Not applicable.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to brassieres. In particular, this invention relates to improved brassieres that provide lift, support and comfort to the wearer.
2. Background of the Invention
Existing brassieres generally have upper straps that are attached to the top of the cup or cups. Most brassieres include underwire members that are positioned on the lowermost position of each cup. Existing brassieres tend to restrict the amount of vertical lift because the underwire tends to stay under the breasts, while the cup is stretched between the underwire and the top of the cup by the upper strap. Instead of providing the desired lift, the upper strap pulls the cup material across the front of the breast, which causes an undesirable flattening of the breast and causes discomfort to the wearer. Also, the majority of breast cups are formed of molded foam, which tends to pucker at the top portion of the cup when the upper strap is lifted upwardly.
An additional problem that exists is that most push up brassieres use thick foam inserts in the bottom of the cup to provide lift for the breasts. The back and side panels in those common brassieres need to be tightly worn about the wearer's torso so that a platform is provided for the breasts to rest upon. When the back and side panels are tightly worn, it is uncomfortable. Furthermore, the added foam inserts can undesirably increase the overall size of the cup for wearers who already wear large sized cups.
What is needed is a brassiere that lifts the lower edge of a cup, on both sides of the lower edge. The lower edge can include an underwire, a support strip or simple seam. It should also provide comfortable lifting support while eliminating puckers at the top or sides of the cup and it should eliminate gaps between the cup and the breast. It should also allow the side and rear panels to be worn loosely so that the entire brassiere is comfortable on the wearer's torso and breasts. The brassiere should be adaptable to be used in bikini tops, maternity tops and shaping and slimming tops. The brassiere should be usable for both underwire type and non-underwire type brassieres.
The brassiere should also allow for symmetric lifting of both breasts and allow for adjustment of lift on both sides of the cup and breast.
The invention comprises a comfort support brassiere having at least one cup for receiving a breast. At least one shoulder strap is provided that has one end proximate to the cup member, and the shoulder strap extends over the wearer's shoulder. A take-up member is engaged with the proximate end of the shoulder strap member and the take-up member extends along each outer edge of the cup. The take-up member has two segments, each having a lower end, and each lower end is positioned substantially near a lower edge of the cup. Each end is positioned on opposite sides of the lower edge of the cup whereby when one shoulder strap is pulled upwardly, each end of the take-up member pulls the lower edge of the cup thereby providing lift and support to the wearer's breast. Each side of the take-up member can be adjusted simultaneously or independently to provide a desired custom adjustment to each side of the cup. The inner segment of the take-up member is free to move upwardly and is not anchored in a fixed position.
A pair of cups is provided that are normally connected together with a cup connector. The shoulder strap generally includes an adjuster to adjust the position of the take-up member. A side panel is attached to the outer edge of each of the cups. The side panel is connected to a back panel that includes a separable closure.
The take-up member is located within a pocket that is formed along the upper outer and inner edges of the cup. The pocket is formed by folding over the edge of the material on the outer edge of the cup and then hemming the folded over material. The take-up member may be made of a cord material or of a flat woven tape or of other desired material.
The lower edge of the cup may be a support underwire or a support strip. The support strip can be folded along its length to conform comfortably in the position between the wearer's torso and the lower portion of the breast.
The lower edge may also be a simple seam of material.
The simplicity of the invention eliminates the need for buckles, drawstrings, or other cinching devices.
Because the underwire is flexible, lifting from on or near the ends of the underwire causes the underwire to flex upwardly, thereby creating a smaller radius. The smaller radius helps to provide a more desirable rounding appearance of the breast.
The take-up member includes a pair of segments that extend about the upper inner and upper outer edges of the cup. Because the take-up member pulls outside of the breast, pressing down or mashing of the breast is eliminated. The inventive brassiere also eliminates the puckers that are common on molded foam cups and eliminates the gaps between the cup and breasts as is common on some lifting type designs.
The lifting along the outer edges of the cup eliminates the need for thick foam as a platform for the breasts to rest upon and thereby allows the side and rear panels to be worn loosely. The entire brassiere becomes more comfortable on the wearer's torso and breasts.
The inventive brassiere can be adapted to be used in bikini tops, maternity tops and shaping and slimming tops. The brassiere can also be used for both underwire type and non-underwire type cups. It can also be used with cups that have molded strips in place of an underwire or with other under cup support means.
Refer now to the drawings, in which like reference numbers refer to like parts throughout the various drawings.
Reference B is directed generally to the brassiere that is the subject of the invention. Brassiere B includes a pair of cups 2 that are typically connected with a cup connector 4. Each cup 2 includes an outer guide pocket 32a and an inner guide pocket 32b. An outer take-up segment 26a is positioned inside of the outer guide pocket 32a and an inner take-up segment 26b is positioned inside of the inner guide pocket 32b. Each take-up segment 26a, 26b is connected to the shoulder strap end 25. The shoulder strap 22 extends between the shoulder strap end 25 and the back panel 14. The back panel 14 is connected to each cup 2 with side panels 12. The back panel connects together with a closure 20.
Throughout the specification, the take-up member includes an outer take-up segment 26a and an inner take-up segment 26b. The inner take-up segment 26a and outer take-up segment 26b can be adjusted independently as required to custom fit the cup 2 to each breast 100. The outer take-up segment 26a and inner take-up segment 26b can also be connected together to form a continuous length. A take-up segment adjuster 62 is shown in
The outer take-up segment 26a and the inner take-up segment 26b can also be a continuous length, in which case each segment is adjusted simultaneously.
Although each cup 2, shoulder strap 22, buckle 24, shoulder strap end 25 and the related parts are shown as being the same size and shape on each side of the brassiere B, it is contemplated that variations in the relative size of the individual parts of the brassiere can be changed as desired.
A lower edge 8 is shown in
The shoulder strap 22 may be non-stretchable or stretchable material that is sufficiently wide to be comfortable to the wearer. The shoulder strap is adjustable with buckle 24.
In
In
The upward position of the outer take-up segment 26a and inner take-up segment 26b can be secured with the buckle 24 on the shoulder strap 22. The relative positions of the outer take-up segment 26a and the inner take-up segment 26b can be changed to adjust the lifting of each breast to the most desired and comfortable position. In other words, outer take-up segment 26a may be pulled out further from the outer guide pocket 32a than the amount of inner take-up segment 26b pulled from inner guide pocket 32b.
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The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and other embodiments may fall within the scope of the invention, the claims of which follow.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20110244757 A1 | Oct 2011 | US |