This invention concerns a bra system, and also a bust enhancement arrangement for a bra.

A wide range of bras are currently available. In some instances a wearer may wish to enhance their bust. It may be that they only wish to enhance their bust at particular instances, and it may be that they wish to enhance their bust to different degrees on different occasions.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a bra system, the system including a bra with a pocket in each bra cup, and an insert assembly locatable in the pocket to enhance a wearer's bust, the insert assembly including a hollow outer hollow padded member for each bra cup, each with an opening leading into the interior thereof, each outer padded member being slidably locatable in a respective pocket to provide bust enhancement for a wearer of the bra, the insert assembly also including an inner padded member for each bra cup which is slidably locatable through the opening into the interior of a respective outer hollow member, such that a bra including an outer padded member in each pocket, with an inner padded member within each outer padded member, provides additional bust enhancement for a wearer of the bra.

The pockets may be provided on the inner side of the bra.

The pockets may be provided in a lower part of the respective cups, and towards the outside of the bra away from the other cup.

The outer padded members may have an outer fabric cover and a padded interior. The fabric cover may be made of any of cotton, elastane, polyester, polyamide, nylon, satin, silk, mesh, bamboo, leather, cotton elastane, cotton lycra, or micro-model. Outer edges of the outer fabric cover may be held together, and may be sewn together for instance by overlook stitching. Alternatively the outer edges may be held together by heat sealing, glue, or laser bonding. The padded interior may comprise foamed material, and may comprise a plurality of layers of foamed material. A greater number of layers may be provided on the outer side in use of the outer padded member. In one embodiment three layers of foamed material are provided on the outer side in use of the outer padded member, and two layers on the inner side.

Alternatively the padded interior may comprise any of silicone, fibre-fill, or bodies filled with any of air, gel, oil or other liquids.

The inner padded members may have an outer fabric cover and a padded interior. The fabric cover may be made of any of cotton, elastane, polyester, polyamide, nylon, satin, silk, mesh, bamboo, leather, cotton elastane, cotton lycra, or micro-model.

Outer edges of the outer fabric cover may be held together, and may be sewn together for instance by overlook stitching. Alternatively the outer edges may be held together by heat sealing, glue, or laser bonding.

The padded interior may comprise foamed material. In one embodiment the foam material may be in the form of a plurality of layers. In a further embodiment the foamed material may be in the form of a profiled block of material.

Alternatively the padded interior may comprise any of silicone, fibre-fill, or bodies filled with any of air, gel, oil or other liquids.

The outer padded members may have curved edges, and may have at least two, and perhaps three concave edges. The outer padded members may have a convex edge, and a convex edge in use may provide a lowermost edge of the outer padded member.

The inner padded members may be a sliding fit in the interior of the outer padded members. The inner padded members may have a similar shape in plan view to the outer padded members.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a bust enhancement arrangement for a bra, the arrangement including an insert assembly according to any of the preceding nine paragraphs.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is part of a bra according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side view of part of an insert assembly according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of the part of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a second part of an insert assembly according to the invention; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view through the part of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of an alternative part of an insert assembly according to the invention; Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic side view showing two parts of an insert assembly according to the invention; and Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view through the parts of Fig. 7 mounted together.

Fig. 1 shows part of a bra 1 0 in which a cup 12 is shown. The cup 12 has three outer panels, with an upper panel 14 with a scalloped edge, a lower inner panel 16 and a lower outer panel 1 8. The lower outer panel 1 8 is in the form of a pocket with an opening 20 at its outer end extending for substantially the full part of the panel 18. The panel 18 has three concave sides 22, and a lower convex side 24. Other than the above described pocket provided by the lower outer panel 18, the bra 10 is of conventional configuration and will not be described in any further detail.

Figs. 2 and 3 show an outer padded member 26. The outer padded member 26 is of a size to slidingly locate in the pocket provided by the panel 16. The outer padded member 26 has an outer cover 28 which may be formed of cotton elastane or polyester. The edges of the outer cover 28 are joined together on three sides, in this instance by overlook stitching 30, but in an alternative arrangement this could be provided by a heat seal, glue, or laser bonding. The other side defines an opening 32 leading to a hollow interior 34.

The outer padded member 26 also includes padding 36 located within the cover 28, and the padding is in the form of layers 38 of foamed material. A required number of layers 38 may be provided, and Fig. 3 shows three layers 38 being provided on the outer side in use of the padded member 26, but only two layers 38 on the inner side.

Figs. 4 and 5 show an inner padded member 40 which is of a size to slidingly fit within the interior 34 of the outer padded member 26. The inner padded member 40 has an outer cover 42 made of cotton elastane or polyester with the edges sewn together by overlook stitching 44. Again it may be possible for the edges to be connected by heat sealing, glue, or laser bonding. Padding 46 is provided within the cover 42, and is shown in Fig. 5 as five layers 48 of padded foam material.

Fig. 6 shows an alternative inner padded member 50, which in this instance has the internal padding 52 in the form of a profiled piece of foamed plastics material. Fig. 7 illustrates the respective sizes and profiles of the outer and inner padded members 26 and 40, and Fig. 8 illustrates the inner padded member 40 located within the outer padded member 26. In use the bra 10 can be worn conventionally without either of the padded members 26, 40. If a first amount of bust enhancement is required then the outer padded members 26 can be inserted into the respective panels 18. If a further enhanced amount of bust enhancement is required, the inner padded members 40 or 50 can be inserted into the outer padded members 26 and located in the pockets provided in the respective panels 18 of the bra 10.

There is thus a described a bra, where two different layers of bust enhancement can be selectively readily provided as required. The padded members can readily be inserted into each other or into the bra as and when required. The bra with or without the padded members can be worn conventionally and comfortably, with a requirement of additional bust enhancement at required times. The padded members may be provided separately from the bra. It is to be realised that the invention can be used with a wide range of bra types, shapes and sizes. The location, size and shape of the padded members will be chosen to suit the particular bra.

It is to be realised that a wide range of modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance different materials may be used, and the padded interior may comprise any of silicone, fibre-fill, or bodies filled with any of air, gel, oil or other liquids. The outer cover for the padded members may comprise any of polyamide, nylon, satin, silk, mesh, bamboo, leather, cotton elastane, cotton lycra, or micro-model.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.