Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to garments for women. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a top garment that offers an effective cover to the breasts so that women can go totally bra-free.

Background

Brassiere (herein referred to as “bra”) is a well-known form-fitting undergarment, which is generally designed to support a woman’s breasts by providing constriction. Not just support, but bras have gained popularity for a variety of other purposes too, such as for enhancing a woman’s breast shape and size, creating cleavage, or for other aesthetic, fashion, or more practical considerations. Further, women’s choices about what kind of bra to wear are consciously and unconsciously affected by social perceptions of an ideal female body shape, which changes over time. One other common reason for women to wear bras is that they mistakenly believe they prevent sagging breasts by wearing bras.
[0003] Despite many uses of a bra, women are not very comfortable wearing bras for longer durations, mainly because of its tightness and constriction. It is because of such uncomfortable feeling a woman has constant feeling of constricted asphyxiation. Along with the uncomfortable feeling, the cost involved in buying such bras is very high. In fact, more often than not, women tend to wear incorrect size of bra, which adds on to the discomfort. Also, bras are also known to cause itching and rashes and the underwire can poke the skin. Often women want to go bra-free whenever and wherever it is feasible, such as at home, and still feel confident and be able to roam freely without feeling any social obligations.
[0004] Clothing companies have tapped into the insight of the discomfort associated with wearing bras for women. Therefore, there have been a few innovations in different clothing lines to provide more comfort to the women. However, even after many efforts, the existing devices do not address the problem in situations, like, where a woman does not want to constrict herself but still wants something which can help her in covering her breasts, in order to conform with the social norms. In fact, all the garments, like as in-built bras, tank tops with attached sports bra, athleisure wear with built-in bra, swim wear bra tops, padded sari blouses to provide comfort to women etc., are directed towards providing support and/or contour to the woman’s breasts, but do not address the need for being totally un-constricted as by construct, they are form-fitting and ‘hug’ the woman. (Stick-on silicone bras for backless garments, and nipple pasties, while doing away with the bra, have very restricted usage and cannot be worn for long.)
[0005] For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,018 (“the ‘018 patent”) discloses a camisole having an integrated receiving section for brassiere cups with a stretchable strip affixed to the base and length of the brassiere cups. However, such camisole still faces the same problem of constriction of the breasts of the women. Additionally, in hot and humid conditions, these garments can feel sticky and uncomfortable. Therefore, in spite of getting an insight into the problems, the existing ideas still make women feel uncomfortable as the bra isn’t totally done away, only instead of two garments i.e., t-shirt and bra, they have made a single garment.
[0006] No company has yet offered solutions to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages or offered solutions for the times when a woman wants to go totally bra - free and yet look elegant.
[0007] Accordingly, there is a need to provide a solution to the existing problems. Thus, the present disclosure relates to a garment that not only provides coverage to the breast but also provides the option of going bra-free.
Summary of the Invention
[0008] The present disclosure has overcome the above-mentioned problems faced by women, by providing a garment which facilitates women to go totally bra-free and still provides a comfortable coverage to the breasts and nipples. The present disclosure uses a unique ‘Bra-Eliminate Technique’ which provides necessary opacity while eliminating the discomfort of constriction. Therefore, women can go totally bra-free whenever they want to, even when they are in the company of others.
[0009] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a wearable top garment for offering bra-free comfort to women is provided. The top garment includes a front panel defining an outer surface and an inner surface. The garment also includes an inner layer attached to the inner surface of the front panel. The inner layer provides a coverage for breasts of a woman and has a length less than or equal to a length of the front panel. Further, the inner layer is configured to selectively include one or more pads to be positioned over the breast of the woman for providing a constriction free and support free coverage to the breasts.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates an exterior perspective view of a bra-free garment for women, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates an interior perspective view of the bra-free garment for women, in accordance with the first embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates a rear perspective view of the bra-free garment for women, in accordance with the first embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates an exterior perspective view of a bra-free garment for women, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates an interior perspective view of the bra-free garment for women, in accordance with the second embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0015] FIG. 6 illustrates a rear perspective view of the bra-free garment for women, in accordance with the second embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0016] FIG. 7 illustrates an exterior perspective view of a bra-free garment for women, in accordance with a third embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0017] FIG. 8 illustrates an interior perspective view of the bra-free garment for women, in accordance with the third embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0018] FIG. 9 illustrates a rear perspective view of the bra-free garment for women, in accordance with the third embodiment of the present disclosure.
Detailed Description
[0019] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. The terminology used in the description presented herein is not intended to be interpreted in any limited or restrictive manner, simply because it is being utilized in conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may include several novel features, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes or which is essential to practicing the inventions herein described.
[0020] FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate an exemplary women’s bra-free garment 100, according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The garment 100 includes a front panel 101 defining an outer surface 102 and an inner surface 104, and a back panel 107. The garment 100 includes an inner layer 105, which may be shorter in length, than the front panel 101, covering the chest area. Furthermore, the inner layer 105 has an outer surface 105A and inner surface 105B. The outer surface 105A comes in contact with the woman’s skin and the inner surface 105B affixed on the inner surface 104. In other examples, an upper end of the inner layer 105 is stitched into a shoulder seam and neckline. As shown in FIG. 1, the inner layer 105 extends from a top of the garment 100 up to half or 3/4th length of the inner surface 104 of the garment 100. It may also be contemplated that the inner layer 105 may extend to the entire length of the garment 100 and cover the entire length of the inner surface 104. It is also understood that the inner layer 105 may not necessarily begin from the top of the garment 100 but may be stitched as a horizontal patch. As will be appreciated, the inner layer 105 corresponds to the layer of the garment 100 that comes in contact with the woman’s skin. In an embodiment, the garment 100 includes one or more pockets 106 sewn/affixed on the inner surface 105B, such as a first pocket 106a and a second pocket 106b (hereinafter collectively referred to as the pockets 106), each being positioned to cover a breast. For example, the first pocket 106a is positioned to cover the right breast and the second pocket 106b is positioned to cover the left breast of a women. It may be contemplated that the garment 100 may include a single pocket 106 for mastectomy survivors with only one breast. The mastectomy survivors may want to have an even-looking top. It may be contemplated that this choice can be exercised by her while inserting any one or both the cups into the pockets.
[0021] In an example, each of the pocket 106 is rectangular or square shaped and is affixed on three side edges (as shown by dotted lines 108) to the inner surface 105B of the garment 100. The fourth side 110 of each of the pocket 106 is open to receive removable pads 112 therein (as shown in FIG. 2). Alternatively, the shape of the pockets could be circular/ oval and part of its stitch/ affixation is open to receive pads 112. The three side edges of the pockets 106 may be affixed to the inner surface 105B by stitching, sewing or any other known joining methods for clothes. The pockets 106 may be permanently affixed or removably affixed to the inner surface 105B of the garment 100 to provide seamless affixation of the pockets 106. The shape of the removable pads 112 may be triangular, rectangular, circular or any other shape as desired. The shape and size of the pockets 106 as well as the removable pads 112 may be selected appropriately, according to the size of a women’s breast and desired coverage of the breasts. It may also be contemplated that the size of the garment 100, the pockets 106 and the removable pads 112 may be selected corresponding to clothing sizes of women. For example, for a woman with larger breasts or with uneven breasts, the size of the pockets 106 as well as the removal pads 112 will be according to the size of each of the breasts as compared to that for a woman with smaller breasts or even breasts.
[0022] A woman may insert or remove the removable pads 112 as and when desired and whenever she wants to go bra-free. For example, when she desires to wear garment 100 with a bra (say for formal outings), she may remove the pads 112 from the pockets 106. And when she wants to go braless, say after coming home, she can continue to wear the same garment 100 by taking off her bra and simply inserting the pads 112 into the pockets 106. Another such example may include long haul flights. Furthermore, the garment 100 can be worn without the pads 112 when the woman is in her private space and therefore can roam freely without feeling any social obligation. Alternatively, the garment 100 can be worn with the inserted pads 112, when the woman does not want to wear an actual bra but has to hide nipple and breast impressions because of social obligations. The garment 100 can be worn with or without the pads by the woman at home or outside, as per her choice.
[0023] The affixation of the pockets 106 and the positioning of the removable pads 112 is done on the inner surface 105B of the garment 100, so as to provide seamless and smooth appearance on the outer layer 102 of the garment 100. It may be understood that the material of the garment 100 and/or the inner layer 105 and/or the removable pads 112 may be selected from any known materials for the same.
[0024] FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate an exemplary women’s bra-free garment 200, according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The garment 200 includes a top layer 202, a front panel 204 and a back panel 206. In an exemplary embodiment, the top layer 202 extends partially along the length of the front panel 204. As shown in FIG. 4, the top layer 202 extends from a top of the garment 200 up to half or 3/4th length of the front panel 204 of the garment 200. In other examples, the top layer 202 may extend along the entire length of the garment 200 and cover the entire length of the front panel 204. In other examples, the top layer 202 may not necessarily extend from the top of the garment 200 but may begin from any length below it. (Not shown in the figure). As shown in FIG. 4, the top layer 202 and the front panel 204 may be joined together at the edges of the garment 200, such as at the shoulder, sleeves and side edges of the garment 200. The joining of the top layer 202 and the front panel 204 may be done by stitching, sewing or any other known methods.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the front panel 204 of the garment 200 includes an outer surface 208 and an inner surface 210. As will be appreciated, the inner surface 210 corresponds to the inner side of the garment 200 that comes in contact with a woman’s skin. In an exemplary embodiment, the garment 200 includes two inner layers, in the form of two breast pads 212, such as a first breast pad 212a and second breast pad 212b, affixed to the inner surface 210 of the front panel 204. The breast pads 212 may be affixed to the inner surface 210 of the front panel 204 by stitching, sewing or any other known joining methods for clothes. The gently molded breast pads 212 may be positioned for covering each breast without providing any type of support or constriction for the breasts. The purpose of the affixed breast pads 212 is to provide mere covering of the nipple and breast impressions, so that a woman can go totally bra-free and still feel confident in front of people without feeling obligated to societal norms. It may be contemplated that the garment 200 may include a single breast pad 212 for mastectomy survivors with only one breast. The mastectomy survivors may want to have an even-looking top. It may be contemplated that this choice can be exercised by her while inserting the any one or both cups into the pockets.
[0026] The shape of the breast pads 212 may be triangular, rectangular, circular or any other shape as desired. The shape and size of the breast pads 212 may be selected appropriately, according to a size of woman’s breast and desired coverage of the breasts. The breast pads 212 may be moulded or unmoulded. It may also be contemplated that the size of the garment 200, and the breast pads 212 may be selected corresponding to clothing sizes of women to provide bra-free comfort without any constriction and support.
[0027] The top layer 202 provides an aesthetically enhanced appearance to the garment 200 and a dual layered covering to the breasts and nipple impressions when the woman goes totally bra-free. Further, the top layer 202 also hides the sewing and stitching of the breast pads 212 done to the front panel 204. Therefore, a woman can wear garment 200 whenever she wishes to go totally bra-free, even in public places. It may be contemplated that the shape, size and design of the top layer 202 as shown and described herein, are merely exemplary and may be varied without deviating from the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0028] FIGS. 7 to 9 illustrate an exemplary women’s bra-free garment 300, according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. The garment 300 includes a front panel 302 and a back layer 304 and the front panel 302 includes an outer surface 306 and an inner surface 308. As will be appreciated, the inner surface 308 corresponds to the inner side of the garment 300 that comes in contact with the woman’s skin.
[0029] In an exemplary embodiment, the garment 300 includes an inner layer in the form of a single elongated breast padding layer 310 (hereinafter referred to as the breast padding layer 308) extending horizontally across and affixed to the edges of the inner surface 308 to cover the woman’s breasts. The breast padding layer 310 may be affixed to the edges of inner surface 308 by stitching, sewing or any other known joining methods for clothes. For example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the breast padding layer 310 may be affixed to the edges of the garment 300, such that an upper hem 312 of the breast padding layer 308 starts from the armhole 314 and extends partially below to the side edges 316 of the garment 300.
[0030] In the illustrated example, the breast padding layer 310 is a bow shaped layer, forming a first section 318 and a second section 320. The first section 318 and the second section may be formed so as to cover the right and the left breasts without any support and/or constriction. In alternative examples, the breast padding layer 310 may include any other shape such as rectangular, or elliptical etc., to achieve similar objectives.
[0031] In one example, the breast padding layer 310 may be a breast pad itself that is affixed to the inner surface 308 of the garment 300. In an alternative embodiment, the breast padding layer 310 may be in the form of a pocket with a provision to insert or remove the breast pad therein. In yet another example, the breast padding layer 310 may include a breast pad encapsulated within a cover such that the cover is then affixed to the inner surface 308 of the garment 300.
[0032] The breast padding layer 310 may be positioned for covering the breast(s) without providing any type of support or constriction for the breasts. The purpose of the breast padding layer 310 is to provide mere covering of the breasts and nipple impressions, so that a woman can go totally bra - free and still feel confident in front of people without feeling obligated to the societal norms.
[0033] It may be contemplated that the garments 100, 200, 300 (including the layers, pads, pockets etc. thereof) may be made of any clothing material or a combination of clothing materials according to various design choices. The garments 100, 200, 300 of the present disclosure may be offered in many different styles of women’s garments including but not limited to tops, T-shirts, blouses, halter tops, tank tops, dresses, gowns, hospital gowns, kurtas, kurtis, tunics, beachwear, sleepwear, coats, outerwear, innerwear, and so on and can be worn by women of all ages, from pre-pubescent to the aged. The size of the garments 100, 200, 300 and their respective padding layer may also vary according to the garment sizes of women. The garments 100, 200, 300 of the present disclosure may use any additional techniques to enhance the Bra-Eliminate-Layer such as frills, folds, pleats patchwork, applique, embroidery, lacework, crochet, prints, rubber print, quilted fabric, special fabrics etc. The primary purpose of the garments 100, 200, 300 is to provide comfortable covering of the breasts and hiding or prevention of the formation of impression of the breasts and nipples to women when they wish to go totally bra-free. The garments 100, 200, 300 of the present disclosure ensure that women do not feel constriction, tightened and/or any sort of discomfort that is generally felt when wearing a bra, yet provides effective covering for the breasts and nipples, so that the woman does not give the impression that she is braless. This impression may be more easily achieved by women with small to medium-sized breasts.
[0034] While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown, and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems, and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.

We Claim:

1. A wearable top garment for offering bra-free comfort for a woman, the top garment comprising:
a front panel defining an outer surface and an inner surface; and
an inner layer attached to the inner surface of the front panel to provide a coverage for breasts of a woman, the inner layer having a length less than a length of the front panel,
wherein the inner layer is configured to selectively include one or more pads to be positioned over the breast of the woman for providing a constriction free and support free coverage to the breasts.
2. The wearable top garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner layer extends up to 3/4th length of the front panel and includes a first and a second pocket affixed thereto and configured to be positioned over a first and a second breast of the woman respectively, each of the first and the second pocket being configured to receive a removable pad therein.
3. The wearable top garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner layer includes one or more pads stitched thereto, the one or more pads being configured to provide constriction free and support free coverage for the breasts of the woman.
4. The wearable top garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner layer is a single elongated breast padding layer extending across and affixed at edges of the inner surface of the front panel, the breasts padding layer being configured to provide a constriction free and support free coverage for the breasts of the woman.
5. The wearable top garment as claimed in claim 4, wherein an upper hem of the breast padding layer starts from an armhole of the top garment and extends partially below to side edges of the top wearable garment.

6. The wearable top garment as claimed in claim 4, wherein the breast padding layer is a bow shaped layer defining a first section for covering a first breast and a second section for covering second breast of the woman.
7. The wearable top garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner layer includes a pair of breast pads affixed to the inner surface of the front panel, each of the pair of breast pads are configured to be positioned over and cover the breasts of the woman.
8. The wearable top garment as claimed in claim 1 further including a top layer positioned over the front panel and extending partially along the length from a top of the front panel.
9. The wearable top garment as claimed in claim 8, wherein the top layer extends from a top and up to 3/4th length of the front panel, and wherein the top layer is configured to be positioned over the chest area to provide coverage to the inner layer and the one or more pads.
10. The wearable top garment as claimed in claim 8, wherein the top layer is affixed to the front panel and the back panel at one or more edges of the front panel and the back panel.