Abstract:
A brassiere is provided having a pair of breast-receiving cups, each cup comprising at least one fabric layer molded to at least one foam layer, and an inner breast-receiving side and a lower periphery and an upper periphery. A first shaped pocket is formed on the breast-receiving side having a slit formed therein. A first shaped cushion conforming substantially to the shape of the pocket is removably insertable into the pocket to provide breast enhancement to a wearer.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of women&#39;s undergarments, and, in particular, to a brassiere having breast-receiving cups with removable cushion inserts to enhance the shape of the breasts when the brassiere is worn. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Brassieres designed for shaping, lifting, and enhancing the appearance of a woman&#39;s breasts are well known in the intimate apparel arts. Brassieres having padding or other cushioning materials sandwiched between layers of fabric material at the lower portions of the breast-receiving cups are sometimes worn by women who desire to enhance their appearance and/or accent their cleavage without resorting to surgical procedures. 
         [0003]    Numerous attempts have been made to advance the art of breast enhancement; most, however, have been minimally effective, i.e., they have resulted in an artificial look and/or are uncomfortable when the brassiere is worn. Unfortunately also, the enhancement brassieres currently known in the art incorporate similarly-dimensioned padding, cushions, gel packs, etc. into both of the brassiere breast-receiving cups, typically on the lower portion of each breast-receiving cup. Thus, while a brassiere so constructed may fit perfectly for some women, a “one-size-fits-all” approach frustrates many wearers by providing either too little or too much lift and enhancement. 
         [0004]    Additionally, for women having unevenly sized breasts, which account for a significant portion of the population, wearing a brassiere where both breast-receiving cups are identically dimensioned provides unacceptable results. 
         [0005]    While numerous, and some costly, solutions to address these problems have been devised, none addresses the problems of providing the desired degree of enhancement and accommodating unevenly sized breasts, while at the same time providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance when the brassiere is worn and that can be manufactured at a relatively low cost. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention is directed to a breast-enhancing brassiere comprising a pair of breast-receiving cups, with each cup including at least one cushioned layer having an inner breast contacting side and an outer side, at least one outer fabric layer affixed to the outer side of the cushioned layer, and an inner breast-contacting side having a lower periphery and an upper periphery. A first pocket is formed on the breast-receiving side and has a slit formed therein. A first cushion conforming substantially to the shape of the pocket is removably insertable into the pocket, wherein the first cushion provides breast enhancement to the wearer of the brassiere. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, the first cushion has a geometric center with a thickness that is greater than the thickness at the outer edges of the cushion. Another exemplary embodiment comprises a second cushion that is smaller than, and substantially conforming to the shape of, the first cushion and also is removably insertable into a pocket in the first cushion to provide additional breast enhancement to the wearer. 
         [0008]    Various features and aspects of the invention will become apparent upon review of the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described as follows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective, environmental view of a breast-enhancing brassiere formed according to the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the brassiere of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the shape and placement of the pocket for insertion of a cushion therein. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the brassiere of  FIG. 1 , taken along Line  1 A- 1 A. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a close-up view of the left brassiere cup of  FIG. 2 , illustrating the placement of the slit formed in the pocket for insertion of a cushion. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5A  is an elevational view of a first cushion insert. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5B  is the elevational view of a second cushion insert. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6A  is a cross-sectional view of the first cushion insert along its long axis. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view of the second cushion insert along its short axis. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7A  is an elevational view of a second cushion inserted within a first cushion. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view of a second cushion inserted within a first cushion. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8A  is an alternative embodiment of a first or second cushion. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8B  is another alternative embodiment of a first or second cushion. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below and illustrated in the accompanying figures. The embodiments described are only for purposes of illustrating the present invention and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention, which, of course, is limited only by the claims below. Other embodiments of the invention, and certain modifications and improvements of the described embodiments, will occur to those skilled in the art, and all such alternate embodiments, modifications, and improvements are within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the present invention is directed to a breast enhancing brassiere, shown generally as  100 . The breast enhancing brassiere  100  comprises a pair of breast-receiving cups  120 , a pair of torso encircling bands  140 . Each torso encircling band  140  extends outwardly from a breast-receiving cup  120 . The brassiere  100  also includes a pair of shoulder straps  160 , with a shoulder strap  160  extending between one of the breast receiving cups  120  and one of the torso encircling bands  140 . Alternatively, the breast enhancing brassiere may be strapless. In one exemplary embodiment, the brassiere  100  may comprise a centrally-located gusset  130  interconnecting the pair of breast-receiving cups  120 . 
         [0023]    As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the torso-encircling bands  140  will encircle the wearer&#39;s torso and interconnect at the back of the wearer with any conventional closure means  184 , such as a hook and eye closure, hook and loop closure, etc. Alternatively, the brassiere  100  may comprise a front closure (not shown) in lieu of a central gusset  130 , or may comprise a continuous band without any back or front closure means in the case of a pullover, or sports-type brassiere construction. The torso-encircling band portions  140  and the shoulder straps  160  may be formed of conventional single or multi-layer fabrics cotton, polyester, nylon, rayon, elastomerics, etc., natural and synthetic, and combinations thereof. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a cross-sectional view of a breast-receiving cup  120  is shown in detail. In the embodiment shown, each breast-receiving cup  120  comprises at least one fabric outer layer  121 , which is affixed to at least one cushioned layer  123  of lofted material. As used herein, the term “lofted material” includes foam, circularly knitted and/or warp knitted single ply materials or combination of materials, including batting, spacer fabric, etc., and fiberfill. In one exemplary embodiment, the fabric outer lo layer  121  may be laminated to the cushioned layer  123  of lofted material by a conventional molding process. This cup  120  also comprises an inner fabric layer  125  that is laminated during the molding process to the layer  123  of lofted material, which in turn may be laminated to a inner fabric layer  125 . The fabric layers may be formed from any of the commonly known yarns and fibers including, but not limited to, cotton, polyester, nylon, rayon, elastomerics, etc., natural and synthetic, and combinations thereof. The method of laminating multiple layers of varying types of materials is well known in the art. The cushioned layer  123  may be any of the conventionally known foam materials, such as polyurethane, high density, latex rubber, etc. 
         [0025]    As best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a first cushion pocket  129  is formed over the inner breast contacting surface of the breast-receiving cup  120 , closest to a wearer&#39;s skin. The first cushion pocket  129  may be substantially oval shaped and comprises a first fabric layer  127 . The fabric layer  127  is affixed about the lower periphery  122  of the breast-receiving cup  120  and extends upwardly to a height “h” that is spaced apart from the upper periphery  124  of breast-receiving cup  120 . Extending upwardly from height “h”, the fabric layer  127  is affixed or laminated to a second fabric layer  125 . 
         [0026]    Alternatively, the fabric layer  127  may be shaped so that it ends at height “h” and is stitched or bonded to the inner fabric layer  125 . Below height ‘h’, the fabric layer  127  is unattached except at the lower periphery  122 . The fabric layers  125  and/or  127  then form a substantially oval shaped pocket  129 . As used herein, the phrase “substantially oval,” refers to any oval shape including, but not limited to, an oval, an ellipse, a football shape, or a vesica piscis, where the upper and lower curved edges meet at either rounded or pointed, opposed ends. 
         [0027]    As best shown in  FIG. 4 , a slit  129   a  is formed in the fabric layer  127  so that a cushion insert, described in greater detail below, may be readily inserted into the pocket  129 . In one embodiment, the slit  129   a  is substantially vertical. When there is no cushion insert in the pocket  129 , the fabric layer  127  may lay substantially parallel to the inner surface of the breast-receiving up  120 . Thus, the fabric layer  127  may have some elastic properties so that it will be somewhat taut and will not sag or bunch up within the breast-receiving cup  120  when worn. This means that the brassiere  100  is completely functional for wear and support of the breasts when the wearer desires no additional breast enhancement. 
         [0028]    In the embodiment shown, to provide even further support, an underwire element  151  may be encased in a fabric cover  153 , which is affixed about the lower periphery  122  of each breast receiving cup  120 . The underwire element may be a flat or rounded rigid or semi-rigid plastic or metal. The fabric cover may be formed from any suitable material that provides suitable cushioning for the underwire and comfort to the wearer. In the embodiment shown, the fabric cover  153  is stitched to fabric layer  127  forming the pocket  129 . 
         [0029]    Turning now to  FIGS. 5A through 6B , the breast-enhancing cushions  170 ,  180  are illustrated. As shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , a first cushion  170  is formed in the general shape and dimension of the pocket  129 , the cushion  170  being slightly smaller so that it will readily fit into the pocket  129 . The cushion  170  may be substantially oval shaped. As shown in  FIG. 5B , the first cushion  170  comprises a first cushion portion  172  comprising a lofted layer  172   a  sandwiched between fabric layers  172   b  and  172   c , and a second cushion portion  174  that is sandwiched between fabric layers  174   b  and  174   c.  The lofted and fabric layers used to form the cushion portions  172  and  174  may be the same as those used to construct the layers of the breast-receiving cup  120 . The cushion portions  172 ,  174  may be attached to each other by stitching or bonding along an entire peripheral edge  176 , forming another inner pocket, having a volume  177 . The first cushion  170  further comprises a geometric center  171 , a length It along its long axis, and a width ‘W 1 ’ along its short axis. The geometric center  171  of the first cushion  170  may have a thickness that is greater than the thickness at the outer peripheral edge  176 , i.e., the thickness decreases from the geometric center  171  outwardly to the peripheral edge  176 . In one embodiment, the geometric center has a thickness of between about 0.30 inches and 0.35 inches, tapering outwardly to a thickness at the peripheral edge  176  of between about 0.15 inches and 0.17 inches. When constructed with a tapering thickness, a more natural look and shape is created for each breast. 
         [0030]    If additional breast enhancement is desired, or alternatively, where the wearer has unevenly sized breasts and requires additional cushioning and/or lift for one or both breasts, the first cushion  170  may comprise a slit  178  formed through and along the short, or width ‘W 1 ’ axis, of one of the first or second cushion portions  172 ,  174 . The slit  178  may be a substantially vertical slit. Hems  172   a,    172   b,  or alternatively  174   a ,  174   b,  are formed along the vertical slit  178  to facilitate inserting a second cushion  180  into the inner volume  177 . 
         [0031]    Cushion  180  has a similar oval shaped geometry and is dimensioned for insertion through slit  178  into the inner volume  177  of cushion  170 . As shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , cushion  180  comprises a foam layer  182   a  that is sandwiched between fabric layers  182   b  and  182   c.  The second cushion  180  also comprises a geometric center  181 , a length  12 ′ along its long axis, and a width ‘W 2 ’ along its short axis. The geometric center  181  of the second cushion  180  also has a thickness that is greater at the geometric center  181  than the thickness of the cushion  180  at the outer periphery  186 . In one embodiment, the geometric center has a thickness of between about 0.17 inches 0.19 inches, tapering outwardly to a thickness at the peripheral edge  176  of between about 0.10 inches and 0.11 inches. The greater thickness at the geometric centers of the cushions  170 ,  180  creates a more natural look and shape of each breast when the brassiere  100  is worn. 
         [0032]    Turning to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , a composite cushion is shown, with the second cushion  180  inserted within the first cushion  170 . As shown in  FIG. 7B , the combination of the first and second cushions  170 ,  180  increases the thickness of the cushioning, providing additional breast enhancement to the wearer. 
         [0033]    Although the Figures illustrate cushions  170 ,  180  as being substantially oval with pointed edges, i.e., vesica piscis, the present invention is not limited thereto. Rather, as described above, the cushions may have a variety of oval shapes, including, but not limited to exemplary embodiments such as those shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B ,  FIG. 8A  illustrating an exemplary oval  270  having rounded ends, and  FIG. 8B  illustrating an ellipse  280 . 
         [0034]    Although the present invention has been described with an exemplary embodiment, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.