Background Art Generally, brassieres are designed such that a pair of brassiere cups are coupled to each other, bands are provided on both sides of the brassiere to be connected at a wearer's back and shoulder straps are provided on an upper portion of the brassiere to be connected to the bands. Further, strapless brassieres have been widely used. However, the conventional brassieres are problematic in that the brassiere is secured to a wearer's torso by the bands and the shoulder straps, so that the wearer may feel pressure and the wearer's activity may be restricted.

Further, when a woman desires to put on topless or backless clothes, it is impossible to wear the conventional brassieres. The conventional brassieres are problematic in that the shoulder straps may slip down due to a wearer's motion, so that they may be exposed outside of clothes, thus reducing the attractiveness of the wearer.

In order to solve the problems, recently, bacldess and strapless brassieres have been developed. However, such brassieres are disposable underwear that requires the use of an adhesive or double-sided tape, so that they are impossible to wear may times (Korean U. M.

Appln. No. 1998-15176, Appln. No. 1987-8934, Appln. No. 1997-32504, Korean U. M.

RegistrationNo. 309682, RegistrationNo. 309007).

In order to solve the problem, the applicant of this invention conducted research on a strapless and backless brassiere, which is capable of being wom many times. Consequently,

Korean Patent No. 359578 was filed by this applicant, which is titled"strapless and backless brassiere using vacuum suction force". However, this brassiere has a problem in that an additional vacuum suction unit must be provided to generate a vacuum suction force, so that it is very complicated to put on the brassiere. The brassiere has another problem in that the vacuum suction unit protrudes from the main body of the brassiere, thus causing inconvenience to a wearer, and reducing the attractiveness of the wearer. Further, the vacuum suction unit cannot exhaust a large amount of air at once, so that a wearer must push a button several times to secure a sufficient suction force. Thereby, this brassiere is problematic in that suction plates cannot efficiently create a vacuum.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an improved vacuum brassiere, which does not need an additional vacuum suction unit to create a vacuum, in addition to more easily and efficiently creating a vacuum.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Solution The present invention provides a vacuum brassiere, capable of being worn many times using the principle of a vacuum pump. In a detailed description, this invention provides a vacuum brassiere which is worn using a vacuum suction force generated when a vacuum is created between a suction unit and the skin by repeatedly compressing a vacuum pump bag.

The vacuum brassiere of the present invention is characterized by the following elements, that is, (i) a vacuum pump bag having an air discharge hole, (i i) a bag check valve mounted to the air discharge hole, (iii) a suction unit, and (iv) a communication passage which connects the vacuum pump bag to the suction unit, thus defining an air path.

Preferably, a passage check valve is installed in the communication passage so as to more efficiently create a vacuum in the vacuum pump bag.

According to this invention, the vacuum pump bag is made of an elastic material

which may be pumped, such as silicon, soft plastics, etc.

The vacuum brassiere of this invention is configured such that the vacuum pump bag is integrated with the brassiere, thus being capable of easily and efficiently creating a vacuum, allowing repeated attachment and detachment of the brassiere, and easily giving contour to the breasts to be suitable for the body size and taste of the wearer, by adjusting the size and shape of the vacuum pump bag.

Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a plan view of a vacuum brassiere, according to an embodiment of the present invention ; FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the brassiere taken along line A-A of FIG. 1 ; FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view ofthe brassiere taken along line B-B of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the brassiere taken along line C-C of FIG. 1; and FIGS. 5 and 6 are operational diagrams to show the operation of the brassiere of FIG.

1.

Mode for the Invention This invention will be described in further detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a vacuum brassiere, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are a vertical sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1 and a vertical sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 1, respectively.

FIG. 4 is a top sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5 and 6 schematically illustrate the operational principle of the brassiere of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 2,5, and 6, the operational principle of the vacuum brassiere 10 of this invention will be described below.

First, the vacuum brassiere 10 of this invention is correctly placed on a breast, and thereafter, the bottom of each suction unit 16 comes into contact with the skin.

Afterwards, pressure is applied to a vacuum pump bag 11, so that the volume of the vacuum pump bag 11 is reduced. At this time, positive pressure is generated in the vacuum pump bag 11. Due to the positive pressure, each passage check valve 15 is closed, whereas a bag check valve 13 is opened. Thereby, air is discharged from the vacuum pump bag 11 through an air discharge hole 12 to the outside (see, FIG. 5).

Next, when the pressure is released from the vacuum pump bag 11, the vacuum pump bag 11 restores an original volume thereof due to the restoring force of the elastic material. The bag check valve 13 prevents external air from flowing into the vacuum pump bag 11, so that negative pressure is generated in the vacuum pump bag 11. Due to the negative pressure, each passage check valve 15 is opened. Thereby, air flows from each communication passage 14 and each suction unit 16 into the vacuum pump bag 11 (see, FIG. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <P>6)<BR> 6).

As such, when pressure is applied to and released from the vacuum pump bag 11 several times (see, FIGS. 5 and 6), negative pressure, or a vacuum, is easily and rapidly created between each suction unit 16 and the wearer's skin. The wearer can safely put on the brassiere using a vacuum suction force.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vacuum brassiere 10 of this invention is configured such that the vacuum pump bag 11 and the communication passages 14 define a brassiere cup.

Especially, it is preferable that bridges 17 be provided along the circumference of the brassiere cup to connect the communication passages 14 to each other, thus supporting the wearer's breast.

More preferably, when the communication passages 14 are spaced apart from each other at regular intervals and lower ends of the communication passages 14 are connected by

the bridges 17, openings are formed as shown in FIG. 1, thus enhancing air permeability.

The brassiere may be manufactured such that the size of the vacuum pump bag 11 and the length of each communication passage 14 are suitable for the body size of a wearer.

Further, the number and size of suction units 16 and communication passages 14 may be determined according to whether the brassiere cup is a full cup that fully surrounds the breast or a half cup that surrounds part of the breast.

Preferably, the suction units 16 and the communication passages 14 are provided along a lower end of the breast so as to support the weight of the breast.

The vacuum brassiere 10 of this invention may be manufactured such that the suction units 16 are detached from the corresponding communication passages 14. Each suction unit 16 is inserted into and fastened to an end of an associated communication passage 14. In order to provide an efficient seal, the fastening part of each suction unit 16 may comprise a threaded part, as shown in FIG. 2.

Preferably, a vacuum release protrusion is provided on the circumference of each suction unit 16 so as to easily release a vacuum.

An adhesive may be applied to the bottom of each suction unit 16 so as to increase the strength of adhesion to the skin, thus allowing a wearer to easily put on the brassiere, and allowing a vacuum to be easily created.

When the adhesive is applied to the bottom of each suction unit 16, it is possible to attach the suction unit 16 to the sign, prior to compressing the vacuum pump bag. Thus, it is convenient to use. Further, since each suction unit 16 is in strong contact with the wearer's skin, it is possible to efficiently create a vacuum. Furthermore, while the wearer puts on the brassiere, it is possible to increase the strength of adhesion to her skin.

The adhesive comprises a material that minimizes skin irritation. Known adhesives for skin patches may be used. For example, it is possible to use an acrylic adhesive, a silicon adhesive, or a mixture produced by mixing an acrylic adhesive with a silicon adhesive.

However, the adhesive is not limited to the above-mentioned adhesives.

The adhesive may be applied to some or all of the bottom of each suction unit 16.

Further, the adhesive may be applied to an edge of the bottom of each suction unit 16, in the form of a seal ring. When the adhesive is applied in the form of a seal ring, a vacuum is more easily created between each suction unit 16 and the skin. Thereby, strength of adhesion to the skin is increased.

Meanwhile, unlike the method of applying the adhesive in the form of a seal ring, a seal ring having a predetermined thickness may be provided along the edge of the bottom of each suction unit 16. Further, it is possible to apply the adhesive to the seal ring so as to increase the strength of adhesion to the skin.

The shape and material of the suction unit 16 adapted to this invention are not limited to specified shape and material. Conventional suction units having various shapes and structures may be used. For example, the suction unit has been proposed in Korean U. M.

Registration No. 333843, No. 333523, No. 318419, No. 318414, No. 313495, No. 310759, No. 306464, No. 302081, Korean Patent Laid-Open PublicationNo. 1993-4646, Korean U. M.

Laid-Open Publication No. 1986-2924, etc. The suction unit 16 of this invention is equal to the conventional suctions units, except that the suction unit 16 has an air hole to communicate with an associated communication passage 14.

The adhesive may contain one or more kind of skin irritation alleviator. For example, various kinds of essential oil, such as phytoncide, tourmaline, Chitosan, or mixtures produced by mixing the materials may be used as the adhesive. However, the adhesive is not limited to the above-mentioned materials.

In order to make a wearer feel comfortable, general cloth may be attached to the entire portion or the inner surface of the vacuum brassiere of this invention.

Industrial Applicability As described above, the present invention provides a vacuum brassiere, which may be safely and easily worn many times without using shoulder straps or bands, and which more

efficiently creates a vacuum, has an increased suction force, and provides an improved appearance, in comparison with a conventional brassiere using a vacuum suction force.

A vacuum pump bag of this invention allows a suction unit to easily create a vacuum, and gives a desired contour to the breast by appropriately adjusting the volume and shape of the vacuum pump bag.

The vacuum brassiere of this invention is configured such that a passage check valve is provided in a communication passage, thus allowing a vacuum to be more easily created in the vacuum pump bag.

Further, an adhesive is applied to the bottom of the suction unit, thus allowing a user to easily wear the brassiere, allowing a vacuum to be easily created, and increasing adhesive strength of the brassiere to the skin. It is preferable to apply the adhesive along an edge of the bottom of the suction unit in the form of a seal ring.