Brassiere
AssigneeLifeWorks, L.L.C.
InventorsLynn Elizabeth Kilbride, Janette Kaye Cothrel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a brassiere for disabled women not having the full use of both upper extremities, wherein the brassiere is adapted to be put on, removed, and adjusted by the wearer alone. In one form, the brassiere is front closing and includes a ring coupled to one front side and a tongue coupled to the other front side. The tongue is adapted to include spaced interlocking fasteners attached to its surface such that the tongue may be looped through the ring, folded onto itself with the fasteners aligned, and the fasteners locked together around the ring by a wearer having the decreased use of one or both arms.
Claims6
A brassiere comprising:
- a flexible backstrap adapted to extend across a wearer's back and having a first backstrap end and a second backstrap end;
- a first flexible front band portion having a first breast cup formed therein and adapted to extend from the first backstrap end around a wearer's torso and partially across a wearer's chest;
- a second flexible front band portion having a second breast cup formed therein and adapted to extend from the second backstrap end around a wearer's torso and partially across a wearer's chest;
- a first flexible shoulder strap adapted to extend from the flexible backstrap over a wearer's shoulder to the first flexible front band portion;
- a second flexible shoulder strap adapted to extend from the flexible backstrap over a wearer's shoulder to the second flexible front band portion;
- an first elongated tongue connected to the first flexible front band portion and having a first tongue first connector portion and a spaced first tongue second connector portion;
- a first ring member coupled to the second flexible front band portion;
- wherein the first elongated tongue is adapted to extend through the first ring member and loop back onto itself;
- and
- wherein the first tongue first connector portion is adapted to lockingly engage the first tongue second connector portion.
A method of a wearer single-handedly putting on a brassiere, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a brassiere having at least one cup, a first brassiere end portion having an elongated tongue extending therefrom and including a first tongue connector portion formed on the tongue and a second tongue connector portion adapted to lockingly engage the first tongue connector portion formed on the tongue, and a second brassiere end having a connecting ring operationally coupled thereto;
- b) encircling the brassiere around a wearer's torso, wherein the wearer has at least one breast;
- c) inserting at the least one breast into the at least one cup;
- d) guiding the tongue through the ring;
- e) pulling the tongue over the loop and towards the first end portion until the brassiere is snug around the wearer's torso;
- and
- f) lockingly engaging the first tongue connector portion to the second tongue connector portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.