IP Library Granted Patent US 7,862,401
Granted Patent B2
US 7,862,401 · App. 10/543,909 · Granted Jan 4, 2011

Moulded textile lingerie item, particularly a bra with support region made from silicone

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,862,401
App. No.
10/543,909
Granted
Jan 4, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

An article made of elastic textile material comprising at least one zone intended to be shaped by thermal molding is provided. The at least one zone has at least over one part a support region in which the textile material is coated, prior to thermal molding, with a non-moldable material with shape-memory. The article is, in particular, a brassiere coated with silicone in the zone of the cups of the brassiere.

Claims (32)

1. A brassiere formed from an elastic material comprising:

a pair of molded breast cups;

a panel connected to each of said pair of molded breast cups;

a support region extending over a lower part of each of said pair of molded breast cups;

a skirt portion disposed beneath said pair of molded breast cups; and

a shape-memory elastomer material that forms a solid covering of said support region; wherein the support region that is covered with the shape memory elastomer does not retain the molded shape and returns to its original elastic shape to support the lower part of the breasts of the wearer.

2. The brassiere according to claim 1 , wherein said shape memory elastomer material is a silicone rubber.

3. The brassiere according to claim 2 , wherein said silicone rubber is a thermally vulcanizable elastomer.

4. The brassiere according to claim 1 , wherein said shape memory elastomer material is deposited by coating or impression onto said support region.

5. The brassiere according to claim 1 , wherein the shape memory elastomer material has a thickness of between 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm.

6. The brassiere according to claim 1 , wherein said support region forms a surface representing at least half of said lower part of said pair of molded breast cups.

7. The brassiere according to claim 6 , wherein said support region forms an angular section of said pair of molded breast cups.

8. The brassiere according to claim 1 , wherein said support region extends to a skirt portion under said pair of molded breast cups.

9. The brassiere according to claim 8 , wherein said support region comprises a continuous lateral vertical part exterior to said pair of molded breast cups.

10. The brassiere of claim 1 wherein said shape memory elastomer material is disposed in two regions of said brassiere.

11. A textile article formed from an elastic textile material comprising:

a pair of molded breast cups;

a panel connected to each of said pair of molded breast cups;

a support region extending over a lower part of each of said pair of molded breast cups;

a skirt portion disposed beneath said pair of molded breast cups; wherein said pair of molded breast cups, said panel, said support region and said skirt comprise an elastic textile material and wherein said support region further comprises a silicone coating and another layer of the elastic textile material; wherein said silicone coating is a shape memory material that prevents the elastic textile material from being molded in a molding process so that elastic textile material in the support region remains elastic to thereby provide support to the breasts in the support region.

12. The textile article according to claim 11 , wherein said silicone coating is a shape memory coating comprising silicone rubber.

13. The textile article according to claim 12 , wherein said silicone rubber comprises a thermally vulcanizable elastomer.

14. The textile article according to claim 12 , wherein said silicone rubber comprises a bi-component thermally vulcanizable elastomer.

15. A textile article comprising:

a blank that is formed into a pair of molded breast cups; wherein said blank is formed of an elastic textile material;

a panel connected to each of said pair of molded breast cups;

a support region extending over a lower part of each of said pair of molded breast cups;

a skirt portion disposed beneath said pair of molded breast cups; and

a shape-memory elastomer material that forms a solid covering of said support region and a portion of said skirt portion

wherein said shape-memory elastomer material is deposited and polymerized on said support region and a portion of said skirt portion while said textile material is a blank; wherein said shape memory material allows the elastic material to retain its original shape and its elasticity in the support region to thereby support the breasts of the wearer in the pair of molded breast cups.

16. The textile article according to claim 15 , wherein said shape-memory elastomer material comprises silicone rubber.

17. The textile article according to claim 15 , wherein said blank comprises an elastic textile material.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT R/F 45029/0132 Recorded Dec 15, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: MAIDENFORM LLC; HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
Reel/Frame 074166/0114 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT R/F 59910/0685 Recorded Dec 15, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: MAIDENFORM LLC; HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
Reel/Frame 074165/0634 →
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 9, 2022
From: HANESBRANDS INC.; ALTERNATIVE APPAREL, INC.; BA INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; CC PRODUCTS LLC; CEIBENA DEL, INC.; EVENT 1 LLC; GEARCO LLC; GFSI HOLDINGS LLC; GFSI LLC; GTM RETAIL, INC.; HANES GLOBAL HOLDINGS U.S. INC.; HANES JIBOA HOLDINGS, LLC; HANES MENSWEAR, LLC; HANESBRANDS DIRECT, LLC; HANESBRANDS EXPORT CANADA LLC; HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES LLC; HBI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS U.S., INC.; HBI SOURCING, LLC; INNER SELF LLC; IT'S GREEK TO ME, INC.; KNIGHTS APPAREL, LLC; KNIGHTS HOLDCO, LLC; MAIDENFORM (BANGLADESH) LLC; MAIDENFORM (INDONESIA) LLC; MAIDENFORM BRANDS LLC; MAIDENFORM INTERNATIONAL LLC; MAIDENFORM LLC; MF RETAIL LLC; PLAYTEX DORADO, LLC; PLAYTEX INDUSTRIES, INC.; SEAMLESS TEXTILES LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059910/0685 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 13, 2018
From: SARA LEE CORPORATION
To: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
Reel/Frame 047489/0733 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 9, 2018
From: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC; IT'S GREEK TO ME, INC.; MAIDENFORM LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045029/0132 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 15, 2009
From: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 023649/0812 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2006
From: TURLAN, MANON; WATRIN, FRANCIS
To: SARA LEE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 017917/0033 →