Brassiere

Abstract

A brassiere including a flexible underwire attached to the bottom edge of a first cup to define a cup contour. The underwire includes a straight first end, a second end, and a central, radiused portion. A first wing is made from an unstretched pattern and is attached to the first cup. The first wing has a first edge having a lower portion connected to and corresponding to a lower portion of the cup contour, and an upper portion that is recessed relative to an upper portion of the cup contour when the pattern is unstretched. When the brassiere is worn by the woman, the first wing is stretched, concentrating a pulling force through the upper portion of the first edge to the upper portion of the cup contour, reducing the capacity of the first cup and raising the breast received within the first cup to enhance the appearance of the breast within the first cup.

1 . A brassiere to be worn by a woman for supporting and enhancing the shape of the breasts of the woman, the brassiere comprising: 
 first and second cups attached together and configured to receive the respective breasts of the woman, the first cup having a capacity and a bottom edge;    a flexible underwire attached to the first cup along the bottom edge and defining a cup contour, the underwire having an underwire length and including 
 a first end having a length,  
 a second end opposite the first end, and  
 a central portion extending between the first and second ends, the central portion being radiused and the first end being straight over the length; and  
   a first wing attached to the first cup and a second wing attached to the second cup, the first and second wings having distal ends adapted to connect together around the back of the woman when the brassiere is being worn by the woman, wherein the first wing is made from an unstretched pattern with a first edge having 
 a lower portion that follows the contour of a corresponding lower portion of the cup contour, the lower portion of the first edge connected to the corresponding lower portion of the cup contour, and  
 an upper portion that is recessed relative to a corresponding upper portion of the cup contour when the pattern is unstretched, the upper portion of the first edge connected to the corresponding upper portion of the cup contour;  
   wherein the first wing is stretched when the brassiere is being worn by the woman, wherein stretching of the first wing concentrates a pulling force through the upper portion of the first edge to the corresponding upper portion of the cup contour such that the capacity of the first cup is reduced thereby raising the breast received within the first cup to enhance the appearance of the breast within the first cup.    
   
   
       2 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , further comprising a bridge portion extending between the first and second cups, and wherein the first wing includes a third edge such that when the first wing is attached to the first cup, the third edge is substantially perpendicular to the bridge portion.  
   
   
       3 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein a second edge of the first wing extends between the first end of the underwire and the distal end of the first wing, and wherein the second edge extends in a substantially straight line between the first end of the underwire and the distal end of the first wing when the pattern is unstretched.  
   
   
       4 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the first end of the underwire is greater than or equal to five percent of the underwire length and less than or equal to twenty-five percent of the underwire length.  
   
   
       5 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the first end of the underwire is greater than or equal to ten percent of the underwire length and less than or equal to fifteen percent of the underwire length.  
   
   
       6 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the first cup is formed from a piece of fabric using a tool, the tool having a diameter, and wherein the diameter of the tool extends beyond the edge of the fabric such that the tool forms part of a neck hole edge into the first cup.  
   
   
       7 . The brassiere of  claim 6 , wherein the first cup is constantly radiused from the part of the neck hole edge formed by the tool towards a center of the first cup.  
   
   
       8 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the first edge extends in a substantially straight line between a transition point of the first edge and an endpoint of the first edge.  
   
   
       9 . A method of making a brassiere to be worn by a woman for supporting and enhancing the shape of the breasts of the woman, the method comprising: 
 forming first and second cups, the first cup having a capacity and a bottom edge;    attaching the first and second cups to a bridge portion;    providing a flexible underwire having an underwire length, the underwire comprising a first end having a length, a second end opposite the first end, and a central portion extending between the first and second ends, the central portion being radiused and the first end being straight over the length;    attaching the underwire to the bottom edge of the first cup to define a cup contour;    providing an unstretched pattern with a first edge having a lower portion that follows the contour of a corresponding lower portion of the cup contour, and an upper portion that is recessed relative to a corresponding upper portion of the cup contour when the pattern is unstretched;    attaching the pattern to the first cup to define a first wing, attaching the lower portion of the first edge to the corresponding lower portion of the cup contour of the first cup, and attaching the upper portion of the first edge connected to the corresponding upper portion of the cup contour; and    attaching a second wing to the second cup;    wherein connecting distal ends of the first and second wings together around the back of the woman stretches the first wing, concentrating a pulling force through the upper portion of the first edge to the corresponding upper portion of the cup contour, thereby reducing the capacity of the first cup and raising the breast received within the first cup, enhancing the appearance of the breast within the first cup.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein attaching the pattern to the first cup includes defining a first wing having a third edge that is substantially perpendicular to the bridge portion.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein providing an unstretched pattern includes providing a second edge that extends in a substantially straight line between the first end of the underwire and the distal end of the first wing when the pattern is unstretched.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein forming the cup comprises pressing a tool into a piece of fabric, the tool having a diameter that extends beyond an edge of the fabric, the tool forming a part of a neck hole edge into the cup.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein forming the cup further comprises forming a constantly radiused surface from the part of the neck hole edge that is formed by the tool towards a center of the cup.  
   
   
       14 . A brassiere to be worn by a woman for supporting and enhancing the shape of the breasts of the woman, the brassiere comprising: 
 first and second cups attached together and configured to receive the respective breasts of the woman, the first cup having a capacity and a bottom edge, the first cup formed from a piece of fabric using a tool, the tool having a diameter that extends beyond the edge of the fabric such that the tool forms part of a neck hole edge into the cup;    a flexible underwire attached to the first cup along the bottom edge and defining a cup contour, the underwire having an underwire length and including 
 a first end having a length,  
 a second end opposite the first end, and  
 a central portion extending between the first and second ends, the central portion being radiused and the first end being straight over the length;  
   a first wing attached to the first cup and a second wing attached to the second cup, the first and second wings having distal ends adapted to connect together around the back of the woman when the brassiere is being worn by the woman, wherein the first wing is made from an unstretched pattern with a first edge having 
 a lower portion that follows the contour of a corresponding lower portion of the cup contour, the lower portion of the first edge connected to the corresponding lower portion of the cup contour, and  
 an upper portion that is recessed relative to a corresponding upper portion of the cup contour when the pattern is unstretched, the upper portion of the first edge connected to the corresponding upper portion of the cup contour;  
   wherein the first wing is stretched when the brassiere is being worn by the woman, wherein stretching of the first wing concentrates a pulling force through the upper portion of the first edge to the corresponding upper portion of the cup contour such that the capacity of the first cup is reduced thereby raising the breast received within the first cup to enhance the appearance of the breast within the first cup.    
   
   
       15 . The brassiere of  claim 14 , wherein a second edge of the first wing extends between the first end of the underwire and the distal end of the first wing, and wherein the second edge extends in a substantially straight line between the first end of the underwire and the distal end of the first wing when the pattern is unstretched.  
   
   
       16 . The brassiere of  claim 14 , wherein the length of the first end of the underwire is greater than or equal to five percent of the underwire length and less than or equal to twenty-five percent of the underwire length.  
   
   
       17 . The brassiere of  claim 14 , wherein the length of the first end of the underwire is greater than or equal to ten percent of the underwire length and less than or equal to fifteen percent of the underwire length.  
   
   
       18 . The brassiere of  claim 14 , wherein the first cup is constantly radiused from the part of the neck hole edge formed by the tool towards a center of the first cup.  
   
   
       19 . The brassiere of  claim 14 , wherein the upper portion of the first edge extends in a substantially straight line between a transition point of the first edge and an endpoint of the first edge.  
   
   
       20 . The brassiere of  claim 14 , further comprising a bridge portion extending between the first and second cups, and wherein the first wing includes a third edge such that when the first wing is attached to the first cup, the third edge is substantially perpendicular to the bridge portion.