Abstract:
There is provided a brassiere that includes a body having a pair of breast cups, a pair of stretchable panels each adjacent a separate breast cup and connected to a back of the brassiere, and a pair of stretchable sheaths secured along a lower portion of the breast cup and floating along the panel of the brassiere. Each panel is made of a stretchable material. The brassiere further includes a pair of underwires each positionable in one sheath. Preferably, the underwire is anatomically shaped so that the curve of the underwire is greater on the inner portion compared to the outer portion.

Description:
This application claim the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/203,034, filed May. 9, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to brassieres. More particularly, the present invention relates to a brassiere having underwire support, yet permits natural shaping and flexibility. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     To be comfortable, a brassiere must combine both support for the wearer&#39;s breasts and freedom of movement for the wearer&#39;s body. 
     In order to give freedom of movement to the wearer, some brassieres include a high percentage of stretchable materials, such as elastic. However, brassieres formed primarily of stretchable fabric may not provide sufficient breast support. 
     To achieve a suitable level of support for the breast, brassieres use support underwires and/or nonstretchable fabric in certain areas. However, support underwires, especially when secured in place by nonstretchable material, can become an impediment to an active wearer. Moreover, support underwires, especially during movement by an active wearer, may poke through the fabric of the brassiere. 
     There are brassieres that attempt to combine support and freedom of movement. For example, some brassieres place the underwires in an inner panel next to the skin, so that the underwires are spaced apart from the material forming the breast cups. However, this configuration increases the complexity of the brassiere, and may do little to overcome the dual problem of achieving flexibility and support. 
     Giving the foregoing, there is a need for a brassiere that provides freedom of movement without discomfort, as well as support for the breasts, during all activities of the wearer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a brassiere that provides freedom of movement without affecting adversely the brassiere&#39;s ability to support the wearer&#39;s breast. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a brassiere that has a partially floating underwire. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide such a brassiere that has stretchable panels. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a brassiere that has a stretchable underwire sheath. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a brassiere that has underwires with an anatomically desired shape thereby enhancing support, natural shaping and comfort on the body. 
     These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by a brassiere that includes a body having a pair of breast cups, a pair of panels each adjacent to a separate breast cup and connected to a back of the brassiere, and a pair of stretchable sheaths secured along a lower portion of the breast cup and floating along the side panel of the brassiere. Each side panel is made of a stretchable material. The brassiere further includes a pair of underwires, each positionable in one of said pair of sheaths. In a preferred embodiment, the panels stretch only in the sideways or horizontal direction. Since the sheath is not attached to the body of the brassiere along the side panel, it floats thereby providing greater flexibility. In a first embodiment, the panel one panel that extends to the back of the brassiere. In a second embodiment, the panel is a side panel that is connected to one or more other panels, one of which extends to the back of the brassiere. Preferably, in any embodiment, the underwire is anatomically shaped so that the curve of the underwire is greater on the inner portion compared to the outer portion thus providing enhanced support at all times. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a brassiere according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a portion of the exterior of the brassiere of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a portion of the interior of the brassiere of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3; and 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 6 is an alternative embodiment of a portion of the interior of the brassiere of FIG.  1 ; 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and, in particular, FIG. 1, there is provided a brassiere according to the present invention, generally represented by reference numeral  10 . Brassiere  10  has a body with a pair of breast cups  12 , a pair of side panels  30  connected to the pair of breast cups, and a pair of back straps or panels  50  connected to the pair of side panels, and a pair of support panels  60  connected to the pair of breast cups  12  and a body encircling band  65 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each breast cup  12  has an inner edge  14 , an outer or back edge  16 , an upper edge  18  and a bottom edge  20 . Each outer edge  16  is connected to one side panel  30 . In addition, the bottom edge  20  of each breast cup  12  is connected to a support panel  60 . 
     Each side panel  30  at an outer or back edge  36  thereof is preferably connected to one back panel  50 . The back panels  50  encircle the remainder of the torso of the wearer and are joined together by conventional fasteners  54 , such as, for example, hook-and-eye closures. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, brassiere  10  may encircle the torso of the wearer and breast cups  12  may be joined together by a front closure utilizing conventional fasteners. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, brassiere  10  preferably has a pair of adjustable shoulder straps  70  that connect to upper edges  18  of breast cups  12  and back panels  50 . 
     As used herein the terms “sideways,” “vertical,” and “horizontal” are defined in reference to the orientation of brassiere  10  as it would be positioned on a wearer&#39;s body and, thus, shown in FIG.  1 . Thus, back panels  50  extend substantially sideways or horizontally, while shoulder straps  70  extend substantially vertically. 
     Again referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, side panel  30  is a panel, preferably having a triangular shape, disposed between breast cup  12  and back panel  50 . Side panel  30  is made of a stretchable or elastic type material. Side panel  30  may be made of any suitably stretchable material that is adapted to stretch primarily, and preferably only, in the sideways or horizontal direction. Thus, each side panel  30  provides one-way stretch. Accordingly, side panel  30  is substantially inflexible in the vertical direction. Preferably, side panel  30  is made of a stretch woven or elastomeric fabric. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the inside of brassiere  10 . Underlying breast cup  12  and side panel  30  is sheath or wire channeling  80 . Sheath or wire channeling  80  is adapted to receive underwire  90 . Sheath or wire channeling  80  has a first portion  82  that is positioned along the lower portion of breast cup  12  and a second portion  84  that is positioned angularly in breast cup  12  and side panel  30 . Sheath or wire channeling  80 , namely first portion  82  and second portion  84  is adapted to accommodate underwire  90 . First portion  82  is connected to breast cup  12 . Preferably, first portion  82  is connected just up to outer edge  16 . Alternatively, but less preferably, first portion  82  may be connected to an inner lining (not shown) that is separated from breast cup  12  or partially integrated with the breast cup. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 6, side panel  30  and back panel  50  of FIG. 1, are made as one integral panel  30 ′. Panel  30 ′ is made from one piece of stretchable or elastic type material. The function of panel  30 ′ remains the same as side panel  30  of FIG. 1 in that it provides one-way, horizontal stretch at the area of each breast cup  12 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4, second portion  84  of sheath or wire channeling  80  is not attached to side panel  30  (or panel  30 ′ of the embodiment shown in FIG.  6 ). Instead, the distal end of second portion  84  is connected to underarm edge  95 . Thus, second portion  84  “floats” along side panel  30  between underarm edge  95  to the side of outer edge  16  in breast cup  12 , while first portion  82  is secured to support panel  60  or breast cup  12 . 
     Sheath or wire channeling  80  is made of a stretchable material. Accordingly, sheath or wire channeling  80  stretches as shown by arrows A seen in FIGS. 3 and 6. As shown in FIG. 5, sheath or wire channeling  80  is preferably made of two plies. Such a two ply structure has been found to avoid underwire poke through and to provide more comfort to the wearer. The inner ply is a biased cut cushioning fabric layer  86 . The outer ply is a covering fabric layer  88 . 
     Cushioning fabric layer  86  may be made of cotton batting, polyester non-woven, or other suitable padding material. Preferably, cushioning fabric layer  86  is a one hundred percent polyester non-woven material. A preferred one hundred percent polyester non-woven material is manufactured by Tietex Corporation U.S.A. and sold under the tradename T316. Covering fabric layer  88  is wrapped over cushioning fabric layer  86 . Covering fabric layer  88  is preferably made of stretchable material, such as elastomeric, or stretch woven, material that is the same as side panel  30 . 
     In one embodiment, side panel  30  or panel  30 ′ is made of a three bar knit. The elastomeric, or stretch woven, fabric may be made of varying combinations of cotton or polyester or nylon and spandex. This elastomeric material may contain from 5% to 35% spandex, and the remainder is nylon or cotton or polyester or any combinations thereof. 
     Preferably, covering fabric layer  88  is a three bar knit, with a ratio of about 77% nylon to about 23% spandex. 
     The combined stretchability of side panel  30  (or panel  30 ′) and floating second portion  84  creates greater freedom of movement for the wearer. 
     Underwire  90  is made of any material that provides support. For example, underwire  90  can be made of rigid plastic or metal. In addition, the gauge of underwire  90  preferably does not vary from one end to the other. 
     Preferably, underwire  90  is asymmetrically shaped as shown clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3. Underwire  90  has a first or inner portion  92  that is positioned in first portion  82  of sheath, or wire channeling,  80  and follows a first angle a. Underwire  90  also has a second or outer portion  94  that is positioned in second portion  84  of sheath or wire channeling  80  and follows a second angle θ. Preferably, first angle a is greater than second angle θ. Thus, first portion  92  has a greater curve compared to second portion  94 . When shaped accordingly, underwire  90  mirrors the shape of a woman&#39;s breast. Therefore, underwire  90  provides better support and enhanced comfort to the wearer. 
     It is preferable that first angle α equals about 55° to about 70° and, more preferably, about 63°. In comparison, it is preferable that second angle θ equals about 50° to about 65° and, more preferably, about 57°. The difference between first angle a and second angle θ is preferably about 1 to about 10 degrees and, more preferably, about 5 degrees. 
     The present invention having been described with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.