Athletic bra

• US 8,128,457 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Reinisch, Dana, Sokolowski, Susan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hale, Gloria
• Application Number:
  US12/234,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20090098803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 450/2, 450/4, 450 39- 41, 450 53- 57, 450 30- 33, 450/59, 450 62- 64, 450/75, 450/76
• US Class Current: 450/59
• CPC Class Codes: A41C 3/0014 made from one piece with one or several layers
• CPC Class Codes: A41C 3/0057 for sport activities

Abstract

A seamless athletic bra includes different regions with different levels of support. The bra is formed from layers of material adhered together. Altering the types of materials comprising the layers in a region changes the level of support in that region as compared with other regions of the bra. A first region having the lowest level of support is found in a back panel and in the molded cups. A second region having a medium level of support is found in the front portion of the strap. A third region having a high level of support is found in a framework that follows the contours of the molded cups and in a back portion of the strap.

Claims

1. A bra comprising:

a first layer of material configured to contact a wearer'"'"'s torso;

a second layer of material overlaying and adhered to the first layer of material, wherein a first portion of the first layer and a first portion of the second layer are molded to form at least one cup configured to encapsulate a wearer'"'"'s breast;

a rib band adjacent to at least one of the first layer and the second layer;

a framework disposed between the at least one cup and the rib band, wherein the framework is formed from a second portion of the first layer, a second portion of the second layer, and a third layer of material that is disposed between and adhered to the first layer and the second layer, wherein the framework is configured to follow a contour of the at least one cup;

the framework providing a first level of support;

the at least one cup providing a second level of support, wherein the first level of support is greater than the second level of support; and

wherein the bra is seamless between the framework and the at least one cup.

2. The bra according to claim 1, wherein the entirety of the first portion of the first layer is adhered to the first portion of the second layer.

3. The bra according to claim 1 further comprising a shoulder strap, wherein the shoulder strap includes a front portion that is contiguous with the at least one cup and a back portion that is attached to the front portion, and wherein the front portion provides a different level of support than the back portion.

4. The bra according to claim 3, wherein the front portion includes a cutout.

5. The bra according to claim 3, wherein the back portion has a racer back configuration.

6. The bra according to claim 2, wherein the shoulder strap includes an adjustment system.

7. A bra comprising:

an inner lining configured to contact a wearer'"'"'s torso;

an outer layer overlaying the inner lining;

at least one molded cup formed from a first portion of the inner lining and a first portion of the outer layer, the at least one molded cup configured to encapsulate a wearer'"'"'s breast;

a framework, wherein the framework is formed from a second portion of the inner lining, wherein the second portion of the inner lining is contiguous with the first portion of the inner lining to provide a seamless transition between the at least one molded cup and the framework, a second portion of the outer layer, wherein the second portion of the outer layer is contiguous with the first portion of the outer layer to provide a seamless transition between the at least one molded cup and the framework, and a first material that is disposed between and adhered to the inner lining and the outer layer, wherein the framework is configured to follow a contour of the at least one molded cup; and

a shoulder strap having a front portion and a back portion, wherein the front portion is formed from a third portion of the inner lining, a third portion of the outer layer, and a second material that is disposed between and adhered to the inner lining and the outer layer, wherein the first material is a different type of material from the second material.

8. The claim according to claim 7, wherein the back portion is formed from a fourth portion of the inner lining, a fourth portion of the outer layer, and a third material that is disposed between and adhered to the inner lining and the outer layer.

9. The claim according to claim 8, wherein the first material and the third material are the same type of material.

10. The claim according to claim 7, wherein the first portion of the inner lining is adhered to the first portion of the outer layer.

11. The bra according to claim 10, wherein the entirety of the first portion of the inner liner is adhered to the first portion of the outer layer.

12. The bra according to claim 7, wherein the shoulder strap includes a cutout.

13. The bra according to claim 7, wherein the shoulder strap includes an adjustment system.

14. The bra according to claim 13, wherein the adjustment system comprises a hook and a series of slots associated with the shoulder strap, wherein the slots are configured to receive the hook.

15. A bra comprising:

a first layer of material and a second layer of material overlaying the first layer of material, the first layer of material and the second layer of material together forming a first region, a second region, and a third region;

wherein the first region includes at least one molded cup configured to encapsulate a wearer'"'"'s breast and provides a first level of support;

wherein the second region includes a front portion of a shoulder strap extending from the at least one molded cup and provides a second level of support;

wherein the third region includes a third layer of material sandwiched between the first layer of material and the second layer of material and a framework disposed adjacent the at least one molded cup and wherein the third region provides a third level of support; and

wherein the bra is seamless between the first region and the third region.

16. The bra according to claim 15, wherein the third region comprises a back portion of the shoulder strap.

17. The bra according to claim 15, further comprising a fourth region including a back panel, and wherein the first region and the fourth region include the same type of laminate material.

18. The bra according to claim 15, wherein the second and third regions comprise three layers of material adhered together.

19. The bra according to claim 18, wherein the third material is adhered to the first material and the second material in the second region, and the third region comprises the first material, the second material, and a fourth material sandwiched between and adhered to the first material and the second material, and wherein the fourth material has a greater stiffness than the third material.

20. The bra according to claim 19, wherein the first region comprises the first material adhered to the second material.

21. A bra comprising:

a first layer of material configured to contact a wearer'"'"'s torso;

a second layer of material overlaying and adhered to the first layer of material, wherein a first portion of the first layer and a first portion of the second layer are molded to form a first cup configured to encapsulate a wearer'"'"'s breast;

at least one armhole formed in the first layer and the second layer and configured to receive a wearer'"'"'s arm;

a neckline formed in the body layer and the second layer and configured to receive a wearer'"'"'s neck;

a rib band adjacent to at least one of the first layer and the second layer and configured to encircle a wearer'"'"'s rib cage;

a framework disposed between the first cup and the rib band, wherein the framework is formed from a second portion of the first layer, a second portion of the second layer, and a third layer of material that is disposed between and adhered to the first layer and the second layer, wherein the framework is configured to follow a contour of the first cup;

the framework providing a first level of support;

the first cup providing a second level of support, wherein the first level of support is greater than the second level of support and wherein the bra is seamless between the framework and the first cup; and

wherein a layer of flocked silicone is disposed upon at least one of the armhole, the neckline, and the rib band.

22. The bra according to claim 21 wherein the layer of flocked silicone is disposed upon each of the armhole, the neckline, and the rib band.

23. The bra according to claim 21, wherein the layer of flocked silicone is positioned to be in contact with a wearer'"'"'s torso.

24. The bra according to claim 21 wherein the entirety of the first portion of the first layer is adhered to the first portion of the second layer.

25. The bra according to claim 24 further comprising a second cup, wherein a leg of the framework separates the first cup and the second cup.