NURSING BRA CONVERSION
Nursing bra conversion garments and methods are disclosed. Nursing bra conversion allows conversion of bras from one configuration into another, increasing the likelihood of extending the useful lifespan of the bra garment.
Priority is claimed to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/443,528, entitled “Nursing Bra Conversion”, filed Feb. 16, 2011, which is incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUNDNursing bras are a popular product in use today. Nursing bras provide nursing convenience as well as fashion and comfort for nursing mothers. Traditionally, when a mother eventually stops nursing her baby, her nursing bras may be stored for use in nursing possible subsequent babies, given away, or discarded.
SUMMARYNursing bra conversion garments and methods are disclosed. Nursing bra conversion allows conversion of bras from one configuration into another, increasing the likelihood of extending the useful lifespan of the bra garment.
Some example convertible bra garments may include two breast cups attached side by side, two strap keeps, each strap keep positioned within one of the breast cups, two shoulder straps, two fasteners, and two fastener replacements. Each fastener may be configured to attach to a shoulder strap, a breast cup, and a strap keep, and each fastener may be configured to allow attaching and detaching of the breast cup from the fastener to provide a first configuration for the convertible bra garment. The fastener replacements may be attached to the bra garment and configured to replace the two fasteners, that is, to attach to a shoulder strap, a breast cup, and a strap keep, to provide a second configuration for the convertible bra garment. A lateral back strap may also attach to each of the breast cups and extend around the back, and a far end of each shoulder strap may attach to the lateral back strap. Each shoulder strap may also pass through a fastener and attach to a slider, allowing adjustment of a shoulder strap length.
A variety of fastener configurations are possible. The fasteners may for example be configured with semi-permanent attachments to the shoulder straps and strap keeps, and may comprise a clip structure configured to attach and detach the breast cup. Similarly, a variety of fastener replacement configurations are possible. The fastener replacements may for example be configured to make a semi-permanent attachment to the shoulder straps, a breast cups, and strap keeps in the second configuration for the convertible bra garment, e.g., where the fastener replacements are configured as continuous rings. The fastener replacements may also be configured to make an attachable and detachable attachment to one or more of the shoulder straps, a breast cups, and a strap keeps, e.g., where the fastener replacements are configured as spiral attachment structures.
Some example convertible bra garments may be provided with a convertible bra garment kit, in which the fastener replacements are provided with the kit, instead of attached to the bra garment.
Some example methods of manufacturing a convertible bra garment may include attaching a fastener to each of two shoulder straps and strap keeps, wherein each fastener is configured to attach to a shoulder strap, a strap keep, and a breast cup, and each fastener is configured to allow attaching and detaching of the breast cup from the fastener to provide a first configuration for the convertible bra garment; and attaching two fastener replacements to the bra garment, wherein the fastener replacements are configured to replace the fasteners, wherein each fastener replacement is configured to attach to a shoulder strap, a breast cup, and a strap keep to provide a second configuration for the convertible bra garment.
Some example methods of converting a convertible bra garment from a first configuration to a second configuration may include removing a fastener from each of two shoulder straps and strap keeps, wherein each fastener is configured to attach to a shoulder strap, a strap keep, and a breast cup, and each fastener is configured to allow attaching and detaching of the breast cup from the fastener to provide a first configuration for the convertible bra garment; removing two fastener replacements from the bra garment, wherein the fastener replacements are configured to replace the fasteners, wherein each fastener replacement is configured to attach to a shoulder strap, a breast cup, and a strap keep to provide a second configuration for the convertible bra garment; and attaching each fastener replacement to a shoulder strap, breast cup, and a strap keep to configure the bra according to the second configuration for the convertible bra garment. In embodiments in which the fastener replacements are not attached to the bra garment, e.g. in methods involving a convertible bra garment kit, the step of removing two fastener replacements may be omitted.
When the bra garment is in the first configuration 100, the fastener 140 attaches the cup 120, strap keep 130, and shoulder strap 110. In
An attachable and detachable attachment, also referred to as a detachable attachment, is defined herein as any attachment that does not require tools or materials, such as thread or glue, and so can be attached and detached by hand. In
Meanwhile, fastener element 140A is configured to make semi-permanent attachment to the shoulder strap 110 and the strap keep 130. Fastener element 140B is configured to make semi-permanent attachment to the cup 120. A semi-permanent attachment is defined herein as any attachment that requires tools or materials, such as thread or glue, and so cannot be attached and detached by hand. In
The terms “semi-permanent”, “attachable and detachable”, and “detachable” are used herein to describe attachment types. The term “attachment” when not further modified, refers to semi-permanent, detachable, or any other attachment type.
In the first configuration 100, fastener 140 is not limited to the clip-type fastener, nor to the particular set of semi-permanent and detachable attachment options illustrated in
When the bra garment is in the second configuration 150, the fastener 160 attaches the cup 120, strap keep 130, and shoulder strap 110. In
In some embodiments, the fastener replacement 160 may be configured to provide a window configured to allow the shoulder strap 110 to slide through, preserving adjustability of the shoulder strap 110. For example, the ring structure illustrated in
The second configuration 150 is defined herein as different from the first configuration 100. The second configuration 150 may be different in fastener replacement 160 having a different fastener type from fastener 140, and/or in fastener replacement 160 having a different set of semi-permanent and/or detachable attachment options for attaching to the cup 120, strap keep 130, and shoulder strap 110. In some embodiments, the difference between the first configuration 100 and the second configuration 150 may include nursing fasteners configured with detachable attachment to the cup 120 in the first configuration 100, and ordinary use fasteners configured with semi-permanent attachment to the cup 120 in the second configuration 150. In some embodiments, the difference between the first configuration 100 and the second configuration 150 may include a difference in fastener type between fastener 140 and fastener replacement 160.
In
In some embodiments, for example, when the fastener replacements are not attached to the bra garment, step 502 may be omitted. Step 501 may include removing a fastener from each of two shoulder straps and strap keeps, wherein each fastener is configured to attach to a shoulder strap, a strap keep, and a breast cup, and each fastener is configured to allow attaching and detaching of the breast cup from the fastener to provide a first configuration for the convertible bra garment. The next step (e.g., step 503) may include attaching a fastener replacement to each of the shoulder straps, breast cups, and a strap keeps, wherein the fastener replacements are configured to replace the fasteners, wherein each fastener replacement is configured to attach to a shoulder strap, a breast cup, and a strap keep to provide a second configuration for the convertible bra garment.
While various embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in art.
Claims
1. A convertible bra garment, comprising:
- two breast cups attached side by side;
- two strap keeps, each strap keep positioned within one of the breast cups;
- two shoulder straps;
- two nursing fasteners, each fastener configured to attach to a shoulder strap, a breast cup, and a strap keep, and each nursing fastener configured to allow attaching and detaching of the breast cup from the nursing fastener to provide a first configuration for the convertible bra garment; and
- two fastener replacements attached to the bra garment and configured to replace the two nursing fasteners, wherein each fastener replacement is an ordinary use fastener configured to attach to a shoulder strap, a breast cup, and a strap keep to provide a second configuration for the convertible bra garment.
2. The convertible bra garment of claim 1, further comprising a lateral back strap attaching to each of the breast cups and extending around the back, wherein a far end of each shoulder strap attaches to the lateral back strap.
3. The convertible bra garment of claim 1, further comprising a slider on each of the shoulder straps, wherein each shoulder strap passes through a fastener and attaches to a slider, allowing adjustment of a shoulder strap length.
4. The convertible bra garment of claim 1, wherein the nursing fasteners are configured with semi-permanent attachments to the shoulder straps and strap keeps, and a clip structure configured to attach and detach the breast cup.
5. The convertible bra garment of claim 1, wherein the fastener replacements are configured to make a semi-permanent attachment to the shoulder straps, a breast cups, and a strap keeps in the second configuration for the convertible bra garment.
6. The convertible bra garment of claim 5, wherein the fastener replacements are configured as continuous rings.
7. The convertible bra garment of claim 1, wherein the fastener replacements are configured to make an attachable and detachable attachment to one or more of the shoulder straps, breast cups, and strap keeps in the second configuration for the convertible bra garment.
8. The convertible bra garment of claim 7, wherein the fastener replacements are configured as spiral attachment structures.
9. A convertible bra garment kit, comprising:
- two breast cups attached side by side;
- two strap keeps, each strap keep positioned within one of the breast cups;
- two shoulder straps;
- two nursing fasteners, each nursing fastener configured to attach to a shoulder strap, a breast cup, and a strap keep, and each nursing fastener configured to allow attaching and detaching of the breast cup from the nursing fastener to provide a first configuration for the convertible bra garment; and
- two fastener replacements provided with the kit and configured to replace the nursing fasteners, wherein each fastener replacement is an ordinary use fastener configured to attach to a shoulder strap, a breast cup, and a strap keep to provide a second configuration for the convertible bra garment, and wherein the second configuration does not allow attaching and detaching of the breast cup from the shoulder strap and strap keep according to the first configuration.
10. A method of manufacturing a convertible bra garment, comprising:
- attaching a nursing fastener to each of two shoulder straps and strap keeps, wherein each nursing fastener is configured to attach to a shoulder strap, a strap keep, and a breast cup, and each nursing fastener is configured to allow attaching and detaching of the breast cup from the fastener to provide a first configuration for the convertible bra garment; and
- attaching two fastener replacements to the bra garment, wherein the fastener replacements are configured to replace the nursing fasteners, wherein each fastener replacement is an ordinary use fastener configured to attach to a shoulder strap, a breast cup, and a strap keep to provide a second configuration for the convertible bra garment.
11. A method of converting a convertible bra garment from a first configuration to a second configuration, comprising:
- removing a nursing fastener from each of two shoulder straps and strap keeps, wherein each nursing fastener is configured to attach to a shoulder strap, a strap keep, and a breast cup, and each nursing fastener is configured to allow attaching and detaching of the breast cup from the nursing fastener to provide a first configuration for the convertible bra garment;
- removing two fastener replacements from the bra garment, wherein the fastener replacements are configured to replace the nursing fasteners, wherein each fastener replacement is an ordinary use fastener configured to attach to a shoulder strap, a breast cup, and a strap keep to provide a second configuration for the convertible bra garment; and
- attaching each fastener replacement to a shoulder strap, breast cup, and a strap keep to configure the bra according to the second configuration for the convertible bra garment.
12. A method of converting a convertible bra garment from a first configuration to a second configuration, comprising:
- removing a nursing fastener from each of two shoulder straps and strap keeps, wherein each nursing fastener is configured to attach to a shoulder strap, a strap keep, and a breast cup, and each nursing fastener is configured to allow attaching and detaching of the breast cup from the nursing fastener to provide a first configuration for the convertible bra garment;
- attaching a fastener replacement to each of the shoulder straps, breast cups, and a strap keeps, wherein the fastener replacements are configured to replace the nursing fasteners, wherein each fastener replacement is an ordinary use fastener configured to attach to a shoulder strap, a breast cup, and a strap keep to provide a second configuration for the convertible bra garment.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 16, 2012
Publication Date: Aug 16, 2012
Applicant: BELLA MATERNA INC. (SEATTLE, WA)
Inventors: ANNE M. DIMOND (SEATTLE, WA), CANDACE M. URQUHART (DES MOINES, WA)
Application Number: 13/398,416
International Classification: A41C 3/04 (20060101); A41C 5/00 (20060101);