MX2009011185A - Brassiere with cushioned underwire. - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a brassiere with a pair of cups, an underwire located lengthwise the lower peripheral edge of each cup, basically having a "U" shape, and a cushion adjusted to the upper peripheral edge over the inner surface of each cup and supported over the edge portion of the underwire.

Description

SUPPORT WITH PADDED ROD Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of female underwear and, in particular, to a support with a rod, or frame, padded, in order to shape and support the breasts of the wearer.

Background of the Invention The use of bras in bras in order to shape and support the breasts of women is well known in the intimate apparel industry. The structure of a rod can take various forms, including, for example, a pair of U-shaped frames corresponding to a pair of cups. Another possibility is that the rod consists of a single integral frame that extends across the front of the bra to hold both cups. These various rod structures are generally constructed of metal or other relatively rigid material, such as molded polymeric material.

Although the primary objective of the rods is to give support and shape to the breasts of those who wear the bra, they must also be flexible enough to adapt to the body / torso of the wearer in order to achieve both aesthetic appeal and comfort. Despite the functional and aesthetic attributes of the rods in the Ref. 205886 bras, these have disadvantages. For example, over time and after several washes, the ends of the rods tend to wear out the bra material or the bra cover and can spoil the outer garment and possibly hurt the wearer. Also, because a conventional rod is relatively thin and narrow, the outer end of the rod that is close to the armpit area of the user, usually ends in a pointed tip or has sharp edges and tends to cause discomfort when is it used. When the bra is worn for a prolonged period, that discomfort can turn into pain, even when the rod does not "peek" through the fabric.

Although many solutions were devised, some of which were costly, to address these problems, none has satisfactorily resolved the problems of the rod passing through the support material and the inconvenience it causes to the user, nor has it achieved at the same time providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance when used and a relatively low manufacturing cost.

Brief Description of the Invention The present invention relates to a bra with padded rod. In one embodiment, the bra comprises a pair of cups and a rod encapsulated in a cloth sheath and located close to the lower peripheral edge of each cup. Basically, each of the rods is U-shaped in all its extension and ends -or tips- internal and external. A pad formed by foam rubber encapsulated in an external cloth cover and with a basically arched shape is fastened to the upper peripheral edge of each cup, inside the bra, and on the outer ends of the rods in the area of the armpit of whom use it Alternatively, the pad may contain multiple layers of fabric or other textile material.

Various features and aspects of the invention will be apparent upon reviewing the detailed description that follows when analyzed together with the attached figures, which are briefly described as follows.

Brief Description of the Figures Figure 1 is a general perspective view of the front of a bra constructed in accordance with the present invention, illustrating the location of the rod and foam pad for each cup.

Figure 2 is a top view of the back of the holder of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a close view of the right cup of the holder of Figure 2, illustrating the geometry and location of the rod pad.

Figure 4A is a top view of the pad of the rod of the present invention.

Figure 4B is a top view of Figure 4A, illustrating the exemplary dimensions of a rod pad display.

Figure 4C is a cross-sectional view of the pad of the rod of Figure 4A, taken along the line 4C-4C.

Detailed description of the invention Next, certain example presentations of the present invention are described and illustrated in the attached figures. The purpose of the presentations that are described is only to illustrate the present invention, and should not be construed as a limit to the scope of the invention, which, of course, is only limited by the claims that appear below. Other embodiments of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art, as well as certain modifications and improvements of the presentations described, and all alternative embodiments, modifications and improvements are included in the scope of the present invention.

With respect to the Figures in general, and to Figure 1 in particular, the present invention relates to a bra, which is generally shown as 100, having a padded rod structure. The bra shown in Figure 1 includes a pair of cups 110, an intermediate portion 120 interconnecting the cups 110 to form the front of the support, a band portion for the torso 130 extending outwardly from the outer edge of the torso. each cup 110, and an optional tie 140 that connects each cup 110 with the band portion for the torso 130 associated with each cup.

The two cups 110 are a mirror image of the other. Although the description included here refers to a single cup 110, it can be seen that the detail is applied to both cups 110 of the bra 100.

The cups of the present invention may be constructed by any of the conventional methods currently known in the art. For example, the cup 110 may be very thin and consist of only one layer. Alternatively, the cup 110 may be formed by multiple layers or by a multilayer laminate combination, in which a layer of flexible foam rubber or a thick layer of material is molded and laminated to at least one of the layers of internal and external fabric. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, each cup 110 has an outer surface 112, an inner surface 114, a lower peripheral edge 115 and an upper peripheral edge 117.

As used herein, the term "intermediate portion" 120 may refer to a connecting bridge or central piece, whether or not stabilized, which interconnects the two cups 110, or may refer to a front closure that interconnects the cups 110 with the possibility of releasing them.

The band portion for the torso 130 is fixed to the outer edge of each cup 110 and may have a conventional structure. Each band portion for the torso 130 can be sewn or adhered to its corresponding cup 110, or it can form an integral structure with the cup 110. The closures 132, 133, such as hook and eye closures or sailboat, can be fixed to the loose ends of each band portion for the torso 130 in order to facilitate the posterior closure of the bra 100 on the wearer's torso, in the case of a bra with a rear closure. In addition, another possibility, in the case of a bra that is removed at the top, such as a sports bra, or a bra with a front closure, the band portion for the torso 130 may consist of a single layer or multilayer web. which has elastic characteristics and extends from the outer end of one cup to the outer end of the other cup.

The optional braces 140 are also constructed in a conventional manner and can be elastic or relatively interelastic, adjustable or stretchable, cushioned or non-cushioned. The straps 140 can also be seamless, seam or rolled, and conventionally held between each cup 110 and its corresponding torso band portion 130. In the case of a bra with circular weave, the braces can be entirely woven with the bra.

In Figures 2 and 3, the structure of the padded rod of the present invention is shown in detail. In the presentation shown in the Figures, a rod 118 is positioned along the lower peripheral edge 115 of each cup 110, which extends approximately from the intermediate portion 120 to approach the upper peripheral edge 117 of the cup 110. Each rod 118 is basically U-shaped to fit the lower peripheral edge 115 of the cup. The rod 118 can be constructed of a rigid or semi-rigid material, with a sufficient degree of flexibility to allow the rod 118 to bend or twist to conform to the torso shape of the wearer and, in turn, to that is rigid enough to support the breasts of the user. In this way, the "rod", as it is referred to herein, can be constructed with any type of metal or plastic. Although the rod 118 may have a variable cross section along the length, the rod 118 of this presentation is basically uniform throughout its length and has a rectangular cross section, where the width is greater than the thickness. When the bra is used, the rod has an inner end 118a close to the intermediate portion 120, and an outer end 118b close to the armpit area of the user. One or both ends 118a, 118b of the rod 118 may be bathed or coated with plastic, protective enamel, etc. to cover any sharp edges that may appear when forming / molding and cutting the rod 118 before inserting it into the cup 110. In this way, the outer ends 118a, 118b may be slightly wider and thicker than the remainder of the length of the rod 118 Another possibility is to select, instead of an individual rod 118 for each cup 110, a frame with a single rod (not shown in the Figure) that extends across the front of the holder 100 and that comprises two substantially U-shaped portions. for the cups 110. In that case, the rod frame would have external ends close only to the areas of the armpits.

The rod 118 can be fixed to the lower peripheral edge 115 of each cup 110 in various ways. In the embodiment shown in the figures, a cloth cover or cover 119 encapsulates the rod 118 and is sewn to the lower peripheral edge 115 so that the rod 118 remains in the desired position and does not move during use. The fabric forming the sheath 119 may be similar to the material forming the cups 110 or different from it; however, the fabric is selected to be thick enough and have a smooth face so that the cup is comfortable on contacting the breast because the cloth sheath 119 can touch the skin of the wearer. Another possibility is to hold the rod between the layers of fabric when the cup 110 is a combination of multiple layers, or to sew it with a lower peripheral hem when the cup is constructed with a superposition of layers of fabric.

As well shown in Figure 3, a pad 150 is fixed to the interior of the cup 110, adjacent to the area of the inner surface 114 within the cup 110 and above the encapsulated outer end 118b of the rod 118. As described in more detail below, the pad 150 is sewn, glued or otherwise adhered along the upper peripheral edge 117 of the cup 110.

Although the pad 150 may fit around the entire perimeter, or the area of its total surface to the inner surface of the cup 110, it was found that fixing it only along the portion of its inner edge 150a is sufficient to keep pad 150 in position. In this way, the curved or curved edge 150b of the foam pad 150 forms a loose edge that remains unclamped.

As also shown in the Figures, the arcuate shape of the pad projects inwardly from the inner edge portion 150a and the upper periphery 117 of the cup. Although other geometries for the pad 150 may also offer adequate results, it was observed that an arched or semi-circular geometry with a loose outer edge 150b provides sufficient cushioning on the outer end 118b of the rod, while not being twisted or It is deformed when using the bra 100, which generates discomfort to the user.

Finally, Figures 4A to 4C describe in more detail the pad 150. As shown in the Figures, the pad 150 includes a pad portion 150c and a hold portion 150d. The pad portion 150c provides the exposed cushion, which is placed on the outer end 118b of the rod encapsulated in the sleeve 118 and on the inner layer 114 of the cup 110. The outermost surface 154b of the pad 150 will come into contact with the skin of the one who uses it; however, as shown in Figure 4C, any of the surfaces 154a, 154b of the pad 150 may be selected as the outermost side because each opposite side of the pad 150 is, basically, the mirror image of the other in the presentation that is shown. However, this symmetry is not fundamental to the functionality of the pad 150; consequently, the opposite sides of the pad can have different shapes. For example, one side 154a could be, basically, flat, while the other side 154a could be rounded. The holding portion 150d has no significant cushioning, since this portion includes the area that is fixed along the upper peripheral edge 117 of the cup 110.

With respect to Figure 4B, example dimensions of the pad 150 are shown; these are by way of example and do not limit the present invention. The innermost edge, A, of the presentation shown, is around 46 mm +/- 3%. The height, B, of the pad is around 21 mm +/- 3%. The height, C, of the pad portion 150c is about 16 mm +/- 3%, and the height, D, of the holding portion 150d is about 5 mm +/- 3%. Finally, the peripheral edge, E, of the arcuate portion of the pad 150, where the fabric layers are joined surrounding the pad 152, is about 1 mm +/- 3%.

As well shown in Figure 4C, the outer layers of fabric 154 are molded or laminated to encase a foam pad 152. Because the outermost fabric layers 154b will be in contact with the skin of the wearer of the bra. 100, the fabric selected for that layer should have a smooth face so that it is relatively smooth and does not rub and irritate the skin of the wearer. In addition, the fabric must be breathable so that it absorbs or retains moisture from the skin. In a presentation, the fabric is 100% woven polyester; however, other suitable fabrics, whether woven, woven or non-woven, with the same or similar characteristics may be used. Also, the fabric forming the innermost surface 154a of the pad 150 may be of a different type of fabric, since it will not be in contact with the skin of the wearer of the bra and may be selected to be compatible with the fabric that form the cup 110 or to be durable. Another possibility is that the single cloth layer (not shown in the figure) wraps the foam rubber 152 and, subsequently, laminates the entire surface area of the foam rubber 152.

The fabric layers 154 are laminated / glued to the inner foam rubber 152 in any of the conventional ways. The foam rubber pad 152 in an example presentation is 100% polyurethane; however, another type of foam rubber or other suitable soft and flexible filler materials may be used in order to provide an acceptable level of cushioning and softness. Alternatively, pad 150 may include multiple layers of soft fabric.

The physical properties of an exemplary foam pad for the presentation shown in the Figures are as follows: Polyurethane foam rubber 100% 100% polyester fabric - Total fabric weight 108 - Thickness of foam rubber (in g / m2 +/- 5% center) 5.0 mm +/- 5% - Rolling weight 405 gm / m2 + 1-5% - Weight / m2 of foam rubber 175 gm +/- Weight of pair of 5% foam rubber pads - Apparent density 35 0.3 gm +/- 5% kg / m3 Although the present invention was described with an example presentation, it is to be understood that the modifications and variations may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. Such modifications and variations should be considered within the scope and scope of the included claims and their equivalents.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (14)

CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property:
1. l.- A support characterized because it includes: (a) a pair of cups, each of which has an inner surface and an outer surface, and a lower peripheral edge and an upper one; (b) a rod placed close to the lower peripheral edge of each cup, and each rod has, basically, U-shape in all its extension and internal and external ends; Y (c) a pad fixed along the upper peripheral edge on the inner surface of each cup and placed on the outer end of the rod.
2. 2. - The support in accordance with the claim 1, characterized in that the cup includes either a multi-layered laminate, a single layer of very fine fabric or a multi-layered woven fabric.
3. 3. - The support in accordance with the claim 1, characterized in that the rod has a substantially uniform cross section throughout its extension.
4. 4. - The support in accordance with the claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the inner and outer ends has a protective coating.
5. 5. - The bra according to claim 1, characterized in that, in addition, it includes a fabric that covers each rod, basically, in all its extension and that is placed between the rod and the pad.
6. 6. - The support in accordance with the claim 1, characterized in that the pad is an arched pad, and the pad is attached to the upper peripheral edge of each cup in a seam hem.
7. 7. - The bra according to claim 6, characterized in that the arched filling is placed, basically, symmetrically on the outer end of the rod.
8. 8. - The bra according to claim 1, characterized in that the pad is a foam rubber material encapsulated between the fabric layers.
9. 9. - The bra according to claim 6, characterized in that the foam rubber is made of polyurethane.
10. 10. - The bra according to claim 1, characterized in that the pad contains a multilayer fabric.
11. 11. - The bra according to claim 1, characterized in that the pad contains a thick material.
12. 12. - The bra according to claim 8, characterized in that the fabric layers contain polyester.
13. 13. - The bra according to claim 1, characterized in that, when worn, the pad is adjacent to the wearer's skin.
14. 14. - The support in accordance with the claim 1, characterized in that the pad has a length extending over the upper peripheral edge having at least twice the height of the pad when measured from the peripheral edge that is fastened to its outermost point.