Graticulate Bra Cup Support Without Underwire Discomfort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brassieres rely on uncomfortable underwires and channels, which reduce lifespan and fail to accommodate unique breast anatomies effectively.
Innovation Solution
A formed brassiere with a graticulate support member between cup covers, customizable through additive printing and heat application, providing support and uplift without underwires, and accommodating individual anatomies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If underwires are used to create tensile rigidity and support the wearer's breasts, then support function is improved, but comfort deteriorates and lifespan is reduced due to discomfort and wear at channel emergence points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the underwire and underwire channel from the brassiere structure entirely. Instead of extracting only the harmful channel while keeping the underwire, the solution eliminates both components and replaces them with an alternative support mechanism using molded cup structures with internal reinforcement layers that provide rigidity without the need for separate underwires.
Solution Approach 2:
The support function previously provided by separate underwires is merged into the cup structure itself. The cup is molded as an integrated unit with internal reinforcement layers, combining the cup body and support structure into a single component that provides both containment and tensile rigidity without requiring additional elements.
2Strength
If underwires are used to support the wearer's breasts, then support function is improved, but lifespan deteriorates due to points of wear where the underwire emerges from the channel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the underwire channel and its emergence points from the structure. By removing the channel entirely and using an integrated cup design, the wear points that caused premature failure are eliminated, thereby extending the lifespan of the brassiere while maintaining support functionality.
3Productivity
If standardized brassiere cups are manufactured, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but adaptability deteriorates as they fail to accommodate unique anatomy of particular wearers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables customization of cup characteristics such as volume, shape, and reinforcement distribution according to individual wearer anatomy. Different regions of the cup can have varying densities and structural properties tailored to specific anatomical requirements, allowing standardized manufacturing processes to produce customized products for each user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates support layers and structural reinforcement during the initial molding process rather than adding them separately later. This preliminary integration of support structures into the cup formation allows for efficient manufacturing while achieving customized anatomical accommodation through variations in molding parameters and material distribution.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Customizable cups provide effective breast support and uplift, eliminating the need for underwires, and accommodating anatomical variations through additive manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
a cup is formable by forcing and heating to fuse a cup together and effect volumetric doming of the cup
Implementation Method 2
a cup is formable by forcing and heating to fuse a cup together and effect volumetric doming of the cup
Data Source
AI summary
A brassiere and associated method of manufacture is presented. A graticulate support member is producible by additive printing. The graticulate support member may be positioned between each of a first cup cover and a second cup cover of the brassiere. The graticulate support member may include a thickness gradient devised to maintain rigidity of the formed cup from a maximum thickness medially centered at a first edge of the graticulate support member towards a minimum thickness realized at the extremity of a second edge.