US20080274669A1

US20080274669A1 - Shaped underwire and brassiere including such

Info

Publication number: US20080274669A1
Application number: US11/743,426
Authority: US
Inventors: Zhen Qiang Liu
Original assignee: Regina Miracle International Enterprises Ltd
Current assignee: Regina Miracle International Enterprises Ltd
Priority date: 2007-05-02
Filing date: 2007-05-02
Publication date: 2008-11-06
Also published as: CN201252830Y

Abstract

An underwire for a brassiere disposed at the lower periphery of the breast cup region. The underwire includes a strip having opposite major surfaces extending between its ends. One major surface extends in a longitudinal direction between the ends of the strip, is shaped along the major surface between the ends of the strip so that a first normal at any location on the major surface does not extend parallel to a second normal at a second location on the major surface. The second location is along the longitudinal direction of the strip and spaced along the major surface from the first location. The major surface may be shaped as part of a hypothetical conical surface. The major surface or a central portion thereof is inclined to the vertical. The underwire or the central region thereof is convexly curved on the outside and concavely curved on the inside.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to shaped underwire and brassiere including such.

BACKGROUND

A conventional underwire for a brassiere (hereinafter referred to as “bra”) is 2-dimensional, in the sense that it is essentially flat or planar, or that it can lay flat on a flat surface. It includes two opposite major surfaces which are flat and is strip-like in nature. It is generally “U” or arcuate in plan shape.
A conventional underwire is typically encased in a fabric sock or channel that is stitched to the bra cup. It is typically located below the bra cup adjacent the periphery of the cup. One problem with a conventional underwire is that the breast is typically not directly supported by a major surface of the underwire, with the result that the wearer feels uncomfortable after long-time wearing.
A “beyond-the-bra-cup” location of the underwire requires generally a flange of bra fabric to be present beyond the cups of the bra to retain the underwire. The problem is that the flange or an excessive flange is not always visually pleasing.
The “beyond-the-bra-cup” location also makes the end of the underwire that is further away from the bridge region between two bra cups more conspicuous when the back straps of the brassiere are tightly fastened to each other. This again creates an unpleasant look.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a shaped underwire and/or a brassiere that includes a shaped underwire that addresses at least some of the above mentioned problems and/or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly in a first aspect the present invention consists in an underwire for a brassiere, the underwire comprising a strip of material having two ends and at least one major surface extending in a longitudinal direction between said ends, wherein said major surface is inclined at an angle from the vertical along a length of said major surface over at least a portion of said underwire, said portion including at least a central region of said underwire and said central region being generally around a center of said underwire between said ends.
Preferably said angle from the vertical is in the range of 40° to 80°.
Preferably said major surface is concavely curved.
Preferably said underwire is entirely within a breast cup of said brassiere.
Preferably said underwire is a metal strip.
Preferably said major surface is inclined at an angle from the vertical along said major surface over an entire length of said underwire.
Preferably said major surface is oriented to define a part of a generally conical surface.
In a further aspect the present invention consists in an underwire for a brassiere, the underwire comprising a strip of material having two ends and at least one major surface extending in a longitudinal direction between said ends of said strip, said major surface being shaped to have a plurality of locations along said major surface between said ends of said strip and such that a first normal at any first said location on said major surface does not extend parallel to a second normal at another second said location on said major surface, wherein said second location is along said longitudinal direction of said strip and spaced along said major surface from said first location.
Preferably said brassiere includes at least one breast cup and said major surface is entirely at said at least one breast cup.
Preferably said first and second locations are both within a central region of said strip, said central region being generally around a center of said strip between said ends of said strip.
Preferably said strip is a metal strip.
Preferably said major surface is oriented to define a part of a generally conical surface.
In a further aspect the present invention consists in an underwire for a brassiere, the underwire being formed by the steps of:
providing a precursor strip of material, said precursor strip having two ends and a first and a second major surface, wherein each of said first and second major surfaces is on a respective opposite side of said strip and each said major surface is in a respective plane and extends in a longitudinal direction between said ends; and
displacing said major surfaces out of said respective planes thereof, over at least a portion of said precursor strip extending between said ends, wherein said portion includes at least a central region of said precursor strip, said central region being generally around a center of said precursor strip between said ends.
Preferably said displacing occurs over a whole length of said precursor strip between said ends.
Preferably said precursor strip is a strip of metal.
Preferably at least one of said major surfaces is displaced to define a part of a generally conical surface.
In a further aspect the present invention consists in an underwire for a brassiere, said underwire comprising a strip of material having two ends, two opposite major surfaces extending between said two ends, wherein one of said major surfaces has a convex curvature and the other of said major surfaces has a concave curvature along at least a portion of said strip, said portion includes at least a central region of said strip, said central region being generally around a center of said strip between said ends.
Preferably said other concave curvature major surface is oriented to define a part of a generally conical surface.
Preferably said convex curvature and said concave curvature occur along a whole length of said strip between said ends.
Preferably said strip of material is of metal.
In a further aspect the present invention consists in a brassiere comprising two breast cups and a bridge between said breast cups, said breast cups having a lower periphery; and
an underwire as hereinbefore described at said lower periphery of at least one of said breast cups.
In a further aspect the present invention consists in a brassiere comprising
a core assembly defining two breast cup regions and a bridge region between said breast cup regions, said breast cup regions having a lower side with a lower periphery, said core assembly comprising at least a first layer of foam material and a second layer of foam material laminated with said first layer of foam material, said core assembly having an interior side and an exterior side,
a first and a second outer layer, each said outer layer being disposed outside of and each being laminated with said core assembly, wherein said first outer layer is on said interior side and said second outer layer is on said exterior side of said core assembly to encase said core assembly,
at least at one of said breast cup regions, an underwire located between said first and second layers of foam material and at said lower periphery of said breast cup region, and
said underwire comprising a strip of material having two ends and having at least one major surface extending in a longitudinal direction between said ends of said strip, wherein said major surface is inclined at an angle from the vertical along a length of said major surface over at least a portion of said underwire, said portion including at least a central region of said underwire and said central region being generally around a center of said underwire between said ends.
Preferably said major surface is inclined at an angle from the vertical along said major surface over an entire length of said underwire.
Preferably the whole of said underwire is located within said breast cup region.
Preferably at least one of said first and second layers also defines a back strap of said brassiere.
Preferably said strip is of metal.
In a further aspect the present invention consists in a brassiere comprising
a core assembly defining two breast cup regions and a bridge region between said breast cup regions, said breast cup regions having a lower side with a lower periphery, said core assembly comprising at least a first layer of foam material and a second layer of foam material laminated with said first layer of foam material, said core assembly having an interior side and an exterior side,
a first and a second outer layer, each said outer layer being disposed outside of and each being laminated with said core assembly, wherein said first outer layer is on said interior side and said second outer layer is on said exterior side of said core assembly to encase said core assembly,
at least at one of said breast cup regions, an underwire located between said first and second layers of foam material and at said lower periphery of said breast cup region, and
said underwire comprising a strip of material having two ends and having two opposite major surfaces extending in a longitudinal direction between said ends of said strip, at least one of said major surfaces being shaped to have a plurality of locations along said at least one major surface between said ends of said strip, said strip being shaped such that for said at least one major surface, a normal at any first said location on said at least one major surface does not extend parallel to a second normal at a second said location on said at least one major surface, wherein said second location is along said longitudinal direction of said strip and spaced along said at least one major surface from said first location.
Preferably the whole of said underwire is located within said breast cup region.
Preferably at least one of said first and second layers also defines a back strap of said brassiere.
Preferably said strip is of metal.
Preferably said first and second locations are both within a central region of said strip, said central region being generally around a center of said strip between said ends.
In a further aspect the present invention consists in a brassiere comprising
a core assembly defining two breast cup regions and a bridge region between said breast cup regions, said breast cup regions having a lower side with a lower periphery, said core assembly comprising at least a first layer of foam material and a second layer of foam material laminated with said first layer of foam material, said core assembly having an interior side and an exterior side,
a first and a second outer layer, each said outer layer being disposed outside of and each being laminated with said core assembly, wherein said first outer layer is on said interior side and said second outer layer is on said exterior side of said core assembly to encase said core assembly,
at least at one of said breast cup regions, and
an underwire located between said first and second layers of foam material and at said lower periphery of said breast cup region,
wherein said underwire comprises a strip of material having two ends and opposite major surfaces extending between said two ends, and wherein along at least a portion of a length of said strip, said portion including at least a central portion of said strip and said central portion being generally around a center of said strip between said ends, one said major surface has a convex curvature and the other said major surface has a concave curvature.
Preferably the whole of said underwire is located within said breast cup region.
Preferably at least one of said first and second layers also defines a back strap of said brassiere.
Preferably said strip is of metal.
Preferably said convex curvature and said concave curvature occur along the whole length of said strip.
In a further aspect the present invention consists in an underwire for brassiere, the underwire comprising a strip of material defining two underwire regions and a bridge region therebetween, wherein each underwire region has two ends and two opposite major surfaces extending in a longitudinal direction between said ends of said strip, one said major surface of each said underwire region being shaped to have a plurality of locations along said major surface between said ends of said strip and such that for at least one said major surface, a first normal at any first said location on said one major surface does not extend parallel to a second normal at another second said location on said one major surface, wherein said second location is along said longitudinal direction of said strip and spaced along said one major surface from said first location, and wherein said underwire is substantially symmetric about a plane of symmetry passing through said bridge region.
Preferably each said major surface is entirely at a respective breast cup of said brassiere.
In a further aspect the present invention consists in a brassiere comprising two breast cups and a bridge between said breast cups, each of said breast cups having a lower periphery; and
an underwire as hereinbefore described at said lower periphery of each of said breast cups.
This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.
Where reference herein is made to interior and exterior or similar terminology, it is meant to be understood to be in relation to the body of the wearer of the bra. For example the “interior” or “inner side” or “inner region” is a relative term to denote that an item is more proximate the face side of the bra that is more proximate to the body of the wearer than items of the bra that are more distal the body of the wearer. “Inner” does not mean “inner most” unless specified. This similarly applies to terms such as “outer” or “exterior”.
Where reference herein is made to “underwire” it is to be understood that this relates to the industry term for such a product and such may come in the form or a metal or plastic strip or other form.
As used herein the term “and/or” means “and” or “or”, or both.
As used herein “(s)” following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.
The term “comprising” as used in this specification means “consisting at least in part of”. When interpreting statements in this specification which include that term, the features, prefaced by that term in each statement, all need to be present but other features can also be present. Related terms such as “comprise” and “comprised” are to be interpreted in the same manner.
It is intended that reference to a range of numbers disclosed herein (for example, 1 to 10) also incorporates reference to all rational numbers within that range (for example, 1, 1.1, 2, 3, 3.9, 4, 5, 6, 6.5, 7, 8, 9 and 10) and also any range of rational numbers within that range (for example, 2 to 8, 1.5 to 5.5 and 3.1 to 4.7).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a bra incorporating the underwire, shown with emphasis to illustrate the orientation and positioning of the underwire of the bra,

FIG. 2 is a front view of an underwire shown in an orientation as would be seen if incorporated with a bra and the bra is seen directly from the front and as illustrated as view B of FIG. 4,

FIG. 3 is a view in the opposite direction as that shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the underwire of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view (from the right) through section CC of FIG. 2,

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a cone illustrating an example shape of an underwire located on the conical surface of a cone,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cone of FIG. 6 illustrating the positioning of an example shape of an underwire located on the conical surface of the cone,

FIG. 8 is a side view of the cone of FIGS. 6 and 7,

FIG. 9 is a side view of a cone illustrating a differently shaped underwire,

FIG. 9A is a plan view of an elliptical cone showing the underwire 208 positioned on a surface of this elliptical cone,

FIG. 10 is a sectional exploded view of at least some of the components that may define a bra taken at section AA of FIG. 1,

FIG. 11 is a front view of part of a bra of a kind with which the underwire members of the present invention can be incorporated,

FIG. 12 is a front view of an underwire that defines two portions one for each breast cup,

FIG. 13 is a side view of two cones and illustrating in relation thereto, the underwire of FIG. 12,

FIG. 14 is a plan view of FIG. 13,

FIG. 15 is a front view of an underwire shown in an orientation as would be seen if incorporated with a bra and the bra is seen directly from the front and as illustrated as view B of FIG. 4, and

FIG. 16 shows the sectional views (from the left) through sections AA, BB and CC respectively of FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1 there is shown a brassiere (hereinafter “bra”) 1 that may generally be defined by two breast cups 2, 3, back straps 4 and shoulder straps 7. The shoulder straps 7 extend between breast cups 2, 3 and each of the back straps 4 respectively.
The shoulder straps may however be optional as it is envisaged that the bra may be strapless. Indeed while reference herein is made to a bra, it is envisaged that the assembly of panels to define such may alternatively be incorporated into other garments such as, for example, evening dresses or bathing suits or the like.
The bra 1 may also include flanges 5 located beneath the lower periphery of each breast cup 2, 3. Alternatively the bra may not include such flanges, as for example shown in the bra shown in part in FIG. 11.
With reference to FIG. 1 it can be seen, and with emphasis added, the positioning of two underwires at respective breast cups 2, 3. With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 10, the underwire 8, located at the breast cup 3, is preferably positioned so that the underwire is located between an inner and an outer layer of the breast cup 3 and extends along or adjacent the lower periphery 6 of the breast cup 3.
The lower periphery 6 of the breast cup 2, 3 has on either side of it a breast cup side or a flange side. The underwire 8 preferably extends along at least part of the lower periphery 6 on the breast cup side of the periphery 6. Less desirably but not excluded from the present invention is the positioning of the underwire 8 on the other side (i.e., the flange side) of the lower periphery 6. In such a case the underwire may be positioned between an inner and an outer layer of the flange 5 extending beneath the breast cup 2, 3.
With reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, the underwire 8 is preferably of a strip-like nature. It includes a first major surface 8A and a second major surface 8B which are opposite to each other. It also includes longitudinal edges 11 and 12 and free distal ends 9 and 10. The first major surface 8A and the second major surface each extends from one distal end to the other. In the most preferred form, as will be described hereinbelow, one of the major surfaces 8A and 8B, being the outward side which is further away from the wearer's body, has a convex curvature while the other of the major surfaces 8A and 8B, being the inward side which is closer to the wearer's body, has a concave curvature.
The underwire 8 of the present invention is preferably formed to the desired shape from a precursor flat or planar strip of material which is in the shape of a conventional 2-dimensional underwire. The precursor strip of material is preferably metal and is curved or generally arcuate in shape in the plane in which the precursor strip is generally located. From the flat arcuate precursor shape, forming to the desired shape of the present invention can occur. The forming will result in at least a portion of one of the major surfaces 8A and 8B taking on a convex shape and the corresponding portion of the other of the major surfaces 8A and 8B taking on a concave shape. It will be appreciated that forming from a precursor flat strip is merely one way of making an underwire of the present invention and the present invention is not limited to such illustrated way of making the underwire.
In the most preferred form of the present invention, the desired concave and convex shape of the underwire is present over the whole length of the underwire between the ends 9 and 10, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. However, the desired concave and convex shape may alternatively exist over only a portion of the length of the underwire. Such portion may be referred to as the formed portion, as it is the portion that has been formed into the concave and convex desired shape. In the present invention, the formed portion includes at least a central region generally around a center of the underwire between the two ends of the underwire, as such convex/concave shaping at least the central region of the underwire would provide the wearer with improved comfort and/or support over the conventional underwire. In the most preferred form the formed portion extends over the whole length of the underwire.
Thus, the desired concave and convex shape may exist over the whole length of the underwire, or may exist only between two points both being located inward of the ends 9 and 10 but outward of the central region, or located between one of the ends and a point inward of the other end but outward of the central region. In other words, for example, one or both of the end regions of the underwire may not be subjected to the convex/concave forming while the central region of the underwire possibly together with one or both of the end regions may be subjected to such convex/concave forming. In all cases, the desired concave and convex shape exists at least over the central region.
As a result of the forming of the whole or the formed portion of the underwire to the desired concave and convex shape, one or both of the major surfaces are inclined to the vertical.
With reference to FIG. 5, there is shown a sectional view through section CC of FIG. 2 wherein at the central region the major surfaces are inclined at an angle D relative to the vertical VV. As shown, D is approximately 45°. D may range from about 40° to 80° degrees.
The inclination to the vertical preferably occurs over the entire length of the underwire. However, it is possible that the inclination to the vertical occurs only over a portion of the underwire, specifically the formed portion which includes at least the central region. FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate such a possibility. There, a portion of the major surface 21 is convexly curved while the corresponding portion of the opposite major surface is concavely curved. As can be seen, the inclination to the vertical occurs around the central region but not at the end regions.
In addition, as a result of the forming of the desired concave and convex shape of the present invention, the normal N of the underwire at any first point on the first or second major surface 8A or 8B of the formed underwire or, as the case may be, of the formed portion of the underwire, is not parallel to the normal at any second point spaced along a longitudinal direction of the underwire from the first point on the same major surface of the formed underwire or, as the case may be, of the formed portion of the underwire. As can be seen with reference to FIG. 2, the normals N₁, N₂, and N₃are not parallel. Where only the formed portion of the underwire has been formed to the desired concave and convex shape, the region at one or both of the distal ends may still have normals parallel to each other.
Likewise, the normal at any first point on the other major surface 8B or 8A of the underwire or of the formed portion of the underwire, as the case may be, is also not parallel to the normal at any second point spaced along a longitudinal direction of the underwire from the first point on that surface.
To illustrate the underwire is formed so that all (or at least the portion intermediate of the distal ends 9, 10 or between a distal end and a point inward of the other distal end but outward of the central region) of a major surface is displaced out of the plane of the original precursor planar strip, reference is made to FIGS. 6-8 which illustrate an example shape of the underwire of the present invention. In this example, the shape of the underwire 8 can generally be defined with reference to a conical geometry explained with reference to FIG. 6-8. As can be seen with reference to these figures, the underwire 8 may for example be formed to define part of a hypothetical conical surface, particularly a fragment of a frustum of the cone.
As illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, where the underwire is for example formed to define part of a conical surface, the normal at all points on the concave surface 8B at a certain distance from a longitudinal edge of the underwire, for instance midway between the edges 11 and 12, will pass through a common point. Also, the concave surface is inward and the convex surface is outward of the conical shape.
The underwire may extend across a substantial arc of the conical surface. The arc S, as shown with reference to FIG. 6, and the radius and height of the cone 16 and therefore of the underwire shaped generally as a fragment of the frustum of the cone may vary as different dimensions will apply to different sized bras.
With reference to the example shape shown in FIG. 9, it can be seen that the underwire 108 as illustrated need not necessarily extend along a single plane of the hypothetical cone 16. It can be seen that at or towards the distal ends 109, 110, the underwire may deviate upwardly.
With reference to FIG. 9A and by way of an alternative illustration, it can be seen that rather than the underwire being formed, for example, to a shape substantially following a conical surface, the underwire may instead be formed, for example, to follow a elliptical conical surface 216. In fact, as noted, the underwire of the present invention does not need to follow any conical surface.
As noted, shapes other than a fragment of a frustum of a cone may be formed as the underwire. They share in common the convex and concave curvatures of the opposite major surfaces, the inclination to the vertical and/or the non-parallel characteristics of the normals, as described above. For example, the underwire's shape may not have a uniform radius of curvature along its length between its ends. The shape of the underwire may be such that the radius or distance from an axis through a plane in which the strip is generally located is larger along one longitudinal edge of the strip and shorter along the opposite longitudinal edge, for example, as occurs with a frustum of a cone.
With reference to FIG. 10, there is shown a cross sectional view through section AA of FIG. 1 where there is illustrated a part of the breast cup and the flange of a preferred bra incorporating an underwire of the present invention in an exploded view. The preferred bra is preferably a molded bra comprising two or more layers of molded materials. The layers of molded materials are preferably laminated or adhered together in an appropriate manner, preferably with adhesives. Preferably, there is provided a core assembly of layers which defines two breast cups and a bridge region between the two breast cups (but excluding the back straps). The core assembly comprises inner and outer layers of foam material 17, 18 that are laminated to each other and that are positioned between and laminated respectively to interior and exterior layers of fabric material 19, 20. The interior and exterior layers of fabric material 19, 20, or either of them, may extend substantially across the entire length of the bra and include one or both of the back straps of the bra. Each of these interior and exterior layers 19, 20 may optionally be laminated with a co-extensive foam layer, which foam layer is laminated with the foam layer 17 or 18 of the core assembly. Captured between the foam layers 17, 18 of the core assembly is the underwire 8. The applicant's published U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/864,255 contains detailed description of the structure of such a bra comprising a core assembly and how it is manufactured and is hereby incorporated by reference.
Alternatively, which is not shown in FIG. 10, a core assembly comprising the foam layers 17 and 18 is not present and the underwire 8 is captured directly between an outer and an inner fabric layer (either or both of which being with or without a co-extensive foam layer laminated thereto) of the bra or, as the case may be, of the bra cup.
In each case, the whole of the underwire 8 is preferably located in the breast cup region (as opposed to the flange region) of the bra as can be seen in FIG. 10. It is located adjacent the lower periphery 6 on the breast cup side (rather than on the flange side) of this periphery 6. The underwire is preferably retained in a fabric sock or channel. Where a core assembly is provided, the core's foam layers 17, 18 are preferably laminated to each other with the underwires positioned between them at the lower periphery of the respective breast cup regions.
With reference to FIG. 11, there is shown a bra 101 that does not include a flange extending along the entire lower periphery 106 of each of the breast cups 102 and 103. Instead the lower periphery 106 of each of the breast cups 102 and 103 is free. The underwire of the present invention lends itself particularly well to incorporation into a bra of this kind. With a forming of the underwire to the desired concave/convex shape as herein described the underwire can or will follow, to a sufficient extent, the shape of the breast cups 102 and 103.
With reference to FIG. 12, there is shown an underwire 308 that includes two portions 325 and 326. Each of the portions 325 and 326 is preferably of the desired concave/convex shape as herein described. There is a bridge region 327 between the portions 325 and 326 and the underwire is substantially symmetric about a plane of symmetry passing through the bridge region.
In FIGS. 13 and 14 there is shown an example of how the shape of the underwire of FIG. 12 may be generated. It is merely shown with reference to the conical surfaces by way of illustration and certainly the actual concave/convex curved regions of the underwire of FIG. 12 need not be strictly conical in form. In FIGS. 13 and 14 there is shown two cones that are in partial overlap at their base. It can be seen that a first section 325 of the underwire of FIG. 12 follows a part of the conical surface of the cone on the left-hand side and a second portion 326 of the underwire follows a part of the conical surface on the right-hand side. The degree of overlap of the conical surfaces may define where the bridge region 327 of the underwire 308 is positioned. FIGS. 13 and 14 have been used to illustrate an example of the shape of an underwire, however variations on this shape are envisaged so long as in respect of each of the portions 325 and 326 of the underwire, the normals, the concave/convex curvatures and the inclination to the vertical are akin to what is described above with reference to FIGS. 2 to 9A.
While the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood that such embodiments are susceptible of modifications and variations without departing from the scope of the present invention and that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An underwire for a brassiere, the underwire comprising a strip of material having two ends and at least one major surface extending in a longitudinal direction between said ends, wherein said major surface is inclined at an angle from a vertical plane along a length of said major surface over an entire length of said underwire, including at least a central region of said underwire and said central region being generally around a center of said underwire between said ends.

2. An underwire as claimed in claim 1 wherein said angle from the vertical plane is in the range of 40° to 80°.

3. An underwire as claimed in claim 1 wherein said major surface is concavely curved.

4. (canceled)

5. An underwire as claimed in claim 1 wherein said underwire is a metal strip.

6. (canceled)

7. An underwire as claimed in claim 1, wherein said major surface is oriented to define a part of a generally conical surface.

8. An underwire for a brassiere, the underwire comprising a strip of material having two ends and at least one major surface extending in a longitudinal direction between said ends of said strip, said major surface being shaped to have a plurality of locations along said major surface between said ends of said strip and such that a first normal at any first said location on said major surface does not extend parallel to a second normal at another second said location on said major surface, wherein said second location is along said longitudinal direction of said strip and spaced along said major surface from said first location.

9. An underwire for a brassiere as claimed in claim 8, wherein said brassiere includes at least one breast cup and said major surface is entirely at said at least one breast cup.

10. An underwire as claimed in claim 8 wherein said first and second locations are both within a central region of said strip, said central region being generally around a center of said strip between said ends of said strip.

11. An underwire as claimed in claim 8 wherein said strip is a metal strip.

12. An underwire for brassiere as claimed in claim 8, wherein said major surface is oriented to define a part of a generally conical surface.

13. An underwire for a brassiere, the underwire being formed by the steps of:

providing a precursor strip of material, said precursor strip having two ends and a first and a second major surface, wherein each of said first and second major surfaces is on a respective opposite side of said strip and each said major surface is in a respective plane and extends in a longitudinal direction between said ends; and

displacing said major surfaces out of said respective planes thereof, over an entire length of said precursor strip extending between said ends, including least a central region of said precursor strip, said central region being generally around a center of said precursor strip between said ends.

14. An underwire as claimed in claim 13, wherein said displacing occurs over a whole length of said precursor strip between said ends.

15. An underwire as claimed in claim 13, wherein said precursor strip is a strip of metal.

16. An underwire for brassiere as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one of said major surfaces is displaced to define a part of a generally conical surface.

17. An underwire for a brassiere, said underwire comprising a strip of material having two ends, two opposite major surfaces extending between said two ends, wherein one of said major surfaces has a convex curvature and the other of said major surfaces has a concave curvature along an entire length of said strip, including at least a central region of said strip, said central region being generally around a center of said strip between said ends.

18. An underwire for brassiere as claimed in claim 17, wherein said other concave curvature major surface is oriented to define a part of a generally conical surface.

19. An underwire as claimed in claim 17, wherein said convex curvature and said concave curvature occur along a whole length of said strip between said ends.

20. An underwire as claimed in claim 17, wherein said strip of material is of metal.

21. A brassiere comprising two breast cups and a bridge between said breast cups, said breast cups having a lower periphery; and

an underwire as claimed in claim 1 at said lower periphery of at least one of said breast cups.

22. A brassiere comprising

a core assembly defining two breast cup regions and a bridge region between said breast cup regions, said breast cup regions having a lower side with a lower periphery, said core assembly comprising at least a first layer of foam material and a second layer of foam material laminated with said first layer of foam material, said core assembly having an interior side and an exterior side,

a first and a second outer layer, each said outer layer being disposed outside of and each being laminated with said core assembly, wherein said first outer layer is on said interior side and said second outer layer is on said exterior side of said core assembly to encase said core assembly,

at least at one of said breast cup regions, an underwire located between said first and second layers of foam material and at said lower periphery of said breast cup region, and

said underwire comprising a strip of material having two ends and having at least one major surface extending in a longitudinal direction between said ends of said strip, wherein said major surface is inclined at an angle from a vertical plane along a length of said major surface over an entire length of said underwire, including at least a central region of said underwire and said central region being generally around a center of said underwire between said ends.

23. (canceled)

24. A brassiere as claimed in claim 22, wherein the whole of said underwire is located within said breast cup region.

25. A brassiere as claimed in claim 22, wherein at least one of said first and second layers also defines a back strap of said brassiere.

26. A brassiere of claim 22, wherein said strip is of metal.

27. A brassiere comprising

said underwire comprising a strip of material having two ends and having two opposite major surfaces extending in a longitudinal direction between said ends of said strip, at least one of said major surfaces being shaped to have a plurality of locations along said at least one major surface between said ends of said strip, said strip being shaped such that for said at least one major surface, a normal at any first said location on said at least one major surface does not extend parallel to a second normal at a second said location on said at least one major surface, wherein said second location is along said longitudinal direction of said strip and spaced along said at least one major surface from said first location.

28. A brassiere as claimed in claim 27, wherein the whole of said underwire is located within said breast cup region.

29. A brassiere as claimed in claim 27, wherein at least one of said first and second layers also defines a back strap of said brassiere.

30. A brassiere of claim 27, wherein said strip is of metal.

31. A brassiere as claimed in claim 27, wherein said first and second locations are both within a central region of said strip, said central region being generally around a center of said strip between said ends.

32. A brassiere comprising

at least at one of said breast cup regions, and

an underwire located between said first and second layers of foam material and at said lower periphery of said breast cup region,

wherein said underwire comprises a strip of material having two ends and opposite major surfaces extending between said two ends, and wherein along an entire length of a length of said strip, including at least a central portion of said strip and said central portion being generally around a center of said strip between said ends, one said major surface has a convex curvature and the other said major surface has a concave curvature.

33. A brassiere as claimed in claim 32, wherein the whole of said underwire is located within said breast cup region.

34. A brassiere as claimed in claim 32, wherein at least one of said first and second layers also defines a back strap of said brassiere.

35. A brassiere as claimed in claim 32, wherein said strip is of metal.

36. A brassiere as claimed in claim 32, wherein said convex curvature and said concave curvature occur along the whole length of said strip.

37. An underwire for brassiere, the underwire comprising a strip of material defining two underwire regions and a bridge region therebetween, wherein each underwire region has two ends and two opposite major surfaces extending in a longitudinal direction between said ends of said strip, one said major surface of each said underwire region being shaped to have a plurality of locations along said major surface between said ends of said strip and such that for at least one said major surface, a first normal at any first said location on said one major surface does not extend parallel to a second normal at another second said location on said one major surface, wherein said second location is along said longitudinal direction of said strip and spaced along said one major surface from said first location, and wherein said underwire is substantially symmetric about a plane of symmetry passing through said bridge region.

38. An underwire for brassiere as claimed in claim 37, wherein each said major surface is entirely at a respective breast cup of said brassiere.

39. A brassiere comprising two breast cups and a bridge between said breast cups, each of said breast cups having a lower periphery; and

an underwire as claimed in claim 37 at said lower periphery of each of said breast cups.

40. A brassiere comprising two breast cups and a bridge between said breast cups, said breast cups having a lower periphery; and

an underwire as claimed in claim 8 at said lower periphery of at least one of said breast cups.

41. A brassiere comprising two breast cups and a bridge between said breast cups, said breast cups having a lower periphery; and

an underwire as claimed in claim 13 at said lower periphery of at least one of said breast cups.

42. A brassiere comprising two breast cups and a bridge between said breast cups, said breast cups having a lower periphery; and

an underwire as claimed in claim 17 at said lower periphery of at least one of said breast cups.