GB2322535A - Bra cup - Google Patents

Abstract

A bra cup is formed by an outer cup member (2) and an inner cup member (3) secured together around their peripheries (2a,3a), the cup members (2,3) being formed of different shape such that a space (5) is contained between the cups (2,3). The inner cup (3) may be shaped with a protrusion (3b) to give push-in and push-up support for the breasts of a wearer changing the shape and/or adding apparent volume to the breasts.

Description

BRA CUP The invention relates generally to ladies' wear and particularly to brassieres, ladies' swimming costumes or other ladies garment with a bra top.

Bra cups form the basic components of brassieres as well as other ladies' garments with bra tops, such as ladies' swimming costumes and evening gowns. Bra cups are sometimes formed of multi-layer material joined by seams, to give stiffness to the cup and particularly to give it a desired profile. Padding in the form of inserts has been used partially to fill the volume of brassiere cups, bra tops of ladies' swimming costumes or other ladies' garments such as evening gown or tops which have bra tops. The insert or inserts may be provided in selected areas forming less than the full circumference of the cup to give the desired shaping effects.

According to the invention a bra cup comprises two cup members nested one within the other, secured together at their peripheries and provided of different shapes such that a space is contained between the two cup members.

By suitably choosing and moulding the relative shapes of the two cup members which desirably maintain their fixed form and do not change after washing, so that they have different curvature from top to bottom and also from side to side, push-in and push-up support can be provided for the breasts of a wearer changing the shape and/or adding apparent volume to the breasts.

Preferably the material from which the cup members is formed is more air permeable than that traditionally used and further is generally non-absorbent so as to prevent water retention. This can be particularly effective in eliminating the problem of retaining water when the cup members are used in making up ladies' swimming costumes. In addition, it allows speedy dry up at the same rate as the rest of the garment. Furthermore, the bra cup will not be easily deformed as the bra cup is moulded in such a way that the form is fixed. This is in contrast to previously proposed methods of inserting a foam pad between two layers of a bra cup, in which prior proposal the foam pad tends to absorb water like a sponge and retain heat causing discomfort to the wearer. The bra cup of this application can last longer than traditional bra cups made up of foam pad.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one bra cup according to the invention; Figure 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view taken in the direction of arrow III-III of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on section line A-#A of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a view taken on section line B-B of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, one cup 1 of a brassiere is formed by an outer cup member 2 and an inner cup member 3 secured together around their peripheries 2a,3a. The outer cup member 2 has an extension 4 which is connected to a shoulder strap (for a strapless brassiere there will be no extension 4) and a protrusion 6 joined to a protrusion of an identical but oppositely handed further cup (not shown) to form the brassiere. The two protrusions 6 together forming an intermediate member between the cups. The two protrusions may be joined by an additional intermediate member which may be in the form of a buckle or clasp.

As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, the cups 2 and 3 are provided of different shapes, that is to say profiles such that when the peripheries 2a,3a are joined together, a space 5 is contained between the cups 2 and 3. The extent and shape of the space 5 can, as it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, be varied as desired. Particularly the cup 3 may be so shaped that a protrusion 3b, as shown in Figure 5, is created alongside the lower periphery of the inner cup thereby to effect a push-up and push-in function to the breast of the wearer to support the breast and give the appearance of a fuller figure.

The inner and outer cups 3 and 2 are preferably formed of a porous, nonabsorbent, relatively stiff material already known for forming liners for the bust portions of ladies' swimming costumes. Such material being non-absorbent will not become heavy due to absorbed water and being permeable will allow ventilation for coolness in that perspiration from the skin can pass through the material of the cups 3, 2 and evaporate.

Claims (5)

1. A specialised bra cup comprising two cup members nested one within the other, secured together at their peripheries and provided of different shapes such that a space is contained between the two cup members.

2. A bra cup according to claim 1, in which the relative shapes of the two cup members maintain their fixed form and do not permanently change after washing or when pressure is applied to them in normal use.

3. A bra cup according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the two cup members have different curvature from top to bottom and from side to side whereby push-in and push-up support can be provided for the breasts of a wearer changing the shape and/or adding apparent volume to the breasts.

4. A bra cup according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the cup members are formed of material which has good air permeability and is generally nonabsorbent.

5. A bra cup substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.