GB2434963A

GB2434963A - A brassiere

Info

Publication number: GB2434963A
Application number: GB0600787A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ben Daniel Rose; Neil Roger Mason; Alan John Edward Cucknell; Peter David Cauwood
Original assignee: Courtaulds Textiles Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: Courtaulds Textiles Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2006-01-16
Filing date: 2006-01-16
Publication date: 2007-08-15
Also published as: WO2007080424A1; GB0600787D0

Abstract

A brassiere (10) comprising a chest band (12) to extend about the chest of a wearer and a pair of breast-supporting cups (14) secured to the chest band (12) along a peripheral edge portion (16) of each of the breast-supporting cups (14). The chest band (12) defines a support region (SR) between the peripheral edge portion (16) of each breast-supporting cup (14) and an outer edge (18) of the chest band (12) spaced from the peripheral edge portion (16) of each breast-supporting cup (16). Each support region (SR) includes a support member (20) located so as to extend between the peripheral edge portion (16) of a respective breast-supporting cup (14) and the respective outer edge (18) of the chest band (12) to provide a bracing effect against a wearer's torso when the brassiere (10) is worn.

Description

A BRASSIERE

The invention relates to a brassiere and. in particular, to a brassiere including a support member associated with each of a pair of breast-supporting cups to provide a bracing effect against a wearefs torso when worn to support the breast-supporting cups.

Brassieres commonly include curved support members, generally referred to as underwire" members, located about the peripheral edge portions of the breast- 1() supporting cups of the brassieres, as shown schematically in Figure 1. These underwire members 50 serve to rigidify the peripheral edge portions of the breast-supporting cups and support the wearer's breasts when such a brassiere is worn.

Support bones or ribs may also be included in the chest band of a brassiere to extend between opposite edges of the chest band on either side of the breast-supporting cups, as shown schematically in Figure 1. These support bones or ribs 52 encourage the chest band to lie flat against the torso of a wearer when the brassiere is worn and thereby assist in providing further support.

SS

An object of the invention is to provide a brassiere including a further means of * supporting a wearer's breasts, which may be used as an alternative or in addition to each of the means of support conventionally used in brassieres and outlined above. * S. a * . *.S.

*: . 25 According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a brassiere comprising a chest band to extend about the chest of a wearer and a pair of breast-supporting cups secured to the chest band along a peripheral edge portion of each of the breast-supporting cups, the chest hand defining a support region between the peripheral edge portion of each breast-supporting cup and an outer edge of the chest band spaced from the peripheral edge portion of each breast-supporting cup, each support region including a support member located so as to extend from the peripheral edge of a respective breast-supporting cup towards the respective outer edge of the chest band.

The provision of support members extending from the breast-supporting cups towards the outer edge of the chest band is advantageous in that it provides a bracing effect against a wearer's torso when the brassiere is worn. This bracing effect reinftrces the brassiere and supports the wearer's breasts.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a conventional brassiere and Figures 2 and 3 show front and back views of a brassiere according to a first embodiment of the invention.

A brassiere 10 according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The brassiere 10 includes a chest band 12 to extend about the chest of a wearer and a pair of breast-supporting cups 14 secured to the chest band 12 along a peripheral edge portion 16 of each of the breast-supporting cups 14.

* ** * The chest band 12 defines a support region SR between the peripheral edge portion 16 of each breast-supporting cup 14 and an outer edge 18 of the chest band 12 spaced from the peripheral edge portion 16 of each breast-supporting cup 14.

:, : Each support region SR includes a support member 20 located so as to extend from the peripheral edge portion 16 of a respective breast-supporting cup 14 towards the respective outer edge 18 of the chest band 12.

The brassiere 10 shown in Figures 2 and 3 also includes an underwire member 30 enclosed within the fabric of the brassiere 10 about the peripheral edge portion 16 of each of the breast-supporting cups 14, and each support member 20 includes an elongate bone or rib member having one end 24 located immediately adjacent the corresponding underwire member 30.

Each support member 20 is preferably retained within a pocket formed in the fabric of the chest band 12 to retain the support member 20 in position.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3. the chest band 12 includes an inner gore portion 26 secured to an inner section 1 6a of the peripheral edge portion 1 6 of each of the breast-supporting cups 14 so as to extend between the breast-supporting cups 14.

First and second outer chest band portions I 2a are secured to the inner gore portion 26 and to an outer section 1 6b of the peripheral edge portion 16 of a respective breast-supporting cup 14.

In this arrangement, the support member 20 of each support region S1 is conveniently located within a pocket extending along the juncture 28 between the inner gore portion 26 and the respective outer chest band portion I 2a.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, the chest band 12 is also formed to include a side bone 32 in the form of an elongate bone or rib extending between opposite edges of the chest band 12 on each side of the breast-supporting cups 14. S...

* .. 20 These side bones 32 are preferably retained within further pockets formed in the chest band 12. * * S * S S..

In addition, the chest band 12 is formed to include a back bone 34 in the form of : * : an elongate bone or rib extending between opposite edges of the chest band 12 and *. * 25 spaced along the chest band 1 2 from each of the side bones 32. These back bones 34 are preferably retained within yet further pockets formed in the chest band 12.

During wear, underwire members 30 are located below the wearer's breasts to provide support and the support member 20 of each support region SR extends from the associated underwire member 30 towards a lower edge of the chest band 12 further below the wearer's breasts.

In this orientation, the lower end or edge 22 of the support member 20 rests against the wearer's torso. This interaction between the support member 20 and the wearers torso enables the support member 20 to form a brace between the wearefs torso and the associated underwire member 30. This cantilever effect supports the underwire members 30 and thereby provides further support to the wearer's breasts.

During wear, the side bones 32 and the back bones 34 provided in the chest band 12 on either side of the breast-supporting cups 14 also lie flat against the wearer's torso. The side bones 32 and the hack bones 34 thereby prevent the chest band 12 folding over or gathering up during movement of the wearer, and ensure that the brassiere 10 retains its shape. This not only improves the comfort of the garment, but also ensures that the brassiere remains in position relative to the wearer's torso. This in turn provides further support for the wearer's breasts.

The pockets in which the support members 20 are retained are preferably formed to assist in minimising any discomfort that may he caused to the wearer by the interaction between the lower end or edge 22 of each of the support members 20 and the wearer's torso when the brassiere 10 is worn.

IS * S * S..

In other embodiments, the support members 20 may he shaped to provide support *.S.

about the peripheral edge portion of the respective breast-supporting cup as well as providing the cantilever effect. in such embodiments, it is envisaged that the underwire members 30 may be omitted. *5

The number and relative spacing along the chest band 12 of side bones 32 and $ 25 back bones 34 may also be varied. In yet further embodiments, requiring less support, the side bones 32 and or the back bones 34 may be omitted.

While the brassiere 1 0 shown in Figures 2 and 3 is strapless in the sense that it does not include shoulder straps to extend, when worn, from the breast-supporting cups over the shoulders of a wearer to the portion of chest band 12 located across the wearer's back, it is envisaged that in other embodiments of the invention shoulder straps may be permanently or removably provided to increase the level of support provided by the brassiere.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A brassiere comprising a chest band to extend about the chest of a wearer and a pair of breast-supporting cups secured to the chest band along a peripheral edge portion of each of the breast-supporting cups, the chest band defining a support region between the peripheral edge portion of each breast-supporting cup and an outer edge of the chest band spaced from the peripheral edge portion of each breast-supporting cup, each support region including a support member located so as to extend between the peripheral edge portion of a respective breast-supporting cup and the respective outer edge of the chest band to provide a bracing effect against a wearer's torso when the brassiere is worn.

2. A brassiere according to Claim I further including an underwire member located so as to extend along at least a section of the peripheral edge portion of each breast-supporting cup.

3. A brassiere according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein each support member includes an elongate bone or rib member. S..

S S..

4. A brassiere according to Claims 2 and 3 wherein each support member * extends from a respective underwire member towards the respective outer edge of the chest band. * S. * S 5

*IS. . . . * : 5. A brassiere according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each support member is located within a pocket formed in the respective support region.

6. A brassiere according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the chest band includes an inner gore portion secured to an iimer section of the peripheral edge portion of each of the breast-supporting cups so as to extend between the breast-supporting cups, and first and second outer chest band portions, each outer chest band portion being secured to the inner gore portion and to an outer section of the peripheral edge portion of a respective breast-supporting cup, the support member of each support region extending along the juncture between the inner gore member and the respective outer chest band portion.

7. A brassiere according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the chest band further includes one or more elongate support bones or ribs extending between opposite edges of the chest band on either side of the breast-supporting cups.

8. A brassiere generally as herein described with reference to and or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. * I * *I* S * *SS S. * S * * S S. S * S. * * S SSS* S. * I 5 * I *