DESCRIPTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This patent relates to the field of underwear, and in particular it concerns bras.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nowadays there are many kinds of bras. The known bras differ one from the other mainly in the shape of the cups, with different necklines, and. in the shape and presence or absence of shoulder straps.

A common element of almost every bra is the closing device. Normally said closure is realized by seaming at the end of one of the lateral stripe to be united one or more metallic hooks and at the end of the other lateral stripe the relative metallic buttonholes. Plastic hooks are also known.

All the known closing devices have the drawback that they need proper seaming processes for their fixing, direct or by buttonholes. Thus the realization of a bra is made more complicated and expensive.

Another drawback of the known closing devices is the uncomfortable closing operation, that requires the correct and simultaneous positioning of two or more hooks inside the buttonholes.

Moreover, the known closing devices produce a swelling, visible also from the outside when tight or thin clothes are worn.

Further drawback is verified during sport activities because in this case excessive movements can bring the metallic or plastic hooks in contact with the skin, with the risk of causing scratches or possible allergies, or they can cause the unhooking of the hooks themselves.

A solution, particularly in the case of sport activities, is the bra with an unique strip, that is a bra without any opening and closing device, worn through the neck. Said bra is made of an elastic fabric and it has the great drawback that it cannot comprise wires or other partially rigid sustaining devices because said bra must be enlargeable in order to be worn through the neck and the shoulders.

Thus, such a bra can't satisfy all the requirements and in particular it is not suitable for women with large sizes. Moreover in order to take off said bra it is necessary to remain bare chested and it is impossible to take it off before taking the shirt off first.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to overcome to the above cited drawbacks a new bra with lateral stripes comprising a padding layer in which one or more snap fasteners are inserted has been studied and carried out. The new bra comprises in its main parts two fabric cups, of whatever shape and dimension, with or without even semi-rigid supporting devices, two lateral stripes seamed to said cups and comprising an internal padding layer and one or more external fabric layers. On the free end of the padding layer of one of the lateral stripes one or more hooks or snap fasteners are inserted and on the free end of the padding layer of the other stripe the relative seats or buttonholes are inserted.

Said solution can be employed also for bras with cups and stripes realized with an unique element coupled by thermoforming with other similar elements. Aim of the new bra is to have a closing device fixable to the bra in a simple and quick way, without needing long and complicated closing operations.

Other aim is to allow an easy and quick closure and opening of the bra, without needing precise and uncomfortable positioning.

Other aim is not to have any metallic parts in contacts with the skin and not to undergo undesired opening. Other aim is not to cause anomalous and not aesthetic swellings, ^' visible through the shirt.

Other aim of the new bra is to be functional in any size it is realized.

Other aim is to be worn and taken off also from under the shirt.

Other aim is that it can assume any aesthetic appearance. These and other direct and complementary aims are achieved by the new bra comprising two fabric cups and two lateral stripes with an internal padding and/or sustaining layer and one or more external fabric layers, and wherein at the free end of each padding layer there are one or more closing devices. In particular in order to realize the lateral stripes of the new bra it is necessary to proceed by realizing first the padding layer of the two stripes with the desired shape or of the whole bra. This padding layer can eventually be coupled with one in fabric. Then, by compression, in the ends of said layer/layers one or more snap fasteners are inserted. The inserting operation of the buttons is extremely simple and quick.

Later it is necessary to proceed by realizing the fabric coating of at least a surface of each lateral stripe, in a way to cover the back side of the buttons and to avoid the contact of said metallic buttons with the skin and with the clothes. It is also possible to cover both the surfaces of each lateral stripes with a fabric in any colour or aesthetic appearance, in order to provide the bra with its final look.

Alternatively it is possible to realize bras with closing devices comprising a plane element supporting plastic or metallic hooks and relatives buttonholes.

Said plane element are lean or thermo-welded at the end of the padding layer of each lateral stripe and then a fabric layer, provided with proper cuts or slits for the passage of said hooks and buttonholes, is positioned over said padding layers and said fixing devices and thermo-welded to said padding layer.

To make the bra more comfortable it is convenient that said internal support is made of a padding or any other layer of proper material. The obtained advantages are various.

The new bra is easy and quick to be realized as it doesn't involve any seaming process in order to fix the closing devices.

More then this the new bra has a simple, quick and safe closure that can't be opened by accident. Thus it can be conveniently used during sport activities and it can be realized in any shape and size, suitable for any requirement.

The new bra has no metallic parts in contact with the skin, because it is provided with fabric covering on the lateral stripes, fit for covering the back side of the buttons.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The characteristics of the new bra will be clarified by the following description, referring to the figures attached as a non-limitative example.

In figures 1 , 2, 3, 4 the solution with snap fasteners is shown, while in figures

5, 6, 7, 8 the solution with hook closing devices is shown.

Figure 1 shows the external parts, facing the clothes, of the lateral stripes (F1 , F2) of the new bra with snap fasteners (B), while in figure 2 the same stripes (F1 , F2) are shown with their side facing the body.

Figure 3 shows a full view of the bra with snap fasteners (B) provided with lateral stripes (F1 , F2).

Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the stripes of the new bra where (I) indicates the padding, (B) the snap fastener, (T) the fabric or other covering layer for said padding layer (I) and for the back side of the snap fastener (B),

(Tu) the fabric layer or other covering between said padding layer (I) and said snap fastener (B).

In particular for each stripe (F1 , F2) the surface in contact with the skin (F1 p,

F2p) and the surface in contact with the clothes (F1 i, F2i) are represented. Each of said stripes (F1 , F2) has one end (F1c, F2c) fit for being fixed to one of the cups of the bra, while the other end (F1e) is fit for being positioned, in the bra closing position, over the corresponding end (F2e) of the other stripe

(F2).

The first end (F1 ) comprises a padding layer (I) on which two snap fasteners (B) are inserted near the end (F1e).

The inserting operation of said buttons (B) in said padding layer (I) is very simple and quick and it is realized by simple compression. Its surface in contact with the clothes (F1 i) is protected, after the application of the buttons, with a fabric layer (T) for the protection of the back side of the buttons themselves.

The surface in contact with the skin (F1 p) of said stripe (F1 ) can comprise also another covering layer in fabric (Tu) fixed before the application of the buttons.

The second stripe (F2) has the surface in contact with the clothes (F2i) comprising a padding layer (I) on which two couples of metallic seats (S) are inserted for the closure of said snap fasteners (B). The two couples of seats

(S) allow the adjustment of the closing of the bra.

The surface in contact with the skin (F2p) of said stripe (F2) comprises a covering fabric layer (T) that avoids the contact of the back side of the seats (S) with the skin and fixed at the padding (I) after the application of said seats

(S)- So on the padding layer (I) the buttons and the seats are applied first, their back sides are protected by a fabric (T) that protects and covers both the back side of the seats (S) of the ends (F2p) in contact with the skin and the back side of the buttons (B) of the end (F1e), that being in a position, when it is closed, over the end (F2e), is visible, that is it is in contact with the see- through clothes.

Figure 5 shows the external part, facing the clothes, of the lateral stripes (F3, F4) of the new bra with closing devices with hooks (G) and buttonholes (A), while figure 6 shows the same stripes (F3, F4) on their side facing the body. In particular for any stripe (F3, F4) the surface in contact with the skin (F3p, F4p) and the surface in contact with the clothes (F3i, F4i) are represented.

Figure 7 shows a sectional view of the lateral stripe (F3), the free end of which is provided with closing device comprising a plane element (Pg) that supports hooks (G) positioned between a padding layer (I) and a fabric layer (T) ₁ fixed by thermo-welding to said padding layer (I). On the side of the padding layer, facing the skin there is a further fabric layer

(Tu), that is in contact with the skin.

Figure 8 shows a sectional view of the lateral stripe (F4), the free end of which is provided with closing device comprising a plane element (Pa) that supports buttonholes (A) fit for allowing the hooking with the corresponding hooks (G), positioned between a padding layer (I) and a fabric layer (T), fixed by thermo-welding to said padding layer (I).

On the .side of the padding layer facing the skin there is a further fabric layer

(Tu).

The fixing of said closing devices with hooks (G) and buttonholes (A) is realized by positioning said closing devices between the fabric layer (T) and the padding layer (I) and coupling by thermo-welding said layers (T, I). So there is no need for seaming processes.

With reference to the above description the following claims are put forth.