# US 9,516,904 B2 · Upper body garment for providing support > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,516,904 B2 - Document ID: US9516904B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/076,210 - Filed: 2013-11-09 - Published: 2014-05-15 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-09 - Applicants: Carol A Hearty - Inventors: Carol A Hearty - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9516904B2 ## CPC - A41C 3/08: combined with other garments (with corsets A41C1/06) - A41F 15/00: Shoulder or like straps - A41C: CORSETS; BRASSIERES - A41F: GARMENT FASTENINGS; SUSPENDERS ## Abstract An upper body undergarment with two wide strap or garment style shoulders connected to a full-support bra at two front points. The straps are made from any suitable material, and is widest at the points of attachment to the bra, in this case the front of the subject embodiment where it is stitched directly to the cups, or made removable as per the description of the back ends of the straps. The straps then taper towards the apex of the shoulders to fit the width of a wearer's shoulders. The cups of the brassiere can be of any method or material generally employed in the art of support bra construction. The side panels of the brassiere connect from the outer sides of the cups around to the back of the wearer, and also serve to connect to the wide strap or garment style shoulders. Restickable or repositionable adhesive is used to create adjustment, fastening, or closure, or removable or other attachment in the undergarment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An upper torso undergarment for supporting the human female body comprising: a first breast cup and a second breast cup; a first connecting band and a second connecting band, each of which has a respective first end and a second end; wherein the first end of the first connecting band is coupled to the first breast cup and the first end of the second connecting band is coupled to the second breast cup, and wherein the respective second ends of the first and second connecting bands are coupled to each other; a first strap and a second strap, each of which has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first strap is coupled to the first breast cup and the first end of the second strap is coupled to the second breast cup; the first and second straps are shoulder straps or garment supporting straps; wherein each of the first and second connecting bands comprises an outer layer and an inner layer; wherein the second end of the first strap is adjustably secured between the outer layer and the inner layer of the first connecting band and the second end of the second strap is adjustably secured between the outer layer and the inner layer of the second connecting band; and the garment is for the function of supporting the breasts of the wearer when worn. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The upper body undergarment in claim 1, wherein the second end of the first strap is adjustably secured between the outer layer and the inner layer with adhesive. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The upper body undergarment in claim 2, wherein the adhesive is releasable and resealable. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The upper body undergarment in claim 1, wherein the second end of the first strap is releasably secured between the outer layer and the inner layer of the first connecting band. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The upper body undergarment in claim 4, wherein a group of hooks and snaps releasably secures the second end of the first strap between the outer layer and the inner layer of the first connecting band. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The upper body undergarment in claim 5, wherein the group of hooks and snaps releasably securing and positioning the straps are located on an inner surface of the respective inner and outer layer of the first connecting band. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The upper body undergarment in claim 1, wherein the first and second straps are connected proximate to the breast cups. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The upper body undergarment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the garment is a bra. ### Claim 9 An upper body undergarment for supporting the human female body, the garment comprising; a first breast cup and a second breast cup; a connecting band having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the connecting band is coupled to the first breast cup and the second end of the connecting band is coupled to the second breast cup; a first strap and a second strap, each of which has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first strap is coupled to the first breast cup and the first end of the second strap is coupled to the second breast cup; the first and second straps are shoulder straps or garment supporting straps; wherein the connecting band comprises an outer layer and an inner layer; wherein the second end of the first strap is adjustably secured between the outer layer and the inner layer of the connecting band and the second end of the second strap is adjustably secured between the outer layer and the inner layer of the connecting band; a pocket formed by the straps and connecting band is able to be lengthened and be angularly and adjustably attached to the strap ends; the first and second breast cups are releasably coupled to each other; and the garment is for the function of supporting the breasts of the wearer when worn. ### Claim 10 A bra comprising: a pair of breast cups; a horizontal band comprised of two layers of material with mechanical snaps, hooks, or hook and loop tapes inside the two layers to attach a wide strap or garment style shoulder strap end and/or midriff panel on the bra; a pair of front side panels composed of two elastic material layers forming the horizontal band going from the breast cups around to a back of the bra; these two layers form a pocket open at a top and a bottom side of each horizontal band at left and right sides of each horizontal band, in order to receive a wide strap or garment strap style shoulder ends; a pair of horizontal side panels are composed of two layers of material, an exterior configured to be exterior to the body of a wearer and an interior configured to be facing the body of a wearer; a pocket formed by the horizontal band layers is prepared to lengthen and/or angularly adjustably attach the strap ends; a row of low-profile male-female snaps, facing each other on inside surface of the pocket, fasten through an open weave pattern in the ends of the wide strap or garment strap; and two inner sides of the horizontal band pockets insides shall incorporate, facing each other, separate coatings of a restickable/repositionable permanent adhesive that will close upon the strap ends at the desired length and/or angle, one coating from each interior side, to secure the strap ends to the horizontal side to back bands. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The bra of claim 10, further comprising: a strap running from the breast cup to the back horizontal band having a widest width at the apex configured for wear over a wearer's shoulder providing a wider point of contact to distribute weight without stress to this wider point of contact on the wearer's shoulder; and the strap is widest in the front and back to distribute support broadly over the wearer's shoulder. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The bra of claim 10, wherein the left and right straps are connected by a neckline into one piece. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The bra of claim 10, wherein the strap is composed of nylon sheer stretch mesh, nylon, polyester, acrylic, cotton, silk, spandex, or elastane. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The bra of claim 10, wherein the strap includes anyone of the following elements including an eyelet, an open weave pattern material, or an open knit pattern material at the strap along the strap edges, or in its entirety. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The bra of claim 14, wherein the two panels fasten hook and loop elastic tapes; and snaps and hooks which attach through the eyelet or open weave pattern strap material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The bra of claim 15, wherein the pockets are lined with repositional adhesive formulated for washable garments; and the repositional adhesive is secured to the strap by any one of a stabilizing hook, a snap, or a hook and loop swatch. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The bra of claim 10, further comprising a removable or permanent long line abdominal smoothing panel, covering the stomach, sides, and back; and the removable or permanent long line abdominal smoothing panel attached to the horizontal strap and cups of the bra by any one of a zipper, a hook, a hook and loop fastener, or a restickable glue attachment and closure, or combination thereof.