Adjustable multi-cup brassiere

Abstract

A brassiere is shown and described. The brassiere has a first helical region and a second helical region joined at the front and the back of the brassiere, each of the first and the second helical regions including an inner cup and an outer cup. The surface area of each inner cup is substantially smaller than the surface area of its respective outer cup. At least one of the inner cups may include a breast-shape conformer to conform in appearance to a breast. A reinforcing element attached along the lower portions of each of the inner cups and the outer cups define an adjustable inner cup volume independent of the inner cup base diameter. In use, the inner cup is held against a wearer when the brassiere is in an adjusted position regardless of a movement of its respective outer cup to maintain breast coverage by its respective inner cup.

1 . A brassiere comprising:
 (a) a first helical region and a second helical region joined at the front and the back of said brassiere, each of said first and said second helical regions including (i) an inner cup and an outer cup, wherein the surface area of each inner cup is substantially smaller than the surface area of its respective outer cup and (ii) a reinforcing element along the lower portions of each of said inner cups and said outer cups, said reinforcing element joining each of said inner cups to its respective outer cup thereby defining an adjustable inner cup volume independent of the inner cup base diameter; and   (b) an adjuster holding said inner cup against a wearer when said brassiere is in an adjusted position regardless of a movement of its respective outer cup to maintain breast coverage by its respective inner cup.   
     
     
         2 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein said first helical region and said second helical region are releasably joined at a portion of the brassiere chosen from the front of said brassiere and at the back of said brassiere 
     
     
         3 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein said inner cups and said outer cups are generally separable along an unattached upper free edges of said inner cup and its respective outer cup, whereby said upper free edges may move relative to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the volume of said inner cup is independent of the volume of its respective outer cup. 
     
     
         5 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein each of said inner cups includes a first layer and a second layer of fabric having attached edges to form said inner cup, said inner cup padding being contained within said first and second fabric layers. 
     
     
         6 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said inner cups has an inner cup axis substantially parallel to a horizontal axis of a breast implant when the brassiere is worn. 
     
     
         7 . The brassiere of  claim 6 , wherein said inner cups define an adjustable inner cup base diameter substantially centered on a horizontal axis of the breast implant to accommodate a contour of an augmented breast base independent of the implant volume and independent of an inner cup volume when said brassiere is worn and the adjuster is in an adjusted position. 
     
     
         8 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein said reinforcing element includes a first underwire associated with each of said inner cups and a second underwire associated with its respective outer cup. 
     
     
         9 . A brassiere comprising:
 (a) a first helical region and a second helical region joined at the front and the back of said brassiere, each of said first and said second helical regions including (i) an inner cup and an outer cup, wherein the surface area of each inner cup is substantially smaller than the surface area of its respective outer cup and wherein at least one of said inner cups include a breast-shape conformer to conform in appearance to a breast and (ii) a reinforcing element along the lower portions of each of said inner cups and said outer cups, said reinforcing element joining each of said inner cups to its respective outer cup thereby defining an adjustable inner cup volume independent of the inner cup base diameter; and   (b) an adjuster, whereby said inner cup is held against a wearer when said brassiere is in an adjusted position regardless of a movement of its respective outer cup to maintain breast coverage by its respective inner cup.   
     
     
         10 . The brassiere of  claim 9 , wherein said breast-shape conformer is a cavity configured to receive a mold. 
     
     
         11 . The brassiere of  claim 9 , wherein the breast-shape conformer is a built-in mold chosen from a padding, an implant, a plurality of fabric layers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The brassiere of  claim 9 , wherein said inner cups and said outer cups are generally separable along unattached upper free edges of said inner cups and said outer cups whereby the upper free edges may move relative to one another. 
     
     
         13 . A brassiere comprising:
 (a) a first helical region and a second helical region joined at the front and the back of said brassiere, each of said first and said second helical regions including (i) an inner cup and an outer cup, wherein the surface area of each inner cup is substantially smaller than the surface area of its respective outer cup and wherein at least one of said inner cups include a breast-shape conformer to conform in appearance to a breast and (ii) a reinforcing element along the lower portions of each of said inner cups and said outer cups, said reinforcing element joining each of said inner cups to its respective outer cup thereby defining an adjustable inner cup volume independent of the inner cup base diameter;   (b) an adjuster, whereby said inner cup is held against a wearer when said brassiere is in an adjusted position regardless of a movement of its respective outer cup to maintain breast coverage by its respective inner cup; and   (c) an outer decorative layer.   
     
     
         14 . The brassiere of  claim 13 , wherein said first helical region and said second helical region are releasably joined at a portion of the brassiere chosen from the front of said brassiere and at the back of said brassiere 
     
     
         15 . The brassiere of  claim 13 , wherein said inner cups and said outer cups are generally separable along an unattached upper free edges of said inner cup and its respective outer cup, whereby said upper free edges may move relative to one another. 
     
     
         16 . The brassiere of  claim 13 , wherein each of said inner cups includes a first layer and a second layer of fabric having attached edges to form said inner cup, said inner cup padding being contained within said first and second fabric layers. 
     
     
         17 . The brassiere of  claim 13 , wherein said inner cups define an adjustable inner cup base diameter substantially centered on a horizontal axis of the breast implant to accommodate a contour of an augmented breast base independent of the implant volume and independent of an inner cup volume when said brassiere is worn and the adjuster is in an adjusted position. 
     
     
         18 . The brassiere of  claim 13 , wherein said reinforcing element includes a first underwire associated with each of said inner cups and a second underwire associated with its respective outer cup. 
     
     
         19 . The brassiere of  claim 13 , wherein said breast-shape conformer is a cavity configured to receive a mold. 
     
     
         20 . The brassiere of  claim 19 , wherein the breast-shape conformer is a built-in mold chosen from a padding, an implant, a plurality of fabric layers, and combinations thereof.