IP Library Granted Patent US 8,277,276
Granted Patent B2
US 8,277,276 · App. 12/173,657 · Granted Oct 2, 2012

Brassiere cup with a breast enhancement insert and brassiere formed therewith

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,277,276
App. No.
12/173,657
Granted
Oct 2, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A brassiere cup, and brassiere formed therewith, is provided for enhancing the shape of a wearer's breast. The brassiere cup comprises an outer fabric layer having a lower peripheral portion, and an inner liner fabric layer having a lower peripheral portion. A breast enhancement insert having upper and lower peripheral portions and inner and outer surfaces is attached along the lower peripheral portions of the outer fabric layer and the inner liner layer, the upper peripheral portion and the inner and outer surfaces of the insert being substantially unattached. The breast enhancement insert comprises a padding material encapsulated within a fabric cover.

Claims (49)

1. A brassiere cup for enhancing the shape of a breast, comprising:

(a) an outer fabric layer having a lower peripheral portion;

(b) an inner liner fabric layer having a lower peripheral portion;

(c) a breast enhancement insert comprising:

(i) a padding material having inner and outer surfaces, the inner and outer surfaces encapsulated within a fabric cover;

(ii) upper and lower peripheral portions;

(iii) inner and outer surfaces; and

the lower peripheral portion of the breast enhancement insert attached along the lower peripheral portions of the outer fabric layer and the inner liner fabric layer, the upper peripheral portion and the inner and outer surfaces of the insert substantially unattached so that the insert is moveable and above the lower peripheral portion.

2. The brassiere cup of claim 1 wherein the outer fabric layer and the inner liner layer each comprise a knitted blend of nylon and elastomeric yarns.

3. The brassiere cup of claim 1 wherein the outer fabric layer and the inner liner layer are molded to form a cup shape.

4. The brassiere cup of claim 1 wherein the outer fabric layer and the inner liner layer each have a weight of less than about 9.5 ounces per square yard.

5. The brassiere cup of claim 1 wherein the breast enhancement insert has a curvilinear shaped lower peripheral portion.

6. The brassiere cup of claim 1 wherein the padding material is a shaped foam.

7. The brassiere cup of claim 6 wherein the shaped foam is polyurethane.

8. The brassiere cup of claim 7 wherein the fabric cover encapsulating the polyurethane comprises a first fabric layer laminated to each of the inner and outer surfaces of the polyurethane.

9. The brassiere cup of claim 8 wherein the fabric layer laminated to each of the inner and outer surfaces of the polyurethane comprises a knitted blend of polyester and elastomeric yarns.

10. The brassiere cup of claim 8 further comprising a second fabric layer laminated to the first fabric layer on each of the inner and outer surfaces of the polyurethane.

11. The brassiere cup of claim 10 wherein the second fabric layer laminated to the first fabric layer comprises a knitted blend of polyester and elastomeric yarns.

12. The brassiere cup of claim 1 wherein the breast enhancement insert is positioned between the outer fabric layer and the inner liner layer.

13. The brassiere cup of claim 1 wherein the breast enhancement insert is positioned adjacent the inner liner fabric layer for direct contact with the wearer's breast.

14. The brassiere cup of claim 1 further comprising a flange along the lower peripheral portion of the breast enhancement insert for attachment along the lower peripheral portions of the outer fabric layer and inner liner fabric layer.

15. The brassiere cup of claim 1 further comprising a rigid support positioned adjacent the lower peripheral portions of the outer fabric layer and the inner liner layer.

16. The brassiere cup of claim 15 wherein the rigid support is an underwire.

17. A brassiere comprising;

(a) a pair of breast cups, each of the breast cups comprising:

(i) an outer fabric layer having a lower peripheral portion;

(ii) an inner liner fabric layer having a lower peripheral portion;

(iii) a breast enhancement insert comprising:

a padding material having inner and outer surfaces, the inner and outer surfaces encapsulated within a fabric cover;

upper and lower peripheral portions;

inner and outer surfaces;

the lower peripheral portion of the breast enhancement insert attached along the lower peripheral portions of the outer fabric layer and the inner liner fabric layer, the upper peripheral portion and the inner and outer surfaces of the insert substantially unattached so that the insert is moveable and above the lower peripheral portion;

(b) a pair of backstraps, one of the pair of backstraps connected to one of the pair of breast cups, and the other of the pair of backstraps connected to the other of the pair of breast cups; and

(c) a pair of shoulder straps, one of the pair connecting one of the pair of breast cups to one of the pair of backstraps, and the other of the pair of shoulder straps connecting the other of the pair of breast cups to the other of the pair of shoulder straps.

18. The brassiere of claim 17 wherein the outer fabric layer and the inner liner layer each comprise a knitted blend of nylon and elastomeric yarns.

19. The brassiere of claim 17 wherein the outer fabric layer and inner liner layer are molded to form a cup shape.

20. The brassiere of claim 17 wherein the outer fabric layer and the inner liner layer each have a weight basis of less than about 9.5 ounces per square yard.

21. The brassiere of claim 17 wherein the breast enhancement insert has a curvilinear shaped lower peripheral portion.

22. The brassiere of claim 17 wherein the padding material is a shaped foam.

23. The brassiere of claim 22 wherein the shaped foam is polyurethane.

24. The brassiere of claim 23 wherein the fabric cover encapsulating the polyurethane comprises a first fabric layer laminated to each of the inner and outer sides of the polyurethane.

25. The brassiere of claim 24 wherein the fabric layer laminated to each of the inner and outer surfaces of the polyurethane comprises a knitted blend of polyester and elastomeric yarns.

26. The brassiere of claim 24 further comprising a second fabric layer of fabric laminated to the first fabric layer on each of the inner and outer surfaces of the polyurethane.

27. The brassiere of claim 26 wherein the second fabric layer laminated to the first fabric layer comprises a knitted blend of polyester and elastomeric yarns.

28. The brassiere of claim 17 wherein the breast enhancement insert is positioned between the outer fabric layer and the inner liner layer.

29. The brassiere of claim 17 wherein the breast enhancement insert is positioned adjacent the inner liner fabric layer for direct contact with the wearer's breast.

30. The brassiere of claim 17 further comprising a flange along the lower peripheral portion of the breast enhancement insert for attachment along the lower peripheral portions of the outer fabric layer and inner liner fabric layer.

31. The brassiere of claim 17 further comprising a rigid support positioned adjacent the lower peripheral portions of the outer fabric layer and the inner liner layer.

32. The brassiere of claim 31 wherein the rigid support is an underwire.

Assignments (8)
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 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT R/F 70521/0523 Recorded Dec 15, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
Reel/Frame 073952/0281 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 14, 2025
From: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 070521/0523 →
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 →
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 Oct 13, 2008
From: WAITZ, SANDRA A.; NUZZO, ANTHONY J.
To: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
Reel/Frame 021674/0147 →