BENDER HELEN (AU)
| GB2434077A | 2007-07-18 | |||
| US5873768A | 1999-02-23 | |||
| US20020022433A1 | 2002-02-21 |
| Claims [Claim 1] A dual layered woman's sports top/bra comprising: a first layer of textile acting as an outer garment and midriff cover sharing the same finishing contour lines with the brassiere about corresponding neck edge and/or armholes a second inside garment being a sports brassiere for supporting large breasted women for all levels of physical activity including extreme levels [Claim 2] The sports top/bra of claim 1, wherein the said outer garment and sports brassiere are integrated, sharing the same finishing contour lines about the corresponding neck edge and/or armholes to form one integrated garment [Claim 3] A sports brassiere of claim 1, having a pair of interconnecting constructed breast cups for covering a wearer's breasts, back fastening straps for fitting adjustments for the wearer, a pair of shoulder straps and a concealed chest band [Claim 4] The sports brassiere of claim 3, wherein said a pair of interconnecting constructed breast cups to support large breasts during physical activity [Claim 5] The sports brassiere of claim 3, wherein said a pair of shoulder straps with each shoulder strap comprising of elastic bra straps with a series of slot adjustments to receive horizontally orientated adjustment hooks without altering the outer appearance of the outer garment [Claim 6] The shoulder straps of claim 5, wherein said the elastic bra straps is encased between the outer garment layer of textile and the interlined brassiere textile which is connected to the front breast cups and extend upwards and over the shoulder to the back fastening straps [Claim 7] The sports brassiere of claim 3, wherein the said back fastening straps is in two sections and extend from the outsides of the breast cups for retaining the bra to the breasts, with releasable, adjustable fastening means [Claim 8] The sports brassiere of claim 3, wherein said a concealed chest band extending around the body, under the breasts, with releasable, adjustment fastening means [Claim 9] The sports brassiere of claim 7, wherein the adjustable fastening means comprises of a padded hook and eye connection [Claim 10] The sports brassiere of claim 8, wherein the adjustable fastening means comprises of the same padded hook and eye connection of claim 9 [Claim 11] The sports brassiere of claim 3, further comprising additional material including interlining under the said breast cups to provide an equal-to an under- wire like support around the wearer's breasts [Claim 12] The sports brassiere of claim 3, wherein under- wire is not used to provide support to the breasts [Claim 13] The sports brassiere of claim 3, wherein support stitch-lines are provided to each breast cup using a coverstitch extending from the lower outer edge of the cup to the upper neck edge [Claim 14] The sports top/bra of claim 1, wherein the first layer of textile is able to be either configured as a singlet, t-shirt or activewear top design [Claim 15] The sports top/bra of claim 14, wherein the singlet design generally has a scooped neck and a plurality of singlet strap elements with an integrated sports brassiere [Claim 16] The sports top/bra of claim 14, wherein the t-shirt design generally has a scooped neck and sleeves to cover the wearer's shoulders with an integrated sports brassiere [Claim 17] The sports top/bra of claim 14, wherein the activewear top design generally has a scooped neck and plurality of shoulder strap elements without a midriff cover providing similar sports brassiere support function [Claim 18] The sports brassiere of claim 15, wherein claims 3 - 13 above apply [Claim 19] The sports top/bra of claim 16, wherein the shoulder straps of the integrated sports brassiere are connected and share the same finishing contour lines about the neck edge [Claim 20] The sports brassiere of claim 16, wherein claims 3 - 5 and 7 - 13 above apply [Claim 21] The sports brassiere of claim 17, wherein claim 3 - 4 and 7 - 13 above apply [Claim 22] The activewear top of claim 17, wherein the pair of shoulder straps are not adjustable [Claim 23] The sports top/bra of claim 1, wherein the garment may instead include a racing back sports brassiere with limited shoulder strap adjustability [Claim 24] The sports top/bra of claim 1, wherein the garment sizing is sized according to the integrated sports brassiere |
Technical Field TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a woman's sports top/bra. The present invention has particular, although not exclusive application to sports tops that will accommodate women with large breasts that includes an integrated brassiere component where at times sharing the same finishing contour lines. The integrated brassiere has a unique construction that provides breast with support and motion control during extreme physical activity, while also providing a stylish outer apparel wear. Background Art BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.
Many women are actively involved in sporting activities. Women with large breasts can use sports brassieres to support their breasts when playing sport. In practice, sports brassieres are intimidating in their construction which limits the ability to wear stylish and fashionable garments that are adequate to cover the sports brassiere. In practice, most garments or tops can be unflattering or unstylish.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a stylish sports top/bra for accommodating larger breasted women with a fully incorporated brassiere providing adequate breast support as well as an outer apparel wear, although not exclusively applicable to sports tops. Disclosure of Invention SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to three aspects of the present invention, there is provided a woman's sports top/bra including:
1. a midriff cover fasterned relative to the brassiere and for covering a women's midriff (singlet); and
2. a t-shirt comprising of a midriff cover fastened relative to the brassiere and for covering a women's midriff, shoulders and arms (t-shirt); and
3. a active wear top without a midriff cover or strap adjustment, providing adequate support for less strenuous levels of activity; and
• with a brassiere for supporting breasts as being common to all aspects.
The midriff cover may form part of a garment covering the brassiere. The garment may be fastened to the brassiere about corresponding neck edge and armholes. The garment may be a singlet or a t-shirt or an activewear top. The garment may be formed from a variety of textiles such as dri-fit ™ or other moisture management like textiles for wicking sweat from the body or as appropriate for the end use of the garment.
Alternatively, the midriff cover may be fastened to the base of the brassiere.
An alternative option without the midriff cover or bra adjustments may be presented providing an activewear top with similar brassiere construction.
The brassiere may include a concealed resilient band for extending around the upper midriff and just below the woman's breasts.
The brassiere may include concealed adjustment means for adjusting the fit of the brassiere. The adjustment means may include shoulder adjustment means for adjusting the effective length of shoulder straps. The adjustment means may include a back adjustment means for adjusting both the effective length of a pair of interconnected back fastening straps and the resilient band passing across the back of the woman. Each strap may be formed from substantially inextensible material.
In alternative embodiments, the shoulder straps are not adjustable.
The brassiere will include a pair of interconnected constructed support cups in which respective breasts are received. The support cups may be formed from a support material and may be a polyamide and elastane material blend combined with mi- crofibre/cotton back material to provide greater support in specific areas. Interlining may be used on specific bra components to provide even greater support. The brassiere may further include an outer layer of material covering the cups.
The midriff applications could include for many variations of seam designs without departing from the ambit of the present invention.
The embodiments will be sized according to the brassiere cup size, and the size of the concealed resilient band and the outer garment (ie size 10DD, or 34DD; 10 or 34 being the size of the resilient band and the outer garment and DD being the breast cup size). Whereas, in other inventions that provide a built-in support shelf are sized generically and are not specific to a woman's breast cup size. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:
Figure 1 is a front view of woman's sports top/bra in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention (singlet);
Figure 2 is a front view of women's sports top/bra in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention (t- shirt);
Figure 3 is a front view of a sports bra of the women's sport top/bra of Figure 1 ;
Figure 4 is a front view of a sports bra of the women's sport top/bra of Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a front view of a woman's sports top/bra in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6 is front view of a women's sports top/bra; an activewear top and the general front view construction of the sports brassiere used in all designs of the women's sports tops/bra in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 7 is a rear view of the women's sports top/bra of Figure 1, 3 and Figure 5;
Figure 8 is a rear view of the women's sports top/bra of Figure 2;
Figure 9 is a rear view of the woman's sports top/bra; an activewear top of Figure 6;
Figure 10 is a rear view of the women's sports top/bra; an activewear top of Figure 6;
Figure 11 is an inside view of the shoulder strap and rear view construction of Figure 7; and
Figure 12 is a side elevation view of the women's sports top/bra of Figure 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
According to embodiments of the present invention, there is provided women's sports top/bra 2a, 2b, 2c as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Each sports top 2 includes a sports brassiere 4 for supporting the breasts of a woman, and a midriff cover fastened to the brassiere 4 and for covering the woman's midriff. Figure 1 and 2 indicate that the sports top are able to provide for panelled side construction 6a, 5a (these panels are not shown on other Figures for ease of reading purposes only). The sports top/bra 2a, 2b, 2c are described in detail below.
Turning firstly to Figure 1 and 3, the sports top/bra 2a includes a singlet garment 6 covering the sports brassiere 4 shown in Figure 6. The garment 6 is sewn to the brassiere 4 about corresponding and aligned neck edge 8 and armholes 10 only and the brassiere 4 is substantially concealed beneath the garment 6. In this manner, the garment 6 is not fastened to the sports brassiere 4 downward from the breasts. The garment 6 is formed from dri-fit ™ or other moisture management like textile for wicking sweat from the body, and serves to cover and conceal the woman's midriff.
Turning to Figure 6, the sports brassiere 4 includes a pair of interconnected constructed cups 12a, 12b in which respective breasts are received. The support cups 12 may be formed from a support material being a combination of both a microfibre/ cotton back textile and a polyamide/elastane textile. Interlining may be used to stabilize specific bra components such as the shoulder straps and under the said breast cups to provide an equal-to an under- wire support around the wearer's breasts. The bra components are stitched together using a lap seam and coverstitch (flatlock ISO 607), providing a comfortable seam for the wearer. May be two support stitch-lines 9 are provided to each support cup 12 both support stitch-lines may extend from the lower outer side of the support cup 12 with one support stitch-line extending diagonally to the upper center front while the another support stitch-line extending diagonally some distance away from the upper center front. The support stitch-lines 9 are stitched using a coverstitch (flatlock ISO 607). Shoulder straps extend from cups 12 over the shoulders of women 18. An elastic bra strap 13 is also connected to the support cups 12 and extends over the shoulders of women 18. Elastic bra strap 13 is concealed between the garment 6 textile and brassiere 4 textile. The elastic bra strap is of a substantially inextensible material. The brassiere 4 further includes an outer layer of material 14 covering the cups 12. Typically, the material 14 is formed from a dri-fit ™ or other moisture management like textile for wicking sweat from the body, and is consistent with textile 32 described below. The brassiere 4 further includes a concealed resilient band 16 for extending around the upper midriff of the woman 18 beneath the breasts. In addition, a pair of back fastening straps 19 (not shown) extends horizontally from respective cups 12 and each pass across the back of the woman 18. The back fastening straps 19 can be interconnected together about the woman's spine, using an adjustable eye-and-hook fastener arrangement to better adjust the effective length of the interconnected back fastening straps 19 to fit the woman 18.
Turning briefly to Figure 7, the sports brassiere 4 further includes a pair of shoulder straps 20 extending over the woman's shoulders from the cups 12, and shoulder strap adjustment means 22 for adjusting the effective length of the shoulder straps 20 to best fit the woman 18. The sports brassiere 4 further includes a spinal adjustment means 24 incorporating a fastening method, with two complementary fitting parts, for adjusting the tension of the resilient band 16 and the pair of back fastening straps 19 in a direction along the spine of the woman 18. Each shoulder strap 20 is formed from substantially inextensible material.
Turning to Figure 2 and 4, the sports top 2b includes a t-shirt garment 5 covering the sports brassiere 4 shown in Figure 6. The garment 5 is sewn to the brassiere 4 about corresponding and aligned neck edge 8 only and the brassiere 4 is concealed beneath the garment 5. In this manner, the garment 5 is not fastened to the sports brassiere 4 downward from the breasts. The garment 5 is formed from dri-fit ™ or other moisture management like textile for wicking sweat from the body, and serves to cover and conceal the woman's midriff, shoulders and arms.
Turning briefly to Figure 8, the sports brassiere 4 further includes a pair of shoulder straps 23 extending over the woman's shoulders from the cups 12, and shoulder strap adjustment means 22 for adjusting the effective length of the shoulder straps 23 to best fit the woman 18. The sports brassiere 4 further includes a spinal adjustment means 24 incorporating a fastening method, with two complementary fitting parts, for adjusting the tension of the resilient band 16 and the pair of back fastening straps 19 in a direction along the spine of the woman 18. Each strap is formed from substantially in- extensible material. Sports top 2b does not provide for elastic bra straps 13 as described in sports top 2a above.
Turning to Figure 5, the sports top 2c includes a midriff cover 30 which is sewn around the base of the brassiere 4 so as to conceal the resilient band 16. Seam line 27 may connect the resilient band, the outer garment textile 32 and the brassiere 4 together. As can best be seen in Figure 7, the midriff cover 30 includes textile 32 extending around the woman's midriff. The textile 32 is formed from dri-fit ™ or other moisture management like material for wicking sweat from the body.
Turning to Figure 9 and 10, the sports brassiere 4 provides for examples of alternative rear embodiment without a midriff cover or adjustments in the shoulder straps or spinal adjustment of the concealed resilient band 16. Embodiment of Figure 9, 10 will provide a pull-over garment for women with larger breasts providing adequate support for less strenuous activities, such as walking and yoga. A closing mechanism 25, may be included allowing the active wear top/bra to be put-on and taken-off over the head of the women 18 with ease. The front embodiment may be similar for Figure 6 as described above, excluding the concealed elastic bra strap 13.
Turning briefing to Figure 11, an inside view of the shoulder straps 20 is detailed. Each shoulder strap has individual adjustments points 22 comprising a horizontally orientated hook 28 received in adjustment slots 36. The series of adjustment slots 36 provides individual adjustment of the straps to suit the wearer. The hook and slot type of adjustment of the shoulder straps provides for a more secure form of adjustment in comparison to the sliding buckle mechanisms as found on most bras. The sliding buckle is known to slip requiring continuous adjustment by the wearer. The adjustment points are synonymously referred to as adjustment ladders or ladders. The shoulder straps comprise of the textile 32 the encased elastic bra strap 13 interlining 38 bonded to the brassiere 4 textile as detailed in Figure 11a. The interlining is to stabilize the stretch properties of the brassiere 4 textile. Seam 45 is used to encapsulate elastic bra strap 13. The elastic component as used in the elastic bra strap 13 is provided to the top edge 13a of the back fastening straps 19.
Turning to Figure 12, presenting an elevational, cross-sectional view of Figure 1 showing that the garment 6 and the brassiere 4 are sewn together about corresponding neck edge 8 and armholes 10.
The embodiments of the present invention in Figures 1, 2 5 and 6 provide functional and stylish sports top, and each include an integrated sports brassiere to provide adequate breast support including women with larger breasts.
A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention.
The preferred embodiments were described with reference to one type of sports brassiere 4. In an alternative embodiment, the sports top 2d may instead include a racing back sports brassiere 40 as shown in Figure 9 and 10, where like reference numerals refer to like features previously described. In this embodiment, the shoulder straps 50 are not adjustable.
In Figure 1, the over-garment 6 was a singlet. In an alternative embodiment, Figure 2 the garment may instead be a t-shirt. Figure 6, the embodiment is an activewear top without a midriff cover.
The sports brassiere 4 does not include any under- wire supports.
The embodiments of Figures 6 may each include a brassiere cover layer which covers the brassiere and is formed from the fabric 32 so that the tops 2 have a consistent external frontal appearance. Similarly, the embodiment of Figure 9 and 10 may include a brassiere cover layer to provide consistent external appearance, both front and rear.
In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.