Sports Bra

Abstract

A sports bra may include a chest band defining a break therein, the chest band being constructed and arranged to provide horizontal support of the sports bra; a body portion integrated with the chest band; a clasp mechanism including a protrusion, a loop, and a pleat wherein the clasp mechanism may be positioned within a portion of the break defined by the chest band such that the clasp mechanism may increase and reduce tension in the chest band.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sports bra comprising:
 a chest band defining a break therein, the chest band being constructed and arranged to provide horizontal support of the sports bra;   at least one shoulder strap constructed and arranged provide vertical support of the sports bra;   a body portion integrated with the shoulder strap and the chest band; and   a clasp mechanism comprising a protrusion and a loop wherein the clasp mechanism is positioned with in a portion of the break defined by the chest band.   
     
     
         2 . The sports bra as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the body portion further defines a partial break near the break defined by the chest band and wherein the clasp mechanism is partially positioned within the partial break defined by the body portion. 
     
     
         3 . The sports bra as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the clasp mechanism is constructed and arranged to assist a user in increasing and reducing tension in the chest band and partially increasing and reducing tension in the body portion. 
     
     
         4 . The sports bra as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the body portion includes at least one cup constructed and arranged to cover and reduce the movement of the breasts of a wearer and wherein the at least one cup may include an apex corresponding approximately to the location of a nipple and areola of a breast of a wearer. 
     
     
         5 . The sports bra as set forth in  claim 4  wherein the clasp mechanism is located vertically in line with the apex of at least one of the left breast, right breast, and the at least one cup. 
     
     
         6 . The sports bra as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the clasp mechanism further comprises a tab. 
     
     
         7 . A sports bra comprising:
 a chest band defining a break therein;   at least one shoulder strap;   a front portion opposite a back portion, the front portion and the back portion connected to one another at an at least one seam and wherein the at least one shoulder strap is positioned between the front portion and the back portion to provide vertical support of the sports bra; and   a clasp mechanism comprising a catch, a loop, and a pleat wherein the clasp mechanism is positioned within a portion of the break defined by the chest band.   
     
     
         8 . The sports bra as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the clasp mechanism is constructed and arranged to assist a user in increasing and reducing tension in the chest band. 
     
     
         9 . The sports bra as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the clasp mechanism is constructed and arranged to assist a user in increasing and reducing tension in the chest band but not increasing and reducing tension in other components of the sports bra. 
     
     
         10 . The sports bra as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the front portion includes at least one cup constructed and arranged to cover and reduce the movement of the breasts of a wearer and wherein the at least one cup may include an apex corresponding approximately to the location of the nipple and areola of a breast of a wearer. 
     
     
         11 . The sports bra as set forth in  claim 10  wherein the clasp mechanism is located vertically in line with the apex of either the left or right breast or the at least one cup. 
     
     
         12 . The sports bra as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the clasp mechanism further comprises a tab. 
     
     
         13 . A sports bra comprising:
 a chest band defining a break therein, the chest band being constructed and arranged to provide horizontal support of the sports bra;   a body portion integrated with the chest band;   a clasp mechanism comprising a catch, a loop, and a pleat wherein the clasp mechanism is positioned within a portion of the break defined by the chest band.   
     
     
         14 . The sports bra as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the body portion further defines a partial break and the pleat is partially positioned within the partial break defined by the body portion. 
     
     
         15 . The sports bra as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the clasp mechanism is constructed and arranged to assist a user in increasing and reducing tension in the chest band and partially increasing and reducing tension in the body portion. 
     
     
         16 . The sports bra as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the body portion includes at least one cup constructed and arranged to cover and reduce the movement of the breasts of a wearer and wherein the at least one cup may include an apex corresponding approximately to the location of a nipple and areola of a breast of a wearer. 
     
     
         17 . The sports bra as set forth in  claim 16  wherein the clasp mechanism is located vertically in line with the apex of either the left or right breast or the at least one cup. 
     
     
         18 . The sports bra as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the clasp mechanism further comprises a tab. 
     
     
         19 . The sports bra as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the catch comprises a protrusion, a stem, a neck extending perpendicular from the stem, and a lip extending perpendicular from the neck such that the protrusion forms a recess being constructed and arranged to engage the at least one loop. 
     
     
         20 . The sports bra as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the at least one loop comprises a key constructed and arranged to lockingly engage the recess of the at least one catch.