Article of apparel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11484076-B2
Application number	US-201916659263-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 21, 2019
Priority date	Oct 21, 2019
Publication date	Nov 1, 2022
Grant date	Nov 1, 2022

Abstract

A bra including a closure system, the closure system including a first layered fabric body, a second layered fabric body, a loop assembly secured to the first layered fabric body, and a hook assembly secured to the second layered fabric body. The hook assembly is configured to interface with the loop assembly to secure the first layered fabric body to the second layered fabric body, and the first layered fabric body includes a flexible supporting layer, where the flexible supporting layer is configured to provide rigidity to the second layered fabric body such that the second layered fabric body maintains a flat configuration when it is secured to the first layered fabric body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bra, comprising:
a first panel and a second panel;
a closure system configured to join the first panel and the second panel, the closure system comprising:
a first layered fabric body;
a second layered fabric body comprising a flexible supporting layer;
a loop assembly secured to the first layered fabric body; and
a hook assembly secured to the second layered fabric body, the hook assembly comprising hooks fixedly coupled to the flexible supporting layer,
wherein the hook assembly is configured to interface with the loop assembly to secure the first layered fabric body to the second layered fabric body, and
wherein the flexible supporting layer is configured to provide rigidity to the second layered fabric body such that the second layered fabric body maintains a flat configuration when it is secured to the first layered fabric body.

2. The bra of claim 1 , wherein the loop assembly comprises a plurality of loops, wherein each of the loops comprises an aspect ratio of at least 2:1.

3. The bra of claim 1 , wherein the hook assembly comprises a plurality of hooks, wherein each of the hooks comprises an aspect ratio of at least 1:1.

4. The bra of claim 1 , wherein the second layered fabric body is configured to overlap the first layered fabric body when the hook assembly interfaces with the loop assembly.

5. The bra of claim 1 , wherein the loop assembly comprises a plurality of loops, wherein each of the loops extends perpendicularly outward from a top surface of the first layered fabric body.

6. A closure system for joining panels of a bra, comprising:
a loop assembly secured to a first layered fabric body, the first layered fabric body comprising:
a top fabric layer;
a top adhesive layer disposed on a bottom face of the top fabric layer;
a bottom fabric layer;
a bottom adhesive layer disposed on a top face of the bottom fabric layer; and
a cushioning layer disposed between the top adhesive layer and the bottom adhesive layer,

a hook assembly secured to a second layered fabric body, the second layered body comprising:
a top fabric layer;
a top adhesive layer disposed on a bottom face of the top fabric layer;
a bottom fabric layer;
a bottom adhesive layer disposed on a top face of the bottom fabric layer;
a flexible supporting layer disposed between the top adhesive layer and the bottom adhesive layer; and
hooks fixedly coupled to the flexible supporting layer,
wherein the top adhesive layer and the bottom adhesive layer are configured to secure the flexible supporting layer between the top fabric layer and the bottom fabric layer, and
wherein the hook assembly is configured to interface with the loop assembly to secure the first layered fabric body to the second layered fabric body.

7. The closure system of claim 6 , wherein the flexible supporting layer comprises a length in a range of 5 cm to 20 cm.

8. The closure system of claim 6 , wherein the flexible supporting layer comprises a width in a range of 1 cm to 20 cm.

9. The closure system of claim 6 , wherein the loop assembly comprises a plurality of loops assembled in rows evenly spaced apart along a length of the first layered fabric body.

10. The closure system of claim 6 , wherein the top fabric layer of the first layered fabric body and the bottom fabric layer of the first layered fabric body are sewn together, bonded together, laminated together, or ultrasonically attached to each other.

11. The closure system of claim 6 , wherein the top fabric layer of the second layered fabric body and the bottom fabric layer of the second layered fabric body are sewn together, bonded together, laminated together, or ultrasonically attached to each other.

12. The closure system of claim 6 , wherein the hook assembly comprises a plurality of hooks extending through slits in the top fabric layer of the second layered fabric body.

13. The closure system of claim 6 , wherein each of the top fabric layer of the first layered fabric body, the bottom fabric layer of the first layered fabric body, the top fabric layer of the second layered fabric body, and the bottom fabric layer of the second layered fabric body are configured to stretch in at least two directions.

14. The closure system of claim 6 , wherein the flexible supporting layer is perforated.

15. The closure system of claim 6 , wherein the flexible supporting layer comprises TPU.

16. A bra, comprising:
a first panel and a second panel;
a closure system configured to join the first panel and the second panel, the closure system comprising:
a first layered fabric body;
a second layered fabric body comprising a flexible supporting layer;
a loop assembly secured to the first layered fabric body, the loop assembly comprising a plurality of loops, wherein each of the loops comprises an aspect ratio of at least 2:1,
a hook assembly secured to the second layered fabric body, the hook assembly comprising a plurality of hooks, wherein each of the hooks comprises an aspect ratio of at least 1:1,
wherein the hook assembly is configured to interface with the loop assembly to secure the first layered fabric body to the second layered fabric body,
wherein the plurality of hooks are fixedly coupled to the flexible supporting layer, and
wherein each of the loops extends perpendicularly outward from a top surface of the first layered fabric body.

17. The closure system of claim 16 , wherein each of the hooks comprises a width within a range of 25% to 30% of a width of the first layered fabric body.

18. The closure system of claim 16 , wherein each of the hooks comprises a flat portion and a curved portion, and wherein each of the flat portions comprises a length greater than a length of each of the curved portions.

19. The closure system of claim 16 , wherein the loop assembly and the hook assembly each comprise a metal alloy.

20. The closure system of claim 1 , wherein the hook assembly is fixed into the flexible supporting layer.

Assignees

• Adidas Ag

Inventors

• Muhlenfeld Stephanie K
• Mitchell Kozet

Classifications

• A41C3/0014

  made from one piece with one or several layers · CPC title

• A41C3/00 Primary

  Brassieres · CPC title

• A41B2400/80

  Friction or grip reinforcement · CPC title

• A41F1/006 Primary

  Brassiére fasteners · CPC title

• A41B2400/44

  Donning facilities · CPC title