US3419895A

US3419895A - Brassiere

Info

Publication number: US3419895A
Application number: US604785A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gloria M Stephensen
Original assignee: Gloria M. Stephensen
Current assignee: GLORIA M STEPHENSEN
Priority date: 1966-12-27
Filing date: 1966-12-27
Publication date: 1968-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 1985-12-31

Description

Dec- 31, 1""9168 G. M. STEPHENSEN 3,419,895

BRASSIERE Filed nec. 27, 196e sheet of 2 v 5\ v FIG l 7 l; 30 552 169 7- 15a z 6 V53 144 I 72 .A Z 5 I 52 `141:6 45.2 174 4a j, 60 4g 16 7g j; 6 4.@ 74

Tijl/@V :\"^11@ ff fir@ 12m INVENTOR. @Zar/'a M Szefnsef/ De@ 31, 1968 G. M. STEPHENSEN 3,419,895 Y BRASSIERE Sheet Filed Deo.

INVENTOR, Gla/fa /W Szep/'fezfse/v BY United States Patent O 3,419,895 BRASSIERE Gloria M. Stephensen, 2611 Forbes St., Jacksonville, Fla. 32204 Filed Dec. 27, 1966, Ser. No. 604,785 7 claims. (Cl. 12s- 484) This invention relates to brassieres and more particularly to brassieres of the type having a sling member located below the breast receiving cups or pockets for aiding the support and separation of the breasts.

A general object of the subject invention is to provide a brassiere of the uplift type wherein means are provided to the wearer in order to effect balanced bust weight suspension.

Another object of this invention is to provide a brassiere which will comfortably support the bust and which will present the same in accordance with acceptable modern dress practices.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article of clothing in the nature of a brassiere which will serve the necessary support functions for which it is intended and do this in spite of multiple laundryings, excessive wearings by the user thereof; and which is non-complex in construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, and durable in use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a brassiere having a support band upon which the Ibust may rest for a proper upward contouring thereof.

A further object of the subject invention is to provide a brassiere having a support band for the bust which will when properly adjusted keep the busts in their natural positions and contour the same in accordance with the users dress.

It is another object of this invention to provide a wearing apparel in the nature of a brassiere so arranged and constructed to support the busts in youthful form.

A further object of the invention is to provide a brassiere wherein each bust supporting portion thereof includes a band to engage and support the underside of each bust.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a brassiere which will support the lbreast in a natural form and do so without abnormal constriction thereof.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a brassiere that may be used for forming and molding the breasts to their proper shape when they have been distorted by improper support means.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a brassiere which has a breast support member and a breast covering member each of which is separate in structure and function from the other.

It is another object of this invention to provide a two part brassiere in which one of the parts is designed to support the breasts of the wearer in a natural manner, so as to eliminate the weight of the 4breasts stretching the skin and muscles covering the top surfaces thereof, and generally to prevent the weights of the -breasts from effecting elongation thereof, and to give side support to the breasts not only in the ster-nal region but in the lateral pectoral region so that there will be no tendency for the mammary glands to retreat to under the arms or the glands under the arms to sag from a lack of support.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a brassiere that will give support under the arms so that there will be no tendency for the mammary glands to enlarge in such regions, and so that if their are enlargements under the arms there will be a factor acting for reduction thereof.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with partcularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both 3,419,895 Patented Dec. 31, 1968 as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood `by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a brassiere constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the barssiere of this invention positioned on a woman, portions of the brassiere being broken away to one side;

FIG. 3 is a right hand perspective view of the brassiere embodying the present invention positioned on a woman;

FIG. 4 is an additional right hand perspective view of the brassiere with portions thereof being broken away;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view along line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along line 7-7 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view along line 8 8 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional View along line 9 9 of FIG, 4.

Referring to the drawings in detail now, and in particularly to FIGS. 144 thereof, the improved brassiere of this invention as shown therein is generally designated by reference numeral 10. Brassiere 10 includes a breast covering member or structure 12 and a breast supporting member or structure 14 each of which is separate in structure and function from the other. Breast covering member 12 and breast support member 14 are both attached in the rear portion of the brassiere to a pair of

shoulder straps

16 and 18 along and by

respective stitching

20 and 22, although only one of these members need be attached to the shoulder straps.

Shoulder straps

16 and 18 pass over

respective shoulders

24 and 26 of the wearer 28 of the brassiere when the same is in place and in use thereon. The opposite or

forward ends

38 and 32 of

respective shoulder straps

16 and 18, adjacent the front portion of the brassiere, are adjustably attached to the breast supporting or inner member 14, and the breast covering or outer member 12 is releasable adjacent these ends.

Breast covering member 12 includes two breast receiving or

breast covering cups

34 and 36 which `are joined together at their inner, adjacent, generally vertical edges by appropriate stitching at reference numeral 38. Breast receiving cup 34 is formed from four pieces of material or

fabric

40, 42, 44 and 46 which are appropriately cut and joined -by stitching along the

seam lines

48 and 50. In like manner breast receiving cup 36 is fabricated from four sections of material or

fabric

52, 54, 56 and 58 which are appropriately cut and then suitably formed and joined together into the cup by stitching along

seam lines

60 and 62, such as to appropriately receive and cover the breast.

Breast covering member 12 further includes a central front panel 64 having a generally straight lower edge 66 and which extends generally from the continuation of seam line 50 of cup 34 to the extension of seam line 62 of cup 36. Panel 64 is formed from an appropriately cut piece of fabric and sewn into breast covering member 34 along

seam lines

68 and 70 and continuation of

seam lines

50 and 62 to give a generally finished appearance and a generally straight, lower edgeline to the brassiere.

A panel of elasticized vmaterial 72 is sewn into the bra below panel 44 along

seams

68, 50 extended and 74. A similar panel 76 formed from an elasticized material is inserted beneath panel 58 of breast cup 36 and secured along

seam lines

70, 62 extended and 78. These elasticized

panels

72 and 76 permit a limited amount of expansion in the horizontal direction along the lower edge of the brassiere to allow for expansion and contraction of the rib cage during breathing and to permit limited stretching of the bra along this bottom edge during stretching, bending and twisting motions of the torso of the body of the person wearing the bra.

Each of the

breast cups

34 and 36 has attached respeotively to its outer edge a side panel or backward

extension

80 and 82 which pass about the side of the rib cage underneath the arm of the wearer. Panel or backward extension 80 is attached at seam 74 and panel 82 or backward extension is connected at seam 78. Attached respectively to the other and opposite ends of

side panel portions

80 and 82 are back elasticized

panels

84 and 86 being respectively sewn to the side panels at

seam lines

22 and 20. Panels or backward

extensions

84 and 86 are formed from an appropriate elasticized material to permit a certain amount of expansion and contraction of the brassiere about the wearer during breathing, stretching, bending and twisting motions.

A small section of fabric 88 containing pairs of eyes 90 and 92 is secured to the outer end of elasticized section 86 by stitching along seam line 94. A pair of hooks 96 secured to a small piece of fabric 98 is attached to the outer end of elasticized section 84 along seam line 100 such as to meet and match sets of

eyes

92 or 94 to secure the breast covering member 12 about the body of the user, the hook and eyes joining each other in connected fashion in the central portion of the wearers back.

A strip of soft felted material 102 is sewned into the inside of the brassiere adjacent the bottom edge 66 thereof and extends across the front portion thereof to present a soft smooth surface to the body and to help maintain the brassiere in proper position on the body of the user thereof. Similar felted soft strips of

material

104 and 106 are respectively secured to the top and bottom portion of elasticized back panel 84, and like strips 108 and 110 are secured to the upper and lower portions of elastieized back panel 86 for like purposes, see FIG. 6. The back or inner side of small piece or section 88 is additionally felted to present a soft smooth inner surface to the back of the user of the brassiere and to further aid in maintaining the brassiere in position on the wearer thereof.

Breast supporting member 14 includes both a left and

right panel

112 and 114 respectively, which are secured together along seam 116 at the central front portion of the brassiere. The material from which breast support member 14 is fabricated is of a somewhat heavy and stiffer material than the remainder of the bra such as to aid in the breast supporting function, and it is felted on the inner side to present a soft and smooth surface for contacting the body. The material from which breast support member 14 is formed is cut on the bias to form both the left and

right panels

112 and 114 thereof, which are joined at seam 116. This, cutting of

panels

112 and 114 on the bias reduces the stretch between the ends of the panels, thus making for a stronger and stiffer support member 14 having a longer useful and more durable life. The upper and lower edges of member 14 are finished with bias tape at 118 and 120. A second thickness of like material is sewn into support member 14 at 122 and at 124 to form reinforcing panels which further stiffen and reinforce the breast support member in these areasY The attachment of reinforcing .panel 122 to the outer side of the left panel 112 of breast support member 14 is shown in detail in FIG. 8.

The outer ends or backward

extensions

126 and 128 of the breast support member 14 are connected and attached to the breast covering member 12 adjacent its outer ends along

respective seam lines

22 and 20. Support member 14 is additionally attached to the covering member 12 along its lower edge on

seam lines

130 and 132. Breast support member 14 is further secured to the breast covering member 12 by substantially

vertical stitching

134 and 136 adjacent the outer edges of respective

breast receiving cups

34 and 36.

Seam lines

134 and 136 commence at the lower edge of support member 14 and covering member 12 and extend substantially vertically upward therefrom to insure that the support member 14 is maintained well up under the breasts and to prevent the same from slipping or sliding downward when about the torso of the person wearing the brassiere.

Breast support member 14 further includes two inverted U-shaped breast encircling harness members or supporting

ribbons

138 and 140 which generally conform to the upper edge of respective breast receiving cups 34 and 36 when the brassiere is in place on the user thereof. The inner ends 142 and 144 of

respective support bands

138 and 140 are secured together and attached to support member 14 by means of a fabric eX- tension 146. While in the preferred embodiment of the invention depicted in the drawings, the inner ends 142 and 144 of

harness members

138 and 140 are shown as being fixed to fabric extension 146, they could be slidable therethrough; i.e.,

harness members

138 and 140 could be slidably connected to support member 14 by means of a looped fabric extension similar to fabric extension 146. The outer ends 148 and 150 of respective support ribbons or

bands

138 and 140 are adjustably secured to the sides of support member 14 at positions underneath the front portion of the armpit, see FIG. 4.

The adjustable connection of

ends

148 and 150 to the support band or ledge 14 is provided by a clasp mechanism 152 shown in detail in FIG. 9. Clasp mechanism 152 is secured through eyelet 154 in its lower end to the support member 14 by a small piece of material 156 extending therethrough and secured to member 14 by stitching 158. Attached to the upper portion of base member `160 of clasp mechanism 152 is a latch member 162 which is pivotable about its mounting posts, one of which is shown at 164. The outer end 150 of support ribbon 140 is threaded between the mounting posts on top of the base member 160, under the latching member 162 and then folded on itself and stitched to prevent the same from becoming disattached from the clasp mechanism 152. This arrangement, as more clearly depicted in FIG. 9, prevents disassembly of the brassiere during washings of the same. Latch member 162 is movable from the position depicted at 166, in which position support band is locked and secured in place to prevent movement and slippage of the same, to the pivoted position 168, in which position support ribbon 140 is slidably adjustable within the clasp mechanism 152. Clasp mechanisms, as at 152, are very thin and completely protected and padded from the body of the user of the brassiere such that no discomfort, inconvenience, bulging, or irritation results to the wearer from the use of these clasp mechanisms which are added features of this brassiere over prior brassieres. When the brassiere is in usable position on the wearer thereof, the supporting bands or

ribbons

138 and 140 will be adjusted and secured within their respective clasp mechanisms to the point that they are tight and taut to conform to the size and shape of the breast and engaged chest areas of the user thereof, and then secured in the so adjusted position by closing the latch members as at 162.

The

front end portions

30 and 32 of respective

brassiere shoulder straps

16 and 18 terminate at and are adjustably connected to buckles or securing

members

168 and 169 respectively. The adjustable connection of shoulder strap 16 to buckle 168 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 5. These connections at 30 and 32 of the shoulder strap are made adjustable such as to accommodate the brassiere to different users having different sizes and shapes of

shoulders

24 and 26. Extending through the lower eyelet .170 of buckle 168 and secured therein, see FIG. 5, is a depending loop of flexible material 172, through which support ribbon or band 140 extends. The ribbon 140 is freely slidable within loop 172 such as to properly and evenly carry support member 14 at the

ends

144 and 150 thereof. A similar dependent loop of flexible material 174 is secured to the lower end of buckle 169 in which support ribbon 138 is freely slidable for like purposes.

Secured to the front of material loop 172 is the male portion 176 of a snap .178, the female portion 180 of which is attached to the top underside of breast receiving cup 36 of the breast covering member 12, see FIG. 5. A similar type arrangement exists between material loop 174 and the inner upper portion of breast receiving cup 34. This type of arrangement permits easy `and ready opening and closing of the breast receiving cups 34 and 36 once the breasts of the user have been properly placed and supported within the triangular openings afforded by the left portion 112 of support member 14 and its attached support band 140, and the right portion 114 of breast support member 14 and its attached support band 138. The breasts are normally properly positioned within their respective triangular support areas as indicated in FIG. 2, with the breast receiving cups 34 and 36 disconnected at their respective snap connections on loops 174 and .172 and with the top portions of the breast receiving cups depending downward from the remainder of the brassiere below the support member 14. Once the breasts have been properly positioned within their respective triangular support areas the breast receiving cups 34 and 36 are brought up over the breasts and secured at their respective snap closures adjacent the front of

loops

174 and 172.

Shoulder straps

16 and 18, strap member 16 being shown in detail in FIG. 7, are constructed from a piece of material 182 the ends 184 and 186 -of which have been folded inward to form

smooth edges

188 and 190. The piece of material 182 is then folded over upon itself such that the smooth edges .188 and 190 meet in the top center of the so folded material and are there stitched at 192 and 194 to form an outer member or shell of shoulder strap 16 having smooth outer edges. Additional layers of material 196 may be added internally of the outer shell or member 182 to make the strap thicker and softer to help prevent the same from cutting into the Wearers shoulders 24 and 26.

While only a certain preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown and described by way of illustration, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art and it is therefore, desired that it be understood that it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a brassiere including a breast covering outer structure including a pair of covering cups for the users breasts at the front thereof and a pair of backward extensions, said backward extensions of said outer structure being adjustably and releaseably secured together adjacent the midportion of the users back, a breast supporting hammock inner structure having breast engaging portions at the front thereof and a pair of backward extensions respectively connected to said backward extensions of said outer structure, a pair of elongated shoulder engaging straps for supporting the brassiere on the user thereof, one end of each of said shoulder straps being attached to one of said backward extensions of one of said outer and inner structures, the other end of each of said shoulder straps extending over a users shoulder and ter-minating in a buckle adjacent the top of a respective said covering cup, each of said shoulder straps being adjustable within its said respective buckle to vary the effective supporting length of said strap, a loop of flexible :material attached to and depending from each said buckle, a pair of snap means respectively disposed on and between each of said breast covering cups adjacent the top thereof and said respective loop for detachably securing each said cup to its respective said loop, and an elongated, breast encircling harness member for supporting said inner structure from said opposite end of each said shoulder strap, said harness member extending through and being slidable in said loops, said harness member adjacent its midpoition being attached to said inner structure substantially midway thereof, and said outer ends of said harness member being attached to said inner structure generally between said breast engaging portions and respective backward extensions thereof.

2. In the brassiere as defined in claim 1 further including clasp means slidably receiving therein one said outer end of said harness member for adjustably securing said harness member to said inner structure whereby the elfective supporting length of said harness member may be shortened and lengthened.

i3. In the brassiere as defined in claim 2` wherein said clasp means is disposed between said inner and outer structures whereby said clasp means is shielded from and out of contact with the breast or body of the user.

14. In the brassiere as defined in claim 1 wherein said harness member attachment to said inner structure midway thereof is affixed, further including a pair of clasp means slidably receiving therein respective said outer ends of said harness member for adjustably securing said harness member to said inner structure whereby the etfective supporting length of said harness member may be shortened and lengthened.

5. In the brassiere as defined in claim 1 wherein each said loop comprises a pair of portions -with a passageway therebetween, each said pair of snap means including a pair of mating elements, one said element being disposed on the inner face of said breast covering cup and the other element being disposed on the outer face of one of said portions of said loop facing its respective said cup, said other loop portion and said harness member extending through said passageway shielding said other element from and out of contact with the breast of the user.

6. In a brassiere including a breast covering outer structure including a pair of covering cups for the users breasts at the front thereof and a pair of backward extensions, said backward extensions of said outer structure being adjustably and releaseably secured together adja cent the midportion of the users back, a breast supporting hammock inner structure having breast engaging portions at the front thereof and a pair of backward extensions respectively connected to said backward extensions of said outer structure, a pair of elongated shoulder engaging straps for supporting the brassiere on the user thereof, one end of each of said shoulder straps being attached to one of said backward extensions of one of said outer and inner structures, the other end of each of said shoulder straps extending over a users shoulder and terminating in a buckle adjacent the top of a respective said covering cup, each said shoulder strap being adjustable within its said respective buckle to vary the effective supporting length of said strap, a loop of ilexible material attached to and depending from each said buckle, the top of each said breast covering cup being detachably connected to a respective loop, an elongated, breast encircling harness member for supporting said inner structure from said opposite end of each said shoulder strap, said harness member extending through and being slidable in said loops, said harness member adjacent its midportion being attached to said inner structure substantially midway thereof, said outer ends of said harness member being attached to said inner structure generally between said breast engaging portions and respective backward extensions thereof, and generally vertical stitches attaching said outer structure to said inner structure and positioned between said breast engaging portions and said backward extensions of said inner structure and between said cups and said backward extensions of said outer structure, said stitching commencing at the lower edge of said outer structure and the lower edge of said inner structure and extending generally upward therefrom to a position generally midway between said lower edge and the upper edge of said inner structure for additionally securing and supporting said inner structure with said outer structure and providing an increase in uplift and support of the users breasts.

7. In the brassiere as dened in claim `6 wherein said harness member attachment to said inner structure midway thereof is axed, further including a pair of clasp means slidably receiving therein respective said outer ends of said harness member for adjustably securing said harness member to said inner structure whereby the effective supporting length of said harness member may be shortened and lengthened, and wherein said clasp means are disposed between said inner and outer structures whereby said clasp means are shielded from and out of contact with the breast or body of the user.

References Cited ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

Claims

6. IN A BRASSIERE INCLUDING A BREAST COVERING OUTER STRUCTURE INCLUDING A PAIR OF COVERING CUPS FOR THE USER''S BREASTS AT THE FRONT THEREOF AND A PAIR OF BACKWARD EXTENSIONS, SAID BACKWARD EXTENSIONS OF SAID OUTER STRUCTURE BEING ADJUSTABLY AND RELEASEABLY SECURED TOGETHER ADJACENT THE MIDPORTION OF THE USER''S BACK, A BREAST SUPPORTING HAMMOCK INNER STRUCTURE HAVING BREAST ENGAGING PORTIONS AT THE FRONT THEREOF AND A PAIR OF BACKWARD EXTENSIONS RESPECTIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID BACKWARD EXTENSIONS OF SAID OUTER STRUCTURE, A PAIR OF ELONGATED SHOULDER ENGAGING STRAPS FOR SUPPORTING THE BRASSIERE ON THE USER THEREOF, ONE END OF EACH OF SAID SHOULDER STRAPS BEING ATTACHED TO ONE OF SAID BACKWARD EXTENSIONS OF ONE OF SAID OUTER AND INNER STRUCTURES, THE OTHER END OF EACH OF SAID SHOULDER STRAPS EXTENDING OVER A USER''S SHOULDER AND TERMINATING IN A BUCKLE ADJACENT THE TOP OF A RESPECTIVE SAID COVERING CUP, EACH SAID SHOULDER STRAP BEING ADJUSTABLE WITHIN ITS SAID RESPECTIVE BUCKLE TO VARY THE EFFECTIVE SUPPORTING LENGTH OF SAID STRAP, A LOOP OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL ATTACHED TO AND DEPENDING FROM EACH SAID BUCKLE, THE TOP OF EACH SAID BREAST COVERING CUP BEING DETACHABLY CONNECTED TO A RESPECTIVE LOOP, AN ELONGATED, BREAST ENCIRCLING HARNESS MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING SAID INNER STRUCTURE FROM SAID OPPOSITE END OF EACH SAID SHOULDER STRAP, SAID HARNESS MEMBER EXTENDING THROUGH AND BEING SLIDABLE IN SAID LOOPS, AND HARNESS MEMBER ADJACENT ITS MIDPORTION BEING ATTACHED TO SAID INNER STRUCTURE SUBSTANTIALLY MIDWAY THEREOF, SAID OUTER ENDS OF SAID HARNESS MEMBER BEING ATTACHED TO SAID INNER STRUCTURE GENERALLY BETWEEN SAID BREAST ENGAGING