GB2463888A

GB2463888A - Breast support underwear

Info

Publication number: GB2463888A
Application number: GB0817655A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Victoria Dreesbeimdieke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-09-26
Filing date: 2008-09-26
Publication date: 2010-03-31
Also published as: GB0817655D0

Abstract

An article, such as a bra 1, to be worn over at least a portion of a person's breast, the article comprises a pair of cup portions 2, one for each breast, and joining portion 6 to interconnect the cup portions, each cup portion having an edge 4 extending, in use, upwardly and away from the joining portion; at or proximate the edge of each cup portion is provided resilient means, such as a strip of rubber, a spring, a wire or an adhesive patch 9, to stretch, in use, so as to ensure the resilient means engages the person's breast to aid retention of the breasts within the cup portions.

Description

UNDERWEAR

The invention relates to dothing, n particular women's underwear, more particularly brassieres (bras).

Bras are well known garments. They generally cover at least a poWon of, and provide support for, a wearer's breasts and come in many designs, e.g. for being worn in particular circumstances. For example, sports bras are designed to minimise movement of the breasts during sporting actwities, while plunge-line or push-up bras serve to accentuate the wearer's cleavage and may be preferred n combination with low-cut outer garments such as dresses.

It can be a problem wth bras, particularly bras which are designed to enhance or reveal a significant amount of cleavage, such as plunge-line or push-up bras that one or both of the wearer's breasts may inadvertently pop out of the bra. This problem may cause embarrassment and may be particularly likely to occur when the wearer is engaging in a physically vigorous activity such as dancing.

Another known problem with such bras is that the wearer's breasts may be urged together such that they meet and/or at least partially fall out of the bra.

As we as embarrassment, this may result in there being unsightly or undesirable formations on the shin of the portions of the wearer's breast which are intended to be visible. Further, the bra, or more specfticaUy, a top edge of a cup thereof, may cut into the wearer's skin if the breasts have become inadvertently partially dislodged from the bra, which may cause unsightly or undesirable marks to appear on the wearer's breasts, Accordingly, it is a non-exclusive object of the invention to provide a garment such as a bra or the like which at least partially alleviates some or all of these problems.

It is a further non-exclusive object of the invention to provide a garment, such as a bra or the like, that may imbue pusillanimous women, particularly large-breasted women, with an enhanced level of confidence and/or assurance.

According to a first aspect, the invention provides an article to be worn over at least a portion of a person's breasts, the article comprising a pair of cup portions, one for each breast and a joining portion to interconnect said cup portions, each cup portion having an edge extending, in use, upwardly and away from said joining portion; at or proximate the edge of each cup portion is provided resilient means to stretch, in use, so as to ensure said resilient means engages the person's breast to aid retention of the breasts within the cup portions.

The edge may be a top edge of each cup portion.

The article may compnse straps.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided an article to be worn over at least a portion of a person's breasts, the artic'e comprising straps and a pair of cup portions, one for each breast, each cup portion having a top edge, wherein the article further comprises resilient means located at or proximate the top edge of each cup portion, to stretch, in use, so as to ensure the resi'ient means engages the person's breast to aid retention of the breasts within the cup portion.

The article may comprise a joining portion to interconnect the cup portions.

Preferably, in use, the resilient means may engage the person's breasts at a point approximately level with the nipple. Alternatively, or additionally, in use, the resilient means may engage the person's breast above or be'ow the nipple.

The top edge may have a first upper end and a second lower end.

The second ends of the top edge of each cup portion may have a smaller distance between them than the first ends, The top edges of each cup portion may preferably be arranged to form a plunge-line.

The joining portion may be ocated between the second ends of the top edge of each cup.

The uppermost part of the jorning portion may be ocated less than about four tenths, preferab'y tess than about three tenths, more preferably tess than about a quarter of the vertica' distance from the owermost part to the uppermost part of each cup portion.

The straps may pass over a wearer's shoulders in use. The straps may extend from the vicinity of the upper end of the top edge of each cup.

The straps may comprise a first set of straps for passing over the wearer's shou'ders, in use, and a second set of straps to provide a back for passing around the wearer's torso, in use.

Preferab'y, the straps may be adjustable. The straps may be padded.

Preferab'y, the article may be a garment such as a bra, basque or the ike, more preferab'y, a push-up bra, basque or the like, having a plunge-line.

Preferably, the parts of the article which contact the wearer's skin in use may comprise any suitable fabric material, e.g. cotton, lace, silk and polyamide or mixtures thereof.

The cup portions may include padding to cushion the wearer's breasts and/or to give the impression that the wearer's breasts are larger than they actually are.

Preferably, the cup portions may be sized and dimensioned for women with larger breasts, e.g. C-cup or above, typically a D-cup or larger.

Preferably, the cup portions may be adapted to conform substantially or approximately to the shape of a wearer's breasts The article may be underwired.

The article may comprise front, rear or side fastening means for fastening the article around the wearer's torso. The fastening means may be located on the second set of straps. Alternatively, the fastening means may be located on a front portion of the garment, e.g. between the cup portions.

The fastening means may comprise a clasp or a hook-and-eye closure such as a two-hook or three-hook fastening.

The resilient means may comprise one or more areas of adhesive and/or one or more elements having a resilient or stretchable portion.

The resient means may comprise one or more of the foowing: an adhesive pad or strip or an element, e.g. a cord, wire, spring or strip of rubber or elasticated fabric, having a resilient or stretchable portion.

Advantageously, in use, the resilient means may be hidden from view. The resilient means may be located less than 40 mm, preferably ess than mm, most preferably less than 15 mm from the top edge of each cup portion Preferably, the resilient means may be attached to an inner surface e.g. a skin facing surface, of the cup portions.

The resilient means may comprise an area of adhesive on an inner surface of each cup portion for contacting the skin.

In use, the area of adhesive may provide a friction and/or interference fit between an area of the garment in the vicinity of the top edge of each cup portion and the skin of the wearer's breast.

The resilient means may comprise a set adhesive, e.g. a PVA adhesive.

Advantageously, the adhesive may be washable.

The resilient means may comprise a silicone or rubber pad or the like.

The resient means may be re-usable, e.g. capable of stretching to form a suitable fit or bond with the wearer's skin on more than one occasion.

Alternatively, the resilient means may be provided for single use, e.g. as separate disposable adhesive strips or pads.

The resilient means may be in the form of a strip of adhesive running along substantially the entire length between the first and second ends of the top edge of each cup.

Alternatively, the resilient means may be provided by shorter discrete adhesive strips or pads located at intervals between the first and second ends of the top edge of each cup.

For example, the strips or pads may be rectangular in shape. The strips or pads may have a width of from 2 to 20 mm, preferably 2 to 15 mm, most preferably 3 to 10 mm. The strips or pads may have a width to length aspect ratio of between 1:1 and 1:20 preferably between 1:2 and 1:10.

Alternatively, the resilient means, e.g. areas of adhesive such as adhesive strips or pads, may be circular or ellipsoidal in shape.

The resi'ient means, e.g. an adhesive strip, pad or the hke, may be attached to the cup portion such that a surface of the cup portion ies substantiaUy continuous'y or uniform'y against a surface of the resient means.

Alternatively, the resient means, e.g. an adhesive strip, pad or the ike, may be attached to each of the cup portions at a number of discrete points between which there is provided one or more portions of oose or excess, fabric, which are not physicaUy attached to the resihent means, e.g. to provide portions of fabric having fo'ds or a concertina-hke conformation between discrete attachment points. In use, when the bra is adjusted to fit the wearer, the one or more portions of oose or excess fabric are urged to stretch, e.g. by unfolding to adopt a straighter conformation, which causes a tension to be generated in the portion of the artide around the resifient means.

Additionay or aternativey, the resihent means may comprise an dement, e.g. a cord, wire, spring or strip of rubber or elasticated fabric, having a resilient or stretchable portion, which is located at or close to the top edge of each cup portion. In use, the resilient or stretchable portion may be held in tension to provide an interference fit to aid retention of the person's breasts within the cup portions.

The resient or stretchable portion may be as long as or shorter than the distance between the two ends of the top edge of each cup portion.

The element may comprise more than one discrete resilient or stretchable portion.

Advantageously, the element having a resilient or stretchable portion may be located at least in part within a sheath attached to a skin-facing surface of each cup portion. Preferably, the sheath may be attached to the skin-facing surface at/or in the vicinity of the top edge of each cup portion.

The element may have any cross-sectional shape. Preferably, the element may have a flat surface to lie, in use, against the person's breast.

Away from the top edge of each cup portion, e.g. more than about 40 mm thereform, the inner surface of each cup portion may be substantially free of resilient means.

When being worn, the article may cover a portion of the wearer's breasts including the nipples.

As well as helping to retain the wearers breasts within the cup portions of the article, i.e. by minimising the chances of the breasts popping out of the article, it should be understood that the provision of resilient means in accordance with the invention and as described herein, may also help to limit the movement of a wearer's breasts within the cup portions of the artide, because the engagement of the resilient means with the skin of the wearer's breasts may keep the breasts in contact with the edge of the bra.

In particular, the resilient means may limit movement of the breasts down into the cup portions, i.e, in use, the wearer's breasts may not sink towards the bottom of the cup portions. Thus, the breasts may be held or supported in place to help give the appearance that the cup portions are full to capacity and also to minimise the appearance of sagging.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacture of an article to be worn over at least a portion of a person's breasts, eg. a garment such as a bra or the like, the article having a pair of cup portions, one for each breast, the method comprising: * providing resilient means; and * attaching the resilient means to the article at or proximate an edge of each of the cup portions; whereby the resilient means stretches, in use, so as to ensure the resilient means engages with the person's breast to aid retention of the breasts within the cup portions.

In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a resilient means for adapting an artide to be worn over at least a portion of a person's breasts, e.g. a garment such as a bra or the like, the artide having a pair of cup portions, one for each breast, the resilient means being attachable to the article at or proximate an edge, e.g. a top edge, of each of the cup portions, and being stretchable in use, so as to ensure engagement with the person's breast to aid retention of the breasts within the cup portions.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following Figures in which: * Figure 1 shows a front view of a bra according to the invention; * Figure 2 shows a rear view of the bra shown in Figure 1; * Figure 3 shows a front view of an alternative embodiment of a bra according to the invention; and * Figure 4 shows a rear view of the bra shown in Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a bra 1 according to the invention. The bra 1 is a plunge-line bra.

The bra 1 comprises a pair of cup portions 2. Each cup portion 2 has three edges: a bottom edge 7, a side edge 8 and a top edge 4.

A joining portion 6 is provided which connects the cup portions 2 between the regions where a first end of the top edge 4 meets a first end of the bottom edge 7 of each cup portion 2.

The uppermost part of the joining portion 6 is ocated at around one tenth of the vertica' distance from a owermost part to an uppermost part of each cup portion 2.

Lower straps 5 for passing around the back of a wearer's torso extend from the vicinity of the region of each cup portion 2 where a first end of the side edge 8 meets a second end of the bottom edge 7.

Upper straps 3 extend from the vicinity of the region of each cup portion 2 where a second end of the side edge 8 meets a second end of the top edge Referring to Figure 2, there is shown on a skin-contacting surface of each cup portion 2, in a region induding a point approximately mid-way along and close to the top edge 4, an area of adhesive 9.

The area of adhesive 9 is positioned about 2 mm from the top edge 4 and its longest dimension, i.e. length, runs approximatey parallel to the top edge 4. The area of adhesive is about 5 mm wide and 50 mm long.

In use, the bra 1 is worn in the usual manner. Lower straps 5 are fastened together behind the wearer's back by a three-hook fastening (not shown).

The upper straps 3 pass over the wearer's shoulders and are attached to the lower straps 5 at their distal ends. The upper straps 3 are adjustable in order to provide a good fit In use, each of the wearer's arms thus passes through an aperture defined by one of the upper straps 3, a portion of one of the lower straps 5 and one of the side edges 8 of one of the cup portions 2.

The bra 1 includes support including under-wiring and/or cushioning as is known in the art.

The support and/or cushioning s designed and located such that, in use, when the wearer's breasts are held within the cup portions, the breasts may be pushed towards each other and urged in a generally upward direction to accentuate the wearer's cleavage.

In use, the areas of adhesive 9 contact the wearer's skin to better support the wearer's breast and to hold them within the cup portions 2 of the bra 1 even when the wearer is engaged n reasonab'y vigorous or rhythmic physical activity.

Without wishing to be constrained by theory, it is postu'ated that the provision of skin-contacting areas of adhesive at points along, at, proximate, or in the vicinity of the top edge of each cup portion provides the enhanced ho'd and support of the bra according to the invention as a consequence of the skin-contacting areas of adhesive being stretched in use.

When the wearer puts on the bra, the adhesive comes into contact with the skin and forms a friction and/or interference fit therewith. The wearer then adjusts the upper straps to provide a tight, snug fit. As wiU be appreciated, the fit formed by the adhesive means that a tension is generated within some or a of the top edge of each cup portion as the upper straps are adjusted. Consequent'y, the wearerts breasts are better supported and more securely he'd.

The bra described above mer&y represents a non-'imiting examp'e of the invention.

As wiU be readi'y appreciated many modifications may be made to this examp'e without departing from the scope of the invention.

Any arrangement or combination of areas of adhesive may be iocated on the skin-contacting surface in the vicinity of the top edges of the cup portions.

For instance, a single strip of adhesive having a width of between 2 and mm may run along substantiay the entire ength of the top edge of each cup portion.

Afternatively, the adhesive may be provided by a series of shorter discrete strips located at intervals along the length of the top edge of each cup. For example, three strips having a width of between 2 and 20 mm and a width to length aspect ratio of between 1:1 and 1:10 may be located at substantially equal intervals between the two ends of the top edge of each cup.

The distance between the areas of adhesive and the top edge of each cup may not exceed 20 mm. Preferably, the distance will be 15 mm or less, e.g. between 2 mm and 10 mm.

A front view of an alternative embodiment of a bra according to the invention is shown in Figure 3.

The bra 11 shown in Figure 3 is largely similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2.

The bra 11 comprises two cup portions 12, each cup portion 12 having a side edge 18, a bottom edge 17 and a top edge 14. The cup portions 12 are connected by a joining portion 16 between the areas of each cup portion 12, where a first end of the bottom edge 17 meets a first end of the top edge 14.

Upper straps 13 extend from the areas of each cup portion 12, where a first end of the side edge 18 meets a second end of the top edge 14.

Lower straps 15 extend from the areas of each cup 12 where a second end of the side edge 18 meets a second end of the bottom edge 17.

Referring to Figure 4, it can be seen that, ocated on an inner skin-facing surface of each cup portion 12 is a sheath 19 running a'ong the ength of the top edge 14. Running wahin the sheath 19 s a substantiaHy fiat strip (not shown) of material comprising an elastic portion (not shown) around ha'f-way a'ong its length.

When the bra 11 is being worn and the straps have been adjusted appropriately to provide a tight, snug fit, a tension is generated within the e'astic portions of the strip of materi& within the sheath. An interference fit is thus formed between the top edges of the cups and the wearer's breasts.

Consequent'y, the wearer's breasts are better supported and more securely held within the cup portions 12.

Other resilient means for generating a suitable tension and/or an interference fit may be employed in any combination.

For example, an element comprising a resilient or stretchable material such as a strip of rubber or a spring or wire may be present along some or a of the top edge of each cup, which stretchable material wi be held in tension in use, when the straps have been adjusted to provide a snug, tight fit.

The element comprising a resilient or stretchable material may be located dose to the top edge of each cup with its longer or longest dimension substantially in parallel with the top edge of each cup. Preferably, the distance between the top edge and the element may not exceed 20 mm, more preferably the distance may be between 2 mm and 15 mm.

A single element comprising a resilient or stretchable material may be attached to both cup portions.

The element comprising a resilient or stretchable material may be attached to the bra in any suitable manner.

Many variations to the specific embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, For example, while the specific embodiments have been described in relation to plunge-line bras, the invention has utility in other breast covering and/or supporting garments, e.g. other bras, particularly push-up bras, basques and vest-tops.

Further, the upper straps, i.e. the straps passing over the wearer's shoulders, in use, of bras and other garments according to the invention may be adjustable to adopt any desired configuration, e.g. a halter neck, or such that they cross over at the wearer's back or for wearing with low back dresses or racer style tops.

As will be appreciated, any combination of one or more areas of adhesive and/or one or more elements comprising a resilient or stretchable material may be employed to realise the benefits of the invention.

Articles according to the invention are particularly suitable for women having larger breasts, e.g. a cup-size of C or above.

The articles are especially useful when worn by larger-breasted women on occasions when they wish to expose a relatively large amount of cleavage, e.g. when wearing a particularly low-cut dress, and may also be engaged in rhythmic and/or vigorous physical activity such as dancing.

One or more of the disclosed resilient means may be provided on an article of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An article to be worn over at least a portion of a person's breast, the article comprising a pair of cup portions, one for each breast and a joining portion to interconnect said cup portions, each cup portion having an edge extending, in use, upwardly and away from said joining portion; at or proximate the edge of each cup portion is provided resilient means to stretch, in use, so as to ensure said resilient means engages the person's breast to aid retention of the breasts within the cup portions.
2. An article according to Claim 1, wherein the edge is a top edge of each cup portion.
3. An article according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 further comprising straps.
4. An article to be worn over at least a portion of a person's breasts, the article comprising straps and a pair of cup portions, one for each breast, each cup portion having a top edge, wherein the article further comprises resilient means located at or proximate the top edge of each cup portion to stretch, in use, so as to ensure the resilient means engages the person's breast to aid retention of the breasts within the cup portion.
5. An article according to Claim 4 further comprising a joining portion to interconnect the cup portions.
6. An article according to any of Claims 2 to 5, wherein the top edges of the cup portions are arranged to form a plunge-line.
7. An article according to any preceding Claim, wherein the garment is a plunge-line bra.
8. An article according to any of Claims 3 to 7, wherein the straps comprise a first set of straps for passing over the wearer's shoulders in use and a second set of straps for passing around a wearer's torso in use.
9. An article according to any preceding Claim further comprising fastening means for fastening the garment around the wearer's torso.
1O.An article according to any preceding Claim, wherein, in use, the resilient means is hidden from view.
11.An article according to any of Claims 2 to 10, wherein the resilient means is located less than 40 mm from the top edge of each cup portion.

:)( 21
12.An article according to any preceding Claim, wherein the resilient means comprises one or more areas of adhesive and/or one or more elements having a resilient or stretchable portion.
13.An article according to any preceding Claim, wherein the resilient means is attached to an inner surface of the cup portions.
14.A method of manufacture of an article to be worn over at least a portion of a person's breasts, the article having a pair of cup portions, one for each breast, the method comprising: * providing resilient means; and * attaching the resilient means to the article at or proximate an edge of each of the cup portions; whereby the resilient means stretches, in use, so as to ensure the resilient means engages with the person's breast to aid retention of the breasts within the cup portions.
15.Resilient means for adapting an article to be worn over at least a portion of a person's breasts, the article having a pair of cup portions, one for each breast, the resilient means being attachable to the article at or proximate an edge of each of the cup portions, and being *)( 22 stretchable, in use, so as to ensure engagement with the person's breast to aid retention of the breasts within the cup portions.
16.An article to be worn over at least a portion of a person's breast substantially as disclosed herein with reference to the accompanying drawings