US3548833A - Brassiere - Google Patents

Description

I United States Patent [1 11 3,54

[72] Inventor Lorraine Llv rflne 3,164,155 1/1965 Simonsen 128/486 505 Rltchot St., St. Boniface, Manitoba 3,409,017 11/1968 Ramsell 128/486 Canada Pnmary Exammer-Amele M. Enger [21] A 1. No. 758,411 [22] 55 sw 9, 1968 Attorney-WalterC. Bogglss I [451' Patented 22,1970

[54] 3mm AB8'l'ltACT: A woman's brassiere or Bra" wherein abodym 1 Drawing a. encircling belt supports a pliable girdle thereabove; a oined pair of arch-shaped frames of flat material are positioned in 128/484 front of the girdle and the bottoms of the legs of said frames 128/486, 128/494 are secured to the belt while their upper portions are sup- 3/00 ported by shoulder straps; the outer sides of the frames are [50] Fkld ofSearch 128/484, each secured to the girdle such that when the brassiere i worn 485,486, 487,488, 494,495, 83 and the breasts project through the openings in the frames, loose girdle material also projects through the openings to [56] Hermes CM form under-sloping saddles from the belt which are end-car- UNITED STATES PATENTS ried by the frames to support the weight of the projecting 2,679,048 5/1954 Alberta 128/484 breasts; and resiliency in the belt plus the encircling frame legs 128/488 conform the breasts to a flattering bust.

r 2,725,563 12/1955 Rich PATENTEU 153221910 lNVENTOR Lorraine Loverqne Q /MM,

1 BRASSIERE It is a well known fact in modistry that women's apparel is principally designed by men, and this applies to undergarments as well as outer. As a mans body is not built the same as a woman's it is obviously difficult for such designers, when concentrating on style, to understand and appreciate the troubles experienced by women when poorly designed undergarments such as brassieres (often termed bras) are being worn. As the flesh around a womans bust is extremely tender and sensitive, irritation of any kind can create havoc, and often leads to serious repercussions.

Earlier brassieres used presented a pair of spaced semispherical cups for receiving a womans breasts. To be the correct size they had to be fitted. Then, if the breasts later enlarged, tightness resulted and the blood circulation was affected, which also resulted in further painful discomfort. Later, and in further search for style, openings were provided in the brassieres for the breasts to pass through, and an elastic belt was passed around the body and suitably fastened at the back, the objective being to resiliently compress the circumference of the breasts so the central part could project, and when suitably covered would present a trim double-coned bust. As the epidermis or outer skin of the breasts is more inclined to stretch than provide a support, the interior weight of the breasts, especially in elderly married women, tended to sag or droop over the bottom parts of said openings, and body movement created friction with resulting irritation and soreness, which could easily lead to cancerous growth. Further, many women are very susceptible to excess underarm flesh, with its accompanying weight. If this flesh is permitted to work back, the arm movement drags this flesh and causes extreme irritation which can only be described as torture.

The principal object of the present invention is: to design a brassiere with openings to receive the breasts therethrough and also provide adaptable saddles for breasts support thereunder and so permit them to project comfortably in a well shaped bust.

A further object of the invention is: to provide flexible arched frame openings which will readily conform to the shape of the breasts when received therein, andalso reinforce the saddles for increased support of said breasts.

A further object of the invention is: to connect the sides of the brassiere with an elastic body-encircling bandelet and girdle to resiliently maintain the saddles and arches in firm pressure contact around the breasts, to insure said well shaped bust.

A further object ofthe invention is: to construct said saddles of relatively soft napped material for comfortable breast gripping support, and with extension of said material along the bandelet-girdle belt for properly positioning excessive underarm flesh, and so prevent irritation.

A still further object of the invention is: to provide a light weight decorative material over the front of the brassiere to cover the breasts, and with means for letting said cover down, for infant feeding.

With the above important and other minor objects in view, which will become more apparent as the disclosure proceeds, the invention consists essentially in the construction and arrangement of the various parts hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the brassiere positioned on a human female body.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the brassiere with the decorative cover let down.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the brassiere from the rear.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an enlargement of the bandelet parts shown in FIG. 5.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

A narrow elastic band 10 (see FIG. 6) forms the base of a body-encircling bandelet and has an inner napped surface for body frictional contact. The ends of the'band I0 terminate at the back of the bandelet when in use. A wider strip 11 of elastic, known by the trade name spandex" is secured on the front half of the band upper and lower zigzag stitching I2, the bottom of both members being flush while the strip is approximately twice as wide and projects above the band at 13. This completes the bandelet.

A girdle 14 of inner reinforced flannelette is wide at the center and tapers off to narrower ends. This material is carried by the upper edge of the bandelet, covering over and being sewn to the upper projecting part of the spandex" while the ends of the girdle are covered by outer pieces of linen 15. The lower edges of the latter linen overlies the bandelet and are secured thereto by a continuation of the stitching 12. The flannelette of the girdle 14 is preferably on the inside for body contact and the extreme ends of said girdle and covering linen terminate some distance back from the ends of the band 10, so they can receive rectangular extensions 16 of elastic material known under the trade name of lycra", and which extends to the ends of the band 10. The lower edges of this lycra" are secured to the band by further zig-zag stitching l2 and their adjacent sides are provided withsuitable hooks and eyes 17 for retention of what I term the complete bandelet-girdle belt on a female body. It will also be noticed that double stitched seams 18 reinforce the connections between the lycra" and the reinforced flannelette on the outer side.

Four curved linen legs 19 have their upper ends sewn together to form a pair of arched frames 20. These two frames are again sewn together side by side, as shown at 21 in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inside edges of the frames having suitable hems 22. The upper outer edges of the frames are also seamed and provided with edging lace, indicated at 23. The bottoms of the frames are then secured to the extending spandex" 11 of the bandelet, which extends across the front half of the girdle, to which the outer sides of the frames 20 are also secured. At the same time, a narrow cotton strap 24 (see FIG. 4) is double sewn down the center of the girdle I4 and to the center of the joined frame 20. It will therefore be appreciated that the frames are integral with the girdle at their vertical center, and at their vertical sides, and along their bottom edges which are also sewn to the bandelet. The upper part of the girdle, except at said joining of the frames and at their sides, is free and can slide-move over the frame legs when stretched. Buckles 25 are centrally secured to the upper connected end of each of the frames 20 and shoulder support straps 26 and 27 connect said buckles with the rear parts of the girdle 14 at the seams 18.

From the above it will be appreciated that when the girdle and bandelet are secured as a belt around the body of a woman by the fastenings 17, the bandelet will fit snugly to the waist and frictionally support the girdle thereon, and the elastic of the bandelet and the lycra will freely give to permit breathing movement and muscle stretch. The support straps 26 and 27 will hold the upper ends of the frames 20 in position so the connected center and outer sides of these frames will support the upstanding flannelette girdle 14, which can slide as explained. It might also be' mentioned at this time that the upper free part of the girdle, across the frames, is considerably longer than the lower part where it connects with the bandelet so it can outwardly droop or sag through the frame openings 32, as suggested in FIGS. 3 and 5, while still side supported by the sewing 21 and 30 from the outer sides of the legs 19, as shown in FIG. 3.

A suitable lace covering 28, having a loose pair of breast receiving pockets or cups 29, is secured to the outer face of the band 10 and to the outer sides of the frames 20 by the stitching 30 holding these parts to the girdle, the said stitching 30 also holding the forward ends of the linen 15. The drooping corners of this covering lace, which are shown in FIG. 2, are each provided with loops 3]! so they can be lifted up into full covering position in front of the frames 20, by booking the loops each onto one of the buckles.

When the brassiere is to be put on, it is first opened out. A woman then leans forward until her breasts are hanging down. She then passes the brassiere therebelow and brings it up with her breasts entered in the openings 32 of the frames 20L They are then shaken from side to side to insure their freedom and the belt ends are passed around behind and connected by the fasteners 17, which holds the frames 20 and those portions of the bandelet firm around the breasts. In this operation, the breasts push the front flannelette of the girdle 14 through the openings 32 to form a taut pair of up and outwardly sloping saddles 33 which extend from the holding bandelet (see FIGS. 3 and and in the lower shape of the clinging breasts. At the same time, the linen legs 19 of the frames 20 twist outward in sympathy with the saddles (see FIG. 3) so they also conform to the breast shapes, the legs 19 andsaddles 33 sliding past each other to smoothly and efficiently complete said shaped result. Accordingly, when the woman stands erect, the saddles 33, reinforced on each side by the frame legs 19, lift the breasts and support their weight while the mentioned sides of the openings 32 firmly press inward to force the central parts outward in semispheroid shape, as indicated by the dot and dash line 34 in FIG. 5. Note that the teats are free of any pressure. These comfortable well-supported breasts cannot droop due to the saddles while the surrounding pressure give them a well-molded shape. The blood circulation is not interfered with in any way and when the lace covering 28 is drawn up with the pockets 29 loosely enveloping the extended breasts and the hooks 3! are caught on the buckles 25, the bust appearance is all that could be desired as well as comfortable.

if a baby is to be fed, the lace covering 28 can be readily dropped down by releasing the hooks 31. Further, as the bandelet and girdle make such a firm. soft frictional contact with the skin and the soft clinging flannelette passes around under the arms to the rear lycra, any excess underarm flesh can be tucked or worked ahead with the fingers and held by this resilient material. In a short time this flesh too will work into the breasts to further enhance the shaped appearance.

lclaim:

1. A brassiere, comprising: a body encircling belt; a pliable girdle forming the upper part of said belt; a pair of archshaped frames each presenting a pair of legs; said frames fastened in side by side relation on the belt and projecting thereabove; the bottoms and outer sides of the frames secured to the belt and forming therewith a pair of breast-receiving openings; the upper part of said girdle interiorly resting against the frame legs and curving outwardly therebetween to form sloping saddles therein for support of said breasts when said breasts project through said openings; a pair of shoulder straps each connecting the upper part of one of the frames with the rear part of the belt for leg reinforcement of said saddles when receiving the breasts; and said frames adapted to compress the outer portions of the breasts for firm central projection thereof through said openings.

2. A brassiere as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said frames are formed from a pair of curved legs which are joined at their upper ends to form the arch-shape and openings for said breasts reception.

3. A brassiere as defined in claim 1, wherein said girdle is provided with an upper fullness for suspension through the frame legs and form said sloping saddles.

4. A brassiere as defined in claim 1, wherein the ends of said belt are each provided with elastic extensions and fastener means for connection, and a loose decorative front cover releasably mounted over the openings to conceal projecting breasts.

5. A brassiere, comprising: an elastic-tightening support bandelet; an upper pliable girdle secured to said bandelet to provide a body-encircling belt having means thereon for releasable fastening; a pair of arch-shaped frames of flat material carried by the belt, each frame presenting a pair of curved legs which are positioned in side by side relation on the front half of the belt, with their bottoms and outer sides sewnconnected thereto; the upper part of the girdle interiorly restmg against said frame legs, and having sufficient fullness for

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