Abstract: The present invention relates to a tubular fabric for receiving an underwire in a garment such as a bra. The tubular fabric is formed by arranging a fusible yarn, such as Grilon®, and melting said yarn to form a barrier, which exhibits excellent resistance to penetration by underwires. Preferably the fabric does not include an elastomeric yarn and is treated to impart stretch to the fabric in the length direction.

Abstract: A shaped support for a body-shaping garment, including a foundation garment, such as a brassiere or girdle, is formed from a single or from multiple layers of a plastic material having certain flex modulus and perpendicular and in-plane apparent stiffnesses, such as a polyester film with a thickness in the range of from 15 to 35 mil. The shaped support is incorporated into the structure of the body-shaping garment, preferably by adhering the support directly to the fabric comprising the body-shaping garment using a film or hot melt adhesive. The shaped support preferably has an asymmetric shape and readily conforms to various body curvatures for increased wearing comfort, but has sufficient stiffness to provide desired lifting or holding support.

Abstract: A postoperative bilateral augmentation mammaplasty brassiere for use by women with augmented breasts is disclosed. The brassiere provides a support cup shaped to mimic a spherically shaped breast implant. The brassiere further provides an underwire within the construction of the brassiere, the underwire having an arcuate portion to mimic the round base of an augmented breast. A connector is provided between two support cups, each with an associated underwire, such that the distance between proximal ends of the underwires is established for the comfort of the wearer and the attractive appearance of the brassiere.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, a first fabric layer has gelatinous strips, thereby separating the first fabric layer into sections. A second fabric layer is positioned upon the first fabric layer, and an underwire is positioned on the second fabric layer opposite the first fabric layer. The first fabric layer is then folded onto itself to enclose the second fabric layer and the underwire. In a second embodiment, a third, or intermediate, fabric layer is positioned between the first and second fabric layers. In a third embodiment, an underwire is surrounded by a first, non-woven fabric layer. A second, rigid-type fabric having a bladder with a gelatinous material is positioned on the first fabric. The first fabric is wrapped around the underwire, and the bladder is positioned against the body of the wearer.

Abstract: A tube brassiere is formed from a circularly knitted garment blank. The blank has an internal dimension, a length, and a pair of breast cup defined therein. The length of the blank encircles a torso of a wearer.

Abstract: An underwire for use with supporting garments, such as brassieres, has one or more zones of increased lateral flexibility along the longitudinal axis of the arcuate member in order to provide greater comfort to the individual wearer, without substantially affecting the arcuate rigidity that provides support. The increased flexibility can be provided by reducing the cross-sectional area, by heat treatment, and by providing a hinge.

Abstract: A bra sheath comprising a sheath-body and a plurality of lugs attached to the inner surface of an elongated liner. The sheath-body and liner define a tunnel for an underwire. A softness layer is disposed adjacent the liner outer surface. The bra sheath is formed by folding the liner and softness layer along the medial line to form a longitudinally extending internal cavity. The liner and sheath-body are comprised of woven fabrics including interlocking warp and weft threads. At least some of the threads are comprised of heat fusible materials that are melted during processing to bond the woven fabric of the liner and sheath-body.

Abstract: There is provided a brassiere that includes a body having a pair of breast cups, a rigid frame positioned adjacent to the side and bottom perimeters of the breast cups to act as a stabilizer for the breast cups, and a pair of back panels, each connected to an outer edge of the frame. Preferably, the frame supporting the breast cups is made of a rigid polyester material. The brassiere may further include a pair of shoulder straps.

Abstract: A bra structure comprising: (a) a frontal assembly including a pair of cup shaped support members; (b) a pair of shoulder straps each of which is adapted to extend forwardly and rearwardly over one shoulder of the wearer in use; (c) respective members for interconnecting the front and rear ends of each strap under the corresponding arm of the wearer. For each strap, the member for interconnecting the front and rear ends of the strap includes a rigid support member which is connected directly or indirectly to the rear end of the strap and also to the corresponding side of the frontal assembly, whereby the load of the frontal assembly is balanced between the front and rear ends of the strap.

Abstract: A brassiere includes cups formed of thin plastics material in which each cup is formed with an inner layer and an outer layer that each extend over the surface area of the cup and are joined together around at least substantially the whole periphery of the cup. An elongate strengthener extends across a lower edge of the cup, and an uplifting pad is entrapped between the inner and outer layers. The layers are joined together without stitching adjacent the periphery of the cup to hold the strengthener in position.

Abstract: A tube brassiere is formed from a circularly knitted garment blank. The blank has an internal dimension, a length, and a pair of breast cup defined therein. The length of the blank encircles a torso of a wearer.

Abstract: A brassiere cup has two fabric layers, a layer of soft material between the two fabric layers, a foam cup-bottom support made of a material harder than the soft material layer and situated between the two fabric layers adjacent the soft material layer. The brassiere is made, in part, by taking a first pre-laminated sheet of a first fabric layer and a first foam layer and forming a flute in the first foam layer, placing the foam cup-bottom support in the flute, and taking a second pre-laminated sheet of a second fabric layer and a second foam layer and moulding the second foam layer against the first foam layer, encasing the foam cup-bottom support between the first and second fabric layers.

Abstract: A brassiere comprising a bra core which includes two breast cups of a cup shape to each support a breast of a person. Each breast cup is engaged to a chest band wherein the chest band is able to extend about the chest of a person and has distal end fastening clips. A layer of fabric is adhered to each side of the bra core, the layer being of a continuous sheet, formed to the contour the bra core.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, a first fabric layer has gelatinous strips, thereby separating the first fabric layer into sections. A second fabric layer is positioned upon the first fabric layer, and an underwire is positioned on the second fabric layer opposite the first fabric layer. The first fabric layer is then folded onto itself to enclose the second fabric layer and the underwire. In a second embodiment, a third, or intermediate, fabric layer is positioned between the first and second fabric layers. In a third embodiment, an underwire is surrounded by a first, non-woven fabric layer. A second, rigid-type fabric having a bladder with a gelatinous material is positioned on the first fabric. The first fabric is wrapped around the underwire, and the bladder is positioned against the body of the wearer.

Abstract: A narrow profile soft tip is provided for an underwire arcuate member intended to be fitted into a sleeve. The arcuate member has a first width at a shoulder position thereof and the tip has a tip width at a lower surface thereof substantially equal to the first width of the arcuate member, such that the arcuate member and the tip as mounted on the arcuate member with the lower surface adjacent the shoulder position present a smooth profile at the shoulder position.

Abstract: The present invention is related to garments with cupwires which have a hingepin provided at the front center portion of the garments, and inner ends of a left and right cupwire 3a, 3b thereof are rotatably attached to the hingepin 1. A good fit is provided for each breast due to the rotation of the cupwires, regardless of differences in the shape and size of one breast with respect to the other.

Abstract: A self-sustaining female breast support, formed from a thin, flexible, soft, elongate sheet of shaped profile made from synthetic material, one of its surfaces being at least partly covered by a thin layer of skin-compatible adhesive, on its other surface there resting an elongate sprung bar formed of semi-rigid synthetic material, its two ends being fixed to the flexible sheet, the adhesive layer being made to adhere to the lower part of the breast, which is widened and maintained raised by the action of the sprung bar in the manner of a leaf spring.

Abstract: A narrow profile soft tip is provided for an underwire arcuate member intended to be fitted into a sleeve. The arcuate member has a first width at a shoulder position thereof and the tip has a tip width at a lower surface thereof substantially equal to the first width of the arcuate member, such that the arcuate member and the tip as mounted on the arcuate member with the lower surface adjacent the shoulder position present a smooth profile at the shoulder position.

Abstract: A postoperative bilateral augmentation mammaplasty brassiere for use by women with augmented breasts is disclosed. The brassiere provides a support cup shaped to mimic a spherically shaped breast implant. The brassiere further provides an underwire within the construction of the brassiere, the underwire having a semicircular portion to mimic the round base of an augmented breast. A connector is provided between two support cups, each with an associated underwire, such that the distance between proximal ends of the underwires is established for the comfort of the wearer and the attractive appearance of the brassiere.

Abstract: A method of forming an undergarment is provided. The method includes inserting an adhesive layer between a first fabric layer and a second fabric layer to form a fabric sub-assembly, the sub-assembly having a periphery that is larger than an outer periphery of the undergarment; causing the adhesive layer to form a laminate from the sub-assembly; and removing a trim from the laminate at the outer periphery to form a finished edge of the undergarment, wherein the first and second fabric layers comprise at least one cotton material.

Abstract: There is provided a brassiere that includes a body having a pair of breast cups, a rigid frame positioned adjacent to the side and bottom perimeters of the breast cups to act as a stabilizer for the breast cups, and a pair of back panels, each connected to an outer edge of the frame. Preferably, the frame supporting the breast cups is made of a rigid polyester material. The brassiere may further include a pair of shoulder straps.

Abstract: A bra structure with an arcuate steel wire placed inside a groove channel at a bottom rim of a breast cup of the bra. The top and bottom portions of the steel wire are affixed by a foam which is adhered by a patch fabric. When the bra is assembled with a die casting machine to mold twice at a high temperature, the steel wire is completely fixed inside the groove channel of the breast cup. This not only saves manufacturing labor time, but also allows the steel wire to entirely and closely affix to the breast cup to more completely support the breast shape.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, a first fabric layer has gelatinous strips, thereby separating the first fabric layer into sections. A second fabric layer is positioned upon the first fabric layer, and an underwire is positioned on the second fabric layer opposite the first fabric layer. The first fabric layer is then folded onto itself to enclose the second fabric layer and the underwire. In a second embodiment, a third, or intermediate, fabric layer is positioned between the first and second fabric layers. In a third embodiment, an underwire is surrounded by a first, non-woven fabric layer. A second, rigid-type fabric having a bladder with a gelatinous material is positioned on the first fabric. The first fabric is wrapped around the underwire, and the bladder is positioned against the body of the wearer.

Abstract: A bra sheath comprising a sheath-body and a plurality of lugs attached to the inner surface of an elongated liner. The sheath-body and liner define a tunnel for an underwire. A softness layer is disposed adjacent the liner outer surface. The bra sheath is formed by folding the liner and softness layer along the medial line to form a longitudinally extending internal cavity. The liner and sheath-body are comprised of woven fabrics including interlocking warp and weft threads. At least some of the threads are comprised of heat fusible materials that are melted during processing to bond the woven fabric of the liner and sheath-body.

Abstract: A shaped support for a body-shaping garment, including a foundation garment, such as a brassiere or girdle, is formed from a single or from multiple layers of a plastic material having certain flex modulus and perpendicular and in-plane apparent stiffnesses, such as a polyester film with a thickness in the range of from 15 to 35 mil. The shaped support is incorporated into the structure of the body-shaping garment, preferably by adhering the support directly to the fabric comprising the body-shaping garment using a film or hot melt adhesive. The shaped support preferably has an asymmetric shape and readily conforms to various body curvatures for increased wearing comfort, but has sufficient stiffness to provide desired lifting or holding support.

Abstract: An integral bra frame, comprising an elongate frame of a resilient material, said frame (1) being deformable to provide desired size and width of the bra and to match the bra type. The ends (2) of the frame (1) are shaped as thickened terminals, such as broadened knots, the cross-section shape of the frame (1) being elliptic. The frame (1) is rotated around its centre axis to along the frame (1) at different portions of the frame (1), the major axis of the ellipse being substantially parallel to the body at the ends and along the cups, and substantially perpendicular to the body at its central portion between the cups during use.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, a first fabric layer has gelatinous strips, thereby separating the first fabric layer into sections. A second fabric layer is positioned upon the first fabric layer, and an underwire is positioned on the second fabric layer opposite the first fabric layer. The first fabric layer is then folded onto itself to enclose the second fabric layer and the underwire. In a second embodiment, a third, or intermediate, fabric layer is positioned between the first and second fabric layers. In a third embodiment, an underwire is surrounded by a first, non-woven fabric layer. A second, rigid-type fabric having a bladder with a gelatinous material is positioned on the first fabric. The first fabric is wrapped around the underwire, and the bladder is positioned against the body of the wearer.

Abstract: The present invention is related to garments with cupwires which have a hingepin provided at the front center portion of the garments, and inner ends of a left and right cupwire 3a, 3b thereof are rotatably attached to the hingepin 1. A good fit is provided for each breast due to the rotation of the cupwires, regardless of differences in the shape and size of one breast with respect to the other.

Abstract: A push and zip wire system of a brassiere has an underwire head forming member on the underside of each cup which can slide into a channel on the respective cup receiving portion of the frame. The channel is formed at its end remote from the mind section of the frame with a strap docking arrangement enabling the shoulder strap to engage the underwire assembly directly.

Abstract: The brassiere has a bendable support member disposed therein and a stiffer shock-absorbing resilient member attached to the support member and the brassiere. A woman's breast bends the support member outwardly along the bendable line to a first position and the shock-absorbing resilient member is extended from a rest position to a first extended position and a lower end of the brassiere is pressed against the body. The breast then applies a load on the support member and to bend the support member further outwardly from the first position to a second position and the resilient member is extended from the first extended position to a second extended position. The member and the support member provide a pulling force that is greater than the load of the breast an d the support member is then bent inwardly past the first position and the resilient member is retracted.

Abstract: Attaching by VELCRO hook and loop-type fasteners a U-shape of shape-imparting construction material about the bottom of a brassiere cup and on the side against the wearer's body, the VELCRO loop-type fastener being on the brassiere so that when the VELCRO hook-type fastener is removed to permit the wearing of the brassiere without breast support and confinement, it is the remaining VELCRO loop-type fastener which is against the wearer's body and this is characterized by a nominally felt presence to the touch contributing to comfort in the wearing of the brassiere.

Abstract: A postoperative bilateral augmentation mammaplasty brassiere for use by women with augmented breasts is disclosed. The brassiere provides a support cup shaped to mimic a spherically shaped breast implant. The brassiere further provides an underwire within the construction of the brassiere, the underwire having a semicircular portion to mimic the round base of an augmented breast. A connector is provided between two support cups, each with an associated underwire, such that the distance between proximal ends of the underwires is established for the comfort of the wearer and the attractive appearance of the brassiere.

Abstract: There is provided a brassiere that includes a body having a pair of breast cups, a pair of stretchable panels each adjacent a separate breast cup and connected to a back of the brassiere, and a pair of stretchable sheaths secured along a lower portion of the breast cup and floating along the panel of the brassiere. Each panel is made of a stretchable material. The brassiere further includes a pair of underwires each positionable in one sheath. Preferably, the underwire is anatomically shaped so that the curve of the underwire is greater on the inner portion compared to the outer portion.

Abstract: A supporting underwire for a brassiere or other undergarment is provided at one or both ends with a polymeric tip that is resiliently mounted for movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the underwire to lessen and/or extend the effective length of the underwire when it is in position in the undergarment.

Abstract: An undergarment, normally a bra, includes in each of its cups (12) an insert (20) comprising a moulded elastomeric surround (24, 28) and a relatively more rigid armature (22) embedded in the surround, the insert extending, in use, around the lower breast profile and upwardly and outwardly therefrom.

Abstract: A swivel wing underwire for a brassiere is received in a pocket permitting the swivel action to enable the underwire to adjust to breasts of different sizes. The tail of the underwire, however, is held in place with a cup by rows of stitching.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a wireless support system for a brassiere. The wireless support system comprises a three-dimensional frame having a sling section and a lower frame section. The sling section and lower frame section may be separate pieces that are sewn together in the three-dimensional shape, or they may be one piece that is molded into the desired three-dimensional shape. The lower frame is provided between the underarm areas and fits underneath the breasts. The sling portion comprises two cup portions and two extending arms that reach into the straps of the brassiere to provide lift and support to the breasts. The frame is preferably sewn into the interior of a brassiere between an outer material of the brassiere and an inner material of the brassiere that resides against the wearer's skin.

Abstract: A brassiere underwiring having a smoothly arched resilient wire rod member, and an elastomeric covering layer molded from silicon rubber or latex on the outside wall of the resilient wire rod member and fixedly bonded to the inside wall of the brassiere, the elastomeric covering layer having a soft contact surface adapted to contact the skin of the user's breasts, the thickness of the elastomeric covering layer between the resilient wire rod member and the soft contact surface being greater than the thickness of the resilient wire rod member.

Abstract: A compound wire assembly is provided by sandwiching a plastic wire between layers of fabric and securing the wire in place by ultrasonically welding the fabric layers together through holes in the wire. The assembly forms an underwire structure for the cup of a brassiere.

Abstract: A underwire bra mainly comprises an underwire bra cup, in connection with the properly cut elastic cloth as the lining sewed onto the back side of the bra, and further an obverse elastic cloth with the same contour and configuration fully covers the lining and the bra cup, and forms a whole piece bra with a back piece extended from the lining and the bra cup by coupling the sewing seam at the upper edge such that it completely adopts a woman's bust and provides an underwire bra with seamless look, but it still retains the reliability of lifting and supporting a woman's breast. Such structure simplifies the manufacture, lowers the cost, and enhances the production efficiency.

Abstract: A seamless brassiere comprises an outer shield, an inner lining, a support pad, and a back retaining device. The outer shield is cut from a piece of cloth of man-made fiber, provides a front bra with bra cups, and extends two back bands from two lateral sides thereof respectively. The inner lining has a shape and a size thereof corresponding to the outer shield and is made of the same material as the outer shield. The support pad is a strip having the same material as the outer shield, provides a shape extending along a lower portion of the front bra toward these two lateral sides respectively and upward to a central position between said two bra cups to constitute a letter of “W”. The back retaining device provides a set locking pieces to engage with each other.

Abstract: A garment for supporting a woman's chest in the form a brassiere with breast supporting cups supported by an wire element of variable stiffness formed of a solid wire linearly joined to a cable of greater flexibility than the solid wire, and with the ends of the support wire having protective balls.

Abstract: A ladies' underwear fabrication method and structure that in addition to addressing the difficulty of effectively keeping conventionally fabricated women's underwear in position while worn also provides a newly researched and developed fabrication method that improves finished product appearance and comfort. A double-layer elastic fabric material is overlapped, a punch cutting pattern of a bust-shaped section is traced, breast cups are emplaced, and the fabric material is folded back and cut into shape. Tension-adjustable straps are then attached to the torso band section extending from the bottom of the brassiere and, furthermore, the upper end of the torso band section to effectively provide for stronger positioning and an enhanced bustline profile while the ladies underwear of the present invention is worn.

Abstract: A breast support system for a garment. The system includes a main body formed by shoulder supports, a midriff section, and a pair of breast cups interspaced between and connecting the shoulder supports and the midriff section. A pair of cross tracks pass from one shoulder support over one breast cup, between both breast cups, and then terminating with an exit under the other breast cup. A pair of midriff tracks are affixed to the midriff section each located under one breast cup and below the cross tracks. Grips are affixed to the midriff section between the midriff tracks. The midriff section includes two stays each generally located between a midriff track and the exit of a cross track. Attached to each stay is a guide. A draw strap is loosely guided by each track with one end affixed to a shoulder support and the second end exiting the cross track, passing through one guide, then through one midriff track, and ultimately secured by a grip.

Abstract: A lightweight, substantially unpadded, comfortable, push-in underwire bra has, when worn by a female wearer, a front including a pair of cups. Each cup defines upper inner and outer portions, lower inner and outer portions, a top and a bottom, and is configured and dimensioned to hold substantially one breast of a female wearer. Each cup defines an underwire receiving channel extending downwardly from the cup upper outer portion and then inwardly across the cup bottom to the cup lower inner portion where the channel terminates. A single underwire-free channel extension connects the channels of the cups only at the lower inner portions thereof, the cups being connected at the front only by the channel extension, thereby to provide a deeply plunging cleavage and enable substantial independent motion of the cups relative to one another. For each cup, a thin, arcuate underwire is disposed in the channel and biases the cup upper outer portion inwardly.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a wireless support system for a brassiere. The wireless support system comprises a three-dimensional frame having a sling section and a lower frame section. The sling section and lower frame section may be separate pieces that are sewn together in the three-dimensional shape, or they may be one piece that is molded into the desired three-dimensional shape. The lower frame is provided between the underarm areas and fits underneath the breasts. The sling portion comprises two cup portions and two extending arms that reach into the straps of the brassiere to provide lift and support to the breasts. The frame is preferably sewn into the interior of a brassiere between an outer material of the brassiere and an inner material of the brassiere that resides against the wearer's skin.

Abstract: An underwire having a spoon-shaped formation and capable of swiveling with respect to the tail of the underwire is provided in a brassiere-type garment to lie with the spoon along the outer side of the breast and to conform to the junction between the breast and the thorax at the outer side.

Abstract: A breast support system for a garment. The system includes a main body formed by shoulder supports, a midriff section, and a pair of breast cups interspaced between and connecting the shoulder supports and the midriff section. A pair of cross tracks pass from one shoulder support over one breast cup, between both breast cups, and then terminating with an exit under the other breast cup. A pair of midriff tracks are affixed to the midriff section each located under one breast cup and below the cross tracks. Grips are affixed to the midriff section between the midriff tracks. The midriff section includes two stays each generally located between a midriff track and the exit of a cross track. Attached to each stay is a guide. A draw strap is loosely guided by each track with one end affixed to a shoulder support and the second end exiting the cross track, passing through one guide, then through one midriff track, and ultimately secured by a grip.

Abstract: A bust support device for utilizing a support member which is removable from a bust supporting garment. The bust support device includes a bust support device. The device is mountable in a bust supporting article of apparel. The bust supporting article of apparel has a pair of cups. Each of the cups has a bottom edge. Each of a pair of sleeves is fixedly coupled to one of the bottom edges of the cups. The sleeves each have a first end and a second end. Each of the first ends of the sleeves has an opening therein. Each of a pair of support members is removably insertable in one of the sleeves. Each of the support members is elongate and has a first and second end. Each of the support members is generally arcuate.

Abstract: An operative arrangement of two halves of a plastic stay fused in a U-shape in encircling relation about a brassiere cup which have facing inboard semi-circular edges where the U-shape is interrupted, thus increasing the extent of the edges that are held against movement by the fusing to contribute to obviating corresponding movement from their position of support during wearing of the brassiere.