Quick-drying lightweight bra

Abstract

This document relates in various aspects to a bra (100) having a front portion (110) formed of multiple layers of mesh to provide a breathable, lightweight, and quick-drying moderately supportive bra. The front portion (110) includes an inner support panel assembly (160) having a first panel (162) made of mesh material and a second panel (164) made of spacer mesh material, the second panel (164) being adjacent to and outside the first panel (162). The front portion (110) also includes an upper support panel (140) made of spacer mesh material and a lower support panel (150) made of mesh material, the upper support panel (140) and the lower support panel (150) each being located adjacent to and outside the inner support panel assembly (160). The upper support garment piece (140) and the lower support garment piece (150) are each defined by a top boundary (142, 152) and a bottom boundary (144, 154), and at least a portion of the bottom boundary (144) of the upper support garment piece can be positioned above the top boundary (152) of the lower support garment piece.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This article relates to various aspects of a quick-drying, lightweight bra with a layered structure made of different mesh materials. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional materials used in bras, especially sports bras, typically provide support through heavy, non-breathable, and slow-drying materials. Conversely, traditional bras made of lightweight, breathable fabrics often fail to provide sufficient support for many activities. Attached Figure Description

[0003] The following is a detailed description of examples from various aspects of this article, with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0004] Figure 1 The illustration shows a front perspective view of an example quick-drying lightweight bra based on various aspects of this article;

[0005] Figure 2 The diagram illustrates the various aspects based on this article. Figure 1 Front view of the bra;

[0006] Figure 3 The diagram illustrates the various aspects based on this article. Figure 1 Front view of the internal support panel assembly of the bra;

[0007] Figure 4 The diagram illustrates the various aspects based on this article. Figure 3 Exploded view of the internal support garment assembly;

[0008] Figure 5 The diagram illustrates the various aspects based on this article. Figure 1 A partial exploded view of the front part of the bra;

[0009] Figure 6 The diagram illustrates the various aspects based on this article. Figure 1 The back view of the bra;

[0010] Figure 7 The diagram illustrates the various aspects based on this article. Figure 1 A front perspective view of the bra and a partial deconstructed view of the front shoulder strap;

[0011] Figure 8 The diagram illustrates the various aspects based on this article. Figure 1 A front perspective view of the bra, with the pockets in an open configuration;

[0012] Figure 9 The illustration shows a flowchart of an example method for manufacturing a quick-drying, lightweight bra according to various aspects of this article;

[0013] Figure 10 The illustration shows a front view of an example quick-drying lightweight bra based on various aspects of this article;

[0014] Figure 11 The diagram illustrates the various aspects based on this article. Figure 10 An exploded view of the front part of the bra;

[0015] Figure 12 The diagram illustrates the various aspects based on this article. Figure 10 The back view of the bra;

[0016] Figure 13 The illustration shows a front view of an example quick-drying lightweight bra based on various aspects of this article;

[0017] Figure 14 The diagram illustrates the various aspects based on this article. Figure 13 An exploded view of the front portion of the bra; and

[0018] Figure 15 The diagram illustrates the various aspects based on this article. Figure 13 The back view of the bra. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The subject matter of this invention has been specifically described herein to satisfy legal requirements. However, this description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Rather, the inventors have envisioned that the claimed or disclosed subject matter may also be embodied in other ways in combination with other current or future techniques to include different steps or combinations of steps similar to those described herein. Furthermore, although the terms “step” and / or “box” may be used herein to identify different elements of the method employed, these terms should not be construed as implying any particular order among or between the various steps disclosed herein, unless and except as expressly stated.

[0020] Bras worn during physical activities, such as sports bras, typically need to provide adequate support for the wearer's breasts. At the same time, because physical activity often leads to increased body temperature and sweating, breathability and quick-drying properties are desired in bras. Support is usually provided by using heavier fabrics that are less breathable or quick-drying. Consequently, traditional bras often lack sufficient support or adequate breathability and quick-drying capabilities. This article presents a bra constructed from multiple layers of different materials, such as mesh. The mesh material helps to provide a lightweight bra with breathability and quick-drying properties, while layers of mesh materials with different properties (including varying tensile strengths) provide the necessary coverage and support during physical activity.

[0021] At a high level, this document relates to a bra comprising an inner support panel assembly, an upper support panel, and a lower support panel that together form at least a front portion of the bra. The upper and lower support panels may each be located near and outside the inner support panel assembly, thereby forming a multi-layered structure in at least some areas of the front portion of the bra. In various aspects, combinations of spacer mesh material and mesh material (also referred to herein as non-spacer mesh material) form the different panels of the front portion of the bra. For example, the upper support panel may be formed of spacer mesh material, while the lower support panel may be formed of mesh material.

[0022] In an example, the upper support panel includes a top boundary and a bottom boundary, while the lower support panel includes a top boundary and a bottom boundary. The upper support panel is arranged on the outside of the inner support panel assembly to be substantially higher than the lower support panel. Accordingly, the top boundary of the upper support panel can form the upper edge of the front portion of the bra, while the bottom boundary of the lower support panel can form the lower edge of the front portion. Additionally, at least a portion of the bottom boundary of the upper support panel can be positioned higher than at least a portion of the top boundary of the lower support panel.

[0023] In one example, at least a portion of the top boundary of the lower support panel is not attached to the inner support panel assembly. A pocket opening may be formed by the unattached top boundary of the lower support panel, wherein the pocket opening communicates with a pocket space formed between the lower support panel and the inner support panel assembly.

[0024] In one example, the internal support garment assembly includes a first garment piece and a second garment piece, each extending between the right and left sides of the front portion. The second garment piece may be located near and outside the first garment piece. Furthermore, the second garment piece may include a third and a fourth garment piece, the third garment piece being attached to the right side of the second garment piece and configured to at least partially cover the wearer's right breast, and the fourth garment piece being attached to the left side of the second garment piece and configured to at least partially cover the wearer's left breast. In one example, the first garment piece is formed of a mesh material, while the second garment piece is formed of a spacer mesh material. The spacer mesh material may exhibit less stretchability than the mesh material of the first garment piece, at least in the vertical direction. Additionally, in one example, the third and fourth garment pieces are formed of a material with less stretchability relative to the first and second garment pieces.

[0025] In an example, the bra includes a back portion also formed of at least one piece of mesh material. A pair of shoulder straps may extend between the front portion and the back portion, and each shoulder strap may be at least partially formed of spacer mesh material.

[0026] An exemplary aspect of this disclosure also includes a method of manufacturing a multi-layered bra, the multi-layered bra including a front portion having an upper support piece, a lower support piece, and an inner support piece assembly. The method may include forming the front portion of the bra by attaching the upper support piece to the inner support piece assembly at one or more locations, such that the upper support piece is located near a first surface of the inner support piece assembly. The front portion of the bra may also be formed by attaching the lower support piece to the inner support piece assembly at one or more locations, such that the lower support piece is also located near the first surface of the inner support piece assembly. Additionally, when the upper and lower support pieces are attached to the inner support piece assembly, at least a portion of the top boundary of the lower support piece may be positioned below at least a portion of the bottom boundary of the upper support piece. Furthermore, in some aspects, the upper support piece may include an upper support piece top boundary forming the upper edge of the front portion of the bra, and the lower support piece may include a lower support piece bottom boundary forming the lower edge of the front portion.

[0027] Layering the upper and lower support panels over the inner support panel assembly provides additional support to the wearer in the front portion of the bra, at least partially due to the added layers. The additional layers also provide coverage by reducing transparency. However, the front portion of the bra remains breathable and quick-drying due to the open structure of the mesh and spacer mesh materials used to form the upper, lower, and inner support panel assemblies. Additionally, different levels of support can be achieved in the upper and lower portions of the bra by utilizing different types of mesh materials with different properties, including different tensile properties. For example, additional support is provided for specific breast coverage areas in the front portion of the bra when the third and fourth panels, made of materials with lower tensile strength, are attached to the inner support panel assembly.

[0028] As used herein, the term "bra" encompasses any structure configured to be worn around the wearer's torso and at least partially cover the wearer's breasts. Although aspects of this document are discussed in relation to bras, it should be understood that the disclosed techniques are not limited to bras and can be applied to any upper torso garment used to support breast tissue, such as vests, swimsuits, tank tops, or other garments with built-in breast support.

[0029] Positional terms used when describing a bra, such as front, side, back, inward-facing surface, outward-facing surface, high, low, inside, outside, etc., are used relative to a bra worn as intended when the wearer is upright, such that the lower portion of the bra extends around the wearer's torso and the upper portion of the bra is generally positioned above the wearer's chest. Accordingly, the inward-facing surface of the bra is configured to be near the wearer's skin surface, and the outward-facing surface is positioned away from the skin surface. Additionally, the front portion of the bra is configured to at least partially cover the wearer's breasts, and the back portion is configured to at least partially cover the wearer's back. Additionally, the shoulder straps are configured to extend from the front portion to the back portion over the wearer's shoulders, and at least partially define openings through which the wearer's arms extend and openings through which the wearer's head and neck extend. However, it should be understood that the use of positional terms is not dependent on the actual presence of a person for interpretive purposes.

[0030] The term "net" refers to a fabric material having multiple closely spaced openings. Net materials can be knitted (warp-knitted or weft-knitted) or woven. In one example, the term net refers to a loosely knitted or woven material such that the openings are knitted or woven integrally into the material. In other instances, openings can be formed in a post-knitting or post-weaving step, such as by laser cutting, waterjet cutting, or die-cutting, after the fabric has been knitted or woven.

[0031] The term "spacer" refers to a spacer fabric formed from a web material. Spacer fabrics are typically formed by interconnecting a first and second layer of fabric using at least one knotted yarn (also called a spacer yarn). Thus, as used herein, a spacer web includes a first fabric layer and a second fabric layer, at least one of which has a web construction, and also includes a third layer interconnecting the first and second layers. The third layer may comprise one or more monofilament or multifilament yarns knitted or woven together the first and second layers. In some aspects, the first and second layers of the spacer web each have a web construction. In other aspects, only one of the first or second layers has a web construction. In knitted spacer web fabrics, the spacer yarns have "loop" portions extending into each of the first and second layers, wherein the loop portions interlock with the yarns in the first and second layers to connect the two layers. Typically, the longitudinal length of the spacer yarns is oriented perpendicular to or nearly perpendicular to the planar surfaces of both the first and second layers of the knitted or woven spacer web fabric.

[0032] As used herein, the term "tensile properties" refers to the characteristic of a material garment related to its ability to stretch in response to force. Tensile properties can be broadly defined as the ability of a material to stretch under the influence of force, or as the ability of a material to stretch so that it returns to its original shape or size when the force is released; this can also be referred to as elasticity. The measure of tensile properties in this document may be the modulus of elasticity, which is a measure of a material's resistance to elastic deformation when stress is applied. The modulus of elasticity can be determined in various ways. In some respects, the modulus of elasticity values ​​described herein are determined according to the test method specified in ASTM D 4964. Furthermore, this document describes other material properties that can also be determined in various ways. For example, the air permeability score provided herein can be determined according to the test method specified in ASTM D 737, and the drying time can be determined according to the test method specified in AATCC 201.

[0033] Additionally, various numerical measurements are provided herein. Unless otherwise indicated, the term “about” with respect to measurements means within ±10% of the indicated value. Furthermore, unless otherwise indicated, all measurements provided herein are relative to a bra in a static (i.e., unstretched) state at standard ambient temperature and pressure (298.15 K and 100 kPa).

[0034] Figures 1 to 2 A front perspective view and a front view of an example bra 100 are depicted. In various aspects, the bra 100 can be designed for wearers requiring substantial support. The bra 100 includes a front portion 110 and a back portion 120. When the bra 100 is in a wearing configuration, the front portion 110 typically covers at least a portion of the wearer's chest, and the back portion 120 typically covers at least a portion of the wearer's back. The bra 100 may also include a pair of front shoulder straps 130, each extending between the front portion 110 and the back portion 120.

[0035] The front portion 110 of the bra 100 includes an upper edge 102 and a lower edge 104. The upper edge 102 includes a high border that at least partially defines a neck opening, and the lower edge 104 includes a low border that at least partially defines a torso opening of the bra 100. Additionally, the front portion 110 has a width extending between the right side 112 and the left side 114 of the bra 100. In some aspects, when the bra 100 is in a wearing configuration, the width of the front portion 110 extends across the wearer's breasts. Therefore, the front portion 110 may also be referred to as, for example, a breast coverage portion.

[0036] In various aspects, the front portion 110 includes multiple mesh panels. For example, Figure 1The front portion 110, comprising an upper support panel 140 and a lower support panel 150, is depicted. The upper support panel 140 and the lower support panel 150 together form the outer assembly of the front portion 110 of the bra 100.

[0037] The upper support piece 140 extends from the right side 112 of the front portion 110 to the left side 114, and is at least partially defined by the top boundary 142 and the bottom boundary 144 of the upper support piece. Similarly, the lower support piece 150 extends from the right side 112 of the front portion 110 to the left side 114, and is at least partially defined by the top boundary 152 and the bottom boundary 154 of the lower support piece. Both the upper support piece 140 and the lower support piece 150 can extend seamlessly from the right side 112 to the left side 114. As mentioned herein, the term "seamlessly" means a continuous and uninterrupted extension. A piece that extends seamlessly between two reference areas is formed by a single piece, rather than by multiple pieces joined together along the boundaries by seams.

[0038] In all respects, the top boundary 142 of the upper support garment piece forms the upper edge 102 of the front portion 110. Similarly, the bottom boundary 154 of the lower support garment piece forms the lower edge 104 of the front portion 110. Figures 1 to 2 As illustrated, the lower edge 104 of the front portion 110 can also be the lower edge of the bra 100. However, it is conceivable that one or more additional material pieces (e.g., underband strip pieces) can be attached to the front portion 110 such that the additional pieces form the lower edge of the bra 100.

[0039] Although the upper support piece 140 is generally positioned above the lower support piece 150, there may be some overlap between the upper support piece 140 and the lower support piece 150. In some aspects, at least about 50% of the upper support piece 140 is above the lower support piece 150. In other aspects, at least about 75% to about 95% of the upper support piece 140 is above the lower support piece 150. When the bra 100 is in the wearing configuration, the partial overlap of the upper support piece 140 and the lower support piece 150 provides an additional layer and thus provides additional coverage in the breast coverage area.

[0040] like Figures 1 to 2 As shown, where the upper support piece 140 and the lower support piece 150 overlap, at least a portion of the bottom boundary 144 of the upper support piece is positioned below the top boundary 152 of the lower support piece. Additionally, in some aspects, another portion of the bottom boundary 144 of the upper support piece is positioned above the top boundary 152 of the lower support piece. For example, in... Figures 1 to 2In this configuration, the middle portion 146 of the bottom boundary 144 of the upper support piece between the right side 112 and the left side 114 is positioned higher than the middle portion 148 of the top boundary 152 of the lower support piece. The outer portions of the top boundary 152 of the lower support piece, near the right side 112 and the left side 114, are positioned higher than the corresponding outer portions of the bottom boundary 144 of the upper support piece. In some aspects, at least a portion of the lower support piece 150 may be located outside the upper support piece 140. For example, at least a portion of the top boundary 152 of the lower support piece may be located outside the upper support piece 140. However, it is conceivable that, alternatively, the entire top boundary 152 of the lower support piece may be positioned higher than the bottom boundary 144 of the upper support piece. In other alternatives, the entire bottom boundary 144 of the upper support piece may be higher than the top boundary 152 of the lower support piece, such that the upper support piece 140 and the lower support piece 150 do not overlap.

[0041] Both the upper support panel 140 and the lower support panel 150 are formed of a mesh material. In various aspects, the upper support panel 140 and the lower support panel 150 are formed of mesh materials with different properties. For example, the upper support panel 140 may be composed of a spaced mesh, while the lower support panel 150 may be composed of a non-spaced mesh. The spaced mesh of the upper support panel 140 and the non-spaced mesh of the lower support panel 150 may have different tensile properties.

[0042] In various aspects, the upper support garment piece 140 is formed of a spacer mesh having a first elastic modulus. For example, the first elastic modulus may be in the range of about 0.1 psi to about 0.5 psi at 40% of the width ring tension, or in the range of about 0.1 psi to about 0.3 psi at 40% of the width ring tension. In some aspects, the first elastic modulus is about 0.3 psi at 40% of the width ring tension.

[0043] In various aspects, the upper support garment piece 140 is formed of a spacer mesh having a first elastic modulus. For example, the first elastic modulus may be in the range of about 0.1 psi to about 0.5 psi at 40% of the width ring tension, or in the range of about 0.1 psi to about 0.3 psi at 40% of the width ring tension. In some aspects, the first elastic modulus is about 0.3 psi at 40% of the width ring tension.

[0044] In one example, the first modulus of elasticity is in the transverse direction, and the second modulus of elasticity may be in the longitudinal direction. In some aspects, the first modulus of elasticity may be in the range of about 0.1 psi to about 0.5 psi at 40% of the width ring tension, or in the range of about 0.1 psi to about 0.3 psi at 40% of the width ring tension, while the second modulus of elasticity may be in the range of about 0.5 psi to about 1.5 psi at 40% of the width ring tension, or in the range of about 0.8 psi to about 1.3 psi at 40% of the width ring tension. In one example aspect, the first modulus of elasticity in the transverse direction may be about 0.3 psi at 40% of the width ring tension, while the second modulus of elasticity in the longitudinal direction may be greater than 0.3 psi at 40% of the width ring tension, thereby limiting the tensile strength in the longitudinal direction.

[0045] The open mesh structure of the spacer mesh material also allows for breathability and quick-drying properties of the upper support garment 140, which can provide increased comfort for the wearer. For example, in one aspect, the spacer mesh forming the upper support garment 140 can have a breathability fraction in the range of about 200 cm³ / s / cm² to about 240 cm³ / s / cm², about 210 cm³ / s / cm² to about 230 cm³ / s / cm², about 215 cm³ / s / cm² to about 225 cm³ / s / cm², or about 221 cm³ / s / cm² after three washes. Furthermore, the spacer mesh material forming the upper support garment 140 can have an example drying time in the range of about 10 minutes to about 15 minutes, about 11.5 minutes to 13.5 minutes, or about 12.46 minutes after 25 washes.

[0046] In contrast to the upper support panel 140, the lower support panel 150 comprises a non-spacer mesh material having tensile properties different from those of the spacer mesh material. In some aspects, the lower support panel 150 has a third modulus of elasticity ranging from about 1.5 psi to about 3 psi at 40% of the width ring tension, or from about 1.5 psi to about 2.2 psi at 40% of the width ring tension. In some instances, the third modulus of elasticity may be about 2.2 psi at 40% of the width ring tension.

[0047] In various aspects, the non-spacer mesh forming the lower support panel 150 includes anisotropic tensile properties, such that the amount of stretching in the transverse direction corresponding to axis 156 differs from the amount of stretching in the longitudinal direction corresponding to axis 158. Accordingly, the third elastic modulus of the lower support panel 150 in the transverse direction is approximately 2.2 pounds of force at 40% width ring tension, while the fourth elastic modulus of the lower support panel 150 can be in the longitudinal direction. Although the spacer material of the upper support panel 140 can have greater tensile strength in the transverse direction than in the longitudinal direction, instances of the non-spacer material of the lower support panel 150 can have greater tensile strength in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction.

[0048] Additionally, in some aspects, the difference between the stretching amount of the lower support piece 150 in the transverse and longitudinal directions is smaller than the difference between the stretching amount of the upper support piece 140 in the two directions. For example, the stretching amount of the lower support piece 150 in the longitudinal direction may be in the range of about 1.1 to about 2.5 times, about 1.5 to about 2 times, or about 1.65 times the stretching amount in the transverse direction. Conversely, as previously described, the stretching amount of the upper support piece 140 in the transverse direction may be in the range of about 1.5 to about 3.5 times, about 2 to about 3 times, or about 2.67 times the stretching amount in the longitudinal direction.

[0049] Different mesh materials used in the upper support panel 140 and lower support panel 150 can be used to create increased support while still allowing the bra to be breathable, lightweight, and quick-drying. For example, the upper support panel 140, formed of a material with less stretch in the longitudinal direction, allows the upper support panel 140 to reduce vertical upward movement of the wearer's breasts during physical activity. At the same time, greater stretch in the lateral direction provides increased comfort and ease of use when putting on and taking off the bra 100.

[0050] Additionally, the open mesh structure of both the spacer mesh material of the upper support panel 140 and the non-spacer mesh material of the lower support panel 150 helps maintain the lightweight properties of the bra 100. For example, in one aspect, the material of the lower support panel 150 has a weight of about 15 g / m² to about 200 g / m². In another aspect, the weight of the material is in the range of about 25 g / m² to about 180 g / m². In one example aspect, the non-spacer mesh material of the lower support panel 150 may have a weight of about 25 g / m² to about 150 g / m², or about 100 g / m². In some aspects, the spacer mesh material of the upper support panel 140 may have a greater weight than the non-spacer mesh material of the lower support panel 150. For example, the upper support panel 140 may have a weight in the range of about 100 g / m² to about 450 g / m², in the range of about 200 g / m² to about 375 g / m², or about 300 g / m².

[0051] In some respects, the front portion 110 of the bra 100 may include one or more additional layers to provide support and coverage. While the upper support piece 140 and the lower support piece 150 form the outer portion of the front portion 110, the front portion 110 may also include an inner support piece assembly 160 positioned inside the upper support piece 140 and the lower support piece 150.

[0052] Figures 3 to 4 A front view and an exploded view of an example internal support garment assembly 160 are depicted. The internal support garment assembly 160 includes multiple mesh material garment pieces, including a first garment piece 162 that seamlessly extends from the right side 112 to the left side 114 of the front portion 110. Located near and outside the first garment piece 162 is a second garment piece 164, which also extends from the right side 112 to the left side 114 of the front portion 110. Specifically, the second garment piece 164 may be located near and outside at least a portion of the outward-facing surface 196 of the first garment piece 162, such that the second garment piece 164 covers at least a portion of the first garment piece 162.

[0053] The first piece 162 and the second piece 164 each extend from the right side 112 to the left side 114 of the front portion 110 of the bra 100. Therefore, the first piece 162 and the second piece 164 can have the same or substantially the same width. The first piece 162 and the second piece 164 can also each extend from the top boundary 184 to the bottom boundary 186 of the front portion 110 of the bra 100. Therefore, the first piece 162 and the second piece 164 can have the same or substantially the same length. In other words, the first piece 162 and the second piece 164 can have substantially the same size and shape. As used herein, “substantially” means ±0.5 inches with respect to length, width, and size.

[0054] In all respects, all or at least most of the first garment piece 162 is located below or inside the second garment piece 164. When the bra 100 is assembled, the right outer edge 172 of the second garment piece 164 may be aligned with the right outer edge 192 of the first garment piece 162, and the left outer edge 174 of the second garment piece 164 may be aligned with the left outer edge 194 of the first garment piece 162. Furthermore, when the bra 100 is assembled, the top edge 180 of the second garment piece 164 may be aligned with the top edge 184 of the first garment piece 162, and the bottom edge 182 of the second garment piece 164 may be aligned with the bottom edge 186 of the first garment piece 162. The first garment piece 162 and the second garment piece 164 may be joined together while maintaining their seamless construction. For example, in some respects, the first garment piece 162 and the second garment piece 164 are attached along their respective peripheries, while the surfaces of the garment pieces 162 and 164 remain unattached. In this way, the first garment piece 162 and the second garment piece 164 have a greater range of motion relative to each other, thereby providing more comfort for the wearer.

[0055] The first garment piece 162 and the second garment piece 164 of the internal support garment piece assembly 160 are both formed of a mesh material. In various aspects, the first garment piece 162 and the second garment piece 164 can be formed of mesh materials with different properties. For example, the first garment piece 162 can be formed of a non-spaced mesh material, while the second garment piece 164 can be formed of a spaced mesh material with different properties (including different tensile properties) compared to the first garment piece 162.

[0056] In all aspects, the non-spaced mesh material of the first garment piece 162 has anisotropic tensile properties, such that the amount of stretching in the transverse direction corresponding to axis 156 is different from the amount of stretching in the longitudinal direction corresponding to axis 158. In other words, the first garment piece 162 may have a fifth elastic modulus in the transverse direction and a sixth elastic modulus less than the fifth elastic modulus in the longitudinal direction. In an example aspect, the first garment piece 162 comprises the same non-spaced mesh material as the lower support garment piece 150, such that the first garment piece 162 may have the same tensile and gravimetric properties as described with respect to the lower support garment piece 150.

[0057] In other respects, the first garment piece 162 may include a non-spaced mesh having a smaller amount of stretch than the lower support garment piece 150. For example, the non-spaced mesh material may include polyester yarn and elastomer yarn such as… Or a warp-knitted web formed of elastic fibers. In various aspects, the non-spaced web may include a combination of polyester and elastic fibers. The amount of polyester forming the non-spaced web may be in the range of about 70% to about 85% or about 75% to about 80%, while the amount of elastic fibers may be in the range of about 30% to about 15% or about 25% to about 20%. For example, in one aspect, the non-spaced web has a composition of about 78% polyester and about 22% elastic fibers.

[0058] In contrast to the first garment piece 162, the second garment piece 164 can be formed of a spacer mesh, which can also have different amounts of stretch along different axes. For example, the second garment piece 164 can have greater stretchability in the transverse direction corresponding to axis 156 compared to the longitudinal direction corresponding to axis 158. In an example, the spacer mesh forming the second garment piece 164 is the same material used to form the upper support garment piece 140, such that the seventh elastic modulus of the second garment piece 164 in the transverse direction can be the same as the first elastic modulus of the upper support garment piece 140. In some examples, the seventh modulus of elasticity in the transverse direction may be in the range of about 0.1 psi to about 0.5 psi at 40% of the width ring tension, or in the range of about 0.1 psi to about 0.3 psi at 40% of the width ring tension, while the eighth modulus of elasticity in the longitudinal direction may be in the range of about 0.5 psi to about 1.5 psi at 40% of the width ring tension, or in the range of about 0.8 psi to about 1.3 psi at 40% of the width ring tension. In one aspect, the seventh modulus of elasticity in the transverse direction may be about 0.3 psi at 40% of the width ring tension, while the eighth modulus of elasticity in the longitudinal direction may be greater than 0.3 psi at 40% of the width ring tension, thereby limiting the tensile properties in the longitudinal direction. The additional properties (including tensile strength and weight) described with respect to the spacer mesh material of the upper support garment 140 may apply to the second garment 164.

[0059] The layered first garment piece 162 and second garment piece 164 provide additional support and coverage for the wearer's breasts, while the open mesh structure of the first garment piece 162 and second garment piece 164 still allows the internal support garment piece assembly 160 to be breathable and quick-drying.

[0060] In various aspects, the internal support garment assembly 160 also includes a third garment piece 166 and a fourth garment piece 168 located near and outside the second garment piece 164. Specifically, each of the third garment piece 166 and the fourth garment piece 168 may be located near at least a portion of the outward-facing surface 198 of the second garment piece 164, such that the third garment piece 166 and the fourth garment piece 168 each cover at least a portion of the second garment piece 164.

[0061] In one example, the third piece 166 and the fourth piece 168 each comprise a warp-knitted fabric material. In one aspect, the warp-knitted fabric material is formed from nylon yarn. The warp-knitted fabric material of the third piece 166 and the fourth piece 168 may include low tensile properties. For example, the warp-knitted fabric material may have a minimum to zero tensile strength in at least one direction. Accordingly, the third piece 166 and the fourth piece 168 each have a ninth modulus of elasticity greater than the seventh modulus of elasticity of at least the second piece 164. The higher modulus of elasticity (and therefore lower tensile strength) of the third piece 166 and the fourth piece 168 provides additional support and durability to the breast-covered area of ​​the front portion 110 of the bra 100.

[0062] The third piece 166 and the fourth piece 168 can be configured to cover most or all of the wearer's breast tissue, such that the reduced stretch provided by the third piece 166 and the fourth piece 168 directly provides additional support to the wearer's breasts. For example, the third piece 166 can be positioned towards the right side 112 of the front portion 110 to cover the wearer's right breast, while the fourth piece 168 can be positioned towards the left side 114 to cover the wearer's left breast. In each aspect, the third piece 166 includes a right lateral boundary 176 aligned with the right lateral boundary 172 of the second piece 164, and the fourth piece 168 includes a left lateral boundary 178 aligned with the left lateral boundary 174 of the second piece 164.

[0063] The third and fourth garment pieces 166 and 168 may have the same or substantially the same size and shape. For example, the third and fourth garment pieces 166 and 168 may be mirror images of each other. In terms of attaching the third and fourth garment pieces 166 and 168 to the second garment piece 164, they may be spaced apart so that they do not directly contact each other. Accordingly, a minimum gap 188 may exist between the third and fourth garment pieces 166 and 168 to allow space between low-stretch material in the inner region of the inner support garment assembly 160. This inner region may be aligned with the area between the wearer's breasts, where undesirable sweat can accumulate during physical activity. The minimum gap 188 in this inner region allows for easier putting on and taking off of the bra 100 and increases breathability between the breasts.

[0064] In each respect, the third garment piece 166 and the fourth garment piece 168 are joined to the second garment piece 164 by sews. For example, the third garment piece 166 and the fourth garment piece 168 may each be joined to the second garment piece 164 by one or more interlocking sutures 190, which also provide additional support in the breast contact area by limiting the stretch at the seam.

[0065] Figure 5An exploded partial view of the front portion 110 of the bra 100 is depicted. The internal support garment assembly 160 (such as...) Figure 5 (As depicted in the view) is positioned inside the upper support piece 140 and the lower support piece 150. In the overlapping aspect of the upper support piece 140 and the lower support piece 150, at least a portion of the upper support piece 140 may be positioned inside the lower support piece 150.

[0066] Figure 6 A rear view of the bra 100 is depicted. As illustrated in this rear view, the first piece 162 of the inner support panel assembly 160 forms the innermost layer of the front portion 110 of the bra 100. Additionally, when the inner support panel assembly 160 is attached to the upper support panel 140, the top boundary 142 of the upper support panel can be positioned above the top boundary 184 of the first piece 162 of the inner support panel assembly 160. Although in Figure 6 Not visible in the depicted view, but in respect of the alignment of the second piece 164 of the inner support garment assembly 160 with the first piece 162, the top boundary 142 of the upper support garment can be similarly positioned above the top boundary 180 of the second piece 164. This arrangement allows the upper support garment 140 to additionally cover the wearer's upper chest while limiting the amount of material on the wearer's upper chest, thereby increasing breathability and comfort.

[0067] Figure 6 The back portion 120 of the bra 100 is also depicted. The back portion 120 may include a back panel 210, a lower strap 220, and a pair of back shoulder straps 230. The back panel 210 extends from the right side 112 of the bra 100 to the left side 114 of the bra 100 and is configured to cover at least a portion of the wearer's back. In various aspects, the back panel 210 is joined to one or more panels of the front portion 110 along seams at the right side 112 and left side 114. Alternatively, the back panel 210 may be continuous with one or more panels of the front portion 110, such as the first panel 162 of the inner support panel assembly 160.

[0068] In various aspects, the back panel 210 includes a mesh material. Specifically, the back panel 210 may be formed of a non-spaced mesh material. In various aspects, the back panel 210 is formed of a different non-spaced mesh material than the non-spaced mesh material forming the lower support panel 150. In some aspects, the non-spaced mesh material forming the back panel 210 has less tensile strength than the non-spaced mesh material forming the lower support panel 150. The back panel 210 may have different amounts of tensile strength along the transverse axis 156 and the longitudinal axis 158. In some aspects, the back panel 210 has a greater amount of tensile strength (and therefore a lower modulus of elasticity) in the longitudinal direction compared to the transverse direction.

[0069] In an example, the back panel 210 may include a warp-knitted mesh. Furthermore, the back panel 210 may be made of polyester yarn and elastomer yarn such as... Alternatively, it may be formed of elastic fibers. In various aspects, the unspaced web of the back panel 210 may comprise a combination of polyester and elastic fibers. The amount of polyester forming the unspaced web may range from about 70% to about 85% or from about 75% to about 80%, while the amount of elastic fibers may range from about 30% to about 15% or from about 25% to about 20%. For example, in one aspect, the unspaced web has a composition of about 78% polyester and about 22% elastic fibers. Additionally, the unspaced web of the back panel 210 may be heavier than the unspaced web of the lower support panel 150. In some aspects, the web forming the back panel 210 may have a weight in the range of about 190 g / m² to about 240 g / m² or about 105 g / m² to about 225 g / m². For example, in one aspect, the weight is about 216 g / m². Despite being heavier, the back panel 210 is breathable and dries quickly due to its open web structure.

[0070] The back panel 210 may be attached to or at least near the top boundary 224 of the lower band 220. The lower band 220 may include an elastic band that at least partially wraps around the wearer's torso. The lower band 220 may form at least a portion of the underband of the bra 100, such that the bottom boundary 222 of the lower band 220 may form the lower edge 124 of the back portion 120 of the bra 100. In various aspects, the lower band 220 is omitted on the front portion 110 of the bra 100, and the lower band 220 extends only across the back portion 120 of the bra 100 and joins one or more panels of the front portion 110 at the right side 112 and the left side 114. Alternatively, the lower band 220 may also extend across the front portion 110, such that the lower band 220 may be configured to completely wrap around the wearer's torso when the bra 100 is in a wearing configuration. In this example, the lower strip 220 can be positioned between the lower support garment piece 150 and the second garment piece 164 of the inner support garment piece assembly 160, or it can be positioned between the second garment piece 164 of the inner support garment piece assembly 160 and the first garment piece 162.

[0071] In various aspects, the lower strip 220 includes multiple perforations to increase airflow to the wearer's skin. In some aspects, perforations of different sizes are positioned throughout the lower strip 220. For example, in Figure 6 In the middle, the top portion of the lower strip 220 includes a hole 226 of a first size, and the bottom portion of the lower strip 220 includes a hole 228 of a second size larger than the first size.

[0072] The back panel 210 can also be connected to the back shoulder straps 230, each of which may include an adjustment mechanism 232 (such as...). Figure 6 The elastic band (with a sliding element) is depicted. The back shoulder strap 230 can be connected to the front shoulder strap 130 of the front portion 110. In some aspects, when the bra 100 is worn, each of the front shoulder straps 130 extends above the apex of the wearer's shoulder, such that the front shoulder straps 130 extend at least partially down the wearer's back before being connected to the back shoulder strap 230.

[0073] The back portion 120 may also include one or more closure mechanisms. For example, Figure 6 The back portion 120 includes a first buckle 212 for releasably connecting the two ends of the lower strap 220 and a second buckle 214 for releasably connecting the two portions of the back panel 210. However, it is conceivable that the bra 100 may have more, fewer, or no releasable closure mechanisms.

[0074] Figure 7 A front perspective view of the bra 100 and a partial exploded view 132 of one of the front shoulder straps 130 are depicted. As shown, in an example aspect, the front shoulder strap 130 may have a two-layer construction. A first strap panel 134 of the front shoulder strap 130 may be outside and cover the second strap panel 136 of the front shoulder strap 130. The first strap panel 134 and the second strap panel 136 may be formed of different types of mesh materials. For example, the first strap panel 134 may include a spacer mesh material, while the second strap panel 136 may include a non-spacer mesh material. In various aspects, the first strap panel 134 is formed of the same spacer mesh material as the upper support panel 140, while the second strap panel 136 may be formed of the same non-spacer mesh material as the first panel 162 of the inner support panel assembly 160 or the lower support panel 150. Because the spacer mesh material can have less stretch in the longitudinal direction, the first garment piece 134 formed from the spacer mesh material reduces the stretch in the longitudinal direction, which helps to maintain support for the wearer's breasts, while still providing comfort and ease of putting on and taking off due to the greater stretch in the lateral direction.

[0075] Figure 8 A front view of a bra 100 in a wearing configuration is depicted. There are some overlaps between the upper support panel 140 and the lower support panel 150; the lower support panel 150 may be located outside the upper support panel 140, and at least a portion of the top boundary 152 of the lower support panel may remain unsecured to the upper support panel 140. For example, in Figure 8In this design, at least a portion of the top boundary 152 of the lower support panel is not secured to the upper support panel 140, thereby allowing the wearer to access the pocket space 200 between the lower support panel 150 and the inner support panel assembly 160 by pulling down the unsecured portion of the top boundary 152 of the lower support panel, which serves as a pocket opening. The pocket space 200 between the lower support panel 150 and the inner support panel assembly 160 can be used by the wearer to store items such as mobile phones, keys, or identification.

[0076] Figure 9 A flowchart depicts an example method 900 for manufacturing a bra (such as bra 100). The bra manufactured according to method 900 includes a right side, a left side, a top edge, and a bottom edge. At step 910, a front portion of the bra is formed. Forming the front portion of the bra (such as front portion 110) may include steps 912 and 914. At step 912, an upper support piece (such as upper support piece 140) may be attached to an inner support piece assembly, such as inner support piece assembly 160, at one or more locations. The upper support piece may be attached to the inner support piece assembly such that the upper support piece is near a first surface of the inner support piece assembly (such as the outward-facing surface 198). At step 914, a lower support piece (such as lower support piece 150) may be attached to the inner support piece assembly at one or more locations. The lower support piece may be attached to the inner support piece assembly such that the lower support piece is also near a first surface of the inner support piece assembly. Attaching the lower and upper support panels to the inner support panel assembly may include sewing each of the lower and upper support panels to the inner support panel assembly along the peripheral boundary of the respective panels; however, it is conceivable that other methods of attaching panels may also be used, such as bonding, adhesive, or adhesive.

[0077] The upper support piece may include a bottom boundary, such as upper support piece bottom boundary 144, while the lower support piece may include a top boundary, such as lower support piece top boundary 152. Attaching the lower support piece to the inner support piece assembly at step 914 may include positioning the lower support piece such that the top boundary of the lower support piece is positioned below at least a portion (such as the middle portion 146) of the bottom boundary of the upper support piece. Additionally, in various aspects, the upper support piece also includes a top boundary, such as upper support piece top boundary 142, forming the upper edge of the front portion of the bra, while the lower support piece also includes a bottom boundary, such as lower support piece bottom boundary 154, forming the lower edge of the front portion. In some aspects, one or more locations for attaching the upper support piece to the inner support piece assembly are along the left, right, and top boundaries of the upper support piece, while the bottom boundary of the upper support piece may remain unattached to the inner support piece assembly. Alternatively, the bottom edge of the upper support panel may also be attached to the inner support panel assembly. Additionally, one or more locations for attaching the lower support panel to the inner support panel assembly are along the left, right, and bottom edges of the lower support panel, while the top edge of the lower support panel may remain unattached to the inner support panel assembly. Alternatively, the top edge of the lower support panel may also be attached to the inner support panel assembly.

[0078] In some aspects, method 900 further includes forming an internal support garment assembly by attaching a first garment piece (such as first garment piece 162) to a second garment piece (such as second garment piece 164) at one or more locations, such that the second garment piece is located near a second surface of the first garment piece (such as the outward-facing surface 196). In various respects, the first and second garment pieces have substantially the same shape and size, and they may be attached together only along their peripheries. The formation of the internal support garment assembly may be performed prior to steps 912 and 914, and the first surface near the upper and lower support garment pieces may be a surface of the second garment piece, such as the outward-facing surface 198.

[0079] In some aspects, forming the internal support garment assembly may further include attaching a third garment piece (such as third garment piece 166) and a fourth garment piece (such as fourth garment piece 168) to the second garment piece at one or more locations, such that the third and fourth garment pieces are each located near a third surface of the second garment piece (such as the outward-facing surface 198). Attaching the third and fourth garment pieces may include forming one or more sets of interlocking seams, such as interlocking seam 190, between the third and second garment pieces, and between the fourth and second garment pieces. Additionally, at least one set of interlocking seams may extend within the center of the third garment piece, such that the seams are not limited to the periphery of the third garment piece, and at least one set of interlocking seams may extend within the center of the fourth garment piece, such that the seams are not limited to the periphery of the fourth garment piece.

[0080] In various aspects, method 900 also includes the step of attaching a front portion of the bra to a back portion (such as back portion 120). Method 900 also includes attaching the front portion to one or more shoulder straps, such as front shoulder strap 130. Method 900 may include additional steps further contemplated in this disclosure.

[0081] Figure 10 A front view of bra 1100 is depicted. In various aspects, it is comparable to... Figures 1 to 8 In contrast to the bra 100 shown (which is designed for wearers requiring high support), the bra 1100 is designed for wearers requiring moderate support. The bra 1100 includes a front portion 1110 and a back portion 1120. When the bra 1100 is in the wearing configuration, the front portion 1110 generally covers at least a portion of the wearer's chest, and the back portion 1120 generally covers at least a portion of the wearer's back. The front portion 1110 of the bra 1100 may also include a pair of front shoulder straps 1130, each extending from the front portion 1110 toward the back portion 1120. Additionally, the front portion 1110 may be secured to a lower strap 1140, which is configured to extend around at least a portion of the wearer's torso. In some respects, the front portion 1110 also includes an elastic fabric strip 1148 extending vertically between the neckline 1116 and the lower strap 1140 of the bra 1100.

[0082] The front portion 1110 has a width extending between the right side 1112 and the left side 1114 of the bra 1100. When the bra 1100 is in the wearing configuration, the width of the front portion 1110 between the right side 1112 and the left side 1114 can extend across the wearer's breasts. Therefore, the front portion 1110 can be referred to as the breast coverage portion.

[0083] In various respects, the front portion 1110 includes a plurality of mesh panels that at least partially overlap each other. For example, Figure 10 A front portion 1110 is depicted, comprising an outer garment piece 1160 and an inner garment piece 1150. The outer garment piece 1160 extends near and outward of the inner garment piece 1150. Both the outer garment piece 1160 and the inner garment piece 1150 can extend from the right side 1112 to the left side 1114 of the front portion 1110, and in the example, the outer garment piece 1160 and the inner garment piece 1150 extend seamlessly between the two sides 1112 and 1114.

[0084] Figure 11 An exploded view of the front portion 1110 of the bra 1100 is depicted. The outer garment piece 1160 may include a first outer garment piece 1162 and a second outer garment piece 1164. The first outer garment piece 1162 may be located near and outside at least a portion of the outward-facing surface 1198 of the second outer garment piece 1164. Additionally, the first outer garment piece 1162 and the second outer garment piece 1164 may have the same or substantially the same width. For example, the two garment pieces may seamlessly extend from the right side 1112 of the bra 1100 to the left side 1114, such that the right outer boundary 1172 of the first outer garment piece 1162 is aligned with the right outer boundary 1176 of the second outer garment piece 1164, and the left outer boundary 1174 of the first outer garment piece 1162 is aligned with the left outer boundary 1178 of the second outer garment piece 1164. Furthermore, in some respects, the first outer garment piece 1162 and the second outer garment piece 1164 may have the same shape and size. Additionally, in this example, the entire first outer garment piece 1162 may cover the entire second outer garment piece 1164. Thus, when forming the outer garment piece 1160, the second outer garment piece 1164 may act as a lining for the first outer garment piece 1162. The first outer garment piece 1162 and the second outer garment piece 1164 may be joined while maintaining their seamless construction to provide a greater range of motion relative to the adjacent surfaces of the garment pieces 1162 and 1164. For example, the first outer garment piece 1162 and the second outer garment piece 1164 may be attached together along the periphery of their respective garment pieces, while the surfaces are otherwise separated from each other. Alternatively, the first outer garment piece 1162 may be bonded to the second outer garment piece 1164.

[0085] Similarly, the inner garment piece 1150 and the outer garment piece 1160 can be joined by attaching the inner garment piece 1150 and the outer garment piece 1160 together along their peripheries, while the surfaces are otherwise separated from each other, thereby providing a greater range of motion within the front portion 1110 of the bra 1100. When the inner garment piece 1150 and the outer garment piece 1160 are joined, a second outer garment piece 1164 may be located near and outside at least a portion of the outward-facing surface 1196 of the inner garment piece 1150. Additionally, the outer garment piece 1160 and the inner garment piece 1150 may have the same or substantially the same width. For example, when each garment piece seamlessly extends from the right side 1112 to the left side 1114 of the bra 1100, the right outer edge 1192 of the inner garment piece 1150 can be aligned with the right outer edge 1172 of the first outer garment piece 1162 and the right outer edge 1176 of the second outer garment piece 1164, while the left outer edge 1194 of the inner garment piece 1150 can be aligned with the left outer edge 1174 of the first outer garment piece 1162 and the left outer edge 1178 of the second outer garment piece 1164. In all respects, the entire outer garment piece 1160 covers the inner garment piece 1150. Figure 11 As depicted, the shape of the outer garment piece 1160 may differ from the shape of the inner garment piece 1150. Therefore, when the outer garment piece 1160 is positioned above the inner garment piece 1150, one or more portions of the outward-facing surface 1196 of the inner garment piece 1150 may be visible.

[0086] In various aspects, one or more garment pieces of the front portion 1110 may be formed of a mesh material. Furthermore, different mesh materials may be used to form different garment pieces of the front portion 1110. For example, the outer garment piece 1160 may include a spacer mesh material and a non-spacer mesh material, while the inner garment piece 1150 may include a non-spacer mesh material having different properties than the spacer mesh material used to at least partially form the outer garment piece 1160, including different tensile properties. In various aspects, the first outer garment piece 1162 may include a spacer mesh material, while the second outer garment piece 1164 may also be formed of a non-spacer mesh material with different tensile properties.

[0087] For example, in various aspects, the first outer garment piece 1162 may be formed of a spacer mesh material similar to the spacer mesh material forming the upper support garment piece 140 and / or the second garment piece 164 of the bra 100. Accordingly, the first outer garment piece 1162 may have anisotropic tensile properties, such that the amount of stretch varies along different axes. For example, compared to the longitudinal direction corresponding to axis 1158, the first outer garment piece 1162 may have greater tensile properties in the transverse direction corresponding to axis 1156. For example, the amount of stretch of the first outer garment piece 1162 in the transverse direction may be in the range of about 1.5 to about 3.5 times, about 2 to about 3 times, or about 2.67 times the amount of stretch in the longitudinal direction.

[0088] In an example, the first outer garment piece 1162 has a first modulus of elasticity in the transverse direction and a second modulus of elasticity in the longitudinal direction. The first modulus of elasticity is in the range of about 0.1 psi to about 0.5 psi at 40% of the width ring tension, or in the range of about 0.1 psi to about 0.3 psi at 40% of the width ring tension. The second modulus of elasticity is in the range of about 0.5 psi to about 1.5 psi at 40% of the width ring tension, or in the range of about 0.8 psi to about 1.3 psi at 40% of the width ring tension. For example, the first modulus of elasticity may be about 0.3 psi at 40% of the width ring tension, while the second modulus of elasticity in the longitudinal direction may be greater than 0.3 psi at 40% of the width ring tension, thereby limiting the stretchability in the longitudinal direction.

[0089] In contrast to the first outer garment piece 1162, the second outer garment piece 1164 may include a non-spacer mesh that may have less tensile strength than the spacer mesh material forming the first outer garment piece 1162. For example, the second outer garment piece 1164 may have a third modulus of elasticity in at least one direction in the range of about 2.5 pounds of force to about 5.0 pounds of force at 40% of the width ring tension.

[0090] The non-spacer mesh of the second outer garment piece 1164 can have different amounts of stretch along the transverse direction corresponding to axis 1156 and the longitudinal direction corresponding to axis 1158. For example, the third elastic modulus of the second outer garment piece 1164 can be in the transverse direction, and the fourth elastic modulus can be in the longitudinal direction. Although the spacer material of the first outer garment piece 1162 can have greater stretchability in the transverse direction than in the longitudinal direction, instances of the non-spacer material of the second outer garment piece 1164 can have greater stretchability in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction. Additionally, in some aspects, the difference between the amount of stretch in the transverse and longitudinal directions of the second outer garment piece 1164 is smaller than the difference between the amount of stretch in the two directions of the first outer garment piece 1162. For example, the amount of stretch in the longitudinal direction of the second outer garment piece 1164 can be in the range of about 1.1 to about 2.5 times, about 1.5 to about 2 times, or about 1.65 times the amount of stretch in the transverse direction. Conversely, the stretch of the first outer garment piece 1162 in the transverse direction may be in the range of about 1.5 to about 3.5 times, about 2 to about 3 times, or about 2.67 times the stretch in the longitudinal direction.

[0091] In other respects, non-spaced webs are warp-knitted materials. For example, non-spaced webs can include polyester yarns and elastomer yarns such as... Or a combination of elastic fibers. The amount of polyester forming the non-spaced web can be in the range of about 70% to about 85% or about 75% to about 80%, while the amount of elastic fibers can be in the range of about 30% to about 15% or about 25% to about 20%. For example, in one aspect, the non-spaced web has a composition of about 78% polyester and about 22% elastic fibers.

[0092] Additionally, the mesh forming the second outer garment 1164 can have a weight in the range of about 190 g / m² to about 240 g / m² or about 105 g / m² to about 225 g / m². For example, in one aspect, the weight is about 216 g / m². The weight of the material forming the second outer garment 1164 helps to provide coverage and support in the breast contact area, while the open mesh structure produces a highly breathable and quick-drying garment.

[0093] Furthermore, the inner garment piece 1150 may include a non-spacer mesh material having less tensile strength than the spacer mesh material forming the first outer garment piece 1162. For example, the inner garment piece 1150 may have a fifth modulus of elasticity in at least one direction in the range of about 1.5 pounds to about 3 pounds under 40% width ring tension, or in the range of about 1.5 pounds to about 2.2 pounds under 40% width ring tension.

[0094] The non-spacer mesh of the inner garment piece 1150 may have different amounts of stretch along the transverse direction corresponding to axis 1156 and the longitudinal direction corresponding to axis 1158. In some aspects, the fifth elastic modulus of the inner garment piece 1150 is in the transverse direction, and the inner garment piece 1150 includes a sixth elastic modulus in the longitudinal direction. While the spacer material of the first outer garment piece 1162 may have greater stretchability in the transverse direction than in the longitudinal direction, instances of the non-spacer material of the inner garment piece 1150 may have greater stretchability in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction. Additionally, in some aspects, the difference between the amount of stretch in the transverse and longitudinal directions of the inner garment piece 1150 is smaller than the difference between the amount of stretch in the two directions of the first outer garment piece 1162. For example, the amount of stretch in the longitudinal direction of the inner garment piece 1150 may be in the range of about 1.1 to about 2.5 times, about 1.5 to about 2 times, or about 1.65 times the amount of stretch in the transverse direction. Conversely, as previously stated, the stretch of the first outer garment piece 1162 in the transverse direction may be in the range of about 1.5 to about 3.5 times, about 2 to about 3 times, or about 2.67 times the stretch in the longitudinal direction.

[0095] In an example, the non-spaced mesh material of the inner garment piece 1150 may differ from the non-spaced mesh material of the second outer garment piece 1164. For instance, the weight (in grams per square meter) of the non-spaced mesh material of the inner garment piece 1150 may be less than the weight of the non-spaced mesh of the second outer garment piece 1164. In some aspects, the non-spaced mesh of the inner garment piece 1150 has a weight in the range of about 15 g / m² to about 200 g / m² or 25 g / m² to about 180 g / m². For example, the inner garment piece 1150 may have a weight of 100 g / m². Using a lighter material for the inner garment piece 1150 helps maintain the overall lightweight characteristics of the bra 1100. Similar to the first outer garment piece 1162 and the second outer garment piece 1164, the open mesh structure of the inner garment piece 1150 can produce a highly breathable and quick-drying garment.

[0096] Additionally, Figure 11 An outer garment piece 1180 is depicted, which can be formed of a spacer mesh material similar to the material forming the first outer garment piece 1162. Because the spacer mesh material can have less stretch in the longitudinal direction, forming the outer garment piece 1180 from the spacer mesh material reduces stretch in the longitudinal direction, which maintains support for the wearer's breasts while still providing stretch in the lateral direction to allow for increased comfort and ease of putting on and taking off the bra 1100.

[0097] The outer garment piece 1180 can form the outer layer of the front shoulder strap 1130 of the bra 1100. Where the breast contact area of ​​the front portion 1110 can have a three-layer construction (which helps increase support and provide the required coverage), the front shoulder strap 1130 can have a two-layer construction. For example, Figure 11 The two outer strap panels 1180 can each cover the strap portion 1182 of the inner strap panel 1150 to form the front shoulder strap 1130. This two-layer construction helps provide breathability and allows for quick drying time while maintaining the bra's lightweight properties.

[0098] Figure 12 A rear view of bra 1100 is depicted. The back portion 1120 of bra 1100 includes a back panel 1200 that seamlessly extends from the right side 1112 of bra 1100 to the left side 1114. In an example, the back panel 1200 includes a non-spaced mesh material that allows for breathability and quick-drying. In various aspects, the back panel 1200 includes the same non-spaced mesh material as the second outer panel 1164 of the outer panel 1160. Alternatively, the back panel 1200 includes the same non-spaced mesh material as the inner panel 1150.

[0099] The back panel 1200 is secured to each of the front shoulder strap 1130 and the lower strap 1140. The lower strap 1140 may be secured to one or more panels of the back panel 1200 and the front portion 1110 of the bra 1100, and may include an elastic fabric material that wraps around the wearer's torso. The lower strap 1140 may extend continuously along the back portion 1120 from at least the right side 1112 of the bra 1100 to the left side 1114, such that the bra 1100 can be put on and taken off by pulling it over the wearer's head. However, alternative configurations of the bra 1100 are contemplated, including one or more releasable coupling mechanisms attached to the ends of the lower strap 1140.

[0100] In various aspects, the lower strip 1140 includes multiple perforations to increase airflow to the wearer's skin. In some aspects, perforations of different sizes are positioned throughout the lower strip 1140. For example, in Figure 12 In the bra 1100, the top portion of the lower strip 1140 includes a hole 1142 of a first size, and the bottom portion of the lower strip 1140 includes a hole 1144 of a second size larger than the first size. In some aspects, the back portion 1120 of the bra 1100 also includes an elastic strip 1210 extending vertically from the top boundary 1212 of the back panel 1200 to the lower strip 1140 and located outside the back panel 1200. The elastic strip 1210 may also include a plurality of holes of the same or different sizes, which increases breathability and allows for a lightweight construction and quick drying time.

[0101] Figure 13The front view of bra 1300 is depicted. In various aspects, it is comparable to... Figures 1 to 8 Bra 100 and Figures 10 to 12 In contrast to bra 1100 (which can be designed for wearers requiring high and medium support respectively), bra 1300 can be designed for wearers requiring light support. Bra 1300 includes a front portion 1310 and a back portion 1320. When bra 1300 is in the wearing configuration, the front portion 1310 generally covers at least a portion of the wearer's chest, and when bra 1300 is in the wearing configuration, the back portion 1320 generally covers at least a portion of the wearer's back. The front portion 1310 of bra 1300 may also include a pair of shoulder straps 1330, each shoulder strap 1330 extending from the front portion 1310 toward the back portion 1320.

[0102] In some aspects, the front portion 1310 is secured to the lower band 1370. The lower band 1370 may include an elastic fabric material configured to at least partially wrap around the wearer's torso when the bra 1300 is in a wearing configuration. Accordingly, the lower band 1370 may be secured to one or more panels of the front portion 1310 of the bra 1300. In various aspects, the lower band 1370 includes multiple perforations, which increases breathability and allows for a lightweight construction and quick drying time. In some aspects, the lower band 1370 includes perforations of different sizes. For example, in... Figure 13 In the lower strip 1370, the top portion includes a hole 1372 of a first size, and the bottom portion includes a hole 1374 of a second size larger than the first size. Changing the size of the holes in the lower strip 1370 can, for example, direct airflow to areas of the wearer where increased airflow is needed.

[0103] The front portion 1310 of the bra 1300 has a width extending between the right side 1312 and the left side 1314 of the bra 1300. When the bra 1300 is in a wearing configuration, the width of the front portion 1310 between the right side 1312 and the left side 1314 can extend across the wearer's breasts. Therefore, the front portion 1310 can be referred to as the breast coverage portion.

[0104] In some respects, the front portion 1310 includes a plurality of mesh panels that at least partially overlap each other. For example, Figure 13A front portion 1310 is depicted, comprising an outer garment piece 1360 that seamlessly extends from the right side 1312 of the front portion 1310 to the left side 1314. The front portion 1310 also includes a first inner garment piece 1340 and a second inner garment piece 1350. The outer garment piece 1360 may extend near and outward of the first inner garment piece 1340 and the second inner garment piece 1350. The first inner garment piece 1340 may be near the right side 1312 of the front portion 1310 and is generally configured to cover the wearer's right breast, while the second inner garment piece 1350 may be near the left side 1314 of the front portion 1310 and is generally configured to cover the wearer's left breast. In some respects, the first inner garment piece 1340 and the second inner garment piece 1350 may have substantially the same size and shape, such that they are mirror images of each other when incorporated into the front portion 1310 of the bra 1300.

[0105] Figure 14 An exploded view of the front portion 1310 of the bra 1300 is depicted. The outer garment piece 1360 includes a first outer garment piece 1362 and a second outer garment piece 1364. The first outer garment piece 1362 is located near and outside at least a portion of the outward-facing surface 1398 of the second outer garment piece 1364. In some respects, the first outer garment piece 1362 and the second outer garment piece 1364 have the same or substantially the same width. For example, both garment pieces can seamlessly extend from the right side 1312 to the left side 1314 of the bra 1300. Furthermore, in some respects, the first outer garment piece 1362 and the second outer garment piece 1364 may have the same size and shape. However, garment pieces with different sizes and shapes are also contemplated herein. In various respects, the entire first outer garment piece 1362 covers the entire second outer garment piece 1364. Thus, the second outer garment piece 1364 can act as a lining for the first outer garment piece 1362 to form the outer garment piece 1360. The first outer garment piece 1362 and the second outer garment piece 1364 can be joined while maintaining their seamless construction to provide a greater range of motion. For example, the first outer garment piece 1362 and the second outer garment piece 1364 can be attached together along the periphery of the respective garment piece while the surfaces are otherwise separated from each other. Alternatively, the first outer garment piece 1362 can be bonded to the second outer garment piece 1364.

[0106] In some respects, the outer garment piece 1360 is located near and outside the inner garment pieces 1340 and 1350. More specifically, a first portion of the second outer garment piece 1364 is located near and outside at least a portion of the outer-facing surface 1394 of the first inner garment piece 1340, and a second portion of the second outer garment piece 1364 is located near and outside at least a portion of the outer-facing surface 1396 of the second inner garment piece 1350. Accordingly, the second outer garment piece 1364 is located between the first outer garment piece 1362 and the first inner garment piece 1340 and the second inner garment piece 1350, respectively.

[0107] In various respects, the first inner garment piece 1340 and the second inner garment piece 1350 are joined to the outer garment piece 1360 along a portion of their peripheries. For example, the region immediately adjacent to the bottom boundary 1390 of the first inner garment piece 1340 may be joined to the region immediately adjacent to the bottom boundary 1382 of the second outer garment piece 1364, while the outward-facing surface 1394 and side boundaries of the first inner garment piece 1340 may otherwise be separated from the second outer garment piece 1364. Similarly, the region immediately adjacent to the bottom boundary 1392 of the second inner garment piece 1350 may be joined to the region immediately adjacent to the bottom boundary 1384 of the second outer garment piece 1364, while the outward-facing surface 1396 and side boundaries of the second inner garment piece 1350 may otherwise be separated from the second outer garment piece 1364. In some respects, the top boundary 1386 of the first outer garment piece 1362 and the top boundary 1388 of the second outer garment piece 1364 are also separate from the second outer garment piece 1364, but can each be secured to the shoulder strap 1330. This arrangement, for example, allows for a greater range of motion. Alternatively, the top boundaries 1386 and 1388 can be attached to a portion of the second outer garment piece 1364.

[0108] In various aspects, one or more garment pieces of the front portion 1310 may be formed of a mesh material. Furthermore, different mesh materials may be used to form different garment pieces of the front portion 1310. For example, the outer garment piece 1360 may include a spacer mesh material and a non-spacer mesh material, while the first inner garment piece 1340 and the second inner garment piece 1350 may include a non-spacer mesh material having different properties (e.g., different tensile properties) than the spacer mesh material. Similarly, the first outer garment piece 1362 may include a spacer mesh material, while the second outer garment piece 1364 may include a non-spacer mesh material with different tensile properties.

[0109] For example, the first outer garment piece 1362 may be formed of a spacer mesh material similar to the spacer mesh material forming the upper support garment piece 140 and / or the second garment piece 164 of the bra 100. Accordingly, the first outer garment piece 1362 may have anisotropic tensile properties, such that the amount of stretch varies along different axes. For example, compared to the longitudinal direction corresponding to axis 1358, the first outer garment piece 1362 may have greater tensile properties (and therefore a lower modulus of elasticity) in the transverse direction corresponding to axis 1356. The amount of stretch of the first outer garment piece 1362 in the transverse direction may be in the range of about 1.5 to about 3.5 times, about 2 to about 3 times, or about 2.67 times the amount of stretch in the longitudinal direction. In an example, the first outer garment piece 1362 has a first modulus of elasticity in the transverse direction and a second modulus of elasticity in the longitudinal direction. The first modulus of elasticity is in the range of about 0.1 psi to about 0.5 psi at 40% of the width ring tension, or in the range of about 0.1 psi to about 0.3 psi at 40% of the width ring tension. The second modulus of elasticity is in the range of about 0.5 psi to about 1.5 psi at 40% of the width ring tension, or in the range of about 0.8 psi to about 1.3 psi at 40% of the width ring tension. For example, the first modulus of elasticity in the transverse direction may be about 0.3 psi at 40% of the width ring tension, while the second modulus of elasticity in the longitudinal direction may be greater than 0.3 psi at 40% of the width ring tension, thereby limiting the stretchability in the longitudinal direction.

[0110] Unlike the first outer garment piece 1362, the second outer garment piece 1364 may be formed of a non-spacer mesh material having less tensile strength than the first outer garment piece 1362 in at least one direction. For example, the third elastic modulus of the second outer garment piece 1364 may be in the range of about 2.5 psi at 40% width ring tension, from about 5.0 psi. In various aspects, the second outer garment piece 1364 has different amounts of tensile strength along the transverse direction corresponding to axis 1356 and the longitudinal direction corresponding to axis 1358. For example, the third elastic modulus of the second outer garment piece 1364 may be along the transverse direction, and the second outer garment piece 1364 may have a fourth elastic modulus along the longitudinal direction. While the spacer material of the first outer garment piece 1362 may have greater tensile strength in the transverse direction than in the longitudinal direction, instances of non-spacer materials in the second outer garment piece 1364 may have greater tensile strength in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction.

[0111] Additionally, in some aspects, the difference between the stretching amount of the second outer garment piece 1364 in the transverse and longitudinal directions is smaller than the difference between the stretching amounts of the first outer garment piece 1362 in the two directions. For example, the stretching amount of the second outer garment piece 1364 in the longitudinal direction may be in the range of about 1.1 to about 2.5 times, about 1.5 to about 2 times, or about 1.65 times the stretching amount in the transverse direction. Conversely, the stretching amount of the first outer garment piece 1362 in the transverse direction may be in the range of about 1.5 to about 3.5 times, about 2 to about 3 times, or about 2.67 times the stretching amount in the longitudinal direction.

[0112] In other respects, non-spaced webs are warp-knitted materials. For example, non-spaced webs can include polyester yarns and elastomer yarns such as... Or a combination of elastic fibers. For example, in one aspect, the non-spaced web has a composition of approximately 78% polyester and approximately 22% elastic fibers.

[0113] Additionally, the mesh forming the second outer garment 1364 can have a weight in the range of about 190 g / m² to about 240 g / m² or about 105 g / m² to about 225 g / m². For example, in one aspect, the weight is about 216 g / m². The weight of the material forming the second outer garment 1364 helps to provide support in the breast contact area, while the open mesh structure increases breathability and allows for quick-drying.

[0114] Furthermore, each of the first inner garment piece 1340 and the second inner garment piece 1350 may also include a non-spacer mesh material having less tensile strength than the spacer mesh material forming the first outer garment piece 1362. For example, the first inner garment piece 1340 and the second inner garment piece 1350 may each have a fifth modulus of elasticity in at least one direction in the range of about 1.5 psi at 40% of the width ring tension, or in the range of about 1.5 psi at 40% of the width ring tension, or in the range of about 2.2 psi at 40% of the width ring tension.

[0115] The non-spacer mesh materials of the first inner garment piece 1340 and the second inner garment piece 1350 may have different amounts of stretch in the transverse direction corresponding to axis 1356 and the longitudinal direction corresponding to axis 1358. In some aspects, the fifth elastic modulus of the first inner garment piece 1340 and the second inner garment piece 1350 is in the transverse direction, and the first inner garment piece 1340 and the second inner garment piece 1350 may each have a sixth elastic modulus in the longitudinal direction. Although the spacer material of the first outer garment piece 1362 may have greater stretchability in the transverse direction than in the longitudinal direction, instances of the non-spacer materials of the first inner garment piece 1340 and the second inner garment piece 1350 may have greater stretchability in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction. Additionally, in some aspects, the difference between the amounts of stretching of the first inner garment piece 1340 and the second inner garment piece 1350 in the transverse and longitudinal directions is smaller than the difference between the amounts of stretching of the first outer garment piece 1362 in the two directions. For example, the stretch amount in the longitudinal direction of each of the first inner garment piece 1340 and the second inner garment piece 1350 may be in the range of about 1.1 to about 2.5 times, about 1.5 to about 2 times, or about 1.65 times the stretch amount in the transverse direction of the corresponding garment piece. Conversely, as previously described, the stretch amount in the transverse direction of the first outer garment piece 1362 may be in the range of about 1.5 to about 3.5 times, about 2 to about 3 times, or about 2.67 times the stretch amount in the longitudinal direction.

[0116] In some aspects, the non-spacer mesh of the first inner garment piece 1340 and the second inner garment piece 1350 may differ from the non-spacer mesh of the second outer garment piece 1364. For example, the weight (in grams per square meter) of the non-spacer mesh of the first inner garment piece 1340 and the second inner garment piece 1350 may be less than the weight of the non-spacer mesh of the second outer garment piece 1364. In some aspects, the non-spacer mesh of the first inner garment piece 1340 and the second inner garment piece 1350 has a weight in the range of about 15 g / m² to about 200 g / m² or 25 g / m² to about 180 g / m². For example, the first inner garment piece 1340 and the second inner garment piece 1350 may each have a weight of 100 g / m². Using lighter materials for the first inner garment piece 1340 and the second inner garment piece 1350 helps maintain the overall lightweight characteristics of the bra 1300.

[0117] In addition, in some aspects, the bra 1300 also includes one or more elastic bands 1316, each elastic band 1316 extending diagonally between the top edge of the lower band 1370 and one of the shoulder straps 1330. Each elastic band 1316 may be located partially near and inside the outer garment piece 1360, and may be located inside the first inner garment piece 1340 and the second inner garment piece 1350, respectively. These elastic bands 1316 may, for example, provide additional support to the wearer while eliminating the need for additional material layers, which allows for increased breathability, quick-drying time, and a lightweight construction.

[0118] Figure 15 A rear view of bra 1300 is depicted. The back portion 1320 of bra 1300 includes a back panel 1380 that seamlessly extends from the right side 1312 to the left side 1314 of bra 1300. The back panel 1380 may include a non-spaced mesh material, allowing the back panel 1380 to remain breathable and quick-drying. In various aspects, the back panel 1380 includes the same non-spaced mesh material as the second outer panel 1364. Alternatively, the back panel 1380 includes the same non-spaced mesh material as the first inner panel 1340 and the second inner panel 1350.

[0119] The back panel 1380 is secured to the shoulder strap 1330. In some aspects, the shoulder strap 1330 includes a right shoulder strap portion 1330A and a left shoulder strap portion 1330B, which are joined to form a back shoulder strap portion 1330C, which is secured to the back panel 1380. The shoulder strap 1330 may include a plurality of holes 1332. In some aspects, the right shoulder strap portion 1330A, the left shoulder strap portion 1330B, and the back shoulder strap portion 1330C each include a plurality of elastic bands intermittently connected at connection points 1334, such that the holes 1332 are spaces between the unconnected portions of the respective bands. However, it is conceivable that in alternative configurations, each shoulder strap portion may be formed from a single band, and the holes 1332 may be integrally formed with the single band, or created in post-production processes (such as by cutting, slicing, laser treatment, etc.). The perforations 1332 within the shoulder straps 1330 help maintain the increased breathability, quick-drying time, and lightweight properties of the bra 1300.

[0120] The following clauses represent exemplary aspects of the concepts envisioned herein. Any of the following clauses may be combined in a multi-dependent manner to depend on one or more other clauses. Furthermore, any combination of dependent clauses (clauses that explicitly depend on preceding clauses) may be combined while remaining within the scope of the aspects envisioned herein. The following clauses are illustrative rather than restrictive in nature.

[0121] Clause 1: A bra having a front portion having a right side and a left side, the bra comprising:

[0122] An internal support garment assembly having a first garment piece and a second garment piece, the first garment piece being formed of a mesh material and extending between the right and left sides of the front portion, and the second garment piece being formed of a spacer mesh material and extending between the right and left sides of the front portion, wherein the second garment piece is located near and outside the first garment piece;

[0123] An upper support panel, formed of a spacer mesh material and extending between the right and left sides of the upper portion of the front section, wherein the upper support panel is located near and outside the inner support panel assembly; and

[0124] The lower support panel is formed of a mesh material and extends between the right and left sides of the lower portion of the front portion, wherein the lower support panel is located near and outside the inner support panel assembly.

[0125] Clause 2: The bra according to Clause 1, wherein the upper support piece includes a top edge and a bottom edge, and wherein the top edge of the upper support piece forms the upper edge of the front portion of the bra.

[0126] Clause 3: The bra according to any one of Clauses 1 to 2, wherein the undersupport piece includes a top boundary of the undersupport piece and a bottom boundary of the undersupport piece, and wherein the bottom boundary of the undersupport piece forms the lower edge of the front portion of the bra.

[0127] Clause 4: A bra according to any one of Clauses 1 to 3, wherein at least a portion of the bottom boundary of the upper support piece is positioned above at least a portion of the top boundary of the lower support piece.

[0128] Clause 5: A bra according to any one of Clauses 1 to 4, wherein the first piece of the inner support panel assembly extends seamlessly between the right and left sides of the front portion of the bra.

[0129] Clause 6: A bra according to any one of Clauses 1 to 5, wherein the second piece of the inner support panel assembly comprises a third piece and a fourth piece, the third piece being attached to the right side of the second piece and configured to at least partially cover the wearer's right breast, the fourth piece being attached to the left side of the second piece and configured to at least partially cover the wearer's left breast, wherein the third piece and the fourth piece are formed of a low-stretch material.

[0130] Clause 7: A bra according to any one of Clauses 1 to 6, wherein each of the third and fourth pieces is attached to the outward-facing surface of the second piece.

[0131] Clause 8: The bra according to any one of Clauses 1 to 7 further includes a back portion extending from the front portion, the back portion being formed of a mesh material.

[0132] Clause 9: The bra according to any one of Clauses 1 to 8 further includes a pair of shoulder straps extending between the front portion and the back portion, the pair of shoulder straps being formed of a spacer mesh material.

[0133] Clause 10: A bra having a front portion having a right side, a left side, a top edge, and a bottom edge, the bra comprising:

[0134] An internal support garment assembly extending between the right and left sides of the front portion;

[0135] An upper support piece, located near and outside the inner support piece assembly, having a top boundary and a bottom boundary, the top boundary forming at least a portion of the upper edge of the front portion, and the bottom boundary positioned above the lower edge of the front portion; and

[0136] A lower support piece is located near and outside the inner support piece assembly. The lower support piece includes a top boundary and a bottom boundary. The top boundary is positioned below the upper edge of the front portion, and the bottom boundary forms the lower edge of the front portion.

[0137] Clause 11: The bra according to Clause 10, wherein at least a portion of the bottom boundary of the upper support piece is positioned above at least a portion of the top boundary of the lower support piece.

[0138] Clause 12: A bra according to any one of Clauses 10 to 11, wherein at least a portion of the top boundary of the lower support piece is not attached to the inner support piece assembly to form a pocket opening communicating with a pocket space formed between the lower support piece and the inner support piece assembly.

[0139] Clause 13: A bra according to any one of Clauses 10 to 12, wherein the internal support panel assembly includes a first panel and a second panel, the first panel extending between the right and left sides of the front portion, and the second panel extending between the right and left sides of the front portion, wherein the second panel is located near and outside the first panel.

[0140] Clause 14: The bra according to any one of Clauses 10 to 13, wherein the second piece of the inner support panel assembly comprises a third piece and a fourth piece, the third piece being attached to the right side of the second piece and configured to at least partially cover the wearer's right breast, and the fourth piece being attached to the left side of the second piece and configured to at least partially cover the wearer's left breast.

[0141] Clause 15: A bra according to any one of Clauses 10 to 14, wherein the third and fourth panels are formed of a low-stretch material.

[0142] Clause 16: A bra according to any one of Clauses 10 to 15, wherein the first piece is formed of a mesh material, the second piece is formed of a spacer mesh material, the upper support piece is formed of a spacer mesh material, and the lower support piece is formed of a mesh material.

[0143] Clause 17: A bra according to any one of Clauses 10 to 16, wherein the first piece has a greater modulus of elasticity than the second piece, and wherein the lower support piece has a greater modulus of elasticity than the upper support piece.

[0144] Clause 18: The bra according to any one of Clauses 10 to 17 further includes a back portion extending from the front portion, the back portion being formed of a mesh material.

[0145] Clause 19: A method of manufacturing a bra, said method comprising:

[0146] The front portion of the bra is formed through the following steps:

[0147] An upper support garment piece is attached to an inner support garment piece assembly at one or more locations such that the upper support garment piece is located near a first surface of the inner support garment piece assembly, the upper support garment piece including a bottom boundary; and

[0148] A lower support piece is attached to the inner support piece assembly at one or more locations such that the lower support piece is located near the first surface of the inner support piece assembly, the lower support piece including a lower support piece top boundary positioned below at least a portion of the bottom boundary of the upper support piece.

[0149] Clause 20: The method of manufacturing a bra according to Clause 19, wherein the upper support piece further includes an upper support piece top boundary forming an upper edge of the front portion, and wherein the lower support piece further includes a lower support piece bottom boundary forming a lower edge of the front portion.

[0150] Various aspects of this disclosure have been described in an illustrative rather than restrictive manner. Alternative aspects will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from its scope. Those skilled in the art can develop alternative means to implement the above-described improvements without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0151] It should be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are useful and can be used without reference to other features and sub-combinations, and are contemplated to be within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need to be performed in the specific order described.

Claims

1. A bra having a front portion having a right side and a left side, the bra comprising: An internal support garment assembly having a first garment piece and a second garment piece, the first garment piece being formed of a mesh material and extending between the right and left sides of the front portion, and the second garment piece being formed of a spacer mesh material and extending between the right and left sides of the front portion, wherein the second garment piece is located near and outside the first garment piece; An upper support piece, the upper support piece being formed of a spacer mesh material and extending between the right and left sides of the upper portion of the front portion, wherein the upper support piece is located near and outside the inner support piece assembly; And a lower support panel formed of mesh material and extending between the right and left sides of the lower portion of the front portion, wherein the lower support panel is located near and outside the inner support panel assembly.

2. The bra according to claim 1, wherein the upper support panel includes a top boundary and a bottom boundary, and wherein the top boundary of the upper support panel forms the upper edge of the front portion of the bra.

3. The bra of claim 2, wherein the lower support panel includes a top boundary and a bottom boundary, and wherein the bottom boundary of the lower support panel forms the lower edge of the front portion of the bra.

4. The bra of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the bottom boundary of the upper support piece is positioned above at least a portion of the top boundary of the lower support piece.

5. The bra according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first piece of the inner support panel assembly extends seamlessly between the right and left sides of the front portion of the bra.

6. The bra according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second piece of the inner support panel assembly comprises a third piece and a fourth piece, the third piece being attached to the right side of the second piece and configured to at least partially cover the wearer's right breast, the fourth piece being attached to the left side of the second piece and configured to at least partially cover the wearer's left breast, wherein the third piece and the fourth piece are formed of a low-stretch material.

7. The bra of claim 6, wherein each of the third and fourth pieces is attached to the outward-facing surface of the second piece.

8. The bra according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a back portion extending from the front portion, the back portion being formed of a mesh material.

9. The bra of claim 8 further includes a pair of shoulder straps extending between the front portion and the back portion, the pair of shoulder straps being formed of a spacer mesh material.

10. A bra having a front portion having a right side, a left side, an upper edge, and a lower edge, the bra comprising: An internal support garment assembly extending between the right and left sides of the front portion, the internal support garment assembly comprising a first garment piece and a second garment piece. An upper support piece is located near and outside the inner support piece assembly. The upper support piece has a top edge and a bottom edge. The top edge forms at least a portion of the upper edge of the front portion. The bottom edge is positioned above the lower edge of the front portion. And a lower support panel located near and outside the inner support panel assembly, the lower support panel including a top boundary and a bottom boundary, the top boundary being positioned below the upper edge of the front portion, the bottom boundary forming the lower edge of the front portion, wherein the first panel is formed of a mesh material, the second panel is formed of a spacer mesh material, the upper support panel is formed of a spacer mesh material, and the lower support panel is formed of a mesh material.

11. The bra of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the bottom boundary of the upper support piece is positioned above at least a portion of the top boundary of the lower support piece.

12. The bra according to any one of claims 10 to 11, wherein at least a portion of the top boundary of the lower support piece is not attached to the inner support piece assembly to form a pocket opening, the pocket opening communicating with a pocket space formed between the lower support piece and the inner support piece assembly.

13. The bra according to any one of claims 10 to 11, wherein, The first garment piece extends between the right and left sides of the front portion, and the second garment piece extends between the right and left sides of the front portion, wherein the second garment piece is located near and outside the first garment piece.

14. The bra of claim 13, wherein the second piece of the inner support panel assembly comprises a third piece and a fourth piece, the third piece being attached to the right side of the second piece and configured to at least partially cover the wearer's right breast, and the fourth piece being attached to the left side of the second piece and configured to at least partially cover the wearer's left breast.

15. The bra of claim 14, wherein the third and fourth panels are formed of a low-stretch material.

16. The bra according to any one of claims 10 to 11, wherein the first piece has a greater elastic modulus than the second piece, and wherein the lower support piece has a greater elastic modulus than the upper support piece.

17. The bra according to any one of claims 10 to 11, further comprising a back portion extending from the front portion, the back portion being formed of a mesh material.

18. A method of manufacturing a bra, the method comprising: The front portion of the bra is formed by the following steps: attaching an upper support piece to an inner support piece assembly at one or more locations such that the upper support piece is located near a first surface of the inner support piece assembly, the upper support piece including a bottom boundary; and attaching a lower support piece to the inner support piece assembly at one or more locations such that the lower support piece is located near the first surface of the inner support piece assembly, the lower support piece including a top boundary positioned below at least a portion of the bottom boundary of the upper support piece; The internal support garment assembly includes a first garment piece and a second garment piece, the first garment piece extending between the right and left sides of the front portion, the second garment piece extending between the right and left sides of the front portion, wherein the second garment piece is located near and outside the first garment piece, the second garment piece of the internal support garment assembly includes a third garment piece and a fourth garment piece, the third garment piece being attached to the right side of the second garment piece and configured to at least partially cover the wearer's right breast, the fourth garment piece being attached to the left side of the second garment piece and configured to at least partially cover the wearer's left breast; The first garment piece is formed of a mesh material, the second garment piece is formed of a spacer mesh material, the upper support garment piece is formed of a spacer mesh material, and the lower support garment piece is formed of a mesh material.

19. The method of manufacturing a bra according to claim 18, wherein the upper support piece further includes an upper support piece top boundary forming an upper edge of the front portion, and wherein the lower support piece further includes a lower support piece bottom boundary forming a lower edge of the front portion.

Images