GB2291782A - Brassiere cup support - Google Patents

Abstract

An improved control brassiere, comprising a structure (11) made of fabric or the like that is constituted by two cups (12) and by means (13) for support on the user's body, characterized in that it comprises at least two breast support and control elements (16) integrated in the structure (11) by means of stitches so that each one partially surrounds a corresponding cup (12) in a lower region thereof. Each one of these support and control elements (16) is constituted by at least one tubular element (18) having a curved longitudinal shape and made of soft material; at least one support (19) made of flexible plastics being arranged inside the tubular element (18). <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVED CONTROL BRASSIERE The present invention relates to an improved control brassiere.

It is known that well-developed breasts, due to their weight, can lead to a series of problems related both to health and to the possibility and freedom of movements.

In particular, as regards health, it is currently well-known in the medical field that particularly heavy breasts can, as age increases, lead to incorrect postures involving the spinal column, which especially in elderly women cause pains mainly affecting the back.

Instead, as regards freedom of movements, it is equally well-known that nowadays the different social role played by women has caused them to undertake, like men, many work and especially sports activities which, due to the particular movements they require, are often significantly limited by breast weight and size.

To the above mentioned problems it is to be added that breast support is often reauired for purely aesthetic purposes.

Two different requirements can be identified in the purely aesthetic field: on one hand, women with particularly developed breasts wish to give them an aesthetically pleasant and not sagging appearance by means of appropriate supports; on the other hand, women with scarcely developed breasts wish to emphasize them by means of appropriate supports.

A considerable variety of control brassiere models has been proposed so far in order to solve both sanitaryfunctional problems and aesthetic problems.

Ignoring aesthetic considerations, substantially three structural types can be currently identified.

A first model includes, in the lower part of each cup, a support constituted by the now famous stay, usually made of plastic-coated metal with bulb-like rounded ends, which is placed inside a tubular element made of fabric or other soft material which per se does not have a preset configuration.

The initially straight stay is forced to remain curved and is then sewn to the brassiere together with its tubular support, which is thus made to curve and mainly has a protective and padding function.

Although this model effectively supports the breast and is the most valid and appreciated type from the aesthetic point of view, it often causes discomfort and irritations.

Clinical tests have furthermore demonstrated that the excessive stiffness of the stay can, in the long term, be harmful to the breast and to the glands contained therein.

A second model has two bands made of elastic fabric, one for each cup, which usually start from a common region located at the sternum when the brassiere is in place; each band runs up to a corresponding shoulder, where the two bands continue so as to form the shoulder-straps.

Although this model of brassiere achieves good breast control, it produces a poor aesthetic effect (in this case it is difficult to associate laces or other aesthetic elements with the cups).

Therefore, this model can be used effectively only in the restricted field of sports brassieres, where the aesthetics of the product has little or no value.

The third model introduces paddings in a substantially conventional brassiere; in some models these paddings can be constituted by a plurality of independent elements having various shapes and placeable in various positions depending on the user's requirements, thus controlling and shaping the breast.

Among these three models of brasserie, this is the one that provides the control function in the markedly worst manner, since it aims mainly at a shaping action, although even this last function is performed in a very complicated manner and awkwardly for the user.

The principal aim of the present invention is to provide a control brassiere that solves the drawbacks of conventional types.

In relation to this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a control brassiere that performs its particular functions without however damaging the breast or the user's internal glands.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control brassiere that achieves a valuable aesthetic effect.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control brassiere that achieves its functions with simple, low-cost means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control brassiere that can be easily mass-produced with conventional technologies.

This aim, these objects, and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by an improved control brassiere, comprising a structure made of fabric or the like that is constituted by two cups and by means for support on the user's body, characterized in that it comprises at least two breast support and control elements integrated in said structure by means of stitches so that each one partially surrounds a corresponding cup in a lower region thereof, each one of said at least two support elements being constituted by at least one tubular element having a curved longitudinal shape and made of soft material, at least one cable made of flexible plastics being arranged inside said tubular element.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 is a perspective view of the control brassiere according to the invention; figure 2 is a perspective view of a component of the control brassiere according to the invention; figure 3 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of the component of the brassiere shown in figure 2; figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the detail of figure 3.

With reference to figures 1 to 4, an improved control brassiere, according to the invention, is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

The brassiere 10 is constituted by a structure 11 comprising two cups 12 and means 13 for support on the user's body.

In particular, the support means 13 comprise two straps 14 and a band 15 that surrounds the user's chest when the brassiere 10 is in place and closes in the region of said user's back by virtue of the engagement of two free flaps of said band 15.

The brassiere 10 also comprises two support and control elements 16 that are integrated in the structure 11 by means of stitches.

Each support and control element 16 is arranged so as to partially surround a corresponding cup 12 in a lower region thereof.

The support elements 16 are identical.

Each support and control element 16 is constituted by a tubular element 18 having a curved longitudinal shape; a cable 19, made of flexible plastics, is located inside said tubular element and is thus forced to curve so as to assume the shape of said tubular element 18.

In particular, the tubular element 18 has a woven structure substantially constituted by two portions 20 that are arranged side by side, are mutually joined along respective edges, and form a passage wherein the cable 19 is placed.

A substantially ribbon-like padding, not shown, arranged towards the user's body when the brassiere 10 is in place, can also be optionally integrated inside said passage if the material constituting the tubular element 18 is not intrinsically soft and does not have enough consistency for providing a sufficient padding by itself.

It should also be noted that the surface of the cable is appropriately rough (sanded in order to increase friction adhesion to the tubular element 18.

It should also be specified that the support and control element 16 is stitched on the internal side of the brassiere 10 and the cable 19 is retained in position by sewing the ends of the tubular element 18.

The internal stitches are conveniently different from the external ones.

In practice it has been observed that the intended aim and objects have been achieved; in particular, the constructive simplicity and the consequent low cost of the present invention should be noted; mention should also be made of the good aesthetic result the control brassiere achieves by virtue of the described support and control elements.

Furthermore, since the cable 19 is more flexible than a stay, it has greater compatibility even with very delicate skins and does not cause discomfort to the user.

Finally, it should be noted that since the tubular element is already curved but not rigid or semirigid before it is sewn to the rest of the structure, it does not produce those unpleasant crease and wrinkle effects that in ordinary control brassieres can even cause unpleasant and undesirable skin irritations; furthermore, it does not have a preset or preformed shape owing to the curve of the cup or the different size of the garment, the tubular element having a constant and marked roundness allowing it to have a round shape with flexible memory.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.

All the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent ones.

In practice, the materials employed, so long as they are compatible with the contingent use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements.

Claims (5)

1. An improved control brassiere, comprising a structure (11) made of fabric or the like that is constituted by two cups (12) and by means (13) for support on the user's body, characterized in that it comprises at least two breast support and control elements (16) integrated in said structure (li) by means of stitches so that each one partially surrounds a corresponding cup (12) in a lower region thereof, each one of said at least two control and support elements (16) being constituted by at least one tubular element (18) having a curved longitudinal shape and made of soft material, at least one cable (19) made of flexible plastics being arranged inside said tubular element (18).

2. A brassiere according to claim 1, characterized in that the ends of said at least one cable (19) are secured in position by stitches.

3. A brassiere according to claim 1, characterized in that said cable (19) has a rough surface.

4. A brassiere according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one tubular element (18) is sewn on the side of said structure (11) that faces the body.

5. A brassiere according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one tubular eelemen (18) is padded along at least a portion of its extension.