Bra Fastener Single Wide Hook and Spaced Bridges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bras are difficult to open and close due to small, multiple hook-and-eye pairs located at the back, requiring users to maneuver their arms or shoulders in uncomfortable positions and often leading to errors or the bra being put on incorrectly, and they often feature rigid fasteners that are heavy, uncomfortable, and prone to breaking.
Innovation Solution
A bra with a unique fastening mechanism featuring a single, wide hook and a set of upside-down 'U' or 'n' shaped bridges on the back-strap, allowing for easy engagement and disengagement without the need for precise alignment, and optionally a modular frame to reduce weight and enhance comfort and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional bras use multiple small hook-and-eye pairs at the back, then the fastening can be adjusted to different positions, but the bra becomes difficult to open and close, requiring uncomfortable arm or shoulder positions and leading to errors
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is segmented into a single hook that can engage with multiple separate eye members positioned at different locations. This allows the user to select different engagement points for adjustability while maintaining a simple single-hook operation that is easy to manipulate, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring multiple hooks to engage with multiple eyes in a complex pattern, the invention inverts the approach by using one hook that can engage with any of several eyes. This simplifies the user's task to a single straightforward action while preserving the ability to adjust fastening position by selecting different eye members
2Strength
If conventional bras use rigid fasteners, then the fastening structure provides strength and stability, but the fastener becomes heavy, uncomfortable, and prone to breaking
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces rigid fastener components with flexible elastic members that have embedded hooks and eye members. This flexible construction reduces weight and improves comfort while maintaining sufficient strength through the elastic properties of the material, directly resolving the contradiction between strength and weight
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening system combines elastic material with embedded metallic or rigid hooks and eyes, creating a composite structure that leverages the flexibility and lightness of elastic material while retaining the strength and durability of the embedded components, thus resolving the strength-weight contradiction
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional bras use rigid fasteners, then the fastening structure provides stability, but the fastener becomes uncomfortable and prone to breaking
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic flexible members replace rigid fastener components, providing comfort through flexibility while the embedded hooks and eye members maintain structural stability and reliability. The elastic material's ability to stretch and return provides both comfort and durable, repeatable engagement cycles, resolving the contradiction between stability and reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A bra, a garment, an article of clothing, and a fastener for such items. A bra includes: two cups located at a front-side of the bra; and a fastener located at a back-side of the bra. The back-side of the bra has a first region and a second region. The fastener enables (A) attachment of the first region to the second region, and (B) detachment of the first region from the second region. The fastener includes: (I) a male member located in the first region of the back-side of the bra, and (II) a female member located in the second region of the back-side of the bra. The male member includes a single wide hook. The female member includes a set of multiple spaced-apart wide bridges, each bridge protruding outwardly and generally-perpendicularly relative to the second region of the back-side of the bra. Each bridge is generally perpendicular to the longest dimension of the back-side of the bra.