Brassiere with edge bonding of side panel layers

A brassiere is provided having a front piece incorporating two breast cups and with two side pieces extending around the upper body of an individual wearing the brassiere, the first ends of which are fastened to the front piece at the sides and the second ends of which can be connected together in the back area of the individual. According to the invention, each of the side pieces includes two layers of a textile material, namely an outer layer and an inner layer. The layers are fastened together at the free edges in such a way that the layer of the textile material forming the outside is folded over toward the inside to form marginal edges and that these edge areas are connected by an adhesive layer with the opposite side of the textile material forming the inside.

This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to German Patent Application No. 20 2007 006 694.5, which was filed in Germany on May 7, 2007, and which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a brassiere.

2. Description of the Background Art

Brassieres of this class are commonly known, and are available in a multitude of variations all over the world. They are constructed of a front section, which essentially comprises two bra cups, which come in a wide variety of different shapes, and which are interconnected by a center part. Connected to the respective outer lateral edges of the front section is a side panel, the free ends of which can be joined at the back of the person wearing the brassiere by a back closure. The side panels can be sewn to the front section, but they can also form a one-piece unit with the front section. Because the essential function of such brassieres is bearing the weight of and supporting the bust, but also to give contour to the bust, they are typically provided with shoulder straps in the form of support tapes, which connect the bra cups with the rearward side panels. Naturally, aside from high wearing comfort, such brassieres are also expected to provide an appealing overall look.

Apart from the fact that typically, brassieres of this kind are comprised of a plurality of parts, which are interconnected by seams, they most often have support tapes, piping, or trimming tapes along their edges, which are most of the time attached with zigzag seams because particularly the side panels are frequently made of elastic materials. However, practical experience has shown that these seams often show through outer garments, which takes away from the overall look. Furthermore, these tapes fixed into place by seams come into direct contact with the skin of the person wearing the brassiere, which can cause skin irritations, particularly with people having sensitive skin, thus reducing the wearing comfort considerably. This is particularly true for the seams in the area of the side panels because a good fit of the brassiere requires proper tension of the side panels, whereby said panels are pressed to the upper body of the person wearing the brassiere.

The disadvantage of seams that externally, are visible through outer garments, and internally, tend to cause skin irritations, became especially apparent with brassieres, wherein the side panels are comprised of two or more layers of a textile material, which are hemmed along the free edges, and in view of the elasticity of the material used, most often have to be assembled with zigzag seams.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of this background, it is therefore an object of the invention to improve a conventional brassiere with respect to its wearing comfort and its overall look.

The invention is based on the idea to design the two-layered side panels of a brassiere such that the two layers are interconnected only in the peripheral areas at the upper and lower edge by internal plane bonding agents, in particular an adhesive layer. Due to the fact that both external surfaces of the side panels, that is, the visible outer side as well as the inner side facing the body, are comprised of textile material bare of any seams, the brassiere of the present invention not only attains a most appealing outer look, but on the inner side, direct contact between any seams and the skin is precluded. In this way, the wearing comfort is improved significantly, and even with sensitive skin, and the threat of skin irritations of any kind is eliminated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

InFIG. 1, a brassiere1of the present invention is illustrated in a front view. The brassiere1is comprised of a front section2having two bra cups3to accommodate the bust. The bra cups3can be of conventional design, that is, for example, have a rubber foam core, which is covered with a textile material, both on the outside and the inside. The two bra cups3are connected to one other by a center panel4, which in the instant embodiment has a roughly trapezoidal shape.

Attached along the lower edge5and the lateral edge6of the bra cups3are the side panels7, whereby at its free end, the left side panel7as seen in the illustration is provided with an eyelet8, whereas the opposite side panel7is provided with a hook band9. Together, eyelet8and hook band9provide, in well-known fashion, a back closure. Furthermore, the side panels7are defined by a lower edge11, an upper edge12, and a rearward edge14.

The more detailed design of the side panels7is illustrated in the remaining figures, whereinFIGS. 2 and 4, respectively, illustrate the front view, that is, the interior view of a side panel7, andFIG. 3shows a section along the line III-III inFIG. 2.

InFIG. 2, the schematized shape of a side panel7can be seen, which, apart from the lower edge11and the upper edge12, has a front edge13that is shaped to be attached to the lateral edge6of a bra cup3, whereas the rearward edge14terminates in an attachment point15for the attachment of the eyelet8and/or the hook band9. Between the upper edge12and the rearward free edge14, an attachment point16for attaching a shoulder strap10is indicated.

From the cross section of side panel7according toFIG. 3in particular can be seen that the outer layer17of the textile material forming the side panel7is turned over to the inside, both at the lower edge11and the upper edge12. In the illustrated embodiment, an adhesive tape20is attached to these folded-over edges18, which in turn is covered by the inner layer21of the textile material forming the side panel7towards the inside of the brassiere1, thus bringing about a bonding19of the edges.

The adhesive tape20used to fix the folded-over edges18into place against the inner layer of material21is, for practical purposes, coated with a thermo-sensitive bonding agent. Thereafter, the adhesive tape20can simply be inserted between the pieces to be connected, and by applying pressure and/or heat, an intensive bonding of the pieces can be achieved. Naturally, instead of using an adhesive tape, it is also possible to coat the surfaces to be joined with a suitable bonding agent, which likewise can be activated by applying pressure and/or heat. Bonding agents, which fill these requirements, are known.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings but also includes embodiments, which correspond with the object and purpose of the patent claims. For example, the term “brassiere” comprises all women's intimate apparel with built-in bust support, including bikini tops, swimsuits, and bodysuits, and the like.