US2679048A - Brassiere - Google Patents

Description

J. L. ALBERTS BRASSIERE Filed June 29, 1950 May 25, 1954 IN VEN TOR.

PENNI E EDMONDS,MORTON 8. BARROWS HIS ATTORNEYS ranged to possess Patented May 25, 1954 ATNT OFFICE 2,679,048 BRASSIIJRE Jacob L. Alberts, Yonkers, N. Y. Application June 29, 1950, Serial No. 171,168

7 Claims.

This invention relates to brassieres, corsets and other like garments for women and has as its object the provision of an improved construction which will give better and more natural support to the bust of the wearer and which will provide greater comfort and convenience in use.

In accordance with the invention a bust supporting garment for women comprising a band of soft flexible material adapted to encircle the wearers body and having a pair of outwardly extending, generally conical, recesses or pockets at the front to receive the wearers breasts, together with shoulder straps extending upwardly of said recesses at the front, is characterised in that each of said recesses is formed of two superposed layers of material which are united by seaming along their lower edges and at each side of the recess, the inner layer being provided with an opening opposite said central or apex region of the recess and being connected at an upper point to the associated shoulder strap, and the outer layer having a connection between an upper point thereof and said shoulder strap and arbetween said shoulder strap and the portions substantially in horizontal alignment with the centre of said recess or pocket a degree of upward resilient extensibility materially greater than that of the adjacent portion of the inner layer.

The inner and outer layers are conveniently each formed of material which is substantially inextensible in an upward direction and with the upper point of the outer layer connected to the shoulder strap by way of an inserted elastic memher, but in a modified construction only the inner layer is of substantially inextensible material, at least the upper portion of the outer layer being formed of material which is resiliently extensible' in an upward direction, for instance, lace or net.

In order that the invention may be properly understood a constructional form thereof, constituting a preferred example typifying but not limited the invention, will be described with ref erence to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective inner or rear view;

Fig. 2 is a perspective outer or front view of one form of brassiere constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig; 3 is a perspectiveview of the garment as it is worn; V I

Fig. l is a fragmentary view showing a modification; and

Fig. 5 is a front view of a detail.

Referring first to the drawings, the brassiere layers may also be secured together by z comprises a band H! of soft flexible material, adapted to encircle the body of the wearer in the region of the bust. This band consists of two front sections H, 12 and two side sections l3, M, the latter being provided with means in the form of hooked fasteners 15 whereby they may be adjustably and detachably interconnected at the back of the wearer. An elastic insert it serves to make the garment fit snugly.

The sections H and i2 are each formed of two superposed layers of fabric material, an inner layer ll having a substantially elliptical aperture 18 therein and an outer unapertured layer Hi. The two sections of outer layer is are each formed of upper and lower pieces of fabric united by a seam 20. The two fabric pieces of each outer layer l9 are so shaped that when united they form generally conical shaped recesses or pockets for receiving the breasts of the wearer with the seam 2!! lying substantially horizontally in alignment with the centre or apex of each recess. Over those regions where the inner layer the outer layer, these two the stitching of the same seam 2a, although this is not is present adjacent necessary, as shown in the modified form of Fig. 4.

Shoulder straps 2|, 22, made of relatively inelastic material such as ribbon, are secured by their rear ends to the upper edge of the rear extremities of the side sections l3 and I4 respectively. The front ends of these straps are engaged in readily adjustable slide clasps 23, 24- which are anchored directly to the upper corners of the inner layers ll of the respective front sections !2, l3.

The upper corner of the outer layer it of each front section is secured to the lower end of a length of elastic tape 25 which is provided at its upper end with a hook connector 26 adapted for engagement in a complementary element carried, e. g., at the top of the inner layer I! adjacent the point of attachment of the associated slide clasp. It will be understood that such comlementary member may, if desired, be carried directly on the lower portion of the shoulder strap.

The material used for both front and side sec-- tions, including both layers of such front secto the contour of the wearers body or to impart extensibility to the unapertured layer Hi. If desired however, either one-way stretch or two-way stretch material, incorporating tic yarn may be used if desired.

The general construction of the garment is in accord with usual practice with the various stitched seams, indicated by small dot lines on the drawing, covered with suitable tape. Folds or darts may be incorporated where required to give the desired shaping to the article in the customary manner.

When the garment is worn, in the manner as shown more particularly in Fig. 3, the regions of the front sections H, E? lyin below the generally horizontal seam 23, i. e., the lower parts of both inner and outer layers ll, it, form cradles extending beneath the wearers breasts and serve to lift and support the latter. The necessary upward tension to support these cradles is provided from the associated shoulder strap 2: or 22 by means of the downwardly divergent members formed by the parts of the inner layer ii lying above the horizontal line passing through the centre of the breast recesses.

By reason of such divergent or forked shaping of these supportin members no part under tension due to the even 3 pull of the straps overlies the centre of the breasts, thereby avoiding all undesirable and uncomfortable pressure upon the latter. At the same time such divergent supporting members are free to adapt themselves to the curvature of the breasts at the sides of the latter and act to mould the latter to the form of the recesses so as to provide the desired youthful contour to the wearers figure. When the inner and outer layers are united by seam 23, this affords a firmer connection between the divergent parts of inner layer 5? and the outer layer of the cradle portion. W hen seam 28 is omitted the lift is transmitted by frictional engagement between the two layers of the cradle portion, these being held in close engagement by the side pull of side sections [3 and M.

The upper pieces of the outer layers is of the front sections ll, l2 act generally as cover portions only and the resilient extensibility imparted thereto by the elastic tape connections 25 is materially greater than that of th downwardly divergent portions of the inner layer H and the resultant tension in the outer layer material such as will provide no more than smooth conformity with the contour of the wearers body. In the embodiment shown, which is designed for maternity use, such cover portions are readily detachable but for ordinary use they may be permanently secured in place.

It will be understood that, if desired, the material used for the outer fabric layer l9 of each front section or pocket ll, I73 may be of readily and resiliently ostensible material such as lace or net or material cut on the bias or a fabric incorporating elastic yarn. Such yarn may, for example, be at least in part of rubber or other material in itself extensible or stretchable. In such circumstances the provision of an elastic tape connection such as that shown at 25 in Figs. 14 may be unnecessary. Also, if desired, only the upper half of the outer layer may be made of such upwardly extensible material, the lower half being formed of substantially nonextensible material serving to enhance the firmness of the cradle thus provided for the breasts of the wearer.

Unapertured layer 55 is united with its corresponding side section (is or M) throughout the full length of a seam l9a extending from the botelasn do iii

tom to the top of the side of the pocket. Apertured layer ll enters into this seam at the lower part of the seam and extends upwardly therein less than the entire length of the seam. In the embodiment shown, which is intended primarily for post-natal maternity use, and in which the apertured layer is also the inner layer, the nursing mother is able to peel down, not only the upper portion of the unapertured layer {9, but also the adjacent side sections (it, is) as well. This is highly regarded by physicians and obstetricians and by pediatricians particularly, who claim the mere exposure of the nipple for nursing is not enough, but that the largest possible area of breast should be exposed in nursin for the infant to nuzzle, as an aid to both lactation and digestion.

When desired, a removable shield member 21, shown in Fig. 5 and in outline in Fig. 1, may be included in the garment. Shield 2? is preferably moisture proof or moisture resistant and may be made, e. g., of two layers of material, an inner layer 32 of soft fabric and an outer layer 3| of flexible water-repellent plastic such as Vinylite. The shield is pro-formed to fit smoothly within each of the recesses of the b-rassiere, as shown in Fig. l, and is inserted between the inner and outer layers of material forming these recesses.

Shield is held in position largely by friction and prevented from shifting by means of a suitable device such as a snap fastener 28, one element of which mounted on a short tab 29 and the other on the lower margin of the shield. The lower edge of shield 23 conforms in shape approximately to that of the seaming along the lower edges of the recesses so that the shield is based against such seaming and prevented from turning or shifting about its pivot connection formed by fastener 28. Tab 29 and its por tion of fastener '23 is positioned just above the seaming referred to and within the elliptical aperture is so that the elements of fastener 28 increase the thickness of the garment very little, if at all. The shield curves upward from its base reaching its maximum height above the apex or center of the recess and below the top of aperture :8.

It will be understood that the improved construction can be incorporated in bathing suits, playsuits, slips, corselets, and other garments as well as in brassieres and corsets.

It will also be understood that changes other than those referred to above may be made in the construction of the garment, and that it is applicants intention to cover all changes and modifications of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

l. A bust supporting garment for women comprising a band of soft flexible material adapted to encircle the wearers body and having a pair of outwardly extending, generally conical pockets at the front to receive the wearers breasts, together with a pair of shoulder straps extending upwardly of said pockets, and wherein each of said pockets is formed of two superposed layers of material which are united by seaming along the lower edge of the pocket, the inner layer being provided with an opening opposite the apex region of the pocket and being joined at an upper point to a shoulder strap, the outer layer having a connection between an upper point thereof and substantially the point of union between said inner layer and said shoulder strap, characterized in that said outer layer above the portions thereof substantially in horizontal alignment with the Center of said pocket is arranged to possess a degree of upward resilient extensibility greater than that of the adjacent portions of the inner layer, the said outer layer being united. with its corresponding side section throughout the full length of a seam extending from the bottom to the top of the side of the pocket and the said inner layer entering into such seam at the lower part thereof and extending from its bottom upwardly therein to a point substantially in horizontal alignment with the center of said pocket,

whereby the inner and outer layers are free to move and adjust themselves relatively to each other, and whereby said shoulder straps are caused to lift and shape the breasts free from the circumferential pull of the band around the body with resultant absence of frontal pressure on the breasts and decrease of pressure on the shoulders.

2. A bust supporting garment for women comprising a band of soft flexible material adapted to encircle the wearers body and having a pair of outwardly extending generally conical pockets at the front to receive the wearers breasts, shoulder straps extending upwardly of said pockets, each of said pockets being formed of two superposed layers of material, one an apertured lifting layer and the other an unapertured layer, said layers being united by seaming along the lower edge of the pocket, the apertured layer being provided with an opening opposite the apex region of the pocket and being joined at an upper point to a shoulder strap, the said unapertured layer being united with its corresponding side section throughout the full length of a seam extending from the bottom to the top of the side of the pocket and the said apertured layer entering into such seam at the lower part thereof and extending from the bottom of the pocket upwardly therein to a height below the level of the apex of the pocket, the unapertured layer having an extensible connection between that portion of the garment which is substantially in horizontal alignment with the center of said pocket and that part of the garment subr stantially at the point of union between said apertured layer and said shoulder stray, whereby the apertured and unapertured layers are free to move and adjust themselves relatively to each other, and whereby said shoulder straps are caused to lift and shape the breasts free from the circumferential pull of the band around the body with the resultant absence of frontal pressure on the breasts and decrease of pressure on the shoulders the upper portion of th unapertured layer being detachably connected to the remainder of the garment so that it and the upper portion of the corresponding side section may be turned down to expose the breast for nursing purposes.

3. A bust supporting grament as claimed in claim 2 wherein a cup-shaped shield member is provided for each of said pockets and is removably positioned between said apertured and unapertured layers, the upper edge of said member lying above the apex region of the pocket and the lower edge abutting said seaming along the lower edge of said pocket, a single removable connection therefor being disposed centrally of the lower edge of the shield and adjacent said lower seamin within said opening in the apertured layer.

4. A bust supporting garment as claimed in claim 2 wherein the unapertured layers are disposed on the outside of the pockets.

5. A bust supporting garment for women comprising a band of soft flexible material adapted to encircle the wearers body and having a pair or" outwardly-extending, generally-conical pockets at the front to receive the wearers breasts, together with shoulder straps extending upwardly from said pockets, characterized-in that each of said pockets is formed of two superposed layers of material, one an apertured lifting layer and the other an unapertured layer, both of said layers being of material which is substantially inextensible in upward direction and the layers being united. by seaming along the lower edge of the pocket and at the outer side of each of the pockets, the apertured layer having an opening opposite the apex region of the pocket and being joined at anupper point to a shoulder strap, the unapertured layer having an elastic connection between an upper point thereof and substantially the point of union between said apertured layer and said shoulder strap, said unapertured layer above the horizontal plane passing through the apex of the pocket having greater upward resilient extensibility than the adjacent portion of the apertured layer, said unapertured layer being united with its corresponding side section throughout the full length of the seam extending from the bottom to the top of the side of the pocket and the lower part of the apertured layer entering into such seam and extending downwardly therein from a point somewhat below the top of the seam, whereby the inner and outer layers are free to move and adjust themselves relatively to each other, and whereby said shoulder straps are caused to lift and shape the breasts free from the circumferential pull of the band around the body with resultant absence of frontal pressure on the breasts and decrease of pressure on the houlder straps.

6. A bust supporting garment for women comprising a band of soft flexible material adapted to encircle the wearers body and having a pair of outwardly-extending, generally-conical pockets at the front to receive the wearers breasts, together with shoulder straps extending upwardly from said pockets, characterized in that each of said pockets is formed of two superposed layers of material, one an apertured lifting layer and the other an unapertured layer, said apertured layer being of material which is substantially inextensible in an upward direction and at least the upper part of the unapertured layer being of material which is resiliently extensible in an upward direction, the layers being united by seaming along the lower edge of the pocket and at the outer side of each of the pockets, the apertured layer having an opening opposite the apex region of the pocket and being joined at an upward point to a shoulder strap, the unapertured layer having a connection between an upper point thereof and substantially the point of union between said apertured layer and said shoulder strap, said unapertured layer being united with its corresponding side section throughout the full length of the seam extending from the bottom to the top of the side of the pocket and the lower part of the apertured layer entering into such seam and extending downwardly therein from a point somewhat below the top of the seam, whereby the inaevaom her and outer layers are free to move and adjust themselves relatively to each other, and whereby said shoulder straps are caused to lift and shape the breasts free from the circumferential pull of the band around the body with resultant absence of frontal pressure on the breasts and decrease of pressure on the shoulder straps.

7. A bust supporting garment for women comprising a band of soft flexible material adapted to encircle the wearers body and having a, pair of outwardly-extending, generally-conical pockets at the front to receive the wearers breasts, together with should straps extending upwardly from said pockets, characterized in that each of said pockets is formed of two superposed layers of material, one an apertured lifting layer and the other an unapertured layer, the apertured layer extending above the una'pertured layer throughout the front central portion of the garment and between points lying outwardly of the shoulder straps, both of said layers being of material which is substantially inextensible in an upward direction and the layers being united by seaming along the lower edge of the pocket and at the outer side of each of the pockets, the apertured layer having an opening opposite the apex region of the pocket and being joined at an upper point to a shoulder strap, the unapertured layer having an elastic connection between an upper point thereof and. substantially the point of union between said apertured layer and said shoulder strap, said unapertured layer above the horizontal plane passing through the apex of the pocket having greater upward resilient extensibility than the adjacent portion of the apertured layer, said unapertured layer being united with it corresponding side section throughout the full length of the seam extending from the bottom to the top of the side of the pocket and the lower part of the apertured layer entering into such seam and extending downwardly therein from a point somewhat below the top of the seam, whereby the inner and outer layers are free to move and adjust themselves relatively to each other, and whereby said shoulder straps are caused to lift and shape the breasts free from the circumferential pull of the band around the body with resultant absence of frontal pressure on the breasts and decrease of pressure on the shoulder straps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,492,303 Lo Cascio Dec. 27, 1949 2,497,324 Schenkman Feb 14, 1950 2,501,860 Becker Mar. 28, 1950 2,508,704 Becker May 23, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 935,668 France Feb. 9, 1948

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