IP Library Granted Patent US 8,057,278
Granted Patent B2
US 8,057,278 · App. 12/425,012 · Granted Nov 15, 2011

Wire-free brassiere

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 8,057,278
App. No.
12/425,012
Granted
Nov 15, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lightweight, substantially unpadded, comfortable, push-in, wire-free bra has, when worn by a female wearer, a front including a pair of cups. Each cup defines upper inner and outer portions, lower inner and outer portions, a top, and a bottom, and is configured and dimensioned to hold substantially one breast of a female wearer. Each cup includes a sling portion that is designed to provide lateral support to the respective breast. In this manner, the sling portions bias the cup upper outer portions inwardly to provide push-in cleavage on the wearer's breasts. Straps are secured to the front for releasably supporting it on a female wearer with the breasts of the female wearer substantially within the cups.

Claims (33)

1. An underwire-free bra comprising, when worn by a wearer:

a front comprising

a pair of cups, each cup comprising an upper inner portion, an upper outer portion, a lower inner portion, and a lower outer portion, each cup being configured and dimensioned to hold substantially one breast of a wearer, each inner portion being proximal to a cleavage of the wearer and each outer portion being distal from the cleavage of the wearer,

a top connecting the upper inner portion and the upper outer portion, and

a bottom connecting the lower inner portion and the lower outer portion;

a front connecting portion, said cups being connected at said front only by said front connecting portion to provide a deeply plunging cleavage and enable substantial independent motion of said cups relative to one another;

means secured to said front for releasably supporting said front on a wearer,

said cups and said front connecting portion being devoid of an underwire for providing comfort to the wearer,

wherein each said cup includes an outer fabric liner portion, a first skived foam layer, and a second skived foam layer, the outer fabric liner portion completely covering the first and second skived foam layers; and

wherein each said cup further includes a sling portion, said sling portion being sandwiched between said first and second skived foam layers, said sling portion being completely covered by the outer fabric liner portion such that said sling portion is not visible to the wearer; and said sling portion being configured to provide support to the respective breast.

2. The bra of claim 1 , wherein each said sling portion is positioned to provide a support inwardly in a plane parallel to a skin of surface of the wearer's breasts to a central cleavage area between the breasts of the wearer.

3. The bra of claim 1 , wherein each sling portion is positioned to provide an upward push to the respective breast.

4. The bra of claim 1 , wherein each sling portion comprises one of a mesh or a fabric.

5. The bra of claim 1 , wherein each cup comprises only padding consisting of the first skived foam layer and the second skived foam layer.

6. The bra of claim 1 , wherein the cup comprises a third padding in addition to the first skived foam layer and the second skived foam layer, the third padding being uniformly distributed over substantially the entire surface of the cups.

7. The bra of claim 1 , wherein each upper inner portion comprises an edge that extends arcuately downwardly and arcuately inwardly toward the front connecting portion for defining said deeply plunging cleavage.

8. The bra of claim 1 wherein said front connecting portion terminates at said cup lower inner portion without appreciable ascent toward said cup upper inner portion.

9. The bra of claim 1 wherein said front connecting portion is configured and dimensioned to snugly fit the wearer between and below the breasts.

10. The bra of claim 1 wherein said supporting means includes a backstrap secured at each end to the respective lower outer portion of one of said cups and a pair of shoulder straps connecting said cup tops to said backstrap.

11. A push-in underwire-free bra comprising, when worn by a wearer:

a front comprising

a pair of cups, each cup defining an upper inner portion, an upper outer portion, a lower inner portion, and a lower outer portion, each cup being configured and dimensioned to hold substantially one breast of a wearer, each inner portion being proximal to a cleavage of the wearer and each outer portion being distal from the cleavage of the wearer,

a top connecting the upper inner portion and the upper outer portion, and

a bottom connecting the lower inner portion and the lower outer portion;

a front connecting portion, said cups being connected at said front only by said front connecting portion to provide a deeply plunging cleavage and enable substantial independent motion of said cups relative to one another; and

means secured to said front for releasably supporting said front on a wearer, said supporting means including a backstrap secured at each end to the respective lower outer portion of one of said cups and a pair of shoulder straps connecting said cup tops to said backstrap;

said upper inner portions extending arcuately downwardly and arcuately inwardly toward the front connecting portion for defining said deeply plunging cleavage;

said front connecting portion terminating at said cup lower inner portion without appreciable ascent toward said cup upper inner portion, and said front connecting portion being configured and dimensioned to snugly fit the wearer between and below the breasts;

said cups and said front connecting portion being devoid of an underwire for providing comfort to the wearer,

wherein each said cup includes an outer fabric liner portion, a first skived foam layer, and a second skived foam layer, the outer fabric liner portion completely covering the first and second skived foam layers; and

wherein each said cup further includes a sling portion, said sling portion comprising one of a mesh or a fabric, said sling portion being sandwiched between said first and second skived foam layers, said sling portion being completely covered by the outer fabric portion such that said sling portion is not visible to the wearer; and said sling portion being positioned to provide vertical and lateral support to the respective breast, thereby tending to push the respective breast upward and inward.

12. The bra of claim 11 , wherein each cup comprises only padding consisting of the first skived foam layer and the second skived foam layer.

13. The bra of claim 11 , wherein the cup comprises a third padding in addition to the first skived foam layer and the second skived foam layer, the third padding being uniformly distributed over substantially the entire surface of the cups.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2019
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: PVH CORP.; WARNACO SWIMWEAR INC.; WARNACO SWIMWEAR PRODUCTS INC.; WARNACO U.S., INC.
Reel/Frame 049049/0124 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 10, 2013
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: WARNACO INC.; WARNACO SWIMWEAR INC.
Reel/Frame 030584/0279 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 28, 2013
From: WARNACO U.S., INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 030111/0747 →
RELEASE Recorded Feb 28, 2013
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WARNACO INC.; CCC ACQUISITION CORP.; WARNACO SWIMWEAR INC.; WARNACO SWIMWEAR PRODUCTS INC.
Reel/Frame 029900/0357 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 20, 2011
From: WARNACO INC.; WARNACO SWIMWEAR INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., A U.S. NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 026938/0277 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 20, 2011
From: WARNACO INC.; WARNACO SWIMWEAR INC.; WARNACO SWIMWEAR PRODUCTS INC.; WARNACO U.S., INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 026465/0503 →