Uplift brassiere

Abstract

A molded brassiere comprising or including, a breast cup region defined at least by (i) an interior panel that includes a foam ply (herein after “interior foam ply”) and (ii) an exterior panel that includes a foam ply (herein after “exterior foam ply”), said interior and exterior panels being laminated with each other defining a breast cup region that includes two breast cups and an intermediate bridge region extending there between, wherein the interior and exterior panels are laminated with each other save at least at a region where, for each breast cup, a pocket is defined between the interior and exterior panels, the pocket being located extending from the lower perimeter region of the breast cup towards the neckline of the breast cup, the interior panel at said pocket having lower curvature than said exterior panel so that said pocket provides an air gap between said interior and exterior panels.

1 . A molded brassiere comprising or including,
 a breast cup region defined at least by (i) an interior panel that includes a foam ply (herein after “interior foam ply”) and (ii) an exterior panel that includes a foam ply (herein after “exterior foam ply”), said interior and exterior panels being laminated with each other defining a breast cup region that includes two breast cups and an intermediate bridge region extending there between, wherein the interior and exterior panels are laminated with each other save at least at a region where, for each breast cup, a pocket is defined between the interior and exterior panels, the pocket being located extending from the lower perimeter region of the breast cup towards the neckline of the breast cup, the interior panel thereby offering the capacity to bulge towards the body of the wearer to thereby encourage, in use, a general uplift of the breast.   
   
   
       2 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the exterior panel includes a zone of higher density foam defined by said exterior foam ply, said zone being present adjacent said pocket. 
   
   
       3 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the exterior panel includes a zone of higher density foam defined by said exterior foam ply, said zone being present adjacent said pocket and extending at least at its upper perimeter, beyond the upper perimeter of the pocket. 
   
   
       4 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the interior panel includes a zone of higher density foam defined by said interior foam ply, said zone being present adjacent said pocket. 
   
   
       5 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the interior panel includes a zone of higher density foam defined by said interior foam ply, said zone being present adjacent said pocket and extending at least at its upper perimeter contiguous the upper perimeter of the pocket. 
   
   
       6 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a layer of flexible material having non-stretch properties is provided intermediate of and laminated with the said interior and exterior panels at said bridge region, said flexible material having non-stretch properties oriented so that across the bridge region parallel to the cup to cup direction said core assembly is non-stretchable. 
   
   
       7 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the exterior panel includes the exterior foam ply and a fabric ply laminated to each other, the exterior foam ply positioned interior more the fabric ply. 
   
   
       8 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the exterior foam ply and the interior foam ply are laminated with each other save at least at the pocket region. 
   
   
       9 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the exterior foam ply and the interior foam ply are laminated to each other save at least at the pocket region. 
   
   
       10 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the interior panel includes the interior foam ply and a fabric ply laminated to each other, the interior foam ply positioned exterior more the fabric ply. 
   
   
       11 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 1  wherein an exterior more ply of fabric material may be positioned to the exterior side of the exterior panel. 
   
   
       12 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 1  wherein an interior more ply of fabric material may be positioned to the interior side of the interior panel. 
   
   
       13 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 1  wherein an exterior more ply of fabric material may be positioned to the exterior side of the exterior panel, and wherein an interior more ply of fabric material may be positioned to the interior side of the interior panel, and wherein at least one of the exterior and interior more plies of fabric material layer are laminated with said interior and exterior panels and extend beyond the perimeter of interior and exterior panels to provide at least in part, at least that part of the brassiere defining chest strap(s). 
   
   
       14 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said interior and exterior foam plies are laminated directly to each other save for at said pocket and at said flexible material having non-stretch properties. 
   
   
       15 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said flexible material having non stretch properties is provided extending at said bridge region only. 
   
   
       16 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said flexible material having non stretch properties is captured intermediate of said interior and exterior foam plies. 
   
   
       17 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said flexible material having non stretch properties is a woven fabric material. 
   
   
       18 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said flexible material having non stretch properties is a woven fabric material with bi directional non-stretch properties and is oriented such that the non stretch orientation extends across said bridge region to resist a pulling apart of the breast cups. 
   
   
       19 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said interior and exterior panels are coextensive with each other. 
   
   
       20 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the exterior panel includes the exterior foam ply and a fabric ply laminated to each other, the exterior foam ply positioned interior more the fabric ply, and wherein the interior panel includes the interior foam ply and a fabric ply laminated to each other, the interior foam ply positioned exterior mote the fabric ply, and wherein the foam and fabric plies of each of the interior and exterior panels are coextensive each other. 
   
   
       21 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said breast cup region is of a shape defining only the breast cups and said bridge but not said chest strap(s). 
   
   
       22 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said chest strap(s) extend outwardly from each side of said breast cup region. 
   
   
       23 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said interior and exterior plies of foam are co extensive each other. 
   
   
       24 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 1  wherein two underwire structures are provided intermediate of said interior and exterior panels, one each adjacent a respective breast cup. 
   
   
       25 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 24  wherein said underwire structure comprises a rigid elongate member and a flexible material casing about at least part of said rigid elongate member. 
   
   
       26 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 25  wherein said casing is a fabric material. 
   
   
       27 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 25  wherein said casing is adhered to one or each of the facing surfaces of said interior and exterior foam plies by an adhesive material. 
   
   
       28 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 27  wherein said casing is a tubular sock within which said rigid elongate member is located, the sock having closed distal ends. 
   
   
       29 . A molded brassiere as claimed in  claim 1  wherein, in use, said interior panel at said pocket, presses more against said breasts than said exterior panel. 
   
   
       30 . A method of manufacturing a molded component assembly for a brassiere comprising:
 placing an exterior panel that includes a foam ply that includes, at each region of the exterior panel at where a breast cup is to be mold formed into said exterior panel, a zone of increased thickness that is located extending from the to be defined lower regions of the breast towards the neckline of the breast cup, into a molding device and mold forming the breast cup(s) shape into the exterior panel and to homogenise the thickness of the foam ply at least at the breast cup(s) so that the zone is of a higher density foam than the foam surrounding the zone,   placing an interior panel that includes a foam ply that includes, at each region of the interior panel at where a breast cup is to be mold formed into said interior panel, a zone of increased thickness that is located extending from the to be defined lower regions of the breast towards the neckline of the breast cup, into a molding device and mold forming the breast cup(s) shape into the interior panel and to homogenise the thickness of the foam ply at least at the breast cup(s) so that the zone is of a higher density foam than the foam surrounding the zone,   laminating the interior and exterior panels with each other in a manner so that their cups(s) agree and in a manner wherein no lamination occurs of the panels at where the zone of higher density foam of the interior panel is located so as to define a pocket at this zone between the interior and exterior panels.   
   
   
       31 . A method as claimed in  claim 30  wherein at least one of the interior and exterior panels are of a size to allow two breast cups and a bridge extending between the breast cups to be molded into panel(s). 
   
   
       32 . A method as claimed in  claim 30  wherein the method includes the subsequent steps of trimming said molded and laminated interior and exterior panels to define a molded assembly which includes two cups forms and a bridge region extending there between. 
   
   
       33 . A method as claimed in  claim 30  wherein one of the exterior panel and interior panel also includes an underwire structure placed, prior to lamination of the interior and exterior panels, so as to be captured between the panels. 
   
   
       34 . A method as claimed in  claim 30  wherein one of the exterior panels and interior panel includes a layer of flexible material having non stretch properties placed, prior to lamination of the interior and exterior panels, so as to become captured between the panels. 
   
   
       35 . A method as claimed in  claim 30  wherein prior to molding of said panels, an underwire structure is provided intermediate of said first and second layer. 
   
   
       36 . A method of manufacturing a molded component assembly for a brassiere comprising:
 laminating (i) an exterior panel that includes a foam ply that includes, at each region of the exterior panel at where a breast cup is mold formed into said exterior panel, a zone of increased foam density that is located extending from the lower regions of the breast towards the neckline of the breast cup with (ii) an interior panel that includes a foam ply that includes, at each region of the interior panel at where a breast cup is mold formed into said interior panel, a zone of increased foam density that is located extending from the lower regions of the breast towards the neckline of the breast cup,   in a manner so that their cups(s) agree and in a manner wherein no lamination occurs of the panels at where the zone of higher density foam of the interior panel is located so as to define a pocket at this zone between the interior and exterior panels.   
   
   
       37 . A method as claimed in  claim 36  wherein the zone of the interior panel has an upper perimeter that is lower than the perimeter of the zone of the exterior panel. 
   
   
       38 . A molded brassiere comprising or including,
 a breast cup region defined at least by (i) an interior panel that includes a foam ply (herein after “interior foam ply”) and (ii) an exterior panel that includes a foam ply (herein after “exterior foam ply”), said interior and exterior panels being laminated with each other defining a breast cup region that includes two breast cups and an intermediate bridge region extending there between, wherein the interior and exterior panels are laminated with each other save at least at a region where, for each breast cup, a pocket is defined between the interior and exterior panels, the pocket being located extending from the lower perimeter region of the breast cup towards the neckline of the breast cup, the interior panel at said pocket having lower curvature than said exterior panel so that said pocket provides an air gap between said interior and exterior panels.