Apparatus and method for molding brassiere cups

An apparatus for molding breast cups in a seamless, circularly-knitted brassiere having a breast-covering portion and a torso encircling portion, the apparatus comprising:

• a base;
• a rear wall extending upwardly from the base;
• an upper mold plate extending outwardly and substantially horizontally from the rear wall, the upper mold plate having a pair of spaced openings formed therethrough, the openings spaced and dimensioned to correspond to a pair of breast cups;
• an intermediate plate between the base and the upper mold plate, and being vertically moveable between a first, upper position and a second, lower position for securing a seamless brassiere in position against the upper mold plate for the molding of breast cups therein;
• and
• a projecting element extending upwardly from a top surface of the intermediate plate through the rear wall, and upwardly beyond an upper surface of the upper mold plate, the projecting element configured to engage a lower surface of a male mold plate, wherein when the male mold plate is lowered and engages the upper mold plate, downward movement of the projecting element moves the intermediate plate to the second, lower position.