Appearance enhancing means for a human bodily part

Abstract

 Artificial addition means wearable on a bodily part and suitable for enhancing appearance of said bodily part comprises pouch means (3) consisting of two sheets of plastic material (21a, 22a; 57a, 57b) sealed together along a peripheral seam (5) and defining a chamber therebetween, said chamber being filled with gaseous fluid means (4). An apparatus for manufacturing artificial addition means (1) for a bodily part, said artificial addition means comprising pouch means (3) made of plastic sheet material (21a, 22a; 57a, 57b) and suitable for being filled with gaseous fluid means (4) comprises sealing means (28) for sealing opposing parts of said plastic sheet material (21a, 22a; 57a, 57b) along outlines of said pouch means (3) to obtain performs (29) of said pouch means (3) therefrom leaving openings (8) in said outlines, injecting means (11, 17; 33; 58) for injecting through said openings (8) said gaseous fluid means (4) into said pouch means (3) and closing means (18; 37; 60) for closing said openings (8) thereby trapping said gaseous fluid means (4) in said pouch means (3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to artificial addition means wearable on a bodily part and suitable for enhancing appearance of said bodily part. Such artificial addition means are advantageously usable as padding means for clothing articles, in particular for male and female underclothing articles.

[0002] With particular reference to the field of the brassieres, different types of padding are known suitable for increasing the volume of the user's breast.

[0003] In order to obtain a larger and more buxom breast, the technique has been introduced of subcutaneous insertion of silicone capsules.

[0004] However, due to high costs of the surgical operations, possible breaking of the capsules and possible health injuries, this technique does not offer satisfactory results.

[0005] Brassieres are also known provided with padding of textile material or foam rubber, which, however, once worn, are rigid and not very comfortable.

[0006] Brassieres are also known provided with cups equipped with envelopes into which padding elements can be placed, consisting of bags of plastic material filled with Vaseline oil.

[0007] GB 2297894 discloses a brassiere made from flexible rubber and having a breast-shaped front side and a back side fitting over the breast. The back side is formed of a plurality of transverse ribs and transverse grooves alternately disposed in parallel with one another, the transverse ribs defining with the breast shaped front side a plurality of transverse chambers which can be filled up with water or air.

[0008] This brassiere, however, is cumbersome and consequently not very comfortable to be worn. Furthermore, the ribs and the grooves are provided with a great number of sealing which increase stiffness of the brassiere.

[0009] Finally, since this brassiere completely encloses the breast of the users, such brassiere is not usable with dresses having wide neckline.

[0010] US 5823852 discloses a push-up brassiere provided with a water bag mounted in one cup thereof and having a valve partially projecting to the outside through which the volume of contained water in the padding can be adjusted with a syringe.

[0011] US 6015332 discloses a push-up brassiere having an envelope between the front panel and the rear panel of the brassiere cups which receives a flexible bag containing a mixture of water and an hygroscopic agent. The hygroscopic agent draws moisture into the envelope preventing the volume of liquid from decreasing.

[0012] A first drawback of the brassieres disclosed in US 5823852 and US 6015332 is that the padding elements can break so releasing the staining fluids contained therein, the above-mentioned fluids soaking the supporting portion in textile material of the brassieres, as well as the clothing of the user. The aforesaid fluids, such as Vaseline oil, or water solutions containing polluting elements, due to their chemical composition, are hardly removable from the stained clothes, mainly when they are made of materials which needs gentle cycles of washing.

[0013] A further drawback of these brassieres is due to the remarkable weight of the padding elements, which makes the users feel absence of naturalness.

[0014] With regard to male underwear, underpants are known provided, at their front portion, with envelopes suitable for containing padding elements obtained by means of technical solution substantially equivalent to the solutions described for the brassieres and therefore showing similar drawbacks.

[0015] Prior art further comprises prosthesis for mastectomy patients comprising a bag having the same size and shape as the brassiere cup within which it is to be worn, completely filled with a jell-like liquid. Such liquid, being weighty, will supply the mass of the removed breast tissue and thus provide the wearer with the weight of the removed breast.

[0016] US 3845507 discloses a prosthesis for mastectomy patients comprising an outer bag comprising two formed surfaces joined at their peripheries. The formed surfaces have substantially the same size and shape as the brassiere cup within which the prosthesis is to be worn, and each comprises a vertical extension having an air valve therein and an underarm extension. An inner liquid-filled bag is suspended by two hangers from the top periphery of the outer bag at either side of the valve. The inner bag is also formed of two substantially identical formed surfaces joined together at their periphery of the same shape as the brassiere cup, but of smaller size. The space between the bags is filled with air.

[0017] Another known device cited in US 3845507 has a bag merely filled by air to take the same size and shape of the removed breast within the normal brassieres and is preferably provided with a valve for adjusting the amount of air in the bag.

[0018] An object of the present invention is to provide padding elements for underclothing suitable for transmitting a comfort and naturalness feeling to the users.

[0019] A further object of the present invention is to provide padding elements for underclothing which, in case of damages, do not release substances capable of irremediably damage the user's clothes.

[0020] A further object of the present invention is to provide padding elements for underclothing which are particularly light and comfortable.

[0021] In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided artificial addition means wearable on a bodily part and suitable for enhancing appearance of said bodily part, comprising pouch means consisting of two sheets of plastic material sealed together along a peripheral seam and defining a chamber therebetween, said chamber being filled with gaseous fluid means.

[0022] Advantageously, said gaseous fluid means comprises pressurized air.

[0023] Further advantageously, the artificial addition means is provided at the peripheral seam with an entry section suitable for allowing to the gaseous fluid means to be injected into the pouch means.

[0024] Still further advantageously, the peripheral seam comprises a sealing seam suitable for sealing the entry section.

[0025] Owing to this aspect of the invention, air filled artificial addition means is provided usable as padding elements for male and female underclothing articles. In this way, in case of breaking, no liquid is released by the pouch means, which avoids risk of damaging the clothes of the users.

[0026] Furthermore, clothing articles padded with such artificial addition means has remarkable lightness which causes users to feel very comfortable.

[0027] In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for manufacturing artificial addition means for a bodily part, said artificial addition means comprising pouch means made of plastic sheet material and suitable for being filled with gaseous fluid means, comprising sealing means for sealing opposing parts of said plastic sheet material along outlines of said pouch means to obtain performs of said pouch means therefrom leaving openings in said outlines, injecting means for injecting through said openings said gaseous fluid means into said pouch means and closing means for closing said openings thereby trapping said gaseous fluid means in said pouch means.

[0028] In an advantageous version, the sealing means is suitable for sealing the plastic sheet material carried by a conveyor belt so obtaining preforms of the pouch means fixed in a non-permanent way to the conveyor belt.

[0029] In this way, the preforms are firmly kept in a correct position for the following working steps.

[0030] In another advantageous version, the injecting means comprises vertically slidable pressing means suitable for ensuring pneumatic sealing between said openings and the injecting means during introduction of the gaseous fluid into the pouch means.

[0031] In a further advantageous version, said pressing means comprises pushing means made of an easily deformable material.

[0032] In a still further advantageous version, the apparatus comprises bench means angularly indexable among stations spaced at regular angular intervals, said stations comprising a positioning station in which opposing blanks of plastic material are arranged on said bench means one above the other, a sealing station in which preforms of said pouch means are obtained from said blanks, an injecting and closing station in which the gaseous fluid means is introduced into the preforms and the pouch means are closed with said gaseous fluid means trapped therein, a discharging station in which said artificial addition means is drawn from said bench means.

[0033] In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided method for manufacturing artificial addition means for a bodily part, said artificial addition means comprising pouch means made of plastic sheet material and suitable for being filled with gaseous fluid means, comprising obtaining preforms of said pouch means from said plastic sheet material leaving openings in outlines of said preforms, injecting said gaseous fluid means through said openings, closing said openings thereby trapping said gaseous fluid means in said pouch means.

[0034] In a preferred version, said obtaining comprises fixing in a non-permanent way said preforms to conveyor means of said plastic sheet material.

[0035] In another preferred version, before said injecting, there is provided pressing said plastic sheet material at said openings for ensuring pneumatic sealing during inflation of the preforms.

[0036] In a further preferred version said pressing comprises acting on said plastic sheet material by means of pushing means made of easily deformable material.

[0037] In a fourth aspect of the invention, a brassiere is provided comprising artificial addition means according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0038] In a fifth aspect of the invention, male underpants are provided comprising artificial addition means according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0039] The invention will be better understood and carried out with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate some not restrictive embodiments thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of artificial addition means, in a version suitable for being inserted into brassieres;

Figure 2 is a front view of artificial addition means, in a version suitable for being inserted into male underpants;

Figure 3 is a schematic front view of an apparatus for manufacturing artificial addition means according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of another version of the apparatus of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is section taken along plane V-V of Figure 4;

Figure 6 in an enlarged perspective view of the pressing means shown in Figures 4 and 5;

Figure 7 is schematic plan view of a further version of an apparatus for manufacturing artificial addition means according to the invention;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a brassiere provided with artificial addition means according to the invention.

[0040] With reference to Figure 1, padding means la for push-up brassieres is shown having a substantially oval shape, suitable for conforming to the user's breast.

[0041] The padding means la comprises pouch means 3 obtained from two thin sheets of plastic material sealed by means of radiofrequency, or by means of heat-sealing, along a seam 5 extending along the whole peripheral edge of the pouch means 3, except for a small portion arranged laterally with respect to said pouch means 3 in which an open entry section 8 is obtained. The pouch means 3 is suitable for containing a gaseous fluid 4 which is introduced therein via the entry section 8; once the gaseous fluid 4 has been fully introduced into the pouch means 3, the entry section 8 is sealed by means of a sealing seam 9 obtained by radio-frequency, or heating.

[0042] At one end of the padding means 1a, a portion 6 is obtained, hermetically separated from the pouch means 3 by a further seam 7, so arranged as to constitute a fixing point for fixing the padding means 1a to a brassiere.

[0043] With reference to Figure 2, padding means 1b is shown comprising substantially the same constitutive elements of the padding means la described above, and having substantially a shape of a triangle with rounded corners, suitable therefore for being applied to the front portion of male underpants.

[0044] With reference to Figure 3, an apparatus 10 is shown for filling padding means 1 with a gaseous fluid 4 and subsequently sealing it.

[0045] The apparatus 10 comprises a compressor device 11 consisting of a cylinder 12 inside which a piston 13 is movable.

[0046] An inlet duct 15 and an outlet duct 16 of a gaseous fluid 4, for example air, are connected to the cylinder 12. Injector means 17, suitable for injecting the gaseous fluid 4 into the padding means 1, is connected to the outlet duct 16.

[0047] An electromagnetic valve 14 allows the gaseous fluid 4 to enter into the cylinder 12 through the inlet duct 15. Subsequently, the piston 13 is caused to slide inside the cylinder 12 making the gaseous fluid 4 pass through the outlet duct 16. The gaseous fluid 4, passing through the injector means 17, fills the padding means 1 which is thereafter hermetically sealed by sealing means 18. Since the piston 13 covers the same stroke A per every cycle, the volume of gaseous fluid 4 which is injected into the padding means 1 is constant and is equivalent to the size of the base surface of the cylinder 12 multiplied by its working height B.

[0048] With reference to Figure 4, another version of an apparatus 20 for manufacturing padding means 1 according to the invention is shown, comprising a first reel 21 and a second reel 22 from which respectively a first sheet 21a of plastic material and a second sheet 22a of plastic material are unwound.

[0049] The second sheet 22a is placed onto the first sheet 21a and both are arranged on a conveyor belt 23 having the shape of a loop and extending between a first idle roller 24 and a second idle roller 25.

[0050] A supporting platform 30 is arranged under the conveyor belt 23 suitable for preventing the first sheet 21a and the second sheet 22a from vertically moving during transferring and working.

[0051] The conveyor belt 23 with the first sheet 21a and the second sheet 22a placed thereon is indexed by means of a first clamp 26 reciprocatable along the direction F and a fixed second clamp 27 cooperating with the aforesaid movable first clamp 26 as described below.

[0052] The apparatus 20 further comprises a sealing element 28 vertically movable along the direction F2 and suitable for sealing the first sheet 21a to the second sheet 22a to obtain a plurality of performs 29 of pouch means 3 sealed along a seam 5 extending along the peripheral edge of the pouch means 3, except for a small portion arranged laterally with respect to said pouch means 3 in which an open entry section 8 is obtained.

[0053] The sealing element 28 descends from above and joins together by means of heat and pressure the first sheet 21a and the second sheet 22a to the conveyor belt 23, so allowing the first sheet 21a and the second sheet to be kept in a correct position for the following working steps.

[0054] The apparatus 20 further comprises a filling station 31 for filling the performs 29, provided with injecting means 33 suitable for injecting the gaseous fluid into the performs 29 and provided with a wedge element 32 interposable between the first sheet 21a and the second sheet 22a.

[0055] The above mentioned wedge element 32 is internally provided with conduit means 34 leading out at the entry sections 8 of the performs 29.

[0056] The filling station 31 further comprises vertically slidable pressing means 35 suitable for pressing the first sheet 21a against the second sheet 22a at the entry sections 8 to ensure pneumatic sealing during transfer of the gaseous fluid 4 from the injecting means 33 to the performs 29.

[0057] Closing means 36 is arranged parallelly to the pressing means 35, comprising a closing bar 37 suitable for closing, by means of the sealing seam 9, the entry section 8 of the performs 29 when the gaseous fluid has been introduced therethrough, and cutting means 38 suitable for severing the padding means 1 from the first sheet 21a and the second sheet 22a.

[0058] As shown in Figure 5, the filling station 31 comprises first pressing means 35a placed below the conveyor belt 23 and suitable for pushing the first sheet 21a against the wedge element 32 and second pressing means 35b placed above said conveyor belt means 23 and suitable for pushing the second sheet 22a against the wedge element 32.

[0059] The injecting means 33 comprises pneumatic cylinder means 39 suitable for pressurizing the gaseous fluid 4 injectable into the preforms 29 and connecting means 40 suitable for inserting the pressurized gaseous fluid 4 into the conduit means 34.

[0060] With reference to Figure 6, pressing means 35 is shown comprising a body 41 to which pushing means 42 made of easily deformable material, such as polymeric foam, is fixed, possibly by gluing.

[0061] The pushing means 42 is provided with a recess 43 surrounding the entry sections 8 so as to allow the preforms 29 to be inflated and prevent the gaseous fluid from coming out during filling of the pouch means 3.

[0062] The pushing means 35, due to the easily deformable material, allow a suitable pneumatic sealing without damaging the first sheet 21a and the second sheet 22a.

[0063] In use, the first clamp 26 reciprocates in the direction of arrow F and indexes the first sheet 21a and the second sheet 22a while passing from an initial position to a final advancing position. After the advancing of the first sheet 21a and the second sheet 22a, the second clamp 27 is closed on the first sheet 21a and the second sheet 22a while the first clamp 26 returns in its initial position.

[0064] With reference to Figure 7, a further version of an apparatus 50 for manufacturing padding means 1 according to the invention is shown, comprising bench means 51 provided with four working areas 52 placed at regular angular intervals.

[0065] Each working area 52 comprises a plate 53 suitable for receiving a first blank 57a of plastic material and a second blank 57b of plastic material, such first blank 57a and second blank 57b having been previously cut as to have substantially the same dimensions of the plate 53. Each working area 52 further comprises manifold means 54 having inlet sections 54a and outlet sections 54b and suitable for transferring a gaseous fluid from inserting means 58 to an entry section 8 of the padding means 1 to be obtained.

[0066] The manifold means 54 are connected to a transverse rod 55 rotatably supported to support means 56 fixed to the bench means 51 so as the manifold means 54 is able to rotate in the direction of the arrow R.

[0067] The bench means 51 is indexable among four stations arranged at 90° intervals from each other.

[0068] At station A, an operator put the first blank 57a on the plate 53 and under the manifold means 54. Thereafter, in the same station A, the second blank 57b is placed on the first blank 57a so as an end thereof partially covers the manifold means 54.

[0069] At station B, non-shown sealing means are provided, suitable for obtaining from the first blank 57a and the second blank 57b a plurality of performs 29 of padding means 1, sealed along a seam 5 and having an open entry section 8 into which one of the outlet sections 54b is introduced.

[0070] At station C, inserting means 58 are provided, movable along the direction F3 and provided with a plurality of pipe means 59 suitable for engaging into the inlet sections 54a for transferring a gaseous fluid into the performs 29.

[0071] The station C further comprises further closing means 60 suitable for sealing the entry sections 8 after introduction of the gaseous fluid.

[0072] At station D, an operator draws the padding means 1, in this way the respective working area 52 is ready for another cycle.

[0073] With reference to Figure 8, a push-up brassiere 70 is shown comprising padding means 1 according to the invention.

[0074] The padding means 1 is inserted into envelopes means obtained in the inner surface of the cups of the brassiere 70.

Claims

1. Artificial addition means wearable on a bodily part and suitable for enhancing appearance of said bodily part, comprising pouch means (3) consisting of two sheets of plastic material (21a, 22a; 57a, 57b) sealed together along a peripheral seam (5) and defining a chamber therebetween, said chamber being filled with gaseous fluid means (4).

2. Artificial addition means according to claim 1, wherein said gaseous fluid means (4) comprises pressurized air.

3. Artificial addition means according to claim 1, or 2, wherein said artificial addition means (1a; 1b) is provided with an entry section (8) suitable for allowing said gaseous fluid means (4) to be injected into the pouch means (3).

4. Artificial addition means according to claim 3, wherein said peripheral seam (5) comprises a sealing seam (9) suitable for sealing said entry section (8).

5. Apparatus for manufacturing artificial addition means (1) for a bodily part, said artificial addition means comprising pouch means (3) made of plastic sheet material (21a, 22a; 57a, 57b) and suitable for being filled with gaseous fluid means (4), comprising sealing means (28) for sealing opposing parts of said plastic sheet material (21a, 22a; 57a, 57b) along outlines of said pouch means (3) to obtain performs (29) of said pouch means (3) therefrom leaving openings (8) in said outlines, injecting means (11, 17; 33; 58) for injecting through said openings (8) said gaseous fluid means (4) into said pouch means (3) and closing means (18; 37; 60) for closing said openings (8) thereby trapping said gaseous fluid means (4) in said pouch means (3).

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said injecting means (11, 17; 33; 58) comprises cylinder means (12) suitable for being filled with a pre-established amount of said gaseous fluid means (4).

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein piston means (13) is movable inside said cylinder means (12), said piston means (13) being suitable for transferring said fluid means (4) from said cylinder means (13) to said pouch means (3).

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said piston means (13) has a constant stroke (A).

9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 8, and further comprising conveyor belt means (23) suitable for indexing first sheet means (21a) of said plastic sheet material and second sheet means (22a) of said plastic sheet material arranged thereon, said second sheet means (22a) being placed on said first sheet means (21a).

10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein said injecting means (33) comprises wedge means (32) interposable between said first sheet means (21a) and said second sheet means (22a).

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said wedge means (32) is internally provided with conduit means (34) suitable for engaging said openings (8).

12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 11, and further comprising pressing means (35) suitable for pressing said plastic sheet material (21a, 22a; 57a, 57b) to ensure pneumatic sealing during transfer of said gaseous fluid means (4) from said injecting means (33) to said pouch means (3).

13. Apparatus according claim 12, wherein said pressing means comprises body means (41) to which pushing means (42) is fixed.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said pushing means (42) are made of easily deformable material.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said easily deformable material is polymeric foam.

16. Apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein said pushing means (42) is provided with groove means (43) suitable for surrounding said openings (8) for preventing said gaseous fluid (4) from coming out.

17. Apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 16, as appended to claims 8 and 9, wherein said pressing means (35) comprises first pressing means (35a) placed below said conveyor belt means (23) and suitable for pushing said first sheet means (21a) against said wedge means (32) and second pressing means (35b) placed above said conveyor belt means (23) and suitable for pushing said second sheet means (22a) against said wedge means (32).

18. Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 8, and further comprising bench means (51) provided with working areas (52) spaced at regular angular intervals.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said working areas (52) comprise plate means (53) suitable for receiving first blank means (57a) of said plastic sheet material and second blank means (57b) of said plastic sheet material, said first blank means (57a) and said second blank means (57b) having substantially the same dimensions of said plate means (53).

20. Apparatus according to claim 18, or 19, wherein said working areas (52) further comprise manifold means (54) having a plurality of inlet sections (54a) and a plurality of outlet sections (54b) and suitable for transferring said gaseous fluid (4) from said injecting means (58) to said entry sections (8).

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said manifold means (54) are connected to transverse rod means (55) rotatably supported to support means (56) fixed to said bench means (51).

22. Apparatus according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein said bench means (51) is angularly indexable among stations (A, B, C, D) arranged at 90° intervals from each other.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said sealing means (28) are arranged in a station (B) of said stations (A, B, C, D).

24. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said injecting means (58) are arranged in another station (C) of said stations (A, B, C, D).

25. Apparatus according to claim 24, as appended to claim 20, wherein said injecting means (58) are provided with a plurality of pipe means (59) suitable for engaging into said inlet sections (54a).

26. Method for manufacturing artificial addition means (1) for a bodily part, said artificial addition means (1) comprising pouch means (3) made of plastic sheet material (21a, 22a; 57a, 57b) and suitable for being filled with gaseous fluid means (4), comprising obtaining preforms (29) of said pouch means (3) from said plastic sheet material (21a, 22a; 57a, 57b) leaving openings (8) in outlines of said preforms (29), injecting said gaseous fluid means (4) through said openings (8), closing said openings (8) thereby trapping said gaseous fluid means (4) in said pouch means (3).

27. Method according to claim 26, wherein said obtaining comprises fixing in a non-permanent way said preforms (29) to conveyor means (23) suitable for moving said plastic sheet material (21a, 22a).

28. Method according claim 26, or 27 wherein, before said injecting, there is provided pressing said plastic sheet material (21a, 22a; 57a, 57b) at said openings (8) for ensuring pneumatic sealing during inflation of said preforms (29).

29. Brassiere (70) comprising artificial addition means (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 4.

30. Male underpants comprising artificial addition means (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 4.

Drawing