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US 6,206,753 B1Granted
Brassiere with helical underwire
OwnerLisa M. Wernerinventor
Life of this patent
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OwnerLisa M. Wernerinventor
Estimating the term…
A flexible bra-cup support for brassieres of the underwire type is formed by a length of generally helical coil spring for flexible support and improved control of flexibility in comparison with rigid or semi-rigid supports. The helix is preferably formed from a plastic material such as nylon or polyethylene. The support is held in a conventional sleeve disposed along the undercup portions of the bra. The support may have a circular cross-section or may be made in an elliptical or other shape to control its flexibility as a function of bending direction. The helical support may have a core extending along its axis. The core may be a resilient rubber or plastic material, or an axial core wire surrounded by a resilient sheath. The pitch of the helix may be uniform, but optionally varies along the length of the support to vary the spring's rigidity with position along the undercup line. The ends of the spring may be bent back into the axial line to prevent their poking through the bra fabric and/or causing discomfort. The ends may be bent into a twist, loop, or semi-circular form for sewing in place after insertion in the sleeve part. They may be formed or bent to fit a plastic end-piece. Other bends may be made at intervals spaced along the support length to provide salient portions for fastening the spring to the bra fabric, e.g. by sewing.
An underwire support for a brassiere, said support having first and second ends and a helical form, said helical form extending continuously along substantially the entire length of said support from proximate said first end to proximate said second end.
An underwire support for a brassiere, said support having a helical form, wherein said helical form has a helix pitch, and wherein said helix pitch of said helical form varies along the length of said support, said helix pitch being relatively larger in a portion adjacent to each end of said support, and said helix pitch being relatively smaller in a portion of said support intermediate between said ends.
A brassiere, comprising an underwire support contained within an undercup sleeve disposed at the lower periphery of each cup of said brassiere, each said underwire support having a helical form.
An underwire support for a brassiere, said support having first and second ends and a helical form consisting of a multiplicity of turns and said helical form having a coil axis, said helical form extending continuously along substantially an entire length of said support from proximate said first end to proximate said second end, and said helical form being characterized by a helix angle Ah of less than or equal to about 60 degrees, whereby each turn of said multiplicity of turns is disposed at said helix angle Ah to a plane locally perpendicular to said coil axis.
An underwire support for a brassiere, said support having first and second ends and a helical form consisting of a multiplicity of turns, said helical form having a coil axis, and said helical form being characterized by a helix angle Ah of less than or equal to about 60 degrees, whereby each turn of said multiplicity of turns is disposed at said helix angle Ah to a plane locally perpendicular to said coil axis, said helical form extending continuously along substantially an entire length of said support from proximate said first end to proximate said second end.
An underwire support for a brassiere, said support having first and second ends and a helical form consisting of a multiplicity of substantially circular turns, said helical form extending continuously along substantially the entire length of said support from proximate said first end to proximate said second end, said helical form having a coil axis, a set of orthogonal X-Y coordinate axes being defined in a plane locally perpendicular to said coil axis, said helical form being characterized in that, with respect to said set of orthogonal X-Y coordinate axes, for each individual turn of said multiplicity of turns, a first pair of points of said individual turn opposite each other along said X-axis is disposed at a constant first predetermined distance from said coil axis, while a second pair of points of said individual turn opposite each other along said Y-axis is disposed at a second predetermined distance from said coil axis, said second predetermined distance being less than or equal to said first predetermined distance and greater than or equal to about one-half of said first predetermined distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.