(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2014/0051331 A1
`Handras
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Feb. 20, 2014
`
`US 2014005.1331A1
`
`(54) BRAWITH STORAGE POCKET
`(76) Inventor: Christina Handras, Boca Raton, FL
`(US)
`(21) Appl. No.: 13/589,599
`(22) Filed:
`Aug. 20, 2012
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`A4 IC 3/12
`
`(2006.01)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`USPC ............................................................ 4SO/89
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Each cup of the bra is provided on the inside with a zippered
`pocket. An intermediate ply of resilient foam material in each
`pocket is deformable on one side about an item in the pocket
`while remaining in Smooth even contact on an opposite side
`with the outer ply of the cup. Each side panel of the bra may
`also have a Zippered pocket on the inside.
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Patent Application Publication
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`US 2014/005.1331 A1
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`Feb. 20, 2014
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`BRAWITH STORAGE POCKET
`0001. This invention relates to a bra with one or more
`storage pockets.
`0002. As is known, various types of bras have been fabri
`cated with pockets or pouches in order to hold items, such as,
`credit cards, car keys, cell phones and the like. Examples of
`such bras are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,364,491; 6,626,
`733; 6,176,761; 2,503,847 and 2,492862. Generally, the fab
`rication of the pockets in these bras has been such that the
`pockets or pouches have been readily visible to others than the
`user. In addition, when items are placed in the pockets, bulges
`appear in the outside of the bra.
`0003. Accordingly. It is an object of the invention to pro
`vide a pocket in a bra for receiving one of more items that is
`conveniently located for the wearer.
`0004. It is another object of the invention to provide a
`concealed pocket in a bra for receiving one of more items.
`0005. It is another object of the invention to provide a bra
`with a built-in pocket that does not present any aesthetically
`displeasing bulges due to the presence of one or more items in
`the pocket.
`0006 Briefly, the invention provides a bra comprised of a
`pair of cups wherein each cup is of multi-ply construction
`with a built-in pocket.
`0007. In particular, each cup has an outer ply of material,
`an inner ply of material secured to the outer ply to define an
`enclosed space and an intermediate ply of resilient foam
`material disposed between the outer ply and the inner ply. In
`addition, a fourth ply of material is sewn or otherwise secured
`to the inner ply in order to form the built-in pocket with an
`opening extending along the upper section of the cup.
`0008. In accordance with the invention, the intermediate
`ply of foam material is characterized in being deformable on
`one side about an item in the pocket while being in Smooth
`even contact on an opposite side with the outerply. That is, the
`intermediate ply is of a relatively soft deformable materialso
`that an item in the pocket of a cup presses into the foam
`material without creating a bulge on the opposite side (the
`outside) of the intermediate ply. For example, the foam mate
`rial is made of a breathable viscoelastic memory foam which
`is pressure-absorbing in nature, similar to a temperpedic pil
`low. This foam material will also prevent perspiration in the
`breast cup area.
`0009. In one embodiment, the outer ply of each cup of the
`bra is of a harder material than the intermediate ply of foam
`material to ensure that the softer intermediate ply does not
`cause a bulge in the outer ply when one or more items are
`placed in a pocket of the cup.
`0010. In order to provide for closure of a pocket, each cup
`has a Zipper sewn into the innerply in a conventional manner.
`Typically, the Zipper is disposed along an upper section of a
`cup to allow for convenient access to the pocket therein. In
`addition, each cup has a flap on the innerply for covering over
`the Zipper in order to provide keep the Zipper from contacting
`the skin of a wearer. Typically, the flap is made of a soft
`material that is compatible with the use of the bra.
`0011. In another embodiment, the bra is fabricated with at
`least one side panel that extends laterally of the pair of cups
`and that is provided with a pouch for receiving a small item,
`Such as a credit card. In this embodiment, a Zipper is provided
`for closing the pouch along with a flap for covering over the
`Zipper.
`
`0012. The bra of the invention may be constructed in any
`Suitable manner or style, for example for use as an everyday
`bra, a multiway bra or a sports bra.
`0013 These and other objects and advantages of the inven
`tion will become more apparent from the following detailed
`description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
`drawings wherein:
`0014 FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an everyday
`bra constructed in accordance with the invention on the body
`of a user;
`0015 FIG. 2 illustrates a view of the inside of a multiway
`bra constructed in accordance with the invention;
`(0016 FIG. 3 illustrates a view of a side panel of the bra of
`FIG. 2 with a pocket in accordance with the invention;
`0017 FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective front view of a sports
`bra in accordance with the invention;
`(0018 FIG.5 illustrates a side view of he sports bra of FIG.
`4; and
`0019 FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken on
`line 6-6 of FIG. 2.
`0020 Referring to FIG. 1, the bra 10 is of generally con
`ventional structure and style for use as an everyday bra having
`a pair of cups 11 connected to a gore 12 in a cleavage Zone (i.e.
`the middle of the bra 10), an underwire 13, a pair of side
`panels 14 (only one of which is shown) that can be connected
`together at the back of the bra 10 in any conventional manner
`and a pair of shoulder straps 15.
`(0021
`Referring to FIGS. 2,3 and 6, wherein like reference
`characters indicate like parts as above, the bra 10 is con
`structed and styled for use as a multiway bra wherein each cup
`11 is of multi-ply construction with a built-in pocket 16.
`0022 Referring to FIG. 6, each cup 11 has an outer ply of
`material 17, an innerply of material 18, e.g. sewn to the outer
`ply 17, and an intermediate ply 19 of resilient foam material
`disposed between said outer ply 17 and inner ply 18. In
`addition, a fourth ply of material 20 is sewn or otherwise
`secured to the innerply 18 in order to form the pocket 16 with
`an opening extending along the upper section of the cup 11.
`0023) A zipper 21 is sewn between the third and fourth
`plys 18, 20 in order to provide a closure for the pocket 16. As
`illustrated in FIG. 2, the zipper 21 in the left-hand cup 11 has
`a slider 22 that moves from left to right to open the pocket 16
`while the zipper 21 in the right-hand cup 11 has a slider 22 that
`moves from right to left to open the pocket 16 therein.
`0024. In addition, a flap 23 is secured on the innerply 18 of
`each cup 11 for covering over the Zipper 21 in order to provide
`keep the Zipper 21 from contacting the skin of a wearer.
`Typically, the flap 23 is made of a soft material that is com
`patible with the use of the bra 10. As illustrated, the flap 23
`extends across the upper edge of the cup 11 and is of a Suitable
`width to cover over a zipper 21.
`0025. Each pocket 16 is sized to provide ample space for
`receiving one or more items (not shown). As illustrated, each
`pocket 16 occupies a major fraction of the back of a cup 11.
`However, the each pocket 16 may be made of a smaller size,
`for example, of a size to Snugly receive a cell phone.
`0026. In accordance with the invention, the intermediate
`ply 19 of resilient foam material is characterized in being
`deformable on one side about an item (not shown) in the
`pocket 16 while remaining in Smooth even contact on an
`opposite side with the outer ply 17. That is, the intermediate
`ply 19 is of a relatively soft deformable material so that an
`item in the pocket 15 of a cup 11 presses into the foam
`material without creating a bulge on the opposite side (the out
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`side) of the intermediate ply 19 or in the outer ply 17. For
`example, the intermediate ply 19 is one-halfinch thick and is
`made of a breathable viscoelastic memory foam which is
`pressure-absorbing in nature.
`0027. In one embodiment, the outer ply 17 of each cup 11
`of the bra 10 is of a harder material than the intermediate ply
`19 to ensure that the softer intermediate ply 19 does not cause
`a bulge in the outer ply 17 when one or more items are placed
`in a pocket of the cup.
`0028 Referring to FIG.3, each side panel 14 (only one of
`which is shown) of the bra 10 is provided with a pouch 24 for
`receiving a small item or items, such as a credit card 25 and
`key 26. In similar manner to the pocket 16, the pouch 24 is
`formed by a panel 27 of fabric sewn or otherwise secured to
`the side panel 14, a zipper 28 and a flap 29 for covering over
`the Zipper 28.
`0029 Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, wherein like reference
`characters indicate like parts as above, the bra 10" may be
`fabricated as a one-piece sports bra with cups 11, Support
`straps 15 and a back 30. As above, each cup 11 has a pocket 16
`for receiving one or more items. In addition, a pouch 24 is
`provided in the side of the bra 10' for receiving small items,
`25, 26.
`0030 The invention thus provides a bra with concealed
`built-in pockets that provide a smooth even appearance with
`one or more items in the pockets.
`0031. Further, the invention provides a bra with one or
`more concealed pockets that can be readily accessed by the
`wearer and closed utilizing Zippers for quick and easy access
`and closure.
`
`What is claimed is:
`1. Abra comprising
`a pair of cups;
`each said cup having an outer ply of material, an inner ply
`of material secured to the outer ply, an intermediate ply
`of resilient foam material disposed between said outer
`ply and said inner ply, and a fourth ply of material
`secured to said innerply to form a pocket therewith with
`an opening extending along the upper section of the cup,
`said intermediate ply being characterized in being
`deformable on one side thereof about an item in said
`pocket while being in Smooth even contact on an oppo
`site side thereof with said outer ply.
`2. A bra as set forth in claim 1 wherein said outer ply of
`each said cup is of a harder material than said intermediate
`ply.
`3. Abra as set forth in claim 1 wherein each said cup has a
`Zipper in said innerply thereof for closing said pocket thereof.
`4. Abra as set forth in claim 3 wherein each said cup has a
`flap on said inner ply thereof for covering over said Zipper.
`5. Abra as set forth in claim3 wherein said Zipper of each
`said cup is disposed along an upper section of each said cup.
`6. Abra as set forth in claim 1 further comprising at least
`one side panel extending laterally of said pair of cups and
`having a pouch therein, a Zipper for closing said pouch and a
`flap for covering over said Zipper.
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