A41C - Definition 
Definition statement
This subclass covers:
Corsets or girdles being a special type of undergarments for shaping or correction of a figure, with or without stays or steels, auxiliary belts, straps or fasteners; corsets with or without brassieres, e.g. of annular or tubular shape; girdles, e.g. with high waist part, with open bottom, or girdles of panty type, e.g. with elongated thigh part with or without suspenders.
Brassieres being a type of undergarments for supporting or shaping breast having connected or separate cups including strapless, backless brassieres, e.g. self-adhesive bra cups, or brassieres with stiffening or bust-forming inserts, e.g. with pads containing gel or foam filling, with pockets; bra specially adapted for nursing mothers, e.g. fold-down convertible bra or with replaceable absorbing pads or cups; bra cups with massage elements.
Details of corsets, girdles or brassieres relating to materials used in making process thereof, e.g. elastic corsets including corsets made of rubber, or of layered materials; special materials for nursing mother brassieres or brassieres for sport activities.
Machines or appliances for manufacturing corsets or brassieres, such as integrated manufacturing system or production lines including, e.g. cutting or sewing machines, ironing-machines, attachment mechanisms for assembling component parts, circular knitting machines, machine for molding cup-shaped parts.
Methods for manufacturing corsets or brassieres, mostly the combination of individual process steps such as mechanical treatment e. g. pattern cutting or sewing, physical treatment with the use of high temperature or pressure e.g. hot pressing forming die for a brassiere cup, thermoforming for shape retention or hardening of the articles, high temperature adhering and pressing process without sewing, ultrasonic adhering, antibacterial treatment, aromatizing or steeping by perfume, chemical methods for densification of the knitted stitches; methods of manufacturing one piece bra; finishing edges.
Relationship between large subject matter areas
Group A41B 17/00 "Selection of special materials for underwear" is used not only with groups A41B 9/00 "Undergarments" or A41B 13/00 "Baby linen" but it should be also used together with groups A41C 1/00 and A41C 3/00 if the material of articles is of interest.
Manufacturing of corsets, girdles or bras is classified in group A41C 5/00 "Machines, appliances, or methods for manufacturing corsets or brassieres". However provided that a subject of the invention concerns also an individual step of the combined method or an individual machine of the aggregated plant such information can be separately classified in the appropriate places of the IPC in section B or section D, e.g. in groups:
B32B 37/00 Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding
B29C 51/00 Shaping by thermoforming, e.g. shaping sheets in matched moulds or by deep-drawing; Apparatus therefor
D04B 1/24 Weft knitting processes for the production of fabrics or articles not dependent on the use of particular machines; Fabrics or articles defined by such processes specially adapted for wearing apparel
D04B 21/14 Fabrics characterised by the incorporation by knitting, in one or more thread, fleece, or fabric layers, of reinforcing, binding, or decorative threads; Fabrics incorporating small auxiliary elements, e.g. for decorative purposes
D06C 29/00 Finishing or dressing, of textile fabrics
D06M 23/14 Processes for the fixation or treatment of textile materials in three-dimensional forms
D05C 7/00 Special-purpose or automatic embroidering machines
References relevant to classification in this subclass
This subclass does not cover:
Non-implantable mammary prostheses | A61F 2/52 |
Orthopaedic corsets | A61F 5/02 |
Nursing devices in the form of corsets or bandages for abdomen, teat, or breast support, with or without pads | A61F 5/03 |
Bandages specially adapted for breast or abdomen | A61F 13/14 |
Absorbent pads for external application to the body | A61F 13/15 |
Informative references
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Combined undergarment | A41B 9/08 |
Waistbands forming part of the undergarments | A41B 9/14 |
Shoulder-straps forming part of undergarments | A41B 9/16 |
Maternity clothing; Clothing specially adapted for persons caring for infants | A41D 1/21 |
Clothing specially adapted for women, not otherwise provided for | A41D 1/22 |
Swim-suits, beach suits | A41D 7/00 |
Corset fasteners | A41F 1/04 |
Shoulder or like straps in general | A41F 15/00 |
Glossary of terms
In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
| Corset | (n) tight-fitting undergarments often reinforced by stays, worn to support and shape the waistline, hips, and breasts. |
| Girdle | (n) a woman's corset extending from waist to thigh |
| Stay | (n) a flat strip of steel, plastic, etc., used especially for stiffening corsets, collars, etc. (in.pl.) hist. a corset esp. with whalebone etc. stiffening, and laced |
| Steel | (n) a steel stiffener in a corset, etc. |
Synonyms and Keywords
In patent documents the following abbreviations are often used:
| Bra | Brassiere |
In patent documents the following terms "corset", "girdle" and "stays" are often used as synonyms. Also, these terms can be used as keywords.
In patent documents the expression/word "foundation garment" is often used instead of "bra" which is used in the classification scheme of this subclass.