Foundation garments – Breast or chest – e.g. – brassieres – Shoulder strap arrangements and connecting features
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-18
2004-05-11
Hale, Gloria M. (Department: 3765)
Foundation garments
Breast or chest, e.g., brassieres
Shoulder strap arrangements and connecting features
C450S001000, C002S067000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06733362
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a brassiere. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved brassiere.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Undergarments for women are manufactured and marketed in a variety of colors, fabrics, and styles. The need for a variety in part relates to the variety of outer garments most often worn in conjunction with the undergarments. Frequently the outer garments do not fully and completely cover the undergarments, so it becomes necessary for the garments to appear similar or at least complimentary. This occurs most commonly with women's brassieres worn in conjunction with shirts or dresses that have shoulder straps. It is frequently impossible to keep the shoulder straps of the brassiere from being exposed under the shoulder straps of the dress or shirt. It is undesirable for these two sets of straps to be of different colors, textures or materials.
To address this problem, many women attempt to buy and wear a brassiere that matches each different shirt or dress that they own. This obviously can become expensive and impractical since the color and material array of shirts and dresses is much wider than that associated with brassieres.
It would be desirable if it were possible to change the appearance of the brassiere straps without changing the entire brassiere. The same would be true for any of a number of different women's undergarments such as body briefs, camisoles and the like. It would further be desirable if the mechanisms for altering and varying the appearance of the straps on an undergarment could be readily adaptable, not only in appearance, but in the manner in which they are attached to the undergarment.
Numerous innovations for upper torso garments have been provided in the prior art that will be described infra. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention in that efforts in the past to provide the required versatility have been limited.
FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 2,005,094 tp Zweben teaches an apparel garment adapted to extend around wearer, a unitary tape forming shoulder straps, the ends of which are respectively connectible to the front right and left-hand portions of the same, the back of the garment being constructed to include therein a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings, through any pair of which the tape freely passes to afford the wearer adjustment for the amount of circumferential extension of the tape at the back of the garment.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 2,882,907 to Puliafico, as shown in
FIG. 1
, teaches a shoulder strap-type garment
10
that comprises a garment body
12
having a pair of cups
14
with body-facing surfaces
16
having free upper edges
18
and a pair of torso bands
20
with body-facing surfaces
22
having free upper edges
24
and free lower edges
26
and extending from the pair of cups
14
, respectively, a pair of shoulder strap
28
having ends
30
with S-hooks
32
thereon, and means
34
for separably and adjustably connecting the pair of shoulder straps
28
to the garment body
12
. The means comprises a tape extending longitudinally on the upper edge portion of the body so that the upper edge portion of the body underlies the full width of the tape. Parallel lines of stitching extend through both longitudinal edges of the tape and secure the same to the body. The tape includes a zig-zag element affording a longitudinal extending row of loops between the lines of stitching. A hook-shaped member is separably and selectively connectible with the loops for adjusting the point of attachment of the shoulder strap to the body in a direction longitudinally of the tape. Then upper edge portion of the body underlies and secured to the tape of the lines of stitching serving to hold the tape flat against the body to resist accidental separation of the connecting member therefrom.
STILL ANOTHER EXAMPLE. U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,628 Sanchez teaches a maternity and nursing bra incorporating a one-handed fastening method that inherently allows for a stronger cup Support and variable adjustment of cup size. It is accomplished by affixing parts of a fastener to the inside of an inner cup to an inner band. Also incorporated into the inside of the inner cup is an optional use nursing pad pocket. The bra's variable strap width adjusting band and the relocatable shoulder straps enable the bra to be worn with a variety of outer garment styles.
VET ANOTHER EXAMPLE. U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,273 to Sydor et al. teaches a support stay for use with an article to be worn by a person that has two durometers of hardness. The support stay includes a base member having a first hardness, the first hardness sufficient to provide a required rigidity for support. A gripping member is operatively connected to the base member. The gripping member has a second hardness which is softer than the first hardness. The gripping member, when attached to the inner surface of the article, provides a non-slip surface against the person wearing the article to keep the article in position.
STILL YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,906 to May teaches one or more undergarment foundations and a number of attachable accessory straps that together make up a garment set. The set may be purchased together and would include one or more undergarment foundation articles of clothing, such as a women's brassiere, and a number of distinct strap sets, each of the strap sets having at least one strap and preferably two. Each of the straps within a set have strap connectors at each end that are removably attachable to strap attachment points on the undergarment itself. The different strap sets within the garment set are distinct, one for the other, in that the fabrics, colors, textures, sizes, and shapes are distinct. The individual wearing one of the undergarment foundations and the associated strap accessories may choose to match an outer garment worn in conjunction with the foundation or may choose to appropriately contrast the straps of the undergarment from those of the outer garment. In any case, the wearer is able to construct these variations without the need to separately purchase many different complete undergarments.
YET STILL ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,585 to Capparelli teaches a garment that replaces a full shirt or blouse which is comprised of a frontal portion piece of material that attaches to an undergarment by the engagement of male and female snaps around the undergarment. The garment is fastened around the torso of the wearer by means of an elastic band with a hook which engages an elastic loop. Three female snaps are provided in order to adjust the drape of the neckline of the garment. An optional scarf may be attached to the garment in order to create a matching ensemble.
STILL YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,171 to Brancato teaches ornamental jewelry supports for garments, particularly for upper torso garments worn by women such as bras, bikini tops, halters, strapless dresses, and the like. The garment supports are adjustable along their length with adjusting mechanisms that do not result in unsightly overlap of the ornamental lengths of jewelry of the present garment supports. The adjustable ornamental garment supports can be readily moved from one garment to another and do not require puncturing the garment.
YET STILL ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Publication Number 2002/0022434A1 to Plourde et al. teaches a fastener mountable on a brassiere strap, either removably or permanently. A brassiere strap mounted on the fasteners can be removably affixed to a location on the posterior strap assembly and a location on the anterior cups of a brassiere. Use of the fasteners permits adjustment of the brassiere straps into a plurality of different arrangements, depending upon the shape, outfit and activity of the wearer. The brassiere straps and fasteners can be made of transparent or translucent materials which may be colo
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