US20100210177A1

US20100210177A1 - Cleavage cover

Info

Publication number: US20100210177A1
Application number: US12/702,563
Authority: US
Inventors: Patricia Malley Shanahan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-02-17
Filing date: 2010-02-09
Publication date: 2010-08-19
Also published as: WO2010096405A3; WO2010096405A2

Abstract

A cleavage cover includes a piece of fabric having a first side and an opposing second side. An adhesive is permanently attached to the first side of the piece of fabric to removably attach the piece of fabric to skin of a wearer to conceal cleavage.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/207,786 filed on Feb. 17, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application relates generally to women's apparel and more particularly to a cleavage cover that is worn to cover the visible cleavage of a woman when an outer garment is worn.
Some clothing may expose too much of a woman's cleavage (the top area of the breasts), which may cause the woman to feel uncomfortable or embarrassed. Women may avoid garments that expose their cleavage or wear an additional garment, such as a camisole or t-shirt, between a bra and the additional garment to help cover the cleavage. Wearing additional garments can be expensive, uncomfortable, inconvenient, have unsightly straps, and add extra bulk to a woman's figure. Additionally, some social and work environments may have rules that require that the cleavage of a woman be covered. Women may also want to cover scars, such as from breast surgery.
Some cleavage covers attach to a bra with fasteners. However, as there are may different bra styles and sizes, and a distance between bra straps vary, different placement of the fasteners can result, creating gaps and improper fitting.
Other cleavage covers are attached to the skin or the additional garment by double-sided tape. These cleavage covers require the purchase of additional disposable items for application of the cleavage cover and require the woman to follow multiple steps to wear, remove and wash the cleavage cover.
Other cleavage covers can be custom made, but they are expensive and require a complex series of measurements of the woman to be taken prior to purchasing the cleavage cover to ensure a proper fit.
Prior cleavage covers also require the woman to apply the cleavage cover before getting dressed or require the woman to undress prior to removing the cleavage cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A cleavage cover includes a piece of fabric having a first side and an opposing second side. An adhesive is permanently attached to the first side of the piece of fabric to removably attach the piece of fabric to skin of a wearer to conceal cleavage.
Another exemplary embodiment of the cleavage cover includes a stretchable piece of fabric having a first side, an opposing second side and a width that extends between opposing ends. A silicone gel adhesive permanently attached to the first side of the stretchable piece of fabric removably attaches the stretchable piece of fabric to skin of a wearer to conceal cleavage. An area between the silicone gel adhesive and each of the ends of the stretchable piece of fabric are free of the silicone gel adhesive.
These and other features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description that is provided in connection with the accompanying drawings and illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front side of a cleavage cover;

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear side of the cleavage cover including an adhesive surface;

FIG. 3 illustrates the cleavage cover in an unstretched and a stretched position;

FIG. 4A illustrates cleavage revealed by a crew neck garment;

FIG. 4B illustrates cleavage revealed by a v-neck garment;

FIG. 4C illustrates cleavage revealed by a bra;

FIG. 5 illustrates placement of the cleavage cover on skin of a woman;

FIG. 6A illustrates the cleavage cover worn under a crew neck garment;

FIG. 6B illustrates the cleavage cover worn under a v-neck garment;

FIG. 6C illustrates the cleavage cover worn under a bra;

FIG. 6D illustrates the cleavage cover worn under a different bra;

FIG. 6E illustrates the cleavage cover worn under another different bra;

FIGS. 7A to 7E illustrate various cleavage covers with embellishments; and

FIG. 8 illustrates the cleavage cover and its storage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a cleavage cover 20 that is used to cover cleavage 44 (shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C) of a woman. The cleavage cover 20 is worn under an outer garment 46 (shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B) to cover the exposed cleavage 44.
The cleavage cover 20 covers the front of the chest and can be worn with backless dresses and tops. The cleavage cover 20 is lightweight, breathable, washable and reusable. The cleavage cover 20 does not attach to a bra and can be worn with or without a bra. The cleavage cover 20 can be easily applied to the skin of the woman while getting dressed or easily removed while the woman is getting undressed and can also be applied and removed while the woman is fully dressed. The cleavage cover 20 can also be easily repositioned after the woman is fully dressed to assure that all areas intended to be covered are fully covered. The ease of wear, positioning and removal of the cleavage cover 20 makes it easy for the woman to quickly customize an outer garment 46 to adapt to different situations. For example, the woman might want to wear the cleavage cover 20 while at work to cover her cleavage 44, but be able to quickly and easily remove the cleavage cover 20 once leaving the office. The cleavage cover 20 is available in up to 3 sizes that stretch for optimum coverage (as every woman measures differently across the chest).
The cleavage cover 20 is a piece of fabric 22 that has an upper edge 24, a curved lower edge 26 and a width W extending between opposing ends 41 and 43. A first curved section 28 and a second curved section are defined proximate to the ends 41 and 43, respectively. The cleavage cover 20 has a front side 32 that is exposed when the cleavage cover 20 is worn and a rear side 36 that contacts the woman's skin.
The upper edge 24 of the cleavage cover 20 is visible when worn under an outer garment 46 (shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B) and may have any shape. For example, the upper edge 24 can have a straight shape, a rounded shape, a heart shape, a triangular shape, an arcuate shape, or any other shape.
The curved lower edge 26 has an almost circular shape and is ergonomically shaped to contour perfectly to a body of the woman to prevent the cleavage cover 20 from folding, flipping, rolling, wrinkling or shifting when the cleavage cover 20 is stretched, eliminating gaps when worn. Though a specific shape is illustrated and described, those skilled in the art would recognize that the lower edge 26 could have other shapes, such as square, rectangular, oblong, a non-uniform shape, or any shape. The cleavage cover 20 can be worn as high or low as desired and to achieve the desired coverage of the cleavage 44.
The fabric 22 is laser cut to provide a seamless edge that makes the cleavage cover 20 indiscernible under the outer garment 46. The laser cut lower edge 24 and the lower cut upper edge 26 do not fray as the fibers of the fabric 22 are heat bonded together by the laser cutting process. Therefore, stitching is not required, and the fabric 22 is seamless. The fabric 22 is made of a 2-way or 4-way stretch material for a comfortable gapless fit that allows the cleavage cover 20 to hug closer to the skin with tension to improve coverage. In one example, the fabric 22 is a composition blend made of stretchable fibers. In one example, the fabric 22 is a lycra blend. A coating may also be applied to the fabric 22 to prevent the fabric 22 from fraying or unraveling after being cut. The fabric 22 is washable and lightweight.
Adhesive surfaces 36 and 38 are permanently attached on the rear side 34 of the cleavage cover 20. In one example, the adhesive surfaces 36 and 38 are located near the first curved section 28 and the second curved section 30, respectively. The adhesive surfaces 36 and 38 attach the cleavage cover 20 to the skin of the woman. In one example, the adhesive surfaces 36 and 38 are a silicone gel adhesive. Silicone gel adhesive is a man-made polymeric material made up of silicone-polydimethyl siloxane. Its unique chemical composition results in a soft gel-like physical form, and its hydrophobic properties ensure stable adhesion. Silicone gel adhesive bonds securely yet gently to skin for continuous long-term wear, but does not form a permanent bond to the skin. It is formulated for direct skin contact and reliably adheres to the skin. Upon removal from the skin, silicone gel adhesive does not lift skin cells or damage skin. It also does not leave an adhesive residue on the skin. Silicone gel adhesive has a very low surface tension and conforms to the uneven surface of the skin to fill in small gaps and provide a broader contact area. It also does not lose adhesion when removed from the skin, so the silicone gel adhesive can be reapplied and secured to the skin numerous times with proper care. The adhesive surfaces 36 and 38 should not come into contact with other fabrics to prevent the adhesive of lint o debris on the adhesive surfaces 36 and 38. However, silicone gel adhesive is washable to remove any lint or debris that may become attached to the adhesive surfaces 36 and 38. In one example, the silicone gel adhesive can be applied to the skin at least 50 times, allowing the cleavage cover 20 to be used up to 50 times or more.
Other example adhesives that can be used as the adhesive surfaces 36 and 38 are acrylic, rubber-based adhesives (both natural rubber or synthetic rubber), silicone, an elastomer, or a pressure sensitive adhesive.
As shown in FIG. 2, in one example, the adhesive surfaces 36 and 38 are applied as strips of material near the first curved section 28 and the second curved section 30, respectively. In one example, the adhesive surfaces 36 and 38 are 0.5 inches wide and extend from the upper edge 24 to the curved lower edge 26 of the cleavage cover 20 as a strip of material. The strips of material are substantially perpendicular to the width W of the fabric 22. Finger tab areas 40 and 42 located between the ends 41 and 43 of the fabric 22 and the adhesive surfaces 36 and 38, respectively, are not covered with adhesive to provide the adhesive-free finger tab areas 40 and 42 that can be grabbed by the woman without touching and compromising the adhesive surfaces 36 and 38. This allows the cleavage cover 20 to be applied to and removed from the skin without touching the adhesive. Therefore, the fingers only touch the fabric 22 and not the adhesive surfaces 36 and 38.
The adhesive surfaces 36 and 38 may cover more or less area on the fabric 22 and can have other shapes, such as dots, triangles, circles, rectangles, squares, or any other shape. The adhesive surfaces 36 and 38 are permanently adhered to the fabric 22 and are applied by the manufacturer prior to purchase of the cleavage cover 20 by the customer. Therefore, when the woman applies and removes the cleavage cover 20, she does not need to perform any steps to add an adhesive substance to or remove an adhesive substance from the fabric 22.
In addition to the adhesive surfaces 36 and 38 on the rear side 34 of the fabric 22, another adhesive surface (not shown), such as double sided tape, may be applied on the front side 32 of the fabric 22. This allows the cleavage cover 20 to be secured to the outer garment 46. The doubled sided tape can be placed in a location as determined by the woman.
As shown in FIG. 3, the fabric 22 is a two way stretch fabric 22. The fabric 22 (having a width W) can be stretched to the position 22′ (having a width W′) to provide a tighter more gapless fit. Alternately, the fabric 22 can be applied with the adhesive surfaces 36 and 38 closer together for a looser fit. In one example, the cleavage cover 20 has a length of 8 inches and a height of 3.5 inches when unstretched. The cleavage cover 20 can be stretched to have length of 9 inches or more depending upon the stretchability of the fabric 22 used.
FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate exposed cleavage 44 when the cleavage cover 20 is not worn. FIG. 4A shows the exposed cleavage 44 when a crew neck garment 46 a is worn, FIG. 4B shows the exposed cleavage 44 when a v-neck garment 46 b is worn, and FIG. 4C shows the exposed cleavage 44 when a bra 48 is worn.
FIG. 5 illustrates placement of the cleavage cover 20 on the skin of the woman to cover the cleavage 44 (not shown in FIG. 5). The cleavage cover 20 can be placed anywhere on the upper chest area of the woman based on her preference. As shown, the cleavage 44 is covered by the cleavage cover 20. The skin should be free of oils, lotions, perfumes.
An outer garment 46 or bra 48 can then be worn over the cleavage cover 20. FIGS. 6A and 6B show how the cleavage cover 20 covers the cleavage 44 when worn with a crew neck garment 46 a and a v-neck garment 46 b, respectively. The garment 46 a and 46 b can be a dress, a shirt, a blouse, or any type of garment. FIGS. 6C, 6D and 6E show the cleavage cover 20 worn under different styles of bras 48.
FIGS. 7A to 7E illustrate exemplary embodiments of the cleavage cover 20 with embellishments 50. Examples embellishments 50 include, but are not limited to, lace, emblems, jewels, sequins, ruffles, an appliqué or any other ornamental feature. The embellishments 50 may be located on any visible area of the cleavage cover 20. The cleavage cover 20 can also be of any color.
As shown in FIG. 8, when the cleavage cover 20 is not in use, the rear side 34 of the cleavage cover 20 is placed on a plastic sheet 52 such that the adhesive surfaces 36 and 38 contact the plastic sheet 52. The plastic sheet 52 can then be rolled into a roll 54 and placed in a lint/dust free protective tube 56 for storage. The cleavage cover 20 is stored on the plastic sheet 52 to protect the adhesive integrity of the adhesive surfaces 36 and 38.
The cleavage cover 20 is washable. The rear side 34 of the cleavage cover 20 is placed on the plastic sheet 52, ensuring that particles and lint do not attach to the adhesive surfaces 36 and 38 during washing. If the adhesive surfaces 36 and 38 lose their tackiness, the adhesive surfaces 36 and 38 can be gently washed with a lotion free soap and water to help regain the adhesive qualities and extend the life of the cleavage cover 20. The cleavage cover 20 can then be rinsed with lukewarm water and allowed to air dry. The cleavage cover 20 can dry either on or off the plastic sheet 52. After washing, the cleavage cover 20 should be placed on the plastic sheet 52 as soon as possible to protect the adhesive surfaces 36 and 38. Once the cleavage cover 20 is dry, the cleavage cover 20 is adhered the plastic sheet 52 is rolled into the roll 54 and placed in the protective tube 56 for storage and protection. The cleavage cover 20 does not need to be washed after each use.
The foregoing description is only exemplary of the principles of the invention. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than using the example embodiments which have been specifically described. For that reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.

Claims

1. A cleavage cover comprising:

a piece of fabric having a first side and an opposing second side; and

an adhesive permanently attached to the first side of the piece of fabric to removably attach the piece of fabric to skin of a wearer to conceal cleavage.

2. The cleavage cover as recited in claim 1 wherein the cleavage cover is worn under an outer garment.

3. The cleavage cover as recited in claim 1 wherein the piece of fabric has an upper edge and a lower edge, and the lower edge is curved.

4. The cleavage cover as recited in claim 1 wherein the piece of fabric is stretchable.

5. The cleavage cover as recited in claim 1 wherein the piece of fabric is a lycra blend.

6. The cleavage cover as recited in claim 1 wherein edges of the piece of fabric are laser cut.

7. The cleavage cover as recited in claim 1 wherein the adhesive is a silicone gel adhesive.

8. The cleavage cover as recited in claim 1 including a width extending between opposing ends, and areas between the opposing ends and the adhesive are free of the adhesive.

9. The cleavage cover as recited in claim 8 wherein the adhesive is a strip of material positioned near each of the opposing ends of the cleavage cover, and each of the strips of material is substantially perpendicular to the width of the cleavage cover.

10. The cleavage cover as recited in claim 1 wherein the first side is placed on a plastic sheet when not in use.

11. The cleavage cover as recited in claim 10 wherein the plastic sheet is rolled into tube and placed in a container to store the cleavage cover.

12. A cleavage cover comprising:

a stretchable piece of fabric having a first side, an opposing second side, and a width that extends between opposing ends; and

a silicone gel adhesive permanently attached to the first side of the stretchable piece of fabric to removably attach the stretchable piece fabric to skin of a wearer to conceal cleavage, wherein areas between the opposing ends of the stretchable piece of fabric and the silicone gel adhesive are free of the silicone gel adhesive.

13. The cleavage cover as recited in claim 12 wherein the cleavage cover is worn under an outer garment.

14. The cleavage cover as recited in claim 12 wherein the piece of fabric has an upper edge and a lower edge, and the lower edge is curved.

15. The cleavage cover as recited in claim 12 wherein the piece of fabric is a lycra blend.

16. The cleavage cover as recited in claim 12 wherein edges of the piece of fabric are laser cut.

17. The cleavage cover as recited in claim 16 wherein the adhesive is a strip of material positioned near each of the opposing ends of the cleavage cover, and each of the strips of material is substantially perpendicular to the width of the cleavage cover.

18. The cleavage cover as recited in claim 12 wherein the first side is placed on a plastic sheet when not in use.

19. The cleavage cover as recited in claim 18 wherein the plastic sheet is rolled into tube and placed in a container to store the cleavage cover.