U.S. patent application number 09/975415 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-25 for brassiere having multifilament variable stiffness support and having protective frame tips.
Invention is credited to Avellanet, Francisco J..
Application Number | 20020098775 09/975415 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26932549 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020098775 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Avellanet, Francisco J. |
July 25, 2002 |
Brassiere having multifilament variable stiffness support and
having protective frame tips
Abstract
A garment for supporting a woman's chest in the form a brassiere
with breast supporting cups supported by an wire element of
variable stiffness formed of a solid wire linearly joined to a
cable of greater flexibility than the solid wire, and with the ends
of the support wire having protective balls.
Inventors: |
Avellanet, Francisco J.;
(Coral Gables, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Patrick J. Walsh
400 Main Street
Stamford
CT
06901
US
|
Family ID: |
26932549 |
Appl. No.: |
09/975415 |
Filed: |
October 11, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60239410 |
Oct 11, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
450/41 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41C 3/124 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
450/41 |
International
Class: |
A41C 003/10 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A garment having cups for breast support with each cup having a
perimeter the improvement which comprises a support element affixed
along the perimeter of at least one of said cups, the support
element having a U-shaped configuration ending in tips and being
formed of solid nickel-titanium wire, and a ball element affixed to
the tips of the support element.
2. A garment as defined in claim 1 in which the ball elements are
spheres.
3. A garment as defined in claim 1 in which the ball elements are
discs.
4. A garment having cups for breast support with each cup having a
perimeter the improvement which comprises a support element affixed
along the perimeter of at least one of said cups, and the support
element having a U-shaped configuration formed of linearly joined
sections of solid nickel-titanium wire and a cable of greater
flexibility.
5. A garment as defined in claim 4 in which the cable of greater
flexibility is multifilament drawn wire.
6. A garment as defined in claim 4 in which the cable of greater
flexibility is braided wire.
7. A garment as defined in claim 4 in which the cable of greater
flexibility is stranded wire.
8. A garment as defined in claim 4 in which the U-shaped element
terminate in tips and a ball element is affixed to the tips.
9. A garment as defined in claim 8 in which the ball elements are
spheres.
10. A garment as defined in claim 8 in which the ball elements are
discs.
11. A garment having cups for breast support with each cup having a
perimeter the improvement which comprises a support element affixed
along the perimeter of at least one of said cups, and the support
element having a U-shaped configuration formed of linearly joined
sections with solid nickel-titanium wire forming one-half the
element and a cable of greater flexibility forming one-half the
element.
12. A garment as defined in claim 11 in which the cable of greater
flexibility is multifilament drawn wire.
13. A garment as defined in claim 11 in which the cable of greater
flexibility is braided wire.
14. A garment as defined in claim 11 in which the cable of greater
flexibility is stranded wire.
15. A garment as defined in claim 11 in which the U-shaped element
terminates in tips and a ball element is affixed to the tips.
16. A garment as defined in claim 15 in which the ball elements are
spheres.
17. A garment as defined in claim 15 in which the ball elements are
discs.
18. A garment having cups for breast support with each cup having a
perimeter the improvement which comprises a support element affixed
along the perimeter of at least one of said cups, and the support
element having a U-shaped configuration formed of linearly joined
sections of solid nickel-titanium wire forming two-thirds of the
element and a cable of greater flexibility than the solid wire
forming one-third of the element.
19. A garment as defined in claim 18 in which the cable of greater
flexibility is multifilament drawn wire.
20. A garment as defined in claim 18 in which the cable of greater
flexibility is braided wire.
21. A garment as defined in claim 18 in which the cable of greater
flexibility is stranded wire.
22. A garment as defined in claim 18 in which the U-shaped element
terminates in tips and a ball element is affixed to the tips.
23. A garment as defined in claim 22 in which the ball elements are
spheres.
24. A garment as defined in claim 22 in which the ball elements are
discs.
25. A garment having cups for breast support with each cup having a
perimeter the improvement which comprises a support element affixed
along the perimeter of at least one of said cups, and the support
element having a U-shaped configuration formed of linearly joined
sections of solid nickel-titanium wire and a cable of greater
flexibility than the solid wire, with the solid nickel-titanium
wire forming the end sections of the element and a cable of greater
flexibility than the solid wire forming a central section of the
element.
26. A garment as defined in claim 25 in which the cable of greater
flexibility is multifilament drawn wire.
27. A garment as defined in claim 25 in which the cable of greater
flexibility is braided wire.
28. A garment as defined in claim 25 in which the cable of greater
flexibility is stranded wire.
29. A garment as defined in claim 25 in which the U-shaped element
terminates in tips and a ball element is affixed to the tips.
30. A garment as defined in claim 29 in which the ball elements are
spheres.
31. A garment as defined in claim 29 in which the ball elements are
discs.
32. A garment having cups for breast support with each cup having a
perimeter the improvement which comprises a support element affixed
along the perimeter of said cups, the support element having a
double U-shaped configuration formed of linearly joined sections of
solid nickel-titanium wire and nickel-titanium wire twisted and
drawn or swaged into a cable, with the solid nickel-titanium wire
forming the end sections of the elements and a cable of greater
flexibility forming an inverted central section of the element.
33. A garment as defined in claim 32 in which the cable of greater
flexibility is multifilament drawn wire.
34. A garment as defined in claim 32 in which the cable of greater
flexibility is braided wire.
35. A garment as defined in claim 32 in which the cable of greater
flexibility is stranded wire.
36. A garment as defined in claim 32 in which the U-shaped element
terminates in tips and a ball element is affixed to the tips.
37. A garment as defined in claim 32 in which the ball elements are
spheres.
38. A garment as defined in claim 32 in which the ball elements are
discs.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is directed to the inventions described in
U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/239,410 filed Oct. 11,
2000 and claims priority of said application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is directed to garments such as
brassieres and bathing suits having flexible, supportive elements
forming a frame for the garment.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,774 is directed to garments including
brassieres having metallic wires or frames as stiffening members.
The wires disclosed therein have a generally U-shaped configuration
extending along the periphery of the brassiere cups. The wires are
secured to the garment by enclosing and stitching the wires within
the fabric along the perimeter of the brassiere cups.
[0004] The '774 patent provides a multifilament twisted and drawn
cable support member attached to the lower perimeter of each
brassiere cup portion to provide support for each cup in a manner
comfortable to the wearer. The cable support member is a plurality
of nickel-titanium wires or stainless steel wires, or wires of
other metals or alloys. The twisted and drawn cables provide
excellent support for the cup portions of the brassiere, and the
cables being very flexible are not prone to poking through the
material of the brassiere.
[0005] The present invention is directed to improvements of the
garment disclosed in the '774 patent.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In accordance with the present invention, garments including
brassieres and women's bathing suits are provided with frames
comprising wire members of variable stiffness as supporting
members. The frames have a generally U-shaped configuration
extending along the periphery of the brassiere cups. The frames
themselves are formed of a solid wire segment and a wire of greater
flexibility such as a multifilament drawn wire or braided or
stranded wire segment with the segments joined by linearly suitable
means such as butt welding.
[0007] In one embodiment, a variable stiffness frame for a
brassiere support cup is fabricated of one-half solid wire and
one-half multifilament drawn or braided or stranded wire joined at
the midpoint of the frame. In another embodiment, the frame
comprises two-thirds solid wire joined to one-third a wire of
greater flexibility such as multifilament drawn wire or braided or
stranded wire. In another embodiment, the frame comprises a center
section of a wire of greater flexibility such as multifilament
drawn wire or braided or stranded wire joined at its ends to
terminal sections of solid wire. In still another embodiment of the
invention, a unitary frame for both cups of a brassiere comprises
adjacent generally U-shaped cup supporting members of solid wire
joined at their inner ends by a center section of a wire of greater
flexibility such as multifilament drawn wire or braided or stranded
wire. The center section may be described as an inverted U-shaped
section with ends linearly joined to the inner ends of the cup
supporting members.
[0008] In another aspect of the invention, each terminal end of
each cup supporting frame member is provided with a sphere joined
thereto to protect the garment as well as the wearer from poking by
the ends of the wire frames. The sphere can be flattened into a
disc shape. The protective spheres and discs are made part of the
embodiments of garment variable stiffness support frames described
just above as well being made part of support frames of solid
Nitinol wire.
[0009] In accordance with the invention the support frames are
secured to a garment by enclosing and stitching the wires within
the fabric along the perimeter of the brassiere cups.
[0010] A garment according to the invention possesses a variable
stiffness wire support wherein the breast is supported laterally to
prevent the breast from flowing sideways, and to direct breast flow
toward the center to create "cleavage". Directing breast flow
toward the center is achieved by locating the flexible
multifilament drawn wire or wires in the center of the support
frame. A support frame having greater flexibility toward the center
is also advantageous when the user is running or jogging.
[0011] Additional advantages of the invention will become apparent
to those skilled in the art upon reference to the detailed
description taken in conjunction the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0012] FIG. 1 is a front view of a garment according to the
invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a front view of a garment cup support member of
solid wire with balls affixed to its tips.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a front view of a modified embodiment of garment
cup support member of combined solid wire and a wire of greater
flexibility such as multifilament drawn or braided or stranded wire
with balls affixed to its tips.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a front view of another modified embodiment of
garment cup support member of combined solid wire and a wire of
greater flexibility such as multifilament drawn or braided or
stranded wire with balls affixed to its tips.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a front view of another modified embodiment of
garment cup support member of combined solid wire and a wire of
greater flexibility such as multifilament drawn or braided or
stranded wire with balls affixed to its tips.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a front view of another modified embodiment of
garment cup support member of combined solid wire and a wire of
greater flexibility such as multifilament drawn or braided or
stranded wire with balls affixed to its tips.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, a garment such as a brassiere 10
according to the invention comprises a pair of frontal cup portions
12 made of flexible material for covering the chest of the wearer.
Each of the cup portions 12 has a perimeter and a lower edge 14, an
inner edge 16, and an outer edge 18 which together define a lower
portion 19 of the perimeter. In accordance with the invention, a
variable stiffness support element 20 comprising a combined solid
wire and a wire of greater flexibility such as multifilament drawn
wire or braided or stranded wire is sewn along the lower portion of
the perimeter. A front portion 30 of the garment is provided with
material and/or coupling means connecting the inner edges 16 of the
cup portions to each other. A back portion 32 of the garment has
material and/or coupling means extending around the back of the
wearer for connecting the outer edges 18 of the cup portions
together. One or other of the front and back portions 30, 32 is
preferably divided into two subsections 34, 35 and includes
releasable coupling means 36 such as cooperating hooks and loops to
facilitate donning and doffing the garment. The garment may include
shoulder straps 38 to couple the back portions to the cup portions
for additional support.
[0019] In one aspect of the invention shown in FIG. 2, a brassiere
support element 17 comprises a solid Nitinol U-shaped wire 20 with
ball elements 22, 24 in the form of spheres or discs affixed to
each end of the support element. The ball elements may be
prefabricated balls or created by melting the element tips with
either a plasma welder or a laser welder. The balls may be the same
or larger diameter of the cable defining the element. The balls may
optionally be flattened into a disc shape. The sphere and disc
whichever is used prevent injury to the garment and to the wearer.
The support elements are also preferably coated with a
thermoplastic elastomer 25 by extrusion or heat shrinking, for
example. The elastomer provides a cushioning effect.
[0020] In another aspect of the invention shown in several
embodiments in FIGS. 3-5 a brassiere support element 40 comprises a
U-shaped support formed of linearly joined solid wire 42 and
multifilament drawn wire or braided or stranded wire 44.
[0021] The brassiere support element 50 of FIG. 6 comprises a
unitary double U-shaped structure of solid wire 52 joined by a
central multifilament drawn wire section or braided or stranded
wire 54.
[0022] The multifilament drawn wire 44, 54 comprises a twisted and
drawn or swaged cable support element manufactured as follows.
Several filaments or wires preferably of nickel-titanium, stainless
steel, or other metals or alloys or combinations thereof are twined
together to form a wire rope. The wire rope is drawn through a die
to reduce its diameter. Preferably, the wire is successively drawn
through several dies decreasing the diameter and plastically
deforming the wires so that the cable takes a substantially
circular cross-section. The cable is preferably heated to remove
cold working.
[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the wire rope is drawn through
four dies of decreasing diameter resulting in a cable with diameter
30-40% smaller than the wire rope. In lieu of drawing, the wire
rope can be swaged to reduced diameter and circular
cross-section.
[0024] A cable made in this manner exhibits relatively high
flexibility, high torque modulus, light weight, and high
strength.
[0025] In modified form, the support element may be formed of
braided or stranded wire in the place of multifilament drawn wire
to achieve variable stiffness in conjunction with Nitinol wire.
Braiding and stranding are known techniques for making wire.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 3, a support element comprises a U-shaped
wire of approximately one-half solid wire 42 and one-half
multifilament drawn wire or braided or stranded wire 44 butt welded
to each other at 40a and fitted with terminal protective balls or
discs 22, 24 as described above in connection with FIG. 2.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 4, a support element 40 comprises a
U-shaped wire of approximately two-thirds solid wire 42 and
one-third multifilament drawn wire or braided or stranded wire 44
butt welded to each other at 40a and fitted with terminal
protective balls or discs 22, 24 as described above in connection
with FIG. 2.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 5, a support element 40 comprises a
U-shaped wire of approximately two solid wire end sections 42, 43
each being approximately two-fifths of the element together with a
bottom or central multifilament drawn wire or braided or stranded
wire 44 being approximately one fifth of the element. The sections
are butt welded to each other at 40a and fitted with terminal
protective balls or discs 22, 24 as described above in connection
with FIG. 2.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 6, a support element 50 comprises a double
U-shaped wire 51 of solid wire terminal portions 52 and an inverted
U-shaped central portion 54 multifilament drawn wire or braided or
stranded wire butt welded to each other at 50a and fitted with
terminal protective balls or discs 22, 24 as described above in
connection with FIG. 2.
[0030] It will be appreciated that a variable stiffness support
element for brassieres and the like provides breast support wherein
breast flow is directed toward the center of the supporting garment
aided principally by the location of solid wire sections to the
outer lateral margins of the support cups and providing a
multifilament drawn or braided or stranded wire section at the
inner lateral margin of the support cups. In the case of a unitary
double cup support frame, the solid wire sections are placed under
and to the outer lateral margins of each support cup with the solid
wire sections joined by a central inverted U-shaped multifilament
drawn or braided or stranded wire.
[0031] Various changes may be made to the support elements
embodying the principles of the invention. The foregoing
embodiments are set forth in an illustrative and not in a limiting
sense. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims appended
hereto.
* * * * *