US3122143A - Brassieres - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 25, 1964 B. B. M SHEA BRASSIERES Filed Aug. 15, 1962 BEATRIX B. MCSH EA Q- United States Patent 3,122,143 BRASSIERES Beatrix B. McShea, 8401 16th St., Silver Spring, Md. Filed Aug. 15, B62, Ser. N0. 217,107 4 Claims. (Cl. 128482) This invention relates to improvements in brassieres and more particularly to an improved brassiere for wear by women having medium to large-size busts.

As is Well known to women falling in this category, a major objection to present-day brassiere construction is in its inability to provide bust uplift over sustained periods of wear, due to the fact that the rear band or back portion of the brassiere tends to ride up the back and in so doing allows the front portion to lower and thereby not only lessen if not actually lose its bust-supporting and molding function but also to become uncomfortable in wear. Moreover, when this occurs, a sometimes embarrassing readjustment of the brassiere on the body is usually required.

Stated broadly, an important object of this invention is the provision of a brassiere especially designed for wear by women having medium to large-size busts which overcomes the objection to conventional brassieres as mentioned above to a substantial degree and which at the same time is comfortable to wear.

A more particular object of the invention is the provision of a brassiere construction for wear by women having medium to large-size busts but otherwise having the normal female figure, which incorporates means effective to hold the rear-band or back portion thereof down in place on the body over sustained periods of wear, thereby insuring that its front portion will perform its bust uplifting and supporting function as intended, and which at the same time is comfortable to wear.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a. brassiere incorporating a stretchable body-encircling structure and breast-cup portions as is usual, but which is characterized by said cup portions being unsecured along their lower edges to the body-encircling band structure whereby they perform their bust-contouring and supporting functions independently of any connection to or with the frontal portion of said body-encircling structure,

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a brassiere especially designed for wear by women having medium to large-size busts, which is characterized by its ability to provide bust uplift through the incorporation of means for causing the rear band or back portion to stay down in place on the body and which further is of front-opening constructure whereby it may be put on and taken off with ease and facility.

The above and other objects and features of advantage of a brassiere according to the present invention will appear from the following detailed description thereof, taken with the accompanying illustrative drawings, where- FIG. 1 is a front elevation, FIG. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevation, and FIG. 3 is a side view elevation of the improved brassiere of the invention appearing as when worn; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are detail views illustrating the frontopening and closing construction of the brassiere shown in the previous views.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a brassiere according to the invention which is illustratively shown therein generally comprises right and left breast cups 10, 12 defined by non-elastic edges a, 12a and dome-shaped portions 10b, 12b of net, lace or other suitable soft fabric; a body-encircling structure broadly designated 14 and comprising a preferably continuous back portion 16 whose forward ends merge into side- panel portions 18a, 18b, and elastic front bands 20a, 20b extending forward- 3,122,143 Patented Feb. 25, 1964 ly towards one another and whose free ends are adapted to be detachably secured together along the front vertical center line of the wearer; and shoulder straps 22a, 22b extending front and rear between said breast cups and said back portion 16. Both the breast cups 10, 12 and the elastic front bands 20a, 2% are secured along their outer or relatively rearward, approximately vertical edges to the forward side edges of the side- panel portions 18a, 18b by seams designated 24a, 24b (which, as best seen in FIG. 3, constitute the garment side seams) and 26a, 266, respectively. However, it is a feature of the invention that the lower edges of the breast cups are un secured, being thus free and clear of the elastic front bands 29a, 20b, and also that the seams 26a, 26b between the elastic front bands and the side-panel portions, although extending generally in continuation of the seams 24a, 24b along which the breast cups are secured to the side-panel portions, are inclined by an obtuse angle to said seams 24a, 24b, and also by a small angle to the vertical, with the result that said front bands incline upwardly-forwardly towards one another to the substantially vertical line of connection between their free ends, as is best seen in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 4, the aforesaid breast cups 10, 12 are adapted to be secured to one another along their adjacent front-side edges by suitable quick-detachable fas teners, illustratively complemental pairs of hooks 28a and companion eyes 2812. Similarly, the elastic front bands 26a, 29b are adapted to be secured to one another at their free ends by similar quick-detachable fastening means, illustratively hooks Sila. and companion eyes 36b.

When fashioned to proper size for and worn by a woman having a medium to large-size bust and otherwise normal figure and waistline, a brassiere according to the invention achieves sustained bust uplift by the combined action of its unique front-band construction and the fea ture of the breast cups being free and clear of said front bands. The explanation of this desirable result is that the brassiere of the invention is designed to make use of the natural taper of the rib cage of the female body to effect anchoring of its back portion 16 in a relatively low position on the back (in which it extends across and is held to the small-width or narrow portion thereof) by the yielding pressure exerted in slightly upward direction on both ends of said back portion by the elastic front bands 20a, 2%. That is to say, the elastic front bands not only snug themselves to the body immediately underneath the breasts contained in and supported in the breast cups 10, 12, but also cause the back portion 16 to be snugged to the back of the wearer, at a low position thereon, with a force that holds said back portion firmly in place. Moreover, since the breast cups 10, 12 are unsecured along their bottom edges and are thus free and clear of said elastic front bands 26a, 20b, the shoulder straps 22a, 22b and back portion 16 are called upon only to support the weight of the breasts carried by said breast cups. Accordingly, said back portion 16 is completely unaffected by any tendency of the front lower portion of the brassiere to ride down the breast bone or even the upper stomach area as the result of body movements which, acting through the lower portion of the conventional brassiere, tend to exert a downward pull on the breast cups and thereby an upward pull on the back band. Rather, at the risk of repetition, the upwardly inclined elastic front bands 29a, Ztlb of the brassiere according to the invention act exclusively to hold the back portion 16 firmly yet comfortably snugged to the lower portion of the back having relatively small girth. At this point it is to be noted that since the shoulder straps 22a, 22b are adjustable in length, said back portion may readily be lowered to a position best suited to the purposes of the invention and the comfort of the wearer.

At the same time, a brassiere according to the inven tion is very comfortable in wear as compared to conven tional brassieres, because of the vertical separation of breast cups 10, 12 from the frontal portion of the bodyencircling structure 14. The uplift effect achieved by breast cups which are unsecured along their lower edges as aforesaid is further advantageous in assisting in the natural separation of the breasts rather than causing the breasts to bunch together as is true of most brassieres of conventional construction and design, such being a feature which not only adds to the comfort of the wearer but also improves the bust line and general appearance of said wearer. Incidentally, should it be desirable for the individual wearers preference, the back portion 16 may be made wholly or partly of elastic material having transverse (of the body) one-way stretch properties similar to those of the front bands 20a, 20b. It will also be understood that the upper edges of the rear portion 16 and side panel portions 18a, 18b of the brassiere may be varied from that shown, thus to suit a particular decollet in vogue.

Without further analysis, it will be readily seen by those skilled in the particular art that a brassiere constructed in accordance with the underlying principles of the present invention achieves the objectives therefor which have been set out in the foregoing; that is to say, it satisfies the need of Women having-from medium to large-size busts for a brassiere that will provide sustained rather than only temporary bust uplift and thus save women falling in this category from the embarrassment of having to continually readjust the position of the brassiere on the body. A brassiere according to the invention is also relatively inexpensive in manufacture and is highly comfortable in wear. Furthermore, the brassiere of the invention is wholly compatible with present-day womens garment design principles which recognize the fact of the large-size bust and seek to make provision therefor both in proper uplift and in the wearers comfort.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a brassiere, a body-encircling structure including a continuous back portion, opposite side portions and front bands secured at their opposite ends to said side portions in manner such that they extend forwardly towards one another and at an upward inclination, and

said front bands further having length such that they meet at their free ends, and said free ends carrying complemental means for detachably securing said ends to gether, a pair of breast cups also secured along their 01:- posite side edges to said side portions and extending forwardly towards one another and meeting along their adjacent free edges md said free edges carrying complemental means for detachably securing the breast cups together in connected breast-supporting relation, said breast cups being disposed generally above said front bands but being unsecured along their lower edges whereby they may function independently of said front bands, and shoulder straps extending between and connecting the upper edges of the breast cups and the continuous back portion.

2. A brassiere according to claim 1, wherein said breast cups and said front bands are detachably secured at spaced points on the front vertical center line of said brassiere.

3. A brassiere according to claim 1, wherein said front bands are fashioned from elastic material which is stretchable in longitudinal direction.

4. In a brassiere, a body-encircling structure including a back portion and front band portions which extend towards one another and are provided at their free ends with means for securing said structure in body-encircling relationship, at least the front band portions of said structure being fashioned from elastic material which is stretchable in longitudinal direction, a pair of breast cups connected at their opposite side edges to said back portion and along lines of connection which extend substantially vertically through the side portions of said body-encircling structure, said breast cups extending forwardly towards one another and meeting along their adjacent free edges and said edges carrying complemental means for detachably securing the breast cups together in connected breast-supporting relation, shoulder straps extending between and connecting the upper edges of the breast cups and the back portion of the body-encircling structure, said breast cups being disposed generally above said frontband portions of the body-encircling structure but being unsecured along their lower edges so as to be capable of functioning independently of said front-band portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS I 1,575,989 Haven Mar. 9, 1926 2,721,324 Graf Oct. 25, 1955 2,882,906 Steinmetz ..7..... Apr. 21, 1959

Claims (1)

1. IN A BRASSIERE, A BODY-ENCIRCLING STRUCTURE INCLUDING A CONTINUOUS BACK PORTION, OPPOSITE SIDE PORTIONS AND FRONT BANDS SECURED AT THEIR OPPOSITE ENDS TO SAID SIDE PORTIONS IN MANNER SUCH THAT THEY EXTEND FORWARDLY TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER AND AT AN UPWARD INCLINATION, AND SAID FRONT BANDS FURTHER HAVING LENGTH SUCH THAT THEY MEET AT THEIR FREE ENDS, AND SAID FREE ENDS CARRYING COMPLEMENTAL MEANS FOR DETACHABLY SECURING SAID ENDS TOGETHER, A PAIR OF BREAST CUPS ALSO SECURED ALONG THEIR OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES TO SAID SIDE PORTIONS AND EXTENDING FORWARDLY TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER AND MEETING ALONG THEIR ADJACENT FREE EDGES AND SAID FREE EDGES CARRYING COMPLEMENTAL MEANS FOR DETACHABLY SECURING THE BREAST CUPS TOGETHER IN CONNECTED BREAST-SUPPORTING RELATION, SAID BREAST CUPS BEING DISPOSED GENERALLY ABOVE SAID FRONT BANDS BUT BEING UNSECURED ALONG THEIR LOWER EDGES WHEREBY THEY MAY FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID FRONT BANDS, AND SHOULDER STRAPS EXTENDING BETWEEN AND CONNECTING THE UPPER EDGES OF THE BREAST CUPS AND THE CONTINUOUS BACK PORTION.

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