Chest Coverage Clothing

Abstract

To provide a chest covering garment which does not simply tighten but supports with a good balance between tightening and loosening, aligns the axis of the body, opens the chest, and has a structure that does not impede the movement of the diaphragm which is an inner unit, promotes the activation of the inner unit, does not impede the movement of the body, leads to a body that can move, corrects the wearer to a correct posture, and maintains a beautiful appearance, and is softer and more comfortable to wear than a conventional brassiere. [Solution] The chest covering garment 1 has a front part 3, a back part, and left and right straps 5, and the left and right straps 5 are a continuum 7 with both ends attached to the back part, and both ends of the left and right straps 5 are attached spaced apart in the horizontal direction. An armpit support part can be provided along the upper edge of the front part 3 on the back side of the front part 3, and the armpit support part can be configured to intersect with the upper edge of the back part.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to chest-covering garments, and more specifically to chest-covering garments such as brassieres, sports bras, compression wear, etc., which have a structure that does not interfere with the movement of the diaphragm, which is the inner unit of the wearer, thereby promoting activation of the diaphragm and enabling the body to move, while also correcting the wearer's posture and maintaining a beautiful appearance. [Background technology]

[0002] Various brassieres have been proposed that use the contraction force of the straps to maintain the wearer's posture and reduce shoulder and back pain.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a brassiere having at least cups, straps, a base, and side cloth, in which the straps are configured to form loops from a single continuous member, the lower edge of the roughly triangular side cloth is sewn to the sides of the straps, and the rear edge of the side cloth is sewn to the back side of the straps.

[0004] Furthermore, cited document 1 discloses a brassiere in which the straps do not have a length adjustment mechanism, and each of the left and right straps is made of a continuous member with a connecting portion on the back side as a starting point and an ending point, and the lower edge of the approximately triangular side cloth is sewn to the side sides of the straps, and the rear edge of the side cloth is sewn to the back side of the straps. Cited Document 1 further discloses a brassiere in which the straps do not have a length adjustment mechanism, and each of the left and right straps is composed of a continuous member that starts at a connecting part on the back side, passes over the shoulders and underarms, and ends above the connecting part on the back side of the straps, and the lower edges of the approximately triangular side cloths are sewn to the side sides of the straps, and the rear edges of the side cloths are sewn to the back side of the straps.

[0005] Patent Document 1 describes that the above brassiere provides the following effects. The contraction force of the straps pulls the sides and back horizontally, and the shoulder area backwards. This prevents hunched back and hunched shoulders, and helps maintain a beautiful posture with the chest out, which has the effect of reducing shoulder stiffness and back pain. In addition, the force applied to the shoulders when wearing the brassiere of Reference 1 is approximately vertical, so no unnatural force is applied to the shoulders and shoulder stiffness is unlikely to occur. Furthermore, the brassiere of Reference 1 has a vertical contraction force applied to the straps in front of the shoulders, so simply wearing it naturally lifts the bust. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5894690 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, the underwear in Reference 1 uses the contractile force of the straps to tighten the body and make it look slimmer and more beautiful, which inhibits muscle activation and hinders natural body movements.

[0008] In this way, when the body's natural movements are inhibited, muscle activation is inhibited, leading to a decrease in muscle strength and making it difficult to maintain a beautiful appearance with corrected posture.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a chest-covering garment that does not simply tighten, but rather provides support by taking into consideration the balance between tightening and loosening, aligns the body's axis, opens the chest, and is designed with a structure that does not hinder the movement of the inner unit, thereby promoting activation of the inner unit, leading to a body that can move, while also correcting the wearer's posture and maintaining a beautiful appearance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In view of the above problems, the inventors conducted extensive research into the structure of a chest-covering garment that would not hinder the movement of the diaphragm, thereby promoting the activation of the diaphragm, which is the inner unit. As a result, they discovered that the above problems could be solved by optimizing the strap structure to correct the wearer's back muscles, open the chest, and facilitate comfortable diaphragm movement, thereby completing the present invention.

[0011] Specifically, in a chest covering garment having a front portion, a back portion, and left and right straps, each of the left and right straps is configured as a continuum that starts at the back portion, extends toward the wearer's shoulders, passes through the upper end of the front portion and the wearer's armpits, and ends at the back portion, and the start and end points of each of the left and right straps are set apart in the horizontal direction. That is, the chest covering garment of the present invention is a chest covering garment having a front portion, a back portion, and left and right straps, and is characterized in that the left and right straps are continuums with both ends set at the back portion, and the both ends of the left and right straps are set apart in the horizontal direction.

[0012] In addition, in the present invention, an armpit support portion (first armpit support portion) can be provided along the upper edge of the front portion on the rear side of the front portion, and the armpit support portion can be configured to intersect with the upper edge of the rear portion.

[0013] Furthermore, the front portion may be configured so that a right front portion is arranged at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal so that its lower edge slopes downward from the horizontal center of the front portion toward the right side, and a left front portion is arranged at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal so that its lower edge slopes downward from the horizontal center of the front portion toward the left side, and the lower edge of the right front portion and the lower edge of the left front portion intersect with each other. Effect of the Invention

[0014] In the present invention, the left and right straps of the chest covering garment are made of a continuous body with both ends installed on the back, and the left and right straps are installed laterally spaced apart, so that the axis of the wearer's body can be aligned, the chest can be opened, and the movement of the diaphragm, which is the inner unit, is not hindered. This structure promotes the activation of the diaphragm, and leads to a body that can move without hindering the movement of the body. More specifically, the above structure provides support toward the multifidus muscle located in the center of the back (center of the back), corrects the back muscles, and opens the chest, activating the diaphragm without hindering the movement of the diaphragm, and realizing comfortable movement. The above structure corrects the wearer's posture and maintains a beautiful appearance, and the proper movement of the diaphragm also leads to a bust-up.

[0015] In the present invention, the armpit support part made of a stretchable material is provided on the back side (side) of the front part, and by providing support from the armpits, the pectoralis minor can be acted on, and the diaphragm and the pectoralis minor can be linked to achieve more comfortable movement. Here, by providing a cross structure in which the outer side (back side) of the armpit support part and the upper end side of the back part cross, the force is dispersed and the directions of the forces are less likely to affect each other, allowing for more comfortable movement. In addition, with the above-mentioned strap structure, a force acts in the direction of expanding the chest due to the correction of the back muscles, but the provision of the armpit support part suppresses the expansion of the bust, providing a bust-up effect and making the chest look more beautiful.

[0016] Furthermore, by adopting a cross structure on the front part of the chest covering garment of the present invention, it is possible to more effectively reduce pressure on the diaphragm, making it possible to perform twisting movements of the body more comfortably. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows the front surface (outer side) (A) and the back surface (outer side) (B) of a brassiere according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2]2 is a diagram showing the back surface (skin side) (A), (B) and the front surface (outside) (C) of the brassiere in FIG. 1 from the front to the back. [Diagram 3] 2A is a perspective view from the front side and FIG. 2B is a perspective view from the back side showing the support (stretch) direction when the brassiere of FIG. 1 is worn. [Figure 4] 2A and 2B are images taken from the side of a subject standing and wearing a conventional brassiere (A) and the brassiere according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 5] 2A and 2B are side-on images of a subject in a seated position wearing a conventional brassiere (A) and the brassiere of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 (B). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this specification, "upper", "lower", "right", "left", "front" and "rear" correspond to the "upper", "lower", "right", "left", "front" and "rear" of the body of the wearer wearing the chest covering garment of the present invention. In the following, unless otherwise specified, the up-down direction of the wearer's body, i.e., the vertical direction, is referred to as the "longitudinal direction", and the left-right direction of the wearer's body, i.e., the horizontal direction, is referred to as the "lateral direction". In addition, in this specification, the "stretch direction" of a fabric or the fabric "stretches in a certain direction" refers to the direction in which the fabric used in each part is likely to stretch, but does not exclude the fabric having stretchability in a direction other than the "stretch direction" or "stretchable" direction, unless otherwise specified.

[0019] In the following embodiment, the structure of the present invention will be described using a brassiere (size: D75) as an example, but the present invention can also be applied to chest-covering clothing such as sports bras, compression wear, night bras, cupped innerwear, supporters, and swimsuits, in addition to brassieres.

[0020] 1. First embodiment Fig. 1 shows the front surface (outside) (A) and the back surface (outside) (B) of a brassiere according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 shows the back surface (skin side) (A), (B) and the front surface (outside) (C) from the front to the back of the brassiere in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows the support (stretch) direction when the brassiere in Fig. 1 is worn.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 1(A), the brassiere of this embodiment is disposed between the left and right cups 2L, 2R and the left and right cups 2L, 2R, connects the left and right cups 2L, 2R, and has a front portion 3 (3L, 3R) whose lateral center is convex upward. The left and right front portions 3L, 3R extend downward along the inner side portions 2L1, 2R1 of the left and right cups 2L, 2R, and further extend toward the rear side along the lower ends 2L2, 2R2 of the left and right cups 2L, 2R, respectively.

[0022] The outer lower side edges 2L3, 2R3 of the left and right cups 2L, 2R are sewn together and connected to the front side edges of the left and right back parts 4L, 4R, respectively, and at the underside of the lower ends of the left and right cups 2L, 2R, the rear side edges of the left and right front parts 3L, 3R and the lower side edges of the front sides of the left and right back parts 4L, 4R are sewn together, respectively.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 1(B), the left and right back portions 4L, 4R extend toward the horizontal center of the back, the vertical width of which decreases rapidly near the center of the back, and both ends are connected by connecting portions 7 provided near the ends of the left and right back portions 4L, 4R. There are no particular limitations on the structure of the connecting portions 7 as long as they can connect both ends, but in this embodiment, a hook is provided near one end, and a hook locking portion is provided near the other end. The connecting part 7 can be located on the back or on the front. However, as described later, in this embodiment, a cross structure is adopted for the front part 3 to further reduce the pressure on the diaphragm and ensure the movement of twisting the body, so that the connecting part 7 is preferably located somewhere other than the front. Also, in cases where the chest covering garment body is made of a highly elastic material, a structure without the connecting part 7 can be adopted.

[0024] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, one end of the strap 5 is sewn near the lower end near the center of the front side of the left and right back parts 4L, 4R so as to connect to the connecting part 7. Then, the strap 5 is sewn along the sides 4L1, 4R1 (only 4R1 is shown in Fig. 2(A)) of the front side of the left and right back parts 4L, 4R. The strap 5 protruding from the upper end of the left and right back parts 4L, 4R is connected to another strap 5 having the other end by a connecting part (length adjustment part) 6 provided at the upper end of the front cup (upper side of the front side where the strap is attached). Then, the strap 5 is sewn along the upper side parts 2L4, 2R4 on the outside of the cups 2L, 2R, and further passes obliquely through the back parts 4L, 4R, and the other end of the strap 5 is sewn near the lower end of the back parts 4L, 4R.

[0025] In this embodiment, the strap 5 is a continuous body consisting of two straps, one attached from the wearer's shoulder to the back and the other attached from the cup to the armpit, connected by a connecting part 6 attached to the upper end of the cup. However, the structure of the strap 5 of the present invention is not limited to this, and as long as it is a continuous body with both ends attached to the back part, it can be a single continuous body without a connecting part 6, or a structure in which three or more straps are connected.

[0026] Here, as shown in Figures 1(B) and 2(C), one end and the other end of the strap 5 are placed with a certain distance s between them in the horizontal direction. By placing both ends of the strap 5 at a certain distance s in this way, the strap 5 can provide suitable support for the shoulders toward the multifidus muscle located at the center of the back, as shown by arrows P1 in Figures 3(A) and (B). This corrects the back muscles and opens the chest, promoting activation without impeding the movement of the diaphragm, allowing the wearer to move comfortably.

[0027] As described above, by spacing the ends of strap 5 apart by a predetermined distance s, the function of supporting the wearer toward the multifidus muscle in the center of the back is improved compared to conventional techniques in which the strap's base point and end point are aligned to form a ring or a roughly P-shape, and this promotes activation of the diaphragm without interfering with its movement, allowing the wearer to move more comfortably.

[0028] As long as the above-mentioned effects are obtained, there is no particular limitation on the horizontal distance s between both ends of the strap 5. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2(C), the length w of the lower side of the sleeve body is 18.2 cm, while the horizontal distance s between both ends of the strap, i.e., the horizontal distance s from the center of the back to the other strap end, is 3.7 cm.

[0029] When the length w of the lower side of the sleeve body is taken as 100, the horizontal distance between both ends of the strap, i.e., (s / w) x 100, is preferably 10% to 30%, and more preferably 15% to 25%. If the value of (s / w) x 100 is less than 10%, i.e., if the distance s is too short, the force pulling the lower back (lower back) will be weak, and there is a possibility that the effect of raising the back will not be sufficient. On the other hand, if the value of (s / w) x 100 exceeds 30%, i.e., if the distance s is too long, the force pulling the back center will be weak, and there is a possibility that the effect of expanding the chest will not be sufficient.

[0030] Setting the value of (s / w)×100 within the above range provides a sufficient effect of straightening the wearer's back and expanding the chest, allowing the wearer to move more comfortably and correcting their posture to a more appropriate one. The present invention can be applied to various chest covering garments other than the brassiere of this embodiment. In that case, the lateral distance s between both ends of the strap is the value of t in FIG. 1(B) (35 c m, width To (equivalent) is 100, 5 ~ 15 inIt is preferable that the value of (s / t)×100 is less than 5%, i.e., if the distance s is too short, the force pulling the lower back (lower back) is weak, and it is possible that the effect of raising the back muscles is insufficient. On the other hand, if the value of (s / t)×100 is more than 15%, i.e., if the distance s is too long, the force pulling the back muscles is weak, and it is possible that the effect of expanding the chest is insufficient.

[0031] Even in chest-covering garments other than brassieres, setting the value of s within the above range can provide a sufficient effect of straightening the wearer's back and expanding the chest, allowing the wearer to move more comfortably and correcting their posture to a more appropriate one.

[0032] As described above, in the present invention, the above-mentioned effects are achieved by configuring the strap 5 as a single continuous strap 5 that runs from below near the center of the back, around the shoulders and underarms, and down to near the bottom end of the back. In this embodiment, a connection part 6 is provided midway along the strap 5 to make the length adjustable, but as long as the strap 5 is continuous, the effects of the present invention can be achieved even if a connection part is provided midway.

[0033] Of course, it is possible to employ a strap 5 that does not have a length adjustment section, but it is preferable to provide a length adjustment section in order to accommodate individual differences in wearing comfort, such as on the shoulders.

[0034] In this embodiment, a strap 5 with a width of 13 mm is used, but in the present invention, the width of the strap 5 is not particularly limited and can be appropriately designed depending on the overall size of the chest covering garment, the material of the strap 5, the desired characteristics, etc. For example, a strap with a general size of 8 mm to 22 mm in width can be used, or a special strap can be adopted depending on the purpose. The material of the strap 5 is not particularly limited as long as it is a stretchable material, but typically polyurethane (PU), polyurethane elastomer (PUE), etc. can be used.

[0035] 1(A), in this embodiment, the front surface portion 3 is composed of a right front surface portion 3R and a left front surface portion 3L. The right front surface portion 3R is disposed so that its lower edge is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction so as to descend from the horizontal center of the front surface portion toward the right side, and the left front surface portion 3L is disposed so that its lower edge is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction so as to descend from the horizontal center of the front surface portion toward the left side, and the structure has such that the lower edge of the right front surface portion 3R intersects with the lower edge of the left front surface portion 3L.

[0036] With this structure, the pressure on the diaphragm can be more effectively alleviated, and twisting movements of the body can be made more comfortable. Here, by configuring the lower end edge 3R of the right front portion 3R and the lower end edge 3L of the left front portion 3L to be open downwards, the pressure on the diaphragm can be further alleviated, and an even more excellent effect can be obtained.

[0037] As shown in Figures 2(A) and (B), in the chest covering garment of this embodiment, a first armpit support part 8a is arranged on the outer side (armpit) of the strap 5 along the left and right cups 2L and 2R, and further, as shown in Figures 1(A) and 2(A), a second armpit support part 8b is provided on the upper edge of the cup. As shown in Figures 2(A) and (B), the first armpit support part 8a is substantially elliptical in shape, with one tip located at the upper end of the cup and the other tip located at the middle part of the strap that passes diagonally through the back parts 4L and 4R. The edge of the first armpit support part 8a on the cup side is sewn to the strap 5. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 1(A), the second underarm support part 8b is made of a long and narrow piece of fabric that is placed on the upper sides 2L5, 2R5 of the left and right cups 2L, 2R from near the connection part 6 of the strap 5 to near the center of the front parts 3L, 3R, and its lower side is sewn to the upper sides 2L5, 2R5 of the left and right cups 2L, 2R. By arranging the first and second underarm support parts 8a, 8b in this way, it is possible to approach the pectoralis minor muscle as shown by the arrows P2 and P3 in Fig. 3(A), and the diaphragm and pectoralis minor muscle work together to realize more comfortable movement.

[0038] Here, by adopting a cross structure (indicated by c in FIG. 2B) in which the side edge on the outer side (back side) of the armpit of the first armpit support part 8a crosses the upper end edge of the back part, the force is dispersed and the directions of the forces are less likely to affect each other, allowing for more comfortable movement. Note that by configuring the upper end edge of the back part to be open upwards, rather than being sewn to the first armpit support part 8a, the force is further dispersed, providing a better effect.

[0039] In addition, in the above-mentioned strap structure, a force acts in the direction in which the chest expands due to the correction of the back muscles, but by providing the first and second side support parts 8a and 8b, the expansion of the bust is suppressed, and a bust-up effect is obtained, making the chest look more beautiful. As long as the above effect is obtained, the material of the first and second side support parts 8a and 8b is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, the first and second side support parts 8a and 8b are made of power net. The material of the first and second side support parts 8a and 8b is not limited to this, but it is preferable to use a material with high stretchability in order to approach the pectoralis minor muscle. In addition to power net, such fabrics include satin net, 2-way tricot material, stretch lace, and Triskin (registered trademark).

[0040] The positions and shapes of the first and second underarm support parts 8a, 8b are not limited to the configurations of the above embodiment as long as they provide the above effects, but it is preferable that the first underarm support part 8a is made of a long piece of fabric that is arranged in a substantially vertical direction, with one end located near the top end of the cup and the other end located in the middle of the strap that passes diagonally through the back parts 4L, 4R. It is also preferable that the second underarm support part 8b is made of a long and narrow piece of fabric that is arranged on at least a part of the upper side between the top end of the cup and the front parts 3L, 3R. EXAMPLES

[0041] The effects of the embodiments of the present invention will be further described below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0042] Fig. 4 is a side view of a subject in a standing position wearing a conventional brassiere (A) and a brassiere according to an embodiment of the present invention (B). Fig. 5 is a side view of a subject in a sitting position wearing a conventional brassiere (A) and a brassiere according to an embodiment of the present invention (B). The conventional brassiere (A) used was a commercially available product described in Cited Document 1, in which the left and right straps each start and end at a connecting part on the back side and are made of a continuous member without a length adjustment mechanism. The subjects confirmed that when wearing the brassiere of the embodiment of the present invention, it felt softer and more comfortable, and that it opened up the chest and made the back feel straighter than when wearing a conventional brassiere.

[0043] In Figures 4 and 5, circles are placed at the central axes of the body, including the ear holes, shoulders (acromion), elbows, hip joints, knees, and ankles. In Figure 4(A) where a conventional brassiere is worn, the positions of the circles are offset from a straight line, whereas in Figure 4(B) where the brassiere of the embodiment of the present invention is worn, the circles are positioned almost on a straight line. Similarly, in Figure 5 where the subject is seated, it was confirmed that the circles are aligned with a straight line when the brassiere of the embodiment of the present invention is worn (B) compared to when the conventional brassiere is worn (A).

[0044] From the above results, it has been confirmed that by wearing a brassiere according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to obtain the excellent effects of aligning the body axis, opening the chest, improving posture, and tilting the bust top upward.

[0045] In this specification, a brassiere having cups and a front and back portion made of separate members has been described as an example, however, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration and can also be effectively applied to chest-covering garments such as sports bras, compression wear, night bras, cupped innerwear, supporters, swimsuits, etc. that do not have cups and have a configuration in which the front and back portions are of an integrated structure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1. Bra 2L, 2R Left and right cups 3L, 3R Left and right front parts 4L, 4R Left and right rear parts 5 Straps 6 Connection part (length adjustment part) 7 Connecting part 8a, 8b: first armpit support portion, second armpit support portion

Claims

1. A chest covering garment having a front portion, a back portion, and left and right straps, The left and right straps are continuous, with both ends not spanning the front and back parts, and are both installed on the back part, and one end and the other end of each of the left and right straps are installed spaced apart in the horizontal direction, thereby correcting the wearer's back muscles.

2. A chest covering garment having a front portion, a back portion, and left and right straps, The left and right straps are continuous and both are installed on the back part, with both ends not spanning the front part and the back part, and each of the left and right straps is installed with a distance s between one end and the other end in the horizontal direction, and the distance s is 5 to 15, where 100 is the length of the body width.

3. The chest covering garment according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an underarm support portion is provided along an upper edge of the front portion on the rear side thereof, and the underarm support portion intersects with an upper end edge of the rear portion.

Images