Abstract: A brassiere formed of an inner garment base, memory foam, a pair of under supports, and an outer fabric cover. The under support is rigid and has varying width and differing radii to accommodate the bottom portion shape of a natural breast or a breast implant, which is not a perfect semi-circle. The under support is positioned such that the foam encapsulates the under support keeping the proximal edge in proximity with bottom portion of the breast tissues or implant and the ribs. The under support has its largest width, thereby the largest contact surface with the implant or breast tissues, closest to the lateral end causing the breast tissues or implant to be supported upward and medially. The under support has openings or anchors extending thereform with openings to allow the foam to surround and go through the under support to secure it in place in the brassiere.

Abstract: An insert for packaging a shirt can be designed to provide one or more instant collar stays. The insert includes an insert member that is used for packaging the shirt. The insert member can be provided with one or more detachable regions, and each said detachable region can be in a shape of a strip that is adapted to be used as a collar stay in the shirt.

Abstract: Apparatus for magnetically holding a shirt collar in a position and orientation on a shirt front, includes a collar stay attachable to a collar via adhesive or the like, or receivable in a pocket of the collar. The collar stay includes a material attractable by a magnet and can include at least a peripheral edge portion of a polymer material to protect adjacent shirt fabric. A magnet is positionable against an inside surface of the shirt front opposite the collar and is magnetically attachable to the collar stay through the shirt front, for holding the collar in a desired position and orientation. Suitable polymers include plastics and rubbery materials, and can be elastic so as to be stretchable over the stay. The stay can also be a laminate or composite of the material attractable by the magnet and the polymer, and can be bendable or foldable into a desired shape.

Abstract: A set of garment stays comprise a thin, plastic inner piece capable of repeated bending, shaping and shape retention which is encased in a thin and soft fabric layer. The composite may be coated with thin layer of silicon. The stays are secured within a garment, specifically, preferably, at the elastic waistband to prevent rolling of the waistband and to maintain the shape and position of the garment while being worn. Preferably, the inner piece is made of polyolefine and the outer casing is a soft, fabric similar to that used in underwire bra supports. Garments made with the inventive stays include control underwear and camisoles. A method of making garments with elastic segments which tend to resist rolling is disclosed, too.

Abstract: A lapel stiffener includes a stiffener strip and a peel-off label. A pressure sensitive adhesive is applied to one side of the stiffener strip. The peel-off label is applied over the pressure sensitive adhesive. The peel-off label is removed and the pressure sensitive adhesive is pressed on to an inside surface of a lapel. A second embodiment of the lapel stiffener includes the stiffener strip, a strip retainer pocket and a strip storage pocket. The strip retainer pocket is formed by securing a strip of material behind a lapel to receive the stiffener strip. The strip storage pocket is formed on a bottom of the lapel. A third embodiment of the lapel stiffener preferably includes the stiffener strip and a strip retainer cavity. The strip retainer cavity is formed by securing a strip of material behind a lapel. The strip retainer cavity surrounds the stiffener strip.

Abstract: A collar stay according to one embodiment includes a body carrying a fragrance so as to impart a pleasant scent to the collar stay that can be experienced over a period of time. In another embodiment, a retail article includes one or more pairs of collar stays and a package for holding the collar stays. A liquid fragrance is sealed within an interior of the package and in contact with the collar stays so as to impregnate the collar stays with a fragrant smell.

Abstract: A brassiere cup underwire includes a flexible plastics strip of varied crosswise dimension along its length so that the degree of support offered by the underwire varies throughout its length.

Abstract: A bra includes two cups, and two bands, which are connected to respective ones of the cups at front ends thereof; each band has two supporting ribs thereon, which are used for helping keep the band smooth; furthermore, each band has a sustaining rib arranged between the two supporting ribs; when the bra is worn on a woman's body with the bands being stretched, passed across the woman's back, and joined together at rear ends, the sustaining ribs will prevent tensional force in the bands from causing deformation of the supporting ribs such that the bra bands will touch the wearer's body closely.

Abstract: A fabric for use with a system for monitoring prescribed body functions comprising an elastic fabric, adapted to be carried by a torso, which is stretchable in its longitudinal direction so as to expand and contract in response to body movement and size. The carrier includes at least one conductive and inelastic yarn arranged longitudinally of and located between upper and lower surfaces. The conductive yarn is arranged in sinusoidal configurations longitudinally of the fabric. The conductive yarn forms a breakout through one of the outer surfaces, at selected locations along the length of the fabric, forming opposed exposed ends above the surface. A monitoring unit, which includes a connector and a sensor, is secured with the one surface at the breakout with the connector being united with the exposed ends of the conductive yarn. The fabric acts to maintain the monitoring unit in a desired stationary position allowing the sensor to sense signals emitted from the torso and transmit these senses signals.

Abstract: A flexible and protective support stay is disclosed. The support stay has insert tabs with rounded edges at both ends to reduce snags when inserting the stay into a garment. The flexibility of the stay is provided by a sinuous member that is independently flexible in two directions. This design enables the stay to flex and move with the wearer of the garment. Because the stay is made as an integrally formed plastic article, the probability that the device will shear and expose the wearer to sharp edges is significantly reduced.

Abstract: A brassiere has a pair of fabric brassiere cups each provided with respective underwire cups extending through a fabric channel beneath the respective cup. The two cups are interconnected at the front of the brassiere by a decorative link composed of a molded synthetic resin and having a pair of sewing flanges each stitched through to the fabric of the cup. The underwires terminate at the respective sewing flanges.

Abstract: An integrated three-dimensional knit spacer fabric is provided. The fabric includes identical first and second fabric layers, and a yarn interconnecting the two layers. Both the layers of the fabric have their surfaces napped.

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 wrist support (10) includes a base member (11) of a flexible material adapted to be formed into a tubular sleeve. A stay (30) is formed from a resilient material and includes a support member having first and second sides, a top and bottom and a plurality of slits wherein the support member provides support and the slits allow for additional flexibility. Further provided is a means for operatively connecting a stay proximate the base member. A loop member 17 is operatively connected to the base member 11 and mating member 13 is also operatively connected to the base member 11 at an end opposite the loop member. The mating member has a connecting element 13a operatively connected to a tab element 13b. The tab element 13b is wider than the length of the loop member 17 and has to be deformed to pass through the slot to the opening 17a and the loop member 17.

Abstract: A flexible support element for fitting within a sleeve formed under and around the lower periphery of a bra cup, the invention replaces conventional bra underwires which lose shape during wear or washing, poke through sleeve material at the ends of the sleeve and cause user discomfort. The support element of the invention takes the form of an arcuate length of polymeric or similar material having a circular cross-sectional shape and which can be formed manually into a supporting shape to fit within the undercup sleeve. The present support element provides comfort to a user and does not poke through the ends of the undercup sleeve.

Abstract: A support stay for use with an article to be worn by a person has two durometers of hardness. The support stay includes a base member having a first hardness, the first hardness sufficient to provide a required rigidity for support. A gripping member is operatively connected to the base member and has attachment areas which extend beyond the ends of the base member. The gripping member has a second hardness which is softer than the first hardness. The gripping member, when attached to the inner surface of the article by attachment areas, provides a non-slip surface against the person wearing the article to keep the article in position.

Abstract: A support stay for use with an article to be worn by a person has two durometers of hardness. The support stay includes a base member having a first hardness, the first hardness sufficient to provide a required rigidity for support. A gripping member is operatively connected to the base member. The gripping member has a second hardness which is softer than the first hardness. The gripping member, when attached to the inner surface of the article, provides a non-slip surface against the person wearing the article to keep the article in position.

Abstract: The method of stiffening the ends for shirt collars or the liner therefore is achieved by first forming an elongated polyester stiffening element or stay to be attached to the collar or collar liner. At least one side of the stay is coated with a polyester heat fusible film. The stay is placed within the ends of the collar with the polyester film placed adjacent the material to which the stay is to be at least temporarily attached after which heat is applied at a pre-determined temperature and for a predetermined period, preferably by an electric heating element to the area adjacent the stay thereby softening the polyester film carried by the stay to a point of causing the polyester film to soften and adhere to the adjacent material. The method is carried out preferably by a semi-automatic machine shown and described herein. The stays are placed in a stack at each side of the machine from which a single stay is removed and placed in each end of the collar or liner as the case may be.