Quick-drying lightweight bra

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12382999-B2
Application number	US-202318373725-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2023
Priority date	Jan 21, 2020
Publication date	Aug 12, 2025
Grant date	Aug 12, 2025

Abstract

Aspects herein are directed to a bra having a front portion formed with multiple layers of mesh to provide a supportive, modest bra that is breathable, lightweight, and quick drying. The front portion includes an interior support panel assembly having a first panel made of a mesh material and a second panel made of a spacer mesh material that is adjacent and external to the first panel. The front portion also includes an upper support panel made of a spacer mesh material and a lower support panel made of a mesh material that each are positioned adjacent and external to the interior support panel assembly. The upper support panel and the lower support panel are each defined by a top edge and a bottom edge, and at least a portion of the upper support panel bottom edge may be positioned superior to the lower support panel bottom edge.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An upper-body support garment comprising:
a front portion that includes a lower support panel and an upper support panel;
the lower support panel comprising:
a first left side edge and a first right side edge;
a first breast covering portion and a second breast covering portion, each positioned between the first left side edge and the first right side edge;
a lower middle portion positioned between the first breast covering portion and the second breast covering portion; and
a top edge of the lower middle portion that comprises a first concave contour;

the upper support panel comprising:
a second left side edge and a second right side edge;
an upper middle portion positioned between the second left side edge and the second right side edge; and
a bottom edge of the upper middle portion that comprises a second concave contour, wherein the bottom edge is positioned superior to the lower support panel,

wherein the top edge and the bottom edge overlap to form a central opening defined by the first concave contour and the second concave contour.

2. The upper-body support garment of claim 1 , wherein the lower support panel extends seamlessly between a right side and a left side of the front portion.

3. The upper-body support garment of claim 1 , wherein the lower support panel is affixed to a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap.

4. The upper-body support garment of claim 1 , wherein the front portion further comprises an interior support assembly comprising a third panel affixed to a right side of the lower support panel and configured to at least partially cover a right breast of a wearer, and a fourth panel affixed to a left side of the lower support panel and configured to at least partially cover a left breast of the wearer.

5. The upper-body support garment of claim 1 , further comprising a back portion extending from the front portion, the back portion formed from a mesh material.

6. The upper-body support garment of claim 5 , further comprising a pair of shoulder straps extending between the front portion and the back portion, the pair of shoulder straps comprising the mesh material.

7. The upper-body support garment of claim 1 , wherein the upper support panel extends from a right side to a left side of the front portion and forms an upper margin of the front portion.

8. The upper-body support garment of claim 7 , wherein the upper support panel is formed from a spacer mesh material, the spacer mesh material having anisotropic stretch properties.

9. The upper-body support garment of claim 8 , wherein the spacer mesh material of the upper support panel has a first modulus of elasticity in a widthwise direction, and a second modulus of elasticity in a lengthwise direction, wherein the first modulus of elasticity is greater than the second modulus of elasticity.

10. The upper-body support garment of claim 1 , wherein the lower support panel extends from a right side to a left side of the front portion and forms a lower margin of the front portion.

11. The upper-body support garment of claim 1 , wherein the lower support panel comprises a non-spacer mesh material, the non-spacer mesh material comprising a modulus of elasticity greater than that of the upper support panel.

12. The upper-body support garment of claim 11 , wherein the non-spacer mesh material of the lower support panel has a third modulus of elasticity in a widthwise direction and a fourth modulus of elasticity in a lengthwise direction, wherein the third modulus of elasticity is greater than the fourth modulus of elasticity.

13. The upper-body support garment of claim 1 , wherein the lower support panel overlaps with the upper support panel, with at least about 50% of the lower support panel positioned superior to the upper support panel.

14. An upper-body support garment comprising:
a front portion that includes a lower support panel and an upper support panel, wherein the lower support panel comprises a mesh material and the upper support panel comprises a spacer mesh material;
the lower support panel comprising:
a first left side edge and a first right side edge;
a first breast covering portion and a second breast covering portion, each positioned between the first left side edge and the first right side edge;
a lower middle portion positioned between the first breast covering portion and the second breast covering portion; and
a top edge of the lower middle portion that comprises a first concave contour;

the upper support panel comprising:
a second left side edge and a second right side edge;
an upper middle portion positioned between the second left side edge and the second right side edge; and
a bottom edge that comprises a second concave contour, wherein the bottom edge is positioned superior to the lower support panel,

wherein the top edge and the bottom edge overlap to form a central opening defined by the first concave contour and the second concave contour.

15. The upper-body support garment of claim 14 , wherein the lower support panel extends seamlessly between a right side and a left side of the front portion.

16. The upper-body support garment of claim 14 , wherein the lower support panel is affixed to a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap.

17. The upper-body support garment of claim 14 , wherein the front portion further comprises an interior support assembly comprising a third panel affixed to a right side of the lower support panel and configured to at least partially cover a right breast of a wearer, and a fourth panel affixed to a left side of the lower support panel and configured to at least partially cover a left breast of the wearer.

18. The upper-body support garment of claim 14 , further comprising a back portion extending from the front portion, the back portion formed from the mesh material.

19. The upper-body support garment of claim 18 , further comprising a pair of shoulder straps extending between the front portion and the back portion, the pair of shoulder straps comprising the mesh material.

20. An upper-body support garment comprising:
a front portion that includes a lower support panel and an upper support panel, wherein the lower support panel and the upper support panel define a central opening;
wherein the lower support panel comprises:
a first left side edge and a first right side edge;
a first breast covering portion and a second breast covering portion, each positioned between the first left side edge and the first right side edge;
a lower middle portion positioned between the first breast covering portion and the second breast covering portion; and
a top edge;

wherein the upper support panel comprises:
a second left side edge and a second right side edge;
an upper middle portion positioned between the second left side edge and the second right side edge; and
a bottom edge;

wherein the central opening is defined by:
the top edge of the lower support panel comprising a first concave contour; and
the bottom edge of the upper support panel comprising a second concave contour;
wherein the bottom edge of the upper support panel is positioned superior to the top edge of the lower support panel, and the first concave contour and the second concave contour are shaped to define a perimeter of the central opening.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Rendone Nicole

Classifications

• A41F15/00

  Shoulder or like straps · CPC title

• A41C3/0035

  with pockets · CPC title

• A41C3/0014

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

• A41B2400/62

  through several layers · CPC title

• A41B2400/20

  Air permeability; Ventilation · CPC title