BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to brassieres and other garments which serve the function of controlling the movement and position of the breasts of the wearer.
BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Brassieres and other garments of similar function must stay in their proper position in order to function. In the prior art these garments employ a tight band that encircles the chest or waist, either combined with straps of strapless. These bands may have elastic areas or may be constructed with elastic in the entire band, and this elastic relieves some of the constricting effect of the bands. In a brassiere with straps, the purpose of band is to keep the brassiere from “riding up”, and in the strapless brassiere the purpose of the band is to keep the brassiere from sliding down. If the band is not tight enough in a garment with straps, the breasts can slide down and out of their proper place and be below the cup area entirely. The problem of breasts not staying in place was addressed by Larry L. Krieger in U.S. Pat. No. 3,254,653 (1966), in which he patented raised areas in the cup to grip the breasts. In Krieger these raised areas could cause irritation to the delicate skin of the breasts. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,988,087, also Larry L. Krieger, there are “body-gripping knopslike protuberances projecting above the general plane of the fabric” to hold the brassiere in place, that have the same problem, that is, the potential to cause irritation to the wearer. C. A. Porter in U.S. Pat. No. 2,289,679, E. Cadous in U.S. Pat. No. 2,524,620, and A. M. Rosenfield et al in U.S. Pat. No. 2,628,356 employ suction either as a plurality of suction cups or “depressions . . . formed as closed suction cups” (Cadous) to prevent slippage. Because suction depends on a partial vacuum, that is, a relative difference in air pressure between the suction cup and the surrounding area, normal movement can break the seal around the suction cup, resulting in an equalizing of the air pressure difference and subsequent loss of suction and a shifting of the garment. These suction cups can also cause irritation, and are bulky and unattractive. M. Schottenfels in U.S. Pat. No. 2,079,426 and B. D. Morgan in U.S. Pat. No. 3,276,449 describe brassieres that do not encircle the torso and stay in place on the body through adhesives that stick to the skin. In Schottenfels, the adhesive is “in the character of adhesive material such as surgical or medical tape” which sticks to the skin, and has the disadvantage that it must be replaced with each wearing. The invention of B. D. Morgan employs “pressure sensitive adhesive” and, if the brassiere is to be worn more than once, it must be folded so as to avoid contact between the adhesive layers, which is an inconvenience to the owner. In Henricksen, U.S. Pat. No. 6,332,825, the layer of frictionally adhesive material, having an upper limit of 0.5 mm would be difficult to manufacture and would be lacking in durability. Also another problem in Henricksen is that a thin layer of adhesive material that is less than 0.5 mm can accentuate the texture of the underlying fabric, so rather than providing a smooth surface, this surface is rough and irritating after long use. A different problem in a brassiere with straps is that the garment can slide up in the back, and down in the front, so that even if the breasts are in the cup area, the breasts are lower than the wearer desires, giving the appearance of sagging breasts. In a strapless brassiere, the garment can slide off the breasts and come to rest at the waist.
This tight band causes annoyance or discomfort at best, at worst it can irritate the intercostal muscles and cause pain. The introduction of elastic materials to ease some of the tension around the torso was an improvement, but does not completely solve of problem of discomfort for the wearer.
SUMMARY
In accordance with the invention presented here, the present invention comprises a torso encircling garment with areas of frictionally adhesive material on the inner surface of the garment.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
Accordingly, the objects and advantages of the breast support system presented in this invention are:
- (a) to keep the garment and breasts in place by employing a gentle encircling of the torso by the fabric of the garment, and employing areas of adhesive materials (adhesive in the sense of adhesive friction, that is, resistant to slipping) such as 100 percent silicone rubber, latex rubber, soft plastics, or a mixture thereof, materials that do not resemble or employ glues or resins that can wear away and leave sticky deposits on the skin,
- (b) to keep the garment in place using areas of frictionally adhesive material rising above the surface of the fabric from 0.001 mm to 0.5 mm in the case of soft plastics or a mixture of soft plastics and silicone rubber or latex rubber or both, or the frictionally adhesive material rising above the surface of the fabric from greater than 0.5 mm to 2 mm in the case of silicone rubber, latex rubber, soft plastics, or a mixture thereof,
- (c) to avoid discomfort by positioning the areas of frictionally adhesive material so that the areas do not tightly encircle the torso, and such that these areas do not employ methods to create suction or protuberances from the surface of the garment or methods to create suction, eliminating the problem of loss of adhesiveness when air pressure equalized through normal movement of the wearer and its resultant loss of suction,
- (d) to create stability in the positioning of the garment by having the areas of frictionally adhesive material in contact with the skin, that is, the adhesive material is on the inner surface of the fabric of the garment,
- (e) to provide for a variety of adaptations of the present invention to any garment that functions to control the movement and position of breasts, such as sports, nursing, general purpose, strapless and padded brassieres, and sleep wear support, or garments that have this invention built into them, such as sports wear, leotards, swim suits, evening gowns, pajamas and night gowns,
- (f) to provide garments that are easy to take care of,
- (g) to provide garments that will fit into many price ranges, and
- (h) to provide the wearer with a secure feeling of knowing that her garment will stay in place and that she looks her best.
DRAWING FIGURES
In the drawings, parts that are closely related have the same number.
FIG. 1 shows the outside of a sports brassiere and
FIG. 2 shows the inside of the same garment.
FIG. 3 shows the outside of a general purpose brassiere and
FIG. 4 shows the inside of the same garment.
FIG. 5 shows the outside of a strapless brassiere and
FIG. 6 shows the inside of the same garment.
REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS
10 sports brassiere
11 front portion, outside view
12 back portion, inside view
13 outer shell of brassiere
14 lining of brassiere
15 areas of frictionally adhesive material such as 100 percent silicone or latex rubber or soft plastics or a mixture thereof
16 breast supporting area
17 straps continuous with the front and back portions
18 front portion, inside view
19 back portion, outside view
20 general purpose brassiere
21 conventional straps
22 breast supporting area of general purpose brassiere
23 knitted or woven fabric
24 back hook and eye closure
25 under wire
30 strapless brassiere
- 31 molded cups
- 32 stays
- 33 front hook and eye closure
DESCRIPTION—FIGS. 1 and 2—SPORTS BRASSIERE EMBODIMENT
The sports brassiere embodiment 10 viewed right side out of this invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2, the garment is viewed inside out. This brassiere 10 has a front portion 11 attached to a back portion 12. This garment is comprises two layers of fabric, the outer layer 13 and the inner layer 14, and this double layer gives extra support to the breasts. The preferred materials for these layers of fabric are knitted fabrics comprising absorbing or wicking yarns and may be part elastic yarn. The areas of frictionally adhesive material 15 are placed on the inner surface of the garment on the back 12, straps 17 and cup area 16. These areas together serve the function of keeping the garment in place, but not all of them are necessary to perform the function and any can be omitted. This garment has no front or back opening and can be put on by pulling on over the head or stepping into it.
FIGS. 3 and 4 Additional Embodiment
The general purpose brassiere embodiment 20 of this invention is illustrated in FIG. 3, right side out, and FIG. 4 inside out. This brassiere 20 has a front portion 11 attached to a back portion 12 and conventional brassiere straps 21. The cup area 22 is a single or multiple thickness of woven or knitted fabric, with or without elastic yarn as part of the knitted or woven yarn, with the type of fabric chosen for the desired amount of support. The fabric encircling the torso is a single or multiple layer of knitted or woven fabric and may be partially elastic yarn, allowing for freedom and comfort in breathing. The hatched areas 15 are the areas comprising a thin layer of frictionally adhesive material, here to hold the brassiere in place, while the under wire 25 serves the function of keeping the breasts from sliding down to a position below the cup area 22. This brassiere has a back hook and eye closure 24. This embodiment of the invention is useful for the creation of a shapely appearance.
FIGS. 4 and 5 Additional Embodiment
The strapless brassiere embodiment 30 is illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 and has a front portion 11 attached to a back portion 12. The cups 31 are of the molded type and also have a thin layer of frictionally adhesive material 15 to help to position the breasts. The areas of frictionally adhesive material 15 around the torso 12 and 18 serves the function of keeping the brassiere from sliding down. This brassiere can be, as with other embodiments, constructed of single or multiple layers of a variety of fabrics, and again the preferred fabric for the portion encircling the torso will contain elastic yarn as part of the yarn to provide for comfort in breathing and movement of the wearer. This embodiment of the invention has a front hook and eye closure.
These illustrations are not intended to exclude other placement of adhesive material, other combinations of fabrics, other constructions or other types of garments, but is intended to illustrate that there is a range of possible features and garments.
ADVANTAGES, CONCLUSIONS AND SCOPE
The present invention is a method to provide comfort and control in a breast supporting garment that encircles the torso and has areas of frictionally adhesive material on the inner surface of the garment, that is, the surface of fabric that touches the wearer's skin. This system performs its control function while permitting freedom for breathing and movement. By eliminating the need for a tight band encircling the torso, this invention departs from the conventional conception and previous art of garments that encircle the torso and support breasts with the use of the tight encircling band. The increased thickness of the adhesive material allows for more durability and comfort of the garment, and the addition of soft plastics as an adhesive material allow for options in manufacturing. Because of the increased comfort, wearers will find that the present invention can be worn in any circumstance, including, but not exclusive to sports, dancing and sleeping.