IP Library Granted Patent US 12667141
Granted Patent B2
US 12667141 · App. 18/642,461 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Support garment

Inventor: Tara L. Pennington (Portland, OR)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
A41C3/0014A41C3/0057A41C3/128
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12667141
App. No.
18/642,461
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects herein are directed to a support garment that includes a number of features configured to provide a high level of support to a wearer's breasts while being comfortable to wear. The support garment includes a Y-shaped layer affixed to an inner surface of a front portion of the support garment that helps to limit upward movement of a wearer's breasts. The support garment also includes foam pads having a uniform thickness and a plurality of apertures located at side portions of the support garment and configured to limit lateral movement of the wearer's breasts. The support garment also includes an underband that is zoned to be breathable and permeable at a front center of the underband while still providing support to an under portion of the wearer's breasts.

Claims (34)

1 . A support garment comprising:

a front portion comprising:

a first layer continuously extending from a first armhole edge of the front portion to a second armhole edge of the front portion; and

a Y-shaped layer positioned interior to the first layer and affixed to the first layer, the Y-shaped layer comprising an innermost layer of the support garment, the Y-shaped layer having an outer surface that abuts the first layer, wherein an entirety of the outer surface of the Y-shaped layer is affixed directly to the first layer, wherein the Y-shaped layer includes an upper right edge that is positioned at the first armhole edge, an upper left edge that is positioned at the second armhole edge, and a lower central region where the Y-shaped layer converges from the upper right edge and the upper left edge.

2 . The support garment of claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises a double-knit material.

3 . The support garment of claim 1 , wherein the first layer is formed from nylon yarns and elastic yarns.

4 . The support garment of claim 1 , wherein an entirety of the Y-shaped layer is affixed to the first layer by one or more of a bonding, lamination, or adhesive process.

5 . The support garment of claim 1 , wherein a face of the first layer is oriented towards a second layer, and is detached from the second layer, such that the face is freely moveable relative to the second layer.

6 . The support garment of claim 5 , wherein the second layer comprises a single-knit jersey material.

7 . The support garment of claim 5 , wherein the second layer is formed from polyester yarns and elastic yarns.

8 . The support garment of claim 5 , wherein a stretch resistance of the Y-shaped layer is greater than a stretch resistance of one or more of the first layer and the second layer.

9 . The support garment of claim 1 , wherein:

the Y-shaped layer has a right edge extending between the upper right portion and the lower central portion of the Y-shaped layer, and a left edge extending between the upper left portion and the lower central portion of the Y-shaped layer,

wherein the right edge and the left edge converge as they extend toward the lower central portion.

10 . The support garment of claim 9 , wherein the lower central portion of the Y-shaped layer is located between breast covering areas of the front portion.

11 . A support garment comprising:

a front portion comprising:

a first layer; and

a Y-shaped layer positioned interior to the first layer, the Y-shaped layer comprising an innermost layer of the support garment and comprising an outer surface that abuts the first layer, wherein the Y-shaped layer includes an upper right edge that is positioned at a first armhole edge, an upper left edge that is positioned at a second armhole edge, and a lower central region where the Y-shaped layer converges from the upper right edge and the upper left edge, and wherein an entirety of the outer surface of the Y-shaped layer is affixed directly to the first layer.

12 . The support garment of claim 11 , further comprising:

a second layer continuously extending from a first armhole edge of the front portion to a second armhole edge of the front portion; and

wherein the first layer is positioned interior to the second layer, the first layer continuously extending from the first armhole edge of the front portion to the second armhole edge of the front portion, the first layer being unaffixed from the second layer.

13 . The support garment of claim 12 , wherein the second layer continuously extends from a neckline edge to a lower edge of the front portion, and wherein the first layer continuously extends from the neckline edge to the lower edge of the front portion.

14 . The support garment of claim 12 , wherein the second layer comprises a single-knit jersey material.

15 . The support garment of claim 11 , wherein the first layer comprises a double-knit material.

16 . The support garment of claim 11 , wherein each of the second layer and the first layer include elastic yarns.

17 . The support garment of claim 11 , wherein the Y-shaped layer has a right edge extending between an upper right portion and a lower central portion of the Y-shaped layer, and a left edge extending between an upper left portion and the lower central portion of the Y-shaped layer, wherein the right edge and the left edge converge as they extend toward the lower central portion.

18 . The support garment of claim 11 , wherein a stretch resistance of the Y-shaped layer is greater than a stretch resistance of one or more of the first layer and the second layer.

19 . A support garment comprising:

a front portion comprising:

a second layer continuously extending from a second armhole edge of the front portion to a first armhole edge of the front portion;

a first layer positioned interior to the second layer, the first layer continuously extending from the first armhole edge of the front portion to the second armhole edge of the front portion; and

a Y-shaped layer positioned interior to the first layer and affixed to the first layer, the Y-shaped layer comprising an innermost layer of the support garment and having an outer surface that abuts the first layer, wherein an entirety of the outer surface of the Y-shaped layer is affixed directly to the first layer, wherein the Y-shaped layer includes an upper right edge that is positioned at the first armhole edge, an upper left edge that is positioned at the second armhole edge, and a lower central region where the Y-shaped layer converges from the upper right edge and the upper left edge.

20 . The support garment of claim 19 , wherein the Y-shaped layer comprises a power mesh textile and defines an innermost surface of the support garment, wherein the Y-shaped layer comprises an outer surface that abuts the first layer, and wherein an entirety of the outer surface of the Y-shaped layer is affixed to the first layer.