Bra cup with thin, air-permeable layer

Abstract

A bra cup includes an outer cloth, an inner cloth, and a layer of high-molecular polymer between the inner and outer cloths. The layer of high-molecular polymer includes a perimeter having first and second edges spaced in a length direction and upper and lower edges spaced in a height direction perpendicular to the length direction. The layer of high-molecular polymer further includes a perforate area having a plurality of vents each extending from an outer face through an inner face thereof. The perforate area extends from the upper edge through the lower edge in the height direction. The perforate area further extends from a center of the first layer of high-molecular polymer toward the first and second edges in the length direction and has a length at least two-thirds of that of the layer of high-molecular polymer in the length direction.

1 . A bra cup comprising, in combination:
 an outer cloth including a convex outer face and a concave inner face;   an inner cloth including an outer face and a breast covering inner face adapted for covering a breast of a wearer of the bra cup; and   a first layer of high-molecular polymer between the concave inner face of the outer cloth and the outer face of the inner cloth, with the first layer of high-molecular polymer including a convex outer face and a concave inner face, with the first layer of high-molecular polymer further including a perimeter having first and second edges spaced in a length direction and upper and lower edges spaced in a height direction perpendicular to the length direction, with the first layer of high-molecular polymer further including a first perforate area having a plurality of first vents each extending from the outer face through the inner face thereof, with the first perforate area extending from the upper edge through the lower edge of the first layer of high-molecular polymer in the height direction, with the first perforate area further extending from a center of the first layer of high-molecular polymer toward the first and second edges in the length direction and having a length at least two-thirds of that of the first layer of high-molecular polymer in the length direction.   
   
   
       2 . The bra cup as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising, in combination: a bladder mounted between a lower section of the inner face of the outer cloth and a lower section of the outer face of the first layer of high-molecular polymer, with the bladder including a convex outer side bonded to the lower section of the inner face of the outer cloth and a convex inner side bonded to the lower section of the front face of the first layer of high-molecular polymer, and with the bladder including an interior between the inner and outer sides and filled with fluid. 
   
   
       3 . The bra cup as claimed in  claim 2 , with the bladder being spaced from the perimeter of the first layer of high-molecular polymer, and with the bladder being coextensive with the first perforate area of the first layer of high-molecular polymer in the length direction. 
   
   
       4 . The bra cup as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising, in combination: a bladder mounted between a lower section of the inner face of the first layer of high-molecular polymer and a lower section of the outer face of the inner cloth, with the bladder including a convex outer side bonded to the lower section of the inner face of the first layer of high-molecular polymer and a convex inner side bonded to the lower section of the outer face of the inner cloth, and with the bladder including an interior between the inner and outer sides and filled with fluid. 
   
   
       5 . The bra cup as claimed in  claim 4 , with the bladder being spaced from the perimeter of the first layer of high-molecular polymer, and with the bladder being coextensive with the first perforate area of the first layer of high-molecular polymer in the length direction. 
   
   
       6 . The bra cup as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising, in combination: an air-permeable pad mounted between a lower section of the inner face of the outer cloth and a lower section of the outer face of the first layer of high-molecular polymer, with the air-permeable pad including a convex outer side bonded to the lower section of the inner face of the outer cloth and a convex inner side bonded to the lower section of the front face of the first layer of high-molecular polymer. 
   
   
       7 . The bra cup as claimed in  claim 6 , with the air-permeable pad being spaced from the perimeter of the first layer of high-molecular polymer, with the air-permeable pad being coextensive with the first perforate area of the first layer of high-molecular polymer in the length direction. 
   
   
       8 . The bra cup as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising, in combination:
 a second layer of high-molecular polymer between the first layer of high-molecular polymer and the inner cloth, with the second layer of high-molecular polymer including an outer face having a convex upper section engaged with an upper section of the inner face of the first layer of high-molecular polymer, with the outer face of the second layer of high-molecular polymer further including a lower section, with the second layer of high-molecular polymer further including an inner face engaged with the outer face of the inner cloth, with the second layer of high-molecular polymer further including a perimeter having first and second edges spaced in the length direction and upper and lower edges spaced in the height direction, with the second layer of high-molecular polymer further including a second perforate area having a plurality of second vents each extending from the outer face through the inner face thereof, with the second perforate area extending from the upper edge through the lower edge of the second layer of high-molecular polymer in the height direction, with the second perforate area further extending from a center of the second layer of high-molecular polymer toward the first and second edges in the length direction and having a length at least two-thirds of that of the second layer of high-molecular polymer in the length direction; and   a bladder mounted between a lower section of the inner face of the first layer of high-molecular polymer and the lower section of the outer face of the second layer of high-molecular polymer, with the bladder including a convex outer side bonded to the lower section of the inner face of the first layer of high-molecular polymer and a convex inner side bonded to the lower section of the outer face of the second layer of high-molecular polymer, and with the bladder including an interior between the inner and outer sides and filled with fluid.   
   
   
       9 . The bra cup as claimed in  claim 8 , with the bladder being spaced from the perimeter of each of the first and second layers of high-molecular polymer, with the first perforate area being coextensive with the second perforate area in the length and height directions, with the plurality of first vents being aligned with the plurality of second vents, and with the bladder being coextensive with the first and second perforate areas in the length direction. 
   
   
       10 . The bra cup as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising, in combination.
 an outer air-permeable cloth between the first layer of high-molecular polymer and the outer cloth, with the outer air-permeable cloth including a convex outer face engaged with the inner face of the first layer of high-molecular polymer and a concave inner face having an upper section and a lower section;   an inner air-permeable cloth between the outer air-permeable cloth and the outer cloth, with the inner air-permeable cloth including an outer face having a convex upper section engaged with the upper section of the inner face of the outer air-permeable cloth, with the outer face of the inner air-permeable cloth further including a lower section, with the inner air-permeable cloth further including an inner face;   a second layer of high-molecular polymer between the inner air-permeable cloth and the inner cloth, with the second layer of high-molecular polymer including an outer face engaged with the inner face of the inner air-permeable cloth, with the second layer of high-molecular polymer further including an inner face engaged with the outer face of the inner cloth, with the second layer of high-molecular polymer further including a perimeter having first and second edges spaced in the length direction and upper and lower edges spaced in the height direction, with the second layer of high-molecular polymer further including a second perforate area having a plurality of second vents each extending from the outer face through the inner face thereof, with the second perforate area extending from the upper edge through the lower edge of the second layer of high-molecular polymer in the height direction, with the second perforate area further extending from a center of the second layer of high-molecular polymer toward the first and second edges in the length direction and having a length at least two-thirds of that of the second layer of high-molecular polymer in the length direction; and   a bladder mounted between the lower section of the inner face of the outer air-permeable cloth and the lower section of the outer face of the inner air-permeable cloth, with the bladder including a convex outer side bonded to the lower section of the inner face of the outer air-permeable cloth and a convex inner side bonded to the lower section of the outer face of the inner air-permeable cloth, with the bladder including an interior between the inner and outer sides and filled with fluid.   
   
   
       11 . The bra cup as claimed in  claim 10 , with the bladder being spaced from a perimeter of each of the inner and outer air-permeable cloths, with the first perforate area being coextensive with the second perforate area in the length and height directions, with the plurality of first vents being aligned with the plurality of second vents, and with the bladder being coextensive with the first and second perforate areas in the length direction. 
   
   
       12 . The bra cup as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising, in combination:
 an air-permeable cloth between the outer air-permeable cloth and the outer cloth, with the air-permeable cloth including a convex outer face engaged with the inner face of the first layer of high-molecular polymer, with the inner air-permeable cloth further including a concave inner face; and   a second layer of high-molecular polymer between the air-permeable cloth and the inner cloth, with the second layer of high-molecular polymer including a convex outer face engaged with the inner face of the air-permeable cloth, with the second layer of high-molecular polymer further including a concave inner face engaged with the outer face of the inner cloth, with the second layer of high-molecular polymer further including a perimeter having first and second edges spaced in the length direction and upper and lower edges spaced in the height direction, with the second layer of high-molecular polymer further including a second perforate area having a plurality of second vents each extending from the outer face through the inner face thereof, with the second perforate area extending from the upper edge through the lower edge of the second layer of high-molecular polymer in the height direction, with the second perforate area further extending from a center of the second layer of high-molecular polymer toward the first and second edges in the length direction and having a length at least two-thirds of that of the second layer of high-molecular polymer in the length direction.   
   
   
       13 . The bra cup as claimed in  claim 12 , with the first perforate area being coextensive with the second perforate area in the length and height directions, and with the plurality of first vents being aligned with the plurality of second vents. 
   
   
       14 . The bra cup as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising, in combination:
 an air-permeable cloth between the outer air-permeable cloth and the outer cloth, with the air-permeable cloth including a convex outer face engaged with the inner face of the first layer of high-molecular polymer, with the air-permeable cloth further including a concave inner face having an upper section and a lower section;   a second layer of high-molecular polymer between the inner air-permeable cloth and the inner cloth, with the second layer of high-molecular polymer including an outer face having an upper section engaged with the upper section of the inner face of the air-permeable cloth, with the second layer of high-molecular polymer further including an inner face engaged with the outer face of the inner cloth, with the second layer of high-molecular polymer further including a perimeter having first and second edges spaced in the length direction and upper and lower edges spaced in the height direction, with the second layer of high-molecular polymer further including a second perforate area having a plurality of second vents each extending from the outer face through the inner face thereof, with the second perforate area extending from the upper edge through the lower edge of the second layer of high-molecular polymer in the height direction, with the second perforate area further extending from a center of the second layer of high-molecular polymer toward the first and second edges in the length direction and having a length at least two-thirds of that of the second layer of high-molecular polymer in the length direction; and   a bladder mounted between the lower section of the inner face of the air-permeable cloth and a lower section of the outer face of the second layer of high-molecular polymer, with the bladder including a convex outer side bonded to the lower section of the inner face of the air-permeable cloth and a convex inner side bonded to the lower section of the outer face of the second layer of high-molecular polymer, with the bladder including an interior between the inner and outer sides and filled with fluid.   
   
   
       15 . The bra cup as claimed in  claim 14 , with the bladder being spaced from a perimeter of the air-permeable cloth and from the perimeter of the second layer of high-molecular polymer, with the first perforate area being coextensive with the second perforate area in the length and height directions, with the plurality of first vents being aligned with the plurality of second vents, and with the bladder being coextensive with the first and second perforate areas in the length direction. 
   
   
       16 . The bra cup as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising, in combination:
 an air-permeable cloth between the first layer of high-molecular polymer and the inner cloth, with the air-permeable cloth including a convex outer face engaged with the inner face of the first layer of high-molecular polymer, with the air-permeable cloth further including a concave inner face having an upper section and a lower section;   a second layer of high-molecular polymer between the air-permeable cloth and the inner cloth, with the second layer of high-molecular polymer including an outer face having an upper section engaged with the upper section of the inner face of the air-permeable cloth, with the outer face of the second layer of high-molecular polymer further including a lower section, with the second layer of high-molecular polymer further including an inner face engaged with the outer face of the inner cloth, with the second layer of high-molecular polymer further including a perimeter having first and second edges spaced in the length direction and upper and lower edges spaced in the height direction, with the second layer of high-molecular polymer further including a second perforate area having a plurality of second vents each extending from the outer face through the inner face thereof, with the second perforate area extending from the upper edge through the lower edge of the second layer of high-molecular polymer in the height direction, with the second perforate area further extending from a center of the second layer of high-molecular polymer toward the first and second edges in the length direction and having a length at least two-thirds of that of the second layer of high-molecular polymer in the length direction; and   an air-permeable pad mounted between the lower section of the inner face of the air-permeable cloth and the lower section of the outer face of the second layer of high-molecular polymer, with the air-permeable pad including a convex outer side bonded to the lower section of the inner face of the air-permeable cloth and a convex inner side bonded to the lower section of the outer face of the second layer of high-molecular polymer.   
   
   
       17 . The bra cup as claimed in  claim 16 , with the air-permeable pad being spaced from a perimeter of the air-permeable cloth and from the perimeter of the second layer of high-molecular polymer, with the first perforate area being coextensive with the second perforate area in the length and height directions, with the plurality of first vents being aligned with the plurality of second vents, and with the air-permeable pad being coextensive with the first and second perforate areas in the length direction.