EP1341425A2

EP1341425A2 - Method for making bras and the bras made thereby

Info

Publication number: EP1341425A2
Application number: EP01993408A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Micaela Salotto
Original assignee: FRAMIS ITALIA SpA
Current assignee: FRAMIS ITALIA SpA
Priority date: 2000-11-10
Filing date: 2001-11-07
Publication date: 2003-09-10
Also published as: WO2002037992A2; IT1320082B1; ITMI20002434A1; AU2002222508A1; WO2002037992A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for making bras, comprising the steps of providing a semi-finished article (1) comprising a flat layer of elasticized fabric (2), having a strip portion (3) with enlarged regions (4) at the bra cups, overlaying on the flat layer (10) a plastics material stiffening layer affecting the strip portion and perimetrical part of the enlarged regions to contour the bra cups and applying closure means to the strip portion.

Description

METHOD FOR MAKING BRAS AND THE BRAS MADE THEREBY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for making bras, and a bra obtained thereby.

As is known, for making bras there are at present used a method in which several portions of fabrics, of different types, such as laces, elasticized fabrics, bands and the like are coupled by seaming, thereby providing a desired configuration bra.

This method is affected by several drawbacks, the main of which is the high cost thereof, since the seaming operations must be performed in a mainly manual manner.

Another problem is that a seaming operation inevitably generates a projecting region which can be irritating for the user skin. Another drawback of prior art methods for making bras is that several reinforcement elements must be applied to the fabric material during the seaming operation, thereby rendering such a seaming operation very difficult to be made.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a method for making bras allowing to fully eliminate the seaming operations , while providing a bra suitable for perfectly fitting the user breast.

Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide such a bra including differentiated breast supporting regions, to perfectly feet the requirements of the user.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a bra which, owing to its specifically designed constructional features, is very reliable and safe in operation.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a bra making method which can be carried out by using easily available elements and materials and which, moreover, is very competitive from a mere economic standpoint.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a bra making method which can be carried out on automatic machine thereby allowing to produce thousands of pieces per hours, in a fully automatic manner, with a minimum requirement of labour and with a very reduced cost.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a method for making bras, characterized in that said method comprises the step of providing a semi-finished article of manufacture, including a flat layer of an elasticized fabric, having a strip portion with an enlarged region at the bra cups, overlaying on said flat layer a plastics material stiffening layer affecting said strip portion and a perimetrical part of the enlarged regions to surround said cups and applying closure means to the ends of said strip portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of a method for making bras, and a bra obtained thereby, being shown, by way of an indicative, but not limitative, example in the accompanying drawings, where: Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating an elasticized fabric die-cutting step;

Figure 2 illustrates a semi-finished article of manufacture separating step_?

Figure 3 illustrates an operating step of the method in which a plastics material stiffening layer is applied to the elasticized fabric of the bra;

Figure 4 illustrates an assembling step for assembling an elasticized fabric flat layer to a stiffening layer;

Figure 5 is a partially cross-sectioned view illustrating the bra before wearing it;

Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the deformation the bra is subjected to as it is worn;

Figure 7 is a further schematic view illustrating the subject bra as it is worn by a user; Figure 8 illustrates a coupling operating step for coupling the bra shoulder straps;

Figure 9 illustrates a layered detail of the inventive bra; and Figure 10 illustrates the bra including the shoulder straps .

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to number references of the above mentioned figures, the method for making bras and the like, according to the present invention, comprises a step of providing a semi-finished article of manufacture 1, including an elasticized fabric flat layer, which is die-cut from a fabric piece 2 thereby including a strip portion 3 having enlarged regions 4 , formed at the bra cups .

In this connection it should be apparent that the semi-finished article of manufacture 1 can also be obtained by a manual or automatic cutting operation, instead of a die-cutting step.

The main feature of the invention is that an elasticized fabric which is used having resilient properties which can be selected, depending on contingent requirements .

On the semi-finished article of manufacture 1, a stiffening layer 10 is overlapped, said stiffening layer being made of a polyurethane material or other synthetic or plastics materials, and being intimately coupled to the mentioned semifinished article of manufacture 1.

In this connection it is to be pointed out that it would be also possible to perform the elasticized fabric cutting step after the application of the mentioned stiffening layer.

Moreover, the stiffening layer can be made by hot-melt adhesive spreading operations, or other like methods, suitable to cause the plastics material layer to be adhesively bound to the fabric material.

The used plastics material, and its specific characteristics, will depend on the stiffening properties to be achieved, and, also in this case, several stiffening degrees could be obtained, by merely changing the used plastics material.

The stiffening layer 10 comprises an elongated region 11, overlapping on the strip portion 3, as well as contouring regions 12 involving the perimetrical part of the bra cups 4, by encompassing them along their overall periphery.

In actual practice, the stiffening layer will provide the contour of the bra cup region which, at the central part thereof, is exclusively made by the elasticized fabric 1.

In order to complete the article of manufacture, closure means 20 can be welded, by high frequency welding machines, at the end portions and, moreover, by a thermosealing operation, it would be further possible to connect shoulder straps 21, which can also be made of a plastics material, preferably of an optically clear type. The thus made bra, as shown in figures 5 to

7, can be self-fitted to the user breast, by providing a variable supporting feature, depending on the specifically designed properties of the used stiffening layer.

An important aspect of the invention is that the bra does not comprise any seamed portion and, accordingly, it is devoid of possible projecting regions which could provide irritation to the user skin.

Moreover, the softness of the used components allows to provide the user with a very good comfort, together with an optimum supporting of the breast.

The invention, as disclosed, is susceptible to several modifications and variations, all of which will come within the inventive idea scope. Moreover, all the constructional details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements .

In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as the contingent size and shapes, can be any, depending on requirements.

Claims

1. A method for making bras, characterized in that said method comprises the step of providing a semi-finished article of manufacture, including a flat layer of an elasticized fabric, having a strip portion with an enlarged region at the bra cups, overlaying on said flat layer a plastics material stiffening layer affecting said strip portion and a perimetrical part of the enlarged regions to encontour said cups and applying closure means to the ends of said strip portion.

2. A method, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said elasticized fabric flat layer is made by die-cutting a fabric piece.

3. A method, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said die-cutting step is carried out after having applied said plastics material stiffening layer.

4. A method, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said stiffening layer comprises a polyurethane layer, rigidly coupled to said elasticized fabric.

5. A method, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said stiffening layer is made with a spread upon layer.

6. A method, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said elasticized fabric has variable elasticity properties .

7. A bra made by a method according to Claim 1, characterized in that said bra comprises a flat layer of an elasticized fabric having a strip portion with enlarged regions at the cup portion of the bra, and that on said flat layer a plastics material stiffening layer affecting a strip portion and perimetrical part of the enlarged regions is applied to contour said bra cups, closure means being moreover provided at the end portions of said strip portion.

8. A bra, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said bra comprises bra shoulder straps coupled, at their end portions, respectively to said strip portion and said bra cups, said shoulder straps being coupled by thermosealing.

9. A method for making a bra, and a bra made thereby, according to one or more of the preceding claims, and substantially as broadly disclosed and illustrated, and for the intended aim and objects.