GB2390968A

GB2390968A - Foundation garment

Info

Publication number: GB2390968A
Application number: GB0216827A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian See
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-07-19
Filing date: 2002-07-19
Publication date: 2004-01-28
Also published as: GB0216827D0

Abstract

A wire-less foundation garment with breast cups 12 has a support binding 18 attached around the lower edge of each cup, the binding comprising an elastic binding piece 18b whose outer edge 18bo lies along the lower edge of the cup while its inner edge 18bi is spaced inwardly form the cup edge, the binding piece being attached (seam S3) at its inner edge only and being attached in a stretched condition. The binding may also comprise a stiffening strip (18a, Fig 2a), e.g. of bias binding. The binding pieces 18a,b may be united before attaching to the cup. The binding may comprise multiple layers (Figs 3a,b).

Description

Title: Foundation Garment and Method of Manufacture Thereof Description of

Invention

The present invention relates to a foundation garment such as a brassier or bra.

It is known to provide foundation garments such as a bra with a curved portion of wire which extends around the lower edge of each bra cup, the underwire assisting in retaining the bra cup in its correct shape and providing additional support for the wearer's breasts. Such bras are known as underwired bras. .. Despite the additional support provided by an underwire, many women find underwired bras uncomfortable, as the ends of the underwires tend to dig into the sternum or underarms of the wearer. Moreover, it is not advisable to wash underwired bras in an automatic washing machine, as the wires can become detached from the bra and may damage the washing machine.

Known non-underwired bras provide less support for the wearer's breasts than the underwired variety, and contain no means for retaining the cup in its desired shape. Thus, known non-underwired bras cannot generally provide the wearer with such a satisfactory shape as underwired bras.

According to a first aspect of the invention I provide a foundation garment including two cups with a support binding extending along a lower edge of each cup, the support binding including an elastic binding piece which may be elastically stretched and which has an outer edge which extends around the lower edge of the cup and an inner edge which is located inwardly of the lower edge of the cup towards the cenke of the cup, wherein the elastic binding piece is secured relative to the cup at its inner edge only, the inner edge of the elastic binding piece having been secured relative to the cup whilst being stretched.

Securing the inner edge of the elastic binding piece only relative to the cup, and doing this whilst the elastic is stretched around the lower edge of the cup, ensures that the support binding provides support for the wearer's breast and assists in retaining the cup in its required shape. Thus, by virtue of the invention, a bra may be produced which provides a more similar degree of support and shaping effect to an underwired bra than known non-underwired bras, but which is more comfortable to wear than an underwired bra and which may be washed in an automatic washing machine without the risk of damage to the machine.

Preferably the support binding further includes a binding stiffener piece which has an outer edge which extends around the lower edge of the cup and an inner edge which is located inwardly of the lower edge of the cup towards the centre of the cup, both the inner and outer edges of the binding stiffener piece being secured relative to the cup whilst not being stretched to any substantial degree. The binding stiffener piece provides support for the elastic binding piece and may assist in substantially preventing the cup from crumpling under the tension of the elastic binding piece. Moreover, the binding stiffener piece provides additional support for the wearer's breast.

Preferably the binding stiffener piece is located between the cup and the elastic binding piece.

Preferably, the inner edge of the elastic binding piece is sewn to the cup.

Preferably the inner and outer edges of the binding stiffener piece are sewn to the cup.

The elastic binding piece may be made from corded elastic.

The binding stiffener piece may be made from cotton.

Alternatively the binding stiffener piece may be made from a synthetic fabric.

The support binding may include a plurality of binding stiffener pieces, andlor may include a plurality of elastic binding pieces. In these cases, one of the binding stiffener pieces may be made from a flexible polymer sheet, which could provide the wearer with additional support.

Where the support binding includes a plurality of elastic binding pieces and binding stiffener pieces, the support binding may include a first and a second binding assembly the first binding assembly including a first cotton binding stiffener piece, a first nylon binding stiffener piece, a first piece of corded elastic, a second nylon binding stiffener piece and a second cotton binding stiffener piece, and the second binding assembly including a third cotton binding stiffener piece, a second piece of corded elastic, a third piece of corded elastic, a fourth cotton binding stiffener piece, and a flock-faced binding piece, the second and third piece of corded elastic being elastic binding pieces, and the remaining pieces being binding stiffener pieces.

The foundation garment may be a brassier.

According to second aspect of the invention I provide a method of making a foundation garment including two cups, the method including the step of securing to each cup an inner edge of an elastic binding piece such that an outer edge of the elastic binding piece extends around the lower edge of the cup and the inner edge of the elastic binding piece is located inwardly of the lower edge of the cup towards the centre of the cup, the inner edge of the elastic binding piece being secured relative to the cup whilst the elastic binding piece is stretched around the lower edge of the cup.

Preferably the method further includes the step of securing relative to the lower edge of the cup inner and outer edges of a binding stiffener piece.

Preferably the binding stiffener piece is secured to the cup before the elastic binding piece.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings of which,

FIGURE 1 is an illustration of a foundation garment according to the invention; FIGURES 2a and 2b are illustrations of part of an incomplete foundation garment according to the invention; and FIGURES 3a and 3b are an illustration of a first and second binding assembly of a further example of support binding for use in a foundation garment according to the invention.

Referring now to the figures there is shown a foundation garment 10, which in this example is a brassier or bra. The bra 10 has two cups 12, two wings 14 which are adapted to extend from the cups 12 under the wearer's arms to fasten together across the wearer's back, and two swaps 16 each of which is connected between an upper portion of a cup 12 and one of the wings 14 and is adapted to extend over the wearer's shoulder. The cups 12 are adapted to receive and support the wearer's breasts and are shaped to provide the wearer with a desired bust shape.

A support binding 18 extends around a lower edge 12' of each cup 12, the support binding 18 including an elastic binding piece 1 8b which is made of a flexible material such as corded elastic which may be elastically stretched, and a binding stiffener piece 18_ which is typically made of a material such as a woven cotton fabric which cannot generally be elastically stretched. Bias binding is particularly suitable for use as a binding stiffener piece 18a. Corded elastic has a plurality of generally parallel threads of elastomeric material such as synthetic rubber running along its length, and the stiffness of the elastic may be increased by increasing the number or thickness of such threads. It would also be possible to make the elastic binding piece 18b from a composite of corded elastic and "Kola", a softer, often decorative elastic. In this case, a plurality of threads of elastomeric material would be provided at or adjacent to one edge of the binding piece 18_ whilst the other edge of the binding piece 18_ would be formed from Kola.

Typically the support binding 18 is approximately 13mm in width and extends around the lower edge 12' of the cup 12 from a point at which the two cups 12 are connected, along the join between the cup 12 and the attached wing 14 to a point adjacent to an upper edge 14a of the wing 14.

The elastic binding piece 18b is secured to the cup 12, as illustrated in Figure 2b by means of stitching S3 along an inner edge 18bi of the binding 18k, such that an outer edge 18bo of the binding 18_ extends around the lower edge 12' of the cup 12, and the inner edge 18bi of the binding 18b is located inwardly of the lower edge 12' of the cup 12 towards the centre of the cup 12.

The elastic binding piece 18b is secured to the cup 12 whilst stretched, such that the elastic binding piece 18b is under tension when secured to the cup 12.

By virtue of the elastic binding piece 18_ being under tension when stitched to the cup 12 along its inner edge 18bi, the support binding 18 provides further support for the wearer's breasts, and assists in retaining the cup 12 in the desired shape.

The binding stiffener piece 18_ is secured to the cup 12, as illustrated in Figure 2a, by means of stitching S' and S2 along inner 18a and outer 18ao edges of the binding stiffener piece 18_, the outer edge 18ao extending along the lower edge 12' of the cup 12 and the inner edge 18a lying inwardly of the lower edge 12' ofthe cup 12 towards the centre of the cup 12.

The binding stiffener piece 18_ provides further support for the wearer's breast, and is preferably sufficiently stiff to assist in substantially preventing the cup 12 from crumpling under the tension of the elastic binding piece 18_, whilst being sufficiently flexible to be comfortable for the wearer and to conform to the contours of the wearer's body.

In this example, the binding stiffener piece 18_ lies between the elastic binding piece 18b and the cup 12, but the elastic binding piece 18b may be located between the binding stiffener piece 18_ and the cup 12 instead if desired.

The foundation garment 10 is typically assembled as follows.

The cups 12 are assembled and joined together. Typically the wings 14 and shoulder straps 16 are sewn on to the cups 12 before the support binding 18 is sewn onto the cups 12, but the support binding 18 may alternatively be sewn onto the cups 12 before the assembly of the remainder of the gannent is completed. When securing the support binding 18 onto the cups 12, the binding stiffener piece 18a is sewn onto each of the cups 12 by means of stitching S' and S2 extending along the inner 1 8a and outer 1 8ao edges of the binding piece 18_, such that the outer edge 1 8ao lies along the lower edge 12' of the cup 12, and the inner edge 18a is located inwardly of the lower edge 12' of the cup 12. a The elastic binding piece 18_ is then sewn onto the cup 12 on top of the binding stiffener piece 18_ by means of stitching S3 adjacent to the inner edge 18bi of the elastic binding piece 18_, the elastic binding piece 18_ being stretched around the lower edge 12' of the cup 12 whilst it is sewn onto the cup 12, such that the inner edge 18bi is under tension as it is sewn to the cup 12.

It is preferable to sew the binding stiffener piece 18a onto the cup 12 before the elastic binding piece lab, as the binding stiffener piece 18a assists in preventing the cup 12 from collapsing under the tension of the elastic binding piece 1 fib. If the elastic binding piece 18b is sewn onto the cup 12 first, the cup may crumple, thus rendering it difficult later to sew the binding stiffener piece 18_ onto the cup 12.

For the wearer's comfort, a further binding piece made out of a soft material such as a flock faced binding may then be sewn to the cup 12 along both its edges, on top of the elastic binding piece 1 fib. Alternatively, the elastic binding piece 18_ may be made from a material which displays similar elasticity to corded elastic, and which is similarly soft to flock faced binding, at least on the exposed face.

Alternatively, it is possible to sew the elastic binding piece 18_ to the binding stiffener piece 18a and then to sew both onto the cup 12 together. In this case, the inner edge 18bi of the elastic binding piece 18b is sewn to the inner edge 18a of the binding stiffener piece 18_ whilst the elastic binding piece 18_ is stretched, and then the inner 18a and the outer 18ao edges of the binding stiffener piece 18_ are sewn to the cup 12 whilst retaining the elastic binding piece 18k under tension. The support binding 18, in this case, may be sewn onto the cup 12 with either the elastic binding piece 18b or the binding stiffener piece 18a directly adjacent to the cup 12.

The binding stiffener piece 183 need not be made from a material such as woven cotton which is substantially incapable of being elastically stretched.

The binding stiffener piece 18_ may be made from a material such as corded elastic which is capable of being elastically stretched, but which is not stretched whilst being sewn to the cup 12. Alternatively, the binding stiffener piece 18_ may be a strip of polymer sheet, for example, a nylon strip.

The support binding 18 may include further layers in order to further stiffen the support binding 18 and hence to provide additional support for the wearer's breasts.

For example, the support binding 18 may include more than one elastic and / or binding stiffener piece. In which case, all or some of the elastic 18_ or binding stiffener pieces 18a may either be sewn together before being sewn onto the cup 12, or may be sewn to the cup 12 one at a time.

An example of such a multi-layer support binding 18 is shown in Figures 3_ and 3k prior to attachment to a cup 12. This support binding includes a first binding assembly 19, as shown in Figure 3a, which includes a first cotton binding stiffener piece 19_, a first nylon binding stiffener piece l9b, a first piece of corded elastic l9c, a second nylon binding stiffener piece 19d and a second cotton binding stiffener piece l9e. The support binding 18 further includes a second binding assembly 20, as shown in Figure 3b, which includes

a third cotton binding stiffener piece 20q, a second piece of corded elastic 20t, a third piece of corded elastic 20c, a fourth cotton binding stiffener piece 20d, and a flock faced binding piece 20e.

The second and third pieces of corded elastic 20b and 20c form the elastic binding pieces 18_, and are thus stretched whilst being sewn along one edge to the other pieces in the second binding assembly 20. The first binding assembly 19 is assembled by sewing all the pieces together along both edges.

The two binding assemblies 19, 20 are then sewn into the cup 12, the first binding assembly 19 before the second 20, such that the cotton binding stiffener pieces 19a, l9e, 20a, and 20d, the nylon binding stiffener pieces l9b, 19d, the first piece of corded elastic 19c and the flock faced binding piece 20e are all sewn to the cup 12 at both their inner and outer edges, while the second and third pieces of corded elastic 20b and 20c are sewn to the cup 12 at their inner edges only.

The invention is not restricted to brassieres, and may be applied to other foundation garments including bodies, Basques, bustiers, swimming costumes, bikinis, and any other similar fashion item, whether intended to be worn under other clothes or not.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following

claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A foundation garment including two cups with a support binding extending along a lower edge of each cup, the support binding including an elastic binding piece which may be elastically stretched and which has an outer edge which extends around the lower edge of the cup and an inner edge which is located inwardly of the lower edge of the cup towards the centre of the cup, wherein the elastic binding piece is secured relative to the cup at its inner edge only, the inner edge of the elastic binding piece having been secured relative to the cup whilst being stretched around the lower edge of the cup.

2. A foundation garment according to claim 1 wherein the support binding further includes a binding stiffener piece which has an outer edge which extends around the lower edge of the cup and an inner edge which is located inwardly of the lower edge of the cup towards the centre of the cup, both the inner and outer edges of the binding stiffener piece being secured relative to the cup whilst not being stretched to any substantial degree.

3. A foundation garment according to claim 2 wherein the binding stiffener piece is located between the cup and the elastic binding piece.

4. A foundation garment according to any preceding claim wherein the inner edge of the elastic binding piece is sewn to the cup.

5. A foundation garment according to any preceding claim wherein the inner and outer edges of the binding stiffener piece are sewn to the cup.

6. A foundation garment according to any preceding claim wherein the elastic binding piece is made from corded elastic.

7. A foundation garment according to any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein the binding stiffener piece is made from cotton

8. A foundation garment according to any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein the binding stiffener piece is made from a synthetic fabric.

9. A foundation garment according to any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein the t support binding includes a plurality of binding stiffener pieces.;

10. A foundation garment according to any preceding claim wherein the support binding includes a plurality of elastic binding pieces.

11. A foundation garment according to claim 8 wherein at least one of the I binding stiffener pieces is made from a flexible polymer sheet.

12. A foundation garment according to claim 10 where dependent on claim 9 wherein the support binding includes a first and a second binding assembly the first binding assembly including a first cotton binding stiffener piece, a first nylon binding stiffener piece, a first piece of corded elastic, a second nylon binding stiffener piece and a second cotton binding stiffener piece, and the second binding assembly including a third cotton binding stiffener piece, a second piece of corded elastic, a third piece of corded elastic, a fourth cotton binding stiffener piece, and a flock-faced binding piece, the second and third piece of corded elastic being elastic binding pieces, and the remaining pieces being binding stiffener pieces.

13. A foundation garment according to any preceding claim wherein the foundation garment is a brassier.

14. A foundation garment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

15. A method of making a foundation garment including two cups, the method including the step of securing to each cup an inner edge of an elastic binding piece such that an outer edge of the elastic binding piece extends around the lower edge of the cup and the opposite inner edge is located inwardly of the lower edge of the cup towards the centre of the cup, the inner edge of the elastic binding piece being secured relative to the cup whilst the elastic binding piece is stretched around the lower edge of the cup.

16. A method of making a foundation garment according to claim 15 wherein the method further includes the step of securing relative to the lower edge of the cup an inner and outer edge of a binding stiffener piece.

17. A method of making a foundation garment according to claim 16 wherein the binding stiffener piece is secured to the cup before the elastic binding piece.

18. A method of making a foundation garment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. Any novel feature or novel combination of features substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and / or as shown in the accompanying drawings.