Exercise brassiere

• US 5,211,598 A
• Filed: 01/15/1991
• Issued: 05/18/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Desiree L. Hall
• Original Assignee: Desiree L. Hall
• Inventors: Hall, Desiree L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crowder, Clifford D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette E.
• Application Number:
  US07/641,262
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 450/60, 450/61, 450/65, 450/66, 450/67, 450/70, 450/74, 450/75, 450/1, 2/67, 2/73, 2/109, 2/110
• US Class Current: 450/1
• CPC Class Codes: A41C 3/0057 for sport activities

Abstract

An exercise brassiere having an outer layer adapted to fit over the wearer'"'"'s upper torso and shoulders and a coextensive inner layer adapted to fit over the front portion of the wearer'"'"'s upper torso and shoulders. The inner layer and the outer layer are constructed of a lightweight, flexible two-way stretch fabric having a stretchability significantly greater in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction to provide adequate and comfortable support to the wearer'"'"'s breasts. The inner layer has cut into it a pair of apertures sized and positioned to receive the breasts of the wearer the apertures being covered by the outer layer. The apertures also provide support to the wearer'"'"'s breasts and further provide for a natural, contoured appearance to the wearer'"'"'s breasts. A smooth, lightweight, flexible fabric middle layer may be included between the inner layer and the outer layer so that it covers the apertures in the inner layer and also contacts the skin of the wearer'"'"'s breasts thereby preventing rashes and/or chafing.

Claims

1. An exercise brassiere adapted to fit over the upper torso, breasts and shoulders from a front portion to a back portion of a wearer, the breasts and shoulders of the wearer defining a horizontal and vertical direction and having a front portion and a back portion, the exercise brassiere comprising:

an outer layer constructed of a lightweight, flexible, two-way stretch fabric, having a front portion adapted to fit over the wearer'"'"'s breasts and over the front portion of the wearer'"'"'s shoulders and a back portion adapted to fit over the back portion of the wearer'"'"'s upper torso at the level of the breasts and over the back portion of the wearer'"'"'s shoulders, the flexible fabric of the outer layer having a stretchability significantly greater in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction;

an inner layer constructed of a lightweight, flexible, two-way stretch fabric and adapted to fit over the front portion of the wearer'"'"'s upper torso and shoulders, the inner layer having two circular apertures sized and positioned to receive the breasts of the wearer, the flexible fabric of the inner layer having a stretchability significantly greater in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction; and

a middle layer constructed of a lightweight, flexible, smooth, moisture-absorbent fabric and adapted to fit over the front portion of the wearer'"'"'s upper torso and shoulders and also adapted to coextend with substantially all the inner layer and to cover the apertures in the inner layer, the flexible fabric of the middle layer having a stretchability significantly greater in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction, the front portion of the outer layer being coextensive with substantially all of the inner layer and middle layer and wherein the middle layer covers the apertures of the inner layer.

2. An exercise brassiere as defined in claim 1, wherein the outer layer includes:

a continuous front panel having two side edges and a plurality of shoulder straps; and

a continuous rear panel having two side edges and a plurality of shoulder straps, the front and rear panels being connected together at their side edges and plurality of shoulder straps.

3. An exercise brassiere as defined in claim 1, further including a covering layer constructed of a lightweight, flexible fabric and adapted to fit over the wearer'"'"'s upper torso and shoulders and also adapted to coextend with and cover substantially all of the outer layer, the flexible fabric of the covering layer having a stretchability significantly greater in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction.

4. An exercise brassiere as defined in claim 3, wherein the covering layer includes:

a front panel with two side edges and a plurality of shoulder straps; and

a rear panel with two side edges and a plurality of shoulder straps, the front and rear panels being connected together at their side edges and plurality of shoulder straps.

5. An exercise brassiere adapted to fit over the upper torso, breasts and shoulders from a front portion to a back portion of a wearer, the breasts and shoulders of the wearer defining a horizontal and vertical direction and having a front portion and a back portion, the exercise brassiere comprising:

an outer layer constructed of a lightweight, flexible, two way stretch fabric and having a front portion adapted to fit over the wearer'"'"'s breasts and over the front portion of the wearer'"'"'s shoulders and a back portion adapted to fit over the back portion of the wearer'"'"'s upper torso at the level of the breasts and over the back portion of the wearer'"'"'s shoulders, the flexible fabric of the outer layer having a stretchability significantly greater in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction;

an inner layer constructed of a lightweight, flexible, two way stretch fabric and adapted to fit over the front portion of the wearer'"'"'s upper torso and shoulders, the inner layer having two circular apertures sized and positioned to receive the breasts of the wearer, the flexible fabric of the inner layer having a stretchability significantly greater in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction, the front portion of the outer layer being coextensive with substantially all of the inner layer and wherein the outer layer covers the apertures of the inner layer;

a middle layer constructed of a lightweight, flexible fabric and adapted to fit over the front portion of the wearer'"'"'s upper torso and shoulders, the flexible fabric of the middle layer having a stretchability significantly greater in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction; and

a covering layer constructed of a lightweight, flexible fabric and adapted to fit over the wearer'"'"'s upper torso and shoulders, the flexible fabric of the covering layer having a stretchability significantly greater in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction, wherein the middle layer is adapted to coextend with substantially all of the inner layer and to cover the apertures of the inner layer and the covering layer is adapted to coextend with and cover substantially all of the outer layer.

6. An exercise brassiere as defined in claim 5, wherein the covering layer includes:

a front panel with two side edges and a plurality of shoulder straps; and

a rear panel with two side edges and a plurality of shoulder straps, the front and rear panels being connected together at their side edges and plurality of shoulder straps.

7. An exercise brassiere as defined in claim 6, wherein:

the inner layer, the middle layer, the outer layer, and the covering layer have coextensive bottom edges;

the exercise brassiere further includes

an elastic band attached to the coextensive bottom edges of the inner layer, the middle layer, the outer layer and the covering layer, the elastic band extending continuously around the brassiere; and

a fabric strip located around the elastic band.

8. An exercise brassiere as defined in claim 6, wherein:

the inner layer, the middle layer, the outer layer, and the covering layer have coextensive side edges forming two arm openings;

the exercise brassiere further includes

a continuous elastic band surrounding each arm opening; and

a fabric strip extending from the covering layer and located around the elastic band.

9. An exercise brassiere as defined in claim 6, wherein:

the inner layer, the middle layer, the outer layer, and the covering layer have coextensive top edges forming a neck opening;

the exercise brassiere further includes

a continuous elastic band surrounding the neck opening; and

a fabric strip extending from the covering layer and located around the elastic band.

10. An exercise brassiere adapted to fit over the upper torso and shoulders of a wearer, the upper torso and shoulders of the wearer defining a horizontal and vertical direction and having a front portion and a back portion, the exercise brassiere comprising:

an outer layer constructed of a lightweight, flexible, two-way stretch fabric having a front portion adapted to fit over the wearer'"'"'s breasts and over the front portion of the wearer'"'"'s shoulders and a back portion adapted to fit over the back portion of the wearer'"'"'s upper torso at the level of the breasts and over the back portion of the wearer'"'"'s shoulders and having a stretchability significantly greater in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction, including

a continuous front panel with two side edges, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a plurality of shoulder straps; and

a continuous rear panel with two side edges, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a plurality of shoulder straps, the front and the rear panels being connected together at their side edges and plurality of shoulder straps;

an inner layer constructed of a lightweight, flexible, two-way stretch fabric and adapted to fit over the front portion of the wearer'"'"'s upper torso and shoulders and having a stretchability significantly greater in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction, with two circular apertures sized and positioned to receive the wearer'"'"'s breasts and with two side edges, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a plurality of shoulder straps; and

a middle layer constructed of a lightweight, flexible, smooth, moisture-absorbent fabric and adapted to fit over the front portion of the wearer'"'"'s upper torso and shoulders and to cover the apertures of the inner layer and having two side edges, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a plurality of shoulder straps, the flexible fabric of the middle layer having a stretchability significantly greater in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction, wherein the inner layer, the middle layer, and the front panel of the outer layer are adapted to connect together at their top edges, at their bottom edges, at their side edges, and at their plurality of shoulder straps.

11. An exercise brassiere as defined in claim 10, further including a covering layer constructed of a lightweight, flexible fabric and adapted to fit over the wearer'"'"'s upper torso and shoulders, the flexible fabric of the covering layer having a stretchability significantly greater in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction, the covering layer including

a front panel with two side edges, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a plurality of shoulder straps;

and

a rear panel with two side edges, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a plurality of shoulder straps, the front and the rear panels being connected together at their side edges and plurality of shoulder straps, wherein the inner layer, the outer layer and the covering layer are adapted to connect together at their top edges, at their bottom edges, at their side edges, and at their plurality of shoulder straps.

12. An exercise brassiere adapted to fit over the upper torso and shoulders of a wearer, the upper torso and shoulders of the wearer defining a horizontal and vertical direction and having a front portion and a back portion, the exercise brassiere comprising:

an outer layer constructed of a lightweight, flexible two way stretch fabric having a front portion adapted to fit over the wearer'"'"'s breasts and over the front portion of the wearer'"'"'s shoulders and a back portion adapted to fit over the back portion of the wearer'"'"'s upper torso at the level of the breasts and over the back portion of the wearer'"'"'s shoulders and having a stretchability significantly greater in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction, including;

a continuous front panel with two side edges, a top edge, a bottom edge and a plurality of shoulder straps; and

a continuous rear panel with two side edges, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a plurality of shoulder straps, the front and the rear panels being connected together at their side edges and plurality of shoulder straps;

an inner layer constructed of a lightweight, flexible two way stretch fabric and adapted to fit over the front portion of the wearer'"'"'s upper torso and shoulders and having a stretchability significantly greater in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction with two circular apertures sized and positioned to receive the wearer'"'"'s breasts and with two side edges, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a plurality of shoulder straps;

a middle layer constructed of a lightweight, flexible fabric and adapted to fit over the front portion of the wearer'"'"'s upper torso and shoulders and to cover the apertures of the inner layer and having two side edges, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a plurality of shoulder straps, the flexible fabric of the middle layer having a stretchability significantly greater in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction; and

a covering layer constructed of a lightweight, flexible fabric and adapted to fit over the wearer'"'"'s upper torso and shoulders, the flexible fabric of the covering layer having a stretchability significantly greater in the horizontal direction, the covering layer including;

a front panel with two side edges, a to edge, a bottom edge, and a plurality of shoulder straps;

a rear panel with two side edges, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a plurality of shoulder straps, the front and the rear panels being connected together at their side edges and plurality of shoulder straps, the flexible fabric of the covering layer having a stretchability significantly greater in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction, wherein the inner layer, the middle layer, the outer layer and the covering layer are adapted to connect together at their top edges, at their bottom edges, at their side edges, and t their plurality of shoulder straps.

13. An exercise brassiere as defined in claim 12, wherein:

the coextensive bottom edges of the inner layer, the middle layer, the outer layer, and the covering layer form a torso opening; and

the exercise brassiere further includes

a continuous elastic band extending around the torso opening; and

a fabric layer located around the elastic band.

14. An exercise brassiere as defined in claim 12, wherein:

the coextensive top edges of the inner layer, the middle layer, the outer layer, and the covering layer form a neck opening; and

the exercise brassiere further includes

a continuous elastic band surrounding the neck opening; and

a fabric strip extending from the covering layer and located around the elastic band.

15. An exercise brassiere as defined in claim 12, wherein:

the coextensive side edges of the inner layer, the middle layer, the outer layer, and the covering layer form two arm openings; and

the exercise brassiere further includes

a continuous elastic band surrounding each arm opening; and

a fabric strip extending from the covering layer and located around the elastic band.

16. An exercise brassiere adapted to fit over the upper torso and shoulders of a wearer, the upper torso and shoulders of the wearer defining a horizontal and vertical direction and having a front portion, the exercise brassiere comprising:

an outer layer constructed of a lightweight, flexible, two-way stretch fabric and adapted to fit over the wearer'"'"'s upper torso and shoulders and having a stretchability significantly greater in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction, including

a continuous front panel with two side edges, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a plurality of shoulder straps, and

a continuous rear panel with two side edges, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a plurality of shoulder straps, the front and the rear panels being connected together at their side edges and plurality of shoulder straps;

an inner layer constructed of a lightweight, flexible, two-way stretch fabric and adapted to fit over the front portion of the wearer'"'"'s upper torso and shoulders and having a stretchability significantly greater in the horizontal direction than in the vertical with two circular apertures sized and positioned to receive the wearer'"'"'s breasts and with two side edges, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a plurality of shoulder straps;

a middle layer constructed of a lightweight, flexible fabric and adapted to fit over the front portion of the wearer'"'"'s upper torso and shoulders and to cover the apertures in the inner layer and having two side edges, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a plurality of shoulder straps, the flexible fabric of the middle layer having a stretchability significantly greater in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction; and

a covering layer constructed of a lightweight, flexible fabric and adapted to fit over the upper torso and shoulders of the wearer, the flexible fabric of the covering layer having a stretchability significantly greater in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction, the covering layer including a front panel with two side edges, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a plurality of shoulder straps; and

a rear panel with two side edges, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a plurality of shoulder straps, the front and the rear panels being connected together at their side edges and plurality of shoulder straps;

wherein the inner layer, the middle layer, the outer layer and the covering layer are adapted to connect together at their top edges to form a neck opening, at their bottom edges to form a torso opening, at their side edges to form two arm openings, and at their plurality of shoulder straps, so that the front panel of the outer layer and the middle layer cover the apertures of the inner layer, the exercise brassiere further including

an elastic band surrounding the neck opening;

a fabric strip covering the elastic band surrounding the neck opening;

an elastic band surrounding the torso opening;

a fabric strip extending from the covering layer located around the elastic band surrounding the torso opening;

an elastic band surrounding each arm opening; and

a fabric strip extending from the covering layer located around the elastic bands surrounding the arm openings.