Single-piece pad insert for bras

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11406141-B2
Application number	US-201916554791-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 29, 2019
Priority date	Sep 14, 2018
Publication date	Aug 9, 2022
Grant date	Aug 9, 2022

Abstract

Aspects herein are directed to a bra system comprising a single-piece pad insert and a bra having a front portion with a pocket in communication with a pocket space formed between two textile layers used to form the front portion of the bra. The single-piece pad insert is used to provide shaping, modesty and support. When desired, a wearer can insert the pad insert into the bra by way of the pocket opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bra system comprising:
a bra having a front portion comprising:
a first textile layer,
a second textile layer positioned adjacent to the first textile layer to define a pocket space between the first textile layer and the second textile layer, and
a pocket opening in communication with the pocket space, the pocket opening positioned at an upper margin of the front portion; and

a single-piece pad insert configured to be positioned in the pocket space of the front portion of the bra by insertion through the pocket opening, the single-piece pad insert comprising:
a first layer of material,
a second layer of material,
a first elastically deformable pad portion positioned between the first and second layers of material, and
a separate second elastically deformable pad portion positioned between the first and second layers of material,
wherein the single-piece pad insert includes a first breast-covering portion, a second breast-covering portion, and a central portion extending between and separating the first and second breast-covering portions;
the single-piece pad insert having a first material extension extending from the first breast-covering portion and terminating in a linear right side margin, and a second material extension extending from the second breast-covering portion and terminating in a linear left side margin, each of the first material extension and the second material extension configured to partially curve around sides of a wearer when the bra is in an as-worn configuration,

wherein:
the first breast-covering portion includes the first elastically deformable pad portion and respective portions of the first and second layers of material;
the second breast-covering portion includes the second elastically deformable pad portion and respective portions of the first and second layers of material; and
the central portion, the first material extension portion, and the second material extension portion each include only respective portions of the first and second layers of material.

2. The bra system of claim 1 , the bra further comprising:
a back portion; and
a pair of side portions connecting the front portion and the back portion of the bra.

3. The bra system of claim 1 , wherein an upper edge of the first textile layer of the bra is affixed to an upper edge of the second textile layer of the bra on both a first side and a second side of an unaffixed portion of the upper edge of the second textile layer of the bra to form the pocket opening to the pocket space.

4. The bra system of claim 1 , wherein the first layer of material of the single-piece pad insert comprises a mesh material.

5. The bra system of claim 4 , wherein the second layer of material of the single-piece pad insert comprises a mesh material.

6. The bra system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second elastically deformable pad portions comprise an open cell foam.

7. The bra system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second elastically deformable pad portions each comprises a greater thickness at the apex portion of the respective first breast-covering portion and the second breast-covering portion as compared to a peripheral portion of the respective first breast-covering portion and the second breast-covering portion.

8. A method of using a bra having a single-piece pad insert, the method comprising:
providing a bra having a front portion comprising:
a first textile layer,
a second textile layer positioned adjacent to the first textile layer to define a pocket space between the first textile layer and the second textile layer, and
at least one pocket opening in communication with the pocket space;

providing a single-piece pad insert comprising:
a first layer of material,
a second layer of material,
a first elastically deformable pad portion, and
a separate second elastically deformable pad portion,

wherein the single-piece pad insert includes a first breast-covering portion, a second breast-covering portion, and a central portion extending between and separating the first and second breast-covering portions;
the single-piece pad insert having a first material extension extending from the first breast-covering portion and terminating in a linear right side margin, and a second material extension extending from the second breast-covering portion and terminating in a linear left side margin, each of the first material extension and the second material extension configured to partially curve around sides of a wearer when the bra is in an as-worn configuration,
wherein:
the first breast-covering portion includes the first elastically deformable pad portion and respective portions of the first and second layers of material;
the second breast-covering portion includes the second elastically deformable pad portion and respective portions of the first and second layers of material; and
the central portion, the first material extension portion, and the second material extension portion each include only respective portions of the first and second layers of material; and

inserting the single-piece pad insert into the pocket space by way of the at least one pocket opening so that the single-piece pad insert is positioned between the first textile layer and the second textile layer of the bra.

9. The method of using the bra having the single-piece pad insert of claim 8 , wherein the at least one pocket opening is located at an upper margin of the front portion of the bra.

10. The method of using the bra having the single-piece pad insert of claim 8 , wherein the at least one pocket opening is located at one or more of a right side margin and a left side margin of the front portion.

11. The method of using the bra having the single-piece pad insert of claim 8 , further comprising removing the single-piece pad insert from the pocket space by way of the at least one pocket opening.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Lucas Gaus Vanessa L
• Rendone Nicole

Classifications

• A41C3/144 Primary

  Pads · CPC title

• A41C3/0035

  with pockets · CPC title

• A41C3/10 Primary

  with stiffening or bust-forming inserts · CPC title