Including Elastic Portion With Stretch Inhibitor Or Limiter Patents (Class 450/76)
  • Patent number: 8864551
    Abstract: A maternity garment, which provides mild support to shape a woman's body and to act as a suspender for bottoms such as pants, shorts, or skirts that may be ill fitting due to body changes as a result of pregnancy, wherein the preferred garment has at least one shoulder strap, a belly panel, a hip band, two side panels, and a back panel, and is made of high performance fabric with varying degrees of compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventors: Sabina Melarti, Valerie Caron
  • Patent number: 8267740
    Abstract: An anomaly-correcting brassiere of assumed positions of asymmetrical bosoms using interconnecting patches of Velcro loops and hooks for shoulder straps constituted as closed loops and non-elastic construction material to maintain symmetrical and obviate asymmetrical bosom conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: Claudia Afxentiou
  • Patent number: 8257138
    Abstract: A bra to be worn during vigorous physical activity. It provides the wearer with a high level of breast tissue support without undue restriction of breathing or shoulder movement, while providing means for ventilation and moisture management. The bra is underwire-free, and designed to be worn as outerwear. The bra achieves these objectives through the innovative combination of various non-stretch and stretch fabrics. The non-stretch portions of the garment provide a high level of compression and stability to the breast tissue, while the multiple regions of stretch fabric minimize breathing and shoulder restrictions and provide ventilation. Non-stretch wicking fabric is used to form the majority of the body of the bra, and is used to pull the breast tissue in and hold it firmly to the chest. This non-stretch fabric is connected to panels of stretch wicking fabric located in the front and back of the body of the bra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Inventor: Cynthia A Smith
  • Patent number: 8128457
    Abstract: A seamless athletic bra includes different regions with different levels of support. The bra is formed from layers of material adhered together. Altering the types of materials comprising the layers in a region changes the level of support in that region as compared with other regions of the bra. A first region having the lowest level of support is found in a back panel and in the molded cups. A second region having a medium level of support is found in the front portion of the strap. A third region having a high level of support is found in a framework that follows the contours of the molded cups and in a back portion of the strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Dana Reinisch, Susan L. Sokolowski
  • Publication number: 20110275276
    Abstract: A bra for compression stabilizing the breast mass against motion relative to the torso includes a closed cell foam layer having a front, back, sides, and shoulder straps in a pattern to approximately match the contours of a female user's torso. A first fabric layer adjacent to the inner surface of the cell foam layer adjacent to the user's skin, substantially matching the pattern of the closed cell foam fabric layer, provides moisture wicking and comfort. A portion of the closed cell foam fabric layer extends below the breast line and encircles the torso to add motion stabilizing support to the breasts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventor: Mary Helen Shashy
  • Patent number: 7833084
    Abstract: A garment with breast cups comprises breast cups, a forwardly facing base part and rearwardly facing base parts, wherein, for the purpose of providing a function of causing the breast cups to agree with the movement of breasts, an elastic function of the forwardly facing base part is superior to an elastic function of the rearwardly facing base parts. The garment with breast cups is preferably configured such that the garment with breast cups is further provided with suspender straps, and that an elastic function of the suspender straps is inferior to the elastic function of the rearwardly facing base part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Yugenkaisha Chouryu
    Inventor: Toshifumi Hirashima
  • Patent number: 7435155
    Abstract: An athletic bra having a unitary, contiguous framework made of engineered laminated material and molded cups provides lightweight, breathable support and motion control. The framework comprises stretch, non-stretch and reinforcement zones in different areas of the bra and includes an integrated chest band, shoulder straps and a front exoskeleton onto which the molded cups are attached. The exoskeleton comprises an adjustable compression strap extending across the front and downward to a front central point of the chest band. The compression band provides adjustable compression and support and full separation of the breasts. The molded cups and exoskeleton achieve both encapsulation of each breast and compression of the breasts for motion control. The adjustment areas of the compression strap, the shoulder straps, and the back closure area provided with a robust hook which is selectively received into a series of adjustment slots or aligned perforations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Dana A. Reinisch, Jorge E. Carbo, Jr., Dobriana Gheneva
  • Patent number: 7396274
    Abstract: A bicycle shirt or similar garment having a relatively large pocket positioned on the back of the top, the top further comprising a torso-encircling elastic band, which is incorporated within the bottom opening of a shelf bra in the main embodiment, wherein the pocket is provided with an elastic band that is connected to the torso-encircling elastic band such that stress on the pocket elastic band is transferred or shared by the torso-encircling elastic band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Inventor: Holly Wiegmann
  • Patent number: 6238266
    Abstract: This invention relates to support garments which provide a support function through the utilization of a dried polyurethane coating placed on certain areas of the target fabric surface. Such a coating produces a reduction in the elongation characteristics of the target fabric thereby exhibiting a manner of providing support to the target fabric which is comfortable to the wearer and inexpensive to produce. The inventive garments may be utilized as sports brassieres, swimwear, “control-top” underwear, girdles, athletic supporters, medical braces, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: Kirkland W. Vogt
  • Patent number: 6180178
    Abstract: This invention relates to support garments which provide a support function through the utilization of a dried polyurethane coating placed on certain areas of the target fabric surface. Such a coating produces a reduction in the elongation characteristics of the target fabric thereby exhibiting a manner of providing support to the target fabric which is comfortable to the wearer and inexpensive to produce. The inventive garments may be utilized as sports brassieres, swimwear, “control-top” underwear, girdles, athletic supporters, medical braces, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: Kirkland W. Vogt
  • Patent number: 5269720
    Abstract: A moisture management brassiere which includes a brassiere body, including a body and back strap. The body and back strap are formed of a stretch fabric having a moisture transport fabric layer constructed of hydrophobic yarns which define a first fabric face for residing in skin contact and for wicking moisture away from the skin. A moisture dispersal fabric layer is provided, and is constructed of hydrophilic yarns and defines a second fabric face for residing in spaced-apart relation from the skin during garment wear. The moisture dispersal fabric layer receives moisture from the hydrophobic moisture transport layer. Stretch yarns provide stretch to the back strap. A pair of breast enclosing and supporting cups are attached to the back strap of the brassiere. Each of the cups is constructed of a moisture transport fabric layer constructed of hydrophobic yarns which define a first fabric face for residing in skin contact during garment wear and for wicking moisture away from the skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Inventors: Herbert L. Moretz, Daniel L. Brier
  • Patent number: 5171182
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: Wacoalamerica, Inc.
    Inventor: Valerie L. Heinen
  • Patent number: 5167566
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Wacoal America, Inc.
    Inventors: Rosalie M. Novitsky, Harold Stern, Nancy Fishman, Miguel Cintron
  • Patent number: 5116278
    Abstract: A woman's brassiere individual sizes of which can accommodate a substantial range of rib cage and cup sizes. A pair of cups, with an elastic web is joined to an encircling band A shoulder loop is attached to each cup and to the encircling band. Elastic risers bind the sides of each cup and extend from the band to respective shoulder straps. An elastic cradle has a lower edge anchored to the band, and an upper free edge entirely unattached to the web of the cup so it can move in relative shear-like movement relative to the web. The cradle reinforces the web when the web is substantially deflected by a breast, and supports the lower portion of the breast independently of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Brian J. Sroub
    Inventors: Brian J. Sroub, Melvin A. Pomeranz
  • Patent number: 5098331
    Abstract: A therapeutic chest dressing for breasts having implants including a chest encircling, flexible band provided with front flaps whereby the band is disposed against the back of a person and the front flaps overlap and fasten to each other. A chest encircling strip is attached to the flexible band for preventing movement or distortion of the implants for breasts received in the flexible band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Leading Lady, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Corrado
  • Patent number: 5037348
    Abstract: A therepeutic brassiere for supporting breast implants includes breast receiving cups. Each of the cups is formed from a section of body engaging fabric joined together at a common seam. A chest encircling band is joined to the lower marginal edges of the cups for affixing the brassiere to the chest of a wearer. An elastic strip of material, attached to both the upper marginal edges of the cups and to the chest encircling band prevents movement or distortion of the breast implants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: Leading Lady, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank G. Farino
  • Patent number: 4816005
    Abstract: The sports bra comprises two front panel sections with each front panel section being a mirror image of the other and including a main body portion and an upwardly extending wide strap forming portion and a rear panel section including a body portion and two upwardly extending wide strap forming portions. The body portion of the rear panel section is attached on each side edge thereof to one of the main body portions of one of the front panel sections and the upper ends of each strap forming portion are attached to the upper end of one of the strap forming portions of one of the front panel sections. The rear panel section includes two elastic strap reinforcing bands which extend from the upper end of one of the strap forming portions angularly downwardly to the opposite side edge of the rear panel section to form cross strap members. The sports bra has arm holes and a neck hole which are defined between the areas of joining of the front and rear panel sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Inventor: Renelle Braaten
  • Patent number: 4767377
    Abstract: A brassiere comprises two bra cups, each including an inner cup and an outer cup peripherally joined together to form upper, lower, inner side and outer side margins. Each of the outer cups is formed of elastic material and each of the inner cups comprises a segment formed of non-elastic material extending upwards from the lower margin and a yoke formed of elastic material connecting the top and sides of the non-elastic segment to the upper, inner side and outer side margins. Thus, the elastic yoke of the inner cup permits the outer cup to accommodate to the breast of the wearer, while the non-elastic segment of the inner cup provides support in the medial region thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Warnaco, Inc.
    Inventor: Gloria M. Falla