The invention to which this application relates is to a modified or adapted bra or brassiere.

Undergarments in the form of modern bras have been available since around the turn of the 20 ^th Century. The components of a conventional bra are a chest band that wrap s around the chest or torso, and one or more breast support portions, usually two cup s although it can be a single piece of fabric. Optionally the bra may include shoulder straps. The chest band is usually closed in the back by a hook and eye fastener, but may be fastened at the front. Sleep bras or athletic bras do not have fasteners and are pulled on over the head and breasts. The section between the cup s is called a gore. The section under the armpit where the band joins the cup s is called the "back wing" .

Unfortunately however it is not possible, or exceedingly difficult to put a conventional bra on with the use of only one arm, for example when the user is disabled by a stroke.

This is because the two fastening ends of a conventional bra cannot be brought together around the torso without a pulling force from both hands at each ends. The tension and length of the bra band prevents the fastening ends from being passed around the torso, resulting with one end at the side of the torso and the other behind the back of the torso. Therefore, two hands are needed to draw the ends together around the body to facilitate fastening. It is the aim of the present invention is to provide a bra which addresses the abovementioned problems.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide an adapted bra and/or method of manufacturing the same which addresses the abovementioned problems.

It is a yet further aim of the present invention to provide a method of adapting a bra and/or using the same which addresses the abovementioned problems.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a brassiere or bra, said bra including at least one breast support portion attached to and/or depending from a chest strap portion, said chest strap portion including first and second ends and securable around a user’s chest or torso in use by engaging fastening means substantially located on first and/ or second ends of the chest strap portion wherein said bra includes a further or additional section of material attached to said chest strap portion configured to substantially extend across and/ or between said first and second ends of the chest strap portion and/or fastening means.

In a preferred embodiment the further or additional section of material does not attach to and/ or engage with said fastening means.

Typically the breast support portion includes two cup s or is formed from one or more pieces of material which support or cover the breast or breasts of the user. Preferably said further or additional section of material is an additional length of substantially elastic material that extends across and/or between said fastening means. Typically the fastening means are located on said at least one chest strap portion and/ or breast support portions. Further typically the fastening means are configured to be movable between a closed or support configuration where said fastening means are engaged or attached together and an open configuration where at least some of the fastening means are disengaged or unattached.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the further or additional section of material is configured to substantially extend between said fastening means when in the open configuration. Further preferably the further or additional section of material does not attach to or otherwise engage with said fastening means.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the further or additional section of material is elastic, elasticated and/ or resiliently biased material. Typically the material stretches or expands when force is applied to the same and returns substantially to its original size, shape and/ or condition when the force is removed. Further typically the additional section of material is stretchy or stretchable. Typically the further or additional section of material is a strip of elastic, resiliently biased and/or elasticated material.

In one embodiment the further or additional section of material includes a length o f material secured or attached to the bra at a location substantially adjacent to said fastening means. Typically the further or additional section of material is positioned to extend linearly and/or directly across the gap between the ends of the strap portion and/ or fastening means when in the open configuration, thereby bringing the same into a close or closer position and/ or orientation for closing with one hand.

In one embodiment the further or additional section of material is attached to the chest strap portion by stitching.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention one end of the further or additional section of material is attached to the chest strap potion and the other end is attached to at least part of a breast support portion and/or chest strap portion adjacent to said breast supp ort portion.

Further typically the further or additional section of material extends between the fastening means when in at least the open configuration.

In one embodiment the further or additional section of material is attached at at least two points or positions on the chest strap portion, said at least two points being a spaced distance from the first and second ends of the chest strap portion. In an alternative embodiment one part or end of said further or additional section of material is attached to a peripheral part and/or edge of a breast support portion or cup and a second part or end is attached to a point or position on the chest strap portion. Preferably, in either embodiment, the further or additional section of material does not engage with and/ or attach to the fastening means. In one embodiment the further or additional section of material is attached to the chest strap portion a spaced distance away from said fastening means. In one embodiment at least one part or end of the further or additional section of material is attached to the rear or inward facing surface of the chest strap portion. Typically the rear or inward surface is the surface facing, closest to and/ or in contact with the user’s body. In one embodiment at least one end of the further or additional section of material is attached to the rear or inward facing surface at a location substantially behind and/ or adjacent the fastening means. Typically the fastening means are positioned or located on the outward facing surface of the chest strap portion. In one embodiment a second or further end o f the further or additional section o f material is attached to the rear or inward facing surface o f a breast supp ort p ortion or edge o f the same adjacent to where the che st strap p ortion is attached to, or dep ends from, breast supp ort p ortion. In a preferred embodiment of the invention one end of the further or additional section of material is attached to the rear surface of the chest strap portion behind the fastening means.

In one embodiment the bra include s one or more shoulder straps. Typically the bra includes two shoulder strap s.

In one embodiment the chest strap portion includes one or more recessed portions or pocket members. Typically the recessed portions or pocket members are pockets into which the user can insert one or more fingers.

In one embodiment the bra includes one or more sleeve portions. Typically the further or additional section of material extends through said sleeve portions. Further typically the sleeve portions are one or more loop s of material.

In one embodiment of the invention the bra includes a substantially reinforced back wing portion. Typically the material forming at least part of the back wing portion includes at least one length of reinforcing and/ or strengthening material. Further typically the back wing portion includes material which is stiffer and/ or more rigid than the material substantially forming the back wing p ortion.

In one embodiment the back wing portion includes a length of plastics material to provide some rigidity and/ or strengthening to the back wing material.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a second further or second additional section of material. Typically the second further section of material extends from, or is attached at one end to, the first further or additional section of material and extends to, or is attached at another end to the chest strap portion. Further typically the second further or second additional section of material extends from the first further or additional section of material or strap to a location at and/ or substantially adjacent to the fastening means. As such, the first further section of material brings the ends of the bra closer together and the second further section of material prevents at least one of the fastening means from dropping thereby making the fastening means easier to fasten with one hand.

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a bra or brassiere including one or more breast support portions or cup s, at least one chest strap portion and fastening means, at least part of said one or more breast support portions and at least one chest strap portion forming a band portion which extends or loop s around a user’s chest or torso in use, said band portion including at least two ends thereof including fastening means whereby said ends are brought together from a first open configuration to a second closed or support configuration and secured in said second configuration by engaging said fastening means, characterised in that at least one end of a further or additional section of material is attached to said chest strap portion but does not engage with said fastening means, said further or additional section of material is configured to substantially extend between said fastening means when in at least the first open configuration.

In a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a bra, said bra including a further or additional section of material which is configured to substantially extend between the ends of a chest strap portion when in at least the first open configuration, said method including the step of attaching the ends of the further or additional section of material to the chest strap portion.

In a fourth aspect of the invention there is a method of adapting and/ or retrofitting a bra with additional material, characterised in that a further or additional section of material is configured to substantially extend between the ends of a chest strap portion when in at least the first open configuration, said method including the step of attaching the ends of the further or additional section of material to the chest strap portion and/or the breast support or cup portion.

In a yet further aspect of the invention there is provided a bra or brassiere, said bra including a chest strap portion, at least one breast support portion and fastening means characterised in that an additional portion of material is attached to the chest strap portion of the bra configured or positioned to bring the fastening means closer together without engaging with said fastening means.

In one embodiment at least one end of the additional portion of material is attached to the bra at the position or seam where a chest strap portion is attached to or joins the breast support portion or cup and/ or a location adjacent the same.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the following figures wherein:

Figure 1 shows a view of a bra in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figures 2a and 2b show front and rear views of the open ends of a bra in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figures 3a to 3j show a bra being put on and worn in accordance with one aspect of the invention; Figures 4a to 4 show a bra in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention; and Figures 5a- 5c show a bra in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.

The present invention is the adaption of a conventionally constructed bra by the addition of an elasticated strap which extends across the ends of the bra to bring the fastening means into close proximity so that the wearer can fit or clothe themselves in the bra using only one hand and/ or arm.

Figure 1 shows such a bra 2, which includes a breast support portion in the form of two cup s 4/4” which are attached to a chest band 6. The chest band 6 has two ends 8a, 8b on which there are located conventional fastening means 10/10”, in this example press studs which could equally be replaced with hook and eye type fastenings or similar. Additionally the bra includes an elasticated strap portion 12 which brings the ends 8a, 8b of the chest band 6 closer together.

Figures 2a and 2b show a close up view of the fastening ends 8a, 8b of the bra band 6 and how the elastic strap 12 is disp osed to extend across the gap between the ends 8. Figure 2b shows a view of the inside of the band 6, whereby the strap 12 runs in sleeves 13a, 13b so that strap 12 is guided to pass across the gap between the ends of the bands when the bra is open. These figures also show the strap 12 does not engage with the fastening means 10, instead forming a loop with the bra band 6. By fitting an elastic strap portion 12 attached to the bra band 6 enables it to expand and pulled over the head and shoulders and then to below the bust. Once in this position the elastic band contracts and the bra band fastening ends are drawn together. The bra 2 is then rotated on the thinnest part of the torso bringing the fasteners to the front of the torso, once again the elastic contracts ensuring ends close together.

Once the bra band 6 fastening ends are positioned at the front of the torso. The wearer then can sit back against a chair trapping the bra preventing the bra from rotating, one of the bra band fastener ends 10 is the then grasped and pulled towards the other end, enabling the bra to be fastened with one hand. The bra may be fitted with a number a suitable fasteners, however ideally fasteners larger than the small bra standard fasteners will be used, as the bra is designed to be fastened with one hand.

Some patients may suffer reduced finger grip strength. To overcome this problem the fastening areas of the bra band are stiffened and fitted with finger pockets 14’, 14” on the opposite side of the fabric of the bra band fasteners, removing the need to pressure pinch the fastening bra band ends required to overcome the bra band elastic resistance.

Turning now to figures 3a-3h, which shows one way a person with an incapacitated arm or an arm with restricted mobility can put on the bra. Figure 3a shows the incapacitated arm is passed through the centre of the bra and elastic band 12 and drawn up to the armpit. Figures 3b and 3c shows the elasticity of the band 12 allows the hoop formed by the band 6 and strap 12 to be passed over the user’s head and shoulder. Figure 3d shows the bra and elastic surrounds the body and is drawn down the torso to the waist. The bra is rotated around the waist until the bra fasteners are at the front of the torso and the cup s are at the back of the torso. Figure 3e shows that the elastic strap 12 draws the bra ends 8a, 8b close together due to friction or, if necessary, the person sits back on the chair trapping the bra, preventing the bra from rotating around the torso when fastening. Figure 3f shows this procedure facilitates one end 8a to be pulled towards the other, using just one hand when fastening the bra.

Figure 3g Shows the step where the bra is rotated around the torso until the cup s 4 4” are at the front and figure 3h shows the incapacitated arm is manipulated with the unaffected arm placing it through the shoulder bra strap 16 and the shoulder strap 16 is pulled over the incapacitated shoulder arm. The unaffected arm pulls the bra shoulder bra strap over in the normal way as shown in figure 3i to allow the wearer to don a bra with one hand, the result of which is shown in figure 3j .

Removing the bra is a reverse of the fitting operation. Turning to figures 4a and 4b which shows a second and preferred embodiment of the invention which shows a bra 2, which includes a breast support portion in the form of two cup s 4’, 4” which are also attached to a chest band 6 with two ends 8a, 8b. Conventional fastening means 10’, 10”, in this example hook and eye type fastenings, are used to secure the ends of the chest band 6 and thereby the bra around the chest of the user. In this example, one end of the elasticated strap portion 12 is attached to the chest band 6 behind the fastening means and the other end of the strap 12 is attached to the edge of the cup 4” where is joins or abuts the chest band 6. This configuration ensures the end 8a is brought across the users torso or che st by the tension of the strap 12 and the user simply has to use one arm or hand to bring the ends 8a, 8b together and secure the same with the attachment means.

Figures 5a-5c show a second preferred embodiment of the invention, which also comprises a bra 2 with two cups 4’, 4” that depend from a chest band 6. The chest band 6 has two ends 8a, 8b which are located fastening means 10’, 10”. In this example the optional replacement of the loop fasteners with larger loop s has been implemented, although the skilled person will appreciate that conventional hooks and loop s can be used.

In this embodiment the elasticated strap 12 brings the ends 8a, 8b together, but an additional or further elasticated strap 18 depends from the first 12 to one end 8a to bring this end closer and further into alignment, essentially to stop the same flapping about and making the ends easier to fasten together. The first strap 12 in this embodiment is connected to the band 6 just behind one fastening means and depends to the part of the band that meets the edge of the cup 4’. This configuration also means the user does not have to sit in a chair to trap the end of the bra or other such movements to secure the end and stop it from hanging or flapping about.

Figure 5c also shows the optional feature of the fitting of a finger pockets 14 removing the need to pres sure pinch the fastening bra band ends required to overcome the bra band elastic resistance.