Padded clothing articles and method for making the same

Abstract

An article of clothing with one or more padding structures and a method for making the same is disclosed. The one or more padding structures comprise free micro-beads that are encapsulated within one or more corresponding pouches. The padding structures are either permanently fitted with or secured to the clothing body of the article of clothing or are configured to detectably couple to the clothing body of the article of clothing. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a bra comprises cups that are padded or partially padded with padding structures comprising encapsulated free micro-beads.

1 . A padding structure comprising: 
 a. a pouch structure; and    b. free micro-beads encapsulated within the pouch structure.    
   
   
       2 . The padding structure of  claim 1 , further comprising means for attaching the pouch structure to a clothing body.  
   
   
       3 . The padding structure of  claim 1 , wherein the means for attaching the pouch structure to a clothing body comprises one or more attaching feature selected from the group consisting of a snap feature, hook feature, a button feature, a hook and loop fabric feature and a sleeve or pocket feature.  
   
   
       4 . The padding structure of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch structure is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of an extruded material and a woven material.  
   
   
       5 . The padding structure of  claim 1 , wherein the free micro-bead comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of acrylic, polystyrene, alumina and silica.  
   
   
       6 . The padding structure of  claim 1 , wherein the micro-beads have an average size in a range of 0.5 to 500 microns.  
   
   
       7 . A garment comprising a fabric body and one or more padding structures, wherein the one or more padding structures comprising encapsulated free micro-beads.  
   
   
       8 . The garment of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more padding structures are configured to detachable coupled to the fabric body.  
   
   
       9 . The garment of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more padding structures are configured to detachably coupled to the fabric body through pocket or sleeve features on the fabric body.  
   
   
       10 . The garment of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more padding structures are configured to detachably coupled to the fabric body through one or more attaching features selected from the group consisting of a snap feature, hook feature, a button feature and a hook and loop fabric feature.  
   
   
       11 . The garment of  claim 7 , wherein the free micro-bead comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of acrylic, polystyrene, alumina and silica.  
   
   
       12 . The garment of  claim 7 , wherein the micro-beads have an average size in a range of 0.5 to 500 microns.  
   
   
       13 . The garment of  claim 7 , wherein the fabric body is fashioned as an article of clothing selected from the group consisting of a coat, pants, a shirts, a blouses, swim-wear, a bras, underwear and socks  
   
   
       14 . The garment of  claim 7 , wherein the fabric body is fashioned as a bra with cups for supporting breasts, where the one or more padding structures are coupled to the cups.  
   
   
       15 . A clothing body comprising a plurality of pouch structures formed between two or more layers of flexible material, wherein each of the pouches encapsulate free-micro beads.  
   
   
       16 . The clothing body of  claim 15 , wherein the free micro-bead comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of acrylic, polystyrene, alumina and silica.  
   
   
       17 . The clothing body of  claim 15 , wherein the micro-beads have an average size in a range of 0.5 to 500 microns.  
   
   
       18 . The clothing body of  claim 15 , wherein the two or more layers of flexible material are formed from one or more materials selected from the group consisting of synthetic fibers, natural fiber and plastic.  
   
   
       19 . The clothing body of  claim 15 , wherein the two or more layers of flexible material are fashioned into a bra.  
   
   
       20 . A bra comprising: 
 a. cups for supporting breasts, the cups being at least partially padded with a free micro-beads; and    b. one or more strap members for securing the cups a body.    
   
   
       21 . The bra of  claim 20 , wherein the free micro-beads comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of acrylic, polystyrene, alumina and silica.  
   
   
       22 . The bra of  claim 21 , wherein the free micro-beads have an average size in a range of 0.5 to 500 microns.  
   
   
       23 . The bra of  claim 20 , wherein the free micro-beads are encapsulated in padding structures coupled to the cups.  
   
   
       24 . The bra of  claim 20 , wherein the padding structures are configured to detachably couple to the cups.  
   
   
       25 . A method of making a padding structure comprising: 
 a) forming a padding structure with one or more pouch features;    b) at least partially filling the one or more pouch features with free micro-beads; and    c) sealing the pouch features, thereby encapsulating the free micro-beads within with in the pouch features.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the padding structure is formed with fabric.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprises attaching the padding structure to an article of clothing.