Patent Publication Number: US-11044954-B2

Title: Brassiere

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a submission under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/GB2018/051048, filed Apr. 20, 2018, which claims priority to Great Britain Application No. 1802764.9, filed Feb. 21, 2018, and Great Britain Application No. 1706335.5, filed Apr. 20, 2017, the disclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to brassieres, particularly to brassieres for fuller figured and plus size women, and more particularly to brassieres for fuller figured and plus size women to wear during sporting activities. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Fuller figured and plus size women generally have larger breasts that need to be supported. Thus brassieres for fuller figured and plus size women tend to be more structured in order to provide the required level of support for the larger breasts. 
     The problem is that as the size of the breast increases the bust has a tendency to bounce and jiggle about more than a smaller bust. This often results in pain for the woman who wants to participate in sporting activities as stress is put on the pectoral muscle with the vertical bounce movement of fuller figured and plus size women. 
     This problem is much worse in plus size women as the brassiere, being tight around the body to provide support, results in the bust being pushed either upwards or flattened in an attempt to reduce the movement. 
     Furthermore, the majority of sports bras are not functional and supportive enough as the vertical problem of movement has not been considered enough in traditional bra brands and the average woman has lost all faith in the product available to her for wear whilst participating in sporting activities. 
     The wearing of such uncomfortable brassieres can result in significant sagging of the bust as the muscles are put under tremendous pressure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a brassiere comprising a cradle, two straps and two cups each for receiving a breast, each of the cups having an around cup edge section, an underarm edge section, a neckline edge section, a center edge section and an apex, wherein the brassiere further comprises a Y-shaped control panel generally extending from the straps across the top of the neckline edge section of each of the cups and down the center edge section of each of the cups to the cradle. 
     In one embodiment, the cradle comprises an under band, two side panels extending from the under band and two wings extending from the side panels. In one alternative the side panels are formed integrally with the wings, and in another alternative a side seam is provided to connect the side panels to the wings, the side seam may be vertical or angled. In a further alternative the side seam may be provided with a bone or other ridged structure. 
     The Y-shaped control panel may connect to the cradle, and the Y-shaped control panel may connect to the under band of the cradle. 
     The Y-shaped control panel may join to the under band of the cradle and surround neckline edge sections and center edge sections of the cups. 
     The around cup section of the cups may be provided with a wire. 
     The Y-shaped control panel may comprise a double bonded fabric. A double bonded fabric comprises two or more pieces of fabric that have been glued or bonded together to form a laminate. The double bonded fabric may comprise two or more pieces of fabric that have been glued or bonded together using a Hot Melt bonding system to form a laminate. The fabric may comprise a rigid fabric, and the fabric may be totally or completely rigid. The fabric may comprise an Interlock construction fabric. The fabric may comprise 100% polyamide. The fabric may comprise a Nylon fabric with Interlock construction. The fabric may comprise a Nylon fabric with Interlock construction that is completely rigid. The advantage of 100% polyamide fabric is that is doesn&#39;t have an inherent ability to stretch, which when laminated makes it strong and stiff. 
     In the alternative, the Y-shaped control panel comprises any other rigid construction stiff fabric. 
     The advantage of using a rigid construction stiff fabric that is bonded together in a laminate, which is different from other qualities, means it&#39;s thicker and more robust, rigid and sturdy than just a single layer of fabric. In the alternative, it is possible to create a fabric that is super heavy and thick that is very rigid. The glue is a lamination technique that sticks two or more layers of fabric together. 
     The cups may be foam cups or, alternatively, the cups could each be formed from an alternative single piece of fabric or multiple pieces of fabric joined together. 
     The Y-shaped control panel may comprise two mirror image sections of half a Y vertically that are connected together. 
     The mirror image sections may be sewn together to create the Y-shaped control panel. By creating the Y-shaped control panel in two mirror image sections, the sections are able to curve and enables the sections to sit against the body to separate the bust. The reason why most bras don&#39;t perform well is that the bust is not separated. 
     The Y-shaped control panel may be a mirror image with a shaped center seam in the middle of the Y. This seam pulls and holds the brassiere towards the rib cage, therefore separating the bust and stopping the usual sausage effect called a “monoboob”. The mirror seam at the front, teamed with the bonded robust construction fabric, encapsulates the brassiere around the bust and holds its position and stops any movement. 
     The Y-shaped control panel may be joined to the cradle which may also be formed from a double bonded fabric which finally completes the around bust restriction. 
     Alternatively, the Y-shaped control panel comprises a single section. 
     The Y-shaped control panel may be connected to the cups with stitching. In the alternative, the Y-shaped control panel is connected to the cups with bonded glue, or other suitable method that is permanent and strong. 
     The under band and the side panels of the cradle may comprise a double bonded fabric. The double bonded fabric may comprise two or more pieces of fabric that have been glued or bonded together using a Hot Melt bonding system to form a laminate. The fabric may comprise a rigid fabric, and the fabric may be totally or completely rigid. The fabric may comprise an Interlock construction fabric. The fabric may comprise 100% polyamide. The fabric may comprise a Nylon fabric with Interlock construction. The fabric may comprise a Nylon fabric with Interlock construction that is completely rigid. 
     The Y-shaped control panel about the straps and neckline may be edged with an elastic over binding, which prevents chafing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention and, together with a general description of the present invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of a brassiere of the present invention according to a first embodiment; and 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a front view of a brassiere of the present invention according to a second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a brassiere  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The brassiere  10  has two cups  12  to hold the breasts, a cradle  18  formed of an under band  20  and two side panels  22 , two wings  14  (only a portion of each are visible in this figure) that wrap around the wearer&#39;s torso, two shoulder straps  16  and a Y-shaped control panel  24 . In one alternative, the side panels  22  are formed integrally with the wings  14 , and in another alternative, a side seam  42  is provided to connect the side panels  22  to the wings  14  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The side seam  42  may be vertical as illustrated in  FIG. 1  or angled. In a further alternative, the side seam  42  may be provided with a bone or other ridged structure (not illustrated). 
     The wings  14  may be closed in at the back by a hook and eye fastener system. The type of fastener system is not limited to a hook and eye fastener system, this is simply the fastener system most commonly used in brassieres. Further, in the alternative, the wings  14  may not be provided with an opening and may simply be a continuous band which the user positions in place by pulling the brassiere on over the head for example. 
     Yet further in the alternative, the straps  16  may cross over at the back. 
     The cups  12  of the brassiere may be of seamless or molded construction being a preformed foam cup. The construction of the cups  12  is not essential to the present invention, and may in the alternative be formed from three panels or two panels. 
     The cups  12  may have an around cup edge section, an underarm edge section, a neckline edge section which merges into the center edge section and an apex. 
     The Y-shaped control panel  24  generally extends from the straps  16  across the top of the neckline edge section of each of the cups  12  and down the center edge section of each of the cups to the cradle  18 . 
     The Y-shaped control panel  24  connects to the cradle  18 , specifically the Y-shaped control panel  24  connects to the under band  20  of the cradle  18 . 
     The Y-shaped control panel  24  joins to the under band  20  of the cradle  18  and surrounds neckline edge sections and center edge sections of the cups  12 . 
     The around cup section of the cups  12  may optionally be provided with a wire  40 . 
     The Y-shaped control panel  24  may be formed from a double bonded fabric. A double bonded fabric comprises two or more pieces of fabric that have been glued or bonded together to form a laminate. The double bonded fabric may comprise two or more pieces of fabric that have been glued or bonded together using a Hot Melt bonding system to form a laminate. The fabric may comprise a rigid fabric, and the fabric may be totally or completely rigid. The fabric may comprise an Interlock construction fabric. The fabric may comprise 100% polyamide. The fabric may comprise a Nylon fabric with Interlock construction. The fabric may comprise a Nylon fabric with Interlock construction that is completely rigid. The advantage of 100% polyamide fabric is that is doesn&#39;t have an inherent ability to stretch which, when laminated, makes it strong and stiff. The advantage of 100% polyamide fabric is that is doesn&#39;t have an inherent ability to stretch which when laminated makes it strong and stiff. 
     In the alternative, the Y-shaped control panel  24  comprises any other rigid construction stiff fabric. 
     The advantage of using a rigid construction stiff fabric that is bonded together in a laminate, which is different from other qualities, means it&#39;s thicker and more robust, rigid and sturdy than just a single layer of fabric. In the alternative, it is possible to create a fabric that is super heavy and thick that is very rigid. The glue is a lamination technique that sticks two or more layers of fabric together. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the Y-shaped control panel  24  comprises two mirror image sections  26  of half a Y vertically that are connected together along length  28 . 
     The mirror image sections are sewn together to create the Y-shaped control panel. By creating the Y-shaped control panel  24  in two mirror image sections  26 , the mirror image sections  26  are able to curve and enables the mirror image sections  26  to sit against the body to separate the bust. The reason why most bras don&#39;t perform well is that the bust is not separated. 
     The Y-shaped control panel  24  is a mirror image with a shaped center seam in the middle of the Y. This seam pulls and holds the brassiere towards the rib cage, therefore separating the bust and stopping the usual sausage effect called a “monoboob”. The mirror seam at the front, teamed with the bonded robust construction fabric, encapsulates the brassiere around the bust and holds its position and stops any movement. 
     The Y-shaped control panel  24  may be joined to the cradle which is also formed from a double bonded fabric which finally completes the around bust restriction. 
     In the alternative, the Y-shaped control panel  24  may be formed from a single section. 
     The Y-shaped control panel  24  may be connected to the cups  12  with stitching. In the alternative, the Y-shaped control panel  24  is connected to the cups  12  with bonded glue, or other suitable method that is permanent and strong. 
     The under band  20  and the side panels  22  of the cradle  18  may also formed from a double bonded fabric. The double bonded fabric may comprise two or more pieces of fabric that have been glued or bonded together using a Hot Melt bonding system to form a laminate. The fabric may comprise a rigid fabric, and the fabric may be totally or completely rigid. The fabric may comprise an Interlock construction fabric. The fabric may comprise 100% polyamide. The fabric may comprise a Nylon fabric with Interlock construction. The fabric may comprise a Nylon fabric with Interlock construction that is completely rigid. 
     The Y-shaped control panel  24  about the straps  16  and neckline may be edged with an elastic over binding, which prevents chafing which can be sewn or glued or otherwise permanently attached. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a brassiere  110  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The brassiere  110  has two cups  112  to hold the breasts, a cradle  118  formed of an under band  120  and two side panels  122 , two wings  114  (which are not fully visible in this figure) that wrap around the wearer&#39;s torso, two shoulder straps  116  and a Y-shaped control panel  124 . In one alternative, the side panels  122  are formed integrally with the wings  114 , and in another alternative, a side seam  142  is provided to connect the side panels  122  to the wings  114  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The side seam  142  may be vertical or angled as illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  illustrates that the side seam  142  may be angled forwards or backwards. In a further alternative, the side seam  142  may be provided with a bone or other ridged structure (not illustrated). 
     The wings  114  may be closed in at the back by a hook and eye fastener system  130 . The type of fastener system is not limited to a hook and eye fastener system  130 , this is simply the fastener system most commonly used in brassieres. Further, in the alternative the wings  114  may not be provided with an opening and may simply be a continuous band which the user positions in place by pulling the brassiere on over the head for example. 
     Yet further in the alternative, the straps  116  may cross over at the back. 
     The cups  112  of the brassiere may be of seamless or molded construction being a preformed foam cup. The construction of the cups  112  is not essential to the present invention, and may in the alternative be formed from three panels or two panels. The cups  112  can be individual panels which are sewn together with or without foam. 
     The cups  112  may have an around cup edge section, an underarm edge section, a neckline edge section which merges into the center edge section and an apex. 
     The Y-shaped control  124  panel generally extends from the straps  116  across the top of the neckline edge section of each of the cups  112  and down the center edge section of each of the cups to the cradle  118 . 
     The Y-shaped control panel  124  connects to the cradle  118 , specifically the Y-shaped control panel  124  connects to the under band  120  of the cradle  118 . 
     The Y-shaped control panel  124  joins to the under band  120  of the cradle  118  and surrounds neckline edge into the center edge sections of the cups  112 . 
     The around cup section of the cups  112  may optionally be provided with a wire  140 . 
     The Y-shaped control panel  124  may be formed from a double bonded fabric. A double bonded fabric comprises two pieces of fabric that have been glued or bonded together to form a laminate. The double bonded fabric may comprise two pieces of fabric that have been glued or bonded together using a Hot Melt bonding system to form a laminate. The fabric may comprise a rigid fabric, and the fabric may be totally or completely rigid. The fabric may comprise an Interlock construction fabric. The fabric may comprise 100% polyamide. The fabric may comprise a Nylon fabric with Interlock construction. The fabric may comprise a Nylon fabric with Interlock construction that is completely rigid. The advantage of 100% polyamide fabric is that is doesn&#39;t have an inherent ability to stretch which when laminated makes it strong and stiff. 
     In the alternative, the Y-shaped control panel comprises any other rigid construction stiff fabric. 
     The advantage of using a rigid construction stiff fabric that is bonded together in a laminate, which is different from other qualities, means it&#39;s thicker and more robust, rigid and sturdy than just a single layer of fabric. In the alternative, it is possible to create a fabric that is super heavy and thick that is very rigid. The glue is a lamination technique that sticks two layers of fabric together. 
     In this embodiment, the Y-shaped control panel  124  is formed from a single section. However, in the alternative the Y-shaped control panel  124  may be formed from 2 mirror image sections as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The Y-shaped panel  124  is connected to the cups  112  with stitching. In the alternative, the Y-shaped control panel  124  is connected to the cups  112  with bonded glue, or other suitable method that is permanent and strong. 
     The under band  120  and the side panels  122  of the cradle  118  may also be formed from a double layer of fabric which can be sewn or bonded together so long as it is permanent. In addition, the layers of fabric can cross over if the design requires so long as the areas of cross over are strong and supportive. 
     The Y-shaped control panel  124  about the straps  116  and neckline may be edged with a cover panel  132  and edging  134  with over binding, which prevents chafing. 
     While the present invention has been illustrated by description of various embodiments and while those embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such details. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The present invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of Applicant&#39;s invention.