IP Library Granted Patent US 8,262,433
Granted Patent B2
US 8,262,433 · App. 12/641,419 · Granted Sep 11, 2012

Bra cup for increasing visual appearance of breast size, and brassiere incorporating the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,262,433
App. No.
12/641,419
Granted
Sep 11, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bra cup includes: an inner cup portion, comprising one or more inner foam layers; and an outer cup portion, attached to the inner cup portion, comprising one or more outer foam layers, the inner cup portion and the outer cup portion together forming the bra cup. The inner foam layers form first and second convex portions with respect to an inner surface of the inner cup portion. The first and second convex portions form, at an intersection therebetween, a channel on the inner surface extending from a lower portion of the cup towards an apex of the bra cup.

Claims (30)

1. A bra cup, comprising:

an inner cup portion comprising one or more inner layers, at least one layer of the one or more inner layers having a surface with a spline-shaped cross-sectional curvature that extends between an upper edge and a lower edge of the bra cup; and

an outer cup portion, attached to the inner cup portion, comprising one or more outer layers, the inner cup portion and the outer cup portion together forming the bra cup,

wherein the inner cup portion is configured to support a wearer's breast of a first cup size, and to uplift and push the breast inwardly towards an opposite breast of the wearer, and

wherein the outer cup portion is configured to have a second cup size at least two cup sizes larger than that of the first cup size.

2. The bra cup according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more outer layers are dimensioned and arranged to form a projecting portion at an apex of the bra cup.

3. The bra cup according to claim 1 , the inner cup portion further comprising a fabric liner fixedly attached to an inner surface of the inner cup portion.

4. The bra cup according to claim 3 , wherein the fabric liner is laminated to the inner surface of the inner cup portion.

5. The bra cup according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer of the one or more inner layers is a foam material.

6. A bra comprising:

(a) two bra cups, adjacent to one another at inner edge portions thereof, each bra cup comprising:

an inner cup portion, comprising one or more inner layers, at least one layer of the one or more inner layers having a surface with a spline-shaped cross-sectional curvature that extends between an upper edge and a lower edge of the bra cup; and

an outer cup portion, attached to the inner cup portion, comprising one or more outer layers, the inner cup portion and the outer cup portion together forming the bra cup,

wherein the inner cup portion is configured to support a wearer's breast of a first cup size, and to uplift and push the breast inwardly towards an opposite breast of the wearer, and

wherein the outer cup portion is configured to have a second cup size at least two cup sizes larger than that of the first cup size; and

(b) at least one bra wing extending from outer edge portions of the bra cups.

7. The bra according to claim 6 , wherein the one or more outer layers form a projecting portion at an apex of the bra cup.

8. The bra according to claim 6 , the inner cup portion further comprising a fabric liner fixedly attached to an inner surface of the inner cup portion that contacts the breasts of the wearer.

9. The bra according to claim 8 , wherein the fabric liner is laminated to the inner surface of the inner cup portion.

10. The bra according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one layer of the one or more inner layers is a foam material.

11. A bra cup, comprising:

an inner cup portion of a first cup size, comprising one or more inner layers, at least one layer of the one or more inner layers having a surface with a spline-shaped cross-sectional curvature that extends between an upper edge and a lower edge of the bra cup; and

an outer cup portion of a second cup size, at least two cup sizes larger than the first cup size, attached to the inner cup portion, comprising one or more outer layers, the inner cup portion and the outer cup portion together forming the bra cup,

the inner cup portion being configured to support a wearer's breast of the first cup size, and to uplift and push the breast inwardly towards an opposite breast of the wearer.

12. The bra cup according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more inner layers of define first and second convex portions with respect to an inner surface of the inner cup portion, the first and second convex portions delineating, at an intersection therebetween, a channel on the inner surface of the inner cup portion, the channel extending from a lower portion of the bra cup towards an apex of the bra cup.

13. The bra according to claim 6 , wherein the one or more inner layers of define first and second convex portions with respect to an inner surface of the inner cup portion, the first and second convex portions delineating, at an intersection therebetween, a channel on the inner surface of the inner cup portion, the channel extending from a lower portion of the bra cup towards an apex of the bra cup.

14. The bra cup according to claim 11 , wherein the one or more inner layers of define first and second convex portions with respect to an inner surface of the inner cup portion, the first and second convex portions delineating, at an intersection therebetween, a channel on the inner surface of the inner cup portion, the channel extending from a lower portion of the bra cup towards an apex of the bra cup.

15. The bra cup according to claim 1 , further comprising a flange attached to the lower edge of the bra cup.

16. The bra cup according to claim 6 , further comprising a flange attached to the lower edge of the bra cup.

17. The bra cup according to claim 11 , further comprising a flange attached to the lower edge of the bra cup.

Assignments (9)
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 70521/0168 Recorded Dec 15, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: MAIDENFORM LLC
Reel/Frame 073952/0219 →
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 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 14, 2025
From: MAIDENFORM LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 070521/0168 →
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 →
MERGER Recorded Feb 11, 2014
From: MAIDENFORM, INC.
To: MAIDENFORM LLC
Reel/Frame 032189/0227 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE EXECUTION DATE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 023673 FRAME 0817. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 28, 2010
From: CASTELLANO, STEVEN
To: MAIDENFORM, INC.
Reel/Frame 023866/0432 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2009
From: CASTELLANO, STEVEN
To: MAIDENFORM, INC.
Reel/Frame 023673/0817 →