Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BRASSIERE
The present invention relates to an outer garment, in particular a brassiere
for use in
a reclining sleeping or resting position according to the preamble of claim 1.
Many women, who lie on their side during sleep, discover wrinkles on the
décolleté
after waking up. The older the respective woman, the longer it takes until
these
wrinkles disappear again during the day. From a certain age on these wrinkles
intensify and no longer disappear over the course of the day. The vertically
extending
wrinkles on the décolleté are caused because the breast is compressed during
sleeping or resting in an essentially horizontal position or in the case of
women that
sleep on their sides the two breasts bear against each other or lie on top of
each
other.
In a so-called sleeping bra of the aforementioned type, known from DE 200 17
365
U1 one or more paddings are used, for example a padding along the under breast
strap, lateral paddings and/or a padding along the breast center web. This
sleeping
bra is intended to protect the breasts against excessive pressure generated
during
sleep. Especially in the sideways position, the breasts are subjected to an
unpleasant
pressure, which can deform and damage the breast tissue. In spite of the
mentioned
paddings, in particular in the region of the breast center web, the respective
breast
can still shift in the sideways position over the breast center web so that
the latter
does not actually counteract the formation of wrinkles.
From US 7 001 239 B2 and from US 7 144 295 B2 an insert made for example of
hard plastic material for preventing wrinkle formation is known, which are
arranged as
spacers between the two breasts. This insert or pad is arranged on an inside
of a T-
shirt or on the inside of a conventional brassiere and is intended to prevent
one
breast from bearing against or lying on top of the other breast in a sideways
positions. A disadvantage of this known insert or pad is that in a nocturnal
supine
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position, the breast may shift sideward and outwardly and thus a fold can
arise at the
underarm pit. In addition, such an insert cannot be used in the case of large
and
heavy breasts because they slide over the insert, which serves as spacer so
that the
problem of wrinkles that form in the décolleté is not solved. In addition, in
the case of
a sideways position, a cutting in or other stress on the lymphatic pathways is
possible.
Object of the present invention is therefore to create an outer garment, in
particular a
brassiere of the aforementioned type for use in a reclining or resting
position with
which the breasts are retained in their position in any sleeping or resting
position so
that wrinkle formation as a result of compression of the breasts or lying of
the breasts
on top of each other is prevented.
For solving this object, the features set forth in claim 1 are provided in an
outer
garment, in particular a brassiere of the aforementioned type.
The measures according to the invention achieve that in contrast to brassieres
that
are worn during the day including nursing bras, the main support force does
not
reside in the region of the under breast strap but is mostly derived from the
right side
or left side of the breast center web, thereby ensuring a support effect of
the breasts
in reclining position. This counteracts the own weight of the breasts
especially in the
sideways position. In other words, in the sideways position during sleeping or
resting
in a reclining position, the breasts neither lie on top of each other nor is
the
respective other breast compressed, which prevents the formation of vertical
wrinkles
in the décolleté, which means between the base of the breasts. In addition to
a
brassiere, the measures according to the invention can also be implemented for
example in a top.
In nursing bras (DE 603 06 630 T2, DE 298 07 111 U1, DE 299 16 482 U1) it is
known to provide openable cups (German: KOrbchen), however, as in the case of
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"normal" bras which are worn during the day, these also serve for supporting
the
breasts from the under breast strap and are opened or closed in the region of
the
breast center web or of a strap.
From US 3 908 670 a brassiere with cups is known over which additionally
extension
parts for holding and forming the breasts from the under breast chord are
stretched.
The same is true for a sports brassiere known from US 6 168 498 B1.
In the outer garment according to the invention, both ends of the extension
cup part
can be detachably or non-detachably attached. Preferably, however the features
of
claim 2 are provided so that based on the center support effect region, a
detachable
fastening at an outward pull occurs.
In a preferred embodiment of the one extension cup part, the features of claim
3 are
provided. This enables an optimally adjusted holding or supporting of the
respective
breast in sideways position of the wearer during sleeping or resting.
A further preferred embodiment of the outer garment results from the features
of
claim 4, according to which an additional support is provided, in particular
in a
diagonal direction which lies between the directions which are predetermined
by one
of the extension cup parts and the other extension cup part. In this way, the
breasts
are not only supported or held in a sideways sleeping or resting position but
also for
example in supine sleeping or resting positions for preventing the formation
of
wrinkles. An embodiment of the additional extension cup part results from the
features of claim 5.
The features according to claim 6 achieve that the ends of the one and the
other
additional extension cup part which can be attached to the outer-side web,
only
insignificantly increase bulkiness, thereby increasing the wearing comfort.
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1
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With the features of claim 7 it is possible to adjust the one or the other
extension cup
part to the shape and size of the breasts of the different wearers, to thereby
individually select the wearing comfort. As a result, the outer garment has an
optimal
fit which does not interfere during sleep. In addition, the strength of the
support force
for the breasts can be increased or loosened by individual adjustment.
When the features of claim 8 are preferably provided, both breasts are
optimally and
completely covered or are accommodated by the cup formed thereby.
In this regard it is advantageous to proceed according to the features of
claim 9
and/or 10 so that the support can be optimally adjusted.
Further details of the invention are set forth in the following description in
which the
invention is described and explained by way of the exemplary embodiment shown
in
the drawing.
It is shown in:
Figure 1 in a schematic perspective representation, a front
view of a enclosing
frame without extension cup parts of an outer garment in the form of a
sleeping bra,
Figure 2 in a schematic perspective front view according to
Figure 1 the (only
shown on one side) sleeping bra with extension cup parts on the enclosing
frame
according to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention in the
open
state,
Figure 3 the sleeping bra in a front view according to Figure
2, however in
partially closed state and
Figure 4 the sleeping bra according to Figure 2 in (also only
shown on one side)
completely closed wearing state.
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The outer wear garment shown in the drawing in the form of a brassiere 10
serves for
use in an essentially reclining sleeping or resting position in order to
prevent wrinkle
formation in the region of the décolleté as a result of breasts lying on top
of each
other or bearing against each other when sleeping or resting in a sideways
position.
In Figures 2 to 5 of the drawing, only the side of the brassiere 10 which in
the
following is referred to as sleeping bra, which is on the left when worn is
shown in its
entirety, while the side which is on the right when worn is always only partly
shown in
the form of a enclosing frame and a strap arrangement.
According to Figure 1, the sleeping bra 10 has a enclosing frame 11, which
consists
of a left and right enclosing frame part 12 and 13, which each partially
surround or
encircle one of the breasts 14 or 15, and which are seamlessly connected with
one
another or as in Fig. 1 sewed to each other for forming a breast center web
16. The
two enclosing frame parts 12 and 13 of the enclosing frame 11 are connected on
the
back with a circumferential bottom breast strap arrangement 20 which in a not
shown
manner can be provided with a closure on the front region or on the back
region or
can be circumferentially one-piece.
Each enclosing frame part 12, 13 has an inside web 21, 21' with both
neighboring
inside webs 21, 21' forming the breast center web 16, a breast base web 22,
22' in
the upper region and bottom breast webs 23, 23' in the bottom region which
under-
breast webs are part of the circumferential under-breast strap arrangement 20
and
each transition seamlessly into an outer side web 24 which forms an arm cutout
approximately parallel to the bottom part of the inside webs 21, 21' below the
respective arm 26 of the wearer. Each enclosing frame part 12, 13 which is
open to
the arm 26 is connected to a one-piece part by the webs 21 to 24 or 21' to 24
and
respectively partially surrounds a breast 14 or 15 as shown in Figure 1. In
the
following, reference is only made to the left enclosing frame part 12 i.e.,
the side of
the sleeping bra 10 which is on the left when worn because the right side,
i.e. the
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right enclosing frame part 13 of the sleeping bra 10 is configured mirror
image
identical.
The sleeping bra 10 has two extension cup parts 30 and 32, which are held on
the
enclosing frame part 12. These two extension cup parts 30, 32 in the supine
position
as well as especially in the sideways position serve for counteracting the own
weight
of the breasts 14 (or 15) in particular inwardly so that the two breasts 14,
15 do not
bear against each another or lie on top of each other, which would lead to
wrinkle
formation. Of course, only the one extension cup part 30 may be provided
instead of
the two extension cup parts 30 and 32 shown in the preferred embodiment of the
sleeping bra 10 because this has to be provided or arranged as main part.
Further
extension cup parts can be added as desired.
Figure 2 shows the extension cup parts 30 and 32 in the opened state in which
they
do not yet perform any supporting function relative to the respective beast
14.
The extension cup parts 30 and 32 are each configured lobe-like according to
Figure
2, this means they are fastened, preferably sewed, with one of their ends 36,
41 on a
web 21, 22 of the enclosing frame part 12 and can be detachably fastened with
their
other free end 37, 42 on the approximately diagonally opposite web 24 of the
respective enclosing frame part 12 with variable tension, wherein several
adjustable
fastening possibilities exist for corresponding tightening. The lobes 33 or 34
of the
extension cup parts 30, 32 are each formed according to their position over a
region
of the breast 14 and provided with a corresponding base-surface shape. In
addition,
they are preferably formed from a stretch-like i.e., elastic fabric whereas
the material
of the webs 21 to 24 of the enclosing frame part 12 can be configured non-
elastic or
less elastic.
According to Figure 2, the first or main extension cup part 30 is fastened
with its one
end 36 along the inside web 21 and along a partial region of the breast base
webs 22
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and along at least a sub-region of the under breast web 23. Preferably, the
fastening
of the main extension cup pat 30 ends on the under breast web 23 in the region
of
the transition to the outer side web 24, i.e., approximately underneath the
arm 26.
The free end 37 of the extension cup part 30, which is narrower than the fixed
end
36, is provided with closure parts 43, whose counter closure parts 44 are
provided on
the outer side web 24. The counter closure parts 44 are arranged one behind
another
in the direction of the fastening of the lobe 33. As can also be seen from
Figure 3, the
free bottom longitudinal border 51 of the lobe 33 extends approximately
straight while
it's upper longitudinal border is configured curved. The main support force
according
to the arrow 45 thus acts from the inside of the breast outwardly.
The second extension cup part 32 is fastened with it's fixed end 41
longitudinally on
the breast base web 22. Thus, the fixed end 41 of the second extension cup
part 32
reaches up to the breast base 22 over a length, which partially overlaps the
fixed end
36 of the first extension cup part 30. The free end 42 of the second extension
cup
part 32 which is provided with closure parts 47 and is significantly narrower
than the
fixed end 41, is detachably fastened with counter closure parts 48
approximately
laterally on a region of the outer side web 24 in an outwardly protruding
manner,
which region is located below the counter closure parts 44 for the first
extension cup
part 30. There as well, the counter closure parts 48 are arranged one behind
the
other in pulling direction of the lobe 34 of the second extension cup part 32.
As can
also be seen from Figure 4, the bottom longitudinal border 53 of the lobe 34
and its
top longitudinal border 54 are configured curved in opposite direction.
Overall, the
lobe 34 is cut slightly narrower than the lobe 33. Also in this case, the main
support
force acts according to the arrows 46 from the inside of the breast in
approximately
diagonal direction outwardly toward the outer side web 24.
The extension cup parts 30 and/or 32 are preferably plastic, i.e., three
dimensionally
formed according to the shape and/or size of the breasts 14, 15.
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Figures 3 and 4 show the manner of closing and the sequential arrangement of
the
extension cup parts 30 and 32 and their detachable and adjustable fastening on
the
enclosing frame part 12.
Figure 3 shows the detachable fastening of the first or main extension cup 30
over an
initially very wide region of the left breast 14 to the counter closure part
44 on the
outer side web 24, i.e., from inside to outside. Because the counter closure
part 44
has several elements, which are arranged behind one another, it is possible to
individually adjust the support force by the extension cup part 30 for the
breast 14,
i.e., to intensify or loosen the support force, in order to achieve a good
wearing
comfort at a sufficient support force. For this, the extension cup part 30 is
preferably
also formed plastically. As a result of this measures according to Figure 3,
the left
breast 14 is prevented from bearing against or lie over the right breast 15
during
sleeping or resting of the wearer in the right sideways position. The main
extension
cup part 30 exerts its support force in the breast inside region and in the
region of the
under breast web 23.
According to Figure 4, the second extension cup part 32 is laid over the
fastened first
or main extension cup part 30 and is detachably fastened on the free end 42 in
a
more or less tight manner by means of the closure part 47. The second or
further
extension cup part 32 was especially modified for large and already very
flaccid
breasts so that the entire upper part of the breast 14 receives support from
inside to
outside and diagonally also downwardly. The location of the free ends 37 (up)
and 42
(down) can also lie underneath each other instead of on top of each other,
according
to Figure 4 when the lobes 33 and 34 are formed correspondingly.
Of course, the order of arrangement for the extension cup parts 30, 32 can
also be
different than described.
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Thus, the two extension cup parts 30, 32 or their lobes 33 or 34 form a
complete cup
for the respective here left breast 14. With this, a support effect of the
breast 14 is
achieved in all directions when reclining, in particular in a sideways
sleeping or
resting position. Of course, the right breast 15, which is shown free and
uncovered in
all Figures, is covered correspondingly. Different from the brassiere that is
worn
during the day (i.e. in upright body position) in which the support force is
essentially
only based on the bottom breast strap (due to the vertical gravity) the
sleeping bra 10
(which is worn in reclining position) according to the invention achieves that
its
support force mainly originates from the inside, the breast center web 16
towards the
right side or towards the left side due to the main extension cup part 30 and
in
addition due to the second extension cup part 32 and optional further ones,
sideward
from the top because the gravity of the breast 14, 15 acts in the
corresponding
direction against the arrows 45 or 46. In other words, the sleeping bra
differs optically
from conventional bras in that it does not cover the breasts in the shipped
state (or: in
the not closed state) because it does not contain cups in the classical sense.
The different parts (webs, lobes) of the sleeping bra 10 are made of a
suitable
material, wherein the lobes are in particular formed by elastic fabrics.
Preferably,
breathable materials are used.
In the shown exemplary embodiment, the enclosing frame parts 12 and 13 can
already be occupied with a cup of the present configuration over which the
extension
cup part or parts 30, 32 can be arranged according to the invention. The
enclosing
frame parts 12, 13 can also be configured in a simplified manner without the
breast
base web 22. It is also possible to provide the measures according to the
invention in
an outer garment, which is configured as top.
The enclosing frame parts 12, 13 can also completely surround the respective
breast
14, 15 by providing and arm cut out (not shown) between the breast base web 22
or
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22' and the outer side web 24 along which arm cut out the upper longitudinal
border
54 of the further extension cup part 32 extends at least partially.
Even though the closure parts 43 and 47 and the counter closure parts 44 and
48 are
shown as hooks and eyes in the Figures, they can of course also be formed by
hook
and loop closure parts or pressure button elements or others. In addition, the
locations of the fixed and free end of the extension cup part or parts 30, 32
can be
switched. The form of the longitudinal borders can also vary.
