Upper body garment with side panels

Abstract

Aspects herein are directed to a bra having an exterior layer, an interior layer, and a middle layer positioned between the exterior layer and the interior layer to provide increased lateral and inferior support to a wearer when the bra is donned. The middle layer includes a main body portion which may comprise a first sling portion and a second sling portion. The middle layer may additionally include a first side panel and a second side panel. The middle layer may be formed of one or more mesh materials to provide lightweight and flexible support.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bra comprising:
 an exterior layer;   an interior layer; and   a middle layer, the middle layer positioned between the exterior layer and the interior layer, the middle layer comprising:
 a first sling portion configured to cradle a first breast when the bra is donned by a wearer, 
 a second sling portion configured to cradle a second breast when the bra is donned by the wearer, 
 a first side panel extending from a position adjacent to first underarm edge to a band and sharing at least one edge with the first sling portion, and 
 a second side panel extending from a position adjacent to second underarm edge to the band and sharing at least one edge with the second sling portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The bra of  claim 1 , wherein the first side panel and the first sling portion overlap at a first side of the bra, and wherein the second side panel and the second sling portion overlap at a second side of the bra. 
     
     
         3 . The bra of  claim 2 , wherein a substantial majority of the first side panel and at least a portion of the first sling portion overlap, and wherein a substantial majority of the second side panel and at least a portion of the second sling portion overlap. 
     
     
         4 . The bra of  claim 1 , wherein a centralmost point of where the first side panel attaches to the band is laterally offset from a centralmost point of where the first sling portion attaches to the band, and wherein a centralmost point of where the second side panel attaches to the band is laterally offset from a centralmost point of where the second sling portion attaches to the band. 
     
     
         5 . The bra of  claim 1 , wherein the first sling portion and the second sling portion overlap at a lower central portion of the bra adjacent to the band. 
     
     
         6 . The bra of  claim 1 , wherein the first side panel is secured to a first underarm seam, a band seam, and a first side seam extending between the first underarm seam and the band seam, and wherein the second side panel is secured to a second underarm seam, the band seam, and a second side seam extending between the second underarm seam and the band seam. 
     
     
         7 . The bra of  claim 1 , wherein the middle layer further comprises a back panel extending between the first side panel and the second side panel. 
     
     
         8 . The bra of  claim 1 , wherein the first sling portion is secured to a first strap, and wherein the second sling portion is secured to a second strap. 
     
     
         9 . The bra of  claim 1 , wherein the first sling portion, the second sling portion, the first side panel, and the second side panel each comprise a mesh material. 
     
     
         10 . The bra of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior layer comprises apertures exposing the middle layer. 
     
     
         11 . An upper body garment comprising:
 an exterior layer;   an interior layer; and   a middle layer, the middle layer positioned between the exterior layer and the interior layer, the middle layer comprising:
 a main body portion configured to cradle a first breast and a second breast when the upper body garment is donned by a wearer, wherein the 
 main body portion comprises a first lateral portion on a first side of the main body portion a second lateral portion on a second side of the main body portion, wherein each of the first lateral portion and the second lateral portion extend between a neckline edge and a lower edge; 
 a first side panel positioned in the first lateral portion of the main body portion; and 
 a second side panel positioned in the second lateral portion of the main body portion, 
 wherein each of the first side panel and the second side panel comprise an upper longitudinal end region and a lower longitudinal end region, wherein the upper longitudinal end region is positioned adjacent the neckline edge and wherein the lower longitudinal end region is positioned adjacent the lower edge. 
   
     
     
         12 . The upper body garment of  claim 11 , wherein the first side panel and the second side panel are secured to the main body portion. 
     
     
         13 . The upper body garment of  claim 12 , wherein the first side panel and the second side panel are secured to the main body portion using lamination and bonding. 
     
     
         14 . The upper body garment of  claim 11 , wherein the main body portion comprises a central region extending between the first side panel and the second side panel. 
     
     
         15 . The upper body garment of  claim 11 , wherein about 100% of a surface area of each of the side panels overlaps the main body portion. 
     
     
         16 . The upper body garment of  claim 11 , wherein the main body portion has a one-piece configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The upper body garment of  claim 11 , wherein each of the main body portion, the first side panel, and the second side panel comprise a mesh material. 
     
     
         18 . The upper body garment of  claim 11 , wherein cups are molded into the middle layer. 
     
     
         19 . The upper body garment of  claim 11 , wherein a first yarn forms the interior layer, a second yarn forms the exterior layer, and wherein the first yarn is different from the second yarn. 
     
     
         20 . The upper body garment of  claim 11 , wherein medial edges of each of the first side panel and the second side panel have negative curvature.