U.S. patent application number 11/743426 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-06 for shaped underwire and brassiere including such.
Invention is credited to Zhen Qiang Liu.
Application Number | 20080274669 11/743426 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39939845 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080274669 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Liu; Zhen Qiang |
November 6, 2008 |
SHAPED UNDERWIRE AND BRASSIERE INCLUDING SUCH
Abstract
An underwire for a brassiere disposed at the lower periphery of
the breast cup region. The underwire includes a strip having
opposite major surfaces extending between its ends. One major
surface extends in a longitudinal direction between the ends of the
strip, is shaped along the major surface between the ends of the
strip so that a first normal at any location on the major surface
does not extend parallel to a second normal at a second location on
the major surface. The second location is along the longitudinal
direction of the strip and spaced along the major surface from the
first location. The major surface may be shaped as part of a
hypothetical conical surface. The major surface or a central
portion thereof is inclined to the vertical. The underwire or the
central region thereof is convexly curved on the outside and
concavely curved on the inside.
Inventors: |
Liu; Zhen Qiang; (Kwai
Chung, HK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OSTROLENK FABER GERB & SOFFEN
1180 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
100368403
US
|
Family ID: |
39939845 |
Appl. No.: |
11/743426 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
450/52 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41C 3/124 20130101;
A41C 3/122 20130101; A41C 3/0007 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
450/52 |
International
Class: |
A41C 1/14 20060101
A41C001/14 |
Claims
1. An underwire for a brassiere, the underwire comprising a strip
of material having two ends and at least one major surface
extending in a longitudinal direction between said ends, wherein
said major surface is inclined at an angle from a vertical plane
along a length of said major surface over an entire length of said
underwire, including at least a central region of said underwire
and said central region being generally around a center of said
underwire between said ends.
2. An underwire as claimed in claim 1 wherein said angle from the
vertical plane is in the range of 40.degree. to 80.degree..
3. An underwire as claimed in claim 1 wherein said major surface is
concavely curved.
4. (canceled)
5. An underwire as claimed in claim 1 wherein said underwire is a
metal strip.
6. (canceled)
7. An underwire as claimed in claim 1, wherein said major surface
is oriented to define a part of a generally conical surface.
8. An underwire for a brassiere, the underwire comprising a strip
of material having two ends and at least one major surface
extending in a longitudinal direction between said ends of said
strip, said major surface being shaped to have a plurality of
locations along said major surface between said ends of said strip
and such that a first normal at any first said location on said
major surface does not extend parallel to a second normal at
another second said location on said major surface, wherein said
second location is along said longitudinal direction of said strip
and spaced along said major surface from said first location.
9. An underwire for a brassiere as claimed in claim 8, wherein said
brassiere includes at least one breast cup and said major surface
is entirely at said at least one breast cup.
10. An underwire as claimed in claim 8 wherein said first and
second locations are both within a central region of said strip,
said central region being generally around a center of said strip
between said ends of said strip.
11. An underwire as claimed in claim 8 wherein said strip is a
metal strip.
12. An underwire for brassiere as claimed in claim 8, wherein said
major surface is oriented to define a part of a generally conical
surface.
13. An underwire for a brassiere, the underwire being formed by the
steps of: providing a precursor strip of material, said precursor
strip having two ends and a first and a second major surface,
wherein each of said first and second major surfaces is on a
respective opposite side of said strip and each said major surface
is in a respective plane and extends in a longitudinal direction
between said ends; and displacing said major surfaces out of said
respective planes thereof, over an entire length of said precursor
strip extending between said ends, including least a central region
of said precursor strip, said central region being generally around
a center of said precursor strip between said ends.
14. An underwire as claimed in claim 13, wherein said displacing
occurs over a whole length of said precursor strip between said
ends.
15. An underwire as claimed in claim 13, wherein said precursor
strip is a strip of metal.
16. An underwire for brassiere as claimed in claim 13, wherein at
least one of said major surfaces is displaced to define a part of a
generally conical surface.
17. An underwire for a brassiere, said underwire comprising a strip
of material having two ends, two opposite major surfaces extending
between said two ends, wherein one of said major surfaces has a
convex curvature and the other of said major surfaces has a concave
curvature along an entire length of said strip, including at least
a central region of said strip, said central region being generally
around a center of said strip between said ends.
18. An underwire for brassiere as claimed in claim 17, wherein said
other concave curvature major surface is oriented to define a part
of a generally conical surface.
19. An underwire as claimed in claim 17, wherein said convex
curvature and said concave curvature occur along a whole length of
said strip between said ends.
20. An underwire as claimed in claim 17, wherein said strip of
material is of metal.
21. A brassiere comprising two breast cups and a bridge between
said breast cups, said breast cups having a lower periphery; and an
underwire as claimed in claim 1 at said lower periphery of at least
one of said breast cups.
22. A brassiere comprising a core assembly defining two breast cup
regions and a bridge region between said breast cup regions, said
breast cup regions having a lower side with a lower periphery, said
core assembly comprising at least a first layer of foam material
and a second layer of foam material laminated with said first layer
of foam material, said core assembly having an interior side and an
exterior side, a first and a second outer layer, each said outer
layer being disposed outside of and each being laminated with said
core assembly, wherein said first outer layer is on said interior
side and said second outer layer is on said exterior side of said
core assembly to encase said core assembly, at least at one of said
breast cup regions, an underwire located between said first and
second layers of foam material and at said lower periphery of said
breast cup region, and said underwire comprising a strip of
material having two ends and having at least one major surface
extending in a longitudinal direction between said ends of said
strip, wherein said major surface is inclined at an angle from a
vertical plane along a length of said major surface over an entire
length of said underwire, including at least a central region of
said underwire and said central region being generally around a
center of said underwire between said ends.
23. (canceled)
24. A brassiere as claimed in claim 22, wherein the whole of said
underwire is located within said breast cup region.
25. A brassiere as claimed in claim 22, wherein at least one of
said first and second layers also defines a back strap of said
brassiere.
26. A brassiere of claim 22, wherein said strip is of metal.
27. A brassiere comprising a core assembly defining two breast cup
regions and a bridge region between said breast cup regions, said
breast cup regions having a lower side with a lower periphery, said
core assembly comprising at least a first layer of foam material
and a second layer of foam material laminated with said first layer
of foam material, said core assembly having an interior side and an
exterior side, a first and a second outer layer, each said outer
layer being disposed outside of and each being laminated with said
core assembly, wherein said first outer layer is on said interior
side and said second outer layer is on said exterior side of said
core assembly to encase said core assembly, at least at one of said
breast cup regions, an underwire located between said first and
second layers of foam material and at said lower periphery of said
breast cup region, and said underwire comprising a strip of
material having two ends and having two opposite major surfaces
extending in a longitudinal direction between said ends of said
strip, at least one of said major surfaces being shaped to have a
plurality of locations along said at least one major surface
between said ends of said strip, said strip being shaped such that
for said at least one major surface, a normal at any first said
location on said at least one major surface does not extend
parallel to a second normal at a second said location on said at
least one major surface, wherein said second location is along said
longitudinal direction of said strip and spaced along said at least
one major surface from said first location.
28. A brassiere as claimed in claim 27, wherein the whole of said
underwire is located within said breast cup region.
29. A brassiere as claimed in claim 27, wherein at least one of
said first and second layers also defines a back strap of said
brassiere.
30. A brassiere of claim 27, wherein said strip is of metal.
31. A brassiere as claimed in claim 27, wherein said first and
second locations are both within a central region of said strip,
said central region being generally around a center of said strip
between said ends.
32. A brassiere comprising a core assembly defining two breast cup
regions and a bridge region between said breast cup regions, said
breast cup regions having a lower side with a lower periphery, said
core assembly comprising at least a first layer of foam material
and a second layer of foam material laminated with said first layer
of foam material, said core assembly having an interior side and an
exterior side, a first and a second outer layer, each said outer
layer being disposed outside of and each being laminated with said
core assembly, wherein said first outer layer is on said interior
side and said second outer layer is on said exterior side of said
core assembly to encase said core assembly, at least at one of said
breast cup regions, and an underwire located between said first and
second layers of foam material and at said lower periphery of said
breast cup region, wherein said underwire comprises a strip of
material having two ends and opposite major surfaces extending
between said two ends, and wherein along an entire length of a
length of said strip, including at least a central portion of said
strip and said central portion being generally around a center of
said strip between said ends, one said major surface has a convex
curvature and the other said major surface has a concave
curvature.
33. A brassiere as claimed in claim 32, wherein the whole of said
underwire is located within said breast cup region.
34. A brassiere as claimed in claim 32, wherein at least one of
said first and second layers also defines a back strap of said
brassiere.
35. A brassiere as claimed in claim 32, wherein said strip is of
metal.
36. A brassiere as claimed in claim 32, wherein said convex
curvature and said concave curvature occur along the whole length
of said strip.
37. An underwire for brassiere, the underwire comprising a strip of
material defining two underwire regions and a bridge region
therebetween, wherein each underwire region has two ends and two
opposite major surfaces extending in a longitudinal direction
between said ends of said strip, one said major surface of each
said underwire region being shaped to have a plurality of locations
along said major surface between said ends of said strip and such
that for at least one said major surface, a first normal at any
first said location on said one major surface does not extend
parallel to a second normal at another second said location on said
one major surface, wherein said second location is along said
longitudinal direction of said strip and spaced along said one
major surface from said first location, and wherein said underwire
is substantially symmetric about a plane of symmetry passing
through said bridge region.
38. An underwire for brassiere as claimed in claim 37, wherein each
said major surface is entirely at a respective breast cup of said
brassiere.
39. A brassiere comprising two breast cups and a bridge between
said breast cups, each of said breast cups having a lower
periphery; and an underwire as claimed in claim 37 at said lower
periphery of each of said breast cups.
40. A brassiere comprising two breast cups and a bridge between
said breast cups, said breast cups having a lower periphery; and an
underwire as claimed in claim 8 at said lower periphery of at least
one of said breast cups.
41. A brassiere comprising two breast cups and a bridge between
said breast cups, said breast cups having a lower periphery; and an
underwire as claimed in claim 13 at said lower periphery of at
least one of said breast cups.
42. A brassiere comprising two breast cups and a bridge between
said breast cups, said breast cups having a lower periphery; and an
underwire as claimed in claim 17 at said lower periphery of at
least one of said breast cups.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to shaped underwire and
brassiere including such.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A conventional underwire for a brassiere (hereinafter
referred to as "bra") is 2-dimensional, in the sense that it is
essentially flat or planar, or that it can lay flat on a flat
surface. It includes two opposite major surfaces which are flat and
is strip-like in nature. It is generally "U" or arcuate in plan
shape.
[0003] A conventional underwire is typically encased in a fabric
sock or channel that is stitched to the bra cup. It is typically
located below the bra cup adjacent the periphery of the cup. One
problem with a conventional underwire is that the breast is
typically not directly supported by a major surface of the
underwire, with the result that the wearer feels uncomfortable
after long-time wearing.
[0004] A "beyond-the-bra-cup" location of the underwire requires
generally a flange of bra fabric to be present beyond the cups of
the bra to retain the underwire. The problem is that the flange or
an excessive flange is not always visually pleasing.
[0005] The "beyond-the-bra-cup" location also makes the end of the
underwire that is further away from the bridge region between two
bra cups more conspicuous when the back straps of the brassiere are
tightly fastened to each other. This again creates an unpleasant
look.
[0006] It is accordingly an object of the present invention to
provide a shaped underwire and/or a brassiere that includes a
shaped underwire that addresses at least some of the above
mentioned problems and/or to at least provide the public with a
useful choice.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Accordingly in a first aspect the present invention consists
in an underwire for a brassiere, the underwire comprising a strip
of material having two ends and at least one major surface
extending in a longitudinal direction between said ends, wherein
said major surface is inclined at an angle from the vertical along
a length of said major surface over at least a portion of said
underwire, said portion including at least a central region of said
underwire and said central region being generally around a center
of said underwire between said ends.
[0008] Preferably said angle from the vertical is in the range of
40.degree. to 80.degree..
[0009] Preferably said major surface is concavely curved.
[0010] Preferably said underwire is entirely within a breast cup of
said brassiere.
[0011] Preferably said underwire is a metal strip.
[0012] Preferably said major surface is inclined at an angle from
the vertical along said major surface over an entire length of said
underwire.
[0013] Preferably said major surface is oriented to define a part
of a generally conical surface.
[0014] In a further aspect the present invention consists in an
underwire for a brassiere, the underwire comprising a strip of
material having two ends and at least one major surface extending
in a longitudinal direction between said ends of said strip, said
major surface being shaped to have a plurality of locations along
said major surface between said ends of said strip and such that a
first normal at any first said location on said major surface does
not extend parallel to a second normal at another second said
location on said major surface, wherein said second location is
along said longitudinal direction of said strip and spaced along
said major surface from said first location.
[0015] Preferably said brassiere includes at least one breast cup
and said major surface is entirely at said at least one breast
cup.
[0016] Preferably said first and second locations are both within a
central region of said strip, said central region being generally
around a center of said strip between said ends of said strip.
[0017] Preferably said strip is a metal strip.
[0018] Preferably said major surface is oriented to define a part
of a generally conical surface.
[0019] In a further aspect the present invention consists in an
underwire for a brassiere, the underwire being formed by the steps
of:
[0020] providing a precursor strip of material, said precursor
strip having two ends and a first and a second major surface,
wherein each of said first and second major surfaces is on a
respective opposite side of said strip and each said major surface
is in a respective plane and extends in a longitudinal direction
between said ends; and
[0021] displacing said major surfaces out of said respective planes
thereof, over at least a portion of said precursor strip extending
between said ends, wherein said portion includes at least a central
region of said precursor strip, said central region being generally
around a center of said precursor strip between said ends.
[0022] Preferably said displacing occurs over a whole length of
said precursor strip between said ends.
[0023] Preferably said precursor strip is a strip of metal.
[0024] Preferably at least one of said major surfaces is displaced
to define a part of a generally conical surface.
[0025] In a further aspect the present invention consists in an
underwire for a brassiere, said underwire comprising a strip of
material having two ends, two opposite major surfaces extending
between said two ends, wherein one of said major surfaces has a
convex curvature and the other of said major surfaces has a concave
curvature along at least a portion of said strip, said portion
includes at least a central region of said strip, said central
region being generally around a center of said strip between said
ends.
[0026] Preferably said other concave curvature major surface is
oriented to define a part of a generally conical surface.
[0027] Preferably said convex curvature and said concave curvature
occur along a whole length of said strip between said ends.
[0028] Preferably said strip of material is of metal.
[0029] In a further aspect the present invention consists in a
brassiere comprising two breast cups and a bridge between said
breast cups, said breast cups having a lower periphery; and
[0030] an underwire as hereinbefore described at said lower
periphery of at least one of said breast cups.
[0031] In a further aspect the present invention consists in a
brassiere comprising
[0032] a core assembly defining two breast cup regions and a bridge
region between said breast cup regions, said breast cup regions
having a lower side with a lower periphery, said core assembly
comprising at least a first layer of foam material and a second
layer of foam material laminated with said first layer of foam
material, said core assembly having an interior side and an
exterior side,
[0033] a first and a second outer layer, each said outer layer
being disposed outside of and each being laminated with said core
assembly, wherein said first outer layer is on said interior side
and said second outer layer is on said exterior side of said core
assembly to encase said core assembly,
[0034] at least at one of said breast cup regions, an underwire
located between said first and second layers of foam material and
at said lower periphery of said breast cup region, and
[0035] said underwire comprising a strip of material having two
ends and having at least one major surface extending in a
longitudinal direction between said ends of said strip, wherein
said major surface is inclined at an angle from the vertical along
a length of said major surface over at least a portion of said
underwire, said portion including at least a central region of said
underwire and said central region being generally around a center
of said underwire between said ends.
[0036] Preferably said major surface is inclined at an angle from
the vertical along said major surface over an entire length of said
underwire.
[0037] Preferably the whole of said underwire is located within
said breast cup region.
[0038] Preferably at least one of said first and second layers also
defines a back strap of said brassiere.
[0039] Preferably said strip is of metal.
[0040] In a further aspect the present invention consists in a
brassiere comprising
[0041] a core assembly defining two breast cup regions and a bridge
region between said breast cup regions, said breast cup regions
having a lower side with a lower periphery, said core assembly
comprising at least a first layer of foam material and a second
layer of foam material laminated with said first layer of foam
material, said core assembly having an interior side and an
exterior side,
[0042] a first and a second outer layer, each said outer layer
being disposed outside of and each being laminated with said core
assembly, wherein said first outer layer is on said interior side
and said second outer layer is on said exterior side of said core
assembly to encase said core assembly,
[0043] at least at one of said breast cup regions, an underwire
located between said first and second layers of foam material and
at said lower periphery of said breast cup region, and
[0044] said underwire comprising a strip of material having two
ends and having two opposite major surfaces extending in a
longitudinal direction between said ends of said strip, at least
one of said major surfaces being shaped to have a plurality of
locations along said at least one major surface between said ends
of said strip, said strip being shaped such that for said at least
one major surface, a normal at any first said location on said at
least one major surface does not extend parallel to a second normal
at a second said location on said at least one major surface,
wherein said second location is along said longitudinal direction
of said strip and spaced along said at least one major surface from
said first location.
[0045] Preferably the whole of said underwire is located within
said breast cup region.
[0046] Preferably at least one of said first and second layers also
defines a back strap of said brassiere.
[0047] Preferably said strip is of metal.
[0048] Preferably said first and second locations are both within a
central region of said strip, said central region being generally
around a center of said strip between said ends.
[0049] In a further aspect the present invention consists in a
brassiere comprising
[0050] a core assembly defining two breast cup regions and a bridge
region between said breast cup regions, said breast cup regions
having a lower side with a lower periphery, said core assembly
comprising at least a first layer of foam material and a second
layer of foam material laminated with said first layer of foam
material, said core assembly having an interior side and an
exterior side,
[0051] a first and a second outer layer, each said outer layer
being disposed outside of and each being laminated with said core
assembly, wherein said first outer layer is on said interior side
and said second outer layer is on said exterior side of said core
assembly to encase said core assembly,
[0052] at least at one of said breast cup regions, and
[0053] an underwire located between said first and second layers of
foam material and at said lower periphery of said breast cup
region,
[0054] wherein said underwire comprises a strip of material having
two ends and opposite major surfaces extending between said two
ends, and wherein along at least a portion of a length of said
strip, said portion including at least a central portion of said
strip and said central portion being generally around a center of
said strip between said ends, one said major surface has a convex
curvature and the other said major surface has a concave
curvature.
[0055] Preferably the whole of said underwire is located within
said breast cup region.
[0056] Preferably at least one of said first and second layers also
defines a back strap of said brassiere.
[0057] Preferably said strip is of metal.
[0058] Preferably said convex curvature and said concave curvature
occur along the whole length of said strip.
[0059] In a further aspect the present invention consists in an
underwire for brassiere, the underwire comprising a strip of
material defining two underwire regions and a bridge region
therebetween, wherein each underwire region has two ends and two
opposite major surfaces extending in a longitudinal direction
between said ends of said strip, one said major surface of each
said underwire region being shaped to have a plurality of locations
along said major surface between said ends of said strip and such
that for at least one said major surface, a first normal at any
first said location on said one major surface does not extend
parallel to a second normal at another second said location on said
one major surface, wherein said second location is along said
longitudinal direction of said strip and spaced along said one
major surface from said first location, and wherein said underwire
is substantially symmetric about a plane of symmetry passing
through said bridge region.
[0060] Preferably each said major surface is entirely at a
respective breast cup of said brassiere.
[0061] In a further aspect the present invention consists in a
brassiere comprising two breast cups and a bridge between said
breast cups, each of said breast cups having a lower periphery;
and
[0062] an underwire as hereinbefore described at said lower
periphery of each of said breast cups.
[0063] This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the
parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the
specification of the application, individually or collectively, and
any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements
or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which
have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates,
such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if
individually set forth.
[0064] Where reference herein is made to interior and exterior or
similar terminology, it is meant to be understood to be in relation
to the body of the wearer of the bra. For example the "interior" or
"inner side" or "inner region" is a relative term to denote that an
item is more proximate the face side of the bra that is more
proximate to the body of the wearer than items of the bra that are
more distal the body of the wearer. "Inner" does not mean "inner
most" unless specified. This similarly applies to terms such as
"outer" or "exterior".
[0065] Where reference herein is made to "underwire" it is to be
understood that this relates to the industry term for such a
product and such may come in the form or a metal or plastic strip
or other form.
[0066] As used herein the term "and/or" means "and" or "or", or
both.
[0067] As used herein "(s)" following a noun means the plural
and/or singular forms of the noun.
[0068] The term "comprising" as used in this specification means
"consisting at least in part of". When interpreting statements in
this specification which include that term, the features, prefaced
by that term in each statement, all need to be present but other
features can also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and
"comprised" are to be interpreted in the same manner.
[0069] It is intended that reference to a range of numbers
disclosed herein (for example, 1 to 10) also incorporates reference
to all rational numbers within that range (for example, 1, 1.1, 2,
3, 3.9, 4, 5, 6, 6.5, 7, 8, 9 and 10) and also any range of
rational numbers within that range (for example, 2 to 8, 1.5 to 5.5
and 3.1 to 4.7).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0070] FIG. 1 is a front view of a bra incorporating the underwire,
shown with emphasis to illustrate the orientation and positioning
of the underwire of the bra,
[0071] FIG. 2 is a front view of an underwire shown in an
orientation as would be seen if incorporated with a bra and the bra
is seen directly from the front and as illustrated as view B of
FIG. 4,
[0072] FIG. 3 is a view in the opposite direction as that shown in
FIG. 2,
[0073] FIG. 4 is a right side view of the underwire of FIG. 2,
[0074] FIG. 5 is a sectional view (from the right) through section
CC of FIG. 2,
[0075] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a cone illustrating an example
shape of an underwire located on the conical surface of a cone,
[0076] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cone of FIG. 6
illustrating the positioning of an example shape of an underwire
located on the conical surface of the cone,
[0077] FIG. 8 is a side view of the cone of FIGS. 6 and 7,
[0078] FIG. 9 is a side view of a cone illustrating a differently
shaped underwire,
[0079] FIG. 9A is a plan view of an elliptical cone showing the
underwire 208 positioned on a surface of this elliptical cone,
[0080] FIG. 10 is a sectional exploded view of at least some of the
components that may define a bra taken at section AA of FIG. 1,
[0081] FIG. 11 is a front view of part of a bra of a kind with
which the underwire members of the present invention can be
incorporated,
[0082] FIG. 12 is a front view of an underwire that defines two
portions one for each breast cup,
[0083] FIG. 13 is a side view of two cones and illustrating in
relation thereto, the underwire of FIG. 12,
[0084] FIG. 14 is a plan view of FIG. 13,
[0085] FIG. 15 is a front view of an underwire shown in an
orientation as would be seen if incorporated with a bra and the bra
is seen directly from the front and as illustrated as view B of
FIG. 4, and
[0086] FIG. 16 shows the sectional views (from the left) through
sections AA, BB and CC respectively of FIG. 15.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0087] With reference to FIG. 1 there is shown a brassiere
(hereinafter "bra") 1 that may generally be defined by two breast
cups 2, 3, back straps 4 and shoulder straps 7. The shoulder straps
7 extend between breast cups 2, 3 and each of the back straps 4
respectively.
[0088] The shoulder straps may however be optional as it is
envisaged that the bra may be strapless. Indeed while reference
herein is made to a bra, it is envisaged that the assembly of
panels to define such may alternatively be incorporated into other
garments such as, for example, evening dresses or bathing suits or
the like.
[0089] The bra 1 may also include flanges 5 located beneath the
lower periphery of each breast cup 2, 3. Alternatively the bra may
not include such flanges, as for example shown in the bra shown in
part in FIG. 11.
[0090] With reference to FIG. 1 it can be seen, and with emphasis
added, the positioning of two underwires at respective breast cups
2, 3. With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 10, the underwire 8,
located at the breast cup 3, is preferably positioned so that the
underwire is located between an inner and an outer layer of the
breast cup 3 and extends along or adjacent the lower periphery 6 of
the breast cup 3.
[0091] The lower periphery 6 of the breast cup 2, 3 has on either
side of it a breast cup side or a flange side. The underwire 8
preferably extends along at least part of the lower periphery 6 on
the breast cup side of the periphery 6. Less desirably but not
excluded from the present invention is the positioning of the
underwire 8 on the other side (i.e., the flange side) of the lower
periphery 6. In such a case the underwire may be positioned between
an inner and an outer layer of the flange 5 extending beneath the
breast cup 2, 3.
[0092] With reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, the underwire 8 is
preferably of a strip-like nature. It includes a first major
surface 8A and a second major surface 8B which are opposite to each
other. It also includes longitudinal edges 11 and 12 and free
distal ends 9 and 10. The first major surface 8A and the second
major surface each extends from one distal end to the other. In the
most preferred form, as will be described hereinbelow, one of the
major surfaces 8A and 8B, being the outward side which is further
away from the wearer's body, has a convex curvature while the other
of the major surfaces 8A and 8B, being the inward side which is
closer to the wearer's body, has a concave curvature.
[0093] The underwire 8 of the present invention is preferably
formed to the desired shape from a precursor flat or planar strip
of material which is in the shape of a conventional 2-dimensional
underwire. The precursor strip of material is preferably metal and
is curved or generally arcuate in shape in the plane in which the
precursor strip is generally located. From the flat arcuate
precursor shape, forming to the desired shape of the present
invention can occur. The forming will result in at least a portion
of one of the major surfaces 8A and 8B taking on a convex shape and
the corresponding portion of the other of the major surfaces 8A and
8B taking on a concave shape. It will be appreciated that forming
from a precursor flat strip is merely one way of making an
underwire of the present invention and the present invention is not
limited to such illustrated way of making the underwire.
[0094] In the most preferred form of the present invention, the
desired concave and convex shape of the underwire is present over
the whole length of the underwire between the ends 9 and 10, as
shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. However, the desired concave and convex
shape may alternatively exist over only a portion of the length of
the underwire. Such portion may be referred to as the formed
portion, as it is the portion that has been formed into the concave
and convex desired shape. In the present invention, the formed
portion includes at least a central region generally around a
center of the underwire between the two ends of the underwire, as
such convex/concave shaping at least the central region of the
underwire would provide the wearer with improved comfort and/or
support over the conventional underwire. In the most preferred form
the formed portion extends over the whole length of the
underwire.
[0095] Thus, the desired concave and convex shape may exist over
the whole length of the underwire, or may exist only between two
points both being located inward of the ends 9 and 10 but outward
of the central region, or located between one of the ends and a
point inward of the other end but outward of the central region. In
other words, for example, one or both of the end regions of the
underwire may not be subjected to the convex/concave forming while
the central region of the underwire possibly together with one or
both of the end regions may be subjected to such convex/concave
forming. In all cases, the desired concave and convex shape exists
at least over the central region.
[0096] As a result of the forming of the whole or the formed
portion of the underwire to the desired concave and convex shape,
one or both of the major surfaces are inclined to the vertical.
[0097] With reference to FIG. 5, there is shown a sectional view
through section CC of FIG. 2 wherein at the central region the
major surfaces are inclined at an angle D relative to the vertical
VV. As shown, D is approximately 45.degree.. D may range from about
40.degree. to 80.degree. degrees.
[0098] The inclination to the vertical preferably occurs over the
entire length of the underwire. However, it is possible that the
inclination to the vertical occurs only over a portion of the
underwire, specifically the formed portion which includes at least
the central region. FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate such a possibility.
There, a portion of the major surface 21 is convexly curved while
the corresponding portion of the opposite major surface is
concavely curved. As can be seen, the inclination to the vertical
occurs around the central region but not at the end regions.
[0099] In addition, as a result of the forming of the desired
concave and convex shape of the present invention, the normal N of
the underwire at any first point on the first or second major
surface 8A or 8B of the formed underwire or, as the case may be, of
the formed portion of the underwire, is not parallel to the normal
at any second point spaced along a longitudinal direction of the
underwire from the first point on the same major surface of the
formed underwire or, as the case may be, of the formed portion of
the underwire. As can be seen with reference to FIG. 2, the normals
N.sub.1, N.sub.2, and N.sub.3 are not parallel. Where only the
formed portion of the underwire has been formed to the desired
concave and convex shape, the region at one or both of the distal
ends may still have normals parallel to each other.
[0100] Likewise, the normal at any first point on the other major
surface 8B or 8A of the underwire or of the formed portion of the
underwire, as the case may be, is also not parallel to the normal
at any second point spaced along a longitudinal direction of the
underwire from the first point on that surface.
[0101] To illustrate the underwire is formed so that all (or at
least the portion intermediate of the distal ends 9, 10 or between
a distal end and a point inward of the other distal end but outward
of the central region) of a major surface is displaced out of the
plane of the original precursor planar strip, reference is made to
FIGS. 6-8 which illustrate an example shape of the underwire of the
present invention. In this example, the shape of the underwire 8
can generally be defined with reference to a conical geometry
explained with reference to FIG. 6-8. As can be seen with reference
to these figures, the underwire 8 may for example be formed to
define part of a hypothetical conical surface, particularly a
fragment of a frustum of the cone.
[0102] As illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, where the underwire is for
example formed to define part of a conical surface, the normal at
all points on the concave surface 8B at a certain distance from a
longitudinal edge of the underwire, for instance midway between the
edges 11 and 12, will pass through a common point. Also, the
concave surface is inward and the convex surface is outward of the
conical shape.
[0103] The underwire may extend across a substantial arc of the
conical surface. The arc S, as shown with reference to FIG. 6, and
the radius and height of the cone 16 and therefore of the underwire
shaped generally as a fragment of the frustum of the cone may vary
as different dimensions will apply to different sized bras.
[0104] With reference to the example shape shown in FIG. 9, it can
be seen that the underwire 108 as illustrated need not necessarily
extend along a single plane of the hypothetical cone 16. It can be
seen that at or towards the distal ends 109, 110, the underwire may
deviate upwardly.
[0105] With reference to FIG. 9A and by way of an alternative
illustration, it can be seen that rather than the underwire being
formed, for example, to a shape substantially following a conical
surface, the underwire may instead be formed, for example, to
follow a elliptical conical surface 216. In fact, as noted, the
underwire of the present invention does not need to follow any
conical surface.
[0106] As noted, shapes other than a fragment of a frustum of a
cone may be formed as the underwire. They share in common the
convex and concave curvatures of the opposite major surfaces, the
inclination to the vertical and/or the non-parallel characteristics
of the normals, as described above. For example, the underwire's
shape may not have a uniform radius of curvature along its length
between its ends. The shape of the underwire may be such that the
radius or distance from an axis through a plane in which the strip
is generally located is larger along one longitudinal edge of the
strip and shorter along the opposite longitudinal edge, for
example, as occurs with a frustum of a cone.
[0107] With reference to FIG. 10, there is shown a cross sectional
view through section AA of FIG. 1 where there is illustrated a part
of the breast cup and the flange of a preferred bra incorporating
an underwire of the present invention in an exploded view. The
preferred bra is preferably a molded bra comprising two or more
layers of molded materials. The layers of molded materials are
preferably laminated or adhered together in an appropriate manner,
preferably with adhesives. Preferably, there is provided a core
assembly of layers which defines two breast cups and a bridge
region between the two breast cups (but excluding the back straps).
The core assembly comprises inner and outer layers of foam material
17, 18 that are laminated to each other and that are positioned
between and laminated respectively to interior and exterior layers
of fabric material 19, 20. The interior and exterior layers of
fabric material 19, 20, or either of them, may extend substantially
across the entire length of the bra and include one or both of the
back straps of the bra. Each of these interior and exterior layers
19, 20 may optionally be laminated with a co-extensive foam layer,
which foam layer is laminated with the foam layer 17 or 18 of the
core assembly. Captured between the foam layers 17, 18 of the core
assembly is the underwire 8. The applicant's published U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/864,255 contains detailed description of
the structure of such a bra comprising a core assembly and how it
is manufactured and is hereby incorporated by reference.
[0108] Alternatively, which is not shown in FIG. 10, a core
assembly comprising the foam layers 17 and 18 is not present and
the underwire 8 is captured directly between an outer and an inner
fabric layer (either or both of which being with or without a
co-extensive foam layer laminated thereto) of the bra or, as the
case may be, of the bra cup.
[0109] In each case, the whole of the underwire 8 is preferably
located in the breast cup region (as opposed to the flange region)
of the bra as can be seen in FIG. 10. It is located adjacent the
lower periphery 6 on the breast cup side (rather than on the flange
side) of this periphery 6. The underwire is preferably retained in
a fabric sock or channel. Where a core assembly is provided, the
core's foam layers 17, 18 are preferably laminated to each other
with the underwires positioned between them at the lower periphery
of the respective breast cup regions.
[0110] With reference to FIG. 11, there is shown a bra 101 that
does not include a flange extending along the entire lower
periphery 106 of each of the breast cups 102 and 103. Instead the
lower periphery 106 of each of the breast cups 102 and 103 is free.
The underwire of the present invention lends itself particularly
well to incorporation into a bra of this kind. With a forming of
the underwire to the desired concave/convex shape as herein
described the underwire can or will follow, to a sufficient extent,
the shape of the breast cups 102 and 103.
[0111] With reference to FIG. 12, there is shown an underwire 308
that includes two portions 325 and 326. Each of the portions 325
and 326 is preferably of the desired concave/convex shape as herein
described. There is a bridge region 327 between the portions 325
and 326 and the underwire is substantially symmetric about a plane
of symmetry passing through the bridge region.
[0112] In FIGS. 13 and 14 there is shown an example of how the
shape of the underwire of FIG. 12 may be generated. It is merely
shown with reference to the conical surfaces by way of illustration
and certainly the actual concave/convex curved regions of the
underwire of FIG. 12 need not be strictly conical in form. In FIGS.
13 and 14 there is shown two cones that are in partial overlap at
their base. It can be seen that a first section 325 of the
underwire of FIG. 12 follows a part of the conical surface of the
cone on the left-hand side and a second portion 326 of the
underwire follows a part of the conical surface on the right-hand
side. The degree of overlap of the conical surfaces may define
where the bridge region 327 of the underwire 308 is positioned.
FIGS. 13 and 14 have been used to illustrate an example of the
shape of an underwire, however variations on this shape are
envisaged so long as in respect of each of the portions 325 and 326
of the underwire, the normals, the concave/convex curvatures and
the inclination to the vertical are akin to what is described above
with reference to FIGS. 2 to 9A.
[0113] While the present invention has been described with
reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood
that such embodiments are susceptible of modifications and
variations without departing from the scope of the present
invention and that the invention will include all embodiments
falling within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *