US2577842A - Brassiere - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 1l, 195 p C|R|NG|ONE 2,577,842

BRASSIERE:

Filed April 1, 195o wz/ewai Pe er w21/@wwe MW VVM digg/ Patented Dec. 11,1951

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRASSIRE Peter Ciringione, Stoneham, Mass.

Application April 1, 195D, Serial No. 153,422

4 Claims. (Cl. 2-42) This invention relates to brassires and more especially to a construction suitable for the more mature figure.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a brassire construction in which the elevation of the breasts may be effected along substantially vertically spaced parallel lines passing through the.nipples so as to afford a direct lift without lateral displacement and at the same time to distribute the lifting forces over substantial surface areas of the breasts so as to avoid local constriction and hence unnatural molding of the breasts or any portions thereof. Further objects are to provide a construction in which the elevating forces when applied will not tend to displace the brassire vertically on the body of the wearer, which will be extremely simple in its construction and which will support and mold the breasts of the wearer to best advantage from the standpoints of comfort, health and good taste.

`Each pocket consists of inner and outer parts, the inner parts being designed to receive and con- `.tain the entire hemispheroidal portions of the breasts, that is to have surface contact with the bottom, top and sides thereof and the outer parts being arranged to overlie in part the exterior surface of the inner pocket and to be attached to the body band substantially vertically below the nipples and to the forward ends of shoulder straps substantially vertically above the nipples so that manipulation of the straps by lengthening or shortening effects a vertical disposition of the inner pockets along parallel lines extending vertically through the nipples withoutI imparting lateral displacement. To effect vertical adjustment without local constriction along the linesl v of applied lift, the outer pockets are substantially coextensive in area with the inner pockets widthwise and are attached at their lateral edges to the body band and to each other but have vtapering lower and upper edges terminating in narrow apex portions which afford substantially point connection with the body band and the shoulder straps. The upper tapering edge of each louter pocket extends beyond the upper edge of "the inner pocket and the vtwo edges are connected at their narrow apex portions by an elasticized element so that a direct pull applied to the upper apex portion of the outer pocket is indirectly transmitted to the upper apex edge of the inner pocket.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an isometric front View of the brassire distended as when worn;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the inside front portion of the brassire;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary portion of the front showing the junction between the frontal and side portions of the body band and the connection of the inner pocket thereto;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary portion of the front showing the junction between the frontal and side portions of the body band and the connection of the inner pocket therewith;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the fasteners for securing the body band at the back; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic front view showing the direction of elevating pull exerted by adjustment of the shoulder straps with respect to the nipples.

Referring to the drawings the body-encircling support comprises an inelastic frontal portion I0 designed to underlie the breasts and to extend from the sternum laterally in opposite directions following approximately the curvature of the seventh ribs to the outer sides of the breasts, terminating substantially at the axilla. The frontal portion is held firmly in position by laterally and rearwardly extending side-embracing portions I2-l2 the extremities of which are joined at the Lback of the wearer by an elasticized element I4 stitched at one end to the extremity of one of the side portions I2 and has at its free end (Fig. 5) two sets of eyes I6 with which may alternately be engaged hooks IB fastened to the extremity of the other side portion l2, depending upon the girth of the wearer. The frontal portion l0 has lavlower edge 25J which is slightly concave so as smoothly to follow the convexity of the body just below the breasts and a broken upper edge 22-22 sloping from a high point at the mid-point thereof `which overlies the sternuin area in opposite directions toward the side portions or axilla areas substantially below the armpits. The edges 22-,22 are slightly concave. The side portions l2 are wider than the frontal portion I0 extendingupwardly from the lower edge of the frontal band to approximately the level of the nipples alongthe outer sides of the breasts andl provide rising, laterally spaced edges l3-l3 to which' the breast-receiving pockets are attached, as will appear hereinafter. From their forward end edges |3-I3 the side portions I2 taper gradually, to their extremities, chiefly by inclination of their upper edges with respect to continuing, substantially straight lower edges.

Preferably the frontal portion I is two-ply, having an inner facing of cotton and an outer facing of satin, the two being coextensive and stitched together throughout with suitable finished edges. The side portions I2 are made of single-ply satin, have suitably finished edges and may be edged with lace if desired. While satin is stipulated as the material used herein it is evident that any other textile fabric which will afford the desired strength characteristics, comfort to the wearer and eye appeal may be substituted therefor.

The breast-receiving pockets consist of symmetrically spaced, nesting inner and outer members 24-24 and 2li-26. Each inner pocket is designed to receive and cover the entire hemispheroidal portion of the breast, that is, to have contact with the entire convex surface thereof and to this end has a lower edge 28 coextensive with and secured by stitching to the sloping edge 22 of the frontal portion I0 of the body band, and outer edge 30 extending upwardly along the forward end edge I3 of the side portion I2 to a heightwise position between approximately onehalf and three-quarters of the length of the end edge (Fig. 3). The upper part of the pocket has upwardly converging edges 32 and 34, the edge 32 originating at the upper end of the edge 30 and the edge 34 originating close to the mid-portion of the frontal portion. The edges 32 and 34 converge to form a narrow apex portion 33 substantially vertically above the nipple. The inner sides of the pockets where the edges 34--34 converge with the body band are joined to the body band at the mid-point thereof and the junction is reinforced by a narrow tape 36 stitched to the inner side and to the frontal band. As thus constructed the crotch formed by the intersection of the downwardly converging edges of the inner pockets is situated in the sternum valley on a level substantially midway between the lower sides of the breasts and the nipples.

The outer pockets 26-26 which breast-containing pockets 24-24 afford means for adjusting the heightwise position of the breasts which are already held in their proper lateral spacing by the pockets 24-24 without displacement of the frontal band l0. As illustrated, each outer pocket has at its lower half converging edges 38 and 40 terminating in a narrow apex portion 39 at approximately the mid-point of that portion of the frontal band at one side of its center and substantially vertically below the nipple. The edge 28 rises toward the edge I3 of the side portion and intersects it at about or just below the mid-height thereof while the edge 40 rises somewhat more sharply and merges with the corresponding edge 40 of the other pocket substantially at the level of the ynipples vertically above the mid-portion of the frontal band. The upper half of each outer pocket has upwardly converging edges 42 and 44,

- the edge 42 originating at the upper edge of the side portion I2 and the edge 44 originating near the intersection of the edges 4ll4ll. The edges 42 and 44 run generally parallel to the edges 32 .and 34 and merge in apex portions 43 substantially vertically above the apex portions 33 of the inner pockets and hence substantially vertically overlie the.

above the nipples. The inner sides of the outer pockets formed by the merging edges 40 and 44 are joined to each other by a reinforcing tape 48. The apex portions 43 of the outer pockets have connected thereto the forward ends of shoulder straps 48 the rear ends of which are fixed to the upper edge of the rear portions of the body band at the back. The straps are adjustable to increase or decrease their length and since the straps are attached to the apex portions of the outer pockets in vertical alignment with the nipples and with the lower attached apex portions 39, the adjustment will take place vertically without tendency for lateral pull in either direction. Moreover since the pull is exerted at very narrow portions of the upper edge of the frontal band substantially at the places where it has rmest contact with the body, the tendency for the upward pull of the straps when adjusted to elevate the breasts to displace the band upwardly is minimized. Between the apex portions 33 and 43 of each inner and outer pocket there is attached a web 50 of elasticized material which when unstretched just spans the distance between them, that is when the brassire is not in use. The elasticized webs indirectly transmit the pull of the shoulder straps to the inner pocket in such fashion as to do little more than keep the inner pockets smoothly molded to the breasts. It is evident from the foregoing construction that the inner pockets serve as containers for supporting the entire volume of the breasts in their correct frontal positions `without exerting in and of themselves any substantial corrective force thereto so that the breasts are left to assume their most natural contour. The outer pockets however provide means for exerting nearly vertical lift along parallel lines extending through the nipples without displacing the body band upwardly and without effecting lateral displacement of the breasts.

Preferably for the sake of comfort and to permit normal breathing without a sense of confinement, portions of the side members I2 are cut away, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, into which are stitched triangular inserts of elastic webbing 56.

Both the inner and outer pockets are made of material corresponding to that of which the body band is made, to wit satin and the pockets may be divided transversely into two sections or panels so cut and stitched together as for example along the lines V52---52 and 54--54 respectively as to afford pocket-like containers. The upper panels of the outer pockets may be constructed oi' lace if desired to afford a somewhat more attractive finish.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a brassire a body-encircling band comprising side embracing portions and a narrow frontal band, said frontal band being adapted to extend across the body below the breasts of the wearer and said side embracing portions being attached to the opposite ends of the frontal band and having forward, spaced edges rising from the frontal band to a point correspondingsubstantially to the level of the tops of the breasts and nesting inner and outer pockets carried by vthe frontal band and the side embracing portions.

each inner pocket being adapted to cover the entire convex surface of the breast, each inner pocket having a lower edge coextensive with onehalf of the frontal band and continuously attached thereto, a lateral edge rising from the lower edge along one of the forward edges of the side embracing portion but terminating short of the upper end of said forward edge and said lateral and forward edges being joined continuously; and upwardly converging edges the inner ones of which originate substantially at the midn point of the frontal band and the outer ones of which originate at a point corresponding to about the level of the nipples of the wear, each outer pocket having upwardly facing converging edges, the junctions of the upwardly converging edges and downwardly converging edges being attached respectively to the forward end of a shoulder strap and to the mid-point of one-half of the frontal band, an upwardly facing and downwardly facing edge at each side of a pocket converging at a point corresponding to about the level of the nipples, means securing the junctions of the upwardly and downwardly facing converging edges at the inner sides of said pockets to each other and means securing the junctions of the upwardly and downwardly facing converging edges of the outer sides of the pockets to the forward edges of the side embracing portions.

2. A brassire according to claim 1 wherein the edge portions of the outer pockets intermediate the junctions at which the converging edges meet are unattached to the underlying parts of the brassire.

3. A brassire according to claim 1 wherein an elastic element joins the junction of the upwardly converging edges of each inner pocket to the junction of the upwardly converging edges of each outer pocket.

4. A brassire according to cla-im l wherein the junction of the upwardly converging edges of each outer pocket extends beyond the junction of the upwardly converging edges of each inner pocket, elastic means connects the junctions of the upwardly converging edges of the inner and outer pockets and wherein there are adjustable shoulder straps, the forward ends of which are fastened to the junctions of the upwardly converging edges of the outer pockets at the places of attachment of the elastic means and the rear ends are attached to the rear part of the body band at the back.

PETER CIRINGIONE.

REFERENCES CITED- The following references are of record in the le cf this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,786,895 Cadolle Dec. 30, 1930 2,115,397 Rosenthal et al. Apr. 26, 1938 2,185,159 Rubinstein Dec. 26, 1939 2,470,847 Gluckin May 24, 1949 2,493,179 Wittenberg Jan. 3, 1950 2,497,324 Shenkman Feb. 14, 1950 2,508,704 Becker May 23. 1950

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