cup band extending along the bottom of the front portion beneath the left cup is integral with the left end band. The band has four outwardly facing, aligned socket portions configured to receive the ball portion of the snaps from the right end band as discussed below. The right end band has three inwardly facing, aligned ball portions of the snaps. Disposed beneath the right cup is a right cup band which is integral with the right end band, and has a set of inwardly facing, aligned socket portions configured for receiving the ball portions on the left end band. The size of the nursing bra can be adjusted by changing the respective pairings of the ball and socket portions of the snaps.

Each of a pair of shoulder straps extends from spaced positions on the back portion of the bra to the uppermost part of each front portion on the outside part above each cup. Maternity clasps are located at the foregoing uppermost parts, and the forward end of each strap has a clip which can be selectively latched or unlatched from the respective closures to drop or close each of the cups. The clasps and cups are part of a maternity brassiere closer as explained below.

A soft, inner layer of each cup is attached to the base of the respective cups, and is permanently attached to the hook portion of the maternity brassiere closure which is permanently attached to a shoulder strap. The soft, inner layer has an aperture for exposing the nipple so the baby can nurse after a cup is dropped. Another part of the maternity closure is an eyelet portion with an aperture at its free end and a tongue at an opposite attached end of the eyelet extending towards the aperture. The opposite end is permanently attached to the upper part of the cup. To close the cup, the wearer holds the aperture of the eyelet (attached to the cup, not the inner layer) over the hook and urges the eyelet onto the hook—the tongue engages the hook to keep latched together. When the mother wants to nurse her baby, she disengages the eyelet from the hook portion of the closure and lowers the cup, exposing the inner layer with the aperture through which the baby nurses.

Although the foregoing nursing bra has advantages, it also has serious disadvantages. The respective ball and socket parts of the respective snaps are difficult to operate, since they must be respectively engaged sight-unseen, since the wearer of the bra cannot see the pairs of snap components being urged together. Not only are the snaps covered by the bra fabric (the right end band, whose snap portions are on the underside of the strap, and some of the snap portions are on the base below the left cup), but they engage the wearer's chest, and the snap portions must be pressed often against the wearer's chest to obtain engagement. Additionally, the bulk of the snaps press against the wearer's skin, which may be uncomfortable and irritating to the wearer. In addition, in order for a mother to nurse her child, she has to unlatch the clasp, which may be difficult, since the clasp is unwieldy to begin with, and must be done close to the wearer's neck—which is a cumbersome task. Another problem is that the foregoing pair of generally parallel straps is attached at the back of the bra at spaced locations. It thus cannot be a bra for use in sporty or athletic activities, as it does not have a single strap in the back of the bra to keep the bra in place, and prevent the shifting motion which may occur.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to the slides or clasps which are used for brassiere straps. Many of such clasps are known in the art for use with bra straps. Many of them are disclosed in design patents such as U.S. Des. 369,129 (Fildan 1996), U.S. Des. 369,327 (Fildan 1996), U.S. Des. 403,618 (Fildan 1999), U.S. Des. 410,411 (Fildan 1999), U.S. Des. 412,462 (Fildan 1999), U.S. Des. 455,980 (Fildan et al. 2002), U.S. Des. 526,638 (Fildan et al. 2007), U.S. Des. 536, 639 (Fildan et al. 2007), U.S. Des. 561,641 (Fildan et al. 2008) and U.S. Des. 571,254 (Wanzendock 2008). Other clasps are disclosed in utility patents, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,426,400 (Lauro 1969), 2,613,355 (Coleman 1952), 3,378,013 (Bruno 1968), 3,837,049 (Corrado 1974), 4,204,300 (Fildan 1980), 5,485,658 (Fildan 1996), 6,149,496 (Fildan 2000), 6,793,556 (Fildan et al. 2004), 7,314,400 (Fildan et al. 2008) and U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2008/0003921 A1 (2008). Such clasps are small, necessarily flexible and subject to constant use by being done and undone after continuous pressure when worn. Some of the clasps noted above are for special purposes and are not appropriate for different types of bras.

A shortcoming of existing bras with known clasps, and particularly for full-figured women, is the tendency for the bra to shift partway around the woman's body, and then not to return to its initial position.

An aspect of the present invention is a plastic-coated metal slide which is attached to the Y-design back of the brassiere and constructed for receiving a pair of straps coming from each of a woman's shoulders and being angled inwardly towards the center of the back piece of the bra. Most of the patents cited above disclose bras with two separate straps, whose back portions are attached to the back of the brassiere by a distance generally larger than the diameter of a woman's neck. In some, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,378,192 (Darmonte 1995) and 6,068,538 (Alleyne 2000), the patents disclose bras which have in effect a solid back rather than straps. In some of the patents cited above, the straps are closer together at the back of the brassiere, but are not connected to a single slide or clip, referring to U.S. Pat. No. 7,056,186 (Weyenberg et al. 2006) and U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2006/0228988 A1 (Weyenberg et al. 2006).

As described in detail below, the present invention provides a simple brassiere which is adjustable, openable in the front, and if used for nursing, is easy to undo to expose a breast for a baby to nurse. A big advantage of the present invention is that it is simple to manufacture, and can be manufactured inexpensively at high volume. The foregoing brassiere is capable of incorporating simple yet highly effective clasps for the straps and a slide for the straps where they are connected to the back of the brassiere for firmly holding the brassiere in place, while enabling a cup to be lowered to enable nursing. The inventive bra further moves back to its desired position once it has moved partway around the wearer's body.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a front-opening brassiere which is easy for a woman to put on and take off.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a front-opening brassiere which is adjustable according to the size of a woman's breasts, the adjustment being easy to do and effective in operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a front-opening brassiere having easy to use adjusting structure on the front of the brassiere.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a front-opening, adjustable bra which has an attaching element which is comfortable to wear and not irritating to the wearer.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a front-opening, adjustable brassiere which is a nursing brassiere, and which the cups can be opened to enable the nursing of a baby.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a front-opening, adjustable brassiere which is composed of few pieces, and is capable of mass production.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a front-opening, adjustable brassiere having shoulder straps extending from the upper portion of the respective cups to adjacent positions at the back of the brassiere, i.e. a Y-back bra.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a front-opening, adjustable bra which has no adjusting clasps on the shoulder straps.

Another related object of the present invention is to provide a slide for the back of a brassiere for receiving at one portion a connecting member at the back of the brassiere and having two receiving members connected to a body for attaching the respective ends of the shoulder straps of the brassiere.

It is also an object to provide a brassiere which moves back to its initial and comfortable position after it has been displaced and moved partway around the wearer's body.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a comfortable front-opening adjustable brassiere made of a soft comfortable material which can be stretched in all directions for added comfort.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a front-opening, adjustable brassiere requiring few manufacturing operations, and which can have soft cups or molded cups.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a comfortable, front-opening, adjustable brassiere which can be manufactured quickly and easily, having few components, and which can be made inexpensively and sold at a low market price.

These and other objects would be apparent from the description below and from the appended claims.

The bra according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention basically involves an elastic base band, base strap or chest band which is used for surrounding the chest of a woman below the bust line, and has open ends in the front of the woman wearing the bra when it is wrapped around the woman's chest. Extending upwardly from the chest band is a soft, stretchable fabric forming the body of the bra, the body having the breast holding soft cups, and a side portion which wraps around the sides of the woman and blends into a back panel going across the back of the woman. There is a rear back extension or Y-back to which the rear ends of the shoulder straps are connected in either an inventive three-opening or three-loop slide connected to the back panel, or by way of a pair of clasps each attached to a pair of straps extending from the back panel, in a side-by-side or adjacent manner. The shoulder straps themselves extend upwardly from the upper part of the cups and are arranged to be slid by the woman over her shoulders for supporting the bra in position. The two cups are part of front panels. A latching assembly having latching structures and respective latch-engaging structures are provided for attaching the end portions of the base band together where the inventive bra is worn. The base band has at least one end part, an inside end portion extending from beneath one front panel to beneath the other front panel, and has at the other end portion an outside portion extending over the inside end portion when the bra is worn. The inside end portion of the base band which engages the wearer's skin (and is eventually to be positioned beneath the outer end portion of the chest band), has a set of two or more outwardly extending latching structures extending along part of the length of inside end portion at or near the front of the wearer when the bra is worn, and an outwardly extending latching structure at its free end (“outwardly” means extending away from the wearer's skin, and “inwardly” means extending towards the wearer's skin), and an outwardly extending latch-engaging structure extending from the inside end portion free end. The outside end portion of base band has a set of two or more inwardly facing latching structures positioned along part of its length, at or near the front of the wearer when the inventive bra is worn, and an inwardly facing latch-engaging structure at the free end of the outside end portion. When a woman puts the inventive bra on, she slips her arms through the respective straps if the straps are attached to the respective front and back panels, or else places the back panel against her back, wraps the front panel having the inside end portion of the base band over the appropriate breast in a breast supporting fashion. The wearer then wraps the outer front panel over the other breast, attaching the latch-engaging structure at the free end of the inside end portion of the base band with the appropriate inwardly extending structure of the outside end portion to both establish the size or perimeter (the term “perimeter” is used even though the top or bottom view of a closed bra as worn is not a circle) and to secure the inside end portion in place. The inwardly extending latch-engaging structure of the free end of the outside end portion of the other end of the band is secured to the appropriate one of the outwardly latching structure of the inside end portion to facilitate in the selection of the appropriate size of the bra and to secure the latter end portion in place. Each latch-engaging structure cooperates with a set of latch-engaging structures, the selection of the latter structures can be reversed (the latching structure and its corresponding latch-engaging structure can be reversed). Since the outside end portion has a larger required extension so that its latch-engaging structure can cooperate with a selected latching structure, the outside end portion is longer than the inside end portion of the base band.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a front-opening, adjustable brassiere according to the invention, shown in its closed position.

FIG. 1A is an enlargement of a portion of the chest band shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the brassiere shown in FIG. 1 in its open position, showing the outside of the brassiere.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the brassiere shown in FIG. 1 in its open position, viewing the inside of the brassiere.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a slide incorporated in the brassiere shown in FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a slide incorporated in the brassiere shown in FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a slide or clasp used with individual shoulder straps.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a brassiere according to a second embodiment of the invention in its closed position.

FIG. 7A is an enlargement of a portion of the chest band shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the brassiere shown in FIG. 7 in its open position.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the brassiere shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 in its open position.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a third embodiment of a front-opening, adjustable brassiere according to the invention, showing a brassiere in its closed position, the brassiere having a Y-back with both straps being connected adjacent to each other.

FIG. 10A is an enlargement of the chest band shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the brassiere according to FIG. 10 in its open position.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the brassiere shown in FIG. 10 in its open position.

FIG. 13 is a rear view of the brassiere shown in FIG. 10 in its closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a front-opening adjustable bra which is relatively inexpensive to make compared to other bras, provides considerable comfort and support to women wearing the bra, can be adopted to be a nursing bra and is extremely simple to use. The inventive bra in its preferred form has an elastic base band attached to the base of the body portion of the bra. The terms up or upwardly and down or downwardly are based on the bra being worn by a women in the upright position. The body of the bra extends upwardly from the base band. The bra body has an upwardly extending back panel, and is attached to a right panel and a left panel (right and left refer to these positions with reference to the wearer of the bra when the bra is worn; thus, when viewed from the front, the right cup (that is the wearer's right) would appear on the left side of a drawing). The free ends of the elastic base band each have a hook or other latch-engaging structure, and the end portions (near the respective free ends) of the base band each have a set of eyelets or other latching structure for cooperating with the respective hook or other latch-engaging structure on the other end of band to set the size or perimeter of the band, and to hold both ends of the band in place. The hook or other latch-engaging structure at the other end of the base band can engage one of the eyelets or other latching structure of the remaining end portion of the band. Thus, one end portion of the inner part of the band has a set of eyelets or other latching structure facing outwardly when the inner band is resting against the wearer's skin. The inwardly directed hook or other latch-engaging structure at the other end of the band operatively engages a selected eyelet or other outwardly facing latching structure to facilitate in the setting of the size or perimeter of the band. Bras according to the invention can easily be put on by the woman simply holding the bra in its open position, slipping her arms between the respective two shoulder straps (assuming the straps are attached to the body of the bra) and the body portion of the bra, and sliding the back panel down her back. She then engages the latch-engaging structure in the form of a hook at the inner free end of the inside end portion of the band with the latching structure on the inside of the end portion of the outer band, and crossing the outer end portion over the first band with her breasts in the respective cups, and connects the free end of the outer end portion and the selected latch-engaging structure of the inner end portion. Since there are a number of latch-engaging structures on the band, the woman can select the proper latch-engaging structure for adjusting the bra so that it fits comfortably and provides the desired amount of support.

FIG. 1 shows an adjustable, front-opening brassiere or bra 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention. Bra 1 is composed of a body portion 3 comprising a single unit including a right front panel 5 (left and right refer to the directions of a woman wearing the bra), front panel 5 including a right cup 7 for holding the wearer's right breast, a left panel 9 having a left cup 11 for holding the wearer's left breast, and a back panel 13 which extends across the woman's back and has an upstanding Y-back 14, a rearward right side 15 and a rearward left side part 17 covering the left and right sides of the wearer of bra 1. Bra 1 also has a forward right-side portion 19 and a forward left-side portion 21 on right front panel 5 and left front panel 9. Right cup 7 and left cup 11 can have shirring as discussed later with respect to another embodiment of the inventive bra, particularly when the bra is used as a nursing bra, for adding fullness. Furthermore, when bra 1 is a full-figure bra, it can have molded cups 7 and 11 where the size is added into the mold for making molded cups 7 and 11, respectively. Referring to FIG. 2, back panel 13 is connected to right front panel 5 and left front panel 9 by means of stitching at a right seam 23 and a left seam 25. A label 26 can be stitched to one of the seams, such as seam 23, as shown in FIG. 3. Bra 1 further has a right shoulder strap 31 and a left shoulder strap 33. Right shoulder strap 31 is connected at its front portion to an upwardly extending portion 35 on right front panel 5, and left shoulder strap 33 is attached to left front panel 9 at an upwardly extending portion 37.

Bra 1 has an elastic base band, elastic strap or chest band 39 which extends across the bottom part of body 3 when bra 1 is in the upright position as shown as shown in FIGS. 1-3. A chest or base band 39 has an outside end portion 41 which does not extend out beyond the corresponding part of right front panel 5. Chest band 39 has a long inside end portion 43 which does extend beyond the corresponding end portion of left front panel 9. In order to provide for the adjustment of bra 1, a latching structure has inwardly-facing (towards the wearer of bra 1) eyelets 45-47 on the outside (distal the wearer of bra 1) layer of band 39 on the right side of bra 1 commencing near the middle of right cup 7. Eyelets 45-47 are components of an eyelet-holding piece 49, which is composed of four overlapping pieces of fabric which look like pockets into which eyelets 45-47 are placed and sewn in. A hook 51 (which could be a pair of hooks as shown in FIG. 2) on long end portion 43 can selectively engage one of eyelets (or one of a pair of eyelets as shown in FIG. 3) 45-47. Hook 51 is a component of a tab 53, which also has the appearance of a pocket with hook 51 sewn therein. At the opposite end of chest band 39 extending from short end portion 41 is another latch-engaging structure in the form of a hook 55 (which could be a pair of hooks) sewn on a tab 57 identical to tab 53. Eyelets 59-61 are on the opposite side of chest band 39 from eyelets 45-47. Eyelets 59-61 are on the inside (proximal the wearer of the bra) layer of band 39. Hook 51 can selectively enter any one of eyelets 45-47 to secure bra 1 to the wearer. This is shown clearly in FIG. 1A. Bra 1 has its loosest fit when hook 51 enters eyelet 47 and hook 55 enters eyelet 61. Likewise, the tightest fit occurs when hook 51 engages eyelet 45 and hook 55 engages eyelet 59. Eyelets 59-61 are held in an eyelet-holding piece 62 which is identical to eyelet-holding piece 49.

It has been found that with some styles, outwardly-facing eyelets 59-61 and inwardly-facing hook 55 can be made from a softer material for the comfort of the wearer. However, the softer material is more expensive than the harder material, and the edges of these components could be rounded to make them more comfortable to the wearer.

The outer edge of body 3 and of shoulder straps 31-33 have a hem 63. Hem 63 is stitched to body 3 and shoulder straps 31 and 33, and is stretchable to accommodate wearers of different sizes. Hem 63 is on both sides of body 3 and on both sides of shoulder straps 31 and 33. As indicated earlier, chest band 39 is also a hem for the base of body 3, and it, too, is made of a stretchable elastic material and stitched in place.

The outside front edge of chest band 39 could be finished with the front edges of right cup 7 and left cup 11, respectively. This feature could facilitate the fabrication of bra 1.

Bra 1 incorporates a three-strap slide 70 shown in each of FIGS. 1-5. Slide 70 is preferably made of an appropriate metal, preferably by stamping, and then coated with an appropriate plastic such as nylon to provide comfort to the wearer of bra 1 and to achieve a desired color. Slide 70 is composed of three closed loops, a large loop 72, and two smaller, equal-size loops 74 and 76. Large loop 72 is composed of a pair of long, straight, parallel sides 78 and 80, which are connected together by a pair of opposing, identically-curved end walls 82 and 84. Smaller loops 74 and 76 are each smaller than large loop 72, but together are longer in length, and generally form an isosceles triangle. Smaller loops 74 and 76 have curved end portions 86 and 88 which are, in effect, merged with respective end walls 82 and 84 and with the end portions of wall 80 of large loop 72. Loops 74 and 76 are inclined with respect to large loop 72 and meet at their opposite end portions 90 and 92, which are in effect merged together. The opposing sides of each of loops 74 and 76 are straight and parallel to each other. The three-strap slide 70 is advantageous in that it makes the connecting structure of shoulder straps 31 and 33 less bulky than having several slides and makes the attachment of straps 31 and 33 easier. Furthermore, three-strap slide 70 requires simpler assembly operations for attaching shoulder straps 31 and 33 to back panel 13.

In order to attach slide 70 to bra 1, back panel 13 has a fabric loop 65 which is passed through large loop 72 of slide 70 and stitched in place as shown in FIG. 3. Each of straps 31 and 33 have, at their respective portions which are connected to back panel 13, a smooth, ribbon-like strap portions 67 and 69, respectively, which are stitched to shoulder straps 31 and 39, respectively, at respective stitching areas 71 and 73. A pair of identical slides or clasps 94, known in the art, is shown in FIG. 6. Clasps 94 are composed of a pair of identical loops 95 and 96 having a common side 97 and opposing identical sides 98 and 99. As is known in the art and shown clearly in FIG. 5, end portions 67 and 69 of respective straps 31 and 33 are respectively extended under sides 98 and 99 of clasp 94 and over common side 97. Each portion 67 and 69 has a stitched loop, stitched around common side 97 of clasps 94. The length of the respective shoulder straps 31 and 33 can be adjusted by moving portions 67 and 69 through respective clasps 94 and over the loop stitched on common side 97. This is known in the art and will not be explained in further detail.

The back extension or Y-back of the back panel of the bras can have separate slides as shown in FIGS. 10-13. Adjusting clasps 94 and 94′ as shown in FIGS. 10-13 can be used to adjust the respective shoulder straps.

Turning to FIGS. 7-9, the front of an adjustable front-opening bra 101 is shown. Bra 101 is composed of a body portion 103 which constitutes one unit made of three separate components of the bra, including a right front panel 105 (left and right still refer to the directions of a woman wearing the bra) which includes a right cup 107 for holding the wearer's right breast, a left front panel 109 which includes a left cup 111, and a back panel 113 which includes an upstanding Y-back 114, a portion for extending across a woman's back and includes two side parts, a rearward right side part 115 and rearward left side part 117 which cover part of the respective rearward right and left sides of the wearer of the bra; the remaining parts of the sides of bra 101 are forward right and left side portions 119 and 121 of respective front panels 105 and 109. Cups 107 and 111 are preferably constructed by molding them using a molding process known in the art. Back panel 113 is connected to front panels 105 and 109 by means of stitching at respective right and left seams 123 and 125. A label 126 can be stitched in one of the seams, such as right seam 123. Shining 127 is provided at the base of right front panel 105 beneath the wearer's bust and similar shining 129 is provided at the lower part of the left front panel 109 which would be below the bust of a person wearing bra 101. Shirring 127 and 129 help to define the respective cups 107 and 111 in each of respective right and front panels 105 and 109. A right shoulder strap 131 and a left shoulder strap 133 extend from upwardly extending portions 135 and 137 of respective front panels 105 and 109.

An elastic base band, elastic strap or chest band 139 extends across the base of body portion 103 of bra 101, and when bra 101 is in an open state as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, base band 139 has a short end portion 141 (and need not necessarily extend beyond the base of body portion 103) extending beyond body portion 103 of bra 101 and a long left end portion 143 extending beyond the other end of the body portion 103. Bra 101 is adjustable. In order to provide for this adjustment, latching structure in the form of a first set of inwardly facing (away from the wearer) eyelets 145-147 is provided on the outside (distal the wearer of bra 101) at the right side of bra 101 commencing near the middle of right cup 107. Eyelets 145-147 are components of an eyelet holding piece 149 which is composed of four overlapping pieces of fabric which appear to be pockets into which eyelets 145-147 are respectively placed and sewn in. Eyelets 145-147 can selectively be engaged by a latch-engaging structure in the form of a hook 151 shown at the end of long left inside end portion 143 of band 139 in FIG. 8, and in FIG. 9. Hook 151 is also a component of a tab 153 which has the appearance of a pocket, also having hook 151 sewn therein. At the opposite end of band 139, at the end of short right end portion 141 of band 139 is another latch-engaging structure in the form of a hook 155 which is sewn on a tab 157 identical to tab 153. On the opposite side of band 139 from eyelets 145-147 is another latching structure in the form of a set of eyelets 159-161 which commence near the middle of cup 111 and extend as shown in FIG. 8. Hook 151 can selectively enter any one of eyelets 145-147 in order to secure bra 101 to the wearer. Bra 101 has its loosest fit when hook 151 enters eyelet 147 and hook 155 enters eyelet 161, and has the tightest fit when hook 151 engages eyelet 145, and hook 155 engages eyelet 159. Eyelets 159-161 are held in eyelet holding piece 162 which is identical to eyelet holding piece 149, as shown in FIG. 7A in an enlarged form.

The outer edge of body portion 103 of bra 101 above band 139 (as shown in FIGS. 7-9) is defined by a hem 163. Hem 163 is stretchable by the same amount of stretch of the fabric of which body portion 103 is composed. Hem 163 is located on both sides of straps 131 and 133, and extends along the edges of body 103, except for the part of body 103 where band 139 is located.

In order to adjust the length of straps 131 and 133, each strap 131 and 133 has an identical slide 94 discussed above with reference to FIG. 6. Each strap 131 and 133 has an end portion 179 and 181, respectively, which is slid through one of openings 95 and 96 and stitched to close the loop at seams 183 and 185, respectively. A pair of looped tabs 187 and 189 extends from Y-back 114 of back panel 113 and through the other of openings 95 and 96. Stitching forming a seam 193 extends through both ends of tabs 187 and 189, and through Y-back 114 to lock respective slides 94 to Y-back 114 and slides 94. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-9 is simple in construction, and the length of straps 131 and 133 cannot be varied.

A variation of the adjustable front-opening bra is shown in FIGS. 10-13 as front-opening, adjustable bra 101′. Except for the straps and the slides for attaching to the straps to the center of stem of the back panel of bra 101′, the construction of bras 101 and 101′ is virtually identical in construction. These portions of bra 101′ which may have a slightly different configuration than those of bra 101 are given a prime (') designation. Therefore, front-opening, adjustable bra 101′ is shown in FIGS. 10-13. Bra 101′ has a right shoulder strap 131′ and a left shoulder strap 133′. Bra 101′ has a pair of slides 94 and 94′ on each of straps 131′ and 133′, slides 94 and 94′ being identical. Straps 131′ and 133′ are shown having a covering 134. Other than the use of slides 94 and 94′ for adjusting the length of straps 131′ and 133′, bra 101 and bra 101′ are essentially the same, as noted above, and a description of bra 101′ can be determined from the description provided for bra 101 in FIGS. 7-9.

Bra 101′ has a pair of tabs 187 and 189 which extend through slides 94, as explained with respect to FIGS. 7-9. Slide 94 and 94′ are identical, as stated above, and reference is made to the description of FIG. 6 discussed earlier. Lower slides 94 are attached to Y-back 114′ by means of tabs 187 and 189. As shown in FIG. 12, an upper right loop 195 and an upper left loop 197 are closed by the other stitching at right seam 198 and left seam 199, respectively, to form a closed loop around wall 97 of slides 94. Right strap 131′ and left strap 133′ extend from seams 198 and 199, respectively, wrap around one of walls 98 and 99 of slide 94′ (see FIG. 6), and continue up through one of openings 95 and 96 of slide 94′, across wall 97 and back through the other of openings 95 and 96. By regulating the amount of straps 131′ and 133′ extending through the respective slides 94′, the effective length of straps 131′ and 133′ can be adjusted. The details of the attachment of the outside end portion 141 of chest band 39 to one of eyelets 59-61 is shown in FIG. 10A.

The preferred embodiments of the invention described herein uses eyelets as the latching structure and hooks as the latch-engaging structure. Adjustment of the size of the chest band is made by selecting one of at least two eyelets on the base band and inserting the appropriate hook at the end of the band. It is also within the scope of the invention to reverse the positions of the hooks and eyelets, there being two sets of at least two hooks and single eyelets at the ends of the chest band for receiving the selected hook.

The front-opening, adjustable bra according to some of the preferred embodiments of the invention can be described as follows. The latching structure is parenthetically identified as eyelets, and the latch-engaging structure is parenthetically referred to as hooks. The inventive bra includes an elastic base band having opposite free ends, an inside end portion adjacent one of its free ends and an outside end portion adjacent to other of its free ends. The base band has an inwardly facing surface facing the wearer's skin when the bra is worn, and an outwardly facing surface facing away from the wearer's skin when the bra is worn. The bra further has a back panel attached to the base band between the free ends which extends in an upward direction when the wearer is in an upright position. The bra also has front panels attached to the base band between the respective back panels and the respective free ends. Each of the front panels includes a breast cup, and the front panels extend in the upward direction when the wearer is in an upright position. The bra according to the invention includes a selected one of at least two spaced latching structures (eyelets) and at least two spaced latch-engaging structures (hooks) disposed on the outwardly facing surface of the inside end portion of the base band, and a selected one of a respective and outwardly facing latch-engaging structure (hooks) and an outwardly facing latching structure (eyelet) disposed on the free end adjacent the selected one of the at least two spaced latching structures (eyelets) and the at least two spaced latch-engaging structures (hooks). In other words, the base band in its preferred embodiments can have a set of eyelets or hooks facing outwardly, and a hook or an eyelet is located at the other end of the base band for engaging the selected eyelet or hook to establish the size of the bra.

The bra of the invention further includes a second set of a selected one of at least two spaced latching structures (eyelets) and at least two spaced latch-engaging structures (hooks) disposed on the inwardly facing surface of the outside end portion, a selected one of a respective and inwardly facing latch-engaging structure (hook) and an inwardly facing latching structure (eyelet) disposed on the free end adjacent the selected one of at least two spaced latching structures (eyelets) and at least two latch-engaging structures (hooks). That is, the outside end portion of the base band has at least two eyelets or hooks on the inwardly facing surface of the base band and one of a hook or eyelet on the free end of the other end of the base band for cooperating with the eyelets or hooks to connect them together.

The inventive bra also has a pair of shoulder strap assemblies, each assembly including a back strap portion attached to the back panel, a front strap portion attached to a respective one of the front panels, for assisting in holding said front-opening, adjustable bra on a wearer's body. The front-opening, adjustable bra is placeable on a wearer's body with the base band engaging the wearer's chest, sides and back, with the back panel extending upwardly to cover a part of the wearer's back. The respective shoulder strap assemblies extend over the wearer's respective shoulders, and the inside end portion of the base band is placeable beneath one of the wearer's breasts with the cup portion of the respective front panel covering the respective breast. The outside end portion of the base band beneath the latter front panel is movable over said inside end portion beneath the wearer's other breast with the other cup portion being placeable over the other of the wearer's breasts. The selected one of the outwardly extending latch-engaging structure (hook) and the outwardly facing latching structure (eyelet) of said inside end portion engages a selected one of said inwardly facing selected one of the respective latching structures (eyelets) and latch-engaging structure (hooks) on said outside end portion to assist in setting the size of said front-opening, adjustable bra. Likewise, the inwardly extending respective selected one of the latch-engaging structure (hook) and latching structure (eyelet) of the outside end portion engages a selected one of the selected one of said outwardly extending latching structure (eyelet) and said latch-engaging structure (hook) of the inside end portion of the base band to complete the setting of the size of said front-opening, adjustable bra. The respective latching structures (eyelets) and latch-engaging structures (hooks) only being selectable to cooperate with the respective other of the latch-engaging structures (hooks) and the latching structures (eyelets). Stated differently, a woman puts on the inventive bra by first engaging the outwardly facing hook or eyelet on inside end portion of the base band with the inwardly facing set of eyelets or hooks at the other end portion of the band to set part of the size of the bra. The latching structures can only operate with latch-engaging structures, i.e. hooks can only work with eyelets, so the selection of a hook or eyelet necessarily requires the selection of the other device so that they can function as required. The woman then engages the inwardly facing hook or eyelet at the end of the outside end portion of the base band with the selected one of the outwardly facing eyelet or hook at the other end portion of the base band to complete the setting of the size of the bra.

Numerous variations are possible for the inventive bra. As mentioned, the shoulder straps can be fixed or adjustable. The back panel is preferably a T-back or Y-back, but could be straight across as well. The latch structures are preferably eyelets, each being provided in an assembly having three eyelets. The cups can be soft cups or moulded cups. The upper edges of the back and front panels are preferably made from an elastic strap which is held in by a zigzag stitch. When the inventive bra is worn, it is preferred that none of the adjustment structures is visible. Other attachment structures are available, such as Velcro®.

The three-loop slide for connecting the shoulder straps to the back panel of the bra is a very helpful device. It reduces the size of the connecting structure, taking away the bulk of the multi-clasp former structure. Furthermore, it is easier and less expensive to attach it to the bra.

The present invention in its preferred form has a number of advantages over the “Wrap 'N Snap” nursing bra discussed earlier. The respective engagement of the hooks and eyelets is easy, and can be done if necessary sight unseen, as the hooks are easy to install in the eyelets. This is far easier than installing the respective balls in the respective snaps—done without the snap components being visible. The attachment in the present invention in its preferred from is not done with force against the wearer's skin. When used for nursing, uncoupling the inventive cup can be done easily—and can be done again sight unseen. Few if any of the attaching components touch the wearer's skin, avoiding the uncomfortable characteristic of the “Wrap 'N Snap” bra.

The present invention thus provides an easy to put on and take off front adjustable bra. The size of the bra across the wearer's chest can easily be altered. The bra can readily be adapted to be a nursing bra, which the wearer undoing the accessible opening hook from the eyelet to which it is latched, to free a breast for nursing. Due to the construction of the eyelets and hooks, there are no little irritating parts of the bra which rub against the wearer's skin. The inventive bra need not be a nursing bra at all, and could be used for ordinary use, as a sports bra—particularly with the three-strap slide, and as a dress bra. Moreover, it could be used as a halter top, as a bathing suit top, and could be fitted with wires as appropriate.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to the preferred embodiments thereof. However, variations and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art from the foregoing material and from the appended claims.

Claims

1. A front-opening, adjustable bra comprising:

an elastic base band having opposite free ends, an inside end portion adjacent one of said free ends and an outside end portion adjacent to other of said free ends, said base band having an inwardly facing surface facing the wearer's skin when the bra is worn, and an outwardly facing surface facing away from the wearer's skin when the bra is worn.

a back panel attached to said base band between said free ends and extending in the upward direction.

front panels attached to said base band between said respective back panels and said respective free ends, said front panels each including breast cups and extending in the upward direction;

a first set of at least two spaced latching structures disposed on the outwardly facing surface of said inside end portion and an outwardly facing latch-engaging structure disposed on the free end adjacent said first set of at least two spaced latching structures;

a second set of at least two spaced latching structures disposed on the inwardly facing surface of said outside end portion and an inwardly facing latch-engaging structure disposed on the free end adjacent said outside end portion;

a pair of shoulder strap assemblies, each assembly including a back strap portion attached to said back panel, a front strap portion attached to a respective one of said front panels, for assisting in holding said front-opening, adjustable bra on a wearer's body;

said front-opening, adjustable bra being placeable on a wearer's body with said base band being placeable on the wearer's body and the back panel extending upwardly to cover a part of the wearer's back, the respective shoulder strap assemblies extending over the wearer's respective shoulders, and said inside end portion of said base band being placeable beneath one of the wearer's breasts with the cup portion of the respective front panel covering the respective breast and outside end portion and said front panel attached thereto being movable over said inside end portion with the cup portion being placeable over the other of the wearer's breast, and the outwardly extending latch-engaging structure of said inside end portion engaging a selected one of said inwardly facing latching structures on said outside end portion to assist in setting the size of said front-opening, adjustable bra, and the inwardly extending latch-engaging structure of said outside end portion engaging a selected one of said outwardly extending latching structure of said inside end portion to complete the setting of the size of said front-opening, adjustable bra.

2. A front-opening, adjustable bra according to claim 1 wherein said inside end portion of said base band is at least partly disposed beneath said front panel extending upwardly from said inside end portion, and said outside end portion of said base band is at least partly disposed beneath said front panel extending upwardly from said outside end portion.

3. A front-opening, adjustable bra according to claim 2 wherein said inside end portion extends further from said front panel attached to said inside end portion than the said outside end portion ends from said front said panel attached to said outside end portion.

4. A front-opening, adjustable bra according to claim 1 wherein said latching structures are eyelets, and said latch-engaging structures are hooks configured and dimensioned to releasably engage selected ones of said eyelets.

5. A front-opening, adjustable bra according to claim 4 wherein each set of eyelets comprise three eyelets spaced longitudinally along respective selected portions of said base band.

6. A front-opening, adjustable bra according to claim 1 wherein said back panel has a Y-back configuration having an upstanding back panel with a central portion narrower than the remaining part of said back panel, and said back strap portions are attached to said central portion adjacent to each other.

7. A front-opening, adjustable bra according to claim 6 wherein each of said shoulder strap assemblies include a relatively short strap portion attached to and extending from said central portion of said back panel, and a relatively long strap portion for operative attachment to said short strap portions; and a slide for operatively attaching said short strap portions and said long strap portion together, said slide comprising:

a set of integral walls defining an elongated loop for holding said short strap portions in a side-by-side relationship, said elongated loop having opposite ends; and

a set of integral walls defining a pair of loops extending from each of said opposite ends for defining a general triangle of said loops, each of said pair of loops receiving one of said relatively long straps for operatively connecting said long straps to said back panel.

8. A front-opening, adjustable bra according to claim 7 wherein said set of integral walls defining said elongated loop, and said set of integral walls defining said pair of loops, are integral with each other.

9. A front-opening, adjustable bra according to claim 7 wherein strap length-adjusting structures are operatively associated with each of said long straps for adjusting the length of said shoulder straps.

10. A front-opening, adjustable bra according to claim 1 wherein said shoulder strap for said front flap attached to said outside end portion of said base band has a releasable closure assembly for selectively releasing said last-mentioned front flap to enable nursing of the breast covered by said last-mentioned front flap.

11. A front-opening, adjustable bra according to claim 2 wherein said inside end portion extends by a shorter distance from said front panel attached to said inside end portion than the said outside end portion extends from said panel attached to the outside end portion.

12. A front-opening, adjustable bra comprising:

an elastic base band having opposite free ends, an inside end portion adjacent one of said free ends and an outside end portion adjacent to other of said free ends, said base band having an inwardly facing surface facing the wearer's skin when the bra is worn, and an outwardly facing surface facing away from the wearer's skin when the bra is worn.

a back panel attached to said base band between said free ends and extending in the upward direction.

front panels attached to said base band between said respective back panels and said respective free ends, said front panels each including breast cups and extending in the upward direction;

a selected one of at least two spaced latching structures and at least two spaced latch-engaging structures disposed on the outwardly facing surface of said inside end portion, a selected one of a respective and outwardly facing latch-engaging structure and an outwardly facing latching structure disposed on the free end adjacent the selected one of said at least two spaced latching structures and said at least two spaced latch-engaging structures;

a second set of a selected one of at least two spaced latching structures and at least two spaced latch-engaging structures disposed on the inwardly facing surface of said outside end portion, a selected one of a respective and inwardly facing latch-engaging structure and an inwardly facing latching structure disposed on the free end adjacent said selected one of at least two spaced latching structures and at least two latch-engaging structures;

a pair of shoulder strap assemblies, each assembly including a back strap portion attached to said back panel, a front strap portion attached to a respective one of said front panels, for assisting in holding said front-opening, adjustable bra on a wearer's body;

said front-opening, adjustable bra being placeable on a wearer's body with said base band being placeable on the wearer's body and the back panel extending upwardly to cover a part of the wearer's back, the respective shoulder strap assemblies extending over the wearer's respective shoulders, and said inside end portion of said base band being placeable beneath one of the wearer's breasts with the cup portion of the respective front panel covering the respective breast and outside end portion and said front panel attached thereto being movable over said inside end portion with the cup portion being placeable over the other of the wearer's breast, and the selected one of the outwardly extending latch-engaging structure and the outwardly facing latching structure of said inside end portion engaging a selected one of said inwardly facing selected one of the respective latching structures and latch-engaging structure on said outside end portion to assist in setting the size of said front-opening, adjustable bra, and the inwardly extending respective selected one of the latch-engaging structure and latching structure and latching structure of said outside end portion engaging a selected one of the selected one of said outwardly extending latching structure and said latch-engaging structure of said inside end portion to complete the setting of the size of said front-opening, adjustable bra, the respective latching structures and latch-engaging structures only being selectable to cooperate with the respective other of the latch-engaging structures and the latching structures.

13. A front-opening, adjustable bra according to claim 12 wherein said inside end portion of said base band is at least partly disposed beneath said front panel extending upwardly from said inside end portion, and said outside end portion of said base band is at least partly disposed beneath said front panel extending upwardly from said outside end portion.

14. A front-opening, adjustable bra according to claim 13 wherein said inside end portion extends further from said front panel attached to said inside end portion than the said outside end portion ends from said front panel attached to said outside end portion.

15. A front-opening, adjustable bra according to claim 12 wherein said respective latching structures are eyelets, and said respective latch-engaging structures are hooks configured and dimensioned to releasably engage selected ones of said eyelets.

16. A front-opening, adjustable bra according to claim 15 wherein each set of eyelets comprises three eyelets spaced longitudinally along respective selected portions of said base band.

17. A front-opening, adjustable bra according to claim 12 wherein said back panel has a Y-back configuration having an upstanding back panel with a central portion narrower than the remaining part of said back panel, and said back strap portions are attached to said central portion adjacent to each other.

18. A front-opening, adjustable bra according to claim 17 wherein each of said shoulder strap assemblies include a relatively short strap portion attached to and extending from said central portion of said back panel, and a relatively long strap portion for operative attachment to said short strap portions; and a slide for operatively attaching said short strap portions and said long strap portions together, said slide comprising:

set of integral walls defining an elongated loop for holding said short strap portions in a side-by-side relationship, said elongated loop having opposite ends; and

a set of integral walls defining a pair of loops extending from each of said opposite ends for defining a general triangle of said loops, each of said pair of loops receiving one of said relatively long straps for operatively connecting said long straps to said back panel.

19. A front-opening, adjustable bra according to claim 18 wherein said set of integral walls defining said elongated loop, and said set of integral walls defining said pair of loops, are integral with each other.

20. A front-opening, adjustable bra according to claim 18 wherein strap length-adjusting structures are operatively associated with each of said long straps for adjusting the length of said shoulder straps.

21. A front-opening, adjustable bra according to claim 12 wherein said shoulder strap for said front flap attached to said outside end portion of said base band has a releasable closure assembly for selectively releasing said last-mentioned front flap to enable nursing of the breast covered by said last-mentioned front flap.

22. A front-opening, adjustable bra according to claim 13 wherein said inside end portion extends by a shorter distance from said front panel attached to said inside end portion than the said outside end portion extends from said panel attached to the outside end portion.

23. A slide for a bra having a back panel having a central portion, and shoulder strap assemblies, the shoulder strap assemblies each including a relatively short strap portion attached to and extending from the central portion of the back panel of the bra, and a relatively long strap portion for operative attachment to the respective short strap portions, said slide comprising:

a first set of integral walls defining an elongated loop for holding the respective short strap portions in a side-by-side relationship, said elongated loop having opposite ends; and

a second set of integral walls defining a pair of loops extending from each of said opposite ends for defining a general triangle of said loops, each of said pair of loops receiving one of the relatively long straps for operatively connecting the long straps to the back panel.

24. A slide according to claim 23 wherein said set of integral walls defining said elongated loop, and said set of integral walls defining said pair of loops, are integral with each other.

25. A slide according to claim 23 wherein said first set of integral walls defining said elongated loop are configured to define said elongated loop to have flat opposing sides on opposite sides of an opening for receiving the relatively short strap portion.

26. A slide according to claim 23 wherein said second set of integral walls defining said pair of loops are configured to define each loop of said pair of loops to have opposing flat sides of respective openings for receiving the respective long straps.