Clear fastener and clear extender for use in undergarments and methods of manufacture thereof

Abstract

An extender and fastening elements for a garment and, in particular, a bra in which the parts of the extender and fastening elements are made from clear materials such as clear plastics.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to undergarments and, more particularly, to transparent fasteners and extenders for use in or with undergarments. [0002] Undergarment manufacturers produce a wide variety of undergarments, and particularly bras, in a variety of styles, colors, patterns and textures and in an assortment of sizes. Conventional bras typically have a first cup and a second cup directly joined together, a first back band connected with the first cup and extending around a user's torso and a second back band connected with the second cup and extending around a user's torso. The first and second back bands can be coupled together using a conventional fastening assembly having a first fastening element and a second fastening element in which the first fastening element is attached to an end of the first back band and the second fastening element is attached to an end of the second back band. The first and second fastening elements are typically manuf...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention relates to a garment extender and garment fastening elements that can be used to increase the size of a garment. The garment extender is a clear elongated member that can be attached to the garment's fastening assembly, while the garment fastening elements are clear plastic materials that can be attached to each other. The invention allows for a completely clear fastening assembly for attaching parts of the garment. The garment extender and fastening elements can be fabricated using a flexible clear plastic material, while the coupling assembly is made of a hard clear plastic material with hook and / or eye elements. The invention is specifically adapted for use with a bra."

Problems solved by technology

A common problem for bra manufacturers is the requirement of having to provide fabrics, hooks and eyes in many different colors to match all bra colors being produced.

As a result, a common problem associated with selecting an appropriate size of a bra is a limited range of bra sizes stocked or carried by retailers.

Moreover, the user may face a problem with the proper fitting of a bra she owns if the user's frame size changes and the fit of the bra becomes too tight.

A common problem faced by users of conventional bra extenders is a limited choice of colors in which bra extenders are available.

Particularly, the wide range of bra colors and patterns and the rapidly changing fashion make manufacturing of bra extenders in all available bra colors and patterns not practicable and uneconomical.

Another problem faced by users of conventional bra extenders is maximum length and width limitations of such extenders because conventional “hook and eye” machinery used in the manufacture of conventional bra extenders is limited to manufacturing bra extenders of particular dimensions.

Because some undergarments, such as long line strapless bras and body shaping girdles, are up to 15 hooks and eyes in width, manufacture of bra extenders for such undergarments is usually impractical.

However, this coating is often improperly applied to the metal and is frequently removed from the hook and eye elements with a prolonged use of the garment.

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