US3024789A

US3024789A - Brassiere

Info

Publication number: US3024789A
Application number: US734079A
Authority: US
Inventors: Amyot Pierre
Original assignee: Sarong Inc
Current assignee: Sarong Inc
Priority date: 1958-05-06
Filing date: 1958-05-06
Publication date: 1962-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 1979-03-13

Description

F. AMYOT BRASSIERE March 13, 1962 Filed May 6, 1958 FIGZ INVENTOR Pierre Amyor EY @hw/MQ MAH-@RNW llnited @rates @arent @hice 3,@2dfi8ll Patented Mar. 13, 1962 3,024,739 BRASSIERE Pierre rnyot, Sillery, Quebec, Sanada, assigner to Sarong Inc., West Haven, Conn., a corporation of flonnecticnt Filed May 6, i953, Ser. N 734,079 2 Claims, (Qi. t28-4253) This invention relates to ladies undergarments, and more particularly to bust supporting garments, or brassieres.

This application is a continuation-impart of my prior application S.N. 656,35() tiled May l, 1957 and which has now matured into U.S. Patent 2,897,822 on August 4, 1959. That patent describes a construction involving inter alia two crossed diaphragm bands connecting the breast cups with opposite side sections of the brassiere wherein the breast cups are free of attachment to one another.

The brassiere art is rich with structures which implement a great variety of concepts for the molding and control of the bust. Such structures are created sometimes to present different appearance according to the creators concept of what is desirable healthwise as well as in appearance and control, and sometimes to present an improved structure for achieving the same appearance and the same degree of control. But in any case, the art is generally wedded to the broad concept of a brassiere structure in which the bust cups occur in a garment in fixed spatial relationship, that is, the distance from cup to cup is fixed. Such disposition, however, leaves much to be desired in terms of comfort while maintaining adequate support, in the sense that much more can be done for a woman in these respects than has heretofore been done.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a brassiere structure wherein great flexibility is attainable so far as the wearer is concerned, in that adequate support and complete comfort is maintained when casual movements of the body are made which result in slight shifts in bust alignment, and indeed, even when the wearer is engaged in more active movement. To achieve this end, the bust cups in this novel structure occur in elements which are completely independent except for a coupling connection or connecting means which imposes a limitation on the relative shifting between elements, and

ence the bust cups, such connecting means serving to restrain excessive mutual shifting. lrimarily, such connecting means controls the independent elements and limits them to shifting in pivotal manner and also inward movement. Besides the indicated shift control provided by the connecting means, yielding components are incorporated into the elements so that yielding and shifting within the brassiere structure is possible to accommodate movement by the wearer, while the restraint necessary for execution of the fundamental purpose of the brassiere in molding and support are not lost.

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

FlG. l is a front view of a brassiere constructed in accordance with the present invention, with a portion broken away to show the connecting means, and the connection thereof to the rear element; and

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same garment, also having a portion broken away, in this case to show the connecting means and its connection to the front element.

The brassiere of the drawings has body encircling portions lii and lil which extend from the sides of the front of the garment to the rear where they are fastened in conventional manner, this not being shown in the drawings. Lying between such body encircling portions is what may generally be designated the bodice section l2 of the brassiere, such bodice section being joined to the n Ut body encircling portions i0 and 11 at

seams

13 and 14 respectively. The bodice section l2 consists of a pair of substantially identical reversely mounted partially overlapping elements, which elements are in turn generally designated by the numerals 15 and 16.

it will be seen that the breast cup 24 is attached at its lower edge along line 25 to a diaphragm band generally indicated as 48. Similarly breast cup 23 is attached at its lower edge along line 33 to a second diaphragm band 49. Element l5 has a side i7 incorporated into seam l, such side 17 extending downwardly from the top of seam 13 to an intermediate point 1S in seam 13. The diaphragm band i8 of element l5 has one side secured to the bottom of breast cup 24 and incorporated into seam i3, and a side 2l incorporated into seam i4, said side 2l extending upwardly from the bottom of seam la to point 22 in seam la which point 22 is below the bust cup 23 in element lo. There is a bust cup 24 in element l5 which bust cup is demarked. at one side by seam i3 and at its bottom along line 25. At the side of bust cup 24 opposite to seam i3, the bust cup is bounded by an elastic insert 26, which itself extends downwardly into a notched boundary 27. There is an additional elastic insert 3i in the side 2l of diaphragm band 48. lt is thus seen that the diaphragm band is composed of two parts. The elastic insert 26 is primarily stretchable parallel to the upper edge of the element l5, while the additional elastic insert 3l is primarily stretchable horizontally. A shoulder strap 32 extends from the highest point in element i5 to body encircling portion lt) at the rear of the garment.

Element t6 in FlG. l is seen to lie behind element l5 to the extent that such elements overlap, and, while reversely mounted to element l5, has identical constituent parts. ln addition to the already mentioned bust cup 23, bounded by lower arcuate line 33, element 16 has an elastic insert 3d extending downwardly into notch boundary 35.. Furthermore, there is an additional elastic insert 37 at seam 13, which additional elastic insert is at side 38 of diaphragm band i9 of element i6, which side 33 extends upwardly from the bottom of seam i3 to point il in such seam. The element 16 also has a side 42 in seam la which side 42 extends downwardly from the top of the brassiere to an intermediate point 43. Shoulder strap da extends from the highest point in element 16 rearwardly to body encircling portion ll. As will be seen from the drawings, diaphragm band 48 has its upper edge shaped to provide a concave outline 25 extending from the side seam 13 to one side of a deeply notched central section 27 and a second concave outline 28 extending from the other side of the deeply notched central section to the opposite side seam 14. Diaphragm band 49 is substantially identical to diaphragm band 43 but the band 49 is disposed in inverse relation to band 48 so that concave outline 33 extends from the side edge M to one side of a deeply notched central section 35 and a second concave outline 36 extending from the other side of the deeply notched central section to the opposite side seam i3. The concave outline portion 25 of diaphragm band 43 is secured along the lower edge of breast cup 24 while the concave outline portion Ztl extends freely along a contour lying within and substantially, but not quite concentrically with the contour of the lower edge of breast cup 23. Similarly the concave outline portion 33 of band 49 is secured along the lower edge of breast cup 23 and the concave outline portion 36 extends freely along a contour lying within and substantially, but not quite concentrically with the contour of the lower edge yof breast cup 24. The free top edges of the diaphragm bands lie rather closely adjacent to the bottom edges of the breast cups and freedom for relative movement is provided, giving greater comfort and adaptability because the bands can move relative to the cups they pass under. This benefit can be obtained in high degree by having the free top edges of the bands conform closely and precisely to the bottom edges of the cups, or a substantial amount of this benefit can be obtained with general but less precise conformity. Thus the top edges of the overlapping diaphragm bands substantially conform to and help define the lower curved boundaries of the breast cups under which they reach. Each overlapping dia phragm band in the common central area of overlap is also free from the lower boundary of the breast cup under which it extends and from the other diaphragm band. In addition to the freedom and flexibility which is derived from having the diaphragm bands free throughout their common area of overlap, neatness and triinness of line at all times are obtained by having the top edges of the bands accord neatly and adjacently to the bottom edges of the breast cups. This conforming adjacency is maintained intact during wear by virtue of the fact that the diaphragm bands are secured to the opposite side panels of the garment so that while there is possible freedom of movement, the diaphragm bands are prevented from moving any great distance away from the aforementioned lower boundaries of the breast cups.

It will be observed that the lower end of each diaphragm band is secured to a side section of the brassiere, with the bottom edge of the band and the bottom edge of the side section forming a continuous unbroken straight line with the bottom edge of the diaphragm band continuing upward in a straight line to` become attached to the bottom edge of the far cup. Since the corresponding reversely mounted cross band is similarly though reversely arranged, the two diaphragm bands cross each other with their free bottom edges defining a shallow inverted V whose apex comes at the center of the brassiere. The brassiere functions in a manner such as to be capable of adjusting itself and fitting the bodies of persons varying considerably as to shape and proportions and accordingly enables the brassiere to fit satisfactorily a higher percentage of the persons within any one size. The fact that the diaphragm bands are disposed in angular relationship with each other and have relative freedom of movement allows self-varying accommodation to define the effective lower boundary of the breast cup which each band extends, or passes, under.

Thus, both elements 1S and 16 are independent except for the fact that both are integrated into the brassiere at

seams

13 and 14. While such elements are independent, a coupling connection, e.g. tape 4S is joined at end 46 to element 15 and at end 47 to element 16. In the drawings it will be seen that inserts 26 and 34 in the respective elements are superposed at the respective notched boundaries 27 and 35 in the central region of the bodice section 12, It is here also that tape 45 appears. It will be seen that the coupling connection joins the cups together in the region above the central area of overlap ofthe lements at a point no lower than the top edge of the diaphragm bands where they are attached to the breast cups. As will further be seen from the drawings, such tape 4S is at its fullest lateral extension when

such inserts

26 and 34 are superposed, so that further lateral separation of the elements is not possible. However, since the tape 45 is free other than being secured to the respective elements at its ends, the elements are capable of inward lateral movement, and also mutual pivotal shifting. It will also be apparent that the exertion of a force upon one of the shoulder straps may result in some pivotal movement of one of the elements to the extent permitted by tape 45, as well as yielding of the elastic inserts both at the center and narrower sides of the element.

It is also apparent from the drawings that the bottom edges of the respective elements are reversely inclined in the garment, and cross each other so that untoward bulk at the midrilf section of the garment is avoided.

Since certain changes may be made in the above described garments and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting.

l claim:

l. in a brassiere having body-encircling right and left side sections, a bodice section therebetween having two substantially identical, reversely mounted, partially overlapping right and left front elements having a central area of overlap, a breast cup and a diaphragm band in each of said front elements, the said right front element having a first diaphragm band secured to the bottom edge 'of the right breast cup and reaching across the front to the left side section and having a top edge extending underneath the left breast cup, said top edge substantially conforming to and helping to define the effective lower boundary of the left breast cup, the said left front element being reversely corresponding, the top edge of each diaphragm band being unconnected to the other diaphragm band and unconnected to the breast cup under which it extends in the central area of overlap, whereby self-varying accommodation is provided in the defining of the effective breast cup boundary, the diaphragm bands being disposed in angular relationship with each other, the bottom edge of the first diaphragm band and the bottom edge of the left Side section forming a continuous unbroken intact line, with the bottom edge of the first diaphragm band continuing upward in a straight line to the bottom edge of the right breast cup, the bottom edge of the second diaphragm band being reversely corresponding, the free bottom edges of the diaphragm bands crossing each other to form a shallow inverted V, the inner part of the right breast cup having a coupling connection with the inner part of the left breast cup in the region above the central area of overlap of the elements, said coupling connection being at a point no lower than the top edge of the diaphragm bands where they are attached to the breast cups.

2. A brassiere according to claim V1 in which the diaphragm band of the right front element is secured to the front edge of the left side section from its bottom edge up to the left breast cup which latter is secured to the said side section from the diaphragm band up to the top edge of the left side section, the other diaphragm band being reversely corresponding.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,390,465 Russo Dec. 4, 1945 2,471,670 Becker et al. May 31, 1949 2,513,406 Dubner July 4, 1950 2,541,147 Becker Feb. 13, 1951 2,706,816 Dozier Apr. 26, `1955 2,746,053 Krieger May 22, 1956 2,897,822 Amyot Aug. 4, 1959