Abstrict A brassiere with underarm comfort feature comprises a pair of cup
regions to which underarm regions and back regions are connected.
An X-crossing or junction is formed by an undercup band which extends
under the cup region, and which crosses a lateral band which extends
to the side or over the cup region. Upper and lower elastic bands
are mounted on opposite sides of an elastic underarm panel which
together form the underarm region. Pivoting of the bands which form
the X-junction, about the junction, allow the upper and lower side
bands to stretch by different amounts to accommodate different proportions
for women so that they can wear the bra confortably.
Claims What is claimed is:
1. A brassiere (10) with underarm comfort feature, comprising:
a pair of cup regions (12) each having an inner margin and an outer
margin, the inner margins of said cup regions being connected to
each other;
an underarm region (14) connected to the outer margin of each cup
region (12);
a back region (16) connected to each underarm region;
said underarm region (14) comprising an elastic underarm panel
(18) extending from said cup region (12) to said back region (16);
said cup region comprising a relatively inelastic main cup panel
(22) having inner (33), outer (56) and lower (58) edges, an elastic
lower cup panel (20) connected to the lower edge of said main cup
panel, an elastic upper cup panel (24) connected to the outer edge
of said main cup panel and a relatively inelastic central cup panel
(34) connected to the inner edge of said main cup panel;
an elastic upper side band (26) extending along an upper edge of
said underarm panel (18) and an outer edge of said upper cup panel
(24) at a location spaced from the outer edge (56) of said main
cup panel (22);
an elastic lower band (2830) extending along a lower edge of said
underarm panel (18) and a lower edge of said lower cup panel (20);
a relatively inelastic upper cup band (32) extending along an inner
edge of said central cup panel (34) and along an upper edge of said
upper cup panel (24);
a relatively inelastic lateral band (36) extending between said
upper cup band (32) at a location between said central cup panel
(34) and said upper cup panel (24), to said lower band (2830) at
a location between said underarm panel (18) and said lower cup panel
(20), said lateral band (36) separating said main cup panel (22)
from said upper cup panel (24) and being spaced from and parallel
to said upper side band (26) in said cup region (12); and
a relatively inelastic under-cup band (38) extending along the
lower edge of said main cup panel (22) and between said upper cup
panel (24) and said underarm panel (18), to said upper side band
(26), said lateral band (36) crossing said under-cup band (38) at
an X-junction (40) located on the outer margin of said cup region
(12) and at an inner edge of said underarm panel (18), intermediate
said upper side band (26) and said lower band (2830);
said lower band (2830) comprising a first lower band portion (28)
at a lower edge of said underarm panel (18), and a second lower
band portion (30) at a lower edge of said lower cup panel (20),
said first lower band portion (28) being more elastic than said
second lower band portion (30).
2. A brassiere (10) with underarm comfort feature, comprising:
a pair of cup regions (12) each having an inner margin (11) and
an outer margin (13), the inner margins of said cup regions being
connected to each other;
an underarm region (14) connected to the outer margin o each cup
region (12);
said underarm region (14) comprising an elastic underarm panel
(18) extending away form said cup region (12);
an elastic upper side band (26) extending along an upper edge of
said underarm panel (18) and an outer edge of said cup region (12);
an elastic lower side band (2830) extending along a lower edge
of said underarm panel (18) and a lower edge of said cup region
(12);
a relatively inelastic lateral band (36) extending along said cup
region (12) at a location spaced from said upper side band (26),
to said lower band (2830) at a location adjacent the outer margin
of said cup region (12), and between said underarm panel (18) and
said cup region (12), said lateral band (36) being substantially
parallel to and spaced from said upper side band (26) in said cup
region (12);
an under-cup band (38) extending in said cup region near said lower
side band (30), and then said under-cup band (38) extends along
said outer margin (13), between said cup region (12) and said underarm
panel (18), and then to said upper side band (26), said lateral
band (36) crossing said undercup band (38) at the outer margin of
said cup region (12) and intermediate said upper side band (26)
and said lower band (2830) so that when said upper and lower side
bands stretch, said under-cup and lateral bands pivot about said
crossing to accommodate women having different figures comfortably,
an upper band (32) extending along an upper edge of said cup region,
said lateral band (36) extending from said upper cup band at a location
spaced from said upper side band (26), through said crossing, to
said lower side band (28 30);
said cup region including a main cup panel (22) having an inner
edge (33), a lower edge bounded by said uppercup band (38) and an
outer edge bounded by said lateral band (36), said cup region further
including a central panel (34) between said inner edge (33) and
an upper cup band (32), a lower cup panel (20) under said under-cup
band (38) and an upper panel (24) between said lateral band (36)
and said upper side band (26); and
said lower side band (28 30) having a first lower band portion
(28) under said underarm panel (18), and a second lower band portion
(30) under said lower cup panel (20), said first lower band portion
(28) being more elastic than said second lower band portion (30).
Description FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to brassieres and, in
particular to a new and useful bra construction which includes an
underarm comfort feature.
U.S. Pat. No. 3746008 discloses a brassiere having a dorsal or
underarm panel which comprises two pieces of material which have
a stretch characteristic in different directions. The two pieces
of material are sewn together in a Y-shaped arrangement. This construction
is claimed to avoid the unsightly bulge of tissue above the dorsal
panel which sometimes results when the brassiere is unbalanced or
overly tight. This patent does not however disclose a structure
which is capable of providing a differential expansion between upper
and lower margins of the dorsal panel to accommodate women having
different proportions in these areas.
U.S. Pat. No. 3817255 discloses a brassiere having a dorsal panel
with stretchable upper and lower margins. The panel is trapezoidal
and has no special supporting structure between the dorsal panel
and the cup of the bra.
A side or dorsal panel for a brassiere having crossing tapes is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3464417. No supporting panel structure
is provided above this crossing structure however.
A brassiere with a dorsal panel containing inclined stretch bands
is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2969067. A similar structure is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2869554. A further crossing tape construction
for a brassiere is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2541960 with a crossing
stretch structure in a full body undergarment being disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 2484265.
While many of these earlier patents were directed to structures
which improve the comfort and wearability of a brassiere or full
body undergarment, none of these patents teach a fully satisfactory
structure for adapting to different body types in the areas at the
top and bottom of the dorsal or underarm panel for a brassiere.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a brassiere with underarm comfort
feature which includes an underarm region separated from a cup region
of the brassiere by an X junction having crossing arms which respectively
extend to the upper and lower margins of the underarm region. The
margins are bounded by elastic tapes which can stretch while the
arms of the junction are relatively in-elastic. The upper and lower
margins of the underarm region can thus stretch to accommodate different
body types with the arms of the junction pivoting with respect to
each other at the junction. The inelastic nature of the arms maintain
support for the garment.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a
brassiere with underarm comfort feature which comprises: a pair
of cup regions each having an inner margin and an outer margin,
the inner margins of said cup regions being connected to each other;
an underarm region connected to the outer margin of each cup region;
said underarm region comprising an elastic underarm panel extending
away from said cup region; an elastic upper side band extending
along an upper edge of said underarm panel and an outer edge of
said cup region; an elastic lower side band extending along a lower
edge of said underarm panel and a lower edge of said cup region;
a relatively inelastic lateral band extending along said cup region
at a location spaced from said upper side band, to said lower side
band at a location adjacent the outer margin of said cup region,
and between said underarm panel and said cup region, said lateral
band being substantially parallel to and spaced from said upper
side band in said cup region; and an under-cup band extending along
said cup region near said lower side band, between said cup region
and said underarm panel and to said upper side band, said lateral
band crossing said undercup band at the outer margin of said cup
region and intermediate said upper side band and said lower side
band so that when said upper and lower side band stretch, said under-cup
and lateral bands pivot about said crossing to accommodate women
having different figures comfortably.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a brassiere
with an underarm feature comfort which is simple in design, durable
and comfortable to wear.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention
are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and
forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of
the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained
by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and
descriptive matter in which the preferred embodiments of the invention
are illustrated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modified A-frame full support
bra having the underarm comfort feature of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the invention included
in a bra with a versatile fit construction;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a foundation garment including
a bra construction with features of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the invention incorporated
in a basic split cup bra construction;
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the invention incorporated
in a lace demi-bra; and
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of the invention incorporated
in a sport bra.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied
in FIG. 1 comprises a brassiere generally designated 10 having a
pair of cup regions generally designated 12 each having an inner
margin 11 and an outer margin 13 the outer margins of the cup regions
being connected to each other through underarm regions 14 by a
back region 16 with hooks and loops or, a continuous back region
where the bra is opened by separating the cup regions (in a manner
not shown).
The bra 10 includes a pair of the underarm regions connected to
the outer margins 13 of the cup regions 12 and positioned between
the cup regions and the back region 16.
Each underarm region 14 comprises an elastic underarm panel 18
extending from the cup region 12 to the back region 16. Panel 18
is advantageously made of material that is elastic in all directions.
In the embodiment of FIG. 1 the cup region 12 comprises a relatively
inelastic main cup panel 22 having inner, outer and lower edges
33 56 and 58 respectively. The cup region 12 also includes an elastic
lower cup panel 20 which is connected to the lower edge 58 and an
elastic upper cup panel 24 which is connected to the outer edge
56. A relatively inelastic central cup panel 34 is connected to
the inner edge 33 of the main cup panel 22 to complete the cup region
12.
An elastic upper side band 26 extends along an upper edge of the
underarm panel 18 and an outer edge of the upper cup panel 24 at
locations spaced from the outer edge 56 of the main cup panel. A
lower elastic side band 2830 also extends along a lower edge of
the underarm panel 18 and a lower edge of the lower cup panel 20.
Band 2830 has a first portion 28 under panel 18 and a second portion
30 under panel 20.
A relatively inelastic upper cup band 32 extends along an upper
edge of the central cup panel 34 and along an upper edge of the
upper cup panel 24. A relatively inelastic lateral band 36 extends
along edge 56 between the upper cup band 32 at a location between
the central cup panel 34 and the upper cup panel 24 to the lower
band 2830 at a location between the underarm panel 18 and the lower
cup panel 20. The lateral band 36 separates the main cup panel 22
from the upper cup panel 24 and is spaced and substantially parallel
to the upper side band 26 as it extends in the cup region 12.
A relatively inelastic under-cup band 38 also extends along lower
edge 58 and between the upper cup panel 24 and the underarm panel
18. Band 38 extends to the upper band 26 and separates the upper
cup panel from the underarm panel 18.
The crossing relatively inelastic bands 36 and 38 form an X-junction
40 located on the outer margin 13 of the cup region 12 and at an
inner edge of the underarm panel 18. The lower band 28 30 comprises
a first lower band portion 28 under the underarm panel 18 and
a second lower band portion 30 at the lower edge of the lower cup
panel 20. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 the first lower band portion
28 is more elastic than the second lower band portion 30 so that
the under region may stretch to accommodate different figures. The
junction 40 also permits the bands 36 and 38 to pivot with respect
to each other at junction 40 as the lower band 2830 stretches.
This permits free uncoupled stretching between the upper side band
26 and the lower side band 2830 so that women with different proportions
at the upper and lower areas of their underarm region can comfortably
wear the bra
Although in the embodiment of FIG. 1 the full extent of both bands
36 and 38 are inelastic, for the invention to operate properly,
only the legs or portions of the bands extending from the junction
40 and along the edge of panel 18 need be inelastic.
The outer margin 13 of each cup region 12 extends from the lower
band 28 30 along the band 36 to junction 40 then along the band
38 to the upper side band 26 and then along the outer edge of the
elastic upper cup panel 24.
As will be explained in connection with the other disclosed embodiments
of the invention, other structures such as the central panel 34
the upper band 32 and a separate seam along inner edge 33 can be
eliminated without departing from the present invention.
Also the term "band" as used here may include tapes,
ribbons or seams in the bra.
In FIGS. 2-6 the same reference numerals are utilized to designate
the same or functionally similar parts.
FIG. 2 illustrates a full, or stretch version or the invention
where the junction 40 is formed by an inelastic band 38 which extends
under the cup panel 22 from near the center front of the bra, past
the junction 40 to the upper side band 26.
The crossing member of junction 40 is formed by a curved over-cup
band 35 which extends, near the front center of the bra, from the
second lower band portion 30 over the cup panel 20 through the
junction 40 to the lower band at its own junction between its first
and second band portions 2830.
Instead of including separate central and upper panels as in the
embodiment of FIG. 1 the embodiment of FIG. 2 includes a combined
over-cup panel 25 made of stretch fabric.
FIG. 3 illustrates a support garment generally designated 110 which
incorporates the bra construction of the invention. Junction 40
is constructed by crossing bands 35 and 38 in an entirely analogous
manner to these bands in the embodiment of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 illustrates a split cup bra made of lace and tricot wherein
junction 40 is formed by an under-cup band 38 which extends from
a central split connection 37 under the cup, through the junction
40 and to the elastic upper band 26. Band 36 forming the other
member of the junction 40 is analogous to the band 36 in the embodiment
of FIG. 1. The embodiment of FIG. 4 does not include an inelastic
upper cup band as in the embodiment of FIG. 1 but rather is provided
with a lace panel 42 which is separated from cup 22 by a seam 33.
FIG. 5 illustrates a lace demi-bra which is constructed according
to the present invention wherein the cup regions are replaced by
a low lace panel 44. The upper cup panel 24 as in the embodiment
of FIG. 1 is retained as are bands 36 and 38 that form junction
40.
FIG. 6 illustrates a sport version of the invention having a stretch
but supportive central and over cup panel 27 which is similar in
shape but made of less elastic material than panel 25 of FIG. 2.
The bra of FIG. 6 also includes a back panel 29 made of similar
resilient supportive material as the panel 27.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and
described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles
of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be
embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.
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