DECORATIVE ATTACHMENT FOR BRASSIERE STRAP FASTENER

Abstract

A decorative brassiere attachment for attaching to the strap fastener mechanism of a conventional brassiere so as to provide a display on a wearer's back that covers the straps of their brassiere. The decorative brassiere attachment has an attachment mechanism with a top side that includes a coupling surface and a bottom side adapted to attach to eyelets on the strap of a conventional brassiere and a decorative element with a decorative aspect designed for stylistic or fashion purposes and a coupling aspect operative to removably attach to the coupling surface. In this regard, by positioning the attachment mechanism in place on the strap fastener mechanism of a conventional brassiere, the decorative element may be attached thereto so as to provide a desired stylistic and/or fashion display from the center of the wearer's back.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to undergarment accessories and, more particularly, to a decorative attachment adapted to be coupled to existing strap fasteners of a brassiere.

Description of the Prior Art

The design and use of a conventional brassiere, or bra, by women as a foundational garment worn for support over breasts or the chest area is well known. Typically, brassieres include a pair of opposing straps that are designed to wrap around the upper body of a wearer and be fastened together so as to allow the brassiere to encircle the wearers body and thereby be secured thereto. Generally, the one of the opposing straps employs a hook mechanism while the other employs a corresponding eyelet mechanism so as to allow the opposing straps to releasably engage and attach to one another. A problem which still exists, however, if a wearer desires to obscure the straps of their brassiere from view, the wearer is generally required to wear a garment that is cut to cover the straps. If it is desired to wear a garment having a cut that does not inherently cover the straps it is generally accepted that the brassiere straps will (unfortunately) be exposed.

Thus, there remains a need for a decorative attachment for a brassiere strap fastener which would eliminate the need for a wearer to cover the straps of their bra with their clothing in order to obscure the straps. It would be helpful if such a decorative brassiere attachment included an attachment mechanism adapted to be coupled with the existing fastening system of a brassiere. It would be additionally desirable for such a decorative brassiere attachment to be useable with various interchangeable decorative elements to allow for stylistic or fashion based selections.

The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a decorative brassiere attachment adapted to attach to the strap fastener mechanism of a conventional brassiere and display a decorative element. The primary components in Applicant's decorative brassiere attachment are an attachment mechanism and an interchangeable decorative element. When in operation, the decorative brassiere attachment enables a wearer to accessorize their back while covering the straps of their brassiere. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A decorative brassiere attachment for attaching to the strap fastener mechanism of a conventional brassiere so as to provide a display on a wearer's back that covers the straps of their brassiere. The decorative brassiere attachment comprises an attachment mechanism having a top side that includes a coupling surface and a bottom side adapted to attach to eyelets on the strap of a conventional brassiere and a decorative element having a decorative aspect designed for stylistic or fashion purposes and a coupling aspect operative to removably attach to the coupling surface. In this regard, by positioning the attachment mechanism in place on the strap fastener mechanism of a conventional brassiere, the decorative element may be attached thereto so as to provide a desired stylistic and/or fashion display from the center of the wearer's back.

It is an object of this invention to provide a decorative attachment for a brassiere strap fastener which would eliminate the need for a wearer to cover the straps of their bra with their clothing in order to obscure the straps.

It is another object of this invention to provide a decorative brassiere attachment that includes an attachment mechanism adapted to be coupled with the existing fastening system of a brassiere.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a decorative brassiere attachment useable with various interchangeable decorative elements to allow for stylistic or fashion based selections.

These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a conventional brassiere strap attachment mechanism built in accordance with the prior art.

FIG. 1A is an elevational view of a conventional brassiere strap attachment mechanism built in accordance with the prior art

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an attachment mechanism for a decorative brassiere attachment built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of an attachment mechanism for a decorative brassiere attachment built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of an attachment mechanism for a decorative brassiere attachment built in accordance with the present invention shown slightly transparent while in place on a conventional brassiere strap attachment mechanism.

FIG. 5A is a bottom plan view of an decorative element of a first design for a decorative brassiere attachment built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a bottom plan view of an decorative element of a second design for a decorative brassiere attachment built in accordance with the present invention

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a decorative brassiere attachment built in accordance with the present invention shown in place on a conventional brassiere strap with a butterfly style decorative element.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a decorative brassiere attachment built in accordance with the present invention shown in place on a conventional brassiere strap with a pearl style decorative element.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a decorative brassiere attachment built in accordance with the present invention shown in place on a conventional brassiere strap with a bow style decorative element.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a decorative brassiere attachment built in accordance with the present invention shown in place on a conventional brassiere strap with a flower style decorative element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1 and 1A, a conventional brassiere 100 typically includes a pair of opposing straps 101 which can be releasably fastened together using a strap attachment mechanism. Generally, such a strap attachment mechanism defines a set of hooks 102 attached to one of the straps 101 and at least one set of corresponding eyelets 103 attached to the other strap 101. In such an implementation, the hooks 102 are engaged with the set of eyelets 103 in order to fasten the opposing straps 101 together.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 1A, 2, 3, and 4, an attachment mechanism 110 for a decorative brassiere attachment is shown having a top side and a bottom side. In one embodiment, the top side includes a coupling surface, such as a surface defined by a loop aspect of a fabric hook and loop fastener. In one embodiment, the bottom side includes at least one hook 111 fixed thereto. It is contemplated that the hook 111 may be embodied by the same size and style of hook 102 present on a conventional brassiere strap 101 or otherwise sized and shaped to selectively engage with and attach to the eyelet(s) 103 on a conventional brassiere strap 101. In addition, it is contemplated that in various embodiments, the bottom side may include substantially any number of hooks 111, such as a single hook 111, two hooks 111, or three hooks 111.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, a decorative element 120 for a decorative brassiere attachment is shown having a decorative aspect 121 and a coupling aspect 122. It is contemplated that the decorative aspect 121 may be sized, shaped and otherwise designed for stylistic or fashion purposes. In one embodiment, the coupling aspect 122 is operative to removably attach to the coupling surface. As such, the coupling aspect 122 may define in one embodiment a surface defined by a hook aspect of a fabric hook and loop fastener. In this regard, when the attachment mechanism 110 is in place on the strap fastener mechanism of a conventional brassiere, the decorative element 120 may be attached thereto to provide a desired stylistic and/or fashion display mounted (typically) to the center of the wearer's back.

In one embodiment, the top side may additionally or alternatively include a coupling device, such as one aspect of a snap fastener. In such an embodiment, it is appreciated that the coupling aspect 122 would define or otherwise include the opposing aspect of the coupling device.

In one embodiment, it is contemplated that the top side may define a conventional fabric surface and the coupling aspect 122 may define a material suitable to ironing on the top side or to stitching to the top side.

Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9, the use of varying decorative elements 120 to provide different outward appearances of the decorative brassiere attachment is shown. Indeed, it is appreciated that the outward appearances of the decorative brassiere attachment is generally defined by the decorative element 120 that is used. As such, various appearances can be selected by a wearer by simply through the selection of the decorative element 120.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A decorative brassiere attachment for attaching to a conventional brassiere, comprising:

an attachment mechanism having a top side and a bottom side, wherein said bottom side is adapted to removably attach to a strap attachment mechanism of a target brassiere;

a decorative element having a decorative aspect and a coupling aspect, wherein said top side of said attachment mechanism and said coupling aspect are configured to be selectively attached together such that when the attachment mechanism is attached to the strap attachment mechanism of the target brassiere, and the decorative element is attached to the attachment mechanism, the decorative aspect covers the strap attachment mechanism of the target brassiere.

2. The decorative brassiere attachment of claim 1, wherein said bottom side includes at least one hook that is configured to engage an eyelet of the strap attachment mechanism of the target brassiere, thereby adapting the bottom side to removably attach to the strap attachment mechanism of the target brassiere.

3. The decorative brassiere attachment of claim 1, wherein said top side includes a coupling surface adapted to mechanically fasten to said coupling aspect, thereby configuring said attachment mechanism and said coupling aspect to be selectively attached together.

4. The decorative brassiere attachment of claim 3, wherein:

said coupling surface defines a first aspect of a fabric hook and loop fastener; and

said coupling aspect defines a second aspect of the fabric hook and loop fastener that compliments to the first aspect of a fabric hook and loop fastener.

5. The decorative brassiere attachment of claim 1, wherein said top side and coupling aspect include opposing aspects of a coupling device, thereby configuring said attachment mechanism and said coupling aspect to be selectively attached together.

6. A decorative brassiere attachment for attaching to a conventional brassiere, comprising:

an attachment mechanism having a top side and a bottom side, wherein said bottom side includes at least one hook that is configured to engage an eyelet of a strap attachment mechanism of a target brassiere, thereby adapting the bottom side to removably attach to the strap attachment mechanism of the target brassiere;

a decorative element integral with said attachment mechanism such that when the attachment mechanism is attached to the strap attachment mechanism of the target brassiere, the decorative element covers the strap attachment mechanism of the target brassiere.