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: A bra or other garment pad for breast support has a top fabric layer, a top polyurethane foam layer adhered to the top fabric layer and a nipple concealing disk of shaved polyurethane foam adhered to or formed as part of the top foam layer. The disk is at a nipple covering location of an outer perimeter of the pad and is substantially circular, and is spaced inwardly on all sides from the outer perimeter of the pad. The disk has a graduated thickness at a minimum at the disk perimeter and increasing to a maximum at its center. A substantially 100% spandex fabric layer is adhered to the inner surface of the top foam layer and disk and a bottom polyurethane foam layer is adhered to an inner surface of the spandex layer with a fabric lining layer adhered to the bottom foam layer.

Abstract: A breast cup for a bra that has an outermost layer and an innermost layer and at least one intermediate panel that is captured between the innermost layer and the outermost layer. At least part of an edge of the intermediate panel is positioned at a location that is non-contiguous the perimeter of the cup. This defines within the cup perimeter at least two zones of different cross sectional composition that may offer a different hand feel of different parts of the cup.

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: There is provided an improved brassiere comprising a pair of breast cups having adjacent but spaced apart inner edges; a front connector between the breast cups; and a back wing or pair of back wings extending from an outer edge of one of the two breast cups to an outer edge of the other of the two breast cups for securing the brassiere to a torso of a wearer; wherein each back wing comprises an elastane strap provided within a tube of elastic fabric. Also provided is an improved back wing for use on a brassiere and a method of making an improved back wing.

Abstract: A bra or other garment pad for breast support has a top fabric layer, a top polyurethane foam layer adhered to the top fabric layer and a nipple concealing disk of shaved polyurethane foam adhered to or formed as part of the top foam layer. The disk is at a nipple covering location of an outer perimeter of the pad and is substantially circular, and is spaced inwardly on all sides from the outer perimeter of the pad. The disk has a graduated thickness at a minimum at the disk perimeter and increasing to a maximum at its center. A substantially 100% spandex fabric layer is adhered to the inner surface of the top foam layer and disk and a bottom polyurethane foam layer is adhered to an inner surface of the spandex layer with a fabric lining layer adhered to the bottom foam layer.

Abstract: A bra comprising two bra cups is defined. Each bra cup preferably comprises an outermost fabric layer and an innermost fabric layer and at least one intermediate layer intermediate of the outermost fabric layer and the innermost layer. The outermost fabric layer at at least part of at least one of the neckline edge region and underarm edge region of each cup is folded over the intermediate layer and secured at the inner side of the breast cup, preferably joined to the innermost layer through ultrasonic welding. The folded-over portion of the outermost layer is contiguous with and does not overlap the innermost layer. The intermediate layer extends beyond the innermost layer at the neckline edge region and the underarm edge region so that a reduction in thickness is defined at the neckline edge region and the underarm edge region. A method of making the same is also provided.

Abstract: The invention includes a molded breast cup comprising an outer panel which includes an outer fabric layer and an inner panel including an inner fabric layer to be worn against a wearer's skin. A middle layer is disposed between the outer panel and the inner panel. The middle layer comprises fill being sufficiently thick such that the outer panel corresponds to a breast cup size which is more than one breast cup size and preferably two breast cup sizes above the breast cup size which corresponds to the inner panel.

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: 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: There is provided an improved brassiere comprising a pair of breast cups having adjacent but spaced apart inner edges; a front connector between the breast cups; and a back wing or pair of back wings extending from an outer edge of one of the two breast cups to an outer edge of the other of the two breast cups for securing the brassiere to a torso of a wearer; wherein each back wing comprises an elastane strap provided within a tube of elastic fabric. Also provided is an improved back wing for use on a brassiere and a method of making an improved back wing.

Abstract: The invention includes a molded breast cup comprising an outer panel which includes an outer fabric layer and an inner panel including an inner fabric layer to be worn against a wearers skin. A middle layer is disposed between the outer panel and the inner panel. The middle layer comprises fill being sufficiently thick such that the outer panel corresponds to a breast cup size which is more than one breast cup size and preferably two breast cup sizes above the breast cup size which corresponds to the inner panel.

Abstract: A bra comprising two bra cups is defined. Each bra cup preferably comprises an outermost fabric layer and an innermost fabric layer and at least one intermediate layer intermediate of the outermost fabric layer and the innermost layer. The outermost fabric layer at at least part of at least one of the neckline edge region and underarm edge region of each cup is folded over the intermediate layer and secured at the inner side of the breast cup, preferably joined to the innermost layer through ultrasonic welding. The folded-over portion of the outermost layer is contiguous with and does not overlap the innermost layer. The intermediate layer extends beyond the innermost layer at the neckline edge region and the underarm edge region so that a reduction in thickness is defined at the neckline edge region and the underarm edge region. A method of making the same is also provided.

Abstract: A breast cup for a bra that has an outermost layer and an innermost layer and at least one intermediate panel that is captured between the innermost layer and the outermost layer. At least part of an edge of the intermediate panel is positioned at a location that is non-contiguous the perimeter of the cup. This defines within the cup perimeter at least two zones of different cross sectional composition that may offer a different hand feel of different parts of the cup.

Abstract: A brassiere cup assembly defining two breast cups, a bridge between the two breast cups, and for each of the two breast cups a flange extending from at least part of a lower peripheral edge of the breast cup. The brassiere cup assembly comprises at least two plies of material which are laminated to each other and molded to define the shape of the two breast cups, and a non-metallic resiliently bendable under breast support strip laminated with and interposed between two of the at least two plies of material at or adjacent the lower peripheral edge of one or both of the two breast cups.

Abstract: A molded and seamless brassiere includes interior and exterior brassiere panels, each of at least one ply of a moldable material. At least one of the plies of the exterior panel is contiguous with at least one of the plies of the interior panel. The panels are affixed together with a clasp adhered between the interior and exterior panels, for capturing the clasp intermediate of said interior and exterior brassiere panels. The clasp is affixed to and at least in part projects from one of the interior or exterior brassiere panels, and one of the brassiere panels includes an aperture for that part of said clasp that projects from said interior and exterior brassiere panels to extend through. The clasp may be a hook and an eye. The interior and exterior brassiere panels may be affixed together around a perimeter of the interior panel.

Abstract: An underwire for a brassiere disposed at the lower periphery of the breast cup region. The underwire includes a strip having opposite major surfaces extending between its ends. One major surface extends in a longitudinal direction between the ends of the strip, is shaped along the major surface between the ends of the strip so that a first normal at any location on the major surface does not extend parallel to a second normal at a second location on the major surface. The second location is along the longitudinal direction of the strip and spaced along the major surface from the first location. The major surface may be shaped as part of a hypothetical conical surface. The major surface or a central portion thereof is inclined to the vertical. The underwire or the central region thereof is convexly curved on the outside and concavely curved on the inside.

Abstract: A reversible bra that includes two breast cups. Each breast cup includes a first side outermost layer and a second side outermost layer. Between the two outermost layers there is captured an underwire assembly that extends along or adjacent at least part of the lower peripheral region of the breast cup. The breast cup includes an elongate zone of reduced thickness that extends along or adjacent at least part of the underwire assembly.

Abstract: A reversible bra that includes two breast cups. Each breast cup includes a first side outermost layer and a second side outermost layer. Between the two outermost layers there is captured an underwire assembly that extends along or adjacent at least part of the lower peripheral region of the breast cup. The breast cup includes an elongate zone of reduced thickness that extends along or adjacent at least part of the underwire assembly.

Abstract: A brassiere which comprises two molded and seamless breast cups and at least one chest band to hold the bra to a user of the brassiere, wherein the chest band includes as least one panel of material which is affixed to one or both of the breast cups and the panel of material does not extend across any part of the molded and seamless breast cups.