Bra strap retainer

Abstract

A bra strap retainer for preventing the straps from falling from the user's shoulders. The bra strap retainer includes a retaining member having an elongate main portion and opposite end portions which are adapted to keep straps of a bra on a user's back in proximate relationship to one another.

1. A bra strap retainer comprising:
 a retaining member having an elongate main portion and opposite end portions positioned at opposite ends of said main portion; 
 wherein each of said end portions includes a pair of prongs, each prong of a said pair of prongs extending outwardly from opposite sides of said main portion in substantially opposite directions, said prongs being spaced from said elongate main portion to define a slot therebetween; 
 wherein one said prong of a first said pair of prongs extends inwardly toward another one said prong of a second said pair of prongs; 
 wherein said main portion and said prongs of said end portions are all disposed in the same plane; 
 wherein each of said prongs has an outer portion which is essentially disposed parallel to said elongate main portion, said prongs and said elongate main portion being adapted to retain the straps of the bra therebetween with the straps being wound through said slots between said prongs and said elongate main portion. 
 
     
     
       2. A bra strap retainer as described in  claim 1 , wherein said main portion is formed substantially of an elastomeric material being resiliently extensible in length and said end portions are formed substantially of a flexible and non-stretchable material. 
     
     
       3. A bra strap retainer as described in  claim 1 , wherein each of said prongs of a respective said end portion is curved. 
     
     
       4. A bra strap retainer as described in  claim 1 , wherein one of said end portions is substantially C-shaped, and the other of said end portions is substantially an inverted C-shape. 
     
     
       5. A bra strap retainer as described in  claim 1 , wherein said retaining member engages the body of the straps without holes, eyelets, or loops being part of the straps. 
     
     
       6. A bra strap retainer comprising:
 a retaining member having an elongate main portion and opposite end portions which are adapted to keep straps of a bra on a user's back in proximate relationship to one another, each of said end portions including prongs extending outwardly therefrom and being spaced from said elongate main portion thus defining a slot therebetween, said prongs being essentially disposed in a plane with said elongate main portion, said prongs of each of said end portions extending outwardly from opposite sides of said elongate main portion, each of said prongs of a respective said end portion being curved and directed toward one of said prongs of the other said end portion, each of said prongs having an outer portion which is essentially disposed parallel to said elongate main portion, said prongs and said elongate main portion being adapted to retain the straps of the bra therebetween with the straps being wound through said slots between said prongs and said elongate main portion, one of said end portions being essentially C-shaped, and the other of said end portions being essentially an inverted C-shape. 
 
     
     
       7. The bra strap retainer of  claim 6  wherein said main portion is formed substantially of an elastomeric material being resiliently extensible in length and said end portions are formed substantially of a flexible and non-stretchable material. 
     
     
       8. In combination:
 a bra with a pair of shoulder straps each having a rear section; and 
 a bra strap retainer comprising:
 a retaining member having an elongate main portion and opposite end portions which are adapted to keep straps of a bra on a user's back in proximate relationship to one another, said retaining member engaging the body of the straps without holes, eyelets, or loops being part of the straps, each of said end portions including prongs extending outwardly therefrom and being spaced from said elongate main portion thus defining a slot therebetween, said prongs being essentially disposed in a plane with said elongate main portion, said prongs of each of said end portions extending outwardly from opposite sides of said elongate main portion, each of said prongs of a respective said end portion being curved and directed toward one of said prongs of the other said end portion, each of said prongs having an outer portion which is essentially disposed parallel to said elongate main portion, one of said end portions being essentially C-shaped, and the other of said end portions being essentially an inverted C-shape; 
 wherein each of said shoulder straps extends inward of said prongs of one of said opposite end portions with respect to the body of a wearer of said bra such that each of said end portions engages one of said shoulder straps; and 
 wherein each of said shoulder straps extends outward of said elongate main portion with respect to the body of the wearer of the bra such that said straps being wound through said slots between said prongs and said elongate main portion. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The combination of  claim 8  wherein said retaining member has a length of approximately 1 inch and a thickness of approximately ⅛ inch with each end portion having a width of approximately 1 inch. 
     
     
       10. The combination of  claim 8  wherein said main portion of said bra strap retainer is formed substantially of an elastomeric material being resiliently extensible in length and said end portions of said bra strap retainer are formed substantially of a flexible and non-stretchable material. 
     
     
       11. The combination of  claim 8  wherein each of said slots has a depth and each of said straps has a width, the depth of each of said slots being between at least approximately 50% of said width of said strap. 
     
     
       12. A method of preventing the slippage of bra straps off of the shoulders of a person wearing a bra, comprising:
 providing a bra strap retainer comprising at least a pair of strap-retaining members positioned at opposite ends of the retainer, respectively, and an elongated member extending between the strap-retaining members;   positioning the bra strap retainer in the back region of the person, between the straps of a bra being worn by the person;   placing a first bra strap into a retained position by placing the strap in a first pair of slots located between the strap-retaining members and the elongated member; and   placing a second bra strap into a retained position by placing the strap in a second pair of slots located between the strap-retaining members and the elongated member;   wherein the bra strap retainer brings the first and second straps in close proximity with each other in a location on the person's back, thereby preventing the straps from slipping off the person's shoulder.   
     
     
       13. The method of claim 12, wherein the bra strap retainer comprises strap-retaining members positioned at opposite ends of the elongated member. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 12, wherein each strap-retaining member is curved inward towards the opposite strap-retaining member. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 13, wherein the elongated member extends across the bra strap retainer from opposite ends of the bra strap retainer.