Brassiere
A brassiere comprises a pair of cups for supporting and shaping the breasts of the wearer. The cups are connected by connecting structure. A side panel is attached to each cup. Each side panel has a surface for contacting the wearer. The side panels are adapted to apply substantially uniform pressure to the wearer across the surface in contact with the wearer for the purpose of increasing comfort and reducing unsightly bulging of tissue of the wearer's sides and back.
This invention relates generally to brassieres, and more particularly brassieres adjusted for increased comfort and improved appearance in the wearer's back region.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA brassiere typically comprises two cups adapted to support and shape the breasts of the wearer. The cups are connected to each other at one lateral edge thereof by a suitable connecting member, which can be stitching between the cups themselves, but more often is a strap-like member bridging from one cup to the other. Side panels extend from a lateral side of each cup and typically include fastening structure at opposite ends such that the side panels can wrap around the back of the wearer and fasten to one another to position and secure the bra. Shoulder straps extending from upper regions of the cups and connecting to the side panel are frequently provided to further assist the positioning and supporting the cups from over the shoulders.
The side panels of bras frequently are the cause of discomfort and unsightly bulging. The side panels typically comprise banded support at each lateral edge thereof which is bridged by a thin web material that is less thick and supportive than the side bands. The result of this is that the side bands, when fastened around the back of the wearer, tend to press strongly into the skin of the wearer, resulting in discomfort for the wearer. Also, as the web material is not as thick and does not press into the skin of the wearer, there is a bulging of the skin of the wearer between the side bands and laterally outside of the side bands.
Additionally, the side panels are often constructed of the same material as the cups. The material is often only unidirectionally elastic, that is, it is substantially more elastic is a first, typically longitudinal direction, than in a second, transverse direction. There generally very little elasticity in the transverse direction. In the case of the panels, this lack of transverse elasticity contributes to the bulging effect of the prior art panels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA brassiere comprises a pair of cups for supporting and shaping the breasts of the wearer. The cups are connected by connecting structure. A side panel is attached to each cup. Each side panel has a surface for contacting the wearer. The side panels are adapted to apply substantially uniform pressure to the wearer across the surface in contact with the wearer.
Each side panel can comprise an elastic material. The material is substantially uniformly elastic, at least longitudinally and laterally. The side panel in one aspect is substantially uniformly elastic in all directions in the plane of the side panel material. These uniformly elastic side panels can be utilized with brassiere cups made of different material, particularly, unidirectionally elastic material.
Each side panel can comprise fastening structure at an end opposite to the cup for fastening the side panels together. Shoulder straps can be provided to position and secure the brassiere.
The side panels can comprise detachable structure for applying substantially uniform pressure to the wearer across the surface of the side panel in contact with the wearer. The side panel can include a pocket and the detachable structure can comprise an insert. The insert is positionable in the pocket. The insert can be substantially in the shape of the side panel so as to substantially fill the area between lateral edges of the side panel. The insert is, in one aspect, flexible.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThere are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:
There is shown in
The side panels 18 are constructed of a material which is elastic substantially to the same degree in multiple directions. The elastic material is capable of stretching both in the lateral direction indicated by arrow 22 and in the longitudinal direction as indicated by arrows 26. In another aspect of the invention, the side panels 18 can be constructed of a material which is substantially elastic in all directions in the plane of the side panels 18. The side panels 18 can have thin side stitching 30 to prevent fraying and curling at the edges of the side panels 18.
The brassiere 10 can have fastening structure for fastening the side panels 18 together. The fastening structure can be any suitable structure and can have a first portion 34 secured to one side panel 18 and cooperating fastening structure 38 secured to the other side panel 18. The cooperating fastening structure can be clasps. In another aspect of the invention, the fastening structure can be cooperating hook and loop fastening structure such as Velcro®. In yet another aspect of the invention, the side panel 18 can be joined at ends so as to form one substantially continuous side panel which extends from one of the cups 12 to the other cup 12. Shoulder straps 42 can be provided to further position and secure the brassiere in place.
Referring to
An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in
This invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and accordingly, reference should be had to the following claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A brassiere, comprising:
- a pair of connected cups for supporting and shaping the breasts of the wearer;
- a side panel attached at an end to each cup and terminating at an opposite end, each side panel having a surface for contacting a wearer, said side panels being adapted to apply substantially uniform pressure to said wearer across said surface in contact with said wearer.
2. The brassiere of claim 1, wherein said side panels comprise an elastic material, said material being substantially uniformly elastic at least in a longitudinal direction and in a lateral direction transverse to said longitudinal direction.
3. The brassiere of claim 2, wherein said side panels are substantially planar, said side panels being substantially uniformly elastic in substantially all directions in said plane.
4. The brassiere of claim 2, wherein said pair of connected cups comprise a unidirectionally elastic material that is substantially more elastic in a first direction than in a second direction transverse to said first direction.
5. The brassiere of claim 4, wherein said pair of connected cups further comprise lace portions.
6. The brassiere of claim 2, wherein each of said side panels has a substantially uniform thickness and peripheral stitching.
7. The brassiere of claim 2, wherein each side panel is constructed of a uniform number of plies across its width.
8. The brassiere of claim 7, wherein each panel is constructed of a two ply material.
9. The brassiere of claim 1, wherein each side panel comprises structure at said opposite end for fastening said side panels together.
10. A brassiere, comprising:
- a pair of connected cups for supporting and shaping the breasts of the wearer, each of said cups being substantially constructed of a uni-directionally elastic material that is substantially more elastic in a first direction than in a second direction transverse to said first direction;
- a side panel attached at an end to each cup and terminating at an opposite end, each side panel having a surface for contacting a wearer, said side panels being adapted to apply substantially uniform pressure to said wearer across said surface in contact with said wearer.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 19, 2005
Publication Date: May 25, 2006
Inventor: Brian Hass (North Palm Beach, FL)
Application Number: 11/184,732
International Classification: A41C 3/00 (20060101);