Underwire for brassiere

Abstract

An underwire for use in a brassiere, as well as the associated brassiere, including a generally arcuate base member having a length, a central portion, and opposed first and second end portions, and at least one support member having a length shorter than the length of the base member, the support member fixedly attached to the base member along the central portion of the base member and spaced from the opposed first and second end portions, where the opposed first and second end portions of the base member have a greater flexibility than a flexibility of the central portion of the base member having the at least one support member fixedly attached thereto.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An underwire for use in a brassiere, comprising:
 a generally arcuate base member having a length, a central portion, and opposed first and second end portions; and   at least one support member having a length shorter than the length of the base member, the support member fixedly attached to the base member along the central portion of the base member and spaced from the opposed first and second end portions;   wherein the opposed first and second end portions of the base member have a greater flexibility than a flexibility of the central portion of the base member having the at least one support member fixedly attached thereto.   
     
     
         2 . The underwire of  claim 1 , wherein the base member comprises steel, stainless steel, or alloy steel. 
     
     
         3 . The underwire of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one support member comprises steel, stainless steel, or alloy steel. 
     
     
         4 . The underwire of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one support member is fixedly attached to the base member by a metallurgical joining process. 
     
     
         5 . The underwire of  claim 1 , wherein the base member has opposing sides and the at least one support member consists of two support members disposed on the opposing sides of the base member. 
     
     
         6 . The underwire of  claim 1 , wherein a tip is disposed on at least one of the opposing first and second end portions of the base member. 
     
     
         7 . The underwire of  claim 6 , wherein the tip is formed of plastic or polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The underwire of  claim 1 , further comprising a coating disposed on the base member and the at least one support member. 
     
     
         9 . The underwire of  claim 8 , wherein the coating comprises nylon. 
     
     
         10 . The underwire of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the at least one support member is approximately half the length of the base member. 
     
     
         11 . A brassiere, comprising:
 at least one underwire comprising:
 a generally arcuate base member having a length, a central portion, and opposed first and second end portions; and 
 at least one support member having a length shorter than the length of the base member, the support member fixedly attached to the base member along the central portion of the base member and spaced from the opposed first and second end portions; 
 wherein the opposed first and second end portions of the base member have a greater flexibility than a flexibility of the central portion of the base member having the at least one support member fixedly attached thereto. 
   
     
     
         12 . The brassiere of  claim 11 , wherein the base member comprises steel, stainless steel, or alloy steel. 
     
     
         13 . The brassiere of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one support member comprises steel, stainless steel, or alloy steel. 
     
     
         14 . The brassiere of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one support member is fixedly attached to the base member by a metallurgical joining process. 
     
     
         15 . The brassiere of  claim 11 , wherein the base member has opposing sides and the at least one support member consists of two support members disposed on the opposing sides of the base member. 
     
     
         16 . The brassiere of  claim 11 , wherein a tip is disposed on at least one of the opposing first and second end portions of the base member. 
     
     
         17 . The brassiere of  claim 16 , wherein the tip is formed of plastic or polymer. 
     
     
         18 . The brassiere of  claim 11 , further comprising a coating disposed on the base member and the at least one support member. 
     
     
         19 . The brassiere of  claim 18 , wherein the coating comprises nylon. 
     
     
         20 . The brassiere of  claim 11 , wherein the length of the at least one support member is approximately half the length of the base member.