Brassiere Construction

Abstract

A brassiere for improving the bustline of the wearer, by creating a pronounced cleavage in the bustline and providing a full, naturally appearing bustline, has a shell with two cups provided with appropriate straps and fastening means for securing the brassiere to the wearer. Each cup comprises a shaped foam rubber layer and has multiple outer layers of a padding material attached to the lower and outer underarm circumferencial areas of the foam rubber layer. A thick inner layer of padding material is disposed within the cup correspondingly with the placement of the outer layers. The cup construction is adapted to force the natural bosom upwardly and inwardly to create a pronounced cleavage and to provide a desireable, naturally appearing softness, fullness, and shape to the bustline.

Parent Case Text

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 188,171, now abandoned, filed Oct. 12, 1971, which is in turn a continuation-in-part application of parent application Ser. No. 825,739, filed May 19, 1969, now abandoned.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. State of the Art

There are many brassiere constructions available commercially and as proposed in the literature for enhancing the bustline of the wearer. Such brassiere constructions typically attempt to enhance the bustline by providing cups constructed of various materials, but designed to accomplish one goal, that of enlarging the shape and size of the appearance of the natural bosom. The cups are generally padded and seek only to surround the natural bosom with the padded material to accomplish this goal. In addition, a few of the brassiere constructions attempt to provide support of the natural bosom by including padding material only along the bottom of the cups. This has the effect of pushing the bosom higher; however, it has little or no effect in creating a pronounced cleavage for the wearer.

2. Objectives

It was an objective in the making of this invention to provide a brassiere which would create a pronounced cleavage in the bustline of the wearer using the wearer's own bosom. It was a further objective to provide a naturally appearing fullness of any desired size and shape to the wearer's bustline.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, a brassiere construction is provided which creates a pronounced cleavage in the bustline and gives the appearance of a natural, soft, full bust. The brassiere has a shell comprising two cups, each having at least one shaped layer of foam rubber. A plurality of shaped outer layers of firm padding material are disposed along the outer surface of the shaped layer of foamed rubber. The multiple outer layers cover the lower and one side circumferencial areas of the shaped foam rubber layer. In addition, a thick inner layer of padding material is disposed within the cup covering the lower and side inner surface corresponding to the area covered by the outer layers. The combination of firm outer layers and thick inner layer acts to force the natural bosoms of the wearer toward the center of the chest to form a naturally appearing, pronounced cleavage. The outer layers of padding also provide the desired fullness and contour to the bustline. The strength of the outer layers and the fullness of the thick inner layer hold the flesh of each breast firmly toward the center of the wearer's chest, to create a large, voluptuous appearance.

The outer layers of padding material can be shaped as desired to achieve a natural curve, fullness and softness in the bustline. The outer layers are preferably attached along the outer and lower edges of the cups, and there may be any number of layers, typically three or four or more. The outer surface of the cups can be covered with an appropriate fabric, such as satin, lace, or the like, to improve the appearance and wearability of the brassiere. The brassiere can conveniently be secured to the wearer by means of straps and a clasp or other securing means disposed between the cups of the brassiere. The fastening means should be of a type which permits the brassiere to be secured snugly to the wearer, thereby insuring that the brassiere remains firmly in place to maintain the cleavage.

THE DRAWING

The best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the brassiere attached to a wearer;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the opposite side of the brassiere as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section of one of the brassiere cups taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation of an alternative embodiment showing additional outer layers of padding material; and

FIG. 5 is a section of another alternative embodiment illustrating additional outer layers of padding and a double foam rubber shaped layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of the invention includes a shell 10 having two cups 11, 12 adapted to be disposed about the bustline of a wearer. Straps 13 are attached to shell 10 for securing the brassiere to the wearer, and a clasp 14 connects the two cups 11, 12 together for convenient securing of the brassiere in place on the wearer. The straps are preferably placed nearer the outer edges of the cups to provide a tighter fit. Straps 13 and clasp 14 can be of any suitable design, so long as they perform the intended function of fastening the brassiere securely around the wearer to prevent movement of the brassiere relative to the wearer. A metal wire 15 is disposed along the periphery of each cup 11, 12 to aid in holding the brassiere firmly in place on the wearer.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 3,4, and 5, each cup 11, 12 is constructed of at least one layer of foamed rubber material 16 formed in the shape of a cup with a ridge-line 17 extending diagonally from a point near the upper edge of the cup near the underarm of the wearer to a point near the bottom edge of the cup near the center of the wearer's chest. Shaped layer 16 is preferrably cut away near the inner edges thereof to permit greater areas of the wearer's bosom to be exposed in the cleavage created by the brassiere. As shown, in FIG. 5, shaped layer 16 can comprise two or more layers 18.

A plurality of shaped outer layers 19 of firm padding material are disposed along the outer surface of shaped foam rubber layer 16. As shown in FIG. 3, two outer layers 20,21 are employed; while FIG. 4 shows three outer layers 22, 23, and 24; and the FIG. 5 embodiment illustrates three layers 25, 26, and 27, in addition to the double foam rubber layer 16, 18. The outer layers 19 cover the circumferential area of shaped foam rubber layer 16 generally below and laterally away from ridge line 17. This area extends from the underarm of the wearer diagonally across the cup to the inner, lower edge thereof. The thickness, number and shape of these layers determine the size, shape and fullness of the bustline, in addition to providing the necessary firm support from the side and bottom of the brassiere to retain the natural bosoms inwardly and upwardly toward the center of the chest to create and maintain the desired cleavage. It is important that the padding materials be firm and thick enough to provide the necessary support and laterally-extending force to create the cleavage. Suitable materials for construction of the layers 19 include quilted fabrics, foam rubber materials, foam backed fabrics, plastics, and other known materials suitable for the purposes herein ascribed to the outer layers 19.

A large, thick, shaped inner layer of padding material 28 is disposed along the inner surface of foam rubber layer 16 in a position corresponding to the position of the outer layers 19, i.e., from the underarm of the wearer diagonally across the inner cup to the lower, inner edge of the cup. In this position, the natural bosom of the wearer is forced upwardly and inwardly toward the center of the chest to form the desired naturally-appearing cleavage. Layer 28 preferably occupies over one-half the volume of the cup, but can vary with the size and shape of the natural bosoms, e.g., the smaller the natural bosoms, the larger that layer 28 should be constructed. Suitable materials for layer 28 include foam rubber, multiple-layered quilted fabrics, foam-backed fabric, plastics, and the like.

When the brassiere of the invention is worn by the wearer, the placement and construction of the inner and outer layers 28 and 19 along the side and bottom of each cup force the natural bosoms and the fleshy part of the underarm area upwardly and laterally toward the center of the wearer's chest. The natural bosoms thereby create a naturally appearing cleavage which is otherwise not attainable. The shape and thickness of the outer layers 19 provide the desired fullness and shape to the bustline.

As shown, the layers of the cup can be covered with any suitable fabric 29, such as satin, lace, or the like for wearability and protection.

Whereas this invention is illustrated and described herein with respect to certain preferred forms thereof, it is to be understood that many variations are possible without departing from the inventive concept as particularly pointed out in the claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A brassiere construction for holding the bosoms of a wearer toward the center of the chest to create a cleavage, comprising: a shell having two cups attached together and having straps connected thereto for securing the brassiere to the wearer; each cup comprising:

at least one shaped layer of foam rubber adapted to be placed around a bosom and having upper, lower and lateral side areas;

a plurality of shaped outer layers of firm padding material disposed adjacent the outer surface of the foam rubber layer, and covering the lower and one side areas of the foam rubber layer; and

a thick layer of padding material disposed within the cup covering the lower and one side areas of the inner surface of the foam rubber layer substantially corresponding to the area covered by the outer layers;

said cups adapted to hold a breast of a wearer upwardly and inwardly toward the center of the wearer's chest, so that the two cups create a cleavage in the bustline of the wearer.

2. A brassiere as set forth in claim 1, wherein the thick inner padding layer comprises foam rubber.

3. A brassiere as set forth in claim 1, wherein the shaped outer layers comprise foam rubber.

4. A brassiere as set forth in claim 1, wherein the shaped outer layers comprise quilted material.

5. A brassiere as set forth in claim 1, wherein there are three shaped outer layers.

6. A brassiere as set forth in claim 1, wherein there are four shaped outer layers.

7. A brassiere as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cup comprises two shaped layers of foamed rubber.

8. A brassiere as set forth in claim 1, wherein the shell is encased in fabric.

9. A brassiere as set forth in claim 1, wherein each inner and outer layer of padding material is encased in fabric.

10. A brassiere as set forth in claim 1, wherein the shell has fastening means between the two cups for attaching the shell around a wearer.