阅读说明：本技术 用于支撑服装的可扩展罩杯 (Expandable cup for supporting a garment ) 是由 亚当·帕金森 于 2018-05-23 设计创作，主要内容包括：提供了一种用于支撑服装的乳房罩杯。乳房罩杯包括支撑罩杯部分、在支撑罩杯部分的上外侧象限和下外侧象限之间延伸的第一衬料、以及在支撑罩杯部分的上内侧象限和下内侧象限之间延伸的第二衬料。第一衬料和第二衬料两者都可以包括比支撑罩杯部分低的弹性模量,并且可以被配置成从第一构型扩展到第二构型。当集成到支撑服装中时,乳房罩杯可以通过下部衬料联接到下带部分,该下部衬料被配置为从第一构型扩展到第二构型。当穿着时,第一衬料和第二衬料以及下部衬料在穿着者的乳房形状由于张力的调节而改变时有助于舒适和支撑性的贴合。(A breast cup for supporting a garment is provided. The breast cup includes a support cup portion, a first liner extending between an upper outer quadrant and a lower outer quadrant of the support cup portion, and a second liner extending between an upper inner quadrant and a lower inner quadrant of the support cup portion. Both the first gusset and the second gusset may include a lower modulus of elasticity than the supporting cup portion, and may be configured to expand from a first configuration to a second configuration. When integrated into a support garment, the breast cups may be coupled to the lower belt portion by a lower liner configured to expand from a first configuration to a second configuration. The primary and secondary liners and the lower liner facilitate a comfortable and supportive fit when worn as the shape of the wearer's breasts change due to adjustment of tension.)

1. A breast cup, comprising: a support cup portion including an upper outer quadrant, an upper inner quadrant, a lower outer quadrant, and a lower inner quadrant; a first gusset expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration, the first gusset being secured to the support cup portion such that the first gusset extends between at least a portion of the upper outer quadrant and a portion of the lower outer quadrant of the support cup portion; and a second gusset expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration, the second gusset being secured to the support cup portion such that the second gusset extends between at least a portion of the upper inner quadrant and a portion of the lower inner quadrant of the support cup portion, wherein the first gusset has a first modulus of elasticity and the second gusset has a second modulus of elasticity, both the first modulus of elasticity and the second modulus of elasticity being less than a third modulus of elasticity of the support cup portion.

2. A breast cup as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first gusset comprises a first gusset and the second gusset comprises a second gusset.

3. A breast cup as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first gusset extends from an outer edge of the support cup portion to a central region of the support cup portion and the second gusset extends from an inner edge of the support cup portion to the central region of the support cup portion.

4. A breast cup according to claim 3, wherein a base edge of the first gusset coincides with the outer edge of the support cup portion and an apex of the first gusset extends towards the central region, and wherein a base edge of the second gusset coincides with the inner edge of the support cup portion and an apex of the second gusset extends towards the central region.

5. A breast cup as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second gussets extend through a central horizontal midline of the support cup portion.

6. The breast cup of claim 1, wherein the first modulus of elasticity is the same as the second modulus of elasticity.

7. A breast cup of claim 1, further comprising a third gusset expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration, the third gusset being secured to the support cup portion such that the third gusset extends in one or more upper quadrants of the support cup portion, the third gusset having a fourth modulus of elasticity that is less than the third modulus of elasticity of the support cup portion.

8. A support garment, comprising: a first breast cup comprising a first support cup portion, a first liner, and a second liner, the first support cup portion having an upper outer quadrant, an upper inner quadrant, a lower outer quadrant, and a lower inner quadrant, the first gusset being expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration, the first gusset being secured to the first support cup portion such that the first gusset extends between at least a portion of the upper outer quadrant and a portion of the lower outer quadrant of the first support cup portion, the second gusset being expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration, the second gusset being secured to the first support cup portion such that the second gusset extends between at least a portion of the upper inner quadrant and a portion of the lower inner quadrant of the first support cup portion, the first gusset and the second gusset each having a lower modulus of elasticity than the first supporting cup portion; a second breast cup including a second support cup portion having an upper outer quadrant, an upper inner quadrant, a lower outer quadrant, and a lower inner quadrant, a third gusset, and a fourth gusset, the third gusset being expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration, the third gusset being secured to the second support cup portion such that the third gusset extends between at least a portion of the upper outer quadrant and a portion of the lower outer quadrant of the second support cup portion, the fourth gusset being expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration, the fourth gusset being secured to the second support cup portion such that the fourth gusset extends between at least a portion of the upper medial quadrant and a portion of the lower medial quadrant of the second support cup portion, the third gusset and the fourth gusset each having a lower modulus of elasticity than the second supporting cup portion; a lower band portion extending downward from the first and second breast cups; a first strap extending from the first breast cup; and a second strap extending from the second breast cup.

9. The support garment of claim 8, wherein the first gusset, the second gusset, the third gusset, and the fourth gusset each comprise a triangular shape.

10. The support garment of claim 9, wherein both the first gusset and the second gusset extend from a perimeter of the first support cup portion to a central region of the first support cup portion, and wherein both the third gusset and the fourth gusset extend from a perimeter of the second support cup portion to a central region of the second support cup portion.

11. The support garment of claim 8, wherein the first configuration is a non-stretched state and the second configuration is a stretched state.

12. The support garment of claim 8, wherein each of the first and second straps has one or more tension adjustment mechanisms.

13. The support garment of claim 8, further comprising: a fifth gusset interposed between the first breast cup and the lower band portion and having a lower modulus of elasticity than the first support cup portion; and a sixth gusset interposed between the second breast cup and the lower band portion and having a lower modulus of elasticity than the second support cup portion.

14. The support garment of claim 8, wherein the first gusset, the second gusset, the third gusset, and the fourth gusset are comprised of an elastically resilient material.

15. The support garment of claim 8, wherein the first and second support cup portions are constructed of a foam material.

16. A breast cup, comprising: a support cup portion comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the support cup portion defined by an upper outer quadrant, an upper inner quadrant, a lower outer quadrant, and a lower inner quadrant; a first gusset expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration, the first gusset being secured to the support cup portion such that the first gusset extends between at least a portion of the upper outer quadrant and a portion of the lower outer quadrant; a second gusset expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration, the second gusset being secured to the support cup portion such that the second gusset extends between at least a portion of the upper medial quadrant and a portion of the lower medial quadrant; and a third gusset expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration, the third gusset secured to the supporting cup portion such that the third gusset extends within the upper inner quadrant, wherein the first gusset, the second gusset, and the third gusset each have a lower modulus of elasticity than the supporting cup portion.

17. A breast cup of claim 16, wherein each of the first, second and third liners comprises a first textile layer secured to the first surface of the support cup portion and a second textile layer secured to the second surface of the support cup portion.

18. A breast cup as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first gusset extends from an outer edge of the support cup portion to a central region of the support cup portion, the second gusset extends from an inner edge of the support cup portion to the central region, and the third gusset extends from an upper edge of the support cup portion to the central region.

19. A breast cup as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first, second and third liners have the same modulus of elasticity.

20. A breast cup as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first, second and third gussets comprise different sizes.

Background

Conventional support garments, such as brassieres, typically provide support through the use of materials or fabrics that compress the chest area (including the wearer's breasts), and typically provide an adjustable level of support through adjustable straps (adjustablestraps), which alter the compression of the breasts. Due to the variation in compression level, the wearer's breasts are often reshaped and sometimes dislodged from the support garment.

The subject matter of the present invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the disclosed and claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different steps or combinations of steps similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Moreover, although the terms "step" and/or "block" may be used herein to connote different elements of methods employed, the terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly stated.

At a high level, aspects herein relate to breast cups for supporting garments, such as brassieres, which include padding (gussets) to allow the cups to conform to the shape change of the wearer's breasts when tension is applied to the cups. As used herein, the term "gusset" may be defined as a sheet of material that is incorporated into, for example, a breast cup, and in some cases may be used to enlarge at least a portion of the breast cup. It is often desirable to adjust or increase the level of support of a support garment, particularly a sport bra. When tension is applied to the support garment, such as by a compression fabric on a strap and/or a tensioning mechanism, the wearer's breasts are typically pressed against the wearer's body. While this compression provides additional support, it also causes the wearer's breasts to change shape within the cups. Breast cups generally do not easily accommodate the changing breast shape, which limits the comfort of the wearer. Furthermore, failure to adequately accommodate the changing shape sometimes exposes a larger portion of the wearer's breasts to the outside of the cups. For example, when tension is applied to the breast cups, the outside and inside of the wearer's breasts are easily exposed and lose support.

Accordingly, aspects disclosed herein relate to a breast cup having a padding that expands when tension is applied to provide a comfortable and supportive fit. The cup may include a support cup portion, a first gusset positioned between an upper lateral quadrant and a lower lateral quadrant of the support cup portion, and a second gusset positioned between an upper medial quadrant and a lower medial quadrant of the support cup portion. The gusset may be configured to expand from the first configuration to the second configuration at least in part due to being formed from a material having a lower modulus of elasticity (e.g., an elastically resilient material). The padding may have a lower modulus of elasticity than the supporting cup portion. The difference in elasticity between the gusset and the supporting cup portion may facilitate expansion from the first configuration to the second configuration while also providing the additional support sought by the increased tension.

The positioning of the padding within the breast cup helps provide a more comfortable fit for the target area when the tension is adjusted. Specifically, as the tension increases and the wearer's breast is compressed toward the chest, the lateral and medial portions of the breast have a tendency to shift in the lateral and medial directions, respectively. A first gusset positioned between the upper and lower outer quadrants of the support cup portion may extend from the first configuration to the second configuration to accommodate an outer portion of the wearer's breast as the wearer's breast moves laterally due to increased tension. Similarly, a second gusset positioned between the upper medial quadrant and the lower medial quadrant of the support cup portion may extend from the first configuration to the second configuration to accommodate movement of the medial portion when displaced in the medial direction. By extending to the second configuration, the padding provides more space within the cups to comfortably provide coverage to the wearer's breasts while maintaining the increased level of support required for increased tension. When the tension on the breast cups is reduced, the padding may contract back to the first configuration because there may be a tendency for the lateral and medial portions of the wearer's breasts to move inward.

Similarly, in some aspects, the breast cup may include a third gusset extending within one or more upper quadrants of the support cup portion, for example within the upper medial quadrant or between the upper medial quadrant and the upper lateral quadrant, and the third gusset may expand from the first configuration to the second configuration. When tension is applied to the cups to provide enhanced support, the upper portions of the wearer's breasts also have a tendency to shift in an upward direction. As such, the tertiary liner may receive an upper portion of the wearer's breast when the tertiary liner is expanded from the first configuration to the second configuration in a similar manner as the primary liner and the secondary liner.

Furthermore, because additional support is typically provided by applying upward tension to the breast cups, the increased tension often causes the lower band portion of the support garment to move upward, which may cause the lower portion of the wearer's breasts to move out of the breast cups and cause discomfort. Accordingly, some aspects described herein also include a gusset positioned between a lower edge of the breast cup and a lower band portion of the bra. These liners may expand from a first configuration to a second configuration to help the cups maintain a comfortable fit around the lower portion of the wearer's breasts as tension increases.

Accordingly, aspects herein relate to a breast cup comprising a support cup portion, a first gusset expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration, and a second gusset expandable from the first configuration to the second configuration. The support cup portion of the breast cup includes an upper outer quadrant, an upper inner quadrant, a lower outer quadrant, and a lower inner quadrant. A first gusset is secured to the support cup portion such that the first gusset extends between at least a portion of an upper outer quadrant and a lower outer quadrant of the support cup portion, and a second gusset is secured to the support cup portion such that the second gusset extends between at least a portion of an upper inner quadrant and a lower inner quadrant of the support cup portion. The first gusset has a first modulus of elasticity and the second gusset has a second modulus of elasticity, wherein both the first modulus of elasticity and the second modulus of elasticity are lower than a third modulus of elasticity of the supporting cup portion.

In another aspect, the support garment includes a first breast cup and a second breast cup. The first breast cup includes a first support cup portion, a first gusset expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration, and a second gusset expandable from the first configuration to the second configuration. The first support cup portion includes an upper outer quadrant, an upper inner quadrant, a lower outer quadrant, and a lower inner quadrant. A first gusset is secured to the first support cup portion such that the first gusset extends between at least a portion of an upper outer quadrant and a lower outer quadrant of the first support cup portion, and a second gusset is secured to the first support cup portion such that the second gusset extends between at least a portion of an upper inner quadrant and a lower inner quadrant of the first support cup portion. The first gusset and the second gusset each have a lower modulus of elasticity than the first supporting cup portion.

Similarly, the second breast cup includes a second support cup portion, a third gusset expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration, and a fourth gusset expandable from the first configuration to the second configuration. The second support cup portion includes an upper outer quadrant, an upper inner quadrant, a lower outer quadrant, and a lower inner quadrant. A third gusset is secured to the second support cup portion such that the third gusset extends between at least a portion of an upper outer quadrant and a lower outer quadrant of the second support cup portion, and a fourth gusset is secured to the second support cup portion such that the fourth gusset extends between at least a portion of an upper inner quadrant and a lower inner quadrant of the second support cup portion. The third gusset and the fourth gusset each have a lower modulus of elasticity than the second supporting cup portion. The support garment further includes a lower band portion extending downwardly from the first and second breast cups; a first strap extending from the first breast cup; and a second strip extending from the second breast cup. In some aspects, a fifth gusset is interposed between the first breast cup and the lower band portion and has a lower modulus of elasticity than the first support cup portion, and a sixth gusset is interposed between the second breast cup and the lower band portion and has a lower modulus of elasticity than the second support cup portion.

In yet another aspect, a breast cup includes a support cup portion, a first gusset expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration, a second gusset expandable from the first configuration to the second configuration, and a third gusset expandable from the first configuration to the second configuration. The support cup portion includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface and is bounded by an upper lateral quadrant, an upper medial quadrant, a lower lateral quadrant, and a lower medial quadrant. The first gusset is secured to the support cup portion such that the first gusset extends between at least a portion of the upper outer quadrant and the lower outer quadrant; the second gusset is secured to the support cup portion such that the second gusset extends between at least a portion of the upper medial quadrant and the lower medial quadrant; and a third gusset is secured to the support cup portion such that the third gusset extends between at least a portion of the upper outer quadrant and the upper inner quadrant. The first gusset, the second gusset, and the third gusset each have a lower modulus of elasticity than the supporting cup portion.

Turning to fig. 1, a front perspective view of a support garment in the form of a brassiere 100 according to aspects herein is provided. While the aspects discussed herein relate to a brassiere, it should be understood that the aspects are not limited to any particular style or type of support garment for supporting breast tissue. For example, other support garments may include vests, swimsuits, camisoles, or other garments with adjustable tension with built-in support. Also, while aspects herein relate to breast cups, it is contemplated that these aspects may be applied to any breast contacting surface or material. The depictions in the figures are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. For example, while brassiere 100 is depicted as having two separate breast cups 110, other arrangements are also contemplated, such as brassiere 100 having a single piece of material with molded breast cup portions extending across the chest area. Further, the bra 100 may include front closure elements, rear closure elements, removable shoulder straps, underwires, and the like. Positional terms as used herein, such as front, back, side, top, bottom, inner side, outer side, and the like, will be given their intended, as well as their intended, normal meaning with respect to brassiere 100 when worn by a wearer standing in an anatomical location. It should be understood, however, that the use of these terms is not meant to be dependent upon the presence of a person for explanatory purposes.

The brassiere 100 illustrated in fig. 1 includes breast cups 110, a lower band portion 112 located below the breast cups 110, and shoulder straps 114. The lower band portion 112 includes a tubular structure or is formed when the two ends of the lower band portion 112 are joined. In this manner, lower band portion 112 is adapted to encircle the torso region of a wearer when brassiere 100 is worn. As used throughout this disclosure, the term "adapted" when referring to a brassiere 100 associated with a wearer refers to a brassiere (or other type of support garment) that is sized to fit the particular wearer. Shoulder straps 114 are adapted to extend over the shoulders of the wearer when brassiere 100 is worn and may have many different configurations, such as an I-vest style, a convertible style, a standard style, and the like. The shoulder straps 114 may extend from the upper edge of the breast cup 110 to a rear region of the lower band portion 112 (as shown in fig. 4A-4B). The shoulder straps 114 may each include one or more strap adjustment mechanisms 116, such as a strap sliding device. A strap adjustment mechanism 116 (which may be referred to herein as a tension adjustment mechanism) may be used to adjust the length of the shoulder straps 114, which in turn adjusts the tension of the breast cup 110. In other words, as the length of the shoulder straps 114 is shortened, upward tension is applied to the breast cups 110, and as the length of the shoulder straps 114 is lengthened, the upward tension previously applied to the breast cups 110 may be reduced. Although not depicted, the brassiere 100 may have a front closure, a rear closure, or the brassiere 100 may be put on and taken off by pulling the brassiere 100 over the head of the wearer, such as a conventional sport brassiere.

Breast cup 110 is adapted to cover the wearer's breast when brassiere 100 is worn. The breast cups 110 may be configured (strutted) or constructed such that they generally conform to the shape of the wearer's breasts. For example, at least a portion of the breast cup 110 may comprise a molded foam cup. Each breast cup 110 includes a support cup portion 120, a first liner 122 and a second liner 124. As shown in fig. 1, the support cup portion 120 may form a majority of the breast cup 110 with the padding 122 and 124 positioned within the support cup portion 120. The first liner 122 may be positioned generally on an outer side 130 of the breast cup 110 and the second liner 124 may be opposite the first liner 122 generally on an inner side 132 of the breast cup 110.

In some aspects, brassiere 100 further includes a lower gusset 126 between breast cup 110 and lower band portion 112. In some aspects, the lower liner 126 extends across the entire length of the lower edge 134 of the breast cup 110 such that the breast cup 110 is not directly secured to the lower band portion 112. In other aspects, the lower liner 126 may extend only partially along the lower edge 134 of the breast cup 110. Any and all aspects and any variations thereof are contemplated to be within the scope herein.

It will be appreciated that the brassiere 100 includes repeating components on the right and left sides, such as two breast cups 110, which have substantially the same configuration, as each breast cup 110 may include a support cup portion 120, a first gusset 122 on the outer side, and a second gusset 124 on the inner side. Additionally, each breast cup 110 may optionally be secured to the underwire 126 at the lower edge 134 of the breast cup, and may also be secured to the shoulder strap 114. The components of the two breast cups 110 are not separately labeled so as not to obscure the drawings, but it should be understood that the description regarding one breast cup 110, shoulder strap 114 and underwire 126 may be applicable to both sides.

Continuing with fig. 1, different portions of brassiere 100 may have different elastic modulus values to provide a combination of support and a flexible, comfortable fit. For example, the first and second gussets 122 and 124, respectively, may each have a lower modulus of elasticity as compared to the support cup portion 120 of each breast cup 110. The modulus of elasticity may be defined as a measure of the resistance of an object to elastic deformation when a force is applied to the object. With respect to textiles, modulus may refer to a measure of the ability of a textile fabric to function in a cross direction perpendicular to the warp direction. Modulus can be characterized, for example, as the tensile stress of the fabric at a selected elongation (e.g., 40% elongation). Lower modulus values correspond to materials with greater elasticity and stretch ability. In some aspects, the modulus of elasticity as used herein is measured according to american society for testing and materials D4964(ASTM D4964).

With lower elastic modulus values, the liners 122 and 124 are able to expand and contract, allowing the shape and/or size of the breast cup 110 to change to better accommodate the change in shape of the wearer's breast as the tension is adjusted. At the same time, the support cup portion 120 has a higher modulus of elasticity relative to the padding 122 and 124, allowing the breast cup 110 to maintain a desired level of support. The different elastic modulus values may be due to, for example, knitting or weaving the liners 122 and 124 with yarns/fibers/filaments having a lower elastic modulus. For example, the gussets 122 and 124 may be constructed of an elastically resilient material. Exemplary materials include elastic fibers or textiles containing a percentage of elastic fiber content, such as polyester/spandex materials. The support cup portion 120 may be constructed of a material having a relatively high modulus value relative to the padding 122 and 124, such as a foam material or a material that does not include elastic yarns/fibers/filaments.

The lower liner 126 may similarly have a lower modulus of elasticity than the supporting cup portion 120 and lower band portion 112, such that the lower liner 126 has greater expansion and contraction capabilities than the supporting cup portion 120 and lower band portion 112. Additionally, the lower band portion 112 may have a different coefficient of elasticity in different regions of the lower band portion 112. For example, the front portion 140 of the lower belt portion 112 may have a higher modulus of elasticity than the side and/or rear portions (e.g., portion 142). In this manner, the side and/or rear portions 142 may have stretch capability to allow the lower belt portion 112 to stretch around the wearer's torso while the front portion 140 remains in place. Any and all aspects and any variations thereof are contemplated to be within the aspects herein.

Turning to fig. 2, the breast cup 110 is illustrated as being removed from the bra 100. The area of the breast cup 110 that supports the cup portion 120 may be defined by an imaginary quadrant as shown by the dashed lines in fig. 2. Accordingly, the support cup portion 120 may include an upper lateral quadrant 210, a lower lateral quadrant 212, an upper medial quadrant 214, and a lower medial quadrant 216. Quadrants 210, 212, 214, and 216 are relative areas and are not intended to demarcate precise areas that support the cup portion 120. Rather, quadrants 210, 212, 214, and 216 are intended to represent general areas of support cup portion 120 to aid in understanding aspects herein. Quadrants 210, 212, 214, and 216 may be defined by a vertical midline 220 and a horizontal midline 222, the vertical and horizontal midlines 220 and 222 intersecting at a central region supporting the cup portion 120. When the breast cup 110 is integrated into the bra 100, as shown in fig. 1, the vertical midline 220 may bisect the shoulder strap 114 and extend vertically downward. In the aspect shown in fig. 2, the vertical midline 220 and the horizontal midline 222 intersect at or near a chest point (bump point)228 that supports the cup portions 120. As used herein, the term "chest point" is meant to encompass a central area, or apex, of the support cup portion 120 (e.g., an area that substantially covers the nipple area of the wearer's breast). However, it should be understood that the quadrants 210, 212, 214, and 216 may be defined by centerlines that intersect elsewhere in the support cup portion 120.

As previously described, the first liner 122 may be positioned on the outer side 130 of the breast cup 110 and the second liner 124 may be positioned on the inner side 132. Specifically, as shown in fig. 2, the first gusset 122 may extend or span between a first edge 250 positioned generally in the upper lateral quadrant 210 and a second edge 252 positioned generally in the lower lateral quadrant 212 of the support cup portion 120, while the second gusset 124 may extend between a third edge 254 positioned generally in the upper medial quadrant 214 and a fourth edge 256 positioned generally in the lower medial quadrant 216.

Although fig. 2 illustrates the liners 122 and 124 extending between two quadrants, it is contemplated that one or both of the liners 122 and 124 may be positioned adjacent the vertical centerline 220 and/or the horizontal centerline 222 such that the liners 122 and 124 are each within one quadrant. For example, in some aspects, the first liner 122 may be positioned within the upper outer quadrant 210 or the lower outer quadrant 212, and in some aspects, the second liner 124 may be positioned within the upper inner quadrant 214 or the lower inner quadrant 216. As used herein, the term "adjacent" refers to within 0.1 centimeters to 5.0 centimeters of the reference vertical centerline 220 and/or the horizontal centerline 222. Any and all aspects and any variations thereof are contemplated to be within the aspects herein.

Further, in an exemplary aspect, the first and second gussets 122 and 124, respectively, may be triangular in shape and extend from a perimeter of the supporting cup portion 120. For example, the base edge 230 of the first liner 122 may coincide with the outer side edge 224 of the support cup portion 120, and the apex 232 opposite the base edge 230 may extend toward a central region (e.g., the chest point 228) of the support cup portion 120. The apex 232 of the first liner 122 may have an angle 234 between the first edge 250 and the second edge 252. Similarly, the base edge 240 of the secondary gusset 124 may coincide with the medial edge 226 of the supporting cup portion 120, while the apex 242 of the secondary gusset 124 may extend toward the chest point 228. The apex 242 of the secondary liner 124 may have an angle 244 between a third edge 254 and a fourth edge 256. In this manner, the first and second gussets 122, 124, respectively, may extend through a central horizontal midline, such as horizontal midline 222, such that apices 232 and 242 are generally aligned with horizontal midline 222.

As shown in fig. 2, in some aspects, the first liner 122 and the second liner 124 include the same or substantially the same shape and size. However, it is contemplated that the first liner 122 may have a different shape and/or size than the second liner 124. For example, in one aspect, second liner 124 may be smaller than first liner 122, and angle 244 and/or height 246 of base edge 240 of second liner 124 may be smaller than angle 234 and/or height 236 of base edge 230 of first liner 122. It is also understood that the shape of the liners 122 and 124 may include shapes other than triangular, including organic shapes, such as crescent shapes. Any and all aspects and any variations thereof are contemplated to be within the aspects herein.

Fig. 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B provide views of the brassiere 100 as the gussets 122, 124, and 126 transition or move from the first configuration to the second configuration. Fig. 3A depicts a front view of the brassiere 100 with the first gusset 122 and the second gusset 124 in a first configuration, which may also be considered to be a non-expanded or contracted configuration. The lower liner 126 is also in the first (i.e., collapsed) configuration. Stated differently, a contracted configuration may be defined as a configuration in which the elastic components of the gussets 122, 124, and/or 126 are in an unstretched or minimally stretched state. In fig. 3B, a tensioning force is applied to the breast cup 110. Typically, when worn, a tensioning force is applied to the shoulder straps 114 of the bra 100 and is oriented along the longitudinal axis of the shoulder straps 114 (i.e., in a vertical direction), as shown by the arrows in fig. 3B. In response to the tensioning force, the gussets 122, 124, and 126 may expand to a second configuration, which may also be considered an expanded or stretched configuration. Described differently, a stretched configuration may be defined as a configuration in which the elastic components of the gussets 122, 124, and/or 126 are in a stretched state. Side views of the brassiere 100 in the first and second configurations are depicted in fig. 4A and 4B, respectively.

Thus, in some aspects, the expansion is due to stretching of the material forming the gussets 122, 124, and 126 such that the first configuration is a non-stretched state and the second configuration is a stretched state. Further, in some aspects, gussets 122, 124, and 126 having one or more hinged pleats (articulating pleats) may be additionally expanded such that the first configuration is also a closed state in which the pleats are folded and the second configuration is an open state in which the pleats are unfolded. Any and all aspects and any variations thereof are contemplated to be within the aspects herein.

As illustrated in fig. 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B, the first liner 122 and the second liner 124 may have a structural difference in the second configuration as compared to the first configuration. For example, the angle 234 of the apex 232 of the primary liner 122 may be greater in the second configuration than in the first configuration, and the angle 244 of the apex 242 of the secondary liner 124 may also be greater in the second configuration than in the first configuration. Additionally, both the height 236 of the base edge 230 of the first liner 122 and the height 246 of the base edge 240 of the second liner 124 may be greater in the second configuration as compared to the first configuration.

The lower liner 126 may similarly expand from the first configuration to the second configuration. As a result, in the second configuration, the height 310 of the inferior gusset 126 between the breast cup 110 and the lower band portion 112 may be greater than in the first configuration. In some aspects, the height 310 is uniform along the entire lower liner 126, but it is also understood that the height 310 may vary in different portions of the lower liner 126.

The amount that the primary and secondary liners 122, 124 expand (i.e., the amount by which angles 234 and 244 and heights 236 and 246 increase) and the amount by which the lower liner 126 expands (i.e., the amount by which height 310 increases) may depend on the amount of tension applied and the modulus of elasticity of the liners 122, 124, and 126. Generally, higher tension and lower modulus values will result in greater expansion. In addition, the amount of expansion when the brassiere 100 is worn depends on the size and shape of the wearer's body. In some aspects, the first liner 122 and the second liner 124 have the same or substantially the same modulus of elasticity such that the first liner 122 and the second liner 124 have equal or substantially equal expansion potentials. However, it is understood that the first and second liners 122, 124 may have different elastic modulus values based on the desired expansion of each side of the breast cup 110. In some aspects, the lower liner 126 has the same modulus of elasticity as the first liner 122 and the second liner 124, respectively, while in other aspects, the lower liner 126 may have a different modulus of elasticity than the first liner 122 and the second liner 124, respectively. Any and all aspects and any variations thereof are contemplated to be within the aspects herein.

When in the expanded second configuration, the first liner 122 provides an increased amount of surface area in the outer portion of the breast cup 110. This expansion accommodates movement of the outer portion of the wearer's breast caused by the increased tension applied to the breast cup 110 when the brassiere 100 is worn. The secondary gusset 124 similarly increases the surface area of the inner portion of the breast cup 110 such that the expanded secondary gusset 124 accommodates outward movement of the inner portion of the wearer's breast when the bra is worn. The primary and secondary gussets 122, 124 are configured to contract back to the first configuration when the tension is reduced. In this manner, the first and second liners 122, 124 expand and contract as the tension is adjusted to provide a comfortable and supportive fit to help the breast cup 110 adapt to changes in the shape of the wearer's breast.

Turning to fig. 5, a cross-sectional view of the breast cup 110 taken along cut line 5-5 in fig. 3B is provided. As illustrated in this cross-sectional view, the first and second gussets 122 and 124 may include a sheet (textile sheet or other type of elastic sheet) secured to both sides of the supporting cup portion 120. The first textile layer 516 of the first liner 122 may be secured to an outboard portion of a first surface 510 (e.g., an outwardly facing surface) of the support cup portion 120, and the second textile layer 518 of the first liner 122 may be secured to an outboard portion of a second surface 512 (e.g., an inwardly facing surface) of the support cup portion 120 opposite the first surface 510. Similarly, the first textile layer 520 of the second liner 124 may be secured to an inboard portion of the first surface 510 of the supporting cup portion 120, and the second textile layer 522 of the second liner 124 may be secured to an inboard portion of the second surface 512 opposite the first surface 510. Textile layers 516, 518, 520, and 522 may be permanently attached to supporting cup portion 120 by, for example, adhesive, bonding, stitching, and the like.

As depicted in fig. 5, the first textile layer 516 and the second textile layer 518 of the first liner 122 may be different portions of the same textile sheet that are folded to form the two textile layers. Similarly, the first textile layer 520 and the second textile layer 522 of the second liner 124 may be different portions of the same textile sheet that is folded. In other aspects, the first textile layers 516 and 520 can be different sheets than the second textile layers 518 and 522. In some aspects, the material forming the first and second gussets 122 and 124, respectively, may extend across the entire first and second surfaces 510 and 512 of the support cup portion 120, and the gussets 122 and 124 may be defined as regions of material that do not surround the support cup portion 120. In other words, the first textile layers 516 and 520 can comprise the same textile sheet, and the second textile layers 518 and 522 can comprise the same textile sheet, which can be the same or different from the textile sheet forming the first textile layers 516 and 520. Any and all aspects and any variations thereof are contemplated to be within the aspects herein.

Fig. 6 illustrates a brassiere 600 having breast cups 610, with the breast cups 610 having an alternative configuration, in accordance with aspects herein. The breast cups 610 each include a support cup portion 620, the support cup portion 620 having an upper lateral quadrant 622, a lower lateral quadrant 624, an upper medial quadrant 626 and a lower medial quadrant 628 defined by a vertical midline 614 and a horizontal midline 616. Similar to the brassiere 100, each breast cup 610 includes a first gusset 630 extending between the upper outer quadrant 622 and the lower outer quadrant 624 and a second gusset 632 extending between the upper inner quadrant 626 and the lower inner quadrant 628. Each breast cup 610 also includes a third liner 634 positioned generally in one or more upper quadrants (e.g., upper lateral quadrant 622 and upper medial quadrant 626). For example, as shown in fig. 6, the third liner 634 may be located generally within the upper inner quadrant 626. It should be appreciated that the third liner 634 may also be positioned such that it extends between the upper outer quadrant 622 and the upper inner quadrant 626. The third gusset 634 may include a triangular shape with a base edge coinciding with an upper edge 638 of the support cup portion, the upper edge 638 may also be considered an upper portion of the inner edge 640 or an upper portion of the outer edge 642, and the third gusset 634 may extend toward a central region of the support cup portion.

The gussets 630, 632, and 634 may each have a lower modulus of elasticity than the supporting cup portion 620, and may each be configured to expand from the first configuration to the second configuration in a similar manner as described with respect to the gussets 122 and 124 of the brassiere 100. In addition, the gussets 630, 632, and 634 may also have a similar structure to the gussets 122 and 124. In some aspects, brassiere 600 further includes a lower gusset 636 between breast cup 610 and lower band portion 612. The lower gusset 636 may be configured to expand from a first configuration to a second configuration in a manner similar to the lower gusset 126 of the brassiere 100.

The third liner 634 may be configured to expand to a second configuration, e.g., a stretched state, when tension is applied to the breast cup 610. Similar to the lateral and medial portions, when the wearer's breasts are compressed inward due to increased tension, the upper portions of the wearer's breasts may be displaced in an upward direction. By expanding to the second configuration, the third liner 634 helps the breast cup 610 better conform to this change in the shape of the wearer's breast by providing more area within the breast cup 610 at the upper region. As described above, the third liner 634 may be positioned generally within the upper medial quadrant 626 such that it is closer to the medial side 640 than to the lateral side 642 of the breast cup 610, although the third liner 634 may also be positioned such that it spans between the upper medial quadrant 626 and the upper lateral quadrant 622.

Additionally, the third liner 634 may include a triangular shape similar to the first liner 630 and the second liner 632. Because the upward tension of the breast cup 610 naturally causes the breast cup 610 to move upward, in some aspects, the third liner 634 may be smaller than the first liner 630 and the second liner 632 to provide less expansion. Additionally or alternatively to the smaller dimensions, the third liner 634 may have a higher modulus of elasticity than the first liner 630 and the second liner 632 to provide less expansion. In other aspects, the size, shape, and/or modulus of elasticity is uniform between the gussets 630, 632, and 634.

Aspects of the present invention have been described for illustrative, but not limiting, purposes. Alternative aspects will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from the scope of the invention. Alternative means of accomplishing the foregoing improvements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims.