Universal brassiere strap and fastener

Abstract

The invention comprises a fastener mountable on a brassiere strap, either removably or permanently. A brassiere strap mounted on the fasteners can be removably affixed to a location on the posterior strap assembly and a location on the anterior cups of a brassiere. Use of the fasteners permits adjustment of the brassiere straps into a plurality of different arrangements, depending upon the shape, outfit and activity of the wearer. The brassiere straps and fasteners can be made of transparent or translucent materials which may be color tinted so as to appear virtually invisible against the wearer's skin. The brassiere straps can also be removed from a brassiere altogether.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A releasable fastener comprising: 
 (i) an elongate clasping base, one end forming a slot adapted to receive a brassiere strap therethrough and a side aperture to releasably receive a brassiere clip therein;    (ii) a top clasping member pivotally connected to said clasping base; and    (iii) an actuating mechanism operable between a locked position wherein said clasping base and said top clasping member are in a clasped position and biased against each other, and an unlocked position wherein said top clasping member is pivotable into an open position in relation to said clasping base.    
     
     
         2 . The releasable fastener of  claim 1  made from transparent materials.  
     
     
         3 . The releasable fastener of  claim 1 , further including a brassiere shoulder strap having two ends, a first end being mounted to a brassiere and a second end forming a loop passing through the slot of said fastener.  
     
     
         4 . The releasable fastener of  claim 3 , further including a sliding tensile adjuster disposed on said brassiere shoulder strap wherein the length of the loop formed by said brassiere shoulder strap is adjustable.  
     
     
         5 . The releasable fastener of  claim 3 , wherein the first end of the brassiere should strap is mounted to a posterior strap of the brassiere.  
     
     
         6 . The releasable fastener of  claim 3 , wherein the first end of the brassiere should strap is mounted to a cup of the brassiere.  
     
     
         7 . The releasable fastener of  claim 4 , wherein the first end of the brassiere should strap is mounted to a posterior strap of the brassiere.  
     
     
         8 . The releasable fastener of  claim 4 , wherein the first end of the brassiere should strap is mounted to a cup of the brassiere.  
     
     
         9 . The releasable fastener of  claim 1 , further including a clip forming a slot to receive a brassiere strap therethrough and a hook removably engaging said side aperture.  
     
     
         10 . The releasable fastener of  claim 9  made from transparent materials.  
     
     
         11 . The releasable fastener of  claim 9 , further including a brassiere shoulder strap having two ends, a first end being mounted to a brassiere and a second end forming a loop passing through the slot of said clip.  
     
     
         12 . The releasable fastener of  claim 11 , further including a sliding tensile adjuster disposed on said brassiere shoulder strap wherein the length of the loop formed by said brassiere shoulder strap is adjustable.  
     
     
         13 . The releasable fastener of  claim 11 , wherein the first end of the brassiere should strap is mounted to a posterior strap of the brassiere.  
     
     
         14 . The releasable fastener of  claim 11 , wherein the first end of the brassiere should strap is mounted to a cup of the brassiere.  
     
     
         15 . The releasable fastener of  claim 12 , wherein the first end of the brassiere should strap is mounted to a posterior strap of the brassiere.  
     
     
         16 . The releasable fastener of  claim 12 , wherein the first end of the brassiere should strap is mounted to a cup of the brassiere.  
     
     
         17 . A releasable fastener comprising: 
 (i) an elongate clasping base, a first end forming a slot adapted to receive a brassiere strap therethrough and a side aperture to releasably receive a brassiere clip therein and a second end remote from said first end including clasping teeth extending from a surface thereof;    (ii) an elongate clasping member pivotally connected to said clasping base at one end and another end having clasping teeth extending from a surface thereof; and    (iii) an actuating mechanism operable between a locked position wherein said elongate clasping base and said elongate clasping member are in a biased into a clasped position with said clasping teeth of each said clasping base and clasping member in mating configuration, and an unlocked position wherein said clasping member is pivotable into an open position in relation to said clasping member.    
     
     
         18 . The releasable fastener of  claim 17  made from transparent materials.  
     
     
         19 . The releasable fastener of  claim 17 , further including a brassiere shoulder strap having two ends, a first end being mounted to a brassiere and a second end forming a loop passing through the slot of said fastener.  
     
     
         20 . The releasable fastener of  claim 19 , further including a sliding tensile adjuster disposed on said brassiere shoulder strap wherein the length of the loop formed by said brassiere shoulder strap is adjustable.  
     
     
         21 . The releasable fastener of  claim 19 , wherein the first end of the brassiere should strap is mounted to a posterior strap of the brassiere.  
     
     
         22 . The releasable fastener of  claim 19 , wherein the first end of the brassiere should strap is mounted to a cup of the brassiere.  
     
     
         23 . The releasable fastener of  claim 20 , wherein the first end of the brassiere should strap  5  is mounted to a posterior strap of the brassiere.  
     
     
         24 . The releasable fastener of  claim 20 , wherein the first end of the brassiere should strap is mounted to a cup of the brassiere.  
     
     
         25 . The releasable fastener of  claim 17 , further including a clip forming a slot to receive a brassiere strap therethrough and a hook removably engaging said side aperture.  
     
     
         26 . The releasable fastener of  claim 25  made from transparent materials.  
     
     
         27 . The releasable fastener of  claim 25 , further including a brassiere shoulder strap having two ends, a first end being mounted to a brassiere and a second end forming a loop passing through the slot of said clip.  
     
     
         28 . The releasable fastener of  claim 27 , further including a sliding tensile adjuster disposed on said brassiere shoulder strap wherein the length of the loop formed by said brassiere shoulder strap is adjustable.  
     
     
         29 . The releasable fastener of  claim 27 , wherein the first end of the brassiere should strap is mounted to a posterior strap of the brassiere.  
     
     
         30 . The releasable fastener of  claim 27 , wherein the first end of the brassiere should strap is mounted to a cup of the brassiere.  
     
     
         31 . The releasable fastener of  claim 28 , wherein the first end of the brassiere should strap is mounted to a posterior strap of the brassiere.  
     
     
         32 . The releasable fastener of  claim 28 , wherein the first end of the brassiere should strap is mounted to a cup of the brassiere.