US3077196A - Brassiere - Google Patents

Description

A-v E. PAXTON Feb. 12, 1963 BRASSIERE Filed April 12, 1961 on "o INVENTOR.

ANTHONY E. PAXT ON United States Patent 0,.

3,077,196 BRASSIERE Anthony E. Paxton, 57-17 79th Ave., Glendale, N.Y. Filed Apr. 12, 1961, Ser. No. 102,448 3 Claims. (Cl. 128.-=-.463)

This invention relates to new and improved brassieres and more particularly to a unitary one-piece molded plastic brassiere.

The present invention comprises a unitary molded plastic brassiere having two cup portions and a band portion. Thematerial has sutficient flexibility for fitting around the body but has sufiicient stitfness to maintain its shape without wires or other stiffening means so that it is suitable for cases of breast surgery. The present device is impervious to water and-is therefore suitable for use in bathing suits.

The present device has suitable ventilating apertures and a plurality of apertures at the ends of the band portion for mounting a holding back strap. The present device may be sewn into a garment through suitable apertures provided and may be worn without the back strap. Another advantage is that it may be washed and dried with a towel, and suitable for wearing in less than one minute. If desired a cloth lining may be applied by covering the inside surface with an adhesive and pressing, blowing or otherwise applying cotton or other material to the inside surface.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide new and improved brassiere means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved brassiere means which will maintain its shape without wires or other stiffening means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved brassiere means which will maintain its shape in water for use in bathing suits.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved brassiere means for use in cases of breast surgery.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved brassiere means which may be sewn into garments, thereby maintaining the shape of the garment at all times without wrinkling.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved brassiere means which may be tailored with an ordinary scissor, for instance to provide a halfbrassiere.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved brassiere means which may be washed and dried with a towel and suitable for wear in less than one minute.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specifications and drawings of which-- FIGS. 1 and 3 are front perspective views of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the figures the invention comprises a unitary molded member comprising a pair of cup portions 1, 2 and a band portion 3 connected to the underside of the cup portions. The band portion 3 extends past the cup portions on either side and has a plurality of apertures 4, 5, 6, 7, etc. and 4', 5', 6', 7', etc. for receiving hooks of a back mounting strap 9 which may be con ventional. The apertures 4, 5 and 6, etc. are spaced in pairs to receive hooks of a back strap having an adjustable buckle 8. The pairs of mounting holes or aperlures are spaced in both horizontal and vertical directions to provide suitable adjustments for mounting the whole strap 9. Between the cup portions 1 and 2 ad- 3,077,195 Patented Feb. 12 1963 jacent the lower band portion 3 there is a plurality of apertures 10, 11 and 12 which are formed'like the letter A to provide sufiicient flexibility for fitting. There is another line of apertures 13, 14 and 13', 14 on'the underside of each cup portion for ventilation. There is a third line of apertures 15, 16, etc. and 15', 16, etc. near the upper edge of the cup portions 1 and2. This line of apertures 15, 16, etc. provides a convenient guide for cutting down the upper portion of the brassiere for fitting purposesor to form a demi-bra. There are several radial lines of aperturesltl, 21 and 2 0, 21, in each cup portion for providing guide lines tor cutting the member down to a half-brassiere. The lines of apertures 20, 21 and 20, 21 are acrossthe center ofthe cup portions. All of the apertures described are suitable for use in sewing the member into a garment.

The device is preferably made of a conventional plastic material such as polyethylene or poly-vinyl-chloride. The device may be made in a conventional mold, for instance with polyethylene. The material may be in jected into the mold at a temperature of 25 to 300 F. with a pressure of approximately 5,000 lbs. per square inch. However, these specifications are not critical. The mold is preferably of the water cooled type so that the molded piece will set in somewhat less than one minute.

The thickness of the molded piece is preferably on the order of .050 to .090, being somewhat thinner along the edge portions. This thickness of the above material provides a member having sufficient flexibility for proper fitting but yet having sufficient stitfness for maintaining its shape without any additional stiffening means.

The device will also maintain its shape in water and it is therefore suitable for bathing suits. The device may be tailored or fitted with an ordinary scissors as desired and may be worn with the back mounting strap or may be easily sewn into a garment or bathing suit. The device may be also cut down to a demi-bra by cutting along the guide apertures 15 and 16, etc. as shown in FIG. 1, or may be cut down to a half-bra by cutting along the lines 20, 21, etc. as shown in FIG. 3.

For use in bathing suits remove all wires, boning and padding in bathing suit. Remove adjustable back from bra and insert bra under front bathing suit flap. Since all bathings suits are diiierent, trim bra with scissors to fit where necessary. Pin or tack with a few stitches.

For bikini bathing suits, convert the bra into a demibra by simply cutting the top off with scissors on the line of perforations 15, 16, etc. Trim bra with scissors wherever necessary. Pin or tack with a few stitches. Use with or without adjustable back, as suits your purpose.

For formals and sun back dresses, use with or without adjustable back. If used without adjustable back, simply pin or stitch bra into dress. Cut off top if necessary.

The present device is ideal to wear under a brassiere as an insert, if desired. If additional ventilation is re quired, holes may be cut in the solid portions of cups with a razor blade.

To wash, remove adjustable back and dip bra in warm sudsy water. Rinse and wipe dry. The bra is ready to wear again in one minute.

Many modifications may be made by those who desire to practice the invention without departing from the scope thereof which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A unitary molded plastic brassiere comprising a continuous member of uniform thickness having a pair of cup portions, a band portion under said cup portions, said band portion being integrally formed with the cup portions and extending rearwardly and inwardly, the end portions thereof being provided with adjustment apertures aoemoe spaced in horizontal and vertical directions to provide adjustment for a connector or back strap.

2. A unitary molded plastic brassiere comprising a continuous member of uniform thickness having a pair of cup portions, a band portion under said cup portions, said band portion being integrally formed with the cup portions and extending rearwardly and inwardly, the end portions thereof being provided with adjustment apertures spaced in horizontal and vertical directions to provide adjustment for a connector or back strap, and an adjustable back strap removably connected to said apertures at each end of said band portion.

3. A unitary molded plastic brassiere comprising a continuous member of uniform thickness having a pair of cup portions, a band portion under said cup portions, said band portion being integrally formed with the cup portions and extending rearwardly and inwardly, the end portions thereof being provided with adjustment apertures spaced in horizontal and vertical directions to provide adjustment for a connector or strap, an adjustable back strap removably connected to said apertures at each end of said band portion, a horizontal line of apertures through the center of said cup portions to facilitate cutting off the upper portions of said cup portions, to form a half brassiere and a second line of apertures spaced a predetermined amount from the upper edge of said cup portions to facilitate cutting off the upper portion of said cup portions, for converting to a demi-brassiere.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,294,589 Waterbury Sept. 1, 1942 72,391,417 Hill Dec. 25, 1945 2,445,767 Dickerson July 27, 1948 2,477,890 Montagna Aug. 2, 1949 2,686,312 Schmidt Aug. 17, 1954 2,727,278 Thompson Dec. 20, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 161,141 Australia Feb. 14, 1955

Claims (1)

1. 2. A UNITARY MOLDED PLASTIC BRASSIERE COMPRISING A CONTINUOUS MEMBER OF UNIFORM THICKNESS HAVING A PAIR OF CUP PORTIONS, A BAND PORTION UNDER SAID CUP PORTIONS, SAID BAND PORTION BEING INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH THE CUP PORTIONS AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY AND INWARDLY, THE END PORTIONS THEREOF BEING PROVIDED WITH ADJUSTMENT APERTURES SPACED IN HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL DIRECTIONS TO PROVIDE ADJUSTMENT FOR A CONNECTOR OR BACK STRAP, AND AN ADJUSTABLE BACK STRAP REMOVABLY CONNECTED TO SAID APERTURES AT EACH END OF SAID BAND PORTION.

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