with reference now to the drawings , and in particular to fig1 thereof , a new and improved underwire bra embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described . the bra 10 embodying the present invention is shown in position on a wearer 11 ( shown in broken lines ), and consists of the conventional shoulder straps and bra cups 12 and 13 . inserted in the fabric of each of bra cups 12 and 13 at the lower edges thereof is a u - shaped wire member 14 having fastening means 15 secured to the fabric of the bra 10 and engaging with the ends of such u - shaped wire member 14 . obviously a strap - less bra utilizing the underwire arrangement of the present invention is also within the scope thereof . fig2 shows in more detail one means for such engagement wherein the fastening means 15 is seen to provide a pivoted link 16 with the ends 18 of wire member 14 , with such ends 18 free to pivot about the axis indicated by broken lines 17 . preferably , wire 14 is divided at each end into two segments 18 and 19 immediately below pivoted link 16 , said segments 18 and 19 again being pivotally connected one to the other as at 20 and free to pivot about axis 21 shown in broken lines . these pivots at 16 and 20 allow for freedom of movement by the wearer while the engagement with means 15 prevents displacement of the ends 18 of wire member 14 other than in the pivotal motion described . it will be understood that underwire 14 has the same configuration at both fasteners so that segment 19 is common to both ends of such underwire 14 , i . e . such underwire 14 has two end segments 18 and a single segment 19 therebetween . fig3 and 4 show in greater detail the fastening means 15 . as illustrated in this modification , the two - piece underwire 14 having the main segment 19 and end segment 18 has a flattened terminus 22 on the end of segment 18 having a hole 23 extending therethrough designed to accept a pivot pin ( not shown ). the fastening means 15 adapted to be sewn or otherwise attached to the fabric of the bra 10 as shown in fig1 bears on its surface 24 a pair of complementary flanges 25 adapted to receive therebetween said flattened terminus 22 and to be secured thereto by a pivot pin extending through holes 26 in such flanges 25 and the corresponding hole 23 in said flattened terminus . when secured by such pivot pin , the unit makes up the pivotal link 16 shown in fig2 . as shown in fig5 the segment 18 is then permitted to pivot about axis 17 . also as shown in the drawing , the main segment 19 is pivotally connected to end segment 18 at 27 where it is free to pivot about axis 21 . while the division of underwire 14 into two segments is shown in the preceding figures , it may be formed in one piece with the flattened terminus 22 at the end thereof as shown in fig6 and 7 wherein the engagement with fastening member 15 is as described in connection with fig3 and 4 . fig8 , and 10 illustrate another type of fastening means 15 - a wherein the pivoting of underwire 14 is solely at the junction 27 between segments 18 and 19 . in this modification , a groove 28 is provided adjacent the end 29 of segment 18 adapted to engage within an open - ended slot 30 in means 15 - a and to be held therein by the end 29 of segment 18 . fig1 shows a minor modification 15 - b of the fastening means 15 of fig6 and 7 . instead of flanges 25 , here the securing means comprises a pair of u - shaped brackets 31 affixed to fastening means 15 - b and adapted to receive a pivot pin 32 therein , extending through both brackets 31 and through the hole 23 in the flattened terminus 22 on the end of u - shaped underwire 14 , thus permitting such underwire 14 to pivot about such pin 32 . in fig1 and 14 , the pivoting of underwire 14 is achieved through the use of a ball and socket joint 32 having the socket portion thereof secured to fastening member 15 - c and the ball portion thereof secured to the end of segment 18 . likewise a second ball and socket joint 33 forms the pivot means 27 at the juncture of segments 18 and 19 . again , as shown in fig1 , only the one ball and socket joint 32 may be used if desired . fig1 and 17 illustrate a variation of the fastening means shown in fig1 and 14 wherein such fastening means 15 - d permits lateral adjustment of the relationship between such fastening means 15 - d and the associated u - shaped underwire 14 . in this case , the end segment 18 of underwire 14 terminates in a ball - shaped member 34 . fastening means 15 - d has a generally rectangular receptacle 35 affixed to the face thereof , said receptacle 35 having a laterally extending opening 36 in the face thereof . the portion of receptacle 35 defining the upper edge of opening 36 has a plurality of arcuate grooves 37 uniformly spaced there along . the opening 36 is such that ball - shaped member 34 , when aligned with one of said grooves 37 , will fit into said receptacle 35 . when the underwire 14 is allowed to drop downward , the ball - shaped member 34 locks into place within said receptacle 35 as shown in fig1 . the multiple grooves 37 allow adjustment as shown in the lateral spacing of the end segment 18 of underwire 14 to permit adjusting for better fit on the wearer . again , as shown in fig1 , the ball and socket point joint 33 between end segment 18 and the major segment 19 of underwire 14 permits pivoting of underwire 14 as described in connection with fig1 and 14 above . whereas most of the descriptions above relate to a single end of the u - shaped underwire , it is to be understood that the description of one side of the bra and the associated underwire is duplicated in actual construction ; i . e . both ends of the underwire bra are secured in the same manner for each modification described . as to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention , the same should be apparent from the above description . accordingly , no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided . with respect to the above description then , it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention , to include variations in size , materials , shape , form , function and manner of operation , assembly and use , are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art , and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention . therefore , the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention . further , since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art , it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described , and accordingly , all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to , falling within the scope of the invention .
an improvement in underwire bra construction wherein the ends of the u - shaped underwire are secured to complementary fastening members affixed to the material of the bra cup and wherein such u - shaped underwire is free to swing up or down relative to said complementary fastening members .