Bra cup with modesty panel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9456638-B2
Application number	US-201313943501-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 16, 2013
Priority date	Jul 16, 2013
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

A breast cup for a brassiere, a brassiere, and a method of making the breast cup. The breast cup includes a molded body having an inner surface, an outer surface and an apex. A layer of flock is adhered to the molded body at a location corresponding with the apex in order to provide increased modesty for the breast cup.

First claim

We claim:

1. A brassiere comprising:
a pair of breast cups; and
at least one torso strap attached to the breast cups;
wherein each breast cup comprises:
a first ply comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, and an apex, and
a modesty panel, comprising a layer of flock, adhered to the inner surface of the first ply, wherein the modesty panel is positioned to be aligned with the apex of the first ply, and wherein the modesty panel is provided in a shape comprising a circle with a periphery and a circumference, and a plurality of projections extending outwardly from the periphery around the circumference of the circle.

2. The brassiere according to claim 1 , wherein the flock comprises at least one of rayon, nylon, or polypropylene.

3. The brassiere according to claim 1 , wherein the flock comprises fibers having a length of from about 0.5 to about 1.0 mm.

4. The brassiere according to claim 1 , wherein the flock is adhered to the inner surface of the first ply using an adhesive material, wherein the adhesive material comprises a liquid silicone rubber.

5. The brassiere according to claim 4 , wherein the liquid silicone rubber is heat curable.

6. The brassiere according to claim 1 , wherein the first ply comprises a spacer fabric.

7. The brassiere according to claim 6 , wherein the spacer fabric comprises at least one of polyester, nylon, rayon, polypropylene, or cotton.

8. The brassiere according to claim 1 , wherein each breast cup further comprises a second ply, the second ply comprising a liner fabric having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the second ply is in contact with the outer surface of the first ply.

9. The brassiere according to claim 8 , wherein the flock is adhered to the outer surface of the second ply.

10. The brassiere according to claim 8 , wherein the flock is adhered to the inner surface of the second ply.

11. A breast cup for a brassiere, the breast cup comprising:
a molded breast cup body comprising a spacer fabric and having an inner surface, an outer surface, and an apex; and
a modesty panel, comprising a layer of flock, adhered to the inner surface of the molded breast cup body, wherein the modesty panel is positioned along the apex of the molded breast cup body.

12. The breast cup according to claim 11 , wherein the flock comprises at least one of rayon, nylon, or polypropylene.

13. The breast cup according to claim 11 , wherein the flock comprises fibers having a length of from about 0.5 mm to about 1.0 mm.

14. The breast cup according to claim 11 , wherein the flock is adhered to the inner surface of the molded breast cup body using an adhesive material, wherein the adhesive material comprises a liquid silicone rubber.

15. The breast cup according to claim 14 , wherein the liquid silicone rubber is heat curable.

16. The breast cup according to claim 11 , wherein the spacer fabric comprises at least one of polyester, nylon, rayon, polypropylene, or cotton.

17. The breast cup according to claim 11 , further comprising a second ply, the second ply comprising a liner fabric having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the second ply is in a contacting relationship with the outer surface of the molded breast cup body.

18. The breast cup according to claim 17 , wherein the flock is adhered to the outer surface of the second ply.

19. The breast cup according to claim 17 , wherein the flock is adhered to the inner surface of the second ply.

20. The breast cup according to claim 11 , wherein the modesty panel is provided in a shape comprising:
a circle with a periphery and a circumference, and
alternating long and short projections extending outwardly from the periphery and around the circumference of the circle.

21. A method of forming a breast cup for a brassiere, the method comprising:
molding a base fabric into a breast cup shape having an apex, the base fabric including an inner surface and an outer surface;
applying an adhesive to the inner surface of the base fabric along the apex and in a shape comprising a circle and a plurality of projections extending outwardly from circle; and
applying flock to the adhesive applied to the inner surface of the base fabric along the apex and in the shape comprising the circle and the plurality of projections extending outwardly from the circle.

22. The method according to claim 21 , wherein applying the flock comprises applying fibers comprising at least one of rayon, nylon, or polypropylene.

23. The method according to claim 21 , wherein applying the flock comprises applying fibers having a length of from about 0.5 mm to about 1.0 mm.

24. The method according to claim 21 , wherein applying the adhesive to the inner surface of the base fabric comprises applying a liquid silicone rubber adhesive to the inner surface of the base fabric.

25. The method according to claim 24 , wherein
the liquid silicone rubber adhesive is heat curable, and
the method further comprises heating the liquid silicone rubber adhesive.

26. The method according to claim 21 , wherein applying the adhesive to the inner surface of the base fabric comprises at least one of screen printing, extruding, or stamping the adhesive onto the inner surface of the base fabric.

27. The method according to claim 21 , wherein the base fabric comprises a spacer fabric.

28. The method according to claim 27 , wherein the spacer fabric comprises at least one of polyester, nylon, rayon, polypropylene, or cotton.

29. The method according to claim 21 , wherein molding the base fabric comprises at least one of perimeter molding and bullet molding.

30. The method according to claim 21 , further comprising
providing a liner fabric having an inner surface and an outer surface, and
molding the liner fabric with the base fabric, so that the inner surface of the liner fabric is in contact with the outer surface of the base fabric.

31. The method according to claim 30 , further comprising applying an adhesive to the outer surface of the liner fabric.

32. The method according to claim 30 , further comprising applying an adhesive to the inner surface of the liner fabric.

33. A breast cup for a brassiere, the breast cup comprising:
a molded breast cup body having an inner surface, an outer surface, and an apex;
a liner fabric having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the liner fabric is in contact with the outer surface of the molded breast cup body; and
a modesty panel, comprising a layer of flock, adhered to the inner surface of the molded breast cup body, wherein the modesty panel is positioned along the apex of the molded breast cup body.

Assignees

• Hbi Branded Apparel Entpr Llc

Inventors

• Abbott Michael D
• Warren Roger D
• Kelley Richard W
• Lackey David

Classifications

• A41C3/10

  with stiffening or bust-forming inserts · CPC title

• A41C3/005

  specially adapted for specific purposes (prosthetic brassieres A41C3/148) · CPC title

• A41C3/14 Primary

  Stiffening or bust-forming inserts · CPC title

• A61J13/00

  Breast-nipple shields (breast-pumps A61M1/06) · CPC title