EP1745708A2

EP1745708A2 - Undergarment, like a brassiere, being part or not of an item of clothing

Info

Publication number: EP1745708A2
Application number: EP06008717A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Cesare Macchi
Original assignee: Swan Original SpA
Current assignee: DELMAR SpA
Priority date: 2005-07-20
Filing date: 2006-04-27
Publication date: 2007-01-24
Also published as: JP3124311U; ITMI20050265U1; CN201011857Y; RU66158U1; US20070032168A1; EP1745708A3

Abstract

An item of underwear possibly incorporated in an item of clothing, namely a bra (10), made from one or more layers of any suitable material such as natural or synthetic fabric, including two opposed bands (26) developing from the side end of the cups (12-14) and bearing mutual fastening means, two straps (18) of whatever shape and/or development and at least one shaped fastening wire fitted along the lower edge of the cups and forming between them a union bridge or jabot piece (16); each of these cups (12-14) draws a basically "S"-shaped profile starting from the upper front area up to the jabot piece (16).

Description

This invention refers to an undergarment, namely an item of clothing being part of the mentioned undergarment.
More specifically, this invention refers to an undergarment such as a bra, particularly suitable for use with garments featuring an extremely low neckline. This bra can be used alone, or as part of items of clothing such as swimming costumes, dressing gowns, undergowns, bodysuits, dresses and sleeveless tops for external use and the like items.
Several types of bra are known, which differ from one another mainly in the shape and the development of cups and straps; the latter, in some types of bra, are even missing.
In spite of such variety of types, the known bras all show a great problem for the user; namely, it is difficult to use them with very low necklines. Under these circumstances, in fact, the cups tend to stick out of the edge of the neckline, thus producing an effect that is not aesthetically pleasant. Even in cases when the bra is initially and suitably hidden to the sight, special movements of arms or rotations of the bust may bring it out, and this often forces the user to stiff and unnatural bearings.
Moreover, in these known types of bra, the supporting and/or shaping function implies conformations that are detrimental to the enhancement of the breast, which remains forcedly covered in areas which might be fitly displayed, instead.
The purpose of this invention is to remedy the above-listed problems.
More specifically, the object of this invention is to provide an item of underwear, namely an item of clothing that incorporates such item of underwear in the form of a bra, which is specially fit to be matched with dresses or similar garments having a very low neckline, with no chance of undesirably sticking out of the edge of the garments.
A further, not secondary object of this invention is to provide a bra as described above which is in a position to support and appropriately shape the bra and which simultaneously enhances it by leaving a large part of it uncovered, basically in connection with the whole inward region, except for the areola that surrounds the nipple.
Not least is the object to provide a bra incorporating a padding which is such as to ensure an excellent wearability and a constant shaping.
A further object of this invention is to provide an item of underwear that is such as to allow its user a large freedom of movement, with no risk that the breast sticks out of the edge of garments featuring a very low neckline.
A further object of this invention is to make available to the users an item of underwear that is practical, hard-wearing in time and also such as to be easily and cheaply manufactured.
These and other objects are fulfilled by the item of underwear being discussed herein which, manufactured with one or more layers of any suitable material such as a natural or synthetic fabric, includes two opposed bands developing from the side edge of the cups and which bear mutual fastening means, a pair of shoulder straps of any shape and/or development and at least one shaped fastening wire incorporated along the lower edge of the cups, the latter forming between the cups a union bridge or jabot piece, and which is mainly characterized in that each of the mentioned cups draws a basically S-shaped starting from the upper front area up to the mentioned jabot piece.
The constructional and functional characteristics of the item of underwear of this invention can be better understood from the description that follows, wherein reference is made to the attached table of drawings, which show a preferential embodiment and are not meant to limit the invention to such embodiment, and wherein: figure 1 schematically depicts a front view of the item of underwear or bra described in this invention; figure 2 schematically depicts a front view of the same bra partially covered by an item of clothing featuring a very low neckline.
With reference to the above-mentioned figures, the item of underwear or bra described herein is marked with reference number 10 in figure 1, where it is shown by way of an example on a dummy; the mentioned bra is manufactured from any suitable material, for instance in a natural or synthetic one-layered or multilayered fabric. Both cups, marked with reference numbers 12 and 14 respectively, advantageously incorporate a preformed padding (not shown) from a silicone or equivalent material, and at least one shaped fastening wire, per se already known, located and incorporated along the lower edge of the mentioned cups, and between which it forms a union bridge or jabot piece 16, too. The bridge 16 is, by way of an example, covered with the material that makes up the bra 10, and is, by way of an example, arched with convexity turned upwards.
In the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the bra 10 is provided with shoulder straps 18 and with opposed bands 26 that lead to the traditional ends some fastening means along the user's back; it must also to be envisaged that the mentioned bra has shoulder straps featuring whatever configuration and/or development, as well as the mentioned bands.
Each of the cups 12 innovatively draws a basically S-shaped profile, which concerns the upper front area from the region near the shoulder straps 18 or the mentioned bands and reaches the jabot piece 16. More specifically, the profile of each of the cups 12, 14 highlights, in the upper front part 20, an arched concave-convex course which joins the wide beaming to part 22 that lowers towards the jabot piece 16; this part 22 shows a slightly arched-concave course, thus being drawn back as to the edge of an item of clothing with a very low neckline, and leaving uncovered a large portion of the breast, namely its inner region. An example of this is schematized in figure 3, where the bra 10 is covered along a semi-part by an item of clothing 24; additionally, it is clearly visible that, in this formulation, the part covered by the item 24 does not stick out of the latter's edge, owing to the special arched-concave shape of part 22.
Further advantageously, jabot piece 16 that joins the two cups 12, 14 can be considerably extended, so that the cups are significantly spaced from one another and, hence, from he user's stern.
A bra 10 with two cups 12, 14 characterized as described above is specially suited when very low necklined dresses are worn, as the cups are easily hidden from the sight, though performing their traditional supporting function, and however leaving a large area of the breast uncovered. The bra 10 of this invention also allows the user an appropriate freedom of movement, without uncovering any part of the cups 12 and/or 14.
Although the invention has been presented above for purposes of illustration and description, it is not intended to be exhaustive or limit it to the precise form disclosed, as many variations will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art in the light of the above disclosure. This invention, therefore, is meant to include all variations and modifications that comply with the spirit of, and fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

An item of underwear possibly incorporated in an item of clothing, more specifically a bra (10), made from one or more layers of whatever suitable material such as a natural or synthetic fabric, including two opposed bands (26) developing from a side edge of the cups (12-14) and bearing mutual fastening means, two shoulder straps (18) of any shape and/or development and at least one shaped fastening wire incorporated along the lower edge of the cups and forming between the latter a union bridge or jabot piece (16), characterized in that each of the mentioned cups (12-14) draws a basically S-shaped profile that starts from the upper front region and develops until the bridge (16).
An item of underwear according to claim 1, wherein each of the mentioned cups (12-14) shows, in the upper-front part (20), an arched concave-convex course that joins the part (22) that lowers towards the jabot piece, which presents a slightly arched-concave course.
An item of underwear in accordance with the previous claims, wherein the cups (12-14) are coupled with or incorporate a preformed padding.
An item of underwear in accordance with any of the previous claims, wherein the mentioned preformed padding is made from a silicone-based or any equivalent material.
An item of underwear in accordance with any of the previous claims, wherein the union bridge or jabot piece (16) is arched with a convexity that is turned upwards.