Brassiere and supporting frames thereof

Claim 2

A brassiere frame comprising an elongated, arcuate wire-like support element, and end elements of plastic on the opposite end portions of said support element, each of said end elements including a socket portion in which the respective end portion of said support element is freely longitudinally slidable and a tab portion extending from said socket portion and being sufficiently thin so as be adapted to be sewn through.

Claim 3

A brassiere frame according to claim 1, in which said support element is of a resiliently rigid plastic.

Claim 4

A brassiere frame according to claim 1, in which said support element is of metal.

Claim 5

A brassiere frame according to claim 1, in which said arcuate wire-like support element, at least between said end portions thereof, has an elongated cross-sectional shape with the major axis of said elongated cross-sectional shape extending generally radially with respect to the curvature of the arcuate support element.

Claim 6

A brassiere frame according to claim 4, in which said end portions of the support element also have said elongated cross-sectional shape, and said socket portions of the end elements have internal cross-sections corresponding to said elongated cross-sectional shape of the respective end portion of the support element slidable longitudinally therein.

Claim 7

A brassiere frame according to claim 1, in which at least said end portions of said support element have circular cross-sections, and said socket portions of the end elements have circular internal cross-sections corresponding to said cross-sections of the end portions slidable longitudinally therein.

Claim 8

A brassiere frame according to claim 1, in which each of said end elements is constituted by a length of plastic tubing which is flattened at one end to define said tab portion.

Claim 9

A brassiere comprising fabric sections defining a pair of breast-receiving cups each having an arcuate lower perimeter along which a fabric tunnel extends, and a supporting frame in each said tunnel including an elongated, similarly arcuate wire-like support element and end elements of plastic on the opposite end portions of said support element, each of said end elements including an elongated socket portion in which the respective end portion of said support element is freely longitudinall slidable and a tab portion extending from said socket portion and being sufficiently thin to permit sewing therethrough, said support element being longitudinally dimensioned so that, with said end portions thereof only partly inserted in the socket portions of said end elements, the overall length of said supporting frame is substantially as large as the distance along the respective fabric tunnel, whereby upon shrinkage of the fabric sections and tunnels of the brassiere, the end portions of each support element can enter further into the socket portions of the respective end elements to avoid excessive pressure of the respective supporting frame against the ends of the fabric tunnel in which it is located.

Claim 10

A brassiere comprising fabric sections defining a pair of breast-receiving cups each having an arcuate lower perimeter along which a fabric tunnel extends, and a supporting frame in each said tunnel including an elongated, similarly arcuate wire-like support element and end elements of plastic on the opposite end portions of said support element, each of said end elements including an elongated socket portion in which the respective end portion of said support element is freely longitudinall slidable and a tab portion extending from said socket portion and being sufficiently thin to permit sewing therethrough, said support element being longitudinally dimensioned so that, with said end portions thereof only partly inserted in the socket portions of said end elements, the overall length of said supporting frame is substantially as large as the distance along the respective fabric tunnel, whereby upon shrinkage of the fabric sections and tunnels of the brassiere, the end portions of each support element can enter further into the socket portions of the respective end elements to avoid excessive pressure of the respective supporting frame against the ends of the fabric tunnel in which it is located.

Claim 11

A brassiere according to claim 8, further comprising means passing through said tab portion of each of said end elements for securing the latter in the respective fabric tunnel adjacent one of said ends of the latter.

Claim 12

A brassiere according to claim 9, in which said means for securing each end element is constituted by stitching passing through said top portion thereof.

Claim 13

A brassiere according to claim 8, in which each said support element is of a resiliently rigid plastic.

Claim 14

A brassiere according to claim 8, in which each said support element is of metal.

Claim 15

A brassiere according to claim 8, in which each said arcuate wire-like support element, at least between said end portions thereof, has an elongated cross-sectional shape with the major axis of said elongated cross-sectional shape extending generally radially with respect to the curvature of the arcuate support element.

Claim 16

A brassiere according to claim 13, in which said end portions of the support element also have said elongated cross-sectional shape, and said socket portions of the end elements have internal cross-sections corresponding to said elongated cross-sectional shape of the respective end portion of the support element slidable longitudinally therein.

Claim 17

A brassiere according to claim 8, in which at least said end portions of each said support element have circular cross-sections, and said socket portions of the respective end elements have corresponding circular cross-sections.

Claim 18

A brassiere according to claim 8, in which each of said end elements is constituted by a length of plastic tubing having an end portion thereof flattened to constitute said tab portion.