Brassiere having stretchable support

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a garment that is capable of providing additional comfort, support, and/or flexibility to the user. For example, the garment can have a stretchable component formed at various locations on and as a portion of the garment. The stretchable component can stretch differently from its adjoining material. The garment so formed can provide an increased flexibility and/or comfort to the user when the user's body portion changes in shape and/or size, such as during physical exercises. Additionally or alternatively, the garment is capable of accommodating different users having differently shaped and/or sized body portions and providing a flexible and/or comfortable fit to the different users.

1 . A brassiere comprising bra cups and a bra wing for supporting the bra cups on a user, the bra cups each comprising: 
 a padded or molded section which substantially maintains a desired shape during use and serves a breast shaping function; and    a stretchable insert joined to the padded or molded section;    wherein the stretchable insert has more elasticity than that of the padded or molded section, the stretchable insert being stretchable to allow the bra cup to expand while allowing the padded or molded section to maintain the desired shape to serve its breast shaping function.    
   
   
       2 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the stretchable insert is stretchable in all directions.  
   
   
       3 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the stretchable insert takes up about 5% to about 30% of the area of the cup.  
   
   
       4 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the stretchable insert takes up about 5% to about 10% of the area of the cup.  
   
   
       5 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the padded or molded section and the stretchable insert are formed of a single material and woven to have different stretchabilities.  
   
   
       6 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the padded or molded section has a predetermined stretchability.  
   
   
       7 . A brassiere comprising bra cups and a bra wing for supporting the bra cups on a user, the bra cups each comprising: 
 a shaped section having a predetermined shape for support a user's breast, the shaped section maintaining the predetermined shape during use to serve a breast shaping function; and    a stretchable insert joined to the shaped section;    wherein the stretchable insert has more elasticity than that of the shaped section, the stretchable insert being stretchable to allow the bra cup to expand while allowing the shaped section to maintain the predetermined shape to serve the breast shaping function.    
   
   
       8 . The brassiere of  claim 7 , wherein the shaped section is made of a material having a length elongation of no more than about 68% under a load of 8.8 lb.  
   
   
       9 . The brassiere of  claim 7 , wherein the shaped section is made of a material having a width elongation of no more than about 63% under a load of 8.8 lb.  
   
   
       10 . The brassiere of  claim 7 , wherein the shaped section is made of a material having a modulus in the range of about 1.8 to about 3.0 at a length elongation of about 30%.  
   
   
       11 . The brassiere of  claim 7 , wherein the shaped section is substantially non-stretchable.  
   
   
       12 . A brassiere comprising bra cups and a bra wing for supporting the bra cups on a user, the bra cups each comprising: 
 inner and outer layers; and    a stretchable insert located on the inner layer, the stretchable insert being more elastic than the inner layer.    
   
   
       13 . The brassiere of  claim 12 , wherein the inner layer is formed so as to define a predetermined shape and maintain the predetermined shape during the use of the brassiere.  
   
   
       14 . The brassiere of  claim 12 , wherein the inner layer comprises a foam material.  
   
   
       15 . The brassiere of  claim 12 , wherein the outer layer is more elastic than the stretchable insert.  
   
   
       16 . The brassiere of  claim 12 , wherein the outer layer is made of a continuous material for providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance.  
   
   
       17 . A brassiere comprising: 
 bra cups each being defined partially by a bra rim;    a bra wing for supporting the bra cups on a user; and    at least one stretchable insert located on one of the bra cups and/or bra wing and adjacent to at least a portion of the bra rims, the stretchable insert comprising a stretchable fabric structured so as to allow the bra cups and/or bra wing to expand to accommodate different or changing body shapes and/or sizes of a user;    wherein the stretchable insert is located in relation to a bra rim so as to allow the bra rim to remain in place when the bra cups and/or wing expand during use.    
   
   
       18 . The brassiere of  claim 17 , wherein the stretchable insert is joined to a portion of the bra rims.  
   
   
       19 . The brassiere of  claim 17 , wherein the stretchable insert is formed on each side of each bra rim.  
   
   
       20 . The brassiere of  claim 17  further comprising: 
 a wire channel formed along at least a portion of each bra rim; and    a bra underwire encased in the wire channel;    wherein the stretchable insert is joined to the wire channel; and    wherein the brassiere is adapted so that the wire channel contacts a user's body in an anchoring position to serve a shaping function when the brassiere is in use.