Abstrict A flexible support element for fitting within a sleeve formed under
and around the lower periphery of a bra cup, the invention replaces
conventional bra underwires which lose shape during wear or washing,
poke through sleeve material at the ends of the sleeve and cause
user discomfort. The support element of the invention takes the
form of an arcuate length of polymeric or similar material having
a circular cross-sectional shape and which can be formed manually
into a supporting shape to fit within the undercup sleeve. The present
support element provides comfort to a user and does not poke through
the ends of the undercup sleeve.
Claims What is claimed is:
1. A support element for use with a bust-supporting article of
apparel having at least one cup with a sleeve disposed about at
least lower portions of the cup and into which sleeve is received
the support element, the support element being intended to hold
a desired shape of the cup, the support element comprising an elongated
body portion formed of a plastic material, said support element
being generally arcuate prior to insertion of the support element
into the sleeve, the support element further being substantially
non-rigid and wherein the body portion has a circular cross-section,
the support element being capable of being shaped while within the
sleeve to a contour capable of supporting a portion of the body
of a user which is received into the cup, the support element retaining
that supporting contour while within the sleeve.
2. The improved support element of claim 1 wherein the ends of
the body portions are rounded.
3. The improved support element of claim 1 wherein the plastic
material comprises a polymeric material.
4. The improved support element of claim 3 wherein the plastic
material is selected from the group consisting of high density polyethylene,
fluorinated hydrocarbons and chlorinated hydrocarbons.
5. The improved support element of claim 1 wherein the circular
cross-section of the body portion of the support element has a diameter
ranging from 1/16" to 1/4".
6. The improved support element of claim 1 wherein the circular
cross-section of the body portion of the support element has a diameter
of 3/16".
7. The improved support element of claim 1 wherein the circular
cross-section of the body portion of the support element has a diameter
of 1/8".
8. The improved support element of claim 1 wherein the support
element has a cross-sectional diameter which is slightly less than
the internal diameter of the sleeve to allow the support element
to be received loosely within the sleeve.
9. The improved support element of claim 1 wherein the plastic
material is selected from the group consisting of high density polyethylene,
fluorinated hydrocarbons and chlorinated hydrocarbons.
10. The improved support element of claim 1 wherein the support
element is not preformed into a rigidly maintained shape prior to
insertion of the support element into the sleeve.
11. A support element for use with a bust-supporting article of
apparel having at least one cup with a sleeve disposed about at
least lower portions of the cup and into which sleeve is received
the support element, the support element being shaped while within
the sleeve to a contour capable of supporting a portion of the body
of a user received into the cup, the support element comprising
an elongated body portion formed of a plastic material capable of
being shaped into that contour for supporting the user, the body
portion of the support element being substantially non-rigid and
having a circular cross-section, the support element being capable
of being shaped while within the sleeve to that contour supporting
the user and further being capable of retaining that supporting
contour while within the sleeve.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to supports for the cup portions of bras,
swimwear and other articles of apparel which utilize bust-supporting
structures, and particularly relates to a flexible cup support element
formed of polymeric or similar material and having a circular cross-section,
the support element replacing conventional underwire structures.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Devices intended to provide support and shaping for the cup of
a bra have long been known especially for larger cup sizes. Such
devices have come to be commonly known as "underwires"
even when formed of material other than metal. Over at least the
last fifty years, these underwires have taken many shapes and have
been formed of many different materials. The underwire itself is
commonly inserted into and held within a fabric sleeve disposed
about the periphery of the bra cup at least about the lower half
thereof. The relatively bulky and thick underwires used over half
a century ago have given way in the present day to underwires formed
of relativley thin, flat lengths of metal having generally a rectangular
cross-section. These metal structures are shaped into an almost
semi-circular conformation which allows fitting of the underwire
within the sleeve disposed about the periphery of the under side
of the bra cup. These metal underwires are often coated with various
"plastic" materials and often have plastic tips located
at each end of the underwire. Such structures are shown in U.S.
Pat. Nos. 3605753 and 4133316 with structures described in these
patents being produced by S & S Industries, Inc. of New York,
N.Y. Underwires formed of plastic materials only have also been
provided in the art as is evidenced by a Playtex product formed
solely of plastic material and having a substantially oval cross-section.
While these prior underwire structures have achieved widespread
usage, certain disadvantages result from their use. In particular,
the underwire structures formed of metal, especially those structures
not having cushioning tips, can cut into the skin of a user producing
substantial discomfort. Even the underwire structures provided with
cushioning tips push through or "poke through" the normally
closed ends of the fabric sleeve intended to hold the underwire
structures, thereby requiring that the sleeve be repaired or that
the bra discarded due to the damage caused by poke through of the
underwire structure which destroys at least portions of the fabric
of the bra. Washing of bras having conventional underwire structures
as described above and especially in automatic washing machines
and the like cause deformation of the underwire especially when
formed of metal and often results in poke through. Multiple washings
eventually destroy bras fitted with conventional underwires, degradation
of the fabric of the bra occurring at least in part due to the relative
movement occurring between the stiff, rigid metal underwire and
the fabric of the bra occasioned by the mechanical actions encountered
in machine washing and drying.
Conventional underwires thus exhibit substantial deficiencies in
use owing primarily to wearer discomfort and bra degradation due
to the rigid and relatively unyielding nature of these structures.
Prior efforts have been made to improve underwire structures with
attention being directed to at least certain of the problems inherent
in conventional underwires as have been discussed above. O'Boyle,
in U.S. Pat. No. 4646746 forms an underwire of polymeric material
which appears to be elastomeric in at least some degree. O'Boyle
provides various shapes for these underwire support elements. The
patent to Menkel, U.S. Pat. No. 3035584 provides plastic support
elements having flattened cross-sectional configurations. In U.S.
Pat. No. 3114374 Chalfin et al describe polymeric materials encasing
a wire in an underwire support. Rowell, in U.S. Pat. No. 3209756
also encases a wire with a polymeric material in an effort to remedy
the problems encountered with underwire structures formed of metal.
Schwartz, in U.S. Pat. No. 3378012 provides a metal wire support
having a rectangular cross-section. However, Schwartz mentions the
potential formation of a metal wire support with a circular cross-section.
While the prior art provides underwire support structures of varying
description, the art has yet to provide a lightweight underwire
structure capable of providing shape and support while being comfortable
to a user even after numerous washings and dryings of the bra in
which the underwire support is provided. Further, in spite of tips
formed on conventional underwires which are intended to prevent
poke through and user discomfort, the art has yet to provide a satsifactory
underwire structure which will not poke through the fabric sleeve
within which underwires are carried even after multiple washings
and which will not cause discomfort to a user. The present invention
is intended to provide an underwire structure formed of polymeric
or similar material and having a circular cross-sectional shape,
this structure being lightweight and comfortable to a user while
reducing the potential for damage to the fabric of the bra due to
poke through or excessive wearing during machine washing and drying.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides an improved support element such as is commonly
disposed about at least the lower periphery of a bra cup to facilitate
shaping and support of that portion of a user's body which is intended
to fit within a bra cup. Such support elements are commonly known
as "underwires" and are conventionally formed of metal,
plastic-coated metal and plastic materials having various cross-sectional
shapes. The present support elements or "underwires" are
formed of polymeric or similar materials which are capable of being
shaped to conform to the contours of a bra cup and that portion
of a user of the bra which fits into the bra cup. The material from
which the present support elements are formed are sufficiently rigid
to maintain a particular shape once manually formed and, if deformed
from a desired shape, can be reformed manually with little effort.
Various polymeric and elastomeric materials can be employed with
common materials such as polyvinylchloride typically being used.
For the purposes of this disclosure, the term "plastic"
will refer to those polymeric materials useful according to the
invention.
The present support elements further are provided with a circular
cross-section since this particular shape has been found to provide
substantial benefits in causing the support elements to be comfortable
to a user and to resist damage to the fabric of the bra including
the fabric from which a sleeve is formed about the under periphery
of a bra cup for receiving a support element. The ends of a support
element configured according to the invention can be rounded to
further reduce the potential for discomfort due to contact between
the ends of the support element and the skin of a user. Still further,
rounded ends on a support element configured according to the invention
can further reduce the potential for poke through, that is, the
poking of an end of an underwire structure through an end of that
fabric sleeve formed about a bra cup which receives an underwire
structure thereinto for holding the underwire structure in proximity
to the desired body portion of a user.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide improved
support elements known as underwire structures used for support
and shaping in a bra and wherein the support element is formed of
a flexible polymeric or similar material and which particularly
has a circular cross-sectional shape.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved underwire
structure for a bra cup and which reduces user discomfort associated
with conventional underwire structures and which also reduces "poke
through" of the underwire structure through the fabric material
at the ends of a sleeve into which the underwire structure is inserted
for holding of the underwire structure in place.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved
support element or underwire structure for bras which allows multiple
machine washings and dryings with minimal deformation of the support
element and minimal damage to the fabric of the bra itself.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will become more
readily apparent in light of the following detailed description
of the preferred embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional underwire structure
positioned in a bra, an end of the conventional underwire structure
being seen as having poked through an end of a sleeve within which
the conventional underwire structure is disposed;
FIG. 2A is a detailed perspective view of a conventional metal
underwire structure;
FIG. 2B is a detailed perspective of a conventional underwire structure
having a metal interior and a polymeric or plastic coating formed
thereon;
FIG. 2C is a detailed perspective of a conventional underwire structure
formed of a polymeric material;
FIG. 3 is a perspective of a bra having a support element or underwire
structure configured according to the invention used in association
with the bra;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an underwire structure formed according
to the invention; and,
FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective view of a second embodiment of
an underwire structure formed according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1 and FIGS.
2A through 2C, a bra is shown generally at 10 to be provided with
a conventional underwire 12 which is formed of an arcuate metal
bar such as is seen generally in FIG. 2A. This conventional underwire
12 is the most common underwire structure available in today's marketplace,
the metal body of the underwire 12 having a substantially rectangular
cross-sectional shape as is best seen in FIG. 2A. As can be seen
in FIG. 1 a tip 14 is provided at the exposed end of the underwire
12 this tip 14 being formed of a plastic material, that is, a polymeric
material, and being rounded at its end in an effort to reduce the
tendency of metal underwire structures to poke through the ends
of a sleeve 16 in which the underwire 12 fits. As can be seen in
FIG. 1 the end of the underwire 12 has poked through the end of
the sleeve 16 in spite of the use of the tip 14 having a rounded
end portion. The situation as shown in FIG. 1 is a very common problem
associated with conventional underwire structures. Further, the
ends of a conventional underwire structure such as the underwire
12 jab into the flesh of a wearer of the bra 10 and cause further
discomfort. The shape of the body of the underwire 12 further acts
to chafe the skin of a user and thus cause significant discomfort.
Although not shown in FIG. 1 the body of the conventional underwire
12 extends into and substantially throughout the sleeve 16 which
is arcuate in conformation and typically formed of a fabric material.
The end of the underwire 12 opposite the exposed end of said underwire
12 is also provided with a tip such as the tip 14 although this
structure is not shown in FIG. 1. As is conventional in the art,
the sleeve 16 extends about the lower periphery of the cup 18 and
is intended to hold the conventional underwire 12 in place.
In FIG. 2B, another conventional underwire is seen at 20 to be
formed of a metal wire 22 having a substantially rectangular cross-section,
the wire 22 being coated with a plastic material forming cover 24.
In this structure, the intent of the combination of the wire 22
with the plastic cover 24 is to provide greater comfort to a user
while reducing the poke through problems encountered with the conventional
underwire 12 of FIG. 2A. Such prior art structures as are shown
in FIG. 2B do not prove to be satisfactory in eliminating these
problems.
Referring now to FIG. 2C, an underwire structure of conventional
design is seen at 26 to be formed entirely of a plastic material
and to have a substantially "barbell" shape, this structure
also being intended to provide greater comfort to a user while reducing
those problems inherent in the use of underwire structures such
as the conventional metal underwire 12. Underwire structures such
as the underwire 26 of FIG. 2C have not improved user comfort and
further have been shown to break apart when attempts are made to
mold the structure to a necessary supporting shape.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 through 5 a bra 28 such as is of conventional
design is seen to be formed with a sleeve 32 formed of fabric material
and disposed about the lower periphery of cup 34. As such, the bra
28 is of conventional design. A support element 30 configured according
to the invention can be seen in FIG. 3 to be received within the
sleeve 32 an end portion of the support element 30 being shown
as extending through one end of the sleeve 32 to illustrate the
location of the support element 30 in relation to the cup 34. In
practice, the support element 30 would be pushed further into the
sleeve 32 and the end of the sleeve 32 sewn to maintain the support
element 30 therewithin. The cross-sectional shape of the support
element 30 is circular or substantially so in order to provide greater
comfort to the wearer of the bra 28 and to resist damage to the
fabric sleeve 32 both in use and during washing and drying and especially
machine washing and drying. The support element 30 formed of polymeric
or plastic material, resists pushing through the ends of the sleeve
32 as occurs with a conventional underwire structure such as has
been described relative to the conventional underwire 12 of FIG.
1. Although the illustration of FIG. 5 is intended to show the cross-section
of support element 36 which is best seen in FIG. 4 the cross-section
of the support element 30 is substantially the same as the cross-sectional
shape of the support element 36.
Referring particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5 the support element 36
is seen to be provided with rounded ends 38 rather than the non-rounded
ends of the support element 30 as seen in FIG. 3. The support elements
of the present invention can be formed either with or without rounded
end portions and will function to provide substantial comfort to
a user and to virtually eliminate poke through problems and other
damage to the fabric of a bra such as are encountered with conventional
underwire structures. The advantages of the present support elements
30 and 36 occur by virtue of the formation of said elements 30 and
36 from substantially flexible polymeric materials which are formed
with substantially circular cross-sectional shapes. This choice
of material and cross-sectional shape is seen to provide the substantial
use advantages of the invention.
While the diameter of the present support elements can be taken
to be any diameter which functions to provide support, comfort and
resistance to damage to the bra, a typical diameter for a support
element according to the invention will be less than one-quarter
inch in diameter and typically approximately 3/16" in diameter
to 1/8" in diameter for bras having cup sizes of 34B and greater.
Smaller bra sizes and cup sizes typically are capable of utilizing
support elements of lesser diameter. However, in practice, a diameter
of less than 1/8" is not practical even though a diameter of
1/16" can be successfully employed.
As indicated hereinabove, the material from which the support elements
of the invention are to be formed include plastic material such
as high density polyethylene, chlorinated and fluorinated hydrocarbons
such as Teflon and other materials which are flexible in use when
formed to those shapes used for underwire structures. It is important
that the support elements 30 and 36 be capable of being shaped manually
to an arcuate conformation such as is necessary for fitting into
fabric sleeves disposed about the periphery of the underside of
bra cups. The support elements 30 and 36 are intended to retain
the arcuate shape necessary for the intended use. Prior to insertion
of either of the support elements 30 and 36 into the sleeve 32
the support elements 30 and 36 are seen to be generally arcuate
in shape, the support elements 30 and 36 being capable of being
shaped while within the sleeve 32 to a contour capable of supporting
a portion of the body of the user which is received into the cup
34 the support elements 30 and 36 retaining that supporting contour
while within the sleeve 32. As is indicated herein, the support
elements 30 and 36 are substantially non-rigid and have body portions
having circular cross-sections.
In a series of tests involving user acceptance of the present support
elements, a support element configured according to the shape and
size of the support element 36 as described herein was utilized
about one cup of a bra and a conventional underwire such as the
underwire 12 fitted with the tip 14 as is seen in FIG. 1 was provided
around the other cup of the bra. In use extending over a period
of three months, a total of seven users wearing a bra so fitted
reported support provided by the support elements of the invention
to be as good or better than the support provided by the conventional
underwire structures, much greater comfort provided by the present
support elements when compared to conventional underwire structures
and no damage to the structure of the bras either due to poke through
or damage during machine washing and drying. In each test, a pronounced
preference for the present support elements was indicated by the
individual participating in the testing program.
While the invention has been described herein primarily as a support
element for a cup used in a bra, it is to be understood that the
invention can be utilized as a support element in bust-supporting
cup structures which comprise portions of swimwear and other articles
of clothing wherein bust support is desired. In these several use
environments, the present support elements provide not only support
but also provide substantially increased comfort to a user at least
in part due to the fact that the ends of the present support elements
do not "work" through apparel casings and cut into the
skin of a user. Since the present support elements do not poke through
a casing thus destroying a portion of the item of apparel, the invention
causes such apparel to exhibit substantially increased longevity
in use as well as improved wearability.
The present support elements provide substantial advantages over
conventional underwire structures especially as regards user comfort
and reduction of damage to the fabric of a conventional bra. The
advantages provided by the present support elements accrue primarily
due to the material from which the present support elements are
formed and that cross-sectional shape which is preferred according
to the invention. This particular combination of structural features
produces an unexpected and beneficial result in the use of underwire
structures for providing support and comfort to a user of an otherwise
conventional underwire bra. Accordingly, the scope of the invention
will be seen as defined by the following recitations of the invention.
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