Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bra, comprising providing a first fabric layer as an outer layer, a second fabric layer as an inner layer, and a material made of thermo-adhesive polyurethane film that joins elements between the two fabric layers in a finished bra; sprinkling the first fabric layer on a side facing the second fabric layer with a reactive hotmelt polyurethane glue, which is reactivated only once; applying the thermo-adhesive polyurethane film on a side of the second fabric layer facing the first fabric layer; superimposing the two fabric layers such that the side of the first fabric layer covered with the glue faces the second layer and the thermo-adhesive polyurethane film portions applied to the second fabric layer face the first fabric layer; joining the two layers by hot-pressing with the thermo-adhesive polyurethane film portions, and reactivating the polyurethane glue to become temporarily in a liquid phase and triggering a cross-linking process causing the glue to solidify permanently.

Abstract: This invention relates to a breast support garment for use in active environments, where the wearer of such garment is engaged in an activity that results in accelerating movements. In some preferred embodiments, these garments may be athletic or sports bras that redirect momentum related to a wearer's accelerating movements, for example, during exercise.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a garment having a cup portion with two cups, a body portion integrated with the cup portion, and a band are disposed on the garment such that is extends beneath the cup portions. The band is either on the body portion or adjacent the body portion. The garment also has support structures with a configuration, each following proximately a contour of the lower part of its respective cup, wherein a portion of the support structure is formed on and fixed to the band and a portion of the support structure extends on the body of the garment and is attached thereto. As such the support structure configuration is approximately arcuate. The garment also has additional control regions. The control is provided by fabric or materials that have less stretch than the body fabric from which the body of the garment is made.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a high-loft nonwoven including a binder or stabilizer including a polyurethaneurea composition that provides flexibility and compression recovery to the nonwoven structure. Included is a polyurethaneurea dispersion as a stabilizer or binder for the short-length fibers which create the high-loft nonwoven structure. The invention is useful as an improved alternative for such things as polyurethane foam in applications such as bra cups.

Abstract: A support structure for a bra includes a two-ply structural support layer having an m-shaped ply of compression fabric, forming left and right openings along a bottom aspect of the m-shaped ply, and a w-shaped ply of compression fabric, forming left and right openings along a top aspect of the w-shaped ply. The m- and w-shaped plies are joined together such that the left and right openings of each ply overlap to form left and right pockets for accommodating at least a portion of a wearer's left and right breasts. The support structure encapsulates and separates the breasts. When joined with straps of a sports bra or top, the two-ply structural support layer provides sling-type support of the breasts. Compressive fabric of the bra or top compresses the breasts to a wearer's chest; thus, a bra or top incorporating the support structure provides three-way support via encapsulation, suspension and compression.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of spatial objects of a fleece or felt, wherein the fibers are deposited on a mold that is preferably air-permeable. The fibers may be attracted to the mold by a vacuum applied to the underside of said mold. Preferably, the mold has several spatial structures that define the shape of the fiber web that is being formed and that correspond at least approximately to the desired final shape. By subsequent compacting of the thusly obtained fiber web, a spatially three-dimensional felt object is obtained. In this method, subsequent deforming steps are unnecessary or reduced to a minimum, so that the material to be produced does not experience any substantial distortion.

Abstract: A brassiere having a torso encircling panel, a front closure device and two pieces of shaped memory foam is provided. The memory foam is covered in a fabric that wicks moisture away from the body. The memory foam provides a platform that supports and holds the breasts in a natural position which relieves stress on the straps and pain from the shoulders and back of the wearer. The memory foam conforms to the shape of the wearer's breast as the weight of the breasts compresses the foam. The straps of the brassiere rest on the shoulders and stay there. The torso encircling panel is made from fabric that stretches in only one direction. The closure device is formed from a suitable resilient material, such as a thermoplastic or a metal, and is durable and capable of repeated usage.

Abstract: The invention concerns lingerie articles comprising at least a moulded region to create a retaining and supporting volume of at least a curved part of the human body, made from a tubular knitted fabric (1) formed with a first extensible and thermoformable material, provided with a ribbing (2) which forms one of the edges of said article elastically enclosing the body, the final shape of the article being produced by cuts performed in the tubular knitted fabric from the free end opposite the ribbing.

Abstract: Female clothing such as a brassiere which is represented by a foundation having a cup unit having a breast support feature and a shape retaining feature and which comprises a breast retaining member (10) provided along a lower peripheral edge (1) and a side peripheral edge (2) and provided with a curved breast shape correcting and hardening region formed by molding a knitting fabric of thermoplastic synthetic resin fibers, the retaining member (10) being formed with a sectionally semicircular, curved strip (13) projecting outwardly and extending in the curved breast shape correcting and hardening region of the retaining member (10) and in parallel with the lower peripheral edge (1) and the side peripheral edge (2) of the cup unit, or being formed, instead of the curved strip (13), with a tensioned slender plain weave rubber string (14) sewn to the inner surface of the region, the curved strip (13) having an elastic resin bar (16) inserted into a recessed groove thereof, thereby providing female clothing which

Abstract: A fabric laminate (10) comprises first and second stretch fabrics (11 and 12) having an intermediate adhesive securement layer (13) between them. The adhesive securement layer (13) is in the form of a regularly repeated pattern which comprises an array of aligned adhesive elements (14) arranged in successive generally horizontally and vertically extending rows. The array of adhesive elements (14) is capable of offering resistance to elongation as the laminate (10) is subjected to distortion, with the pattern having a differential elongation characterized as offering different magnitudes of resistance to elongation when the fabric laminate (10) is subjected to distortion in selected different directions.

Abstract: A three-bar moldable warp knitted fabric having a satin-like technical back suitable for use in forming seamless molded breast cups for women's brassieres is produced on a Raschel warp knitting machine by knitting satin-effect yarns on the machine's bottom bar in coursewise extended underlaps producing the satin-like technical back of the fabric, knitting high elongation-high shrinkage monofilament POY draw-warped polyester yarns on the machine's middle bar to form a stabilized fabric ground structure, and inlaying elastic yarns with the machine's top bar to impart a compacted stitch density to the fabric when relaxed. When placed over a heated molding surface of a breast cup mold, the ground yarns shrink sufficiently and become heat set to collapse the fabric into a permanent shape conforming to the molding surface, the elastic yarns maintaining sufficient stitch density in the molded fabric to retain a uniform satin-like surface effect at the fabric's technical back.

Abstract: A ladies' undergarment with a molded upper part, in particular a brassiere has two side parts which include cups, are joined together in the front central area between the cups, have a back fastener at the back ends and are provided with shoudler straps. Each side part includes a blank which covers their entire surfaces and is of a textile material which is composed at least in part of thermoplastically fusible fibres. Reinforcement parts are bonded to the blank parts at least along their outer edges. The reinforcement parts are also of a textile material which is composed at least in part of thermoplastically fusible fibres. The side parts are joined together in the front central area by a thermally produced weld. The parts of the back fastener as well as the shoulder straps are indirectly or directly joined to the side parts by thermally produced welds.

Abstract: A breast support device including a soft, natural breast-shape cup portion for receiving a portion of the breast and a flat, peripheral flange portion which may be secured to the body of the wearer immediately beneath the breast by adhesive tape and renewer adhesive to permit the device to be worn repeatedly.

Abstract: A blast media is provided for cleaning a metal surface by wet blasting and which comprises a particulate abrasive such as sodium bicarbonate and a corrosion inhibitor comprising an alkali metal phosphate. The corrosion inhibitor has been found to greatly reduce the discoloration of metals which have been wet blasted with alkaline salt abrasives.

Abstract: A fabric laminate is disclosed which is formed of stretch fabrics laminated together by an integrally formed adhesive web having differential stretch characteristics. One or both of the stretch fabrics may include elastomeric yarn. The adhesive web is placed within the laminate with its primary elongation direction being in a predetermined direction, in conjunction with the orientation of the primary elongation directions of the fabrics, such that the resultant elongation characteristics of the laminate is combinedly determined by the fabrics and the web as well as the predetermined orientation of their primary elongation directions. The laminate may be used for forming the control panel of women's undergarments, such as the stomach, thigh or rear control support of a panty, or the undercup or side support of a brassiere. The adhesive web which unites the two fabrics forming the laminate is a open net-like film of heat sensitive adhesive which may be formed of a polyamide material.

Abstract: A breast enhancement brassiere is disclosed wherein each of the breast cups is constructed having an inner pocket which receives a padding material and an outer pocket which receives a removable elastomeric member. A support wire extends along the lower curved edge of each cup. The upper edge of each cup defines a relatively unconstrained open zone. The configuration is such that the brassiere, when worn, exerts forces on the wearer's breats lifting the breasts both upwardly and inwardly toward each other in the direction of the open zone for breast enhancement.

Abstract: A swimsuit having an inner liner of stretchable and resilient fabric for encasing at least a portion of a person's torso, including the abdomen, hips and rear areas; at least one control panel bonded to the inner liner for restricting the stretching of the inner liner fabric and controlling bulging at a desired area of the encased torso; and an outer swimsuit fabric covering over the inner liner. The control panels are preferably located on the abdomen and both upper rear hip areas of the inner liner and have significantly less stretch than the inner liner fabric alone. The panels may be made of soft, flexible synthetic fabric or plastic laminated to either the interior or exterior surface of the inner liner.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for applying a thermoplastic adhesive to a portion of a garment in a predetermined pattern. The portion of the garment is initially loaded onto a conveyor device through a loading fixture and a powdered adhesive is screen printed onto said portion in a predetermined pattern. The adhesive is cured in a drying oven and permitted to cool. A cover panel is then placed over the adhesive and the cover panel is fused to that portion of the garment at elevated temperature and pressure. The resultant garment, preferably a woman's undergarment, possesses the combination of unique control, support, shape and aesthetic characteristics.