High-support upper-torso garment

Abstract

An upper-torso support garment (e.g., a bra) can include zonal properties. In at least some examples, the upper-torso support garment includes an underwire that can extend only partially across the lower medial portion of the breast cup, without extending entirely across the lower lateral portion. In at least some examples, the lateral portion of the breast cup can include a combination of material layers forming a sling construction, which can contribute to tailored support on the lateral portion of the breast cup.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An upper-torso support garment comprising:
 a center bridge;   a lateral wing;   a breast cup positioned between the center bridge and the lateral wing and comprising a lower transitional edge that comprises a lower boundary of the breast cup; and   an underwire secured along a portion of the lower transitional edge, the underwire comprising a medial terminal end positioned near or at an upper portion of the center bridge and a lateral terminal end positioned between a lower portion of the center bridge and the lateral wing.   
     
     
         2 . The upper-torso support garment of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral terminal end of the underwire is aligned with the lower transitional edge along a middle one-third segment of the lower transitional edge. 
     
     
         3 . The upper-torso support garment of  claim 1 , wherein the lower transitional edge comprises a medial endpoint, a lateral endpoint, and a midpoint between the medial endpoint and the lateral endpoint; and the lateral terminal end of the underwire is substantially aligned with the midpoint. 
     
     
         4 . The upper-torso support garment of  claim 1 , wherein the lower transitional edge comprises a first length and the underwire comprises a second length, which is in a range of about 40% to 60% of the first length. 
     
     
         5 . The upper-torso support garment of  claim 4 , wherein the second length is about half of the first length. 
     
     
         6 . The upper-torso support garment of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the underwire is affixed to one or more textile layers; and at least one layer of the one or more textile layers comprises a foam layer.   
     
     
         7 . The upper-torso support garment of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a cradle positioned below the breast cup and extending between the center bridge and the lateral wing; and 
 the breast cup and the cradle comprising an outer textile layer, an inner textile layer, and a first textile panel retained between the outer textile layer and the inner textile layer, wherein the first textile panel extends through a portion of the cradle, across the lower transitional edge, and through a lateral portion of the breast cup. 
 
     
     
         8 . The upper-torso support garment of  claim 7 , wherein in the lateral portion of the breast cup, the outer textile layer is affixed indirectly to the inner textile layer by way of the first textile panel interleaving therebetween; and in a medial portion of the breast cup, the outer textile layer is affixed directly to the inner textile layer, without the first textile panel interleaving therebetween. 
     
     
         9 . The upper-torso support garment of  claim 7 , wherein the center bridge comprises the inner textile layer, the outer textile layer, and a second textile panel retained between the outer textile layer and the inner textile layer; and the second textile panel, as compared to the first textile panel, comprises one or more of a higher modulus of elasticity and a lower elongation. 
     
     
         10 . An upper-torso support garment comprising:
 a breast cup comprising a medial portion and a lateral portion;   the breast cup comprising an outer textile layer, an inner textile layer, and a first textile panel retained between the outer textile layer and the inner textile layer;   in the lateral portion of the breast cup, the outer textile panel interleaves between the outer textile layer and the inner textile layer; and   in the medial portion of the breast cup, the outer textile layer is layered directly adjacent the inner textile layer.   
     
     
         11 . The upper-torso support garment of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the breast cup further comprises a lower transitional edge comprising a lower boundary of the breast cup;   the upper-torso support garment comprises a cradle positioned below the breast cup, wherein the lower transitional edge extends between the cradle and the breast cup; and   the cradle comprising the outer textile layer, the inner textile layer, and the first textile panel, which extends through a portion of the cradle, across the lower transitional edge, and into the lateral portion of the breast cup.   
     
     
         12 . The upper-torso support garment of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a center bridge positioned adjacent the medial portion of the breast cup; 
 the center bridge comprising the inner textile layer, the outer textile layer, and a second textile panel retained between the outer textile layer and the inner textile layer; and 
 the second textile panel, as compared to the first textile panel, comprising one or more of a higher modulus of elasticity and a lower elongation. 
 
     
     
         13 . The upper-torso support garment of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a lower transitional edge comprising a lower boundary of the breast cup, wherein the lower transitional edge comprises a first length; and 
 an underwire secured along the lower transitional edge, the underwire comprising second length, which is shorter than the first length. 
 
     
     
         14 . The upper-torso support garment of  claim 13 , wherein the lower transitional edge is divisible into one-third length segments; and a lateral terminal end of the underwire is aligned with the lower transitional edge along a middle one-third segment of the lower transitional edge. 
     
     
         15 . The upper-torso support garment of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the lower transitional edge comprises a midpoint; and   a lateral terminal end of the underwire is substantially aligned with the midpoint.   
     
     
         16 . The upper-torso support garment of  claim 13 , the second length is in a range of about 40% to 60% of the first length. 
     
     
         17 . The upper-torso support garment of  claim 16 , wherein the second length is about half of the first length. 
     
     
         18 . The upper-torso support garment of  claim 13 , wherein a lateral end of the underwire terminates at a positioned aligned with a medial edge of the first textile panel. 
     
     
         19 . An upper-torso support garment comprising:
 a first breast cup and a second breast cup;   a frame extending around a periphery of at least a portion of the first breast cup and the second breast cup, the frame comprising:   a center bridge positioned between the first breast cup and the second breast cup;
 a first cradle positioned below the first breast cup; and 
 a second cradle positioned below the second breast cup; 
   a central zone comprising at least the center bridge;   a first lateral zone comprising at least a portion of the first cradle and at least a portion of the first breast cup;   a second lateral zone comprising at least a portion of the second cradle and at least a portion of the second breast cup, wherein the central zone, as compared with a first medial zone and a second medial zone, comprises lower stretch properties.   
     
     
         20 . The upper-torso support garment of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the first breast cup comprises a lower transitional edge bridging the first breast cup to the frame;   the lower transitional edge curves as it extends from a medial endpoint near the center bridge to a lateral endpoint; and   the lower transitional edge comprises a midpoint between the medial endpoint and the lateral endpoint.   
     
     
         21 . The upper-torso support garment of  claim 20  further comprising, an interface that transitions from the central zone to the first lateral zone, wherein the interface is aligned with the midpoint. 
     
     
         22 . The upper-torso support garment of  claim 20  further comprising an underwire curvedly extending along at least a portion of the lower transitional edge, wherein the underwire comprises a medial terminal end, which is positioned near the medial endpoint of the lower transitional edge, and a lateral terminal end. 
     
     
         23 . The upper-torso support garment of  claim 22 , wherein the lateral terminal end is aligned with a middle one-third segment of the lower transitional edge. 
     
     
         24 . The upper-torso support garment of  claim 22 , wherein the lateral terminal end is aligned with the midpoint of the lower transitional edge. 
     
     
         25 . The upper-torso support garment of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the first breast cup, the second breast cup, and the frame comprise an outermost textile layer, an innermost textile layer, and a first panel and a second panel retained between the outermost textile layer and the innermost textile layer;   the central zone comprising the first panel; and   the first lateral zone comprising the second panel, which as compared with the first panel, comprises at least one of a lower modulus of elasticity and a higher elongation.   
     
     
         26 . The upper-torso support garment of  claim 25 , wherein the second panel extends from the first cradle and into a lateral portion of the first breast cup.