FLAT KNIT BRA

Abstract

The invention is directed to a flat knit bra comprising two cups (1a, 1b), each cup provided with a neckline zone (2a, 2b), two power slings (4a, 4b) and two wing zones (5a, 5b) and a band (6) having a first and second end (6a, 6b). The neckline zones (2a, 2b) may extend to the band (6) in an overlapping fashion. The power sling (4a, 4b) is comprised of a double layered knit material. The band (6) is branches from a common centre region (16) into more than one band zones (7,8,9,10). One band zone (7,8) extends to the ends (6a, 6b) of the band (6) and at least one other band zone (9,10) extends into each of the wings (5a, 5b).

Claims

1. Flat knit bra comprising: two cups, two power slings and two wing zones and wherein the bra further comprises a band having a first and second end, wherein: the power sling is comprised of a double layered knit material, and the band is comprised of more than one band zones each zone comprised of a double layered knit material, which band zones branch out from a common centre region at the cups such that at least one band zone extends to each of the first and second ends of the band and wherein at least one other band zone extends into each of the wings.

2. Flat knit bra according to claim 1, wherein each cup is provided with a neck line zone having a first and second end and wherein the first end of the neck line zone of each cup extends to the band such that one neck line zone partly overlaps the other neck line zone.

3. Flat knit bra according to claim 1, wherein at least two parallel oriented band zones extend to each of the of the first and second ends of the band.

4. Flat knit bra according to claim 3, wherein the at least two parallel oriented band zones are connected to each other by a single layered knit material.

5. Flat knit bra according to claim 1, wherein at least two parallel extending band zones extend into each of the wings.

6. Flat knit bra according to claim 5, wherein the at least two parallel oriented band zones are connected to each other by a single layered knit material.

7. Flat knit bra according to claim 1, wherein one of the at least one band zones extending to each of the first and second ends of the band and one of the at least one band zones extending into each of the wings are connected by a single knit layered material.

8. Flat knit bra according to claim 4, wherein the single knit material is comprised of a single bedded knit with transfer stitches to the back and front with two-sided racking combined with diametrical reversed transfer.

9. Flat knit bra according to claim 1, wherein the double layered knit material of the band zones has a three layered structural binding with a six row rapport consisting of a first and second row of repetitive staggered single front bedded knitted loops and floats, a third row of repetitive double bedded tucked loops, a fourth and fifth row of diapositive to the first and second row repetitive staggered back bedded knitted loops and floats and a sixth row of diapositive to the third row of repetitive double bedded tucked loops.

10. Flat knit bra according to claim 1, wherein the power sling is comprised of double layered knit material which has a higher elasticity at a position near to the cup as compared to the elasticity of the material at a position further away from the cup.

11. Flat knit bra according to claim 1, wherein the neck line zone is comprised of a single layer knit material obtained by an every other needle knitting method.

12. Flat knit bra according to claim 11, wherein single layer knit material is a single bedded knit having four rows with transfer stitches to a back and front side of the material and with two-sided racking combined with diametrical reversed transfer and wherein the needle sequence is a combination of knitted loops and floats thus creating a pseudo every other needle knitted structure and wherein the first two rows of the four rows are a geometrical sequence of loops and extended floats and wherein the third and fourth row of the four rows are a geometrical sequence of transferred loops to the back side and reversed transferred in combination with diametrical reversed racking on the back bed of the flat bed knitting machine.

13. Flat knit bra according to claim 1, wherein the cups are shaped by means of short row knitting.

14. Flat knit bra according to claim 13, wherein the cups comprise two connected single layered knit materials.

15. Flat knit bra according to claim 14, wherein the two connected single layered knit materials comprises a double bedded structure of a first and second row with a binding of a geometrical sequence of front and back bedded loops and floats, wherein the first row has an interconnected front and back bedded loop in a repetitive sequence with extended floats and wherein the second row has an interconnected front and back bedded loop in a repetitive sequence with extended floats in an obverse geometrical sequence towards the first row.

16. Flat knit bra according to claim 1, wherein the double layered knit material of the power sling is comprised of a three layered structural binding with a six row rapport consisting of one row of repetitive staggered single front bedded knitted loops and floats, two rows of repetitive staggered single back bedded knitted loops and floats, two rows of repetitive double bedded tucked loops diapositive positioned towards each other and one row of repetitive staggered single front bedded knitted loops and floats.

17. Flat knit bra according to claim 1, wherein the double layered knit material of the more than one band zones is comprised of an elastane yarn covered by a polyamide yarn.

18. Flat knit bra according to claim 17, wherein the double layered knit material of the more than one band zones at the common centre region at the cups further comprise of a thermal molded fiber.

19. Flat knit bra according to claim 18, wherein the thermal molded fibre is a thermoplastic polyurethane fiber.

20. Flat knit bra according to claim 18, comprising between 5 and 15 wt % of the thermal molded fiber.

21. Flat knit bra according to claim 18, wherein the thermal molded fiber is obtained by steaming the double layered knit material.

22. Flat knit bra according to claim 1, wherein the first and second ends of the band are provided with a fastener.

23. Flat knit bra according to claim 1, wherein the second end of each neck line zone is connected to one of the wings by means of a strap.

Description

[0030] The invention shall be illustrated by the following FIGS. 1-9.

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a manufactured unitary flat knit bra without a closure and straps. These may be added separately. This figure shows a flat knit bra having two cups (1a,1b), each cup provided with a neckline zone (2a,2b) having a first and second end (3a,3b). Neighbouring a cup (1a,1b) a power sling (4a,4b) is shown. Further each end of the bra is provided with a wing zone (5a,5b). As the lowest part of the bra a band (6) is shown having a first and second end (6a,6b). The first end (3a) of the neckline zone (2a,2b) of each cup extends to a centre region (16) of the band (6) such that the left neckline zone (2b) partly overlaps the other neckline zone (2a).

[0032] The band is comprised of four band zones (7,8,9,10) extending to both ends of the bra. The four band zones (7,8,9,10) branch out from a common centre region (16) of the band just below the cups (1a,1b). Band zones (7,8) extends to each of the first and second ends (6a,6b) of the band (6). The two band zones (9,10) extends into each of the wings (5a,5b). The two parallel oriented band zones (7,8) are connected to each other by a single layered knit material (11). The two parallel oriented band zones (9,10) are connected to each other by a single layered knit material (12). Band zone (8) extending to the first and second ends (6a,6b) of the band (6) are connected to band zone (9) extending into each of the wings (5a,5b) by a single knit layered material (13). Band zone (9) and band zone (10) extend into the wing (5a,5b) up to the outer end of the wing (14a,14b).

[0033] The cups (1a,1b) are provided with a cup subsection (15a,15b) which is a zone which neighbours with the neckline zone (2a,2b) respectively. This zone may have a somewhat tighter stitch construction resulting in that the nipple can be effectively covered.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows the bra of FIG. 1 wherein each part of the bra is provided with a reference to a preferred stitch construction used for the different parts described in FIG. 1. Each stitch construction, apart from stitch construction (c), consists of a combination of single bedded and/or double bedded, interloped knitted stitches, or single bedded, double bedded interloped knitted stitches. All knitted constructions use their combination of yarn types, loops, stitch length, tension and interconnectivity to create different types of structures for their specific elastic behaviour. The knitted structures are created to achieve a specific linear elasticity which is needed for the support in a bra for larger sized breasts. In some cases the material's elastic modulus differs when force is applied in other directions, this is required for the optimal comfort the bra achieves by not straining any part of the body too much or too little so that it lacks the needed support.

[0035] FIG. 2a shows a bra of FIGS. 1 and 2 provided with a closure (18) and straps (17). The dark coloured part of the band zones (7,8,9,10) at the common centre region (16) is provided with a thermal molded fiber. The dark coloured part (19) of the straps (17) are also provided with a thermal molded fiber. The straps (17) are part of the manufactured unitary flat knit bra.

[0036] FIG. 3 shows stitch construction (a) having a three layered structural binding with a six row rapport consisting of a first and second row of repetitive staggered single front bedded knitted loops and floats, one third row of repetitive double bedded tucked loops, a fourth and fifth row of diapositive to the first and second row repetitive staggered back bedded knitted loops and floats and a sixth row of diapositive to the third row of repetitive double bedded tucked loops.

[0037] FIG. 4 shows stitch construction (b) for a single bedded knit with transfer stitches to the back and front with two-sided racking combined with diametrical reversed transfer.

[0038] FIG. 5 shows stitch construction (c) for a single bedded knit having four rows with transfer stitches to a back and front side of the material and with two-sided racking combined with diametrical reversed transfer and wherein the needle sequence is a combination of knitted loops and floats thus creating a pseudo every other needle knitted structure and wherein the first two rows of the four rows are a geometrical sequence of loops and extended floats and wherein the third and fourth row of the four rows are a geometrical sequence of transferred loops to the back side and reversed transferred in combination with diametrical reversed racking on the back bed of the flat bed knitting machine.

[0039] FIG. 6 shows stitch construction (d) as a transitional structure with an obverse geometrical sequence of loops and floats.

[0040] FIG. 7 shows stitch construction (e) as a double bedded structure of a first and second row with a binding of a geometrical sequence of front and back bedded loops and floats, wherein the first row has an interconnected front and back bedded loop in a repetitive sequence with extended floats and wherein the second row has an interconnected front and back bedded loop in a repetitive sequence with extended floats in an obverse geometrical sequence towards the first row.

[0041] FIG. 8a shows stitch construction (f) as a three layered structural binding with a six row rapport consisting of one row of repetitive staggered single front bedded knitted loops and floats, two rows of repetitive staggered single back bedded knitted loops and floats, two rows of repetitive double bedded tucked loops diapositive positioned towards each other and one row of repetitive staggered single front bedded knitted loops and floats.

[0042] FIG. 8b shows an alternative for stitch construction (f″) having less elasticity and is more densely knit.

[0043] FIG. 9 shows stitch construction (g) for the overlap and connection of the neckline with the band.