Abstract: A circular knit bra is provided. The bra has a torso encircling shape with a torso part having an outer fabric, an inner fabric, and a bra bottom. The outer fabric and the inner fabric each have a lower edge. The outer fabric and the inner fabric form a double layer. An integrally knitted reinforced anchoring chest band at the lower edge of the inner fabric forms a fold line, such that the anchoring chest band is concealed by the outer fabric layer. The bra bottom may have a smooth straight finished edge, a decorative scalloped edge, or a beaded edge mini-turned welt treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a single knit tubular blank, and the resultant blank and products. The method provides two circular knit brassieres each having first and second layers, thereby minimizing the steps in the process of manufacturing.

Abstract: A method is described for manufacturing an item of underwear or an item of sportswear by applying a medium, running in lengths and strengthening the fabric of the item of clothing, on to a cut-out piece of material, wherein application of the medium is done by the silk screen printing method or the adhesive coating method and in a first step of the method the printed length is structured in such a way that it substantially corresponds to the later outer contour of the item of clothing and in a second step of the method the printed fabric is cut in the area of the printed length.

Abstract: An adjustable circular knit bra is provided. The bra has a pair of breast cups, a central gore disposed between the breast cups, and a pair of side panels. Each side panel is adjacent to a different one of the pair of breast cups. The central gore also has a stabilizing area knitted therein. The breast cups also have a stabilizing area knitted into the bottom edge of each breast cup. The bra preferably also has a pair of adjustable shoulder straps. The bra preferably also has adjustable fasteners at the bra back.

Abstract: A two-ply support garment such as a brassiere, panty, or the like, is made by positioning a piece of heat-bondable polymer film between two fabric plies of a two-ply fabric blank in one or more selected areas that will become portions of the garment, heating the film to bond the plies to the opposite faces of the film in the one or more selected areas, and fashioning a two-ply garment from the blank. A brassiere embodiment includes the film in partial regions of the cups, in a central panel between the cups, and in side panels of the brassiere.

Abstract: A laminated stretch cushion strap assembly having a stretchable cover, a stretchable cushion filler and a stretchable bottom or bottom fabric. The cover includes a stretchable top fabric, a first adhesive web layer positioned on one side of the top fabric and a stretchable base layer positioned on the first adhesive layer on a side opposite that of the top fabric. The stretchable bottom fabric forms with the cover an enclosure. The stretchable cushion filler is adapted to be completely enclosed within the enclosure. The stretchable cushion filler has a first cushion layer, and adhesive for securing during lamination the cover to the stretchable cushion filler, and the cushion filler to the stretchable bottom fabric. The adhesive is a second adhesive web layer positioned between the stretchable base layer and the first cushion layer to secure the cushion filler to the cover, and a third adhesive web layer positioned on the first cushion layer to secure the bottom fabric to the cushion filler.

Abstract: The manufacturing and wearing benefits of a brassiere having an underwire embodied in each brassiere cup which has a small radius curvature so that it seats within a cooperating infra mammary fold, and provides uplifting support during wearing of the brassiere.

Abstract: A brassiere having a minimal number of seams and allowing for independent breast support is described. The brassiere is produced from a circularly knit blank having a first tubular portion, and integrally knit cylindrical tubular welt portion, and an integrally knit second tubular portion. Portions of each of the first and second tubular portions are cut and removed to define right and left front portions, and the remaining portion of one of the first or second tubular portions is inverted so that the remaining parts of each of the first and second tubular portions extend away from the welt portion in generally the same direction. Banding can be attached to form neck and arm openings, and, where applicable, the front and rear strap portions can be secured together, thereby forming a finished brassiere. In this way, substantially seamless brassieres having right and left breast covering portions made to have visually distinct appearances can be readily and easily produced.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a brassiere, a blank for the manufacture of the brassiere and the brassiere and blank so produced are provided. The brassiere has an outer fabric and an inner fabric. The yarn and knit stitches for the inner fabric are selected to provide comfort to the wearer. The blank is formed in a generally cylindrical shape with a bottom welt band seamlessly joined to a bottom edge of an upper torso part formed in the outer fabric and to a bottom edge of an upper torso part formed in the inner fabric. Front and rear strap portions are formed in the upper torso parts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making bras and the like, comprising the steps of die-cutting a fabric for making a die-cut fabric element defining a bottom band, to which are coupled contoured portions defining the breast cups, applying resins on a region of the bottom band, on a side of a symmetry line and at edge regions of the contoured portions, folding the die-cut element along the symmetry line so as to cover the resin coated regions, reacting the coated resin, and applying to the bra shoulder straps and closing elements.

Abstract: A laminated stretch cushion strap assembly having a stretchable cover, a stretchable cushion filler and a stretchable bottom or bottom fabric. The cover includes a stretchable top fabric, a first adhesive web layer positioned on one side of the top fabric and a stretchable base layer positioned on the first adhesive layer on a side opposite that of the top fabric. The stretchable bottom fabric forms with the cover an enclosure. The stretchable cushion filler is adapted to be completely enclosed within the enclosure. The stretchable cushion filler has a first cushion layer, and adhesive for securing during lamination the cover to the stretchable cushion filler, and the cushion filler to the stretchable bottom fabric. The adhesive is a second adhesive web layer positioned between the stretchable base layer and the first cushion layer to secure the cushion filler to the cover, and a third adhesive web layer positioned on the first cushion layer to secure the bottom fabric to the cushion filler.

Abstract: A camisole garment including an elastic system which is under tension and a ruffle which forms an edge of the elastic structure whereby the curl-over of the structure is minimized during use.

Abstract: A seamless brassiere, and methods and blank for making the brassiere are described. In particular, a tubular blank is circularly knit, and first and second walewise extending longitudinal openings are formed along opposite sides of the blank, to form torso and neck openings for the brassiere. The blank ends are trimmed, if desired, to form the desired contour for the arm openings, then banding is applied to each of the torso, neck and arm openings, to thereby form a finished brassiere. At least the banding secured to the torso opening is elastic, in order that the garment may be secured closely about a wearer. In the finished seamless brassiere, the courses extend vertically, while the knit wales extend horizontally when the brassiere is worn, which provides an enhanced level of support for the wearer's breasts.

Abstract: A continuous process for the manufacture of a camisole garment wherein the fabric is cut, defining openings that serve as arm holes in the finished garment. A portion of the fabric is folded back above the openings, defining shoulder straps. The camisole garment has a body seam that may be refastenable or non-refastenable.

Abstract: The torso-support garment provides increased support for larger women that is useful as an undergarment, as a bra-top for outerwear, or as the top of a two-piece swimsuit. The garment comprises an inner and an outer bra attached together. Each inner cup is attached to an outer cup and each inner backstrap is attached to an outer backstrap. The inner bra is made of a heavyweight powerknit fabric having two-way stretch properties.

Abstract: The present invention provides an active-wear garment which comfortably provides support to the chest and back areas of the physically-active wearer, while wicking away moisture from the skin of the wearer. The active-wear garment of the present invention provides support such that the breasts of the wearer are comfortably supported and effectively immobilized when worn during physical activity of the wearer.

Abstract: Narrow contoured portions of a circularly knitted textile fabric may be elasticated by the selective insertion of elastic yarn segments in selected wales and courses defining the contoured area to be elasticated, preferably utilizing a circular knitting machine equipped with a computerized electronic needle selection system. In one application, a brassiere blank may be formed with curved elasticated annular contours to define borders of brassiere cups whereby a sports-type brassiere garment may be fabricated without a laborious cutting and sewing operation.

Abstract: A halter top made from recycling a pair of pants. The halter top embodies a body strap formed from the waistband of the pair of pants, a right and a left breast cup formed from the back pockets of the pair of pants, and connecting straps for holding the halter top in place formed from the seams of the pair of pants. The method of making the halter top involves detaching pieces of the pair of pants in nearly a single sequence and reassembling the pieces to form the top.

Abstract: Inflatable breast pads for use with a brasserie are provided including a pair of inflatable bladders each situated within an associated one of the cups of a brassiere. Further included is an inflation mechanism for inflating the inflatable bladders.

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: This invention discloses a shirt, bodysuit and teddy having built-in breast cups and/or selected areas of varying cross-stretch in order to provide compressive support for a wearer's body, and methods and blanks for manufacturing such shirts, bodysuits and teddies. In particular, circular knitting operations are used to produce garments having areas of compressive support in the middle torso region, and a greater amount of cross-stretch in the region corresponding to a wearer's breast area. In addition, the garments can include integrally-knit breast cups and a gathered panel located between the breast cups. Shirts made according to the present invention can include a turned welt about their lower or shirttail ends, in order to eliminate the need for hemming the lower shirt portion. Blanks and methods for making the garments are also disclosed, which require only a minimal number of manufacturing operations to be converted into completed garments.

Abstract: This invention discloses methods of manufacturing brassiere blanks and brassieres, and the brassieres made therefrom. In particular, the methods and brassieres involve circular knitting operations in which a brassiere blank is produced on a circular knitting machine as a cylindrical tube, and thereafter cut and sewn only at the shoulders to produce a brassiere having shoulder straps knit integrally with a front torso portion having a pair of breast cups and a rear torso portion cooperating with the front torso portion in forming a torso encircling portion.

Abstract: A closing apparatus for pockets in articles of clothing includes a soft, bendable, thin and flat body member which is securable to a garment and is comprised of at least three body sections, wherein each body section has two side parts, with one side part overlapping a side part of a neighboring body section, and with the other side part extending underneath a side part of another neighboring body section. A seam is applied about the perimeter of the body member for joining the body sections with each other in the respective overlapping areas. Each body section has a rectilinear edge which loosely sits upon the side part of a neighboring body section for closing the pocket of the garment and is displaceable for allowing access to the pocket. The loose edges intersect in a point of intersection which lies essentially in a center of the body member.

Abstract: A cushion strap assembly and method of making same is provided which cushion strap assembly is adapted to be used in a brassiere shoulder strap. The assembly includes a top fabric layer, a first adhesive web layer positioned on one side of the top fabric layer, and a base layer positioned on the first adhesive layer on the side opposite that of the top fabric layer. The assembly also includes a cushion filler that is a first cushion layer, a third adhesive web layer positioned on a side of the first cushion layer, a second cushion layer positioned on the third adhesive layer on the side opposite that of the first cushion layer. A second adhesive web layer can be part of the cushion filler or separate. In either event, it is positioned on the first cushion layer on the side opposite the third adhesive web layer.

Abstract: A shoulder strap for ladies' undergarments, more particularly a shoulder strap for brassieres, includes elastic warp threads and weft threads extending transversely of and woven into the warp threads. The shoulder strap has a longitudinal middle portion whose width is greater as compared to the width of the shoulder strap portions extending longitudinally from the middle portion. The spacing between the warp threads in the middle portion is greater than the spacing of the warp threads in the shoulder strap portions connected to the middle portion. The number of weft threads per unit of length in the longitudinal middle portion is greater than in the shoulder strap portions connected to the middle portion. The number of weft threads per unit of length in the middle portion may be approximately 50% greater than the number of weft threads per unit of length in the shoulder strap portions connected to the middle portion.

Abstract: This invention discloses methods of manufacturing brassiere blanks and brassieres, and the brassieres made therefrom. In particular, the methods and brassieres involve circular knitting operations in which a brassiere blank is produced on a circular knitting machine as a cylindrical tube, and thereafter cut and sewn only at the shoulders to produce a brassiere having shoulder straps knit integrally with a front torso portion having a pair of breast cups and a rear torso portion cooperating with the front torso portion in forming a torso encircling portion.

Abstract: A method of making a brassiere wire for a particular underwire brassiere cup utilizing a set of brassiere wires having rectilinear markings where excess of the wire can be cut away with rounding of the resulting end portions to form the brassiere wire.

Abstract: A brassiere cup molding method using moldable and non-moldable fabric blanks in which a mold with a cup shape is used to project into a cup shape a fabric blank that is stretchable but absent of plastic moldable content, i.e. non-moldable, while it is in spanning relation across an opening of a fabric blank having a plastic content, i.e. moldable, wherein the moldable blank assumes a molded frusto conical shape about the opening therein which holds the stretch fabric, although not molded, in the cup shape that was imparted to it by the mold by not allowing the stretch fabric to return to its pre-stretched flat condition.