Bra with support portions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10368591-B2
Application number	US-201816141377-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2018
Priority date	Feb 6, 2015
Publication date	Aug 6, 2019
Grant date	Aug 6, 2019

Abstract

A bra having one or more flexible elastomeric support strips is provided herein. The support strips are affixed to an outer-facing surface of the bra or breast cups such that they provide support to at least the under portions of a wearer's breasts.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bra comprising:
a front region comprising a first side and a second side, a first breast cup proximal to the first side and a second breast cup proximal to the second side, wherein the front region further comprises an outer-facing surface and an opposite inner-facing surface, wherein the inner-facing surface of the front region is configured to face a wearer when the bra is in an as-worn configuration;
a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap, wherein each of the first shoulder strap and the second shoulder strap comprise a medial edge and a lateral edge;
a first set of one or more support strips affixed to the outer-facing surface of the front region, wherein the first set of one or more support strips extend from the medial edge of the first shoulder strap to the first side of the front region;
a second set of one or more support strips affixed to the outer-facing surface of the front region, wherein the second set of one or more support strips extend from the medial edge of the second shoulder strap to the second side of the front region;
a third set of one or more support strips extending from the first side to the second side of the front region, wherein the third set of one or more support strips are configured to curve under a wearer's breast when the bra is in the as-worn configuration; and
a back region attached to the front region of the bra.

2. The bra of claim 1 , wherein the first set of one or more support strips and the second set of one or more support strips comprise flocking applied thereto.

3. The bra of claim 1 , wherein the first set of one or more support strips, the second set of one or more support strips, and the third set of one or more support strips comprise one or more of a thermoplastic polyurethane material, a silicone material, and a foam material.

4. The bra of claim 1 , wherein each support strip in the first set of one or more support strips, the second set of one or more support strips, and the third set of one or more support strips comprise a uniform hardness.

5. The bra of claim 1 , wherein at least one support strip of the first set of one or more support strips and at least one support strip of the second set of one or more support strips comprises at least a first portion having a first hardness and a second portion having a second hardness greater than the first hardness.

6. The bra of claim 1 , wherein at least one support strip of the first set of one or more support strips and at least one support strip of the second set of one or more support strips comprises at least a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness greater than the first thickness.

7. The bra of claim 1 , wherein at least one support strip of the third set of one or more support strips comprises at least a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width greater than the first width.

8. The bra of claim 1 , wherein the first set of one or more support strips and the third set of one or more support strips intersect at a first intersection area, and wherein the second set of one or more support strips and the third set of one or more support strips intersect at a second intersection area that is at a different location from the first intersection area.

9. An article of apparel comprising:
a front region comprising at least a pair of breast cups, wherein the front region comprises an outer-facing surface and an opposite inner-facing surface, wherein the inner-facing surface is configured to face a wearer when the article of apparel is in an as-worn configuration, and wherein each breast cup in the pair of breast cups comprises one or more discrete curved support strips affixed to a bottom margin of the each breast cup in the pair of breast cups on the outer-facing surface of the front region; and
a back region connected, in part, to the front region by at least a pair of shoulder straps.

10. The article of apparel of claim 9 , wherein the one or more discrete curved support strips comprise a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness, wherein the second thickness is greater than the first thickness.

11. The article of apparel of claim 9 , wherein the one or more discrete curved support strips comprise a first portion having a first hardness and a second portion having a second hardness, wherein the second hardness is greater than the second hardness.

12. The article of apparel of claim 9 , wherein the one or more discrete curved support strips comprise a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width, wherein the second width is greater than the first width.

13. The article of apparel of claim 9 , wherein the one or more discrete curved support strips comprise a surface treatment.

14. The article of apparel of claim 13 , wherein the surface treatment comprises flocking applied thereto.

15. The article of apparel of claim 9 , wherein the one or more discrete curved support strips comprise one or more of a thermoplastic polyurethane material, a silicone material, or a foam material.

16. The article of apparel of claim 9 , wherein the one or more discrete curved support strips are one or more of thermally bonded or bonded using an adhesive to the outer-facing surface of the front region.

17. The article of apparel of claim 9 , wherein the one or more discrete curved support strips affixed to the bottom margin of the each breast cup further extend across a front midline of the front region.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Funk-Danielson Brenda K
• Nordstrom Matthew D
• Tempesta Laura

Classifications

• A41C3/0057

  for sport activities · CPC title

• A41C3/128 Primary

  using specific materials · CPC title

• A41C3/0007 Primary

  with stay means (A41C3/06 takes precedence; stay means per se A41C3/122) · CPC title