Adhesive bra construction for deep plunge apparel

A bra comprised of separate left and right breast support members where each breast support member comprises a section of flexible sheet material formed to define a concave cavity and having tabs projecting radially outwardly from the cavity rim. Each breast support member defines a rear facing surface encompassing the cavity and tabs, which carries a pressure sensitive adhesive for adhering to a user's skin. The concave cavity constitutes a cup for accommodating the user's breast while the tabs enable the user to readily manipulate the support member for optimally positioning the user's breast relative to the cut of a deep plunge garment.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to women's underclothing and more particularly to a backless strapless bra especially suited for use with garments having deep plunge necklines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Women's garments having deep plunge necklines are often designed to reveal an upper inner portion of a wearer's breast but conceal the areola and lower breast area. Many women prefer to wear a bra to enhance comfort and appearance but most conventional bra designs are incompatible with such plunge garments because the garment fails to conceal the bra. Similarly, other garments having low backs or minimal shoulder coverage are incompatible with conventional bra designs having back and/or shoulder straps.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,611 partially addresses the problem by describing a bra design intended to resolve the“need for a self-supporting breast cup that is pre-formed in the shape of different breast sizes (including left and right) and provides the requisite support for the breast without using hooks and straps, that can be reused several times, that is comfortable to wear, that has a soft natural shape, that can accommodate today's plunge-line fashions, that feels like skin and that does not disturb the contour of the woman's torso with unwanted protuberances, thereby providing a natural yet supportive appearance to a woman's bust.”
The present invention addresses essentially the same “need” but provides improved breast support members offering greater user convenience and enhanced versatility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a bra comprised of separate left and right breast support members where each breast support member comprises a section of flexible sheet material formed to define a concave cavity and having tabs projecting radially outwardly from the cavity rim. Each breast support member defines a rear facing surface, preferably encompassing the cavity and tabs, which carries a pressure sensitive adhesive for adhering to a user's skin. The concave cavity constitutes a cup for accommodating the user's breast while the tabs enable the user to readily manipulate the support member for optimally positioning the user's breast relative to the cut of the intended garment.

In a preferred embodiment, each breast support member section has a periphery which includes an arcuate inner segment and a curving outer segment. The peripheral segments form the aforementioned tabs which preferably include a central tab and oppositely directed upper and lower tabs. The central tab extends laterally in a direction away from the cup. The oppositely directed upper and lower tabs are oriented essentially perpendicular to the central tab.

Each breast support member is intended to be worn so as to partially cover the breast, while exposing an upper inner portion of the breast. For convenience of description herein, a typical breast will be considered as having an inner surface portion (i.e., proximate to the sternum), an outer surface portion (i.e., proximate to the arm), and a bottom surface portion extending between the inner and outer surface portions.

A preferred breast support member in accordance with the invention is intended to be worn so as to primarily cover the breast outer surface and bottom surface portions while leaving the inner surface portion at least partially exposed. The central tab which extends toward the user's side and arm can be readily manipulated by the user to laterally position the breast prior to adhering the tab to the user's skin. The upper tab, directed toward the user's shoulder, can be readily manipulated to lift, i.e., vertically position, the breast prior to adhering the tab to the user's skin. The lower tab is intended to be adhered to the user's skin directed toward the user's waist to retain the breast in the desired lift position.

Each breast support member comprises a flexible sheet-like structure preferably formed of at least two layers sandwiching a foam pad therebetween. Each breast support member is preferably formed by applying adhesive and/or pressure to the stack of layers and foam pad to fuse the layers together. A reusable pressure sensitive, skin compatible adhesive, e.g., silicone, is applied to the exposed rear facing surface of the stack for subsequent adhesion to a user's skin.

In typical use, the wearer will place her breast in the breast cup and then by manually manipulating the tabs move the breast as desired for optimal lateral and vertical positioning relative to the cut, e.g., plunge neckline, of the garment to be worn. After satisfactory positioning, the tabs will be pressed against and adhered to the user's skin.

In accordance with a significant feature of a preferred embodiment, a stiffener member, preferably a flat flexible plastic strip, is embedded in the foam material near the outer rim of the cavity and proximate to the central and lower tabs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1schematically depicts an exemplary garment10having a deep plunge neckline12worn by a female torso14. Frequently, such garments are cut and worn so as to expose the inner portions of the wearer's left and right breasts20,22. The cut of garment10makes it generally incompatible for use with traditional bras which would be unattractively exposed by the plunge neckline12.

The present invention is directed to a bra particularly suited for use with deep plunge garments which affords appropriate breast support and user comfort while remaining concealed by the garment. A bra in accordance with the invention is comprised of separate left and right breast support members24,26represented inFIG. 1by hidden dash line under garment10. Each breast support member24,26is configured to enable a wearer to readily orient and retain a breast in a selected lateral and vertical position to optimize the wearer's comfort and appearance. The term “lateral” positioning as used herein refers to horizontal positioning of a breast to increase or decrease separation between the left and right breasts. The term “vertical” positioning as used herein relates to what is sometimes referred to as “lift”.

As will be discussed hereinafter, a breast support member in accordance with the invention relies on a pressure sensitive adhesive, preferably silicone, applied to the rear facing surface of the support member for adherence to the user's skin to retain the breast in the position selected by the user.

Attention is now directed toFIGS. 2-5which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the right breast support member26ofFIG. 1. The left breast support member24is the mirror image of member26but otherwise identical. The support member26comprises a section of flexible sheet material30formed to define a breast cup32including a concave cavity34(FIG. 6) in its rear facing surface35for accommodating a user's breast22.FIG. 2depicts a top view showing the convex front facing surface36of support member26including the convex surface of cup32and the contiguous flange37.

The sheet material section30is preferably formed of two or more layers to be discussed hereinafter. Significantly, the flange37has a periphery38essentially comprised of an arcuate inner segment39(intended for placement nearer to the wearer's sternum) and a curving outer segment40(intended for placement nearer to the wearer's arm). The curving outer segment40defines a projecting central tab42which enables the wearer to readily pull the section30, along with cup32, laterally to orient the wearer's breast. The flange37also defines a projecting lower tab44and upper tab46, both oriented substantially perpendicular to central tab42, which enable the wearer to pull the section30and cavity34vertically to selectively lift the wearer's breast.

As represented by the dash/hidden line47inFIG. 2, a stiffener member48is incorporated into section30, placed proximate to or coincident with the outer rim of the cavity34, i.e., essentially at the transition between the cavity and flange37. Note that the stiffener member48extends across both the central tab42and lower tab44.

FIG. 6depicts a preferred section30in accordance with the invention showing it being comprised of multiple layers. More particularly, the section30includes a top layer50comprising a fabric laminate52fused to a thin foam laminate54. The outer surface56of fabric laminate52constitutes the front facing surface36of support member26.

The section30further includes a bottom layer60comprising a fabric laminate62fused to a thin foam laminate64. The outer surface66of fabric laminate62constitutes the rear facing surface35of support member26. As shown, both top layer50and bottom layer60are formed (for example molded by heat and pressure) so as to define the breast cup32including the concave cavity34. A foam pad68is preferably sandwiched between the foam laminates54and64. Also, a stiffener member48preferably comprising a flat plastic strip70is retained between the foam pad68and the foam laminate54. The strip70is configured to be relatively flexible around a line across the strip width and relatively stiff around a line along the strip length.

FIG. 7comprises an exploded view of the breast support member ofFIG. 6to better explain a preferred fabrication procedure. Initially, the top layer50is placed in a heat mold (not shown) to form the concave curve including a recess74for partially accommodating the strip70. A formed foam pad layer68having a mating recess75is stacked against the foam laminate54to lock strip70therebetween. Then the bottom layer60is conformed and stacked to the top layer and foam pad68. The stacked layers are adhered together by introducing adhesive between the layers and/or by fusing the respective layers by the appropriate application of heat and pressure.

Precise dimensions and materials used to fabricate the breast support member26ofFIGS. 6 and 7can vary considerably. It has been found appropriate however that each layer50,60comprise a fabric or silicone laminate52,62. The fabric laminate can be comprised of a variety of materials, for example, approximately 82% nylon and 18% polyester, fused to a thin foam laminate54,64on the order of 1 mm thick. The strip70is approximately 0.8 mm thick, ⅜ inches wide, and 4-5 inches long. A skin compatible reusable silicone adhesive is applied to the rear facing surface35of fabric laminate62and, for the user's convenience, can be packaged with a removable protective release sheet (not shown).

In production, the breast support members can be provided in various cup sizes, e.g., A, B, C, D. The peripheral dimensions of the section30will preferably vary with cup size but typically will have an overall vertical dimension on the order of 7-9 inches and a lateral dimension on the order of 6-8 inches.

In typical use, the wearer will place the support member26cup over her breast with the stiffener member70proximate to the breast outer surface portion. Then, by manipulating the central tab42, the wearer can laterally move the breast to achieve the desired breast cleavage/separation. Additionally, by manipulating the upper tab46, the wearer can move the breast vertically to achieve the desired lift. When the breast is positioned as desired, the tabs and cup are pressed against the wearer's skin to adhere the support member26.

From the foregoing, it should now be understood that a bra construction has been described particularly suited for use with deep plunge garments comprised of separate left and right breast support members where each support member comprises a section of flexible sheet material formed to define a concave breast accommodating cavity bounded in party by a stiffener member embedded in the sheet material. Each support member defines tabs extending radially outward from the cavity rim. The tabs define a rear facing surface carrying a reusable pressure sensitive adhesive for adhering to a user's skin. Although only a single embodiment has been described, it should be recognized that variations and modifications falling within the intended scope of the appended claims may readily occur to those skilled in the art.