IP Library Granted Patent US 11,684,092
Granted Patent B2
US 11,684,092 · App. 16/779,171 · Granted Jun 27, 2023

Pullover bra

Inventors: Brett Roddis (Berkeley, CA); Melissa Lawrence (San Francisco, CA); John Kelly (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: The Gap, Inc.
A41C3/005A41C3/0014
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,684,092
App. No.
16/779,171
Granted
Jun 27, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Pullover bras for high support activities are provided. A bra includes a band that wraps around the torso. The band includes first and second cup regions as well as a gore adjoining the cup regions. An underband runs below the gore and the cup regions. Straps adjoin a respective cup region and a respective portion of the band. A neckline runs above the cup regions and between a first portion of each strap. The gore and underarm portions of the band are formed from a first pattern of fabric. The back of the bra, the straps, and the neckline is formed from a second pattern of fabric. The underband is formed from a third pattern of fabric.

Claims (39)

1. A pullover bra comprising:

a band configured to wrap around a torso, wherein the band comprises:

(i) a back portion,

(ii) a first underarm portion,

(iii) a second underarm portion,

(iv) a front portion, wherein the front portion is connected to the back portion through both the first underarm portion and the second underarm portion, and wherein the front portion comprises a first cup region, a second cup region, and a gore between the first cup region and the second cup region, the gore adjoining the first cup region and the second cup region, and wherein each respective cup region in a set consisting of the first cup region and the second cup region is formed with a density of stitching that decreases from a base of the respective cup region to a top of the respective cup region, and

(v) an underband formed by a bottom portion of the bra, the underband running below the gore, the first cup region, and the second cup region;

a first strap adjoining the first cup region and a first portion of the back portion of the band;

a second strap adjoining the second cup region and a second portion of the back portion of the band; and

a neckline portion running above the first cup region and the second cup region and running between a first portion of the first strap and a first portion of the second strap, and wherein,

each of the gore, the first underarm portion, and the second underarm portion is comprises a first pattern of fabric,

each of the back portion of the bra, the first strap, the second strap, and the neckline portion comprises a second pattern of fabric, and

the underband comprises a third pattern of fabric.

2. The bra of claim 1 , wherein the density of stitching decreases as a linear or nonlinear gradient of stitching density from the base of the respective cup region to the top of the respective cup region.

3. The bra of claim 1 , wherein the density of stitching decreases from a first density at a first portion of the respective cup region at the base of the respective cup region to a second density at a second portion of the respective cup region at the top of the respective cup region.

4. The bra of claim 3 , wherein the respective cup region includes a third portion between the first portion and the second portion of the respective cup region that is stitched at a third density, wherein the third density is between the first density and the second density.

5. The bra of claim 4 , wherein the respective cup region includes a fourth portion between the third portion and the second portion of the respective cup region that is stitched at a fourth density, wherein the fourth density is between the third density and the second density.

6. The bra of claim 1 , wherein a top portion of each of the first strap and the second strap is formed from the first pattern of fabric.

7. The bra of claim 1 , wherein a top portion of each of the first strap and the second strap is formed from a fourth pattern of fabric.

8. The bra of claim 7 , wherein the first pattern of fabric, the second pattern of fabric, the third pattern of fabric, and the fourth pattern of fabric are each independently defined by a unique stitching thickness, a unique type of stitching, a blend of material, or a combination thereof.

9. The bra of claim 1 , wherein:

an upper portion of the back of the bra is formed from the second pattern of fabric, and

a bottom portion of the back of the bra is formed from a fifth pattern of fabric.

10. The bra of claim 9 , wherein the first pattern of fabric, the second pattern of fabric, the third pattern of fabric, the fourth pattern of fabric, and the fifth pattern of fabric are each independently defined by a unique stitching thickness, a unique type of stitching, a blend of material, or a combination thereof.

11. The bra of claim 9 , wherein the neckline portion is formed from the fifth pattern of fabric.

12. The bra of claim 1 , wherein the neckline portion is formed from a sixth pattern of fabric.

13. The bra of claim 12 , wherein the first pattern of fabric, the second pattern of fabric, the third pattern of fabric, the fourth pattern of fabric, the fifth pattern of fabric, and the sixth pattern of fabric is each independently defined by a unique stitching thickness, a unique type of stitching, a blend of material, or a combination thereof.

14. The bra of claim 1 , wherein:

a first gusset is formed at an outer edge portion of the first cup region proximate to the first underarm portion, and

a second gusset is formed at an outer edge portion of the second cup region proximate to the second underarm portion.

15. The bra of claim 14 , wherein each of the first gusset and the second gusset is formed from the first pattern of fabric.

16. The bra of claim 1 , wherein an auxiliary gusset is formed adjoining the underband to the back portion, the first underarm portion, the second underarm portion, and front portion of the bra.

17. The bra of claim 16 , wherein the auxiliary gusset is formed from a seventh pattern of fabric, the seventh pattern of fabric having a modulus that is lower than that of the third pattern of fabric.

18. The bra of claim 17 , wherein the first pattern of fabric, the second pattern of fabric, the third pattern of fabric, the fourth pattern of fabric, the fifth pattern of fabric, the sixth pattern of fabric, and the seventh pattern of fabric is each independently defined by a unique stitching thickness, a unique type of stitching, a blend of material, or a combination thereof.

19. The bra of claim 17 , wherein the first pattern of fabric, the second pattern of fabric and the third pattern of fabric is each independently defined by a unique stitching thickness, a unique type of stitching, a blend of material, or a combination thereof.

20. The bra of claim 18 , wherein the unique type of stitching is selected from the group consisting of a pique stitch, a mesh stitch, and a rib stitch.

21. The bra of claim 18 , wherein each of the first bra cup region and the second bra cup region is formed from a blend of material that includes low melt yarn.

22. The bra of claim 1 , wherein the bra is manufactured using a circular kitting machine in a continuous uninterrupted process.

23. The bra of claim 1 , wherein the bra is formed as a seamless bra.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: THE GAP, INC.
Reel/Frame 060501/0654 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2021
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: THE GAP, INC.
Reel/Frame 058670/0070 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 2, 2020
From: RODDIS, BRETT; LAWRENCE, MELISSA; KELLY, JOHN
To: THE GAP, INC.
Reel/Frame 053679/0305 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 8, 2020
From: THE GAP, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 052611/0256 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 8, 2020
From: THE GAP, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052611/0773 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62834282 · Apr 15, 2019
Related Publication 20200323278A1 · Oct 15, 2020
Cited By (4)
US 12,245,644 US 12,402,668 US 12,550,952 US 12,575,618