TECHNICAL FIELD

[001] The present invention is directed, in general, towards an apparatus that can be used in clothing articles to cover the nipples of the wearer while ensuring the garment remains comfortable. The present invention particularly relates to an improved method of covering nipples and breasts such that wearing a bra or other materials that adhere / stick to the skin are not required, especially for the purposes of modesty.

BACKGROUND

[002] A bra (short for brassiere), is a female undergarment that is used to cover, support, or change the appearance of breasts. Various types of bras are available and used by women across the world for example, strapless bras and sports bras.

[003] Covering the nipple for the purposes of modesty is a major purpose served by bras, in addition to the purpose offering support to the breasts. Nipples can often be seen through a top such as a t-shirt or a dress, when the wearer is not wearing a bra or some accessory used to cover the nipple.

[004] In order to cover their nipples, women may also use other products such as nipple covers (often silicone and sticky) or tape, which cover the nipple and areola using an adhesive.

[005] There are several conservative cultures, especially in Asia, where it is considered inappropriate for nipples to be visible even through clothes worn by women, irrespective of whether the woman is in a public setting or in a private setting. In such cultures, it is considered immodest and inappropriate for nipples to be visible through clothes even at home. [006] In order to address this, women frequently wear uncomfortable bras and adhesive based accessories such as nipple tape / silicone-based covers, even at home to maintain modesty. They may also wear a shawl or a jacket over their top in order to ensure that their nipples are not visible through their clothes. Women may also place their hair in front of their chests in order to temporarily cover their breasts when not wearing a bra or nipple covers. None of these solutions are comfortable or practical for use at home, especially in areas with warmer climates and higher temperatures. Typically, these solutions also do not provide full coverage. Bras, in general, may also not be very comfortable for women, depending on their breast size, tightness of the breast and the sweat generated by the garment.

[007] This problem is also faced by adolescent women who have under-developed breasts and are unable to wear bras. Men may also face the issue of nipples being visible through clothes if they have large or highly protruding nipples. Men often resolve this issue by wearing a tight vest underneath a garment to reduce the nipple’s visibility through their top.

[008] Another problem faced by women during or after pregnancy is that their breast size differs over short periods of time (often due to hormonal changes), even after completion of their lactation period. To tackle that problem, they have to purchase and wear bras of different sizes, which may become useless once their breasts return to their normal size. Secondly, the sizing between two breasts can vary, making it difficult to find an appropriate bra size to accommodate.

[009] Nipple tapes, sticky nipple covers (such as silicone nipple covers) and other forms of adhesive based coverings may also be used. However, since they require adhesives to stick to the skin, they often prove to be ineffective in the presence of sweat and can be painful to take off. They also lose their stickiness over time and are often easily discarded after either one use or become unusable after a few uses. [0010] Although bras come in various forms, shapes and materials based on women’s requirements, they can be uncomfortable due to the padding, tightness, fabric type or the presence of a wire or supporting mechanism at the bottom. This is a bigger problem for women in informal settings, such as when they are at home, where they wish to look modest but still wear comfortable clothing.

[0011] Alternative garments with built-in pads or heavy embroidery around the breast area (to cover the nipples) have aimed to reduce the need to wear a separate bra. However, the problems with these garments are that firstly, they compress the nipple to reduce its size so that it is not visible, reducing the comfort of the wearer. Secondly, they are still quite similar to bras in their design, which does not address the problem of wearing bras, which can be tight, uncomfortable and undesirable in informal settings such as home.

[0012] The primary purposes of wearing a bra are to provide support to the breasts, to cover the nipples and adjust the visual shape or size of the breasts for aesthetic purposes. Bras are, however, not always comfortable. Some bras like sports bras can be more comfortable than normal bras, because they often do not have a wire and typically have no padding or soft padding. However, wearing a sports bra can lead to increased sweating and can be quite uncomfortable due to tightness. Sports bras typically cover the nipple through increased tightness of the garment on the body.

[0013] At home and in other informal settings, the primary purpose, and often the only purpose, for wearing bras is modesty i.e. covering the nipples’ visibility through clothes. However, wearing a bra at home is seriously undesirable as it can be really uncomfortable. Therefore, there have been several attempts at making women’s garments that do not require wearing a bra.

[0014] One attempt at making such a garment is disclosed in US8113910B2 wherein a garment pad kit for coupling a garment pad to a garment is provided. The garment pad kit includes a garment pad including a body portion having an adhering surface disposed on the body portion. The garment pad kit further includes an adhesive for coupling the adhering surface to a garment fabric layer. The adhesive couples the garment pad to the garment fabric layer. However, wearing such types of garment pads are not comfortable for the wearer.

[0015] Another such attempt is found in US4440174A wherein a tank-top garment, which includes an independently supported, shelf bra having front and back portions secured about their top edges to the shell. An elastic band is provided about the lower edge of the shelf bra in order to draw it about the wearer. These garments are very difficult for a wearer to put on due to excessive material, elastic, and unnatural attachments inside the garment itself. Many sizes of elastic, cups, or fabric strips must be utilised to accommodate various sizes and shapes of women's breasts. The elastic material used for drawing the product around the wearer can easily wear out thereby causing durability and comfort issues for the wearer.

[0016] Furthermore, CA2874858A1 discloses women's nightclothes, in which the article is specifically designed to be discreetly hidden from the breast. The invention being characterised in that they are designed for the purpose of hiding the nipple of the breast while remaining comfortable and feminine. For the purpose of hiding the nipple decorative motifs, bodyside comfortable lining, lace or ribbon, pleating, fringes etc have been used. This has various practical shortfalls as the materials used will not be comfortable for the wearer and neither will the materials be easily washable thereby affecting the lifespan of the product itself.

[0017] Therefore, what is needed is an apparatus that can be integrated into a garment to cover the nipple and breast area of the wearer’s, while keeping the garment comfortable (especially in high temperatures), light-weight, and washable. The said apparatus has to be inexpensive and should not crumple with regular use. The said apparatus, when integrated into a garment, would remove the need for wearing a bra for the purposes of modesty, covering nipples, and improve the comfort of the garment in general. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The principal object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that can be integrated into a garment for covering the nipples of the wearer of the garment.

[0019] Another object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing an apparatus that can be integrated into a garment for covering the nipples of the wearer of the garment.

[0020] Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that can be integrated into a garment to alleviate the need to wear a bra for the purposes of modesty, while keeping the garment comfortable.

[0021] Another object of the invention is to provide a garment with one or more integrated apparatuses that cover the nipples of the wearer, for the purposes of modesty, while keeping the garment comfortable, especially in areas with hot weather.

[0022] Another object of the invention is to provide a garment with one or more integrated apparatuses that cover the nipples of the wearer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The following information presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding for the reader. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and it does not identify the key / critical elements of the invention. This summary does not limit the scope of the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention. The sole purpose of this summary is to summarise some of the concepts disclosed herein as a prelude to the more detailed description presented later.

[0024] In order to overcome the problem of wearing uncomfortable garments / lingerie (like bras) and/or accessories (like adhesive based nipple covers), the present invention discloses an apparatus i.e. the covering apparatus, and methods of manufacturing such covering apparatus, which can be integrated into a garment to cover the wearer’s nipple(s) and/or the breast(s).

[0025] The apparatus disclosed in the present invention can be used in any garment including, but not limited to, t-shirts, nightwear, loungewear, kurtas, shirts and tops. The present invention is not limited to any specific garment.

[0026] The apparatus disclosed in the present invention is manufactured in a manner that keeps it lightweight, crumple resistant, inexpensive and washable. The material used for the apparatus disclosed in the embodiments is thin, solid and flexible. It can be made of materials such as Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV), as described in the preferred embodiment. Other materials may also be used in the manufacturing and production of the said apparatus and such materials would fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0027] The preferred embodiment of the present invention, as disclosed herein, provides the use of HTV as the material used to make the covering apparatus. HTV generally has a layer of heat activated adhesive which is used to integrate with the garment. HTV comes in different forms such as Standard HTV, Glossy HTV, Silicone HTV, Flocked HTV, Stretch HTV and Holographic HTV. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polyurethane (PU) and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) are different materials that are commonly used as HTVs. Other materials such as spandex, latex and laminated fabrics may also be used to make the covering apparatus. Other methods of integrating the covering apparatus into the garment are also within the scope of the present invention.

[0028] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the material used to manufacture the covering apparatus i.e. HTV is used and prepared in a manner that it can easily take the shape of the wearer’s breast. HTV is flexible, durable and washable. The HTV has an adhesive layer which activates upon heating and sticks to the garment in order to integrate the covering apparatus with the garment. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, there are cuts made in the HTV in order to improve the covering apparatus’s flexibility and resistance to crumpling under the clothing. The cuts are made in certain shapes and sizes, such that there are gaps between the pieces of HTV. This enables the apparatus to easily integrate with the garment and the apparatus does not crumple upon use. The gaps can be variable in size, width and length. The gaps, in the preferred embodiment, are narrow. In the preferred embodiment, the width of any gap between any two pieces of the HTV is not greater than two centimetres.

[0029] In the said embodiment, the covering apparatus (made using HTV) is placed at the desired location on the garment and heat is applied to the covering apparatus. The heat activates the adhesive on the garment side of the HTV, making the covering apparatus made of HTV stick to the garment permanently.

[0030] The covering apparatus may also use multiple layers of HTV and the same would be within the scope of the present invention.

[0031] HTV, which generally has a layer of heat activated adhesive on one side, is available in the market and can be used for the purposes of implementing the said embodiment.

[0032] In another embodiment of the present invention, the material used to manufacture the covering apparatus is specifically Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polyurethane (PU), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) or a combination / mixture of them, which are also used as HTVs.

[0033] In another embodiment of the present invention, the composition of the material used to manufacture the covering apparatus comprises a combination of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0034] In another embodiment of the present invention, the material used to manufacture the covering apparatus may be another synthetic material including plastics. Said synthetic material may have its own adhesive properties or it may have an adhesive layer on it, as described in the preferred embodiment. [0035] In another embodiment of the present invention, the material used to manufacture covering apparatus may be naturally occurring, such as leather.

[0036] In another embodiment of the present invention, the material used in the covering apparatus may have its own adhesive properties that it may not require a separate adhesive layer in order to effectively integrate with / stick to the garment.

[0037] In another embodiment of the present invention, the covering apparatus is integrated to the garment using techniques such as stitching or knitting, instead of using adhesives.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0038] Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of the garment with the multiple layers of the garment along with the covering apparatuses.

[0039] Fig. 2 shows the placement of the covering apparatuses on the inner layer of the garment.

[0040] Fig. 3 shows a magnified view of the covering apparatus.

[0041] Fig. 4 shows an exploded view of the garment with the two layers of the garment and the covering apparatuses.

[0042] Fig. 5 shows the placement of the covering apparatuses on the inside surface of the front layer of the garment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] The implementation of the embodiments of the present invention is discussed in detail below. It should be understood, however, that the present invention provides a broad scope of inventive concepts that can be embodied in a variety of specific implementations. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to implement the invention and do not, in any manner, limit the scope of the invention. [0044] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may be practised without some of these specific details.

[0045] If the specification discloses a component or feature that “may”, “can”, “could”, or “might” be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or have the characteristic.

[0046] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a”, “an”, and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0047] Throughout this specification, the use of the word "comprise" and “include”, and variations such as "comprises", "comprising", “includes”, and “including” may imply the inclusion of other elements, not specifically recited as well.

[0048] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully hereafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Moreover, all statements herein reciting embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure). [0049] Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, and equivalents of the embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0050] There are several types of clothes, garments and accessories available in the market that are worn by women for the purposes of either supporting their breasts or covering their nipples or both. This includes bras, pads, nipple tapes and nipple covers. There are even tops with pre-fit pads available. However, none of these garments or accessories provide a solution that covers the nipple(s) of the wearer and keeps the wearer comfortable.

[0051] The preferred embodiment of the present invention discloses a covering apparatus that can be integrated into a garment, such as a top, t-shirt, kurta or shirt, such that the wearer’s nipple(s) are covered and there is negligible compromise with the wearer’s comfort. The wearer’s comfort is of higher importance for loungewear and nightwear, when the clothes are to be worn at home. This covering apparatus is lightweight, washable and durable as well.

[0052] The area covered by the covering apparatus can be larger than the pad area of the bra being used by the wearer. This would help with the variation in nipple and breast size and location on the wearer’s body.

[0053] The method of making the covering apparatus and integrating it with the garment is also disclosed as a part of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of the multiple layers 102, 104 and 108 of the garment 100. Layer 102 is the back of the garment. Layer 104 is the inner layer of the front of the garment 100 and layer 108 is the outer layer of the front of the garment 100. The two covering apparatuses 106a and 106b that are integrated into the garment 100 are also shown in Fig. 1. The covering apparatuses are placed between inner layer 104 and outer layer 108 of the front of the garment 100. [0055] Fig. 2 shows a front view 200 of the layer 104 of the garment 100 with the covering apparatuses 106a and 106b placed in the desirable position for integration with the garment. This position for the covering apparatuses may vary depending on various factors including the size of the garment, size of the breasts etc.

[0056] Fig. 3 shows a detailed and magnified view 300 of one of the covering apparatuses 106b. The covering apparatus 106b is made using a material such as Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) which encompasses several materials including Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polyurethane (PU), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) or a combination / mixture of them.

[0057] In order to make the covering apparatus, HTV is used. Cuts are made in the HTV layer in order to make the covering apparatus take the shape of the breasts effectively and without crumpling. In the preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, straight line cuts 112 are made in the HTV layer, such that the pieces of HTV are separated by gaps in order to form triangles 110. However, other forms of cuts, gaps and shapes may also be formed in other embodiments of the present invention.

[0058] After making the cuts 112, the HTV, which generally has a layer of heat activated adhesive, is integrated with the garment at the desirable location as the covering apparatus by applying heat, as shown in Fig. 2. An iron or a heat press may be used to apply this heat and integrate the HTV based covering apparatus with the garment.

[0059] Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 4, which is the exploded view showing the two layers 402 and 408 of the garment 400. Layer 402 is the back of the garment 400 and layer 408 is the front of the garment 400. The two covering apparatuses 106a and 106b that are integrated into the garment 400 are also shown in Fig. 4. The advantage of this embodiment over the preferred embodiment disclosed in Fig. 1 is that this embodiment contains only two layers (front and back), which will make it more comfortable and light-weight for wearers in hot climatic conditions. On the other hand, the preferred embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1, has a layer of the garment present between the skin of the wearer and the covering apparatus, which would be more comfortable for the wearer and will improve the durability of the covering apparatus.

[0060] Fig. 5 shows the layer 408, which is the front of the garment 400. It comprises two surfaces, 408a (the outside surface) and 408b (the inside surface). The two covering apparatuses 106a and 106b are adhered to the inside surface 408b of layer 408 of the garment 400, in the desirable position for integration with the garment. This position for the covering apparatuses may vary depending on various factors including the size of the garment, size of the breasts etc. The non-adhesive side of the covering apparatuses 106a and 106b will be in direct contact with the skin of the wearer, the non-adhesive side being soft and skin friendly. The adhesive side of the covering apparatuses 106a and 106b is in contact with the fabric of the garment 400.

[0061] In another embodiment of the present invention, the covering apparatus 106a and 106b can be manufactured using materials such as Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) which can be sourced from materials such as Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polyurethane (PU) and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) or a combination / mixture thereof. In another embodiment of the present invention, the composition of the material used to manufacture the covering apparatus 106a and 106b comprises a combination of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Furthermore, in another embodiment of the present invention, the covering apparatus may be manufactured using synthetic materials including plastics. The said synthetic materials may have their own adhesive properties or they may have an additional adhesive layer on them, as described in the preferred embodiment hereinabove. In another alternate embodiment of the present invention, the covering apparatus may be manufactured by using naturally occurring materials such as leather. In another embodiment of the present invention, the material used for manufacturing the covering apparatus may have its own adhesive properties such that it may not require the additional adhesive layer in order to effectively and permanently integrate with / stick to the garment. [0062] The covering apparatus as disclosed in embodiments of the present invention may also use multiple layers of HTV and the same would be within the scope of the present invention. [0063] The present invention also provides an embodiment wherein the covering apparatus may be attached to the garment by using several different means including sewing, stitching or knitting as opposed to the use of the adhesives.

[0064] The above described embodiments of the present are exemplary and non-limiting. They describe specific implementations of the present invention which are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. The present invention can be implemented in different manners and with modifications, which would be obvious to a person skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.