US2472281A - Garment - Google Patents

Description

June 7, 1949. H. H. BRUDERLIN 2,472,281

GARMENT Filed Sept. 25, 1947 IN V EN TOR. flay 2y 521/0524 //x M AffOQ/Vfy Patented June 7, 1949 U 0 Fl CE GARMENT Ronni! Braderlin, Venice, Calif.

Application-September 23, 1947', Serial No. 775,704

with the shoulder straps=removed andnisheld in.

place by high circnmferentiartens'ion; 'The'disadvantage of "this type'is obvious When'it'is' considered that the liody'circnm'lerence expands and contracts two inches or more in normal breathing.

If'the garment is tight: enough'with theibreath i exhaled" it will tight with the breath inhaled, and therefore it restricts-normal breathing. On the other hand; if thertenslonisreduced sufliciently-"to allow normal hreathing-withcomfort, it will be toolooseto stay in placeuvith" the breath exhaled; Efiorts' -h'ave been made'to overcome this rlii'ilcultyby them'senf elastic-"materia'l at some point in" perlphew hut material in tension: cannot" accommodate; this much change in dimension without excessivetens'ion which causes discomiortz In order to insure thatthls-type oifbra-ssiere does not slipdownwardi it lsnecessary "to provide tie material at the'trcnt center: ei'tlie garment at a level'near the-top of theicnps. Consequently this type isnot suitable for usewith dresses having deep necklines since'thetiememberwould be visible.

Another type makes useaor substantially-the same basic member described above botincluds wire stays of various kinds adaptewto stlfien or support local areasof thebrasslere: Whilethls type is generally moresatislactorypit -isnota complete solutionto the prohlemvb'ecansecitis likewise maintained in position only-hyscircumferential'tension in tlierfahric which results the disadvantagesmentloned above:

Another drawback of all types of' strapless. brassieres known: up to this: time thatthey require a band across the'bucli; usually-including" a detachablet'astener in center-of theback. In addition :to' theinconrenienceef "such-"an arrangement, the backstrap. in: the case of j a 'pathing-suit brassiere. prec'hidesthe possihtlityct building-open even coat above;

' to move with respectto each other.

Gmisequently, aswoman who wearsza bathing suit provided with such a brassiere is unable to wear a backless evening gown because of the unsightly mark produced.

The invention described in my co-pending application overcomes all of the difiiculties" presented by; previous types of brass-ieres and also possesses various additional advantages .as outlined in said application. The present invention {a more simplified construction possessing practicallyall oftheadvantages of my previous invention and incorporates several improvements thereover.

As in the previous case; the brassite'of this invention incorporates a completely self supporting frame and-does not rely for any of its supporton-thefabrlc of the 'brassiere proper which is thereiorefreeto perform the sole function of supportin-gthe breasts. It also eliminates the neoessity'ior a back strap together with its fastening'member.

The'present invention contemplates a unitary frame structure formed of one or more lengths of slender, elongate, resilient material. It may be made of'wire cr'of a plastic material such as "*iLzuciteg" which' has considerable elasticity, the presently preferred material being stainless, rust reslstingsprlng wireha-ving adia-meter of about three thirty-seconds of an inch or slightly less.

Y The frame is of generally -C -shape in horizontal projection to conform to and resiliently grip the body-oithe'wearer and defines in general a figure tin vertical projection, providing two loops serving as breast receiving openings. The frame is covered'with a brassiere body of fabric or other suitablematerial substantially of conventional tom provided with a pocket'member to receive the frame. Expansion of the chest resulting from normal breathing is accommodated by yielding of the spring material in bending with very little change in the light, resilient pressure ofrtheirame on the body.

'Ihewire-elements making up the frame cross each other at the plane of symmetry and are free The frame in my oo pending application includes an element at the loweredge extending entirely'across the central portion; When it is incorporated in' a garment such as acne-piece bathing suit, this elernentten'ds to form an unsightly projection.

However;v in the present invention, the lower frame=elements rise as they approach thecenter line-,- following the form of the body more closely, and: thus eliminate th projection. mentioned sire, it will be apparent that the frame member may be attached directly to any type of garment,

such as a one-piece bathing suit, a slip, a formal gown or the like.

Other features and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

While the invention may take numerous forms, those which are presently preferred are illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which.

Figure l is a three-quarter rear view in perspective of one form of the brassiere frame ofthis invention with the cover removed;

Figure 2 is a rear elevational View of said frame with the cover in place, but with a portion thereof broken away;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the frame;

Figure 4 is a side elevational View of the frame; and

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of a modified form of the frame incorporating shape adjusting means.

Referring first to Figure l, the basic frame, generally indicated by reference character I0, is made up of two elements l2 and I4 of slender, elongate, resilient material, such as spring wire. These elements are symmetrical with respect to each other and are provided with three-dimensional curves. Thus, element I2 has a left hand portion [6 provided with an upwardly convex arch and having a reverse curve in planform, and a right hand portion [8 lying generally in a horizontal plane and having a reverse curve in planform.

Right and left hand portions 20 and 22 of element M are complementary to portions 16 and I8, and the elements are joined at their ends 24 and 26, as by welding in the case of wire or cementing in the case of plastic. Any other desired method of connection may be used, and the entire frame may be made from a single length of material having a single connection at any desired point. It is to be understood that the term element as used in the subjoined claims is intended to define not a separate piece of material joined to other pieces of material but rather such part of any entire frame as is indicated by the terms of the particular claim.

It will be seen from Figures 2 and 3 that elements I2 and [4 cross over each other substantially at the plane of symmetry of the frame and that together they form in general a figure 8- in vertical projection and a C-shape in horizontal projection, with the arched portion of one element lying generally above the horizontal portion of the other element, thus defining a breast receiving opening at each side of the plane of symmetry. The C-shape of the entire frame, as seen in Figure 3, conforms to the body of the wearer and, because of the nature of the material, resiliently but firmly grips the body. Expansion of the chest increases the radial dimensions and causes corresponding expansion of the frame. This is taken care of by outward bending along the: entire 'length of the frame and, since the bending atany one point is very slight. the increase in radial pressure is negligible. This feature makes one frame adaptable to a relatively large range of chest sizes.

The elements of the frame are free to move with respect to each other where they cross in order to permit the frame to follow every movement of the wearer. They separate only slightly even with extreme movements but, if desired, a loop or link 28 may be provided as indicated in Figure 1 to loosely encircle both elements and limit the extent of such separation.

The brassiere is completed by the provision of a cover member mounted on the frame in a novel manner. A first piece of material 30 of the type conventionally used in brassieres is provided with an outline'corresponding to that of the frame but slightly larger. The usual cup portions 32 and 34 are formed therein as indicated in Figure 2. A

second piece of material 36 of the same conformation is attached to the first piece along a line corresponding with the outline of the frame to form apocket completely enclosing the frame and having a relatively narrow center portion, as at 38, with a wider portion to each side thereof.

At one free end of the cover the material of member 30 terminates slightly short of the extreme end, as at 40 and .a small fiap member 42 is-.provided .to complete the covering. This flap member slightly overlaps edge 40, terminating at 44 to provide an entrance to the pocket. The other free end of the cover may be completely closed or it may be formed in the same manner as the first free end. To insert the frame in the .covenit is progressively. collapsed and inserted thruthe opening formed by parts 40, 42, 44. After it has been inserted, it expands to completely fill out the pocket and the brassiere is ready for use,

with-flap 42 covering the last entering portion of the frame. v

. Tabs 46 and 48 are provided on the cover member in. case it isdesired to attach shoulder straps for added uplift, and tabs 50 are provided for the attachment. of back tie members which may be furnished on swimming suit brassires. These tie members maybe tucked under the ends of the brassire coverwhen not needed.

When the invention is applied to any more extensive garment-a piece'of material such as so -'or 36 is attached, as by sewing, to the main gartion in the garment if desired.

.; Means are provided in the modification illustrated in Figure 5 for altering the shape of the frame. Elements 52. and 54 are each provided with two detents 56 and 58 in the form of short reverse bends. Upper andlower loops or links 60 and 162 loosely encircle the two elements. Whenthese loops -lie together at the point of crossing-the framehas theshape of Figures 1 to 4. However, when the loops-are moved to the position shown in Figure 5 they draw the adjacent portions of elements 52 and 54 together intoga more nearly vertical position and the frame consequently becomes higher and narrower. Similarly, rearrangement of the loops and detents-mayprovidefor making the frame flatter .and wider than normal.

I It will be seen that the novel type of brassiere herein-disclosed is-suitable for all types of wearing apparel and provides maximum comfort and convenience while eliminating the discomforts and; disadvantages-of-zpreviously known types.

While several preferred forms of the invention have been illustrated and described hereinabove, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention, and it is intended that all such changes and modifications shall be embraced within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A frame for a garment comprising: a structure of filamentary resilient material; the elements of said structure defining a closed loop at each side of the plane of symmetry to serve as a breast receiving opening; the free ends of said loops being curved out of the general vertical plane of the medial portion, but lying substantially in the horizontal plane of the lower edge of said frame, to define therewith a generally C-shape to conform to and grip the body of the wearer; and the adjacent portions of said loops being so connected to each other as to be capable of substantial resistance to bending.

2. A frame for a garment comprising: a slender elongate element of resilient material defining an open framework in the general form of a figure 8; one loop of the figure being located at each side of the plane of symmetry of the frame; each loop expanding rapidly adjacent the plane of symmetry and converging gradually to a relatively small arcuate free end; said element crossing over itself loosely at the juncture of the loops at the plane of symmetry; said framework being curved generally in a C-shape to conform to and resiliently grip the body of the wearer.

3. A frame for a garment comprising: a unitary structure of filamentary resilient material generally defining a C-shape in horizontal projection and a figure 8 in vertical projection; the elements of said structure crossing each other substantially at the plane of symmetry and being free to move with respect to each other; a detent formed on each element closely above and below the point of intersection; and tie means engaging the detents to alter the shape of the frame.

4. A womans garment comprising: a unitary frame structure of filamentary resilient material r generally defining a C-shape in horizontal projection and a figure 8 in vertical projection; the elements of said structure crossing each other substantially at the plane of symmetry and being free to move with respect to each other; and a garment member having breast supporting portions and provided with a single pocket member having substantially the same form as the outline of said frame structure and having a relatively small opening at one end; said frame structure by virtue of its resiliency being adapted to be temporarily deformed to insert it in said pocket member.

5. A frame for a garment comprising: a coextensive pair of elements of filamentary resilient material, each of said elements extending unbrokenly from end to end of said frame across the plane of symmetry thereof and the ends of said elements being joined to each other at said frame ends; said elements being arranged to cross each other in the general form of an X at the plane of symmetry of said frame to form a generally vertical frontal plane; the upper portion of each element in said frontal plane defining an upwardly convex arch; the lower portion of each element in said frontal plane being substantially horizontal and lying substantially directly below the arched portion of the other element to define therewith a breast receiving opening; both ends of each element being curved rearwardly out of said frontal plane to extend around and resiliently grip the body of the wearer.

6. A frame for a garment comprising: a plurality of slender elongate elements of resilient material fixeclly joined to each other to define a unitary open framework in the general form of a figure 8; one loop of the figure being located at each side of the plane of symmetry of the frame; each loop expanding rapidly adjacent the plane of symmetry and converging gradually to a relatively small free end; said elements crossing over each other loosely at the juncture of the loops at the plane of symmetry; said framework being curved generally in a c-shape to conform to and resiliently grip the body of the wearer.

HENRY H. BRUDERLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,837,958 Ferrero Dec. 22, 1931 2,013,554 DeBenedetto Sept. 3, 1935 2,045,401 Mowry June 23, 1936 2,343,631 Bailey Mar. '7, 1944 2,414,590 Folb Jan. 21, 1947 2,420,593 Gluckin May 13, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 548,17? France Oct. 13, 1922 854,831 France Jan. 29, 1940

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