An Expandable Brassiere

Abstract

An adjustable brassiere (100) having two cups (102,104) joined to each other, a back band (106, 108) and shoulder straps (110,112). The back band has two parts: a first back band (108) having a first end connected to the first brassiere cup and having a second free end, and a second back band (106) having a first end connected to the second brassiere cup and having a second free end. The second free end of the first back band is detachably connected to the second free end of the second back band. The first shoulder strap (110) has a first end connected to the first brassiere cup and has a second end connected to the first back band, and the second shoulder strap (112) has a first end connected to the second brassiere cup and has a second end connected to the second back band. Adjustable side fasteners (114) connect the first and second brassiere cups to the first and second back bands, and these are able to alter an angle between the first and second brassiere cups and the first and second back bands. In two or more adjustable front fasteners (116) incorporated along each of the first and second brassiere cups connect the first and second brassiere cups and the first and second shoulder straps. The adjustable side fasteners allow the size of the brassieres cups to be increased in volume by one size and the adjustable front fasteners allow the cups to rotate to increase in capacity once side fasteners have been adjusted. The wearer can thus adjust the effective cup size of the brassiere to allow for size fluctuations during pregnancy and / or breast-feeding.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION[0001]This invention relates to brassieres, or bras, and more particularly to brassieres that expand to allow for fluctuations in breast size (mammary gland), for example during pregnancy and / or breast-feeding.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Adjustable bras, having adjustable back bands and shoulder straps are well known. One example is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,232,359 (Richardson). The bra has bra cups and first and second detachable shoulder straps connected to an adjustable back band or bands.[0003]Maternity bras in which the cup part of the brassiere may be opened to allow the mother to feed the infant are also commonplace. Neither of these types of bras allows the user to adjust the effective cup size of the brassiere to allow for size fluctuations of the breast, for example during pregnancy and / or breast-feeding and as a consequence, on many occasions, for many breast feeding mothers breast feeding has been uncomfortable.[0004]From the foregoing, it is a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an adjustable brassiere including: a first brassiere cup and a second brassiere cup connected together; a first back band having a first end connected to the first brassiere cup and having a second free end, and a second back band having a first end connected to the second brassiere cup and having a second free end, wherein the second free end of the first back band is detachably connected to the second free end of the second back band; and a first shoulder strap having a first end connected to the first brassiere cup and having a second end connected to the first back band, and a second shoulder strap having a first end connected to the second brassiere cup and having a second end connected to the second back band; having an adjustment means whereby, in use, the wearer is able to adjust the effective cup size of the brassiere to accommodate fluctuations in breast size.

[0006]Ideally the adjustment means includes one or more side fasteners connecting the first and second brassiere cups to the first and second back bands, the adjustable fasteners adapted to alter an angle between the first and second brassiere cups and the first and second back bands; and two or more adjustable front fasteners incorporated along each of the first and second brassiere cups connecting the first and second brassiere cups and the first and second shoulder straps thereby achieving variation in effective cup size.

Problems solved by technology

Neither of these types of bras allows the user to adjust the effective cup size of the brassiere to allow for size fluctuations of the breast, for example during pregnancy and / or breast-feeding and as a consequence, on many occasions, for many breast feeding mothers breast feeding has been uncomfortable.

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