IP Library Granted Patent US 7,198,541
Granted Patent B2
US 7,198,541 · App. 10/822,435 · Granted Apr 3, 2007

Brassiere strap connector

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,198,541
App. No.
10/822,435
Granted
Apr 3, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A brassiere shoulder strap connector is shaped so that the shoulder strap is positioned at a desired angle to better accommodate the anatomy of the wearer's shoulder. Preferably, the connector has a triangular shape.

Claims (35)

1. A fastener for connecting a back panel and a shoulder strap of a brassiere, comprising:

a first arm for engagement with the shoulder strap;

a second arm connected to said first arm and at an angle with respect to said first arm, for engagement with a portion of the back panel; and

a wave portion, wherein said wave portion has a flange having a pair of tapered sides; wherein said pair of tapered sides are parallel to said first arm and said second arm,

wherein said fastener creates an angle between said shoulder strap and said back panel and biases said portion of said back panel downward toward a spine of a wearer.

2. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein said first arm, said second arm, and said wave portion form a triangular shape.

3. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein said first arm, said second arm, and said wave portion form a heart shape.

4. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein said first arm and said second arm are connected together at one end to form a plane.

5. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein said first arm has a first end and a second end, and wherein said second arm has a first end and a second end.

6. The fastener of claim 5 , wherein said first end of said first arm and said first end of said second arm meet to form a plane.

7. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein said shoulder strap and said back panel are biased toward each other.

8. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein said shoulder strap and said back panel are biased away from each other.

9. A fastener for connecting a back panel and a shoulder strap of a brassiere, comprising:

a first arm for engagement with the shoulder strap; and

a second arm connected to said first arm and at an angle with respect to said first arm, for engagement with a portion of the back panel,

wherein said fastener creates an angle between said shoulder strap and said back panel and biases said portion of said back panel downward toward a spine of a wearer,

wherein said angle is about 24 to about 45 degrees.

10. The fastener of claim 9 , wherein said angle is about 27 to about 41 degrees.

11. A fastener for connecting a back panel and a shoulder strap of a brassiere, comprising:

a first arm for engagement with the shoulder strap, said first arm having a first end and a second end;

a second arm for engagement with the back panel, said second arm having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second arm being connected to said first end of said first arm to form a plane, said second end of said second arm forming an angle with respect to said second end of said first arm; and

a wave portion connecting said second end of said first arm and said second end of said second arm, wherein said wave portion has a flange; wherein said flange has a pair of tapered sides, said tapered sides being parallel to said first arm and said second arm,

wherein said fastener biases a portion of said back panel towards said shoulder strap.

12. The fastener of claim 11 , wherein one of said first and second arms is angled with respect to the plane, while the other of the first and second arms is parallel to said plane.

13. A fastener for connecting a back panel and a shoulder strap of a brassiere, comprising:

a first arm for engagement with the shoulder strap, said first arm having a first end and a second end;

a second arm for engagement with the back panel, said second arm having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second arm being connected to said first end of said first arm to form a plane, said second end of said second arm forming an angle with respect to said second end of said first arm; and

a wave portion connecting said second end of said first arm and said second end of said second arm being disposed between said first arm and said second arm,

wherein said fastener biases a portion of said back panel towards said shoulder strap,

wherein said angle is about 24 to about 45 degrees.

14. A fastener for connecting a back panel and a shoulder strap of a brassiere, comprising:

a first arm for engagement with the shoulder strap;

a second arm connected to said first arm and at an angle with respect to said first arm, for engagement with a portion of the back panel;

a flange disposed between said first arm and said second arm; and a pair of arcuate portions, one of said arcuate portions connected to said first arm and said flange and the other of said arcuate portions connected to said second arm and said flange,

wherein said flange is coplanar with said first arm and said second arm and said first arm and one of said pair of arcuate portions and said second arm and the other of said pair of arcuate portions are symmetric about a centerline bisecting said angle and said flange.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT R/F 45029/0132 Recorded Dec 15, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: MAIDENFORM LLC; HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
Reel/Frame 074166/0114 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT R/F 59910/0685 Recorded Dec 15, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: MAIDENFORM LLC; HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
Reel/Frame 074165/0634 →
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 9, 2022
From: HANESBRANDS INC.; ALTERNATIVE APPAREL, INC.; BA INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; CC PRODUCTS LLC; CEIBENA DEL, INC.; EVENT 1 LLC; GEARCO LLC; GFSI HOLDINGS LLC; GFSI LLC; GTM RETAIL, INC.; HANES GLOBAL HOLDINGS U.S. INC.; HANES JIBOA HOLDINGS, LLC; HANES MENSWEAR, LLC; HANESBRANDS DIRECT, LLC; HANESBRANDS EXPORT CANADA LLC; HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES LLC; HBI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS U.S., INC.; HBI SOURCING, LLC; INNER SELF LLC; IT'S GREEK TO ME, INC.; KNIGHTS APPAREL, LLC; KNIGHTS HOLDCO, LLC; MAIDENFORM (BANGLADESH) LLC; MAIDENFORM (INDONESIA) LLC; MAIDENFORM BRANDS LLC; MAIDENFORM INTERNATIONAL LLC; MAIDENFORM LLC; MF RETAIL LLC; PLAYTEX DORADO, LLC; PLAYTEX INDUSTRIES, INC.; SEAMLESS TEXTILES LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059910/0685 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 9, 2018
From: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC; IT'S GREEK TO ME, INC.; MAIDENFORM LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045029/0132 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 15, 2009
From: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 023649/0812 →
RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAMES 018367/0353, 018367/0312, AND 018545/0521 Recorded Dec 10, 2009
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
Reel/Frame 023627/0842 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Oct 10, 2006
From: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 018367/0333 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Oct 10, 2006
From: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 018367/0353 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2006
From: SARA LEE CORPORATION
To: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
Reel/Frame 018279/0527 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2004
From: FALLA, GLORIA
To: SARA LEE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 015694/0153 →