Garment having perforated synthetic supports

Abstract

Vented support structures for garments and garments with vented support structures are described. The support structures are made of silicone or soft plastic. The support structures include one or more openings that allow the body heat of the wearer to pass through the support structure. The support structures are placed in the garment in a region that is required to provide support to the wearer and is prone to perspiration. A method of making such support structures, which includes forming holes in a cured silicone support structure either before the silicone is cured or thereafter is also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment comprising:
 a body portion including a body fabric,   a silicone or soft plastic support structure, attached to the body fabric, wherein the support structure has at least one vent formed therein, wherein the vent is configured to allow body heat from a wearer of the garment to pass through the vent, thereby causing the wearer to perspire less.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment is a bra or comprises a bra portion further comprising two arcuate support structures, each positioned on the garment proximate a contour of a respective cup in cup portion of the garment, wherein each arcuate support structure includes a first portion encompassing an apex of the arcuate support structure, and first and second termini, each extending from the apex portion. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 2 , wherein the body fabric is a multi-ply fabric. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 3 , wherein the arcuate support structures are disposed on the multi-ply fabric or between a first ply and a second ply. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure is configured to respond to tensions to which the garment is subjected when worn without impeding the ability of the body fabric adjacent to the support structure to stretch. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vent is through a thickness of the support structure. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vent is through a side of the support structure. 
     
     
         8 . A garment comprising:
 a body portion including a body fabric;   a cup portion including two cups, the cup portion shaped from the body portion or attached to the body portion; and   two curved support structures each positioned on the garment proximate a contour of a respective cup in the cup portion, the curved support structures each constructed from silicone or soft plastic, the support structures comprising at least one vent, wherein the vent is configured to allow body heat from a wearer of the garment to pass through the vent, thereby causing the wearer to perspire less.   
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 8 , wherein the body fabric is a multi-ply fabric. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the curved support structures are disposed on the multi-ply fabric or between a first ply and a second ply. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 8  wherein the garment is selected from the group consisting of a bra, a shapewear garment, a sundress and a swimsuit. 
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 8  wherein the at least one vent is through a thickness of the support structure. 
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 8  wherein the at least one vent is through a side of the support structure. 
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 13  wherein the curved support structures are made of silicone or a soft plastic. 
     
     
         15 . A method for making a garment with a support structure comprising:
 determining a size, shape, and flexibility of a support structure to be included with the garment;   based on the garment and the position in garment in which the support structure is to be placed;   selecting a size and placement of vents in the support structure;   obtaining s support structure of the determined size, shape and flexibility having vents with the selected size and placement therein; and   attaching the support structure to the garment.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the support structure is at least one of pliable, flexible or resilient. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the support structure is made of silicone or soft plastic. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the garment is made of a multi-ply body fabric and the support structure is attached to the multi-ply body fabric. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the support structure is place between two layer of the multi-ply body fabric. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the vents are evenly distributed on the support structures. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the vents have an uneven size distribution or uneven placement or both.