IP Library Granted Patent US 7,163,432
Granted Patent B2
US 7,163,432 · App. 10/704,067 · Granted Jan 16, 2007

Adjustable circular knit bra with stabilizing areas and method of making the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,163,432
App. No.
10/704,067
Granted
Jan 16, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

An adjustable circular knit bra is provided. The bra has a pair of breast cups, a central gore disposed between the breast cups, and a pair of side panels. Each side panel is adjacent to a different one of the pair of breast cups. The central gore also has a stabilizing area knitted therein. The breast cups also have a stabilizing area knitted into the bottom edge of each breast cup. The bra preferably also has a pair of adjustable shoulder straps. The bra preferably also has adjustable fasteners at the bra back.

Claims (19)

1. A circular knit bra comprising:

a pair of breast cups, each of said pair of breast cups having a bottom edge and a knitted stabilizing area adjacent to each said bottom edge;

a central gore being disposed between said pair of breast cups, wherein said central gore has a stabilizing area therein, said central gore being circularly knit;

an anchoring chest band; and

a pair of side panels, each of said pair of side panels being adjacent to a different one of said pair of breast cups, each of said pair of side panels being circularly knit,

wherein each of said pair of breast cups is circularly knit and has a bottom edge and a stabilizing area adjacent each of said bottom edges being circularly knit.

2. The bra of claim 1 , wherein said stabilizing area of each of said pair of breast cups is formed using positive float stitches.

3. The bra of claim 1 , wherein said stabilizing area of each of said pair of breast cups is formed using a 3×1 alternating positive float stitch on every course.

4. The bra of claim 1 , wherein said stabilizing area of said central gore is formed using positive float stitches.

5. The bra of claim 1 , wherein said stabilizing area of said central gore is formed using a 1×2 positive float stitch on every other course.

6. The bra of claim 1 , wherein said central gore has a maximum walewise stretch of 125% of an initial unstretched position.

7. The bra of claim 1 , wherein said stabilizing area of each of said pair of breast cups has a maximum walewise and coursewise stretch of 150% of an initial unstretched position.

8. A two-layer circular knit bra comprising:

a pair of breast cups, each of said pair of breast cups having a bottom edge, each of said pair of breast cups having a crescent-shaped stabilizing area on said bottom edge;

a central gore being disposed between said pair of breast cups, wherein said central gore has a stabilizing area therein; and

a pair of side panels, each of said pair of side panels being adjacent to a different one of said pair of breast cups,

wherein said stabilizing area of said central gore and said stabilizing area of each of said pair of breast cups are circularly knitted using positive float stitches.

9. The bra of claim 8 , wherein said stabilizing area of said central gore is formed using a 1×2 positive float stitch on every other course.

10. The bra of claim 8 , wherein said stabilizing area of each of said pair of breast cups is formed using a 3×1 alternating positive float stitch on every course.

Assignments (11)
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2017
From: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
To: HANESBRANDS INC.
Reel/Frame 043336/0343 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 8, 2010
From: MITCHELL, JOHN; WAITZ, SANDRA ANN
To: SARA LEE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024035/0779 →
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 →
RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAMES 018367/0353, 018367/0312, AND 018545/0521 Recorded Dec 10, 2009
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
Reel/Frame 023627/0842 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Oct 10, 2006
From: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 018367/0333 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Oct 10, 2006
From: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 018367/0353 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2006
From: SARA LEE CORPORATION
To: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
Reel/Frame 018279/0527 →