Bra Wars

The US Patents Office is a wonderful source of material to make an interesting and informative article. Yesterday I covered the patented practice to comb over and conceal baldness which has been a pursuit of a good proportion of the male population afflicted by a receding hairline.

Today's Patent is sadly, indicative of the upheaval and instabilities of the modern world.

The Problem

As a result of biological or chemical warfare, poison-based weaponry, pollution or other environmental circumstances, the air people breathe can become contaminated with harmful substances.

Nuclear accidents can cause the release of radioactive aerosols, such as iodine aerosols. The air may become contaminated with other aerosols or suspended radioactive particles, such as in a radiological attack, through the release of a radiological dispersion device (RDD) or due to so-called “dirty bombs.”

These damaging substances may include radioactive particles, germs, poisons, chemicals, dust, fluids, soot, smoke or other harmful airborne particles.

Certain individuals, such as soldiers, military personnel, firefighters, physicians and painters, have a higher risk of inhaling contaminated air. These individuals typically use facemasks to help protect themselves.

If a country or a territory is facing an on-going threat of air contamination, there is a need for these individuals as well as regular civilians to have a higher degree of access to facemasks.

However, it is often inconvenient, impractical or burdensome for people to carry masks wherever they go.

Therefore, there is a need to overcome these disadvantages to help protect the health of civilians and non-civilians in the wake of air contamination.

The Solution - The Emergency Bra

The Emergency Bra's primary function is that of a conventional bra.

However, in case of emergency, it can be quickly and easily converted into two face masks without removing any clothes.

In case of emergency, where no specialised respiratory devices are available, it can decrease the inhalation of harmful airborne particles.

Because the Emergency Bra masks can be securely fixed to the head, it frees a survivor’s hands to keep balance while running and removing objects on the way out of danger. In certain situations, by providing the wearer with a sense of security and protection, the Emergency Bra can reduce the chance of panic attack.

The Emergency Bra is like any other conventional bra in terms of its main function of supporting the breasts, as well as in its aesthetics, sizes, colours, and styles.

In addition, the EBbra can be converted into two masks which can be beneficial in emergency situations where specialised protective devices are not available to the public.

The additional safety function of the EBbra does not interfere with its everyday practicality and durability. Same care instructions apply as to any conventional bra.

The RAD Emergency Bra is a speciality Emergency Bra: a brasserie convertible into face masks with a radiation sensor incorporated into the body of the bra.

In the event of an emergency, look for a change of colour in the upper opening of the sensor’s pocket located under the front clasps of the brassiere. If the top opening (sensor strip) has developed a colour darker than that of the lower opening (service life strip), convert the Emergency Bra into face masks and apply the mask while proceeding with the evacuation.

For a quick estimate of the dose (in RAD units), remove the sensor and match the sensor’s colour with side calibration bars of 25, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 1,000 RADs.

In practical terms there are a few special instructions for the RAD Emergency Bra.

Do not expose to temperatures above 60ºC; remove the sensor before washing EBbra.

The US Granted Patent covers the incorporation of any type of sensors, alarms and detectors into the garment.

With sensor technology rapidly developing, different sensors, such as biological, chemical, and so forth, will be incorporated into the Emergency Bra in the future. The purpose of these sensors is to detect the presence of harmful airborne particles that require the use of respiratory protective masks.

The Emergency Bra is not a substitute for specialized protective respiratory devices, and should not be used when specialised equipment is required or available. It is intended to be used as a facemask while escaping from a dangerous environment during emergency situations only when no specialised protective devices are available.


US Patent Office Number 7255627B2