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US 2015/0087202 A1Published application
Bra
AssigneeNadine Woods
InventorNadine Woods
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one aspect a bra is provided, and includes a pair of cups that are self-supporting, a strap connected to each cup, a bridge connecting the inboard ends of each cup, and a band extending from the outboard end of each cup and configured to extend around the back of a wearer of the bra. Each cup is foldable along a fold line between an unfolded position wherein the cup covers a nipple of the wearer and a folded position wherein the cup exposes the nipple of the wearer, wherein, when the bra is worn by the wearer, each cup is stable in both the unfolded position and the folded position. In another embodiment a bra is provided with cups that are stable in both the folded and unfolded positions wherein the cups are not self supporting.
Claims21
A bra, comprising:
- a pair of cups that are self-supporting, each cup having an inboard end and an outboard end, wherein the inboard ends of the cups generally face each other and are connected together;
- a shoulder strap connected to each cup, each shoulder strap having a primary strap portion that is configured to extend over a shoulder of a wearer and downwards towards an end that is associated with one of the cups;
- and
- a band extending from the cups and configured to extend around the back of the wearer,
- wherein, when the bra is worn by the wearer, each cup is foldable along a fold line that extends between an inboard end that is proximate the inboard end of the cup and an outboard end that is along an edge of the cup and that is generally vertically aligned with the end of the primary strap portion associated with the cup between an unfolded position wherein the cup covers a nipple of the wearer and a folded position wherein a portion of the cup is folded over to expose the nipple of the wearer, wherein, when the bra is worn by the wearer, self-support of each cup permits each cup to generally retain an unfolded shape when in the unfolded position, and wherein each cup is stable in the folded position by tension in the shoulder strap pulling upwardly on the folded over portion of the cup.
2 more elements
(canceled)
A bra, comprising:
- a pair of cups that are not self-supporting;
- a contiguous band including a front portion and a rear portion wherein the front portion supports the cups and the rear portion extends around the back of a wearer of the bra;
- and
- a shoulder strap connected to an inboard upper portion of each cup, wherein the inboard upper portion extends from the shoulder strap past a vertical centerline of the bra and connects to the band, wherein the inboard upper portion of each cup is unconnected to the inboard upper portion of the other cup,
- wherein, when the bra is worn by the wearer, each cup is foldable between an unfolded position wherein the cup covers a nipple of the wearer and a folded position wherein a portion of the cup is folded over to expose the nipple of the wearer, wherein, when the bra is worn by the wearer each cup is stable in the unfolded position and is stable in the folded position by tension in the shoulder strap pulling upwardly on the folded over portion of the cup.
2 more elements
A bra, comprising:
- a pair of cups that are self-supporting, each cup having an inboard end and an outboard end, wherein the inboard ends of the cups generally face each other and are connected together;
- a shoulder strap connected to each cup, each shoulder strap having a primary strap portion that is configured to extend over a shoulder of a wearer and downwards towards an end that is associated with one of the cups;
- and
- a band extending from the cups and configured to extend around the back of the wearer,
- wherein, when the bra is worn by the wearer, each cup is foldable along a fold line that extends between an inboard end that is proximate the inboard end of the cup and an outboard end that is along an edge of the cup and that is generally vertically aligned with the end of the primary strap portion associated with the cup between an unfolded position wherein the cup covers a nipple of the wearer and a folded position wherein a portion of the cup is folded over to expose the nipple of the wearer, wherein, when the bra is worn by the wearer, self-support of each cup permits each cup to generally retain an unfolded shape when in the unfolded position, and wherein each cup is stable in the folded position by tension in the shoulder strap pulling upwardly on the folded over portion of the cup,
- wherein, when the bra is worn by the wearer and when the wearer is upright, the fold line extends diagonally such that the outboard end of the fold line is positioned higher than the inboard end of the fold line, dividing the cup into an upper, inboard cup portion, and a lower, outboard cup portion,
- wherein each shoulder strap includes an end portion to which connects the end of the primary strap portion to one of the cups, wherein the end portion of the shoulder strap includes an inboard end portion that connects to the upper, inboard cup portion and an outboard end portion that connects to at least one element selected from the group of elements consisting of the lower, outboard cup portion and the band,
- wherein the inboard end portion of the shoulder strap is elastically stretchable and is positioned to exert a biasing force on the upper, inboard portion of the cup to hold the upper, inboard portion of the cup in an unfolded position relative to the lower, outboard portion when the cup is in the unfolded position by tension in the inboard end portion of the shoulder strap when the inboard end portion of the shoulder strap is stretched by the weight of the breast of the wearer acting on the cup when the bra is being worn by the wearer and to exert a biasing force on the upper, inboard cup portion to hold the upper, inboard cup portion in a folded position relative to the lower, outboard cup portion when the cup is in the folded position by tension in the inboard end portion of the shoulder strap when the inboard end portion of the shoulder strap is stretched by the weight of the breast of the wearer acting on the cup.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.