Underwire for a brassiere and a brassiere incorporating same

Abstract

An underwire for a brassiere comprises an elongate, substantially u-shaped body having a chest-engaging portion and a breast-engaging portion. The underwire is constructed from a unitary piece of plastic material. The chest-engaging portion and the breast-engaging portion are connected together along their lengths in a dogleg-shaped configuration, with, in an embodiment, an angle of between 110° and 140° with respect to each other. The breast-engaging portion has a shorter length dimension than the chest-engaging portion and thereby leaves a substantially flat chest-engaging portion at each end of the elongate body. In embodiments, these flat ends of the chest-engaging portion are rounded or thinned compared to the remainder of the chest-engaging portion. The configuration provides good support to the wearer's breast, increases comfort, and is less likely to injure than other configurations.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An underwire for a brassiere comprising an elongate substantially u-shaped body having a chest-engaging portion and a breast-engaging portion connected together along the length of the breast engaging portion in a dogleg-shaped configuration; the elongate body, the chest-engaging portion, and the breast-engaging portion each having two ends; and, the breast-engaging portion having a shorter length dimension than the chest-engaging portion and being connected intermediate and spaced apart from the ends of the chest-engaging portion, thereby leaving only a substantially flat chest-engaging portion at each end of the elongate body. 
     
     
         2 . The underwire of  claim 1  wherein the breast-engaging portion tapers inwardly towards the chest-engaging portion at each end of the breast-engaging portion. 
     
     
         3 . The underwire of  claim 2  wherein the breast-engaging portion tapers inwardly towards the chest-engaging portion over a length of up to 0.02 meters. 
     
     
         4 . The underwire of  claim 1  wherein the ends of the elongate body are rounded. 
     
     
         5 . The underwire of  claim 1  wherein the ends of the chest-engaging portion beyond the breast-engaging portion reduce in thickness towards the ends of the elongate body. 
     
     
         6 . The underwire of  claim 1  wherein the breast-engaging portion forms an angle of between about 110° and about 140° with the chest-engaging portion. 
     
     
         7 . The underwire of  claim 1  further being constructed from a unitary piece of plastic material. 
     
     
         8 . The underwire of  claim 7  wherein the plastic material includes polyurethane. 
     
     
         9 . The underwire of  claim 7  wherein the plastic material includes polyamide. 
     
     
         10 . The underwire of  claim 7  wherein the plastic material includes polyoxymethylene. 
     
     
         11 . The underwire of  claim 7  wherein the plastic material includes polyetheretherketone. 
     
     
         12 . The underwire of  claim 2  wherein the ends of the elongate body are rounded. 
     
     
         13 . The underwire of  claim 2  wherein the ends of the chest-engaging portion beyond the breast-engaging portion reduce in thickness towards the ends of the elongate body. 
     
     
         14 . The underwire of  claim 1  wherein the breast-engaging portion tapers inwardly towards the chest-engaging portion at each of end of the breast-engaging portion, and wherein the ends of the chest-engaging portion beyond the breast-engaging portion reduce in thickness towards the ends of the elongate body and are rounded at their outermost point, and wherein the breast-engaging portion forms an angle of between about 110° and about 140° with the chest-engaging portion. 
     
     
         15 . A brassiere incorporating an underwire, the underwire comprising an elongate substantially u-shaped body having a chest-engaging portion and a breast-engaging portion connected together along the length of the breast engaging portion in a dogleg-shaped configuration; the elongate body, the chest-engaging portion, and the breast-engaging portion each having two ends; and, the breast-engaging portion having a shorter length dimension than the chest-engaging portion and being connected intermediate and spaced apart from the ends of the chest-engaging portion, thereby leaving only a substantially flat chest-engaging portion at each end of the elongate body. 
     
     
         16 . The brassiere of  claim 15  having a cup including an inner layer and an outer layer, wherein the underwire is sandwiched between the inner layer and the outer layer. 
     
     
         17 . The brassiere of  claim 15  having a wide channel tube, wherein the underwire is positioned in the wide channel tube. 
     
     
         18 . The brassiere of  claim 15  comprising fabric, wherein at least one of the ends of the elongate body is stitched to the fabric. 
     
     
         19 . The brassiere of  claim 15  being a sports brassiere. 
     
     
         20 . A garment incorporating an underwire, the underwire comprising an elongate substantially u-shaped body having a chest-engaging portion and a breast-engaging portion connected together along the length of the breast engaging portion in a dogleg-shaped configuration; the elongate body, the chest-engaging portion, and the breast-engaging portion each having two ends; and, the breast-engaging portion having a shorter length dimension than the chest-engaging portion and being connected intermediate and spaced apart from the ends of the chest-engaging portion, thereby leaving only a substantially flat chest-engaging portion at each end of the elongate body.