EP0809945A2 - Ladies underwear, especially brassière - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a piece of underwear for women, in particular a brassiere (1), comprising two side parts (2, 3) containing the cups (4, 5), which are connected to one another in the front middle region (6) between the cups (4, 5), which have a back closure (7) at the rear ends and are provided with carrier tapes (8). The side parts (2, 3) each consist of a full-size blank (13, 14) made of a textile containing thermoplastic fusible material onto which reinforcing parts (15, 16) are laminated along their outer edges, which are also made of a textile, thermoplastic fusible Material containing fibers exist. The side parts (2, 3) are connected to one another in the front middle region (6) by a weld seam (24) produced by thermal means. The parts (7a, 7b) of the back fastener (7) as well as the carrier tapes (8) are connected directly or indirectly to the side parts (2, 3) at least by means of weld seams produced by thermal means. This means that there is no need for any seams as a connecting means, and a better reproduction of the fit and a more economical production can be achieved. <IMAGE>

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to a piece of underwear for women with a worked-out upper part, in particular a brassiere, consisting of two side parts containing the cups, which are connected to one another in the front middle region between the cups, which have a back closure at the rear ends and which are provided with straps.

State of the art

Brassieres are undergarments that have to be manufactured and kept in stock in many different sizes and shapes with a view to their purpose of covering, supporting and shaping the female breast. Due to their spatial shape adapted to this provision, they traditionally consist of a plurality of different parts, which require a multitude of work steps to be composed, which are time-consuming and wage-consuming and largely elude rational industrial working methods. In addition to the fact that a bra consists of a number of different parts, usually made of textile material, such as side parts, bust cups, carrier straps, trimming or edging bands, back closure etc., it is conventionally necessary to connect these parts to one another by sewing. This requires not only a sewing process that runs along the connection points, but also the use of a connection medium, e.g. a sewing thread.

There has been no shortage of attempts in the prior art on the one hand to simplify this complex manufacturing process, on the other hand also to find a fit that includes as many sizes and shapes as possible, and finally to combine these two conditions.

For example, a bra marketed under the name "One for All" is known, which consists of two one-piece side parts made of textile, stretchable material and comprising the bust cups. These parts are reinforced at the edges by strips of elastic material, which are connected to the side parts by spot welding. Carrier tapes were also produced in this way, with at least these reinforcement strips running from the side parts along the carrier tapes. Although this type of edge reinforcement made it possible to dispense with the connecting medium for the sewing process, there is still the time required to drive off the edges of the bra to produce the welded connections. In addition, no seams could be dispensed with, neither for connecting the side parts, nor for attaching the closure parts or the carrier.

Especially in order to increase the comfort of such bras in which reinforcing parts, such as rods, brackets or the like, are incorporated to increase the shaping force, it has also become known to cut parts in the form of the areas to be reinforced from a correspondingly firmer material with a weldable polyester material to laminate and then bring these parts together with a second continuous workpiece made of stretchable material and combine them by heating to form a three-layer workpiece (US Pat. No. 5,154,659). After cooling, the elastic base material in the chest area is then melted Bust cup worked out. In this bra, too, the side parts in the front central axis are connected to one another by a sewing process with thread, and the back closure parts and straps are sewn on.

Similarly, it is used to reinforce selected areas of a garment, such as a panty girdle or a bra, known to apply a powdery adhesive on a basis of a textile material in the screen printing process in certain patterns, which is then melted in a drying oven (EP 0 255 101 B1). A cover layer corresponding to the areas of the adhesive application is then applied to the areas of the base coated with adhesive, which is connected to the base by application of heat and pressure by means of the adhesive. Strength and shaping properties are determined here by the shape and size of the adhesive application and the choice of adhesive material. This bra is also made up by sewing.

Object of the invention

The invention has for its object to provide a design for a piece of women's underwear, in particular a bra, which is suitable for modern industrial production, which above all avoids any continuous sewing processes and a connection medium required.

Presentation of the invention

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a piece of women's underwear, in particular a brassiere with the features specified in claim 1.

Advantageous further developments result from the Subclaims.

Compared to the conventional connection techniques, in particular by sewing, the bra according to the invention can not only be produced without any threads or similar connection means, but there are also practically only selective operations, that is to say by pressing, welding or the like, for the connection of the individual parts or for Packaging required.

By eliminating the most annoying and possibly bulky seams that influence stretching behavior, the new bra also has improved wearing properties. Because of its flat end edges or material transitions, the bra according to the invention is ideal for wearing under tight-fitting clothing, since it does not appear on the clothing worn over it. The reduced variety of materials results in good care properties and simplified recycling. Finally, the type of manufacture also allows a better reproduction of the required fit and a comparably favorable cost structure in the manufacture.

Description of the drawing

Fig. 1

eine Innenansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Büstenhalters, die

Fig. 2A/B

Detaildarstellungen der Befestigung der Trägerbänder,

Fig. 3A/B

Detaildarstellungen der Befestigung der Teile eines Rückenverschlusses,

Fig. 4A/B

Detaildarstellungen des vorderen mittleren Bereichs einer anderen Ausführungsform des Büstenhalters mit einer stumpfen Schweißnaht und die

Fig. 5 bis 7

im schematischen Vertikalschnitt aufeinanderfolgende Stationen der Herstellung einer solchen Schweißnaht.

The invention is explained below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing. It shows

Fig. 1

an interior view of a bra according to the invention, the

2A / B

Detailed representations of the fastening of the carrier tapes,

3A / B

Details of the fastening of the parts a back closure,

Fig. 4A / B

Detailed representations of the front middle region of another embodiment of the bra with a butt weld and the

5 to 7

in the schematic vertical section successive stations of the production of such a weld.

In the drawing, the invention is illustrated using the example of a brassiere as a piece of underwear for women. However, the invention is also applicable to other items of clothing which have a finished upper part, such as e.g. Swimsuits or the like.

In Fig. 1, a bra according to the invention is shown from the inside. The bra 1 consists of two side parts 2 and 3, which are formed and arranged mirror-symmetrically to a front central axis M. The side parts 2 and 3 each comprise bust cups 4 and 5 formed by molding. The side parts 2 and 3 are connected to one another in a region 6 in the region of the front central axis M. The active and passive parts of a back fastener 7 are located at the rear ends of the side parts 2 and 3. In the front upper region of the side parts 2 and 3, above the bust cups 4 and 5, carrier bands 8 are fixed at 9 and in the rear region at 10 in a loop 12 formed by an adjusting element 11 is adjustably attached.

The side parts 2 and 3 each consist of a layer 13 or 14 covering their entire surface and made of a textile material which is to a certain extent stretchable and which at least partially contains fibers which can be melted thermoplastically. On these base parts 13 and 14 are laminated from the inside reinforcing parts, which are designated in their entirety by 15 and 16. These reinforcing parts 15, 16 also consist of a textile, preferably a less stretchable material, which also at least partially contains thermoplastic fusible fibers.

As shown in FIG. 1, the reinforcement parts 15, 16 consist of frame-like blanks which run approximately uniformly in width, like a band, along the outer edges of the side parts 2 and 3, respectively, in order to reinforce and stabilize the edges here. These are lower parts 18 running parallel to the lower edge 17, parts 19 adjoining them in the back area, running to the carrier bands 8, parts 21 running along the upper edges 20 and finally parts 22 above the bust cups 4, 5 the lower edge 17 of the bra 1, the parts 18 of the reinforcements 15, 16 extend into the area of the bust cups 4 and 5; there they form reinforcements 23 to support the breast or to shape its contour.

Although the undergarment according to the invention is shown here using the example of a bra with a back closure and straps, the invention is not limited to this. Instead of a back fastener, the brassiere can also have a front fastener or can be designed without a fastener as a so-called "step-in bra". Likewise, it can also be designed without carrier straps, that is to say without a carrier. Finally, the invention is also applicable to swimsuits, both one-piece and bikini.

To produce the brassiere according to the invention, the two side parts 2 and 3 are first produced and then connected to one another in the front middle region 6 and finally the carrier tapes 8 and the closure parts 7 are attached.

To produce the side parts 2 and 3 of the brassiere 1, a coating is first applied to a base sheet or a rough cut of the textile material forming the reinforcements 15, 16, by means of which a connection can be made to the base sheet 13 or 14. This can either be a "hot melt" adhesive coating or a thin film that can be activated by the application of heat. Then the inner contours of the reinforcing parts 15, 16 are punched out from this rough cut and the remaining frame-like parts - still without an outer contour - are placed on the rough cut for the cut parts 13 and 14. By applying heat and pressure, the rough cuts containing the reinforcing parts 15, 16 are connected to the rough cuts 13, 14 of the base web. Only then are the bust cups 4 and 5 molded and the outer contours punched out. It makes sense to place two corresponding side parts 2 and 3 on top of each other in a congruent position.

After these preparatory measures, the assembly of the bra begins. For this purpose, the parts 2 and 3, which are punched and molded one above the other, are opened, brought to a triangular overlap 23 in the front central region 6 of the central axis M and firmly connected to one another in this region by a weld seam 24. This can be done by a single pressing and welding process. This connection can also be created by designing a motif, e.g. "Bloom", visually attractive.

Then the parts of the back closure 7 and the carrier tapes 8 are attached. This can be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, each of which is a larger section Show scale.

2A shows the fixed connection 9 of the carrier straps 8 to the front upper regions of the brassiere 1. The carrier tapes 8, which usually consist of elastic tape material, usually contain thermoplastic fusible fibers, so that they can be connected to one another by welds 25, brought into overlap with the corresponding areas of the side parts 2, 3. For the adjustable fastening 10 of the carrier tapes 8 in the rear region (FIG. 2B), a tab 26 is formed from the material of the side parts 2 and 3 with a laminated reinforcement, which is pulled through an eyelet 27 and then pushed back. The tab 26 is welded to the side part 2 or 3 by a weld seam 25. The carrier tape 8, which forms a loop 12, is pulled through the eyelet 27 in a manner known per se.

The parts of the back closure 7 are operated in a similar manner (FIG. 3). The back closure 7 consists of an active closure part 7a and a passive closure part 7b. The active closure part 7a has a closure head 7c, the passive closure part 7b has a recess 7d. Both closure parts 7a and 7b each continue in an eyelet 7e. Here, too, the ends of the side parts 2 and 3 end in tabs 28, which are each pulled through the eyelets 7e and turned backwards, in order then to be welded to the material of the side parts 2 and 3 by welds 29.

It follows from this that there is no need for sewing processes which run along a route and require a connecting medium for the manufacture of the brassiere according to the invention; the production is rather limited to simple punching, pressing and welding processes, that is to say to processes which can be carried out in a simple manner in accordance with the machine Machines can be run.

While the side parts 2, 3 of the brassiere 1 according to the invention in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are pushed through overlap 23 in the front middle region 6 and are connected by a triangular weld seam 24 corresponding to the triangular outline of the overlap joint, there is also the possibility that To connect side parts 2, 3 in the front middle region 6 between the bust cups 4, 5 butt-edged together in a weld 30. This possibility is shown in detail in FIG. 4A in front view and in FIG. 4B in a corresponding detail in a view from the inside. How such a butt weld can be produced in a simple manner is shown schematically in several successive phases in FIGS. 5 to 7.

This simple connection possibility is based on the fact that, according to the invention, textile materials are used both for the rough cuts 13, 14 of the side parts and for the reinforcing parts 15, 16, which at least partially contain thermoplastic fusible fibers. Such fibers can be welded by using ultrasound or heat, optionally with simultaneous application of pressure. After superimposing the coarse blanks 13, 14 and the reinforcing parts 15, 16, the side parts 2, 3 in a congruent position succeed one another in the region of the ends 32, 33 which later form the front middle region 6 by welding with the application of pressure with complete separation to be connected to one another in such a way that after the opening of parts 2, 3, the two ends 32, 33 welded to one another come into an extended position and are butt-welded to one another at the same edge. In this way, one succeeds practically invisible, in any case not bulky straight connection of the two front inner ends of the side parts 2, 3.

In order to secure this weld seam 30 and at the same time to reinforce this very heavily stressed front central region 6 of the brassiere 1, it makes sense to laminate a reinforcement part 31 in this region, preferably on the inside of the brassiere, which expediently consists of the same material as the side parts 2, 3 themselves and in the same way as their different layers can be connected to these material layers (Fig. 4A / B).

5 to 7 show how such a blunt weld seam 30 can advantageously be produced.

In Fig. 5 is shown schematically how the two side parts 2, 3 are made of the base material 13, 14 and the reinforcing parts 15, 16 so that their front inner ends 32, 33 cover each other. The double-layered area is then brought into the effective area of an ultrasonic welding device 34, which is only indicated by a sonotrode 34a and a lower abutment 34b. The lower abutment 34b has a triangular cross section in its upper part facing the material in order not only to enable welding but also to separate the material parts.

By lowering the sonotrode 34a in the direction of the arrow 35, energy is supplied to the material located between the sonotrode 34a and the abutment 34b. This leads to heat development and thus to a welding of the synthetic threads in the two layers of material. The weld seam 30 connecting the two superimposed ends 32, 33 of the side parts 2, 3 is indicated in FIG. 6, which shows the situation after welding and separation.

The two front central edges 32, 33 of the side parts 2, 3 are thus connected to one another.

After the opening of the two side parts 2 and 3, the ends 32, 33, which were still lying one on top of the other, come into an extended position (FIG. 7), in which the side parts 2, 3 have their ends 32, 33 butted with one another with the same edges.

Claims (12)

Women's undergarment, in particular brassiere, consisting of two side parts (2, 3) containing the bra cups (4, 5), which are connected to one another in the front middle area (6) between the bra cups (4, 5), which have a back fastener at the rear ends ( 7) and are provided with carrier tapes (8), characterized by the following features a) the side parts (2, 3) each consist of a full-size blank (13, 14) made of a textile material that contains at least partially thermoplastic fusible fibers, b) reinforcement parts (15, 16) are laminated onto the cut parts (13, 14) at least along their outer edges, which also consist of a textile material that contains at least partially thermoplastic fusible fibers, c) the side parts (2, 3) are connected to one another in the front middle region (6) by a weld seam (24, 30) produced by thermal means, d) the parts (7a, 7b) of the back fastener (7) and the carrier tapes (8) are connected directly or indirectly to the side parts (2, 3) by means of weld seams (25, 29) produced thermally. Brassiere according to claim 1, characterized in that the cut parts (13, 14) of the side parts (2, 3) and / or the reinforcement parts (15, 16) consist of elastic material. Brassiere according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reinforcing parts (15, 16) extend approximately like a band in substantially the same width along the edges of the side parts (2, 3). Brassiere according to claim 3, characterized in that the reinforcing parts (15, 16) extend from the lower edge (17) of the brassiere (1) to the area of the brassiere cups (4, 5). Brassieres according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the outline shape and the arrangement of the reinforcing parts (15, 16) are adapted to the respective fit requirements. Brassieres according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the band-like regions (18, 19, 21, 22) of the reinforcing parts (15, 16) are of undulating design. Brassiere according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the side parts (2, 3) overlap in the front middle region (6) between the bust cups (4, 5) and in the region of the overlap (23) by a weld seam (24 ) are connected. Brassiere according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the mutually facing ends (32, 33) of the side parts (2, 3) in the front middle region (6) between the bust cups (4, 5) are blunt in a weld seam ( 30) are welded together. Brassiere according to claim 8, characterized in that the weld seam (30) is preferably deposited on the inside of the brassiere (1) by a laminated reinforcing part (31). Brassiere according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the side parts (2, 3) form narrow tabs at the rear ends which are looped through and through eyelets (7e) of the back closure parts (7a, 7b) Formation of a loop (28) are closed. Brassieres according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the straps (8) on the front straps (9) are connected directly to the side parts. Brassiere according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the carrier tapes (8) on the rear carrier tape suspensions (10) are each adjustably attached to an eyelet (27) by means of a loop (12), which in turn is attached by means of a solid and one Loop placed tab (26) are connected to the side parts (2, 3).

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