Copyright © Françoise Herrmann
Within every piece of the Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) Bra-Free collection, there is a US utility patent with a scope extending beyond the specification of the invention. Indeed, the A&F Bra-Free collection encompasses a wide variety of garments, including camisoles, maxi and mini dresses, tanks, mock-neck sleeveless tees, scoop-neck tops, high-neck tops, lace tops, and the latest ¾-sleeve pointelle cardigan-tank, each comprising breast support without underwire or padding. An invention recited in the US utility patent, USRE41654E1, titled Garment with interior bra structure and side supports. A patent, assigned to the A&F Trading Co., that was reissued and awarded on Sept. 7th, 2010, to five inventors: Lisa Powers (US), Jami Leigh Anderson (US), Tiffany Nicole Harris (US), Christine Marie Kennedy (US), and Joshua Andrew Baumer (US).
The patent recites an interior bra structure with side supports, specified different from a shelf-bra that tends to minimize the bustline and is less flattering than a real bra. The patent also recites an interior bra structure with supports, different from a built-in bra permanently attached to a garment, that might show owing to a contour unmatched to a garment neckline or its straps, or bulge owing to padding and/or underwire. Thus, the invention offers to remedy the prior art of shelf bras and built-in bras, by offering a flattering bra structure that supports women’s breasts without padding, underwire, flattening, or a contour separate from the garment neckline or straps.
The included patent Figure 1 shows a woman 100 wearing a garment that covers at least her torso 102 and embodies the present interior bra invention. Specifically, the patent Figure 1 depicts a sports camisole 10 with an interior bra structure. The exterior fabric layer 14, of the garment has an upper part 14c, comprising the interior bra fabric layer 16, a front exterior panel 14a, and a rear exterior panel 14b, connected at side seams 14d. Side support panels 18 on each side of the woman’s breasts are connected to the interior fabric layer 16 of the bra structure, near the underarm towards the front, in the area 104.
The image of a striped Bra-Free rib scoop neck tank appears next to the patent Figure 1. Below, the abstract of the invention is also included.
A women's garment with built-in breast support and no underwire, comprises an exterior fabric layer for covering the torso. An exterior fabric layer has an upper part for at least partly covering the breasts. An interior fabric layer is connected to the upper part of the exterior fabric layer and is sized to extend only over the upper part of the exterior fabric layer on the inner surface thereof to cover at least part of the breasts of a woman. A pair of side support panels are connected to the interior fabric layer, each at over one lateral area of the torso, the lateral areas being adjacent respective lateral sides of the breasts and are made of non-stretch material for supporting the breasts. A pair of tapes or other fixing mechanisms are connected to the interior fabric layer and extend along respective medial edges of the side support panels. [Abstract USRE41654E1]
Abercrombie & Fitch (website)
https://www.abercrombie.com/
