Foundation garments – Breast or chest – e.g. – brassieres
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-20
2002-01-08
Hale, Gloria M. (Department: 3765)
Foundation garments
Breast or chest, e.g., brassieres
C450S063000, C450S025000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06336839
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a brassiere fitment apparatus, and particularly relates to a modular brassiere fitment apparatus for determining the correct brassiere size of a woman. The modular brassiere fitment apparatus of the present invention has the same general appearance as an ordinary brassiere, except that the brassiere fitment apparatus is based on modules which may be combined in sizes to precisely fit each breast of the woman and to provide natural support.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of bust measuring devices has, of course, been known for many years. Their purpose is to provide accurate measurements of the bust such that the proper brassiere size may be determined for a woman.
Since brassieres are intimate apparel, many women are reluctant to seek assistance from lingerie fitting consultants when it comes to selecting such items. Most women simply choose several brassieres of various sizes and styles off the shelves in a store to try on, hoping to find one that would fit. On many occasions, the brassiere size stated on the label of the brassiere is disregarded by the woman.
It has been reported in a recent study that 65 to 70% of women wear a brassiere that does not fit correctly. Improper fitment of the brassiere renders the wearing of such a brassiere uncomfortable and may cause medical problems. Sagging breasts, or even more severely, poor back posture may result for these women.
A number of bust measuring devices are available to aid women in determining the correct brassiere size. They are usually in the form of a flexible tape measure. Unfortunately, these bust measuring devices are difficult to employ and often times, provide inaccurate measurements. In many instances, the assistance of a lingerie fitting consultant is required during the measuring process which may put the woman at unease. Thus, there is a need for a simple yet easy means to measure a woman's brassiere size correctly and accurately.
Quite surprisingly, the present inventor herein has determined that a modular brassiere fitment apparatus will easily allow for accurate determination of the brassiere size of a woman. By using the modular brassiere fitment apparatus of the present invention, the woman does not require a second person's assistance during the sizing process.
The present invention details a brassiere sizing kit which comprises numerous different first and second modules. The first module comprises a pair of breast cups, a connecting front panel and two side panels while the second module comprises a back panel. When one of the first modules is assembled to one of the second modules, the combination of the first and second module constitutes a modular brassiere fitment apparatus. In order to permit the woman who is trying on the modular brassiere fitment apparatus easy identification of each of the first and second modules within the brassiere sizing kit, markings have been placed on each module or they may be of different colors.
With the use of the modular brassiere sizing kit, the woman is able to mix and match different first modules and different second modules until she finds a combination that gives her a correct fit. Once the correct size of each of the first and second modules has been determined, the woman may easily purchase brassieres which will be comfortable and fit properly. When sizing, the first module will give a measurement of the woman's bust while the second module will give a measurement of her midriff. On combining the two sizes, the woman then determines her brassiere size.
The modular brassiere fitment apparatus of the present invention has a myriad of potential uses. A woman, in the privacy of her own home or in a fitting room at a store, can establish her bust size and her midriff size by trying out various combinations of first and second modules of the brassiere fitment apparatus and thus, determine her brassiere size. The present invention will save her the trouble of spending hours in a store's fitting room, trying to find a properly fitting brassiere. Since most stores have a ‘no returns’ policy for undergarments, it is important that the woman buys the correct brassiere at the initial purchase. Thus, the use of the modular brassiere fitting apparatus will help prevent the woman from purchasing a brassiere that she may later find to be incorrect in size. Moreover, use of the modular brassiere fitment apparatus of the present invention precludes the necessity of using fresh merchandise from the vendor's shelves in which merchandise might subsequently have to be sold to another customer even though it had been temporarily worn by other(s) previously.
From the lingerie retailers' perspective, the modular brassiere fitment apparatus allows them to properly size each customer. By having various modular brassiere sizing kits available in the store, the retailers allow their customers to mix and match different sizes modules in order to accommodate their specific needs. The kits allow their customers to determine their brassiere size without opening a multitude of packages of different brassieres, which in turn, allows better hygiene. Furthermore, having determined their brassiere size accurately, the chances that the retailers may have an unhappy customer with an ill-fitting brassiere is effectively precluded.
Although brassieres made by different manufacturers may vary in sizes, shapes and styles, the modular brassiere fitment apparatus provides a consistent basis for determining brassiere size of the woman for any manufacturer's products.
It is known that a woman's brassiere size changes several times in her lifetime, sometimes quite dramatically. Such changes may be the result of changes in body types, through pregnancy, for example. The present invention allows her to re-measure her brassiere size and therefore allows her to be as comfortable as she was before. Most importantly, by using such a modular brassiere fitment apparatus of the present invention, a woman gets to know her own brassiere size and finds a brassiere that fits her well. In fact, a woman's brassiere has often been compared with shoes, not only for the intricacy of its construction but mainly for the importance of its fit and comfort. Shoes, however, are easier to size than a brassiere. With this present invention, brassiere sizing is made easier.
The present invention allows women to establish their brassiere size and to continue to find a comfortable brassiere when their body type changes. Furthermore, it allows women to have a perfectly fitted modular brassiere fitment apparatus such that they may have a basis to follow when purchasing brassieres of any labels.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Several typical prior art bust measuring devices are now described. Some of them are in the adaptation of a measuring tape, or the like. They include GRAF U.S. Pat. No. 2,559,501, issued Jul. 3, 1951, which teaches a device that is essentially donned in the manner of a brassiere, there being graduated indicia provided on transparent cups and on the strap encircling the torso for measuring breast size and midriff. There is an adjustable buckle connecting the two breast cups such that a satisfactory separation of the breasts may be accomplished. The purpose of the invention is to provide an uncomplicated, inexpensive sanitary bust measuring device. However, the device is not at all simple to use. In order to obtain both breast and midriff measurements, the device must be manipulated in at least six operational steps. Furthermore, the assistance of another person is required when using such a device.
Another bust measuring device which is in the adaptation of a measuring tape is shown in GITTELSON U.S. Pat. No.2,946,125, issued Jul. 26, 1960. The bust measuring device disclosed in that patent is a harness-type apparatus with an adjustable horizontal measuring tape or strip and a pair of vertically disposed measuring tapes or strips which pass through slits located at spaced points in the horizontal strip.
A brassiere measurin
(Marks & Clerk)
Hale Gloria M.
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