US3398748A - Brassiere having adjustable cup construction - Google Patents

Description

J. ABEL 3,398,748

BRASSIERE HAVING ADJUSTABLE CUP CONSTRUCTION Aug. 27, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 14, 1966 INVENTOR JACK ABEL A I ORNEY J. ABEL 3,398,748

BRASSIERE HAVING ADJUSTABLE CUP CONSTRUCTION Aug. 27, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 14, 1966 INVENTOR JACK ABEL AT ORNEY United States Patent 3,398,748 BRASSIERE HAVING ADJUSTABLE CUP CONSTRUCTION Jack Abel, 16-24 202ud St., Bayside, N.Y. 11360 Filed Jan. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 520,571 14 Claims. (Cl. 128-465) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A brassiere construction includes cup portions which are each independently adjustable to vary the volume enclosed therein.

This invention relates generally to brassiere constructions, and is especially concerned with unique features of separate individual brassiere-cup adjustments, including separation, uplift, support and fit.

As is well known to those versed in the art, fixed brassiere-cup sizes are inconvenient, and often painful, both for young girls and women of all ages, for the reason that human breasts change in size during the menstrual cycle, and for other reasons. Also, both breasts are not necessarily the same size at all times, so that a fixed cup size may fit one breast and not the other. While it has been proposed to provide brassieres with removable cups, this involves considerable expense and tedious effort, and does not afford optimum comfort and support between cup sizes.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a brassiere construction which overcomes the above-rnentioned difficulties by permitting a change in spherical radius, relative position and supported volume of a brassiere cup, as desired by the wearer, merely by the simple and instantaneous operation of a convenient adjustment means.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable brassiere-cup construction having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which is extremely simple in structure, durable and reliable throughout a long useful life, and which can be economically manufactured for sale at a reasonable price.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view showing a brassiere construction of the present invention in operative condition of use.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, partial front elevational view showing the brassiere of FIGURE 1, partly broken away for clarity of understanding.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 3--3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a partial sectional view taken generally along the line 44 of FIGURE 2, illustrating the brassiere cup in a reduced or retracted position of adjustment.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 4 showing the brassiere cup in an extended or enlarged position of adjustment.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6a is a transverse sectional view taken generally along the line 6a-6a of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 7 is a front elevational view similar to FIG- URE 2, partly broken away, and illustrating another embodiment of the instant invention.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view, somewhat enlarged, taken generally along the line 99 of FIGURE 7 or FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 9a is a transverse sectional view taken generally along the line 9a9a of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 1010 of FIGURE 1, greatly enlarged.

FIGURE 10a is a transverse sectional view taken generally along the line 10a10a of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 11 is somewhat enlarged fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, showing a further embodiment.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURE 1 thereof, a brassiere is there generally designated 20 and illustrated in position upon the person of a wearer 21. The brassiere 20 may include a band 22 extending circumferentially about the torso 23 of the wearer 21, and may optionally include shoulder straps 24, if desired. The brassiere 20 would be of the strapless type if the shoulder straps 24 were omitted.

The brassiere band 22 may include a back portion 28, which may or may not have separable fastening means incorporated therein. As illustrated, the back portion 28 extends to the sides of the wearers torso 23, wherein it is connected to a pair of front portions 29, together ex tending across the front of the wearers torso. The front portions 29 are connected together in end-to-end relation, as by suitable detachable, or non-detachable fastener means 30, and each front portion is connected to a respective end of the back portion 28, as by suitable detachable fastener means 31. As the front portions 29 may be substantially identical, a detailed description of one will suffice.

Medially between the ends of each front band portion 29 (FIG. 1) there is provided an opening 32, defined within a generally circular annulus or base ring 33 secured in the front band portion 29, as by suitable stitching, or the like. The base rings 33 of the front band portions 29 thus combine to define a pair of front openings in the band 22.

Axially or concentrically superposed on each base ring 33 is an essentially similar adjustment ring 34. The adjustment rings 34 are arranged in facing relation with the outer or forward face of the respective base rings 33 and mounted on the latter for generally axial rotation. Providing the rotative mounting may be suitable means, such as a plurality of circumferentially spaced loops 35 secured to the base ring 33 and each embracing the adjacent portion of the respective adjustment ring 34. Thus, each adjustment ring 34 is rotatable slidably through the several mounting loops 35.

A skeleton of flexible filaments or strands is generally designated 36, and is of spiderlike configuration including a plurality of radially extending filaments or legs 37. That is, the skeleton legs 37 are centrally joined together by any suitable connecting means, as a ring or suitably shaped disc or element 80, and extend radially outward therefrom to the adjustment ring 34. The legs 37 extend through respective openings or holes 38 in the adjustment ring 34, at circumferentially spaced locations thereabout, and have their outer or distal ends suitably anchored to the nether base ring 33, as at 39. Thus, upon rotation of the adjustment ring 34 relative to the base ring 33, a greater or less extent of each skeleton leg 37 is provided externally or forward of the adjustment ring,

whereby the skeleton may assume a cup-like configuration of greater or less volume, as desired.

The skeleton 36 is advantageously covered by a cup 40, which may be fabricated of any suitable flexible sheet material. In particular, the cup 40 may include a pair of outer and inner cup-shaped fabric layers 41 and 42., with the spider 36 sandwiched between the cup layers and the spider legs 37 extending through, the inner cup layer 42 for passage to and through the adjustment ring 34. The cup layers 41 and 42 are advantageously configured to extend radially beyond the rings 33 and 34 in substantially all positions of adjustment, and thereby define a skirt 43 which insures closure of the opening 32 at all times. The radially extending skirt-defining portions of layers 41 and 42 may be circumferentially secured together, as by stitching 44.

The cup-size adjustment of skeleton 36 is best demonstrated in FIGURES 4 and 5, the former showing adjustment ring 34 rotated relative to base ring 33 to retract the skeleton leg 37 and reduce the cup size, while FIG- URE 5 illustrates relative rotation of the rings to extend the skeleton leg and enlarge the cup size.

To facilitate manual actuation of the above-described cup-size adjustment, and assure retention of the cup size in the selected position of adjustment, there may be provided one or more manually actuable adjustment means 45, about the periphery of rings 33 and 34. The adjustment means 45 may include a loop 46 secured to the adjustment ring 34, and a loop 47 secured to the base ring 33. As seen in FIGURE 6, a flexible elongate element or strand 48, say of plastic or other suitable material, may be formed with longitudinally spaced serrations, shoulders or teeth, as at 49 and have one end anchored to one of the rings 33, 34, say to the latter ring, as by threaded securement in the loop 46, as at 50. The strand or elongate element 48 may extend from the anchoring loop 46 through the loop 47. Internally of the loop 47 may be secured a series of resiliently distensible holding loops or receivers 51, say fabricated of spirally wound spring wire, or otherwise. The holding loops or receivers 51 may be of an ovaloid configuration in undistended condition, as seen in FIGURE 6a. In this manner, the elongate element 48 may be drawn through the loop 47 and its holdings receivers 51, being snap engaged past the latter and effectively retained in position thereby, in the absence of deliberate withdrawal of the strand. To facilitate relative movement of the strand or elongate member 48 through the receivers 51, the latter may be squeezed or deflected to assume a more circular configuration, to easily pass the shoulders or teeth 49.

In the modification of FIGURES 7 and 8, a front band portion of a brassiere is generally designated 29a, and it is provided with a generally circular front portion 33a defining a through opening 32a for passing the bust of a wearer. A generally circular member or ring 34a may be secured in facing engagement with the forward side of annulus 33a, as by stitching 55. Further, the stitching 55 may be arranged so that the overlying rings 34a and 33a combine to define therebetween a generally spiral tunnel 56.

A skeleton 36a is fabricated of a form-retaining elongate element, such as soft wire, plastic, or the like, and it is spirally or helically wound to define a cup-like configuration. One or more of the lower, larger or base convolutions 37a of the spiral skeleton 36a are extended slidably through the tunnel 56, the latter thereby serving to secure the skeleton to the band portion 29a. Further, the effective size or volume of the connoidally configured skeleton 36a may be selectively enlarged or reduced by rotation to slide more or less of the lower convolutions into or out of the tunnel 56.

For a more positive means of adjustment and locking, the lower convolutions are formed as per FIGURE 6 or 9 with the locking means and its loop 47 or 60 attached to the base ring 33a.

As cup 40a may advantageously be fabricated of flexible sheet material, including outer and inner layers 41a and 42a which cover and sandwich therebetween the spiral skeleton 36a. The lower or larger convolutions of the skeleton 36a extend through the inner cup layer 42a for entry into the tunnel 56. The cup 40a may be configured to provide a radially extending, circumferential flange or skirt 43a affording an overlap beyond the rings 33a and 34a to entirely close the opening 32a.

In order to effectively secure the skeleton 36a and cup 40a in a selected position of adjustment, suitable securing means may be provided, as at 58. The securing means 58, see FIGURES 9 and 9a, may include a loop 59 secured to one of the cups 40a or ring 32a say the latter, and a loop 60 secured to the former, An elongate exible element or strand 61, say of plastic or other suitable material, is advantageously provided with a series of circumferential shoulders, ribs or teeth 62 and may have one end anchored in the loop 53, as by stitching 63. The other end of the elongate element 61 may extend into the loop 60, there being received through one or more distensible holding elements or loops 64. The holding loops or receiver 64 may be of ovaloid configuration, and advantageously fabricated of spirally wound spring wire, or other suitable material, and may be anchored in the loop 60 by any suitable means, such as stitching 65. The elongate element 61 is engageable through the receiver loop 64, the latter being distensible, as by resilient deflection thereof, to snap-engage past the shoulders or teeth 61, and positively hold against withdrawal, in the absence of deliberate manipulation. The adjustment-holding means 58 is similar to, and may be interchanged with the adjustment-holding means 45, it being apparent that the former is more suitably adapted for snap-insertion without separate deflection of the ovaloid receiver loops.

For firmer uplift support, the elongate element 48 or 61 of the adjustment means per FIGURE 6 or 9 may be attached to one or more equally spaced positions on the cup just above the lower convolutions and one or more loops 47 or 60 attached to the upper portion of the base ring 33a. For a more firm support, the several elongate elements may each be inserted and locked into any corresponding loops similarly spaced and suitably attached to the base ring 33a after the convolution ring is rotated to the desired individual size of each cup to suit the actual size of the particular breast at that time.

The same adjustment means may be used in another construction as illustrated in FIGURE 11, wherein the spiral skeleton of FIGURES 7 and 8 is replaced by a series of annular elements or parallel rings 36b of varying diameters defining a cup-shaped filamentary skeleton, and encased in the cup to suit the cup shape. Each individual cup volume is changed to suit each individual breast volume by pulling down or releasing the attached ring or rings and locking same in the corresponding loop 47 or 60 attached to the base ring 331).

A further adjustment-securing means is shown in FIG- URES l0 and 10a, being generally designated 70 and illustrated in the shoulder straps 42 in FIGURE 1. However, the adjustment-holding or -locking means 70 may be interchanged with the adjustment-holding means 45 and 58, if desired. In particular, the adjustment-holding means 70 may include a pair of loops 71 and 72 respectively secured to adjacent end portions of a shoulder strap 24, or other portions to be held in position. An elongate flexible element 73, say of plastic or other suitable material, may be provided having one end secured in one loop, say loop 71, as by stitching 74 or other suitable means.

The other end of elongate element 73 is insertable into loop 72, there being removably retained by one or more holding receivers 75, say of ovaloid configuration,

and spirally wound of spring wire, or otherwise suitably fabricated. In the instant embodiment the elongate element 73 is formed with a series of serrations, shoulders or teeth 76, which in transverse section may also be of ovaloid configuration, best seen in FIGURE a, Hence, it will be apparent that the loop 72 and its secured receiver coils or loops 75 may be rotated approximately 90 degrees, or

one-quarter turn to align the ovaloid receiver loops with the enlargements or teeth 76 for convenient movement of the latter through the receiver loops.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a brassiere construction which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a brassiere, the combination comprising a torso-girding band having a pair of front openings,

a pair of bust receivers extending across said openings, said bust receivers each including a filamentary skeleton of cup-shaped configuration and a cup fabricated of flexible sheet material covering said skeleton, each of said skeletons being adjustable in size by movement of the filamentary ends thereof so as to vary the volume enclosed by each of said respective cup-shaped configurations, and

means connecting the filamentary ends of said skeletons to said band for independent adjustment of the size of each of said skeletons to vary the respective volumes thereof.

2.. The combination according to claim 1, in combination with a skirt extending about each of said cups and overlying the adjacent portion of said band to close the respective opening in all positions of size adjustment.

3. In a brassiere, the combination comprising a torso-girding band having a pair of front openings,

a pair of bust receivers extending across said openings,

said bust receivers each including a spider-shaped I skeleton having a plurality of radially extending flexible filaments, an adjustment ring extending about each of said openings, said radially extending filaments extending slidably through said ring and having their radially outer ends secured relative to said band, a cup fabricated of flexible sheet material secured to said skeleton, and

means mounting each of said rings for generally axial rotation on said band and substantially coaxial with said respective openings to selectively vary the effective radial extension of said filaments.

4. The combination according to claim 3, said mounting means comprising a plurality of loops each secured to said band and slidably receiving circumferentially spaced portions of said ring.

5. The combination according to claim 3, in combination with manually actuable skeleton-adjustment means comprising a pair of resilient receiver loops each secured to said band adjacent to a respective opening, and a pair of toothed strands each having one end secured to a respective ring and extending in snap engagement through the adjacent loop for locating said rings in selected positions of their rotative movement.

6. The combination according to claim 5, said loops each comprising a spring wire bent to ovaloid configuration and deflectable to pass the teeth of the received strand.

7. In a brassiere, the combination comprising a torso-girding band having a pair of front openings,

a pair of bust receivers extending across said openings,

said bust receivers each including a conoidally shaped skeleton fabricated of a form-retaining elongate element spirally extending from a base convolution positioned proximate one of said front openings, and a cup fabricated of flexible sheet material covering said skeleton, each of said skeletons being adjustable in size by varying the perimeter of the base convolution thereof, and

means on said band receiving the base convolution of each of said skeletons for independently varying the perimeter thereof so as to selectively vary the volume enclosed by each of said bust receivers.

8. The combination according to claim 7, wherein said means includes a pair of tunnel-like passageways, each passageway slidably receiving the base convolution of one of said skeletons to independently vary the perimeter thereof and provide for size adjustment of said skeletons.

9. The combination according to claim 8, in combination with adjustment-retaining means comprising a pair of resilient receiver loops each secured to said band adjacent to a respective opening, and a pair of toothed strands each having one end secured to a respective cup and extending in snap engagement through the adjacent loop for locating said cups in selected positions.

10. In a brassiere, the combination comprising a torso-girding band having a pair of front openings,

a pair of bust receivers extending across said openings,

said bust receivers each including a plurality of annular elements of varying diameters arranged in spaced axially aligned conoidal configuration with the largest diameter element being positioned proximate one of said front openings, and a cup fabricated of flexible sheet material covering said skeleton, each of said skeletons being adjustable in size by varying the spacing between said conoidal arrangement of annular elements, and

means coupling said skeletons to said band, and adapted to independently vary the annular element spacings of each of said skeletons, so as to selectively vary the volume enclosed by each of said bust receivers.

11. The combination according to claim 10, wherein said coupling means includes at least one resilient receiver loop secured to said band adjacent to a respective opening, and at least one toothed strand having one end secured to a respective annular element and extending in snap engagement through said loop for locating said annular elements in selected positions.

12. Adjustable fastener means for a garment comprising a strand member one end of which is adapted to be secured to one portion of said garment, said strand member having a plurality of spaced tooth-like projections disposed crosswise along its length; and

loop means adapted to be secured to another portion of said garment for receiving the other end of said strand, said means including a resilient member bent to ovaloid configuration and deflectable to pass the teeth of said strand to provide for adjustable retention of the portion of the strand received,

13. The combination according to claim 12, said toothed strand having teeth defining annular shoulders spaced longitudinally along said strand.

14. The combination according to claim 13, said toothed strand having teeth each defining an ovaloid configuration transversely of said strand.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,222,523 11/ 1940 Williams 128-465 2,696,004 12/ 1954 Schaumer 128466 2,700,768 2/1955 Kress 128-472 2,762,055 9/ 1956 Bermueller 128475 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner.

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