FR3115439A1 - non-wired bra - Google Patents

Abstract

The non-wired bra comprises two cups (4, 5) to receive a respective user's breast. One of the cups or each has an edge (6) of which an arcuate section (6a) forming a concavity (C) is provided to be positioned at the junction of a breast and the thorax of the user so as to surround partially the breast from below, and is provided with at least one elastic band (30; 40) attached to the edge (6) of the cup (4) to bias the opposite side portions of the arcuate edge section (6a) one towards the other, the at least one elastic band extending across the concavity (C) formed by the arcuate edge section (6a) so that the user's breast received in the cup comes to rest on the at least one elastic band. Figure for abstract: Fig. 1

Description

non-wired bra

The present invention relates to a non-wired brassiere.

A bra is a piece of feminine lingerie used to support a woman's breasts. To this end, a bra comprises two interconnected cups each intended to receive a respective breast of the user who wears it.

A first type of bra is the underwired bra. Each cup is provided with a rigid metal or plastic frame having a concave arcuate shape in the shape of a more or less open U to give the desired shape to the cup and ensure adequate support for the breast received therein. For this, the underwire is inserted into a fabric tunnel - commonly called an underwire locker - which is sewn to the base of the cup along its arched edge in a corresponding U-shape. In use, the underwire compartment containing the underwire partially surrounds the breast from below, positioning itself against the thorax at the junction of the breast with it.

Underwired bras have several disadvantages. Firstly, the support of the underwires on the thorax can constitute, due to their rigidity, an embarrassment for the user: pain can even appear after a few hours of use. Secondly, the dimensions of the underwires are the same for both cups, whereas the breasts of the same user can often be of slightly different size (breast dissymmetry). As a result, the underwires may be suitable for one of the breasts, but not for the other, with a correlative risk of discomfort or even injury. Third, the construction of the frame locker must be meticulous, otherwise it may tear after several uses and washes. The underwire is then likely to come out of the underwire locker and injure the user's chest. Finally, there are fears and questions about possible cause and effect relationships between underwires and certain breast diseases, in particular breast cancer, although to date no scientific evidence has confirmed this hypothesis.

There are also non-wired bras. Although at least partially overcoming the disadvantages of underwire bras, they may not be suitable for certain users, in particular those with large breasts, for the following reasons. The lower part of the cups tends to deform under the weight of the breasts, which are therefore less well supported than with an underwired bra. Some non-wired bra models have a cutout imitating the shape of underwires and therefore provide slightly improved support, but these are above all suitable for small breasts. Other non-wired bra models have cups made of preformed foam, but this tends to sag under the weight of the breasts and can therefore give an unsightly visual appearance called "duckbill" .

It therefore appears that no existing type of bra is fully satisfactory in terms of support, comfort and aesthetics.

The object of the present invention is to provide a brassiere which in use is comfortable while providing adequate support and an aesthetic shape, including in the case of breast dissymmetry and/or bulky breasts.

To this end, the present invention proposes a wireless bra, comprising two cups to receive a respective breast of a user, in which one or each of the cups:

• has an edge of which an arcuate section forming a concavity is provided to be positioned at the junction of a breast and the thorax of the user so as to partially surround the breast from below, and
• is provided with at least one elastic band attached to the edge of the cup to urge the opposite side portions of the arcuate edge section towards each other, the at least one elastic band extending across the concavity formed by the arcuate edge section so that the breast of the user received in the cap comes to rest on the at least one elastic band.

The at least one elastic band associated with the cup of the bra gives it a nice shape despite the absence of a rigid underwire while ensuring self-adaptive and comfortable support for the breast, including for breasts voluminous. The brassiere according to the invention has in particular the advantages of the different types of existing brassiere while limiting or even eliminating their disadvantages.

According to preferred embodiments, the invention comprises one or more of the following features:

• the at least one elastic band is attached over its entire length to the edge of the cup;
• the at least one elastic band is attached exclusively to the edge of the cup;
• the at least one elastic band is fixed to the edge of the cup without protruding towards the outside of the cup;
• a reinforcing tape is attached over the entire length of the arcuate edge section of the cap or at least over a major part of its length.
• one or each of the cups is provided with two elastic bands attached to the edge of the cup which extend obliquely towards each other from opposite lateral sides of the cup, the two elastic bands overlapping in a region adjacent to the middle part of the arcuate edge section;
• the upper edge of one of the elastic bands is fixed at a point on the edge where the upper edge of a separator connects the two cups together or which corresponds to the junction point of the two cups;
• this point corresponds to one end of the arcuate edge section;
• the upper edge of one of the elastic bands is fixed to the end of the arched edge section which is located on the side opposite to the other cup or else at a point of a section of the edge which is intended to be placed at the level with the user's underarm and which is attached angularly to the end of the arcuate edge section located on the side opposite the other cup;
• the cup or each of the cups comprises a flexible foam shell;
• the bra further comprises two elastic wings each attached to a respective one of the cups and which are provided at their free end with a fastening system allowing them to be assembled together in a removable manner.

Other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of example and with reference to the appended drawing.

represents a schematic view of the inside of a bra according to one embodiment of the invention, that is to say which shows the side of the bra in contact with the body of a user who wears it conventionally.

represents a schematic front view of the brassiere of the when worn conventionally by a wearer.

represents an enlarged schematic view of one of the cups of the bra of the and observed from the same side as on the .

represents a schematic sectional view along section line IV-IV of the .

The bra according to the embodiment shown conventionally comprises two cups 4 and 5 to each receive a respective breast of a user wearing it. Each cup 4, 5 is made of fabric and/or lace or any other suitable material. It may also comprise a flexible foam shell made for example in a single preformed piece or else assembled from several pieces of foam sewn together or assembled by any other appropriate means.

The bra conventionally comprises two wings 13, 14 each fixed to a lateral side of the respective cup 4, 5 and having at their free end a tab 15A, 15B of a closure system 15. In use, the wings 13, 14 pass each under a respective arm of the user. The tabs 15A and 15B of the closure system 15 make it possible to removably assemble the two wings 13, 14 together on the back of the user to ensure that the bra is held in place. The closure system 15 can be of any suitable type such as a staple closure system known per se, preferably a staple system with several positions to be able to adjust the tightness of the bra to the user's bust. It can be conventionally based on hooks cooperating with eyelets. The wings 13, 14 can be made of fabric or any other suitable material and preferably have an elasticity providing in use an elastic tightening of the bra against the bust of the user.

The bra conventionally comprises two straps 23 and 24. Each strap 23, 24 connects a respective cup 4, 5 to the corresponding wing 13, 14 of the bra. The straps 23 and 24 are provided to pass over the shoulders of the user who is wearing the bra and contribute to holding the bra in place in addition to the wings 13 and 14. The straps 23 and 24 are preferably of adjustable length to allow the user to adjust it to their size. Alternatively, in the case of a bandeau bra, the straps 23 and 24 are omitted in which case, in use, the bra is held in place exclusively by the wings 13 and 14.

The bra comprises a central panel 25 known per se which is commonly called a separator: this connects the cups 4 and 5 to each other. In use, the separator 25 is located at the user's sternum. It can be made of fabric or lace or any other suitable material.

Alternatively, the bra has no separator. In this case, the cups 4 and 5 can be connected to each other at a junction of the two cups 4 and 5 by a seam or any other suitable means. Alternatively, the cups 4 and 5 are not directly connected to each other, but are both fixed by their lower edge to a basque 26. The bra can in fact be provided with a known basque 26 itself, that is to say a strip 26 of fabric or lace or any other suitable material which extends continuously from the leg 15A of the wing 13 to the leg 15B of the wing 14. The wings 13 and 14 then include the corresponding sections of the basque 26, the latter being able conventionally to define the lower edge of the wings 13 and 14 and more generally the lower edge of the bra. The basque 26 preferably has an elasticity corresponding to that desired for the two wings 13 and 14.

Each cup 4, 5 further comprises two elastic bands referenced 30 and 40 for the first and 130 and 140 for the second. The detailed description below of the elastic bands 30 and 40 of the cup 4 applies mutatis mutandis to the elastic bands 130 and 140 of the cup 5 and will not be repeated accordingly.

The elastic bands 30 and 40 are arranged on the inside of the cup 4, that is to say on the side facing the user when she is wearing the bra. The elastic bands 30 and 40 are sewn - or fixed by any other appropriate means - to the edge 6 of the cup 4 which, in use, is positioned at the level of the junction of the user's breast received in the cup 4 at her thorax. A lower section 6a of the edge 6 is arched so as to form a substantially U-shaped concavity C. This edge section 6a thus forms a cradle partially surrounding the base of the user's breast from below when she is wearing it, it being specified that the base of the breast designates here the region of the breast where the latter is attached to the thorax. The U-shape of the arched edge section 6a is similar to that of the underwire locker of an underwired bra cup and as in the latter case the U-shape can be more or less open and more or less large depending on the bra model.

The elastic bands 30 and 40 extend across the concavity C of the arcuate edge section 6a. As a result, when the bra is put on the user's chest, the corresponding breast will push against the elastic bands 30 and 40 and rest on them. On the other hand, it is preferable that the elastic bands 30 and 40 do not protrude from the edge 6 towards the outside of the cup 4 for aesthetic reasons. Furthermore, it is preferable for the elastic bands 30 and 40 to be fixed to the cup 4 exclusively by the edge 6 for simplicity of manufacture and to avoid possibly limiting their functions described below.

With reference to a fictitious vertical center line M of the cup 4 which passes through a point P of the arcuate edge section 6a where the tangent T to this section is horizontal when the bra is worn by a user standing upright, each strip 30, 40 is attached to two parts of the edge 6 each located on a respective side of the center line M.

More particularly, each strip 30, 40 is preferably fixed to an upper part of the edge 6 on a respective side of the center line M and to a lower part on the other side of the center line M so as to extend slantwise. As a result, the elastic bands 30 and 40 overlap in a lower region 50.

The upper edge of the strip 30 extends obliquely downwards preferably from a point 15 of the edge 6 where the upper edge of the separator 25 is attached to a point 19 of the arcuate edge section 6a on the other side of the center line M. Point 15 advantageously corresponds to an upper end of the arcuate edge section 6a. The upper edge of the band 40 extends obliquely downwards from a point 17 of a section 6b of the edge 6 placed at the level of the corresponding underarm of the user who wears the bra, to a point 21 of the arcuate edge section 6a. As is conventional, the edge section 6b attaches angularly to an upper end of the arcuate edge section 6a. Alternatively, the point 17 is located in the upper part of the arcuate edge section 6a, for example at its upper end where the edge section 6b is attached.

At rest, that is to say when the bra is not worn by a user and is free from external constraints, the elastic bands 30 and 40 stress the opposite lateral parts of the arcuate edge section 6a one towards the other and thus ensure a relative positioning between them in terms of spacing. The lower part 6a of the edge 6 of the cup 4 is thus made into a U-shape with the desired opening by the elastic bands 30 and 40. In the case where the cup 4 is provided with a flexible foam shell, this ci is consequently volumetrically shaped as a whole due to the resulting tightening. The elastic bands 30 and 40 thus perform a shaping function similar to the underwire of a cup in the case of an underwired bra. Of course, the flexible foam shell may have a certain rigidity also contributing to the shaping of the cup.

In use, the breast received in the cup 4 rests against the elastic bands 30 and 40 which deform elastically under the weight of the breast. The elastic bands 30 and 40 thus marry the underside of the breast which comes to weigh on them. The elastic bands 30 and 40 thus perform a support function for the breast. This support function is increased in the lower region 50 where the two elastic bands 30 and 40 overlap and which is located under the user's breast. Thanks to the elastic bands 30 and 40, the user's breast is placed properly in the cup 4 and is effectively maintained therein. In addition, the support provided to the breast adapts to the morphology and the weight thereof due to the elasticity of the bands 30 and 40. Furthermore, the combined action of the elastic bands 30 and 40 and of the force exerted by the breast on these contribute to maintaining the lateral parts of the U-shaped arcuate edge section 6a in position against the elastic traction of the wings 13 and 14 assembled together by the attachment system 15 behind the user. Thus, in use, cup 4 also retains a nice curve.

It is advantageous that the strips 30 and 40 are attached over their entire length to the edge 6 from point 15 to point 19 and from point 17 to point 21 respectively. This improves the shaping of the 4 cup and the maintenance of the breast. This attachment is preferably continuous between these two respective end points, or alternatively in a discontinuous manner, for example at points or segments distributed between these two end points at a relatively small interval, preferably less than or equal to 10 mm. To avoid protruding from the cup 4 beyond the edge 6, the elastic bands 30 and 40 are fixed to the cup 4 by an edge of identical shape to the part of the edge 6 to which they are fixed.

Elastic bands 30 and 40 can be made of any suitable material that is compatible with skin contact. These may in particular be ribbons made of elastic fabric, elastic mesh or elastic mesh.

It is also advantageous to provide that the stiffness of the elastic bands 30 and 40 is greater in the region of the upper edge because this region is subjected to the greatest part of the weight of the breast received in the cup 4.

In summary, thanks to the 30 and 40 elastic bands, the 4 cup has a nice curve while providing self-adaptive and comfortable support for the breast, and makes it possible to dispense with the rigid frame of traditional bras.

Provision may also be made for a reinforcing tape 27 to be fixed along the edge section 6a to give it a certain rigidity. In use, the comfort tape 27 is positioned against the user's thorax in the area adjacent to the junction of the breast to the thorax. The reinforcing tape preferably extends over the entire length of the arcuate edge section 6a - similar to the case of an underwire compartment of an underwired bra - or at least over a major part of it. this. The reinforcing tape can be made of cotton or microfiber fabric or any other suitable material.

The reinforcing tape 27 contributes to maintaining at the desired opening the arcuate U-shape of the arcuate edge section 6a, and therefore also of the curve of the cup 4. The arcuate edge section 6a however remains flexible despite the presence of the reinforcing tape , which avoids creating discomfort similar to that of a rigid underwire of an underwired bra.

The characteristics of the elastic bands 30 and 40 in terms of length, width and elastic tension are chosen appropriately depending on the size and shape of the cup 40. Similarly, the fastening areas of the ribbons 30 and 40 on the edge 6 of the 40 cup can be adjusted according to the size and shape of the 40 cup. It is thus possible to adapt the bra to large breasts.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the examples and to the embodiment described and represented, but it is capable of numerous variants accessible to those skilled in the art.

For example, the number of elastic bands 30 and 40 can be varied. Thus, a cap can be provided with a single elastic band attached to its edge. In this case, it is preferable that, with reference to its upper edge, it extends substantially horizontally across the concavity C of the cup, which allows balanced support around the lower part of the breast. However, the fact for a cup to be provided with two elastic bands 30 and 40 is more advantageous because their arrangement at an angle in converging directions and their superposition at the bottom of the cup makes it possible both to better support the breast on both sides and provide increased support to the lowest part of the breast.

It is possible to resort to an improved design of the elastic band when a cup is provided with only one. Indeed, the elastic band can be made in the form of an extensible preformed support obtained for example by molding or by knitting. Its shape can then be advantageously adapted as a cradle adapted to the curve of the breast.

According to another variant, a cap can comprise more than two elastic bands, for example three or four. These bands are preferentially offset relative to each other by having respective overlapping zones, which makes it possible to support the breast in a manner distributed over the width around the lower part of the breast. However, the design with two elastic bands 30 and 40 is more advantageous in terms of cost and limitation of the cumulative thickness of the elastic bands which occupies the inside of the cup.

It will also be understood that the bra according to the invention can be an individual piece as illustrated, that is to say a whole independent of other pieces of clothing. It can not only be an underwear, but also be a constituent of the top of a two-piece swimsuit. It can also be an integral part of a more complete piece of women's clothing such as a bodysuit, a basque, a babydoll, a dress, a one-piece swimsuit, etc.

Claims (11)

Wireless bra, comprising two cups (4, 5) for receiving a respective breast of a user, in which one or each of the cups:

• has an edge (6) of which an arcuate section (6a) forming a concavity (C) is provided to be positioned at the junction of a breast and the thorax of the user so as to partially surround the breast from below, And
• is provided with at least one elastic band (30; 40) fixed to the edge (6) of the cup (4) to urge the opposite side parts of the arcuate edge section (6a) towards each other, at the at least one elastic band extending across the concavity (C) formed by the arcuate edge section (6a) so that the user's breast received in the cup comes to rest on the at least one elastic band.

Brassiere according to Claim 1, in which the at least one elastic band is fixed over its entire length to the edge (6) of the cup (4). Brassiere according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the at least one elastic band is fixed exclusively to the edge (6) of the cup (4). Brassiere according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the at least one elastic band is fixed to the edge (6) of the cup (4) without protruding towards the outside of the cup (4). A brassiere according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which a reinforcing tape is attached over the entire length of the arcuate edge section (6a) of the cup (4) or at least over a major part of its length. Brassiere according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which one or each of the cups is provided with two elastic bands fixed to the edge (6) of the cup (4) which extend obliquely towards the other from opposite lateral sides of the cup (4), the two elastic bands overlapping in a region adjacent to the middle part of the arcuate edge section (6a). Brassiere according to Claim 6, in which the upper edge of one (30) of the elastic bands is fixed at a point (15) of the edge (6) where the upper edge of a separator connecting the two cups is attached. (4, 5) between them or which corresponds to the junction point of the two cups (4, 5) between them. Brassiere according to Claim 7, in which this point (15) corresponds to one end of the arcuate edge section (6a). A brassiere according to any one of claims 6 to 8, in which the upper edge of one (40) of the elastic bands is fixed to the end of the arcuate edge section (6a) which is situated on the side opposite to the other cup (5) or else at a point (17) of a section (6b) of the brim (6) which is intended to be placed at the level of the underarm of the user and which is attached in an angular manner at the end of the arcuate edge section (6a) located on the side opposite to the other cup (5). A brassiere according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in which the cup or each of the cups (4, 5) comprises a flexible foam shell. Brassiere according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising two elastic wings (13, 14) each attached to a respective one of the cups (4, 5) and which are provided at their free end with a fastening system (15) enabling them to be assembled together in a removable manner.