Abstract: A garment configured to be worn by a wearer having two breasts may include a set of two support structures and a housing. The support structures may be positioned within the housing such that each support structure corresponds to a position between a center and a bottom of one of the wearer's breasts when the garment is worn by the wearer. Each support structure may be configured to reposition a portion of a volume of the wearer's respective breast and support a portion of a weight of the wearer's respective breast when worn by the wearer. Optionally, the garment may include a set of flexible structures positioned within the housing such that each flexible structure is coincident with one of the support structures of the set of two support structures. The housing may wrap around the wearer's chest, thereby enabling the wearer to wear the garment.

Abstract: A support structure for placement in a lower periphery of a breast cup for a brassiere, the support structure including a support component shaped to follow the curve of at least the underside of a wearer's breast, the support component including a first region formed by a first polymer material and a second region formed by a second polymer material, wherein the first polymer material is harder than the second polymer.

Abstract: An improved encasement for underwires for use in brassieres that allow for more efficient sewing, better durability, and improved wearer comfort is disclosed.

Abstract: The utility model relates to the field of women's underwear. The technical problem to be solved by the utility model is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a three-dimensional bra underwire which is matched with the cup shape, has good supporting effects and is comfortable to use. The three-dimensional bra underwire comprises the middle part and two ends of the underwire, wherein the underwire is a inclined-type underwire with a certain inclination angle, at least one end of the underwire is a flat section, while the other parts are inclined section, and the inclined section is connected with the flat section by a transition section. In the utility model, the traditional flat underwire is changed into a three-dimensional underwire with a certain torsional stress so as to ensure that the underwire is matched with the cup shape well and has good supporting effects, bringing the shaping functions of the underwire into full play as well.

Abstract: A system for adjusting the fit of a bra includes a bra having cups, a bridge therebetween, and an underwire channel sewn beneath each cup. The underwire residing in each channel is bendable along at least one axis, can be lengthened, and is capable of retaining its adjusted shape after being adjusted.

Abstract: There is provided an underwire for a brassiere including: a plurality of linkage elements; each linkage element connected to at least one adjacent linkage element via a joint; at least one joint allowing for movement of the connected linkage element with respect to its adjacent linkage element; wherein movement of at least one connected linkage element with respect to its adjacent linkage element allows the underwire to more closely assume the curvature of a wearer's figure. A brassiere incorporating the improved underwire is also provided.

Abstract: An improved encasement for underwires for use in brassieres that allow for more efficient sewing, better durability, and improved wearer comfort is disclosed.

Abstract: A brassiere wire molded in one-piece from a plastic material and including a U-shaped body with first and second arms connected by a central body region. The first and second arms include respective terminal ends of the U-shaped body and lie in a common plane with the central body region. The resiliency and rigidity characteristics of the plastic material permit the U-shaped body to distort out of the common plane and cause the central region to torsionally twist about its longitudinal axis when the terminal ends of the arms are flexed toward one another in opposed directions within the common plane. One arm includes a longitudinally extending flexure region spaced in-board from the terminal end of that arm and maintaining axial rigidity along the length of the U-shaped body while enabling an end of that arm to more readily flex in a direction perpendicular to the common plane.

Abstract: A non-customized standard array of brassieres generated from a grading array including a number of differently-sized bands that each defines an arc. The grading array defines a constant angular band end location across a plurality of band lengths, defines a constant angular cup location for different-sized cups on a single band length as well as for the same or different-sized cups across a plurality of band lengths, and defines a variable bridge distance that varies based on cup size. The non-customized, standard array of brassieres is identifiable by a standard brassiere measuring system where the volume identifier of the cup represents a consistent volume regardless of the band length for which the cup is associated. Further, the standard brassiere measuring system is based on direct body measurements representative of breast volume and underbust circumference.

Abstract: There is provided an improved brassiere comprising a pair of breast cups; a connector securing together an inner edge of each of the breast cups; a back wing or pair of back wings for securing the brassiere to the torso of a wearer; and an underwire disposed about a lower periphery of each breast cup. A cushioning structure for the underwire comprises an inner sleeve for receiving the underwire, the inner sleeve having two major surfaces and opposed elongate edges; a cushioning material covering at least one of the major surfaces; and a panel of outer fabric having first and second opposed elongate edges; wherein the first and second elongate edges of the panel of outer fabric each fold over an opposed elongate edge of the inner sleeve to substantially cover the cushioning material. A cushioning structure and a method of making the same are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a safety bra support comprising an arc-shaped steel wire in which the special characteristic is that at least two ends of the underwire are enclosed with at least one set of thermally contractible cases made of polymeric materials. The external end of the thermally contractible case is a soft tube which protrudes outwardly beyond the end of the arc-shaped underwire, and such a soft tube is bendable and flexible, ensuring the tips of the underwire be placed at the end stitches of the sleeve. Because the above described structure is used, the present disclosure not only can effectively prevent injuries to users caused by the ends of the underwire poking through the sleeve of the bra support, but can also provide a seamless and natural fit, and the utmost comfort to wear.

Abstract: An underwire assembly for use in a brassiere including an elongate support member of three-dimensional elongate form. The supporting member extends in at least two planes for conforming to an inferior profile of the breast of a wearer.

Abstract: A U-shaped hard underwire is rolled into a soft plastic body which forms a pocket for the breast when it is incorporated into a brassiere cup. The hard underwire has two arcuate portions separated by an arcuate slot so that one portion can swing relative to the plane of the underwire.

Abstract: There is disclosed a brassiere wire with a plastic protective cap at an end portion of the wire. A liquid primer is coated between the wire and the protective cap, wherein the protective cap is fixed on the wire by high frequency bonding through the liquid primer. Preferably, the wire and protective cap are cooled after high frequency bonding. The brassiere wire is free of a notch or a hole.

Abstract: An underwire for brassieres which is split in the width and the split extends substantially the full length of the underwire to the rounded ends. The split defines two segments, one of which can swing out of the plane of the other to thereby strengthen the underwire while providing a measure of flexibility.

Abstract: An underwire including an arcuate member for use with supporting garments, such as brassieres, has one or more zones of increased lateral flexibility along the longitudinal axis of the arcuate member in order to provide greater comfort to the individual wearer, without substantially affecting the arcuate rigidity that provides support. The increased flexibility is provided to the zones of increased flexibility by reducing the cross-sectional area of one or more end portions by tapering one or more sides, by sequentially and progressively stamping increasing numbers of incremental portions of the end portion in a stamping apparatus, to taper one or two opposed surfaces of the arcuate member. Alternatively a single step stamping method can be utilized to provide the flexible end portion.

Abstract: Method of making a breast cup for a garment on a breast cup defining component of moldable material, applying a flexible covering panel of at least part of a breast cup to the convex side of the component, applying a flexible decorative panel to the concave side of the component, and removing a region of the panel assembly to expose the decorative panel to the convex end.

Abstract: A supporting underwire for a brassiere or other undergarment is provided at one or both ends with a polymeric tip that is resiliently mounted for movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the underwire to lessen and/or extend the effective length of the underwire when it is in position in the undergarment.

Abstract: A compound wire assembly is provided by sandwiching a plastic wire between layers of fabric and securing the wire in place by ultrasonically welding the fabric layers together through holes in the wire. The assembly forms an underwire structure for the cup of a brassiere.

Abstract: An underwire having a spoon-shaped formation and capable of swiveling with respect to the tail of the underwire is provided in a brassiere-type garment to lie with the spoon along the outer side of the breast and to conform to the junction between the breast and the thorax at the outer side.

Abstract: An operative arrangement of two halves of a plastic stay fused in a U-shape in encircling relation about a brassiere cup which have facing inboard semi-circular edges where the U-shape is interrupted, thus increasing the extent of the edges that are held against movement by the fusing to contribute to obviating corresponding movement from their position of support during wearing of the brassiere.

Abstract: A brassiere underwire is formed with a sewing flange only along the outer side thereof and extending from locations spaced from the tips continuously around the outer side of the underwire bight. At a central zone flexibility can be increased by providing holes in the sewing flange and/or by making the sewing flange narrower. The underwire is stitched through the sewing flange in forming the brassiere.

Abstract: A brassiere of the underwire type has a "U" shaped stitched sheath beneath each cup of an open "U" configuration and into which a "C" shaped underwire with inwardly bent ends is inserted so that, in spite of the fact that the respective underwire assumes a "U" configuration of the sheath, the springy ends of the underwire tend to produce a roundness illusion of the cup. The wire has a circular cross section with a diameter of 1.5 to 2.5 mm and is composed of polyamide so as to be flexible in all directions and has flanges at its ends through one of which the wire is stitched to retain it in the respective sheath.

Abstract: A brassiere of the underwire type has a "U" shaped stitched sheath beneath each cup of an open "U" configuration and into which a "C" shaped underwire with inwardly bent ends is inserted so that, in spite of the fact that the respective underwire assumes a "U" configuration of the sheath, the springy ends of the underwire tend to produce a roundness illusion of the cup. The wire has a circular cross section with a diameter of 1.5 to 2.5 mm and is composed of polyamide so as to be flexible in all directions and has flanges at its ends through one of which the wire is stitched to retain it in the respective sheath.

Abstract: A cushion tip for a brassiere frame is molded in-situ about an end of the brassiere frame that has been reduced in transverse cross-section at its end, whereby the cushion tip provides a continuation of the outer surfaces of the brassiere frame in at least the dimension of the thickness of the frame, and also, optionally, in the direction of the width of the frame.

Abstract: Protective tips for brassiere wires including a brasserie with a pair of cups. An elongated wire extends along a bottom periphery of each cup. A pair of T-shaped tips are each integrally positioned on an associated wire. Preferably, the wires and T-shaped member is lined with a material in a group which includes TEFLON.

Abstract: A wire reinforcement for women's garments designed to support the breasts exhibits an axial cross section with a long axis and a short axis perpendicular to the long axis. The long axis has a length, and the short axis has a center thickness which is smaller than half of the length. Along the long axis, the cross section has a left end with a left thickness and a right end with a right thickness. Both the left thickness and the right thickness are substantially greater than the center thickness. Such a wire reinforcement is very rigid in the direction of the long axis and is flexible in the other directions and in relation to torsional stresses.

Abstract: A first brassiere underwire stay (110) is integrally incorporated into a brassiere (16) which comprises a brassiere left cup (16L) and a brassiere right cup (16R). The first brassiere underwire stay (110) is composed of a first left U-shaped wire (112L) integrally incorporated into an underside of the brassiere left cup (16L). The first left U-shaped wire (112L) comprises a first left distal kidney shaped end piece (114LA) which is securely attached at a left distal end of the first left U-shaped wire (112L). A first left center kidney shaped end piece (114LC) is securely attached at a right distal end of the first left U-shaped wire (112L). A first right U-shaped wire (112R) is integrally incorporated into an underside of the brassiere right cup (16R). The first right U-shaped wire (112R) is composed of a first right distal kidney shaped end piece (114RA) securely attached at a right distal end of the first right U-shaped wire (112R).

Abstract: An improvement in underwire bra construction wherein the ends of the U-shaped underwire are secured to complementary fastening members affixed to the material of the bra cup and wherein such U-shaped underwire is free to swing up or down relative to said complementary fastening members.

Abstract: A breast foundation and natural support characterized by its immobility relative to the rib-cage and also by its capacity to permit independent movement of breasts while comfortably supporting same. The support assembly includes inner and outer front panels, the later having seam connection to at least the principal supporting cup and the former bearing an underwire. In a modification for the fuller breast, a double cup is interconnected to the outer front panel. An optional prosthesis pocket is also available, wherein a separate piece of fabric is connected at the top of the foundation in both forms of the invention, the fabric hangs down to form a pocket from above. As the prosthesis in inserted from an open side and held in place by the lower pocket, an upper pocket is thus formed.

Abstract: A garment having the combined appearance of a brassiere and a camisole is provided with a camisole top, the brassiere function of the garment being provided by non-stretchable shoulder straps that extend across the interior of the breast cups, and, which are securely connected with the brassiere frames, the shoulder straps extending on a diagonal of the breast cups, portions of the breast cups being reinforced to provide for the support of the weight of the breast.

Abstract: A brassiere construction has breast cups provided with a central diagonally extending panel that is stretchable in vertical directions, and which is non-stretchable in horizontal directions, thus to accommodate different volumes of breast tissue falling within a determined range of volumes.

Abstract: A breast enhancement brassiere is disclosed wherein each of the breast cups is constructed having an inner pocket which receives a padding material and an outer pocket which receives a removable elastomeric member. A support wire extends along the lower curved edge of each cup. The upper edge of each cup defines a relatively unconstrained open zone. The configuration is such that the brassiere, when worn, exerts forces on the wearer's breats lifting the breasts both upwardly and inwardly toward each other in the direction of the open zone for breast enhancement.