Lingerie abstract
A ventilated padded material suitable for providing air circulation
in padded lingerie is disclosed. Padded lingerie, for example, bras,
typically are made from man-made materials that prevent perspiration
from evaporating and then accumulates in the breast cup area. The
retained perspiration causes discomfort to the wearer, as the surrounding
breast area remains moist and damp. The ventilation channels or
perforations in the padding material, in accordance with the principles
of the present invention, enable air circulation to occur through
the padding material. Increased air circulation through the padding
material allows for perspiration evaporation and less accumulated
perspiration.
Lingerie claims
I claim:
1. A padded brassiere having a back and a plurality of breast portions,
each of said breast portions comprising: an anterior and a posterior
material attached along a perimeter forming a cavity therebetween;
a formed padding material encapsulated within said cavity, said
padding material being attached along its perimeter to said anterior
and posterior materials, said padding material including at least
one ventilating channel distributed throughout said padding material
in a rectangular pattern.
2. A padded brassiere having a back and a plurality of breast portions,
each of said breast portions comprising: a formed padding material
including at least one ventilating channel distributed throughout
said padding material in a rectangular pattern; and an anterior
and a posterior material attached to said formed padding material.
3. The brassiere as recited in claim 2 further comprising: a strap
having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end being
attached to a first one of said breast portions and said second
end being attached to said back.
4. A padded brassiere having a back and a plurality of breast portions,
each of said breast portions comprising: an anterior and a posterior
material attached along a perimeter forming a cavity therebetween;
a formed padding material encapsulated within said cavity, said
padding material being attached along its perimeter to said anterior
and posterior materials, said padding material including at least
one ventilating channel distributed throughout said padding material.
5. The brassiere as recited in claim 4 wherein said padding material
is selected from the group of materials of polyurethane, rubber,
Latex.
6. The brassiere as recited in claim 4 wherein said at least one
ventilating channel traverses said padding material from said anterior
material to said posterior material.
7. The brassiere as recited in claim 4 wherein said at least one
ventilating channel is a known size.
8. The brassiere as recited in claim 4 wherein said at least one
ventilating channel is symmetrically distributed about a predetermined
point within said padding material.
9. The brassiere as recited in claim 4 wherein said at least one
ventilating channel is asymmetrically distributed about a predetermined
point within said padding material.
10. The brassiere as recited in claim 9 wherein said predetermined
point is an apex of said padding material.
11. The brassiere as recited in claim 4 wherein said at least one
ventilating channel is radially distributed about a predetermined
point within said padding material.
12. The brassiere as recited in claim 11 wherein said predetermined
point is an apex of said padding material.
13. The brassiere as recited in claim 4 wherein said at least one
ventilating channel is distributed in geometric shapes within said
padding material.
14. The brassiere as recited in claim 13 wherein said geometric
shapes are selected from the group of comprising: circular, square,
rectangular, triangular.
15. The brassiere as recited in claim 6 wherein said at least one
ventilating channel shape is selected from the group of circular,
square, rectangular, triangular.
16. The brassiere as recited in claim 7 wherein said known size
is in the range of one-sixty-fourth (1/64) to one (1) inch.
17. The brassiere as recited in claim 1 wherein said ventilating
channels are an alternating size.
18. The brassiere as recited in claim 17 where said alternating
size is in the range one-sixty-fourth (1/64) to one (1) inch.
19. The brassiere as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one
ventilating channel is distributed over a portion of said padding
material.
20. The brassiere as recited in claim 19 wherein said portion of
said padding material is a lower portion.
21. The brassiere as recited in claim 4 wherein said at least one
ventilating channel comprises sixty ventilating channels.
22. The brassiere as recited in claim 21 wherein each of said ventilating
channel is sized at one-eight of an inch.
Lingerie description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to padded lingerie and, more specifically,
to ventilating and improving air circulation in padded brassieres.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
New technologies and materials have created revolutionary changes
in the clothing men and women wear today. Materials such as, Latex,
Lyca, Spandex, polyester, have changed the look, style and feel
of clothing, especially exercising and lightweight summer clothing.
Today's exercise and summer clothes, for example, are lighter and
tend to stretch to fit the contours of a wearer's body. Accordingly,
any clothing or objects included under the stretched fabric protrudes
through the fabric and creates unsightly lines in the smooth, stretched
fabric. For example, manufacturers of woman's lingerie have developed
seamless bras and panties to prevent protrusions in stretch dresses,
shorts, tank tops, etc. In addition to not being observable under
the outer clothing, seamless bras and panties are used to augment,
enhance and provide more comfort to the wear's body features. In
such cases, padding is added to provide support for and enhance
the shape of a woman's breast. Thus, seamless panties and seamless
padded bras are ideal lingerie as they do not create unsightly lines
in the covering dress, shorts, tank top, etc., fabric while enhancing
the wear's appearance.
However, materials used in the creation of seamless bras and panties
typically are made from man-made materials, such as nylon, rayon,
polyurethane, etc., which retain body heat and perspiration. The
padded bra, for example, becomes uncomfortable to wear on warm summer
days as the man-made materials used prevent perspiration from evaporating.
The unevaporated perspiration then collects in the bra cup area.
Hence, there is a need to develop methods to allow remove perspiration
in padded lingerie, while maintaining the features of being undetected
and providing an enhanced appearance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A seamless padded bra, which includes ventilation channels within
the padding materials, is disclosed. The ventilation channels, or
perforations, within the padding materials provide a means for ventilating
the enclosed breast area by allowing air to circulate through the
padding material. The circulating air allows for perspiration evaporation
around the breast area, consequently, leaving the breast area dry.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 illustrates a frontal view of an exemplary padded bra in
accordance with the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the exemplary padded
bra illustrated in FIG. 1 sectioned along line A--A; and
FIGS. 3a-3d illustrate exemplary padding material ventilated in
accordance with the principles of the present invention.
It is to be understood that these drawings are solely for purposes
of illustrating the concepts of the invention and are not intended
as a definition of the limits of the invention. It will be appreciated
that the same reference numerals, possibly supplemented with reference
characters where appropriate, have been used throughout to identify
corresponding parts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1 a frontal view of an exemplary seamless padded
bra 100 is illustrated depicting breast cups 110 and 112 lateral
displaced along front section 115 and bands 120 and 122 with securing
means 130 and 132 respectively. Bands 120 and 122 when conventionally
extended across the back of the wearer, and held by securing means
130 and 132 secure bra 100 to the wearer. Straps 140 and 142 attached
on one end near breast cups 110 and 112 respectively, and on a
second end (not shown) to bands 120 and 122 respectively, provide
further support in securing bra 100 to the wearer. Also illustrated
within each breast cup 110 and 112 is padding material 160. Padding
material 160 provides for a level of support and enhancement that
a wearer experiences when wearing bar 100. Padding material 160
further incorporates ventilating channels 170 which allow for air
circulation in the breast area, in accordance with the principles
of the present invention. In this illustrative example, ventilating
channels 170 are symmetrically distribute in two concentric circular
arrangements about a center area, which covers a center portion
of the breast area.
FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of bra 100 sectioned along section
line A--A of FIG. 1. As illustrated, bra 100 is composed of a thin
smooth anterior material 210 and a thin smooth posterior material
220. Anterior material 210 and posterior material 220 are rigidly
attached along respective perimeters, thereby, creating a cavity
therebetween. Also illustrated is padding material 160 enclosed
within the cavity created by anterior material 210 and posterior
material 220. The amount and shape of padding material 160 determines
the level of support and enhancement provided.
To achieve a smooth appearance, anterior material 210 is typically
selected as a man-made material, such as Polyester, Lycra, Spandex,
etc. Using these man-made materials, the form for bra 100 may be
created as single piece, which does not require any switching or
seam. Posterior material 220 which is in contact with the breast
area, typically is selected as a natural material, such as cotton,
silk, etc. Natural materials are selected because natural materials
are able to draw perspiration away from the breast area. Enclosed
padding material 160 is typically selected as a man-made material,
such as polyurethane, foam rubber, etc., as these materials can
be formed into shapes that provide different levels of comfort and
enhancement. Man-made materials, as is known in the art, do not
allow for air circulation within. Therefore, perspiration wicked
away from the body by posterior material 220 becomes trapped by
padding material 160.
Further illustrated are ventilation channels, or perforations,
170 extending through padding material 160 from anterior material
210 to posterior material 220 to provide for ventilation of the
breast area. Ventilating channels 170 provide a means to remove
perspiration that was wicked away from the breast area by allowing
air circulation through padding material 160.
FIG. 3a illustrates an exemplary frontal view of bra 100 highlighting
specifically padding material 160 and contained ventilating channels
170. In this exemplary embodiment of the invention, ventilating
channels 170 are distributed along a plurality of radial lines emanating
from apex point 310 of padding material 160. The distribution of
ventilating channels along radial lines provides for a substantially
symmetric appearance of ventilating channels 170 in material 160.
In this illustrative example, ventilating channels 170 are symmetrically
distribute in concentric circular arrangements about a center area,
which covers a center portion of the breast area. A first group
of perforations 170 are distributed along concentric circle represented
as dashed line 165. A second group of perforations 170 are distributed
along concentric circle represented by dashed line 167. Although,
not illustrated, it would appreciated that perforations 170 distributed
along concentric circle represented by dashed line 165 and perforations
170 distributed along concentric circle represented by dashed line
167 need not align along radial lines stemming from apex point 310.
Furtherstill, the size and number of perforations along each concentric
need not the same.
FIG. 3b illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of the invention
wherein ventilating channels 170 are organized or collected in a
plurality of geometric patterns symmetrically distributed in a concentric
circular arrangement about a known point 310 in padding material
160. That is, perforations 170 are grouped together, as represented
by groups 172 176 and 178 and distributed in a concentric circular
arrangement, as represented by dashed line 175. As would be appreciated,
groups 172 176 and 178 may be distributed in other geometric patterns,
such as, triangular, square, rectangular, etc.
Furtherstill, perforations 170 within a selected group may be arranged
in a geometric pattern, such as such as circular, triangular, square,
rectangular, etc. As illustrated, perforations within group 172
for example, are symmetrically distributed in a circular arrangement
as represented by dashed lines 173 and 174. As would be appreciated,
ventilating channels groups may be distributed in other geometric
patterns, such as, triangular, square, rectangular, etc.
FIG. 3c illustrates still another exemplary frontal view of padding
material 160 illustrating ventilating channels 170 distributed substantially
pattern in a radial pattern from apex point 310. In this exemplary
case, perforations 170 are distributed along radial line 182. Perforations
170 are further distributed symmetrically along three concentric
circles as represented by dashed lines 184 185 185 respectively,
about known point 310.
FIG. 3d illustrates still another exemplary frontal view of padding
material 160 illustrating ventilating channels 170 similar to that
illustrated in FIG. 3c. In this illustrative embodiment, ventilating
channels 170 are distributed along radial lines, e.g., radial line
192 and further distributed along concentric circles. In this example,
ventilating channels 170 increase in size as they progress radially
outward from apex point 310 along radial line 192 for example.
In an alternative embodiment (not shown) perforations 170 may alternate
in size on different radial lines stemming from apex point 310.
Hence, the ventilating channels distributed along radial 192 for
example, may be of a different size than ventilating channels distributed
along radial 194.
As would be appreciated, the embodiments of the invention illustrated
herein have disclosed symmetric distribution of ventilating channels
170 in padding material 160. Symmetric distribution is preferred
as this provides uniform air circulation and ventilation. However,
ventilating channels 170 may also be distributed asymmetrically
in padding material 160. For example, ventilating channels 170 may
be symmetrically or asymmetrically included within only a lower
portion of padding material 160 (not shown).
As would be appreciated, the size and number of ventilating channels
170 included in padding material 160 depends on the size if the
bra cup enclosing padding material 160. For example, for an "A"
size bra cup, the number of ventilating channels 170 may be in the
range of 1 to 100. Similarly, for a "D" size bra cup,
the number of ventilating channels 170 may be in the range of 2
to 200. Ventilating channel size is in the range one-sixty-fourth
(1/64) to one (1) inch. In a preferred embodiment of the invention,
the number and size of ventilating channels 170 for a "B"
size bra cup is sixty ventilating channels each with a size of one-eight
(1/8) of an inch for each cup. Furtherstill, ventilating channels
170 may be also formed in shapes such as square, rectangular, triangular,
etc., rather than the circular form illustrative herein.
Although the invention has been described and pictured in a preferred
form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that
the present disclosure of the preferred form, has been made only
by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of construction
and combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
It is intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression
in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty
exist in the invention disclosed.
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