Bra cup for increasing visual appearance of breast size, and brassiere incorporating the same

• US 8,262,433 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2009
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maidenform Incorporated (Hanesbrands Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Maidenform Incorporated (Hanesbrands Incorporated)
• Inventors: Castellano, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Hale, Gloria
• Application Number:
  US12/641,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20100273395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 450 36- 39, 450 54- 58, 450/1, 226/7, 226/8, 623/7, 623/8
• US Class Current: 450/39
• CPC Class Codes: A41C 3/144 Pads

Abstract

A bra cup includes: an inner cup portion, comprising one or more inner foam layers; and an outer cup portion, attached to the inner cup portion, comprising one or more outer foam layers, the inner cup portion and the outer cup portion together forming the bra cup. The inner foam layers form first and second convex portions with respect to an inner surface of the inner cup portion. The first and second convex portions form, at an intersection therebetween, a channel on the inner surface extending from a lower portion of the cup towards an apex of the bra cup.

Claims

1. A bra cup, comprising:

an inner cup portion comprising one or more inner layers, at least one layer of the one or more inner layers having a surface with a spline-shaped cross-sectional curvature that extends between an upper edge and a lower edge of the bra cup; and

an outer cup portion, attached to the inner cup portion, comprising one or more outer layers, the inner cup portion and the outer cup portion together forming the bra cup,

wherein the inner cup portion is configured to support a wearer'"'"'s breast of a first cup size, and to uplift and push the breast inwardly towards an opposite breast of the wearer, and

wherein the outer cup portion is configured to have a second cup size at least two cup sizes larger than that of the first cup size.

2. The bra cup according to claim 1, wherein the one or more outer layers are dimensioned and arranged to form a projecting portion at an apex of the bra cup.

3. The bra cup according to claim 1, the inner cup portion further comprising a fabric liner fixedly attached to an inner surface of the inner cup portion.

4. The bra cup according to claim 3, wherein the fabric liner is laminated to the inner surface of the inner cup portion.

5. The bra cup according to claim 1, wherein the at least one layer of the one or more inner layers is a foam material.

12. The bra cup according to claim 1, wherein the one or more inner layers of define first and second convex portions with respect to an inner surface of the inner cup portion, the first and second convex portions delineating, at an intersection therebetween, a channel on the inner surface of the inner cup portion, the channel extending from a lower portion of the bra cup towards an apex of the bra cup.

15. The bra cup according to claim 1, further comprising a flange attached to the lower edge of the bra cup.

6. A bra comprising:

(a) two bra cups, adjacent to one another at inner edge portions thereof, each bra cup comprising;

an inner cup portion, comprising one or more inner layers, at least one layer of the one or more inner layers having a surface with a spline-shaped cross-sectional curvature that extends between an upper edge and a lower edge of the bra cup; and

an outer cup portion, attached to the inner cup portion, comprising one or more outer layers, the inner cup portion and the outer cup portion together forming the bra cup,

wherein the inner cup portion is configured to support a wearer'"'"'s breast of a first cup size, and to uplift and push the breast inwardly towards an opposite breast of the wearer, and

wherein the outer cup portion is configured to have a second cup size at least two cup sizes larger than that of the first cup size; and

(b) at least one bra wing extending from outer edge portions of the bra cups.

7. The bra according to claim 6, wherein the one or more outer layers form a projecting portion at an apex of the bra cup.

8. The bra according to claim 6, the inner cup portion further comprising a fabric liner fixedly attached to an inner surface of the inner cup portion that contacts the breasts of the wearer.

9. The bra according to claim 8, wherein the fabric liner is laminated to the inner surface of the inner cup portion.

10. The bra according to claim 6, wherein the at least one layer of the one or more inner layers is a foam material.

13. The bra according to claim 6, wherein the one or more inner layers of define first and second convex portions with respect to an inner surface of the inner cup portion, the first and second convex portions delineating, at an intersection therebetween, a channel on the inner surface of the inner cup portion, the channel extending from a lower portion of the bra cup towards an apex of the bra cup.

16. The bra cup according to claim 6, further comprising a flange attached to the lower edge of the bra cup.

11. A bra cup, comprising:

an inner cup portion of a first cup size, comprising one or more inner layers, at least one layer of the one or more inner layers having a surface with a spline-shaped cross-sectional curvature that extends between an upper edge and a lower edge of the bra cup; and

an outer cup portion of a second cup size, at least two cup sizes larger than the first cup size, attached to the inner cup portion, comprising one or more outer layers, the inner cup portion and the outer cup portion together forming the bra cup,

the inner cup portion being configured to support a wearer'"'"'s breast of the first cup size, and to uplift and push the breast inwardly towards an opposite breast of the wearer.

14. The bra cup according to claim 11, wherein the one or more inner layers of define first and second convex portions with respect to an inner surface of the inner cup portion, the first and second convex portions delineating, at an intersection therebetween, a channel on the inner surface of the inner cup portion, the channel extending from a lower portion of the bra cup towards an apex of the bra cup.

17. The bra cup according to claim 11, further comprising a flange attached to the lower edge of the bra cup.