GB2047075A - A brassiere and support wire therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

A ladies brassiere includes a support wire 10 of springy metal, this being enclosed by a plastics sleeve 12 and at each end having a cap 16 of plastics material sealed or bonded to an end of the sleeve. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A brassiere and support wire therefor This invention relates to a support wire for a ladies' brassiere, and to a brassiere including such a wire.

As is well known, the undersides of brassiere cups have wires which serve a supporting and stiffening function. Such wires are arcuate and usually in the approximate shape of a half-circle and are made from spring steel wire or strip, herein called wire.

The wire may be of round section but is often of flat section. The wire is placed within a curved tubular housing defined by fabric forming part of the brassiere. Efforts have been made in the past to pad or protect or specially form the ends of the wire to prevent the wire ends damaging or wearing the fabric of the garment or injuring or irritating the wearer.

According to the present invention, there is provided a brassiere including an arcuate wire of springy metal, characterised in that the wire is enclosed by a plastics sleeve and at each end has a cap of plastics material sealed or bonded to an end of the sleeve.

With this arrangement, there is in effect a cushioning pad of air between the sleeve and the wire. This adds to the comfort of the wearer. Also the fact that the spring steel (or other metal) wire is totally enclosed by the sleeve and the two caps means that ingress of water or perspiration is hindered or prevented, so the likelihood of corrosion of the wire is reduced.

The present invention also provides an arcuate wire of spring steel for use as a brassiere support wire, characterised in that the wire is enclosed by a plastics sleeve and at each end has a cap of plastics material sealed or bonded to an end of the sleeve.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the two caps are each heat sealed onto the respective ends of the sleeve. The sleeve and the cap may both be of polyethylene but other thermo plastics materials may be used.

An illustrative example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which Figure 1 is a cross-section taken in a central plane of one example of a support wire in accordance with the present invention, and Figure 2 is a view at right angles to the view of Figure 1, of the support wire shown therein.

The illustrated support wire for a brassiere com prises an arcuate wire 10 of an approximate half circle in shape of which a major portion is encased within a plastics sleeve 12. As illustrated, the sleeve 12 stops just short of the two ends 14 of the wire 10, but this is not essential and it could extend up to the ends 14.

At each end of the wire 10, a plastics tubular cap 16 is applied which preferably is made of the same plastics material as the sleeve 12. Polyethylene is suitable. However, the invention is not limited to the use of polyethylene and other thermo plastics materials will be suitable. The two caps 16 overlap respective end portions of the sleeve 12, and are heat welded thereto. They may be so welded by a peripherial circular heat weld, or alternatively one or more short bar welds generally parallel to the axis of the wire 10 may be employed.

The sleeve 12 may be an extruded plastic sleeve, and in a preferred embodiment of the invention the inside diameter of the sleeve 12 is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the wire 10. For example, the inside diameter of the sleeve 12 may be from 101 to 110 per cent of the outside diameter of the wire 10. This gap affords an air cushioning effect which improves the comfort of a brassier including such a support wire.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, not illustrated, a wire 10 made of flat, i.e., rectangular section, strip is encased in a sleeve whose inside diameter is approximately equal to the width of the strip. With this construction also, the intervening gap filled with air provides a "soft" feel and improves the comfort to the wearer. If desired, the caps may be made of thicker material than the wall thickness of the sleeve 12.

Other modifications will occur to one skilled in the art.

1. A brassiere including an arcuate wire of springy metal, characterised in that the wire is enclosed by a plastics sleeve and at each end has a cap of plastics material sealed or bonded to an end of the sleeve.

2. A brassiere according to claim 1 in which the wire is of generally rectangular cross-section.

3. A brassiere according to claim 1 in which the sleeve is polyethylene and the cap is also of polyethylene.

4. A brassiere support wire including an arcuate wire of springy metal, the wire being enclosed by a plastics sleeve and at each end having a cap of plastics material sealed or bonded to an end of the sleeve.

5. A support wire according to claim 4 in which the metal wire is generally rectangular in crosssection.

6. A support wire according to claims 4 or 5 in which the sleeve and the cap are both of polyethylene.

7. A support wire for a ladies brassiere substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A brassiere and support wire therefor This invention relates to a support wire for a ladies' brassiere, and to a brassiere including such a wire. As is well known, the undersides of brassiere cups have wires which serve a supporting and stiffening function. Such wires are arcuate and usually in the approximate shape of a half-circle and are made from spring steel wire or strip, herein called wire. The wire may be of round section but is often of flat section. The wire is placed within a curved tubular housing defined by fabric forming part of the brassiere. Efforts have been made in the past to pad or protect or specially form the ends of the wire to prevent the wire ends damaging or wearing the fabric of the garment or injuring or irritating the wearer. According to the present invention, there is provided a brassiere including an arcuate wire of springy metal, characterised in that the wire is enclosed by a plastics sleeve and at each end has a cap of plastics material sealed or bonded to an end of the sleeve. With this arrangement, there is in effect a cushioning pad of air between the sleeve and the wire. This adds to the comfort of the wearer. Also the fact that the spring steel (or other metal) wire is totally enclosed by the sleeve and the two caps means that ingress of water or perspiration is hindered or prevented, so the likelihood of corrosion of the wire is reduced. The present invention also provides an arcuate wire of spring steel for use as a brassiere support wire, characterised in that the wire is enclosed by a plastics sleeve and at each end has a cap of plastics material sealed or bonded to an end of the sleeve. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the two caps are each heat sealed onto the respective ends of the sleeve. The sleeve and the cap may both be of polyethylene but other thermo plastics materials may be used. An illustrative example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which Figure 1 is a cross-section taken in a central plane of one example of a support wire in accordance with the present invention, and Figure 2 is a view at right angles to the view of Figure 1, of the support wire shown therein. The illustrated support wire for a brassiere com prises an arcuate wire 10 of an approximate half circle in shape of which a major portion is encased within a plastics sleeve 12. As illustrated, the sleeve 12 stops just short of the two ends 14 of the wire 10, but this is not essential and it could extend up to the ends 14. At each end of the wire 10, a plastics tubular cap 16 is applied which preferably is made of the same plastics material as the sleeve 12. Polyethylene is suitable. However, the invention is not limited to the use of polyethylene and other thermo plastics materials will be suitable. The two caps 16 overlap respective end portions of the sleeve 12, and are heat welded thereto. They may be so welded by a peripherial circular heat weld, or alternatively one or more short bar welds generally parallel to the axis of the wire 10 may be employed. The sleeve 12 may be an extruded plastic sleeve, and in a preferred embodiment of the invention the inside diameter of the sleeve 12 is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the wire 10. For example, the inside diameter of the sleeve 12 may be from 101 to 110 per cent of the outside diameter of the wire 10. This gap affords an air cushioning effect which improves the comfort of a brassier including such a support wire. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, not illustrated, a wire 10 made of flat, i.e., rectangular section, strip is encased in a sleeve whose inside diameter is approximately equal to the width of the strip. With this construction also, the intervening gap filled with air provides a "soft" feel and improves the comfort to the wearer. If desired, the caps may be made of thicker material than the wall thickness of the sleeve 12. Other modifications will occur to one skilled in the art. CLAIMS

1. A brassiere including an arcuate wire of springy metal, characterised in that the wire is enclosed by a plastics sleeve and at each end has a cap of plastics material sealed or bonded to an end of the sleeve.

2. A brassiere according to claim 1 in which the wire is of generally rectangular cross-section.

3. A brassiere according to claim 1 in which the sleeve is polyethylene and the cap is also of polyethylene.

4. A brassiere support wire including an arcuate wire of springy metal, the wire being enclosed by a plastics sleeve and at each end having a cap of plastics material sealed or bonded to an end of the sleeve.

5. A support wire according to claim 4 in which the metal wire is generally rectangular in crosssection.

6. A support wire according to claims 4 or 5 in which the sleeve and the cap are both of polyethylene.

7. A support wire for a ladies brassiere substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.