BRASSIERES

Abstract

An improved brassiere is disclosed. The brassiere comprises two bra cups, chest bands, an upper side wing and a down side wing, each of the bra cups including an internal layer, an external layer and an elastic layer located between the internal layer and the external layer. An arc-shaped wire steel is embedded in the elastic layer of each of the bra cups. The wire steel will not apply a pressure onto the wearer's breast directly because of the buffering of the elastic layer, thus the blood circulation in the breast will not be impaired. The risk of suffering from breast-related diseases is thus reduced. Preferably, the chest bands of the brassiere are consisted only of the internal layer and the external layer without the elastic layer, leading to a longer service life of the brassiere.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to improvements to brassieres.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Brassieres (hereinafter “bra”) are items of clothing that to many wearers are quite personal items. Bra technology advanced over the last century to lift, to position, to point and to mainly support breasts. Their selection for purchase is primarily influenced by factors such as the comfort and support the bra provides the wearer. However many models of bras come in varying sizes to accommodate a range of such factors. Other factors that may influence the purchase of a bra are the aesthetic shape of the bra, the purpose for which it may be worn, and the bra color.

It is common to have a steel wire directly placed inside a groove channel at a bottom rim of a breast cup of the bra for better supporting the breast. However, the steel wire often applies a pressure on the breast when the bra is put on the wearer's chest, causing an impaired blood circulation in the corresponding parts of the breast and even pathological changes in the breast, such as necrosis of breast tissues, leading to breast cancer.

Also, currently both the bra cup and the chest bands of a bra are composed by an internal layer, an external layer and an elastic layer between the internal layer and the external layer. However, the elastic layer in the chest bands is prone to be broken during the repeated washes of the bra.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved bra structure to overcome the drawbacks as stated above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved bra comprising two bra cups, chest bands, an upper side wing and a down side wing, each of said bra cups including an internal layer, an external layer and an elastic layer located between the internal layer and the external layer, wherein an arc-shaped wire steel is embedded in said elastic layer of each of said bra cups.

Preferably, the arc-shaped wire steel is covered by a separating layer, so that no direct friction is occurred between the wire steel and the elastic layer.

Preferably, the elastic layer in each bra cup has a diminishing thickness from center to periphery.

Preferably, the bra cups, the chest bands, the upper side wing and the down side wing are integrally formed.

Preferably, the chest bands are constructed by the internal layer and the external layer without the elastic layer.

The bra provided in the present invention includes the wire steel within the bra cup, specifically in the elastic layer of the bra cup. The wire steel will not apply a pressure onto the wearer's breast directly because of the buffering of the elastic layer, thus the blood circulation in the breast will not be impaired. The risk of suffering from breast-related diseases is thus reduced. In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, the chest bands of the bra are consisted only of the internal layer and the external layer without the elastic layer, leading to a longer service life of the bra.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in greater detail and in reference to the accompanied drawings. It should be noted that, the drawings are illustrative only and not intended to be constructed limiting, wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically shows a bra according to one embodiment of the present invention with the dashed line showing the wire steel of the bra;

FIG. 2 schematically shows the structure of the bra cup of the bra according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 schematically shows an alternative structure of the bra cup of the bra according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 schematically shows the structure of the chest bands of the bra according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 schematically shows the shape and structure of the elastic layer of the bra cup of the bra according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

Where reference herein is made to interior and exterior or similar terminology in relation to component parts or items of the bra or part of the bra, it is meant to be understood to be in relation to the body of the wearer of the bra. For example the “internal” or “internal layer” is a relative term to denote that an item is more proximate the face side of the bra that is more proximate to the body of the wearer than some or all items of the bra that are more distal the body of the wearer. This similarly applies to terms such as “external” or “external layer”.

Where reference herein is made to “upper” or “down” in relation to a bra or a bra cup, such is in relation to an orientation of the bra or bra cup where the bra or bra cup is in a state of being worn by a wearer in an upright position.

Where there is reference to the word “layer” it is to be understood that it may have its common definition and, but not limited to that the layer could consist of one panel or may have regions that are defined by two or more panels that are joined and that may each be of a different characteristic (e.g. color, thickness, material, orientation, size).

Where there is reference to the word “layer” it is to be understood that it may have its common definition and, but not limited to that the layer may be of one ply or of more plies of the same or dissimilar characteristics (e.g. color, thickness, material, orientation, size) that are engaged to each other such as by lamination or other means in an at least partial overlapping and/or lapping configuration.

With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a bra that may generally be defined by two bra cups 20 and 30, chest bands 2 and shoulder straps 6. The shoulder straps 6 may extend between the bra cups 20 and 30 and each of the chest bands 2. Chest bands 2 are unitary and extend along the down side wing 4 of the bra cups.

The shoulder straps 6 may however be optional as it is envisaged that the bra may also be of a strapless version. Indeed whilst reference is herein made to a bra, it is envisaged that the assembly of panels, component, parts and items to define such, may alternatively be incorporated into other garments such as, for example, evening dresses or bathing suits or similar.

The bra may be seamless and made from materials at least some of which are molded or moldable and that are engaged to each other preferably at least in part by lamination. Heat and pressure and/or adhesives are generally applied during such lamination. In one preferred form, the bra is a one-piece bra, so that at least the external layer and the internal layer of the bra are each a continuous piece of, for example, fabric layer or layer of any other suitable material.

Bra cups may be fastened to chest bands 2 and shoulder straps 6. Such fastening may occur by adhesive and/or ultrasonic welding or other forms of welding and/or by stitching. Stitching is not the preferred form of assembly. In the most preferred form the bra of the present invention is a seamless bra that incorporates little or no stitching at all. With reference to FIG. 1 it can be seen that a bra of the present invention can be integrally formed during manufacturing of the bra.

At the ends of each of the chest bands 2 may be fasteners 5 that are mutually cooperative to allow for the bra to be fastened about the chest of a wearer.

The bra cups 20 and 30 are adjacent to each other and between which may extend an intermediate bridge region 25. At least some of the material components defining the breast cups 20 and 30 may be continuous over the entire bra cups, including across the bridge region 25.

In the preferred form, at least one of the layers of the bra cups is preferably continuous over the bra cups and preferably also over the bridge region 25.

The bra includes an upper side wing 3 at each of the bra cups 20 and 30. The upper side wing 3 is continuous over the two bra cups. The upper side wing 3 as shown in the bra is continuous across the whole bra surface.

The bra includes a down side wing 4 at each of the bra cups 20 and 30. The down side wing 4 is continuous over the two bra cups. The down side wing 4 as shown in the bra is also continuous across the whole bra surface.

With reference to FIG. 2, each of the bra cups 20 and 30 includes an internal layer 11, an external layer 12 and an elastic layer 13 located between the internal layer 11 and the external layer 12. Both the internal layer 11 and the external layer 12 are preferably a fabric layer, but may be any other suitable material. An arc-shaped wire steel 7 is embedded in each of said elastic layer 13 of bra cups 20 and 30. In this example, the arc-shaped wire steel 11 is covered or wound by a separating layer 8, so that no direct friction is occurred between the wire steel 7 and the elastic layer 13. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, arc-shaped wire steel 7 is directly embedded or inserted in the elastic layer 13 without being covered or wound by a separating layer.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the elastic layer 13 is separated into two parts, an upper part 131 and a lower part 132, because of the insertion or embedment of the wire steel 7. It should be noted that, although the arc-shape wire steel 7 shown in the figures is linear due to the enlarged view of a part of the bra cup, the wire steel 7 as a whole has a shape shown in FIG. 1 in dashed line.

In a preferable embodiment of the present bra, the elastic layer 13 in each bra cup has a diminishing thickness from center 133 to periphery 134, as shown in FIG. 5. Preferably, the bra cups 1, the chest bands 2, the upper side wing 3 and the down side wing 4 are integrally formed.

In a preferable embodiment, with reference to FIG. 4, the chest bands 2 are constructed only by the internal layer 11 and the external layer 12 without the elastic layer 13.

The invention is described in preferable embodiment in the above. It is obvious for the person skilled in the art to make changes or modifications without deviating from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A brassiere comprising two bra cups, chest bands, an upper side wing and a down side wing, each of said bra cups including an internal layer, an external layer and an elastic layer located between the internal layer and the external layer, wherein an arc-shaped wire steel is embedded in said elastic layer of each of said bra cups.

2. The brassiere of claim 1, wherein the arc-shaped wire steel is covered by a separating layer, so that no direct friction is occurred between the wire steel and the elastic layer.

3. The brassiere of claim 1, wherein the elastic layer in each bra cup has a diminishing thickness from center to periphery.

4. The brassiere of claim 1, wherein the bra cups, the chest bands, the upper side wing and the down side wing are integrally formed.

5. The brassiere of claim 1, wherein the chest bands are constructed only by the internal layer and the external layer without the elastic layer.

6. The brassiere of claim 1, wherein the brassiere is a seamless brassiere that incorporates little or no stitching at all.