METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED BRA

Info

Publication number: 20160037829
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 5, 2014
Publication Date: Feb 11, 2016
Inventor: Jennifer Cronin (Lavallete, NJ)
Application Number: 14/451,823

Abstract

A bra including first and second breast portion each having a top and a bottom, and a junction section which is substantially smaller than the first and second breast portions. In at least one embodiment, the junction section connects the top of the first breast portion to the top of the second breast portion, and there is an open area from the junction section to the bottom of the first and second breast portions; and the open area is substantially greater than the junction section. The bra may further include first, second, third, and fourth straps, which are connected at their first ends to left side at the top of the first breast portion, right side at the top of the first breast portion, left side at the top of the second breast portion, and right side at the top of the second breast portion, respectively.

Description

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus concerning bras.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are various devices known in the prior art for bras.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

At least one embodiment of the present invention provides a bra comprising a first breast portion having a top and a bottom, a second breast portion having a top and a bottom, and a junction section which is substantially smaller than the first breast portion and the second breast portion. In at least one embodiment, the junction section connects the top of the first breast portion to the top of the second breast portion, and there is an open area from the junction section to the bottom of the first breast portion and the second breast portion, and the open area is substantially greater than the junction section.

The bra may further include a first strap, which is connected at its first end to a left side at the top of the first breast portion, a second strap which is connected at its first end to a right side at the top of the first breast portion, a third strap which is connected at its first end to a left side at the top of the second breast portion, and a fourth strap which is connected at its first end to a right side at the top of the second breast portion.

The first strap may have a second end which is opposite its first end, and wherein the first strap is connected at its second end to a second end of the second strap, wherein the second end of the second strap is opposite its first end. The third strap may have a second end which is opposite its first end, and wherein the third strap is connected at its second end to a second end of the fourth strap, wherein the second end of the fourth strap is opposite its first end.

In at least one embodiment a method is provided which includes placing a bra on a woman's body, wherein the bra includes a first breast portion having a top and a bottom, a second breast portion having a top and a bottom, and a junction section which is substantially smaller than the first breast portion and the second breast portion; and wherein the junction section connects the top of the first breast portion to the top of the second breast portion, there is an open area from the junction section to the bottom of the first breast portion and the second breast portion, and the open area is substantially greater than the junction section. The bra may have other features as previously described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of a first bra in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of a second bra in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a front perspective view of a prior art bra placed on a model; and

FIG. 4 shows a front perspective view of a third bra in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention placed on the model of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of a bra 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The bra 1 includes underwires 2a and 2b, cups 4a and 4b, coverage areas 6a and 6b, straps 8a and 8b, junction 10, bra bands 12a and 12b, bra straps 14a and 14b, bra straps 16a and 16b, underwires 18a and 18b, bra wings 20a and 20b, hooks 22a and 22b, arm openings 24a and 24b, openings 26a and 26b, strap portions 28a and 28b, and a gap 30.

In order to wear the bra 1, a woman would put her right arm through the opening 24a, put her left arm through the opening 24b, and attach hook 22a to hook 22b around her back. With the right and left arm inserted through the openings 24a and 24b, respectively, and the hooks 22a and 22b connected around the woman's back, the strap portions 28a and 28b should be made to rest on the woman's right and left shoulders, respectively, and the woman's right and left breasts should be placed in the cups 4a and 4b, respectively.

The bra 1 includes a gap or open area 30, which is substantially larger than the junction section 10. The double strap configuration on each side, i.e. straps 8a and 14a on one side and straps 8b and 14b on the other side, allow the use of a small and/or narrow junction 10 to join the right side or cup 4a with the left side or cup 4b, which allows the formation of the gap 30. The gap 30 prevents the bra 1 from contacting a scar or stitches from a surgery, or from contacting an injured or sensitive area on the body of a woman who is wearing the bra 1. FIG. 4 demonstrates the use of a gap similar or identical to gap 30, with a bra 254 which may be or may be replaced by a bra similar or identical to bra 1.

FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of a bra 100 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The bra 100 may include bra bands 104a and 104b, bra cups 102a and 102b, bra straps 108a and 108b, bra straps 110a and 110b, hooks 112a and 112b, junction 114, gap 116, and may have openings 118a and 118b.

In order to wear the bra 100, a woman would put her right arm through the opening 118a, put her left arm through the opening 118b, and attach hook 112a to hook 112b around her back. With the right and left arm inserted through the openings 118a and 118b, respectively, and the hooks 112a and 112b connected around the woman's back, the strap portions 120a and 120b should be made to rest on the woman's right and left shoulders, respectively, and the woman's right and left breasts should be placed in the cups 102a and 102b, respectively.

The bra 100 includes a gap 116. The double strap configuration on each side, i.e. straps 110a and 108a on one side and straps 108b and 110b on the other side, allow the use of a small and/or narrow junction 114 to join the right side or cup 102a with the left side or cup 102b, which allows the formation of the gap 116. The gap 116 prevents the bra 100 from contacting a scar or stitches from a surgery, or from contacting an injured or sensitive area on the body of a woman who is wearing the bra 100. FIG. 4 demonstrates the use of a gap similar or identical to gap 116, with a bra 254 which may be or may be replaced by a bra similar or identical to bra 100.

FIG. 3 shows a front perspective view of a prior art bra 204 placed on a model 202 representing the body of a woman. The bra 204 may include straps 204a and 204b, and portion 204c. The portion 204c, at least partially makes contact with and overlaps a substantially vertical scar 206 and stiches 208a and 208b. The stitches 208a and 208b may be part of a plurality of stitches 208. The bra portion 204c is shown in a see through or transparent mode in FIG. 3, however, typically the bra portion 204c would cover the stitches 208a and 208b and part of the scar 206c, so that the stitches 208a and 208b and part of the scar 206c would not be able to be seen. The straps 204a and 204b are placed over shoulders 202a and 202b of the model 202.

FIG. 4 shows a front perspective view of a bra 254 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention placed on the model 202. The bra 254 includes straps 258a and 258b, straps 260a and 260b, cups 256a and 256b, junction 262, bands 264a and 264b, and has gap 266. The bra 254 may include any of the features and/or aspects of the bras 1 and 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, but which may not be shown in FIG. 4. For example, the bra 254 may include hooks, not shown, similar or identical to hooks 22a and 22b of FIG. 1, for attaching the bra 254 behind a woman's back. The bra 254 may also include straps similar or identical to straps 16a and 16b, and openings similar or identical to openings 24a and 24b shown in FIG. 1.

A woman may put in right and left arms through openings, not shown, similar or identical to openings 24a and 24b of FIG. 1, for bra 254, and then connect hooks, not shown, similar or identical to hooks 22a and 22b of FIG. 1, for bra 254. The hooks for bra 254 would be attached to the bands 264a and 264b. The bra 254 has a narrow and/or small junction 262 which allows for a gap or open area 266, which is substantially larger than the small junction 262, and which prevents or inhibits the scar 206 and stitches 208a and 208b from coming in contact with the bra 254. In FIG. 4, the junction 262, in at least one embodiment, is configured to be above the top of the breasts of the woman that the bra 254 is placed on. This configuration avoids contact of the junction 262 and of the bra 254 with scars and or stitches that result from various surgeries.

Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of the present invention's contribution to the art.

Claims

1. A bra comprising:

a first strap having a first end and an opposing second end;

a second strap having a first end and an opposing second end;

a third strap having a first end and an opposing second end;

a fourth strap having a first end and an opposing second end;

a first cup;

a second cup;

a first strap portion;

a second strap portion;

wherein the first end of the first strap and the first end of the second strap are connected together at the first strap portion;

wherein the first end of the third strap and the first end of the fourth strap are connected together at the second strap portion;

wherein the second end of the first strap and the second end of the second strap are spaced apart from each other and the first cup is between the second end of the first strap and the second end of the second strap;

wherein the second end of the third strap and the second end of the fourth strap are spaced apart from each other and the second cup is between the second end of the third strap and the second end of the fourth strap;

wherein the first strap portion is spaced apart from the first cup; and

wherein the second strap portion is spaced apart from the second cup.

2. The bra of claim 1

wherein the first strap portion is configured to rest on a first shoulder of a woman while a first breast of the woman is located in the first cup, and simultaneously the second strap portion is configured to rest on a second shoulder of the woman while a second breast of the woman is located in the second cup.

3. The bra of claim 1 further comprising

a first opening located in a region delineated by the the first strap, the second strap, and the first cup; and

a second opening located in a region delineated by the third strap, the fourth strap, and the second cup.

4. A method comprising

connecting a first end of a first strap of a bra and a first end of a second strap of the bra at a first strap portion of the bra;

connecting a first end of a third strap of the bra and a first end of a fourth strap of the bra at a second strap portion of the bra;

connecting a second end of the first strap, which is opposite the first end of the first strap, and a second end of the second strap, which is opposite the first end of the second strap, to a first cup of the bra so that the second end of the first strap and the second end of the second strap are spaced apart and the first cup is between the second end of the first strap and the second end of the second strap, and spaced apart from the first strap portion; and

connecting a second end of the third strap, which is opposite the first end of the third strap, and a second end of the fourth strap, which is opposite the first end of the fourth strap, to a second cup of the bra so that the second end of the third strap and the second end of the fourth strap are spaced apart and the second cup is between the second end of the third strap and the second end of the fourth strap, and spaced apart from the second strap portion.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising

placing the bra on a body of a woman, so that the first strap portion rests on a first shoulder of the woman, the second strap portion rests on a second shoulder of the woman, a first breast of the woman is inserted inside the first cup, and a second breast of the woman is inserted in the second cup.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein

there is a first opening located in a region delineated by the first strap, the second strap, and the first cup; and

there is a second opening located in a region delineated by the third strap, the fourth strap, and the second cup.

7. The bra of claim 1 wherein

the first strap, the second strap, and the first cup delineate a first triangular region; and

the third strap, the fourth strap, and the second cup delineate a second triangular region.

8. The bra of claim 7 wherein

the first triangular region has three vertices and the second triangular region has three vertices, and only one of the three vertices of the first triangular region is in common with only one of the three vertices of the second triangular region.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein

the first strap, the second strap, and the first cup delineate a first triangular region; and

the third strap, the fourth strap, and the second cup delineate a second triangular region.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein

the first triangular region has three vertices and the second triangular region has three vertices, and only one of the three vertices of the first triangular region is in common with only one of the three vertices of the second triangular region.

11. The bra of claim 1 wherein

the bra includes a first closed loop which is defined by the first strap portion, the first strap, the first cup, a first bra band, and a fifth strap,

wherein the first strap portion is connected to the first strap, the first strap is connected to the first cup, the first cup is connected to the first bra band, the first bra band is connected to the fifth strap, and the fifth strap is connected to the first strap portion to form the first closed loop;

wherein the fifth strap has a length which is about equal to a combined length of the first strap and the first cup;

wherein the bra includes a second closed loop which is defined by the second strap portion, the third strap, the second cup, a second bra band, and a sixth strap,

wherein the second strap portion is connected to the third strap, the third strap is connected to the second cup, the second cup is connected to the second bra band, the second bra band is connected to the sixth strap, and the sixth strap is connected to the second strap portion to form the second closed loop; and

wherein the sixth strap has a length which is about equal to a combined length of the third strap and the second cup.

12. The bra of claim 11 wherein

the first strap has a length which is about half the length of the fifth strap; and

the third strap has a length which is about half the length of the sixth strap.

13. The bra of claim 1 wherein

the first strap comes in contact with the first cup at only the second end of the first strap, the second strap comes in contact with the first cup at only the second end of the second strap, the third strap comes in contact with the second cup at only the second end of the third strap, and the fourth strap comes in contact with the second cup at only the second end of the fourth strap.

14. The bra of claim 1 wherein

the second end of the first strap and the second end of the second strap are connected to the first cup so that a majority of the first cup lies below a first straight line which includes the second end of the first strap and the second end of the second strap, when the bra is worn by a woman standing in an upright position, such that a first breast of the woman is in the first cup, a second breast of the woman is in the second cup, the first strap portion is on a first shoulder of the woman, and the second strap portion is on a second shoulder of the woman; and

wherein the second end of the third strap and the second end of the fourth strap are connected to the second cup so that a majority of the second cup lies below a second straight line which includes the second end of the third strap and the second end of the fourth strap, when the bra is worn by the woman standing in an upright position, such that the first breast of the woman is in the first cup, the second breast of the woman is in the second cup, the first strap portion is on the first shoulder of the woman, and the second strap portion is on the second shoulder of the woman.

15. The bra of claim 1 wherein

the second end of the first strap and the second end of the second strap are connected to the first cup so that the entire first cup lies below a first straight line which includes the second end of the first strap and the second end of the second strap, when the bra is worn by a woman standing in an upright position, such that a first breast of the woman is in the first cup, a second breast of the woman is in the second cup, the first strap portion is on a first shoulder of the woman, and the second strap portion is on a second shoulder of the woman; and

wherein the second end of the third strap and the second end of the fourth strap are connected to the second cup so that the entire second cup lies below a second straight line which includes the second end of the third strap and the second end of the fourth strap, when the bra is worn by the woman standing in an upright position, such that the first breast of the woman is in the first cup, the second breast of the woman is in the second cup, the first strap portion is on the first shoulder of the woman, and the second strap portion is on the second shoulder of the woman.

16. The bra of claim 1 wherein

the first cup is fixed to the second cup at one and only one junction; and

wherein the majority of the first cup and the majority of the second cup lie below the one and only one junction when the bra is worn by a woman standing in an upright position, such that a first breast of the woman is in the first cup, a second breast of the woman is in the second cup, the first strap portion is on a first shoulder of the woman, and the second strap portion is on a second shoulder of the woman.

17. The method of claim 4 wherein