GB2338399A - Brassiere - Google Patents

Abstract

A brassiere comprises breast cups having means for securing to the breasts, such as peripheral bands of elastomeric material which grip the skin, and a single strap which passes round the back of the neck and which may also have strips of the elastomeric material.

Description

2338399 SELF-SUPPORTING BRA This invention relates to a self-supporting

bra.

Brassieres are well known articles of women's under-garments specifically made to support the breasts. Conventional brassieres comprise two cups of fabric for the breasts joined at the front by a center panel and with side panels sewn to the outer edge of each cup. The whole sewn at the base onto a strap, usually elasticated, which then goes round the torso to fasten at the centre of the back. Most brassieres have 'straps going over the shoulders from the cups and attached to the elasticated strdp at the back. Although many designs do exist for strapless bras, they all have the strap holding the cups together in the front and fastening at the back. Larger size bras invariably incorporate wider straps and wiring around the base of the cups to help support the extra weight while keeping the natural shape.

These brassieres however, do not always allow women to wear all of the many and diverse designs of tops and dresses that exist on the market. The larger breasted woman is especially disadvantaged because of bra manufacturers current use of wider straps and underwiring to support the larger sizes.

According to the present invention there is provided a self-supporting bra in the form of two cups for the breasts made of circles of any two- way stretch fabric encircled by a band of soft elasticated fabric with two or more parallel bands of silicon bond applied to one side of it. Where desirable andlor necessary the cups for the breasts can be made using one-way or non-stretch fabric. This entails shaping the circles for the cups with darts or tucks. The two-way stretch fabric allows the wearer to stretch the encircling elasticated band to encompass the fiffi shape of the breast. Because of the silicon strips which adhere to the skin the garment stays in place. The one-way or nonstretch cups lack the elasticity of those made with two-way stretch fabric and need more accurate sizing but the result is the same. Even without straps the garment immediately gives a certain lift to the breasts.

A band of the soft elasticated fabric with the parallel bands of silicon bond is attached to each cup. This band passes round the back of the neck, and again because of the adherence of the bands of silicon bond the wearer can place this strap at the level on the neck which is most comfortable. It will stay there and no back straps at all are necessary. The breasts are fiffly supported without the need for underwiring, side panels shoulder straps or back straps. This is innovative.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:- figure 1 shows a section of the soft elasticated band with parallel strips of silicon bond; figure 2 shows a perspective of a circle of two-way stretch fabric with the soft elasticated band sewn around the edge; figure 3 shows a cross-section view of the circle of two-way stretch fabric with the soft elasticated band sewn around the edge; figure 4 shows the completed brassiere; figure 5 shows side perspective of the completed brassiere as it would appear when worn; figure 6 shows front view of the completed brassiere as it would appear when Referring to the drawing the brassiere comprises two cups for the breasts 8 encircled by the elasticated fabric with parallel strips of silicon bond on one side 9. The cups 8 are joined together by means of a length of the elasticated fabric with parallel lines of silicon bond on one side 10.

Claims (4)

1 A self-supporting bra comprising two cups for the breasts with the means for releasably securing the cups to the breasts and a single strap round the back of the neck, the whole being adapted to lift and support the breasts without the use of side panels, shoulder-straps or back- straps. ',

2 A self-supporting bra as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the means are provided within the cups to releasably secure the cups to the breasts.

3 A self-supporting bra as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the means are provided within the cups to lift the breasts.

4 A self-supporting bra as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein a neckstrap is adapted to co-operate with the cups to lift and support the breasts.