Foundation garments – Breast or chest – e.g. – brassieres – With compartment for carrying articles – e.g. – coin pocket
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-08
2001-01-23
Hale, Gloria M. (Department: 3741)
Foundation garments
Breast or chest, e.g., brassieres
With compartment for carrying articles, e.g., coin pocket
C450S001000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176761
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to clothing and more particularly concerns women's undergarments.
The inclusion in the structure of a bra of concealed pouches for storing various types of articles is known. Some bras have storage cases attached externally to the cups. Such devices are generally conspicuous and disruptive of the figure line. They also can be a source of embarrassment if access is necessary in a public place. Others provide one or more compartments accessible from the inside of one or both of the cups. This design can be more aesthetically appealing but is less comfortable and less accessible and does not resolve the embarrassment problem for the wearer. Still others fix a zippered compartment to the inside of the bra across the inside portions of the cups and the cleavage area. This improves aesthetics and accessibility but, because the inelasticity of the compartment at its zipper closure and along the fixed seam between the compartment and the bra renders a significant portion of the entire garment inelastic, the bra is uncomfortable and not well suited to its purpose. Other bras contour an accessible pocket to portions of the bra other than the cups. Such pockets afford little usable storage space unless they add undesirable extensions to the bra which would otherwise be unnecessary. Bras of this type also require vertically aligned closures because of space limitations, but vertical closures make the contents most inaccessible. Finally, bras generally are made of nonabsorbent material while sports bras are made of material which will readily absorb perspiration. However, no known bra combines absorbent body contacting surfaces in combination with a non-absorbent wall protecting the contents of a storage pouch.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a bra with a storage pouch which does not significantly alter the universal elasticity of the bra. Another object of this invention is to provide a bra with a storage pouch having a stretchable closure. A further object of this invention is to provide a bra with a storage pouch which does not use a zipper. Yet another object of this invention is to provide a bra with a storage pouch which is easily accessible from inside the bra through an upper horizontal opening. It is also an object of this invention to provide a bra with a storage pouch which does not require the otherwise unnecessary addition of extensions to the bra structure. Still another object of this invention is to provide a bra with a storage pouch which is concealed, yet comfortable. An additional object of this invention is to provide a perspiration absorbent bra with a storage pouch which protects its contents from damage due to moisture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, a sports bra has a pair of cups joined by a cleavage portion between the proximate edges of the cups and a back strap portion between the distal edges of the cups. The cups and cleavage portion are made of cloth having substantially universal elasticity so as to provide adequate support. A rectangular panel made of cloth having substantially universal elasticity is fastened along its bottom and side edges to an inside wall of the cleavage portion of the bra to form a storage pouch of approximately credit card dimensions.
At least one relatively short segment of hook and loop material is fixed along an upper inside edge of the panel and at least one mating segment of hook and loop material is oppositely fixed along the inside wall of the cleavage portion of the bra. Thus, the pouch can be sealed without losing the universal elasticity of the garment. A plurality of short hook and loop segments extending substantially fully across the upper inside edge of the panel allows the pouch to be completely sealed while still affording the desired elasticity.
The panel is preferably lengthwise vertically aligned for maximum comfort and may be upwardly extended to conform its upper edge to the contour of the upper edge of the cleavage portion of the bra. The panel bottom edge is preferably closely coincident with a bottom edge of the cleavage portion of the bra. It is preferred that the panel be made of non-absorbent cloth or a pair of back-to-back pieces of cloth with the inner one being non-absorbent. A flat member can be disposed between the cloth segments to stiffen the storage pouch. Similarly, the cleavage portion may consist of back-to-back pieces of cloth with the inner one being non-absorbent. Thus the sports bra can be fully absorbent along its body contact surfaces and yet provide a non-absorbent storage pouch to protect its contents.
Preferably, the back strap portion is made of cloth having substantially universal elasticity. The bra may also include a pair of shoulder straps, one extending from an upper edge of each of the cups to the back strap portion, preferably at approximately a midpoint of the back strap portion, to provide additional support. The shoulder straps are also preferably made of cloth having substantially universal elasticity.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 241189 (1976-08-01), Clark
patent: 2492862 (1949-12-01), Harvey
patent: 2503847 (1950-04-01), Shanahan
patent: 2593711 (1952-04-01), Weatherly
patent: 2624881 (1953-01-01), Lee
patent: 3078852 (1963-02-01), Stapleton
patent: 4815510 (1989-03-01), Edelist
patent: 5067178 (1991-11-01), Katchka
patent: 5496205 (1996-03-01), Lee
patent: 5573441 (1996-11-01), Smith
Catalano Frank J.
Hale Gloria M.
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