US3157182A

US3157182A - Brassiere

Info

Publication number: US3157182A
Application number: US132740A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fridolph Maude Constance
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-08-21
Filing date: 1961-08-21
Publication date: 1964-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 1981-11-17
Also published as: GB949660A

Description

Nov. 17, 1964 Filed Aug. 21. 1961 M. c. FRIDOLPH 3,157,182

BRASSIERE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

MAI/0E CaA/srn/vcg' Fk/OOLPH 1964 M. c. FRIDOLPH 3,157,182

BRASSIERE Filed Aug. 21, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

M1900 tower-40: Air/000 United States Patent 3,157,182 BRASTERE Maude Constance Fridolph, 269 (Jrescent Bay Drive, Lagnna Beach, Caiii'. Filed Aug. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 132,740 7 Ciairns. (ill. 128-429) This invention relates to brassieres and particularly to brassieres that are intended for use with garments having a low back.

It is an object of this invention to provide a brassiere which is sufiiciently low in the back sothat it can be worn with formal or backless garments and, at the same time, will provide proper support without tendency to ride up the back or bind beneath the bust line in the front.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a brassiere wherein all parts of the side bands be smooth and fiat against the body of the wearer.

Basically, the brassiere embodying the invention comprises a front section which has portions defining cups and a pair of diverigng side bands extending from each side of the front section, the upper bands being generally horizontal and the lower bands diverging sharply downwardly and having their ends adapted to be interconnected. The lower edges of the lower bands diverge downwardly generally at a right angle, when the brassiere is in open fiat condition, and form a continuation of the lower edge of the front section. A shoulder strap extends from each cup portion and over the shoulders to the lower bands. The upper bands are secured to the strays intermediate the ends of the strays. Portions of the straps above and below the upper bands are longitudinally elastic.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the brassiere on the wearer.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the brassiere on the wearer.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective View of the brassiere on the wearer.

FIG. 4 is a view of the brassiere in open, flat condition.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view through an end portion of the upper band of the brassiere.

FlG. 6 is a side view of a modified form of brassiere on the wearer.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of another modified form of brassiere on the wearer.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of another modified form of brassiere on the wearer.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of another modified form of brassiere on the wearer.

Referring to the drawings, the brassiere embodying the invention comprises a band it) including front sections 11 and side bands 12 extending from the front sections 11. Sections 11 and side bands 1?. are preferably longitudinaliy elastic as indicated by the arrows. Cup portions 13 of inelastic material are secured to the band along lines 14- so that a central portion 15 of the band defines a gore between the cup portions 13. Cup portions 13 can be made in any conventional design of one or a plurality of pieces of material.

The lower edge of each side band 12 extends downwardly toward the free end thereof. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the lower edge of each side band 12 extends downwardly along a substantially straight line and forms a continuation of the lower edge of the front section 11 to define a diverging angle. The included angle between the lower edges of the side bands 12 is generally a right angle and preferably an obtuse angle when the brassiere is in open, fiat condition as shown in FIG. 4.

An upper band 16 preferably of inelastic material is ecured to the side edge of each cup portion 13 as at 17. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper bands 16 extend 3,157,182 Patented Nov. 17., 1964 generally horizontally from the cup portions 13 when the garment is worn by a wearer. Bands 16 are preferably inelastic. Bands in and bands 12 may be in non-overlapping, partially overlappin or entirely overlapping relation.

Adjustable straps 18 are provided for each cup portion 13 and are attached to the upper edge of each cup portion as at 19. Each strap 18 includes an inelastic portion 2%) that extends over the shoulder of the wearer and an elastic portion 21 that extends downwardly from the end of the inelastic portion 20 and is secured to the lower band as at 22. The ends of the upper bands 16 are folded over and secured to the bands in order to form loops of substantial width through which the elastic portions 21 of straps 18 extend. This permits the ends of the upper bands 16 to move upwardly and downwardly and accommodate to the variations in the corresponding portions of the wearers body.

By this construction, the elastic band 10 encircles the portion of the wearers body that has a circumference less than the circumference of the body at a horizontal section at or above the shoulder blades just below the bust line to provide support of the bust without riding up the back or binding beneath the bust line of the wearer. The forming of the lower edges of the lower side bands 12 so they diverge sharply at an angle which is generally a right angle and is preferably an obtuse angle insures that the ends of the lower side bands 12 extend downwardly suiiiciently to provide a low-back garment that can be worn in connection with certain style garments that have a low back. The extension of the upper bands 16 to the straps 18 insures that a lateral or horizontal force is applied to the cup portions 13 which combines with the vertical restraint of the lower bands 12 to insure the desired separation and support, without binding or gaping.

Although the included angle between the lower edges of the side bands 12 is generally a right angle, when on the wearer, the lower edges of the lower side bands 12 extend across the lower rib case of the wearer and form an angle which is preferably approximately 30 degrees to the horizontal when viewed from the side on the wearer as shown in FIG. 2. 7

It can thus be seen that I have provided a brassiere which can be worn with formal or backless garments and, at the same time, provides proper support of the bust without riding up the back or binding beneath the bust line of the wearer. The lower edges of the side bands 12 extending downwardly across the rib cage, when on the wearer, positively prevent the side bands 12 from moving upwardly. The substantially horizontal upper bands 16, in combination with the elastic connector straps 21, smooth out any puckers or gaping which would otherwise form along the upper edge of the lower side bands 12; thereby insuring that the entire inner surface of the band 10, from the front to the back, lies smooth and fiat against the body of the wearer. Thus, the lower edges of the downwardly extending lower side bands 12 lock or secure the brassiere in place at the sides and back of the wearer and the upper side bands 16 not only exert a lateral pull against the straps 21 as a fulcrum but also the connection between the upper and lower side bands irons out the upper surface of the lower side bands. Wearers of my new brassiere have stated that it gives a decided freedom of movement of the arms and shoulders as compared to standard straight around brassieres.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 6, the ends of the upper bands 16a are fixed to the elastic portion 21a of the shoulder strap 18a. In addition, the lower bands 12a are fastened to the cup portions 13a in such a manner that they partially overlap the upper bands 16a but are unattached thereto. If it is to accommodate persons of dilferent sizes, the overlap may be complete as shown 1.? by the dotted line 25. In addition, in the form of the invention shown in FIG. 6, the lower edge of the lower bands 12a is convex downwardly and the upper edge of the lower bands 12a is concave upwardly.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 7, the front sections 1112 are made of inelastic material and overlap as at 26. The upper bands 16:: are fixed to the sides of the cup portions 13!; and the lower side bands 121) are fixed to the side edges of the front sections 1111.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 8, the front sections 110 and lower side bands 120 are part of a single piece of longitudinally elastic material. The inner ends of the front sections 110 are overlapped. In addition, the inner ends of the side band portions 120 overlap completely the upper bands 16c and are connected to the cup portions 130, but unattached to the upper hands 160.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 9, the front sections 11d are made of inelastic material and the side bands 12d are fastened to the side edges of the front sections 11d and are made of longitudinally elastic material. In addition, the lower bands 12d are fastened to the cup portions 13d and partially overlap the upper bands 1601, but are unconnected thereto.

It should be understood that although the included angle between the lower edges of the

side bands

12, 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d, when the brassiere is in open, fiat condition, have been described as being generally a right angle and preferably an obtuse angle, obviously, this angle can vary considerably and, in addition, the curvature of the lower and upper edges of the side bands may vary considerably; the important point is that when on the wearer the lower edges of the lower side bands slant downwardly across the lower rib cage of the wearer and when viewed from the side on the wearer, the lower edges are at preferably approximately 30 degrees to the horizontal.

I claim:

1. A brassiere comprising a front section including a pair of spaced apart cup portions,

lower main bands of substantial Width connected to the outer edge of each cup portion at least at the lower outer edge thereof,

the bottom edge of each lower band extending downwardly and outwardly when in the flat and downwardly across the rib cage at an angle when on the wearer,

the outer ends of each lower band being connected together at the small of the back when on the wearer,

straps having one end connected to each cup portion at the top and connected to each lower band adjacent the outer end thereof,

secondary upper bands extending substantially hori- Zontally outwardly and rearwardly from an edge of each cup portion and connected to at least the outer edge of each cup portion at a point above the lowermost connections between the cup portions and the lower bands, and connected at their outer ends to said straps to provide lateral pull at the outer edges of the cup portions, and cooperating with said lower bands to insure desired support without wrinkling along the upper edge of said lower bands.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein the portions of the straps between the secondary bands and the lower band is elastic.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein the connection between the outer ends of the secondary bands and the straps provides relative vertical adjustment between the outer ends of the secondary bands and the straps.

4. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein the angle of each lower band as it crosses the rib cage when on the wearer is approximately 30 to the horizontal.

5. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein the lower ends of each strap are formed of longitudinally elastic material and the outer ends of each secondary band are in the form of loops through which the straps extend.

6. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein the secondary bands are formed of inelastic material and the lower main bands are formed of at least in part of elastic material with the direction of elasticity parallel to the bottom edges of the lower bands.

7. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein the lower main bands are formed at least in part of elastic material with the direction of elasticity parallel to the bottom edges of the lower bands.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,026,524 Fridolph Jan. 7, 1936 2,060,998 Martin Nov. 17, 1936 2,115,398 Rosenthal Apr. 26, 1938 2,585,137 Kurland Feb. 12, 1952 2,638,596 Friclolph May 19, 1953 2,736,898 Lax et al Mar. 6, 1956

Claims

1. A BRASSIERE COMPRISING A FRONT SECTION INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED APART CUP PORTIONS, LOWER MAIN BANDS OF SUBSTANTIAL WIDTH CONNECTED TO THE OUTER EDGE OF EACH CUP PORTION AT LEAST AT THE LOWER OUTER EDGE THEREOF, THE BOTTOM EDGE OF EACH LOWER BAND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY WHEN IN THE FLAT AND DOWNWARDLY ACROSS THE RIB CAGE AT AN ANGLE WHEN ON THE WEARER, THE OUTER ENDS OF EACH LOWER BAND BEING CONNECTED TOGETHER AT THE SMALL OF THE BACK WHEN ON THE WEARER, STRAPS HAVING ONE END CONNECTED TO EACH CUP PORTION AT THE TOP AND CONNECTED TO EACH LOWER BAND ADJACENT THE OUTER END THEREOF, SECONDARY UPPER BANDS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY OUTWARDLY AND REARWARDLY FROM AN EDGE OF EACH CUP PORTION AND CONNECTED TO AT LEAST THE OUTER EDGE OF EACH CUP PORTION AT A POINT ABOVE THE LOWERMOST CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE CUP PORTIONS AND THE LOWER BANDS, AND CONNECTED AT THEIR OUTER ENDS TO SAID STRAPS TO PROVIDE LATERAL PULL AT THE OUTER EDGES OF THE CUP PORTIONS, AND COOPERATING WITH SAID LOWER BANDS TO INSURE DESIRED SUPPORT WITHOUT WRINKLING ALONG THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID LOWER BANDS.