US2912985A - Brassiere - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 17, 1959 H. M. PLEHN BRASSIERE Filed July 1, 1958 INVENTOR. BY Henry Plhn ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice Patented Nov. 17, 1959 BRASSIERE Henry M. Plehn, New York, NY. Application July 1, 1958, Serial No. 745,883 4 Claims. (Cl. 128-489) This invention relates to ladies undergarments, and more particularly to such garments which are worn to support the bust, commonly called brassieres.

The purpose of modern brassieres is not merely that of an ordinary undergarment which covers a particular portion of the body to protect outer garments as well as to protect the skin from irritation which may result from movement on the skin of the frequently rougher fabrics used in outer garments. Additionally, their purpose is to act in molding and supporting fashion to enhance the natural body contours. However, in achieving this latter purpose, creators of structural concepts in brassieres find that brassieres which are suitable from a point of view of giving a desired appearance, are not satisfactory from the point of view of comfort. To consider a brassiere comfortable, the wearer thereof must feel bodily freedom while wearing it. That is, she must be as little conscious as possible of restraints during natural movements of the body in the vicinity of the bust, whether such movements derive from arm, shoulder or respiratory action.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a brassiere which not only admirably serves the function of molding and supporting the bust, but as well is exceedingly comfortable during wear. Its structure is such that the utmost freedom is permitted the wearer during any of the normal movements affecting the upper portion of the body. Lateral yielding is provided for, as well as a unique arrangement of components which permits great freedom for each breast. The aims encompassed within this objective are achieved by taking advantage of different fabric components having varying stretch characteristics, and combining them in a highly ingenious and novel manner.

Another object of this invention 'is to provide a brassiere which, while highly original in structural concept, still may be fabricated by known brassiere fabricating machinery and techniques, so that no additional capital outlay is required on the part of the manufacturer.

Still another object herein is to provide a brassiere which will be highly successful in meeting the requirements of the wearer as to support and comfort and will further satisfy the purchaser in being a very attractive garment. Moreover, the wearer will find that garments according to the present invention areno more difficult to launder and maintain than brassieres not embodying my improved structure.

How these and many other objects are to be implemented will become clear through a consideration of the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a rear view of a first embodiment of a brassiere constructed in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is a section at 22 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 3 is a partial rear view of a second embodiment of brassiere built according to my invention.

In the brassiere of Fig. 1 appear bust cups and 11 each having a top edge 12 coincident with the top edge of the brassiere and lower arcuate edges 13. Contiguous to such lower arcuate edges 13 throughout their respective extents, are arcuate bands 14 and 15. which are of highly stretchable fabric, the fabric of such arcuate bands 14 and 15 as seen in Fig. 1 being of open mesh construction commonly known as fish net. By employing such fish net fabric madefrom stretchable yarn, not only does flexibility in the structure result from yielding of the fabric along the strands which comprise the fabric, but flexibility also results because of the ability of the open mesh fabric to collapse and distend entirely apart from any stretch characteristics in the constituent strands thereof.

Adjacent the outer side of each bust cup are body encircling bands 16 and 17 which consist of non-stretchable fabric. Such body encircling bands 16 and 17 have edges 20 and 21 respectively which in each case adjoin one of the arcuate bands 14 and 15 for a part thereof.

Body encircling bands 16 and 17 also have edges 22 and 23 respectively which adjoin and are secured to stretchable fabric portions 24 and 25 disposed beneath the respective bust cups 10 and 11. Such stretchable fabric portions 24 and 25 are horizontally stretchable only. Finally, there is a non-stretchable panel 26 in Fig. 1 disposed between the bust cups 10 and 11 adjoining arcuate bands 14 and 15 for a portion of each thereof, and also having common edges 27 and 28 with stretchable portions 24 and 25. band- 14 about bust cup 10 is contiguous to edge 20 of body encircling band 16, stretchable portion 24, and the non-stretchable center panel 26. Similarly bust cup 11 has its lower arcuate edge 13 in contiguity with arcuate band 15 which in turn is adjacent to edge 21 of body encircling band 17, stretchable portion 25, and the center non-stretchable panel 26. Bindings 29 and 30 reinforce and cover the edges at which the respective arcuate bands 14 and 15 adjoin the three fabric components disposed thereabo-ut.

A portion only of a second embodiment of a brassiere constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown in Fig. 3. The same index numerals as' were employed in connection with the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1 here designate bust cups 10 and 11, top edges 12 thereof, lower arcuate edges 13, arcuate bands 14 and 15, and body encircling bands 16 and 17. In Fig. 3, there is a central non-stretchable panel 31 disposed between the bust cups 10 and 11 contiguous to arcuate bands 14 and 15. Beneath such panel 31 there is a horizontally stretchable insert 32 which has a portion 33 extending beneath bust cup 10 and an edge 34 joined to body encircling band 16. Similarly there is a portion 35 of insert 32 disposed beneath bust cup 11 which portion 35 is joined to body encircling band 17 at edge 36.

From a study of the two embodiments of my invention described above, it will be apparent that a limited lateral yield is permitted in each case, while greater freedom and flexibility for the individual breasts to permit support despite multi-directional stresses, is provided.

I claim:

1. In a brassiere having a pair of bust cups provided with lower arcuate edges, arcuate bands of stretchable fabric contiguous to said lower arcuate edges and in the same plane therewith to constitute a unitary breast enveloping structure with said bust cups, and horizontally stretchable fabric portions beneath said bust cups and contiguous to said arcuate bands, the fabric in said arcuate bands being more freely stretchable than the fabric in said horizontally stretchable fabric portions or the fabric in said bust cups, whereby the different fabric components of each such unitary breast enveloping structure It will thus be seen that arcuate arcuate bands are of open mesh stretchable fabric and said horizontally stretchable fabric portions are of close mesh fabric.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS molds and supports the bust with freedom of any bodily movement of the wearer.

2. A brassiere as claimed in claim 1 wherein said arcuate bands are of open mesh stretchable fabric.

3 A brassicre as claimed in claim 1 wherein said 5 horizontally stretchable fabric portions are of close mesh fabric. 2,180,391 Blair Nov. 21, 1939 4. A brassiere as claimed in claim 1 wherein said 2,835,255 Be ker May 20, 1958

Images