Brassiere frame

Abstract

An integral bra frame, comprising an elongate frame of a resilient material, said frame (1) being deformable to provide desired size and width of the bra and to match the bra type. The ends (2) of the frame (1) are shaped as thickened terminals, such as broadened knots, the cross-section shape of the frame (1) being elliptic. The frame (1) is rotated around its centre axis to along the frame (1) at different portions of the frame (1), the major axis of the ellipse being substantially parallel to the body at the ends and along the cups, and substantially perpendicular to the body at its central portion between the cups during use.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a bra frame which is integral and comprises an elongate frame of a resilient material.

[0002] The prior art bra frames are manufactured in a strictly defined shape for each bra-size and type. They are most often divided into two parts, one for each cup, or by means of a connection member joined to a unit. The presence of two parts complicates the manufacturing of frame bras and if they are joined to one unit unnecessary manufacturing costs will arise. In order to avoid that extra manufacturing step, the joining of two parts to a unit, it is preferred to use a bra frame which from the outset is an integral piece.

[0003] Bra frames are generally made of metal, preferably stainless steel, which is a material having a certain resilience when present in wire form. The reason for this is that the bra frame shall comply with the movements of the body but retain the shape of the bra. In certain cases it could be desireble to have a higher resilience between the cups or to use a frame which is flexible between the cups to make the bra match the body of the user.

[0004] One disadvantage of the prior art metal frames is that they are uncomfortable due to insufficient resilience. Another problem inherent in known metal frames is that they tend to creep out of the bras when washing in washing machines, resulting in the machine becoming extensively damaged.

[0005] In FR 940 198 there is shown a previously known integral bra frame which is flexible between the cups. This frame has a well-defined shape below the cups and has a downward directed "loop" between the cups permitting flexing and bending to take place between the cups. The bendable "loop" protrudes downwards out from the bra between the cups which is a problem because the "loop" tends to chafe against the body and, in addition thereto, does easily get stuck in the clothes, or in an undesired manner made visible between the buttons in a blouse slot. The frame is manufactured for one bra type and for one size.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a bra frame solving the above mentioned problems in a cheap and simple way.

[0007] That object is realised by a bra frame according to the introductory paragraph and characterised by the frame being strongly resilient and deformable, upon strong deformation, at its ends to provide desired bra width and, at its central portion, to provide matching to the bra cutting.

[0008] The big advantage of this is that the same basic frame can be used for many different bra types, e.g. both with a high and with a low cutting centrally between the cups, and for bras having various sizes and width measures. In addition thereto the high resiliency of the frame material makes the bra more comfortable to wear and it does not stress the surrounding material of the bra equally much which results in a drastic reduction of the problem caused by out-creeping frames.

[0009] Preferably the frame is manufactured in a plastic material tolerating both detergents and high temperatures and especially a combination of those factors. Further, the frame can be provided with thicker end terminals, such as broader knots, in order still more to counteract wearing of the surrounding bra material and out-creeping during washing in machines.

[0010] For the purpose of exemplifying an embodiment of the invention it will be described with reference to the annexed drawing, in which:

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a front view of a bra frame according to the invention. Also shown is its cross-section of three different portions.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a top view of the frame shown in FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the bra frame according to the invention. The support 1 is manufactured in a basic like a softly curved W consisting of a strongly resilient material which preferably is a plastic. The ends 2 of the frame 1 are enlarged, rounded and slightly flattened.

[0014] The cross-sectional form of the frame 1 is elliptic, see cross-sections A-A, B-B and C-C in FIG. 1. The orientation of the axes of the ellipse is rotated around the axis of the frame 1, starting at the first end 2 and along the first cup the contact of the frame 1 is with the major axis of the ellipse substantially parallel to the body. When the central portion, between the cups, is reached the cross-section is, by a gradual change-over, rotated so as instead to place the major axis of the ellipse essentially perpendicular to the body, whereupon this rotation is reverted when the other cup is reached, so that the cross-section is parallel along the other cup up to the other end 2. This embodiment makes it easy to form the central portion upwards or downwards, see the arrows in the middle of FIG. 1, in response to the desired design of the bra, and does at the same time provide stability in the portions along the cups.

[0015] The ends 2 of the frame 1 can be bent laterally to different bra width and size measures, see the arrows in FIG. 1.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2 the ends 2 of the frame 1 are bent inwards towards the sides of the users body.

Claims

1. An integral bra frame comprising an elongate frame of a resilient material, said frame (1) being deformable to provide desired width and size of the bra and to match the bra type, the ends (2) of the frame (1) being shaped as thickened terminals, such as broadened knots, the frame cross-section bein elliptic, characterised in that the frame is rotated around its centre axis to different positions along the frame (1) at different portions of the frame (1), the major axis of the ellipse being substantially parallel to the body at the ends and along the cups, and substantially perpendicular to the body at the central portion of the frame between the cups during use.

2. A bra frame according to claim 1, the material of which is a plastic.