CLEAVAGE ENHANCING BRA SYSTEM
A device for enhancing breasts is provided that includes a member adapted to extend along at least a portion of a back of a user and a first cup coupled to a first end of the frame and adapted to at least partially cover a first breast of the user. The device also includes a first element coupled to the first end of the frame and adapted to exert a first mediolateral compressive force on the first breast. A device for enhancing breasts is provided that includes first and second cups coupled to a member adapted to extend along at least a portion of a back of a user. The first and second cups are spaced from each on a front of the user when the device is worn by the user. The device also includes means for enhancing breasts of the user.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/369,872 filed Aug. 2, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to bras or brassieres, and in particular relates to a bra having an open front between the cups and an enhancing element that adjustably increases the cleavage of a person wearing the bra.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Bras have been used to cover, support and enhance a woman's breasts for many years. Bras typically have over-the-shoulder straps, cups for each breast, a strap or straps around the back, and a strap connecting the cups in the front.
Bras are typically worn under clothing and are not visible to others. The trend in women's clothes has been toward more revealing clothes, creating a similar trend in bras to be smaller, thinner and/or less obtrusive. For example, strapless bras are useful for women wearing clothing that reveals the upper part of the shoulders.
Low cut dresses are sometimes worn by women that reveal the area on the chest of a woman between the breasts.
United States Patent Application No. 2010/0009598 discusses an open front undergarment having a form that allows the back of the garment to be closed and the front of the garment to be completely open and free from clasps, fabric or fasteners in the front between the cups. The open front undergarment includes a brassiere having an underwire and an overwire to form a frame, a rear band, a pair of cups extending from opposite ends of the rear band a cover material and a slip-resistant band. The underwire runs through the lower perimeter of a lower portion of the brassiere and the overwire runs through the upper perimeter. The underwire and overwire can be formed of a metal or a metal coated with plastic. The frame can also be formed of a single ductile member. The brassiere also includes a flexure region at the rear band to allow for flexure of the back and torso of the wearer.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,511,641 discusses a self-supporting brassiere that fits snugly without completely encircling the torso, permitting free expansion of the chest without injury to the skin, and producing the novel effect of exposing an area of the body between the breasts.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA device for enhancing breasts is provided that includes a member adapted to extend along at least a portion of a back of a user and a first cup coupled to a first end of the frame and adapted to at least partially cover a first breast of the user. The device also includes a first element coupled to the first end of the frame and adapted to exert a first mediolateral compressive force on the first breast.
The device may include a second cup coupled to a second end of the member and adapted to at least partially cover a second breast of the user, and a second element coupled to the second end of the member and adapted to exert a second mediolateral compressive force on the second breast. In the device, the first and second cups may be spaced from each on a front of the user when the device is worn by the user.
The first element may be adjustable to at least one of increase and decrease the first mediolateral compressive force. The member may include plastic and/or metal. The first cup and/or the first element may be integrally formed with the member.
The first element may include metal wire formed in a loop with both ends of the loop terminating at the first end of the member. The first cup may include metal wire formed in a loop with both ends of the loop terminating at the first end of the member.
The first element may include a plastic paddle. The member may be rigid and/or semi-rigid. The first cup may be adapted to conceal the first element from view when the device is worn by the user.
A device for enhancing breasts is provided that includes first and second cups coupled to a member adapted to extend along at least a portion of a back of a user. The first and second cups are spaced from each on a front of the user when the device is worn by the user. The device also includes means for enhancing breasts of the user situated on the device where the first and second cups are coupled to the member.
The first and second cups may be adapted to at least partially cover a first breast and a second breast of the user, respectively. The means for enhancing breasts of the user may be adapted to exert a first mediolateral compressive force on a first breast of the user and a second mediolateral compressive force on a second breast of the user.
The means for enhancing breasts may be adjustable to increase and/or decrease the first and second mediolateral compressive forces. The member may include plastic and/or metal. The member may be rigid and/or semi-rigid.
The first and second cups may be adapted to at least partially conceal the means for enhancing breasts of the user when the device is worn by the user. The means for enhancing breasts of the user may be integrally formed with the member. The means for enhancing breasts of the user may include first and second metal wire loops coupled to the member proximate to where the first and second cups are coupled to the member. The means for enhancing breasts of the user may include a plastic paddle.
The present invention provides a strapless bra that includes a generally “C” shaped spring frame which extends around the back of the user. Each end of the frame engages a bra cup for supporting the breasts and exerts lateral and radial compressive forces through the bra cups for enhancement of cleavage. A projection from the frame may extend into the cup region to press mediolaterally on the breasts. The projection may be integrated in the frame, and may be composed of metal, plastic, or any other appropriate material.
The structure of the projection may be rigid or semi-rigid, metal or plastic, for instance coat hanger grade metal wire, arranged in a loop extending from the outer edge of the cup region toward the center. Alternatively, a paddle-shaped plastic element may be used.
These objects and the details of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings.
Bra 10 may provide space 28 between cups 12 on a front side of the user. Interior loop 18 may provide a cleavage enhancing function to bra 10 by pressing mediolaterally, or towards a center line, namely towards space 28, on the breasts of the user. The mediolateral force provided by interior loops 18 may derive from the rigid or semi-rigid characteristics of back member 20. The rigid or semi-rigid characteristics of back member 20 may also provide a mediolateral force to cups 12 to improve the covering and/or supporting function of cups 12.
While only a limited number of preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it is obvious that many modifications and variations could be made thereto. For instance, the cleavage enhancing element described herein may be used with a bra having over-the-shoulder straps, and/or with a bra that has cups that connect in the front of a user. It is intended to cover all of those modifications and variations which fall within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.
Claims
1. A device for enhancing breasts, comprising:
- a member adapted to extend along at least a portion of a back of a user;
- a first cup coupled to a first end of the frame and adapted to at least partially cover a first breast of the user; and
- a first element coupled to the first end of the frame and adapted to exert a first mediolateral compressive force on the first breast.
2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:
- a second cup coupled to a second end of the member and adapted to at least partially cover a second breast of the user; and
- a second element coupled to the second end of the member and adapted to exert a second mediolateral compressive force on the second breast;
- wherein the first and second cups are spaced from each on a front of the user when the device is worn by the user.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first element is adjustable to at least one of increase and decrease the first mediolateral compressive force.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the member comprises one of plastic and metal.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first cup and the first element is integrally formed with the member.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first element comprises metal wire formed in a loop with both ends of the loop terminating at the first end of the member.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first cup comprises metal wire formed in a loop with both ends of the loop terminating at the first end of the member.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first element comprises a plastic paddle.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the member is one of rigid and semi-rigid.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein the first cup is adapted to conceal the first element from view when the device is worn by the user.
11. A device for enhancing breasts, comprising:
- first and second cups coupled to a member adapted to extend along at least a portion of a back of a user, the first and second cups being spaced from each on a front of the user when the device is worn by the user; and
- means for enhancing breasts of the user situated on the device where the first and second cups are coupled to the member.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein the first and second cups are adapted to at least partially cover a first breast and a second breast of the user, respectively.
13. The device of claim 11, wherein the means for enhancing breasts of the user are adapted to exert a first mediolateral compressive force on a first breast of the user and a second mediolateral compressive force on a second breast of the user.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein the means for enhancing breasts is adjustable to at least one of increase and decrease the first and second mediolateral compressive forces.
15. The device of claim 11, wherein the member comprises one of plastic and metal.
16. The device of claim 11, wherein the member is one of rigid and semi-rigid.
17. The device of claim 11, wherein the first and second cups are adapted to at least partially conceal the means for enhancing breasts of the user when the device is worn by the user.
18. The device of claim 11, wherein the means for enhancing breasts of the user is integrally formed with the member.
19. The device of claim 11, wherein the means for enhancing breasts of the user comprises first and second metal wire loops coupled to the member proximate to where the first and second cups are coupled to the member.
20. The device of claim 11, wherein the means for enhancing breasts of the user comprises a plastic paddle.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 30, 2011
Publication Date: Feb 2, 2012
Inventor: SAMANTHA SCHMELL (Short Hills, NJ)
Application Number: 13/173,562
International Classification: A41C 3/10 (20060101);