Breathable Bra

Abstract

The present invention relates to a functional bra ( 1 ), in particular a maternity and/or nursing bra, comprising a front section ( 10 ) shaped to cover at least a portion of a chest area of a wearer, including a pair of cup portions ( 5 ) shaped to accommodate respective ones of breasts of the wearer, and a back section ( 6 ) shaped to cover at least a portion of a back of the wearer. In order to ensure breathability without compromising support, at least one of the cup portions ( 5 ) and the back section ( 6 ) is formed from knit fabric with different knit structures representing zones of different breathability such as at least a cool zone ( 3 ) and a support zone ( 2 ), wherein the cool zone ( 3 ) is adapted to cover a sweat-sensitive area on skin of a wearer, and has a different knit structure than the support zone ( 2 ) with a higher breathability.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A functional bra, comprising:
 a front section shaped to cover at least a portion of a chest area of a wearer, including   a pair of cup portions shaped to accommodate respective ones of breasts of the wearer, and   a back section shaped to cover at least a portion of a back of the wearer,   wherein at least one of   the cup portions, and   the back section   is formed from knit fabric with different knit structures representing zones of different breathability including at least a cool zone and a support zone,   wherein the cool zone is adapted to cover a sweat-sensitive area on skin of a wearer, and has a different knit structure than the support zone with a higher breathability.   
     
     
         2 . The functional bra according to  claim 1 , wherein the knit fabric is fabricated from a single yarn composed of a stretchable material, the stretchable material being a blend of polyester and elastane or polyamide and elastane. 
     
     
         3 . The functional bra according to  claim 1 , wherein the knit fabric is composed of a blend including 80 to 98% polyamide/nylon and an inversely corresponding percentage of elastane/spandex. 
     
     
         4 . The functional bra according to  claim 1 , wherein the functional bra further comprises a midriff portion, which underlies the cup portions and is adapted to extend at least partially around a portion of a torso under the breast of the wearer, and is formed from knit fabric composed of a blend including 70 to 95% polyamide/nylon and an inversely corresponding percentage of elastane/spandex. 
     
     
         5 . The functional bra according to  claim 1 , wherein the knit structure of the cool zone has a wider or coarser mesh than the support zone, leading to larger meshes for air passage in the cool zone and a better support of the support zone. 
     
     
         6 . The functional bra according to  claim 5 , wherein the volumetric mass density of the knit fabric in the cool zone is about 1.5 to 20 times lower than in the support zone. 
     
     
         7 . The functional bra according to  claim 1 , wherein the knit structure of the cool zone is at least one of a jacquard knit and an open knit mesh and/or wherein the knit structure of the support zone is a jersey knit. 
     
     
         8 . The functional bra according to  claim 1 , wherein the cool zone is at least partially enclosed by the support zone. 
     
     
         9 . The functional bra according to  claim 1 , wherein the cool zone is adapted to cover at least a portion of a thoracic spine area and an upper or lower edge area of the breast. 
     
     
         10 . The functional bra according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the cool zone is provided on the cup portions and extends at least one of: partially along a pair of neckline portions of respective ones of the cup portions, wherein the neckline portions continuously transition into each other, and partially along a pair of lower edge portions of respective ones of the cup portions; and/or   wherein the cool zone is provided on the back section and extends at least partially along a thoracic spine portion of the back section.   
     
     
         11 . The functional bra according to  claim 1 , wherein the functional bra is composed of the knit fabric as a single layer. 
     
     
         12 . The functional bra according to  claim 1 , wherein the functional bra comprises a double layer of knit fabric disposed to overlap the front section, wherein the layers are composed of the same material and knit structure, wherein the layers may define a cavity for receiving a foam cup. 
     
     
         13 . The functional bra according to  claim 12 , wherein the functional bra comprises a foam cup between the layers, wherein the foam cup is provided with ventilation elements for enhanced breathability. 
     
     
         14 . The functional bra according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a pair of shoulder portions extending between respective ones of cup portions and the back section and adapted to extend over respective ones of shoulders of the wearer, and/or   a midriff portion which underlies the cup portions and is adapted to extend at least partially around a portion of a torso under the breast of the wearer, and/or   an opposed pair of side sections extending between the front section and the back section and shaped to cover at least a portion of respective ones of sides under arms of the wearer.   
     
     
         15 . A method for manufacturing a functional bra, comprising:
 providing a single yarn composed of a stretchable material, and   forming the single yarn to a knit fabric with different knit structures representing zones of different breathability such as a cool zone and a support zone, wherein the cool zone has a different knit structure than the support zone with a higher breathability, and forming at least one of
 cup portions, shaped to accommodate respective ones of breasts of the wearer, and 
 a back section, shaped to cover at least a portion of a back of the wearer, of the bra from said knit fabric, so that the cool zone is adapted to cover a sweat-sensitive area on skin of a wearer.