GB2434077A

GB2434077A - Shirt with integral bra

Info

Publication number: GB2434077A
Application number: GB0700814A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Delphine Carpentier; Elisabeth Ledru; Viviane Lebrun; Virginie Cognet; Celine Puyaubreau
Original assignee: Promiles SNC
Current assignee: Promiles SNC
Priority date: 2006-01-16
Filing date: 2007-01-16
Publication date: 2007-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 2027-01-16
Also published as: ITMI20070052A1; FR2896132A1; CN101040730B; ES2315152B1; GB2434077B; FR2896132B1; CN101040730A; GB0700814D0; ES2315152A1

Abstract

An article of women's clothing assembly has an outer shirt, such as a T-shirt, and an inner undergarment comprising an elastic support extending around the chest under the bust. The outer shirt (2) and the inner undergarment (3) are joined to each other only along their neck openings (4) and/or along the shoulder area (15). The inner undergarment (3) comprises two cups (11, 12) for the breasts and is shaped so that, as it is suspended freely from the high part of the shirt (2), it is fitted to the breasts and to the chest, independently of the outer shirt (2).

Description

ARTICLE OF WOMEN'S CLOTHING The present invention relates to the field

of women's clothing intended particularly but not exclusively, for women participating in a sport.

Participation in a sport gives rise to movements of the body which necessarily lead to a relative displacement of the bust, a displacement which may cause inconvenience or even constitute a major problem. This is especially the case when the sport concerned is one during which the body's movements are repetitive. Among the sports affected by this problem, consideration should be given more particularly to fitness training.

This new sport is generally practised indoors or outdoors in warm weather. The person participating in this sport follows, in time with the rhythm of the music, a succession of movements shown on a monitor, movements which may be performed in all positions, standing, lying down, squatting, with or without the aid of equipment such as a step. So, in practising this sport it is important first of all that the person is inconvenienced as little as possible by his or her clothing and in particular, if it is a woman, the brassiere may constitute a significant inconvenience. It is for this reason that some women who have small busts prefer to wear only a shirt of the T-shirt type. The others must accept having to wear a brassiere under their T-shirts with the difficulties which this causes. In particular those women who do not normally need special support wear their usual brassieres under their shirts and at the end of the fitness training session usually have to change their brassieres because of the perspiration generated by participation in this sport. In addition the use of a traditional brassiere may prove particularly unaesthetic according to the shape of the shirt. I,

In order to lessen the impact of some of the problems mentioned above, a clothing assembly has already been proposed which is similar to that described in US Patent No: 4.398.538, which combines an outer shirt of T-shirt type with an inner undergarment comprising a continuous elastic supporting band intended to extend around the chest under the bust. The outer shirt and the inner undergarment are joined to each other at their neck opening and their armholes. The inner undergarment is like a shorter shirt and is formed completely of a textile having vertical elasticity which is markedly less than the horizontal elasticity. Such an assembly may satisfy women with relatively little bust because of the relative vertical support of the breasts provided by the inner undergarment.

The purpose of the present invention is to propose a women's clothing assembly which will satisfy a greater number of women. This assembly comprises an outer shirt, for example a T-shirt, and an inner undergarment comprising an elastic supporting band intended to extend around the chest under the bust. According to the invention, the outer shirt and the inner undergarment are joined to each other at their necks and/or the shoulder area. The inner undergarment comprises two cups for the breasts and is shaped so that, as it is suspended freely from the upper part of the shirt, it is fitted to the breasts and the chest, independently of the outer shirt.

With this configuration it is possible to create, between the inner undergarment and the outer shirt, a ventilation space which is much larger than that in the known clothing assembly cited above, a ventilation space which is obtaired more particular'y by the possible passage of air between the inner undergarment and the inner shirt at the armholes when the user moves.

Moreover, the almost-total independence of the inner undergarment ri relation to the outer shirt on the one hand allows the inner undergarment to be shaped like a brassiere or equivalent for adjustment and optimum support of the breasts and on the other hand considerably increases the freedom of movement of the user.

According to one variant of the invention, the elastic supporting band is formed in two sections, a first section and a second section, with a fastening and length-adjustment system fitted at the adjacent extremities of the two sections. This feature makes it much easier to put on the clothing assembly.

The user may detach the fastening and length-adjusting system so as to separate totally the two sections of elastic band when putting on the inner undergarment. When this has been accomplished, she needs only to fasten and adjust the length of the elastic band in order to obtain optimum tightening of said band around her chest. The two sections may be front and back sections, with the two fastening and adjustment systems fitted laterally.

However in order to facilitate their handling by the user, the fastening and adjustment systems may be fitted, not laterally, but at the front, slightly offset towards the cups.

In the present text, the word "cups" is used to mean, generally speaking, the area of the undergarment which is intended to receive the breast, this area having a three-dimensional shape and/or being made of a suitable material to take on the shape of and support the breast.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the undergarment comprises: a) a middle lower panel extending between the two cups, b) two front support elements, each extending one of the cups to the corresponding shoulder area and c) a middle upper panel covering an area between the neck opening, the middle lower panel, the two cups and the two front support elements.

It is this single middle upper panel which serves to join the inner undergarment to the outer shirt, in the front part of the clothing assembly, when this joining occurs only along the neckline. It occurs, together with the front support elements, when the joining occurs along the shoulder areas, more particularly in the form of transverse seams.

The middle upper panel typically has a vertical elasticity of no more than 60%. So this middle upper panel which extends transversely above the two cups is applied partly to the top of the bust. Because of its vertically elasticity, this panel limits bouncing of the breasts during participation in sport.

It preferably has an open-weave texture which gives it good air permeability allowing removal of perspiration.

According to another preferred feature of the invention, the middle lower panel, arranged between the two cups, has a horizontal elasticity of at least 20%. This elasticity is sufficient to allow a relative displacement of the two breasts when the thoracic cage is opened and not to interfere with breathing.

In yet another preferred feature, each cup comprises an outer lateral panel having a horizontal elasticity markedly less than that of the rest of the cup, for example in a ratio of 0.5. The purpose of this is to avoid outer lateral displacement of the breast on the occasion of movements, notably of rotation of the chest.

The inner undergarment may comprise a back panel made of a textile of open-weave texture. The purpose of this is to encourage removal of perspiration, notably by circulation of air between the shirt and the inner undergarment over the whole height of the latter, including at the armholes.

Preferably the front panel has a vertical elasticity of no more than 60%. The inner undergarment can also include at least a lateral panel extending beyond a cup and possibly as far as the back panel, the lateral panel being formed of a textile having the same elasticity as that of the textile of which the two cups are formed, with the exception, if they exist, of the outer lateral panels of said cups.

An embodiment of the invention for sports participation and having a joined outer shirt and inner undergarment will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a front view schematic representation of the assembly, the outline of the outer shirt being a bold line and the inner undergarment being visible, as if by transparency, with its outline and the different panels of which it consists shown in a fine continuous line; and Figure 2 is a rear view schematic representation of the assembly in figure 1.

The clothing assembly I of the present invention is specifically, but not exclusively intended for women participating in sporting exercise or fitness training.

The illustrated article 1 has an outer shirt 2 and an inner undergarment 3. The outer shirt 2 is of T-shirt type, without sleeves and with a V-shaped neck opening 4. The shirt 2 and the undergarment 3 include the same shaped neck opening and are joined to each other along the whole periphery of their superimposed neck openings 4, for example by sewing with a French seam 6. Preferably, this joining is supplemented in the upper part of the neck opening, on the top of the shoulders, by a transverse seam 5.

The inner undergarment 3 comprises along its lower edge an elastic band 7, intended to extend around the chest completely below the bust. This elastic band is formed of two independent sections, a first front section 7a and a second back section 7b which may be linked to each other on either side by a fastening and adjustment system 8. This system is particularly visible in figure 1. This system 8 comprises a loop which is fixed at the free extremity of one section, for example the back section 7b, said loop comprising a fastening 9 capable of penetrating into one or other of the adjacent pockets 10 formed on the outer face of the front section 7a. The user may therefore adjust the total length of the elastic band 7 which is applied over her chest and therefore the pressure of this band by choosing one or other of the pockets 10 to hold the fastening 9 firmly. In addition, when putting on the assembly 1, she may completely detach the two sections 7a, 7b from each other and thus obtain a larger opening, facilitating the passage of the bust. In the example illustrated the two fastening and adjustment systems 8 are easily grasped by the user since they are located at the front on either side of the breasts.

The front part of the inner undergarment 3, visible in figure 1, comprises, above the first section 7a of elastic band 7, two cups 11, 12 to hold the two breasts, said cups having a three-dimensional shape which is achieved by joining to them a textile panel having a cut-out along an angular portion, this joining being achieved by a seam bringing together the two edges of said cut-out. This seam 13, 14 is, in figure 1, represented as having an approximately vertical direction. The cups themselves are extended towards the shoulder area 15 by a support element 16, 17 which, in this case, is formed of the same type of textile panel as the cups 11, 12.

On the front part of the inner undergarment 3 there are also two middle panels, namely an upper middle panel 26 and a lower middle panel 25.

The upper middle panel 26 extends from the neck opening 5 along the two support elements 16, 17, along the two cups 11, 12 and above the lower middle panel 25. This middle upper panel 26 serves to join the inner undergarment 3 to the shirt 2 along the front part of the neck opening 6. It extends over the top of the bust. It has vertical elasticity of at most 60% so that it limits bouncing of the breasts; this effect is further achieved by the presence of the outer shirt 2.

Preferably this middle upper panel 26 has a open-weave texture, with great porosity, encouraging the removal of perspiration.

The lower middle panel 25 extends, below the upper middle panel 26, between the two cups 11, 12. In the example illustrated in figure 1, this lower middle panel 25 extends under the inner half of each cup, straight below the vertical seam lines 13, 14.

The lower middle panel 25 is made of a textile having reduced elasticity, less than that of the textile forming the cups 11, 12. Its horizontal elasticity, which is at least 20%, must however be sufficient to allow a certain expansion during breathing when the thoracic cage opens. This panel also has an open-weave texture to allow the transfer of perspiration.

The cups 11,12, like the support elements 16, 17, are formed, in the example illustrated, into the same type of panel from a textile which has overall good elasticity, with nevertheless a horizontal elasticity greater than the vertical elasticity. It is this overall good elasticity which limits the number of sizes of goods which must be available in shops, as the article adapts to the actual shape of the breasts. The reduced vertical elasticity in relation to the horizontal elasticity provides vertical support for the breasts.

Preferably, as illustrated in Figure 1 each cup 11, 12 comprises an outer lateral reinforcement panel 18, 19 providing lateral support for the breast during movements having a transverse component from one side to the other.

These lateral support panels 18, 19 of the cups 11, 12 are made of a textile having reduced elasticity both vertically and horizontally. More particularly its horizontal elasticity is markedly less than that of the rest of the cup 11, 12 being approximately half of this.

The back part of the inner undergarment 3, visible in figure 2, comprises a back panel 20 the upper edge 20a of which makes the join with the outer shirt 2 along the back part of the neck opening and also along the transverse seams 5 in the areas on top of the shoulder 15. This back panel extends as far as the back section 7b of the elastic band 7. It is made of a very open-weave textile which allows the passage of perspiration. It preferably has a vertical elasticity of at most 60%.

The inner undergarment 3 also comprises two lateral panels 21, 22 which extend between the armholes 23, 24 and the elastic band 7 from the back panel 20, to the cups 11, 12 at the junction with the lower middle panel 25. These two lateral panels 21, 22 may be made of the same textile as that from which the cups 11, 12 are formed. They have a horizontal and vertical elasticity of at most 60%.

In the present example, the upper part of the support elements 16, 17 is anchored, by the transverse seam line 5, both to the outer shirt 2 in the shoulder area 15 and to the back panel 20. The tensile forces which act when vertical movements of the breasts occur cause tensioning of the textile from which the cups and the support elements are formed. These forces also have an effect on the upper middle panel 26 and, through the transverse seam lines 5, on the back panel 20 and the outer shirt 2.

All the textile panels are advantageously based on polyamide or polyester and elastane.

The elasticities given above are measured according to international standard ASTM 0 2594.

The outer shirt 2, unlike the inner undergarment 3, has a loose structure which is not fitted to the body, which increases further the possibility for air circulation between said shirt 2 and the inner undergarment 3 and the ventilation effect which is obtained because of this air circulation to the openings formed at their respective armholes which are not connected to one another.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. An article of women's clothing assembly comprising of an outer shirt and an inner undergarment comprising an elastic support band intended to extend around the chest under the bust, wherein the outer shirt and the inner undergarment are joined to each other only along at least one of their neck openings and the shoulder area, and wherein the inner undergarment comprises two cups for the breasts and is shaped so that, as it is suspended freely from the top part of the shirt, it is fitted to the breasts and the chest, independently of the outer shirt.

2. An article of clothing according to Claim I wherein the elastic support band comprises a first section and a second section, with a fastening and length-adjustment system fitted at the adjacent extremities of the two sections.

3. An article of clothing according to Claim 2 wherein the fastening and length-adjustment systems are arranged on the front of the elastic band on either side of the cups.

4. An article of clothing according to any preceding Claim wherein the outer shirt has a loose structure and the inner undergarment is fitted to the body.

5. An article of clothing according to any preceding Claim including: a) a middle lower panel extending between the two cups; b) two front support elements, each extending from one of the cups to the corresponding shoulder area; and c) a middle upper panel covering an area between the neck opening, the middle lower panel, the two cups and the two support elements.

6. An article of clothing according to Claim 5 wherein the middle upper panel has a vertical elasticity of no more than 60%.

7. An article of clothing according to Claim 6 wherein the middle upper panel has an open-weave texture.

8. An article of clothing according to any of Claims 5 to 7 wherein the middle lower panel, arranged between the two cups, has a horizontal elasticity of at least 20%.

9. An article of clothing according to any preceding Claim wherein each cup comprises an outer lateral panel having a horizontal elasticity less than that of the rest of the cup, for example in a ratio of 0.5.

10. An article of clothing according to Claim 9 wherein the horizontal elasticity of the outer lateral panel is substantially half that of the rest of the cup.

11. An article of clothing according to any preceding Claim wherein the inner undergarment has a back panel extending between the neck opening and the support band made of a textile with open-weave texture.

12. An article of clothing according to Claim 11, wherein the textile of the back panel has a vertical elasticity of no more than 60%. a

13. An article of clothing according to any preceding Claim wherein the inner undergarment comprises at least a lateral panel extending beyond the cup.

14. An article of clothing according to Claim 13 wherein the lateral panel extends as far as the back panel.

15. An article of women's clothing substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.