Patent landscapes › Clothing & accessories
Is a sports bra patented?
Short answer: specific designs of a sports bra have been patented many times, but "a sports bra" as a general idea is not what is protected. What matters is the exact combination of features in your version.
What our index shows
- 76 US and WO patent publications since 2000 have a title matching “sports bra” or a close variant (our index of 9.7 million patent families; one publication per family).
- Among the 63 best keyword matches we examined, 24 were published in 2020 or later, and the earliest was published in 2000.
- Most frequent assignees in those matches: LEE HEATHER (2), NORTH FACE APPAREL CORP (2), WHITE VELVA (1), PATAGONIA INC (1).
- Most common patent classes (CPC subclasses): A41C (56), A41B (12), A41D (9), A41F (8).
Counts come from keyword matching on titles and abstracts, so they are indicative, not a legal count. Some matches are different products that share a word.
14 real patent publications related to a sports bra
- Supportive undergarment and sports bra system US-2025241383-A1 2025 · LEE HEATHER
A supportive undergarment configured to restrain movement of breast tissue in the superior direction is provided. The undergarment is configured to be used in conjunction with a conventional bra, especially an underwire-containing…
View on Google Patents - Banded sports bra US-12389956-B2 2025 · BYRNE PATRICK
A banded sports bra for supporting breasts during exercise or other rapid movement of a person is provided. The banded sports bra has several pathways for bands that allow support of the breasts during oblique and downward breast …
View on Google Patents - Sports bra for female wrestlers US-12402668-B2 2025 · Bustz LLC
A garment for support and compression of a wearer's breasts during high-contact physical activity. The garment includes a bust panel covering the sternal region of the wearer. Elongated underarm sections of the garment provide…
View on Google Patents - Sports bra bust support testing US-11641888-B2 2023 · TARGET BRANDS INC
A method and sensor for testing and evaluating a sports bra for a level of support provided by the sports bra includes selecting a sports bra and removably attaching one sensor to the wearer of the sports bra. The wearer of the sp…
View on Google Patents - High-performance sports bra US-10736363-B2 2020 · DAVID KATHARINE B
A strapless sports bra is optimally designed to provide extra support and better immobilization of breasts during intense workouts or vigorous activity. As is unique in a preferred embodiment, the sports bra is strapless and does …
View on Google Patents - Sports bra US-10201192-B1 2019 · LOTT CHANTELLE
A sports bra has base and cover layers of four-way stretchable material providing a first level of radial compression to the torso, a wide elastic band gripping the midriff to resist rotational and vertical motion of the bra relat…
View on Google Patents - Dual-y-shaped shoulder strap and sports bra WO-2018152938-A1 2018 · KAIPING KELIAN KNITTERS DEV CO LTD
A dual-Y-shaped shoulder strap, comprising a surface-layer elastic braided belt and an inner-layer elastic braided belt which are mutually superposed and sewed. The surface-layer elastic braided belt and the inner-layer elastic br…
View on Google Patents - Strapless Sports Brassiere US-2015044942-A1 2015 · WHITE VELVA
This invention relates to the provision of breast support to the wearer while performing athletic activities by means of a strapless sports brassiere. The invention itself comprises an outer layer of stretchable fabric, an inner l…
View on Google Patents - Variable compression hybrid design sports bra US-8523629-B2 2013 · PUNDYK JON R
A variable compression hybrid design sports bra offers both compression and encapsulation to support the breasts of a user. The front member of the bra includes a rib band extending across the front, and left and right cups connec…
View on Google Patents - Wrap around sports bra with support US-2011117818-A1 2011 · PATAGONIA INC
A continuous sports bra includes a main body cut from a single piece of tubular material and wrap-around side panels coupled to the main body. The main body includes support cups and is configured to encircle the upper torso of th…
View on Google Patents - Adjustable sports brassiere US-7938711-B1 2011 · JOHNSTON YVONNE
An improved sports brassiere possessing multiple enhancements comprising adjustable wider straps for increased comfort, high quality stretch material, and two (2) adjustment points on either side thus ensuring a perfect fit, is he…
View on Google Patents - Sports bra with storage pouch US-6176761-B1 2001
A sports bra has a pair of cups joined by a cleavage portion between the proximate edges of the cups and a back strap portion between the distal edges of the cups. The cups and cleavage portion are made of cloth having substantial…
View on Google Patents - Sports brassiere US-6099382-A 2000 · HKK ENTERPRISES INC
A sports brassiere constructed of stretchable material and formed to have a torso-encircling member having a front and rear portion. The front portion supports a liner member positioned against the breasts of the wearer with a poc…
View on Google Patents - Sports brassiere US-6116985-A 2000
A brassiere physically adapted for use during vigorous exercise is disclosed. The brassiere comprises an underlying support layer that supports the breasts and a resilient overlying motion-restraining layer configured for restrict…
View on Google Patents
What this means for your idea
Because patents cover specific combinations of features, the useful question is not “has a sports bra been patented?” but “has my combination of features been described before?” Accessories and apparel are often protected by design patents as much as utility patents; how something fastens, adjusts or is shaped is usually the difference.
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Guides that help with this
First-look landscape. Not exhaustive. Not legal advice. This page lists keyword-matched publications from a limited database; it does not say whether any product is or isn't covered by a patent, whether a patent is still in force, or whether your idea is patentable. Consult a registered patent attorney or agent.