Adjustable circular knit bra with stabilizing areas and methods of making the same

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to bras or brassieres. More particularly, the present invention relates to an adjustable circular knit bra having a stabilizing area located at the center between the breast cups, and each breast cup provides support while permitting flexibility.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

#The foregoing and still other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed explanation of the preferred embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a brassiere according to the present invention;

#FIG. 2 illustrates a top plan view of a brassiere according to the present invention;

#Referring to the drawings and, in particular, FIGS. 1 to 3, there is illustrated a bra or brassiere according to the present invention generally represented by reference numeral 10. Brassiere 10 is preferably formed from a unitary, seamless circular knit bra blank. However, brassiere 10 can be made of two or more layers. The knit construction of the body of the brassiere 10 may be formed of one or any combination of conventional knit stitches.

#The outline of brassiere 10 is cut from the bra blank to provide a pair of breast cups 12, a center gore or panel 14 positioned between the breast cups, and a pair of side panels or portions 16, each side panel being adjacent at one end to a different breast cup and at the other end adapted to be connected the other side panel. Side panels 16 are removably joined together at the back of the wearer by conventional fasteners, such as, for example, hook-and-eye, snap and VELCRO® closures.

#Center gore 14 has a knitted-in stabilizing or stabilizing area 18 positioned in the center gore. As shown in FIG. 1, the stabilizing area 18 is less stretchable than the body of brassiere 10, while maintaining some stretchability in direction A, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Each breast cup 12 has a knitted-in stabilizing area 20 positioned on the lower margins of each breast cup. The stabilizing areas 20 of the breast cups 12 are less stretchable than the body of brassiere 10, while maintaining some stretchability in direction B, as illustrated in FIG. 1.