Patent Application
20230397672
The present invention relates to an article of apparel for a torso and, in particular, to an athletic bra.
Brassieres or bras are worn by many women to support their breasts and to facilitate a desirable shape and appearance. During athletic activities such as running, excessive breast motion can lead to discomfort and even potential damage to breast anatomy. Accordingly, bras are made with a variety of constructions to provide different amounts of support to different areas of the breasts. Conventional athletic bras provide support by restricting motion via compression or encapsulation. Compression bras apply uniform pressure to flatten the breasts against the chest. Encapsulation bras have a cup for each breast, usually with an underwire, that separates the breasts and holds them in place. These approaches, while generally effective, are focused on limiting all movement. As a result, conventional bras may cause discomfort via the increased pressure applied by the garment or by the underwire pressing into the wearer. It would be desirable to provide an athletic bra capable of providing fit and motion control without one or more of the above noted drawbacks.
In example embodiments, an article of apparel such as an athletic bra comprises a single or unitary support panel of molded material defining a first panel side, a second panel side, and a perimetral edge. The panel includes a first cup and a second cup, the first cup forming a first cup convex section at the first side and a first cup concave section at the second side, and the second cup forming a second cup convex section at the first side and a second cup concave section at the second side. A groove is formed into the second panel side and extends continuously along the second panel side from the first cup concave section to the second cup concave section, where the groove defines a flexure zone for the athletic bra.
In further example embodiments, an athletic bra includes a monolithic or unitary panel or pad spanning both breasts. The panel includes a topography configured to direct motion of the breasts during athletic activities such as running. The topography includes an ordered arrangement of valleys and ridges. The valleys define flexure lines that encourage motion (e.g., flexure and/or stretch of the pad), while the ridges resist motion. The valleys and ridges may be organized within the panel to direct and/or control breast motion.
The above and still further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of specific embodiments thereof.
Like reference numerals have been used to identify like elements throughout this disclosure.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying figures which show, by way of illustration, embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Aspects of the disclosure are disclosed in the accompanying description. Alternate embodiments of the present disclosure and their equivalents may be devised without parting from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. It should be noted that any discussion herein regarding “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an exemplary embodiment”, and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, and that such particular feature, structure, or characteristic may not necessarily be included in every embodiment. In addition, references to the foregoing do not necessarily comprise a reference to the same embodiment. Finally, irrespective of whether it is explicitly described, one of ordinary skill in the art would readily appreciate that each of the particular features, structures, or characteristics of the given embodiments may be utilized in connection or combination with those of any other embodiment discussed herein.
Various operations may be described as multiple discrete actions or operations in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the claimed subject matter. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations may not be performed in the order of presentation. Operations described may be performed in a different order than the described embodiment. Various additional operations may be performed and/or described operations may be omitted in additional embodiments.
For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A, B, and/or C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).
The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments of the present disclosure, are synonymous.
Referring to
A bottom or under band 145 extends along the bottom edge of the body 100 and is configured to encircle the torso of the wearer. The front portion 110 further includes a cradle 150 extending continuously from the first wing 120 to the second wing 125. Above the cradle 150 is a cup area 155 that continuously spans the front portion 110 and, as such, is configured to span the breasts of the wearer. The cup area 155 defines a first or left cup section 156, bridge section 157 and a second or right cup section 158, with the bridge section separating the first cup section from the second cup section. The cup area 155 includes an enclosed pocket or chamber defined by an outer textile layer 160 (e.g., a knit fabric) and an inner textile layer 165 (e.g., a knit mesh fabric).
The pocket is sufficiently dimensioned to snugly receive and retain a pad or support panel 170 configured to support the breasts. In the embodiments illustrated, the panel 170 is a monolithic or unitary (i.e., one piece or single piece) structure configured to span the cup area 155, defining a first or front side 205 and a second or rear side 210 (the rear side faces the wearer). The panel 170 possesses a three-dimensional shape, including a perimeter or perimetral edge defining a bottom edge 215A, first 215B and second 215C lateral or side edges in communication with the lateral ends of the bottom edge, first arm hole edge 215D and second arm hole edge 215E, and a neckline edge 215F. The neckline edge 215F and the first arm hole edge 215D form an upward extending first or left tab 220A, while the neckline edge 215F and the second arm hole edge 215E form an upward extending right or second tab 220B.
The support panel 170 further includes a first or left cup 225 separated from a second or right cup 230 by a central gore or bridge 232. Each of the left cup 225 and right cup 230 possesses a generally convex shape along the front (outward-facing) side 205 and a complimentary or inverse, generally concave shape along the rear (wearer-facing) side 210. The left 225 and right 230 cups of the support panel 170 are further suitably dimensioned and oriented along the support panel such that, when the support panel is secured within the pocket defined by the outer textile layer 160 and the inner textile layer 165 of the body 100, the left and right cups are suitably oriented with the respective left and right breasts of the wearer.
The support panel 170 may be formed of a compression material such as a thermoplastic elastomer or other polymer foam (e.g., an open cell polymer foam). Polymer foams include polyurethane foam, polyolefin foam, and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, as well as an EVA foam blended with one or more of an EVA modifier, a polyolefin block copolymer, and a triblock copolymer, and a polyether block amide. In an embodiment, the foam is polyurethane foam.
The support panel 170 may be formed via compression molding or injection molding. In compression molding, a cured blank of foam is placed into a mold, where it is shaped under heat and pressure to take the form of the mold. In injection molding, uncured foam is injected into a mold cavity, where it expands and cures into the shape provided by the mold. For example, a mold including a convex mold portion and a concave mold portion that, when closed, cooperate to define cavity that corresponds to the shape of the one-piece support panel 170. The mold portions may further include protrusions or recesses organized in a predetermined pattern configured to form recesses and protrusions, respectively, in the support panel (discussed in greater detail, below). Liquid foam material is injected into the cavity, where the foam expands and cures.
The dimensions of the support panel 170 may be any suitable for its described purpose. By way of example, the thickness of the support panel 170 may be approximately 4 mm to 8 mm, e.g., about 6 mm.
The front side 205 and/or the rear side 210 of the panel 170 may further include a topology configured to permit and/or resist movement (e.g., expansion) within the panel and/or guide flexure of the panel. Specifically, each side 205, 210 of the support panel 170 includes one or more elongated depressions, recesses or grooves formed into the panel surface, as well as non-recessed areas or ridges between the grooves. Additionally, the surface of the support panel 170 may further include raised areas or protrusions extending from the surface of a non-recessed area. With this configuration (discussed in greater detail, below), the support panel 170 includes discrete areas of thickness, with grooves providing a first panel thickness, the non-recessed areas providing a second panel thickness that is greater than the first panel thickness, and the protrusions providing a third panel thickness greater then each of the first and second panel thicknesses.
With this configuration, areas of differing modulus or flexure zones are formed that relate to the thickness of the panel at the location. Specifically, recessed areas possess greater stretch properties than normal, non-recessed areas. Similarly, protruding areas possess less stretch than normal, non-protruding areas. The dimensions of the recesses and protrusions may be any suitable for their described purpose (e.g., to generate a desired amount of directional support for the wearer's breasts).
Referring to
Referring to
In the illustrated embodiment, none of the grooves 250 overlaps or intersects each other (or is interconnected). Instead, some of the grooves 250 are nested within other grooves at their arcuate or curving sections along the left cup 225 and the right cup 230. As such, each groove forms a complete or substantially complete lemniscate with figure-eight or ∞-shaped curves. In particular, each groove 250A, 250B, 250C, 250D has a shape that substantially forms but does not complete the shape of an infinity symbol or pattern (co) with the arcuate portions of each of these grooves located at the left 225 and right 230 cup areas, where the groove includes an arcuate or curved section at each of the left and right cup areas.
The arcuate portions of the grooves 250A-250E are arranged such that they are consecutively nested within each other at each cup in the following manner. At the right cup 230, the consecutive nested arrangement of the arcuate or curved sections for the grooves from outermost to innermost groove (where the arcuate portion of the innermost groove is located at or very near a central location of the right cup) is as follows: Groove 250A (outermost groove), groove 250B, groove 250C, and groove 250D (innermost groove). At the left cup 225, the consecutive nested arrangement of the arcuate or curved sections for the grooves from outermost to innermost groove (where the arcuate portion of the innermost groove is located at or very near a central location of the left cup) is as follows: Groove 250D (outermost groove), groove 250C, groove 250B, groove 250A and groove 250E (innermost groove). Thus, the consecutive nested arrangement for grooves 250A, 250B, 250C, 250D differs and is the exact opposite in relation to the left cup 225 and the right cup 230.
The areas between the grooves 250A-250E along the rear side 210 of the panel 170 define non-recessed areas or elevated areas 255 with surfaces elevated above the groove surface. In the illustrated embodiment, none of the grooves 250A-250E at the rear side 210 of the panel 170 intersects with any other groove. Accordingly, many of the elevated areas 255 defined between grooves 250A-250E also extend continuously between and form arcuate portions at the left 225 and right 230 cup locations of the support panel 170. Referring the
Referring back to
The dimensions of the grooves 240, 250, the non-recessed areas 245, 255, and/or protrusions 260 may be any suitable for its described purpose (e.g., to generate a desired amount of contouring and/or support for the wearer's breasts). By way of example, the non-recessed areas 245, 255 may possess a thickness of about 4 mm to 8 mm (e.g., 6 mm), corresponding with general panel thickness. The recessed areas or grooves 240, 250 may possess a depth of about 1-4 mm, corresponding to a panel thickness of about 2-5 mm along the grooves. Finally, the protrusions 260 may possess a height of about 3-5 mm, corresponding to a panel thickness of about 9-11 mm. Accordingly, the support panel 170 can vary in thickness along its lengthwise and/or widthwise dimension from about 1 mm to about 11 mm.
Additionally, the width (transverse dimension) of an individual recessed area 240, 250 or a non-recessed area 245, 255 may be any suitable for its described purpose. By way of example, the width of a groove 240, 250 is about 1-3 mm, e.g., 1.5 mm. Similarly, the width of an individual protruding area 260 may be any suitable for its described purpose. Similarly, the length of an individual recessed area 240, 250; non-recessed area; 245, 255 and/or protruding area 260 may be any suitable for its described purpose.
In addition, the depth of the recess defining the grooves 240 on the front side 205 of the panel 170 may be the same or different in relation to the depth of the recess forming the grooves 250 on the back side 210 of the panel. In an embodiment, the grooves 250 of the rear side 210 are deeper (i.e., have a greater depth dimension) than the grooves 240 on the front side 205. For example, the grooves 250 on the rear side 210 may be about 3 mm deep, while the grooves on the front side are about 2 mm deep, resulting in a depth ratio of rear side to front side of 3:2 or 1.5:1. Stated another way, the grooves 240 on the front side 205 extend into the support panel 170 at a depth of up to approximately (+/−5%) 30% the height/thickness of the panel. Similarly, the grooves 250 on the rear side 210 extend into the support panel 170 at a depth of up to approximately 50% (+/−5%) the height/thickness of the panel and, in particular, up to about 75%. By controlling the depth of the recess, it is possible to control not only the degree of expansion/stretch along the groove 240, 250, but the amount of flexure that is permitted by the groove. Specifically, deeper recesses or grooves 240, 250 permit greater degrees of expansion and greater degrees of flexure. Thus, each groove 240, 250 provides a degree of flexure or a flexure zone along the groove as it extends along the side of the panel. This, in turn, permits contouring around each breast, with the panel 170 adapting to each user (i.e., each breast shape). In addition, it is believed that expansion permits movement within defined ranges, permitting the panel to permit motion, but locking out to ensure proper encapsulation. By locking out, the recesses or grooves 240, 250 may assist with directing motion within safe patterns and limits.
In an embodiment, the thickness of the support panel 170 in the non-recess areas is 6 mm, the thickness of the panel in the recessed areas or grooves 240 is 4 mm, the thickness of the panel in the recessed areas 250 is 3 mm, the and the thickness of the panel in the protruding areas is 10 mm. It should be understood, moreover, that the support panel 170 may include a first pattern of grooves on its front side 205 and a second panel of grooves on its second side 210, the groove patterns overlapping each other to provide a cumulative recess at the point of overlap. Thus, when the nominal panel thickness is 6 mm, the depth of the first side groove 240 is 2 mm and the depth of the second side groove 250 is 3 mm, the resulting thickness of the panel at the point of overlap is 1 mm.
With this configuration, areas of differing modulus or flexure may be formed that relate to the thickness of the panel 170 at a particular location. Specifically, each of the recessed areas or grooves 240, 250 define lines of flexure or movement, permitting the panel 170 to readily bend (compared to that of non-recessed areas 245, 255 or protrusions 260). In addition, the recessed areas or grooves 240, 250 may possess greater stretch properties, expanding more easily than the non-recessed areas 245, 255. The deeper the groove (i.e., the thinner the panel is at a particular location), the greater the panel flexes/moves/stretches at that location. Conversely, protruding areas 260 possess less stretch than normal, non-protruding areas. Accordingly, by organizing the grooves along the support panel 170 in a predetermined pattern it is possible to direct the fit and support of the support panel, guiding its contouring along the user, as well as the degree of support generated via limiting stretch and bend. As noted above, one or both sides of the support panel 170 may include groove pattern configured to provide a predetermined fit and/or support to the wearer.
Apertures or perforations 265 may extend completely through the panel 170, extending from the front side 205 to the rear side 210. The perforations 265 extending through the panel 170 are located at a variety of locations along each side of the panel. Accordingly, some perforations 265 extend through the panel 170 to the rear side 210 at grooves 250A, 250B, 250C and also at ridges 350A, 350B, 350C. The perforations 265 facilitate a flow of air through the panel 170 to provide or enhance a cooling effect for the bra during use.
In an embodiment, each side 205, 210 of the panel 170 may be covered with a protective textile layer. Referring to
The textile layers 405, 410 are generally coextensive with its associated side 205, 210. The textile layers 405, 410, moreover, are secured to the panel (the sides 205, 210) to permit (not interfere with) the flexure and/or stretching of the panel, particularly along the grooves. As shown the first fabric is coupled (e.g., attached) to the panel first or front side 205 via stitching 415 proximate (along) the perimeter or perimetral edge 420 of the panel. Similarly, the second textile 410 is coupled (e.g., attached) to the second or rear panel side 210 via stitching 425 proximate (along) the perimeter or perimetral edge 420 of the panel. In an embodiment, the stitching 415, 425 is located inboard no more than five mm (e.g., 4 mm) from panel outside edge 420. In a further embodiment, the stitching 415, 425 is located no more than 10 mm from the edge 420.
The remainder or a substantial portion (e.g., at least 90% of the surface area) of one of both of the textile layers 405, 410 may be left unsecured or uncoupled to the panel side 205, 210. That is, the textile 405, 410, instead of being laminated to the panel via an adhesive (applied, e.g. via spraying), the fabric is tethered to the panel, along its perimeter. With this configuration, the strands of the textile are not adhered to the surface of the panel 170 and, as such, the textile 405, 410 is not continuously bonded to the panel. Substantially all of the textile remains unattached, being separable/disconnected from the panel, particularly within the grooved areas. In a further embodiment, one textile layer (e.g., the front textile layer 405) is secured via perimeter stitching such that the area spanning the support panel is unbonded/free floating, while the other textile layer (e.g., the rear textile layer 410) is continuously bonded to the support panel via adhesive, being laminated thereto. Minimizing bonding of the textile via adhesive across the surface of the panel minimizes interference with movement of the panel such as stretch and/or flexure.
While both the first textile 405 and the second textile 410 may be tethered to its associated panel side 205, 210 via stitching, it should be understood that one textile may be secured to its corresponding side (e.g., the second textile 410 secured to rear panel side 210) utilizing lamination, where an adhesive is applied (e.g., via spraying) along the surface of the panel to bond substantially all of the textile strands to the panel surface.
The female breast lies over the pectoralis major muscle and is primarily made of glandular tissue and fat. Within the breast are ligaments that, along with the skin, are believed to provide minimal natural support to the breast. Due to this weak natural support, movement of the upper body causes independent movement of the breast. During exercise, the torso moves in many different directions at different speeds. With limited internal support, breast motion is driven by the motion of the torso. For example, during an activity such as running, it is believed that each breast moves independently in three dimensions (up/down, forward/back, side-to-side). Reducing this movement will reduce breast pain, reduce the risk of long-term breast sag and reduce barriers to physical activity participation for women.
Conventional bras, however, generally seek to reduce only the up and down movement. Additionally, conventional bras with a pad for each bra do not encourage guiding breast motion, e.g., permitting limited motion in multiple directions and/or direction that motion along less damaging vectors. The present, monolithic or unitary pad or support panel, while still permitting several degrees of motion, still prevents (reduces) motion of each breast along each axis. In particular, control of breast motion is enhanced at least in part due to the configuration of the bra described herein, including the panel having the textured front and rear sides with the grooves and corresponding ridges in the patterns as described herein to provide flexure areas or zones at and around the cup locations of the bra.
The present configuration may further permit each breast to independently move as a discrete mass (conventional bras and cups often treat the breasts as a combined singular mass), providing comfort to the wearer particularly during strenuous or high impact activities such as sports. Since each cup 225, 230 is able to conform over each breast, even when the breasts may not be symmetrical, the panel 170 is still able to encapsulate and support, each cup slowing the acceleration of the breast via expansion/contraction along the grooves. Accordingly, the degree of movement from an equilibrium position experience by each breast is reduced, improving comfort and avoiding pain experienced by the wearer.
To collect breast motion data, six motion sensors were applied directly to participants' breast and body and secured with hypoallergenic tape. Two sensors were applied to the breast and four were applied to the front and back of the upper body. Breast and body movement was measured in three dimensions (forwards/backwards, side/side and up/down). Breast and body movement was assessed during treadmill running at 10 km/hr, and relative breast movement was calculated. This process was followed for (1) no bra worn and (2) the bra of the invention, including the grooved panel described above. The percentage of breast movement reduction the bra provide was calculated for each direction (forwards/backwards, side/side and up/down) and for overall breast movement.
When comparing the percentage reduction of forwards/backwards breast movement of the sports bras tested, the sports bra as described herein reduced overall breast movement 68%, with forwards/backwards breast movement being reduced by 60%, side/side breast movement being reduced 80%, and up/down breast movement reduced by 68%.
As the above test data show, the present invention was effective in not only reducing upward and downward motion, but also side-to-side and backwards motion. While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, the depths of the front side grooves 240 may differs from the depth of the rear side grooves 250. It should be understood, however, that the grooves along the front and rear sides of the panel may be recessed into the panel at the same depth. In addition, the grooves along the front may be recessed deeper than the grooves on the back. In other embodiments, either the groove panel on either the front or rear side may be omitted. Additionally, while the groove patterns may differ, they may also be the same or similar.
It is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. It is to be understood that terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “height,” “length,” “width,” “upper,” “lower,” “interior,” “exterior,” “medial,” “lateral,” and the like as may be used herein, merely describe points of reference and do not limit the present invention to any particular orientation or configuration.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/113,458, filed Dec. 7, 2020, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/944,459, filed Dec. 6, 2019 and entitled “Athletic Bra”, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62944459 | Dec 2019 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17113458 | Dec 2020 | US |
| Child | 18333867 | US |
