GB2488149A

GB2488149A - Breast support garments

Info

Publication number: GB2488149A
Application number: GB201102790A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christine Anne Moreton; James Gibbons
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-02-17
Filing date: 2011-02-17
Publication date: 2012-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 2031-02-17
Also published as: GB2488149B; GB201102790D0

Abstract

A breast support garment 10 comprises two flexible cup portions 12, a rear connector element (14, figure 2) for extending around the back of a wearer to interconnect outer edge portions of the cup portions, and a front connector element 16 for location at the front of a wearer to interconnect inner edge portions of the cup portions, wherein at least one of the rear and front connector elements comprises at least one adjustable, press-engageable hook and loop fastening device (34, figure 3) for releasably inter-engaging two parts of the or each connector element, the fastening device comprising an adjustment indicator (46) defining a plurality of fastening positions. The adjustment indicator may comprise a plurality of spaced apart, laterally extending ridges (48). At least four fastening positions may be provided. The front connector element preferably comprises a medial connector 54, such as a ring, and two hook and loop fastening devices that releasably engage the medial connector. Each hook and loop fastening device preferably comprises a protruding tab (38). The garment may be a brassiere or may form part of a swim suit. The fastening device may be operated by a wearer having impaired knuckle joints caused by arthritis.

Description

Breasts Support Garment The present invention relates to a breasts support garment, and more particularly but not necessarily exclusively to a brassiere.

Brassieres and bikini tops in particular often utilise one or two wire or plastics clasps, typically at ends of the back wings, having a small hook which is manually fed into a respective metal or plastics loop in order to fasten the brassiere or bikini top to the torso, thereby supporting the user's breasts. However, these clasps are very small and intricate, which can lead to difficulties for a user. In particular, a user with impaired motor skills or knuckle-joints, such as in the case of arthritis, can find it exceedingly difficult to fasten such devices.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.

According to the invention, there is provided a breasts support garment comprising a flexible cup portion for receiving at least part of each breast, a rear connector element for extending around a back of a user to interconnect outer edge portions of the two said cup portions, and a front connector element for location at the front of a user to interconnect inner edge portions of the two said cup portions, at least one of the rear connector element and the front connector element including at least one press-engagable hook and loop fastening device for releasably interengaging two parts of the or each said connector element, the said hook and ioop fastening device being adjustable to tighten or slacken the or each said connector element, the said hook and loop fastening device including an adjustment indicator which defines a plurality of predetermined fastening positions.

Preferable and/or optional features of the invention are set forth in claims 2 to 12, inclusive.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view from in front of a first embodiment of a breasts support garment, in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a view from behind of the breasts support garment of Figure 1; Figure 3a shows an enlarged side elevational view of part of a rear connector element of the breasts support garment, shown in Figure 1; Figure 3b shows the rear connector element from behind; Figure 3c shows the rear connector element from in front; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view from the rear of a second embodiment of a breasts support garment, in accordance with the present invention; Figure 5a shows an enlarged front view of part of a front connector element of the breasts support garment, shown in Figure 4; and Figure Sb shows the front connector element from behind.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 3c of the drawings, there is shown a first embodiment of a breasts support garment 10 which comprises two flexible cup portions 12, each being adapted to comfortably hold a user's breast, a rear connector element 14, and a front connector element 16. In this embodiment, the breasts support garment 10 is a brassiere, but it may be a bikini top. Alternatively or additionally, the breasts support garment 10 may be a bustier, corset or any other suitable garment.

The flexible cup portions 12 are typically formed of woven or non-woven material, and may be padded. Exterior material used in forming the cup portions 12 may be at least in part decorative, and the cup portion 12 may be adapted to receive at least a majority of the user's breast or may be adapted to receive a smaller portion of the user's breast, as necessity, style and fashion dictates.

Each cup portion 12 may include a supportive underwire, typically in the case of larger cup sizes. The underwire may be dispensed with for smaller cup sizes and/or for bikini

tops, for example.

The front connector element 16 in this case is a sole, preferably fabric, flexible centre gore 18 or panel which fixedly interconnects the cup portions 12 at their inner proximal sides 20 relative to the medial plane, when in use. The centre gore 18 may be elastic, so as to be stretchable, or non-elastic thereby having a fixed length, thus at least in part dictating the amount of support provided by the breasts support garment 10.

Although not shown, the front connector element 16 may include a flexible, typically fabric, front under-strip or cradle which includes the centre gore 18 and which extends beneath and depends from the cup portions 12, extending transversely from the inner proximal sides 20 to respective outer distal sides 22.

The centre gore 18 and/or the front under-strip may have different widths dependent on intended use and bust size.

The rear connector element 14 comprises two separable flexible back wings 24 which extend from the respective outer distal sides 22 of the cup portions 12. The free distal ends 26 of the back wings 24 are adapted to meet at or substantially at the centreline of a user's spine. The back wings 24 are typically woven or non-woven fabric, and may include apertured or non-apertured lace, patterning or decorative elements.

In this embodiment, two flexible shoulder straps 28 are provided, each of which extends from an upper edge 30 at or adjacent to the outer distal side 22 of the respective cup portion 12 to a point on the respective back wing 24 partway between the ends of the back wing 24.

To enable adjustable connection of the distal end portions of the back wings 24, a press-engagable fastening device 32 utilising a hook and loop fastener 34, such as Velcro RTM, is provided. Preferably, the outer part 36 of the hook and loop fastener 34 includes a tab element 38 which extends from the distal end 26 of the respective back wing 24. The tab element 38 includes a free distal end portion 42 which thereby allows a user to grip and pull the press-engagable fastening device 32 apart to release engagement of the back wings 24 and thus enable removal of the breasts support garment 10.

In the event that the tab element 38 is not provided, a user needs to separate the hook and loop fastener 34 by directly manipulating and pulling apart the inner and outer parts 36,44.

To enable adjustment of the interconnection of the back wings 24, the press-engagable fastening device 32 includes an adjustment indicator 46 which defines a plurality of predetermined fastening positions. The adjustment indicator 46 comprises a plurality of spaced-apart laterally extending ridges 48, preferably formed by using boning techniques, and formed beneath the hooks or loops of the fastener 34 such that the hooks or loops extend over the ridges 48. For example, the boning may include plastics, such as nylon, Ridgilene RTM, or metal, such as steel, strips over-sewn to embed the strips into the fabric of the hook and loop fastener 34.

Preferably, the spaced-apart ridges 48 are provided on the inner part 44 of the hook and loop fastener 34, thus simplifying a user's determination of the required adjustment and the one-touch press-fit engagement of the outer part 36. However, it is feasible that the spaced-apart ridges 48 are provided on the outer part 36.

As an alternative, it is possible that a further single ridge, again preferably formed using boning techniques, can be formed on the inner or outer part of the hook and loop fastener which does not cany the aforementioned spaced-apart ridges of the adjustment indicator. This allows press-engagement of the inner and outer parts whereby the further single ridge is received in the gap between neighbouring spaced-apart ridges. This inhibits separation or pulling apart of the back wings in a lengthwise or longitudinal direction.

In yet another modification, the said spaced-apart ridges can be formed on both the inner and outer parts of the hook and loop fastener. This enables the spaced-apart ridges of the press-engaged inner and outer parts to interdigitate. Again, this further inhibits separation or pulling apart of the back wings in a lengthwise or longitudinal direction.

In the current embodiment, three spaced-apart ridges 48 which extend laterally across the inner part 44 are provided. The spaced-apart ridges 48 thereby clearly define four engagement areas 50 between the spaced-apart ridges 48 and at ends of the inner part 44 of the hook and loop fastener 34. Although three spaced-apart ridges 48 are provided, one, two or more than three spaced-apart ridges can be provided. As such, a minimum of two predetermined fastening positions are provided.

In this embodiment, the shoulder straps 28 may also be adjustable. In this case, it is possible that the above-described press-engagable fastening device 32 including the hook and loop fastener 34 is used. Beneficially, the press-engagble fastening device 32 also includes the above-described adjustment indicator 46.

Referring now to Figures 4 to Sb, there is shown a second embodiment of a breasts support garment. References similar to those above refer to like parts, and further

detailed description is therefore omitted.

In this embodiment, the breasts support garment 10 comprises two flexible cup portions 12 as above, each being adapted to receive at least part of a user's breast, the rear connector element 14, and the front connector element 16.

The rear connector element 14 may be as described with reference to the first embodiment, or it may be a single back strip which extends continuously from one outer distal side 22 of one cup portion 12 to the other outer distal side 22 of the other cup portion 12.

The front connector element 16 again includes the centre gore 18, but instead of being continuous as in the first embodiment, it is separable and releasable. In this case, the centre gore 18 comprises first and second releasable connectors 52 and a linking element 54. The first and second releasable connectors 52 are flexible elongate, typically fabric, straps. The linking element 54 may be a ring, link or any other suitable device for spanning between and interengaging both releasable connectors 52. The linking element 54 may be or include any suitable adornment or decoration, and may be non-circular as necessity and/or as fashion dictates.

Each of the first and second releasable connectors 52 includes the above-described press-engagable fastening device 32 utilising the hook and loop fastener 34. The in use outer part 36 of the releasable connector 52 includes one 56 of the hook and 1oop part of the fastener 34, preferably at its free distal end 58, and the other one 60 of the hook and loop part is included partway between the ends of the releasable connector 52.

As before, the tab element 38 is preferably provided on the free distal end 58 of each releasable connector 52 to aid disengagement.

Also as before, the adjustment indicator 46 is included.

By thus passing the free distal ends 58 of the releasable connectors 52 through the linking element 54, the breasts support garment 10 can be held to a user's torso.

Dependent on comfort and requirement, the releasable connectors 52 can be adjusted accordingly using the adjustment indicators 46 to set a relative spacing and positioning of the cup portions 12.

By having the press-engagable fastening devices 32 on the outwardly facing surfaces of the breasts support garment 10, skin contact is avoided, preventing or limiting potential irritation.

In a modification to the second embodiment, the centre gore may only utilise a single said flexible elongate releasable connector extending from the inner proximal edge of one of the cup portions and the linking element provided on or adjacent to the inner proximal edge of the other cup portion. As above, the adjustment indicator is provided on the releasable connector, so that, once the free distal end with one of the hook and loop parts thereon and the tab element is fed through the linking element, it can be press-engaged with the other of the hook and ioop parts of the fastener at the desired adjustment position as defined by the ridges.

It is thus possible to provide a breasts support garment, such as a brassiere, which utilises a press-engagable hook and loop fastening device having an adjustment indicator.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A breasts support garment comprising a flexible cup portion for receiving at least part of each breast, a rear connector element for extending around a back of a user to interconnect outer edge portions of the two said cup portions, and a front connector element for location at the front of a user to interconnect inner edge portions of the two said cup portions, at least one of the rear connector element and the front connector element including at least one press-engagable hook and loop fastening device for releasably interengaging two parts of the or each said connector element, the said hook and loop fastening device being adjustable to tighten or slacken the or each said connector element, the said hook and loop fastening device including an adjustment indicator which defines a plurality of predetermined fastening positions.
2. A breasts support garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjustment indicator includes a plurality of spaced-apart laterally extending ridges.
3. A breasts support garment as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least three said ridges are provided which are spaced from ends of the hook and loop fastening device.
4. A breasts support garment as claimed in any one of the preceding, claims, wherein at least four said predetermined fastening positions are provided by the adjustment indicator.
5. A breasts support garment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising two shoulder straps, each said shoulder strap including the said hook and loop fastening device having the adjustment indicator.
6. A breasts support garment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the front connector element includes the said hook and loop fastening device.
7. A breasts support garment as claimed in claim 6, wherein the front connector element includes two parts, a medial connector, and two said hook and loop fastening devices, each hook and loop fastening device releasably engaging the said medial connector with or adjacent to its respective cup portion.
8. A breasts support garment as claimed in claim 7, wherein the medial connector is a ring.
9. A breasts support garment as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the medial connector includes an adornment element.
10. A breasts support garment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hook and loop fastening device includes a protruding tab.
11. A breasts support garment as claimed in claim 10, wherein the protruding tab projects from a distal end of at least one said part of the said connector element.
12. A breasts support garment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is at least one of a brassiere and part of a swim suit.
13. A breasts support garment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3c, or Figures 4 to Sb of the accompanying drawings.