Knitted bra having variable elasticity

• US 9,538,794 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2013
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DBI Operations Europe SAS
• Original Assignee: Hanes Operations Europe S.A.S. (Hanesbrands Incorporated)
• Inventors: Turlan, Manon
• Primary Examiner(s): HALE, GLORIA M
• Application Number:
  US14/442,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20160242472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 450 74- 76, 450 19- 22, 450 65- 70
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A41C 3/0007 with stay means A41C3/06 takes precedence; stay means per se A41C3/122
• CPC Class Codes: A41F 15/00 Shoulder or like straps
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/102 with stitch pattern D04B1/06, D04B1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/18 elastic threads
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/246 Upper torso garments, e.g. sweaters, shirts, leotards

Abstract

The invention relates to a knitted bra (10), comprising at least a first knitted cup (12a) and a second knitted cup (12b) which are transversely aligned and each have an overall hemispheric shape, each cup (12a, 12b) comprising a first elastically extensible knitted peripheral portion for supporting the chest, a stiffener (20) portion which extends at least partially under each cup (12a, 12b), and a strap (14) for attaching the back of the bra (10), characterized in that the stiffener (20) forms an underwiring strip which at least partially surrounds the first peripheral supporting portion (30a, 30b) of each cup (12a, 12b), and in that the stiffener (20) is knitted in a first type of stitch designed for replacing an added underwiring.

Claims

1. A brassiere made of knit-fabric, the brassiere comprising:

a first knitted cup and a second knitted cup which are transversely aligned and which have each a generally hemispherical shape, each cup of the first knitted cup and the second knitted cup including a first elastically extensible peripheral portion made of a knit-fabric, the first elastically extensible peripheral portion configured to support a chest of a wearer of the brassiere,

a stiffener which extends at least partially under each cup of the first knitted cup and the second knitted cup, and

a strip forming a back and sides of the brassiere, the strip configured for attaching at the back of the brassiere,

wherein the stiffener forms an underwire strip which surrounds at least partially the first peripheral supporting portion of each cup, and the stiffener is made of knit-fabric according to a first stitch type; and

wherein each cup of the first knitted cup and the second knitted cup includes a second inner annular portion adjacent to the first portion, the second inner annular portion being transversely and vertically elastically extensible, and has a vertical and transverse elastic extensibility greater than or equal to the elastic extensibility of the first portion.

2. The brassiere according to claim 1, wherein the stiffener has a first elastic extensibility less than or equal to twenty percent in a vertical direction, perpendicular to a transverse direction, so as to vertically support the chest.

3. The brassiere according to claim 1, wherein the first peripheral supporting portion of each cup has a vertical elastic extensibility greater than that of the stiffener.

4. The brassiere according to claim 1, wherein the stiffener and the first portion of each cup includes a first number of stitches per unit area less than a second number of stitches per unit area of the second portion of each cup, wherein the stiffener and the first portion are transversely less extensible than the second portion.

5. The brassiere according to claim 1, wherein each cup includes a third central portion which is adjacent to the second portion, which has a generally circular shape arranged generally at a center of the associated cup, and which has a vertical and transverse elastic extensibility less than the elastic extensibility of the second portion.

6. The brassiere according to claim 5, wherein the third portion includes a third number of stitches per unit area less than a second number of stitches per unit area of the second portion of each cup, wherein the third portion is transversely less extensible than the second portion.

7. The brassiere according to claim 1, wherein each portion of each cup is made of knit-fabric according to a different stitch type.

8. The brassiere according to claim 1, wherein the stiffener forms a central strip between the first knitted cup and second knitted cup, wherein the stiffener connects the first cup and the second cup together.

9. The brassiere according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of each cup, the stiffener, and the back strip form one circularly-knit piece.

10. The brassiere according to claim 5, wherein the second portion of each cup forms a ring arranged within the first portion of each cup.

11. The brassiere according to claim 10, wherein the third portion of each cup forms a circle arranged at the center of each cup and within the second portion of each cup of the first knitted cup and the second knitted cup.

12. The brassiere of claim 5, wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion are concentrically arranged on each cup of the first knitted cup and the second knitted cup.

13. A brassiere made of knit-fabric, the brassiere comprising:

a first knitted cup and a second knitted cup which are transversely aligned and which have each a generally hemispherical shape, each cup of the first knitted cup and the second knitted cup including a first elastically extensible peripheral portion made of a knit-fabric, the first elastically extensible peripheral portion configured to support a chest of a wearer of the brassiere;

a strip forming a back and sides of the brassiere, the strip configured for attaching at the back of the brassiere; and

wherein each cup of the first knitted cup and the second knitted cup includes a second inner annular portion which is adjacent to the first portion, the second inner annular portion being transversely and vertically elastically extensible, and having a vertical and transverse elastic extensibility greater than or equal to the elastic extensibility of the first portion; and

wherein each cup of the first knitted cup and the second knitted cup includes a third central portion which is adjacent to the second portion, which has a generally circular shape arranged generally at a center of the associated cup, and which has a vertical and transverse elastic extensibility less than the elastic extensibility of the second portion.

14. The brassiere according to claim 13, comprising a stiffener extending at least partially under each cup of the first knitted cup and the second knitted cup, wherein the first portion of each cup of the first knitted cup and the second knitted cup includes a first number of stitches per unit area less than a second number of stitches per unit area of the second portion of each cup of the first knitted cup and the second knitted cup, wherein the stiffener and the first portion are transversely less extensible than the second portion.

15. The brassiere according to claim 13, wherein the third portion includes a third number of stitches per unit area less than a second number of stitches per unit area of the second portion of each cup of the first knitted cup and the second knitted cup, wherein the third portion is transversely less extensible than the second portion.

16. The brassiere according to claim 13, wherein each of the first elastically extensible peripheral portion, the second inner annular portion, and the third central portion of each cup of the first knitted cup and the second knitted cup are made of knit-fabric according to a different stitch type.

17. The brassiere according to claim 13, wherein the second portion of each cup forms a ring arranged within the first portion of each cup of the first knitted cup and the second knitted cup.

18. The brassiere according to claim 17, wherein the third portion of each cup forms a circle arranged at a center of each cup and within the second portion of each cup of the first knitted cup and the second knitted cup.

19. The brassiere according to claim 18, wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion are concentrically arranged on each cup of the first knitted cup and the second knitted cup.