[0010] Shown in FIG. 1 is a brassiere, generally designated 1, having a front pair of breast-covering cups 2 and 3, and left and right shoulder straps 4 and 5 which are looped over the wearer's shoulders (not shown) for supporting the brassiere 1 during use. Each strap 4, 5 is of an elongated strip configuration having a width, typically approximately 1 inch wide, delimited by opposite side edges 6 and 7. When prepared as a work-in-process component, the fabric construction material of a strap 4, 5 is cut longitudinally while being urged in a machine direction during being unwound from a fabric source put up in a supply roll to a cutting station, and this results in a cut raw nature in the edges 6 and 7 exiting from the cutting station. Both aesthetically and to obviate a possible source of discomfort, the cut raw nature of the edges 6 and 7 require a finishing treatment.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 2, the common practice in the prior art of finishing the cut raw edges, individually and collectively designated 10, of an upper fabric strip 12 and lower fabric strip 14 is to turn in, as at 16 and 18, these edges so that outwardly facing semi-circular configurations, individually and collectively designated 19, are visible to satisfy the aesthetic requirement and are smooth to the touch to obviate any discomfort by contact. For completeness sake, it is noted that mono-filament threads 26, 28 in response to the application of heat are effective to bond the inturned edges 16 and 18 in place as illustrated in FIG. 2, and that the assembly per se is held in their cooperative FIG. 2 arrangement with each other by the fusion of a strip of synthetic plastic material in the form of a web of thermoplastic fibers 24 having an interposed operative position between filler fabric strips 20, 22, all as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,906 for “Shoulder Straps” issued to Perron on Aug. 19, 1980, the fall text of which patent will be understood to be incorporated herein by this reference pursuant to MPEP 2163.07(b).

[0012] Underlying the present invention is the recognition that using to advantage a known heat sealing and cutting technique common in plastic bag-manufacturing, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,751 for “Hermetic Seal For A Plastic Bag” issued to Harmanoglu on Jan. 27, 1998, similarly incorporated herein by reference pursuant to MPEP 2163.07(b), that raw cut edges of work-in-process edges of assembly fabric strips of a brassiere can be finished to aesthetic and comfort standards in a desirable “seamless” construction, wherein by “seamless” is meant without inturned edges which, unavoidably, are manifested bulk on opposite sides of a clearance defining the seam.

[0013] As best shown in FIG. 3, there is illustrated an isolated length portion of a brassiere seamless shoulder strap, generally designated 30, having a superposed cooperating pair of an upper 32 and of a lower 34 elongated strip of fabric construction material, the upper 32 being nylon or polyester for appearance and the lower possibly being a plain fabric, such as 40 denier tricot providing a softer, more velvety feel known in trade parlance as “plush”, i.e. a fabric in which one surface has been processed by brushing or other means so as to raise a nap which, in this case, would contribute to comfort in wearing contact against the shoulder.

[0014] The upper and lower elongated fabric strips 32 and 34 by virtue of their facing relation to each other bound a correspondingly elongated internal compartment 36 and preliminarily are of selected width 38 which, as will be explained are narrowed in the final strap construction, but until such narrowing have raw cut edges 40. Positioned in the compartment 36 between the strips 32 and 34 is an intermediate strip 42 also having opposite cut raw edges 44 and of a slightly oversized selected width 46 presenting, by virtue of the differences in sizes 38 and 46, laterally outwardly extending opposite selvage edges 48. Intermediate strip 42 is, in the parlance of the trade, known as “stitchbond” and is a woven polyester fabric which is comprised of synthetic plastic material in the form of a web of thermoplastic fibers 50, similar to the previously noted construction of panel 24 of FIG. 2.

[0015] In the construction of the shoulder strap 30, using as previously noted the known heat sealing and cutting technique common in plastic bag-manufacturing, the assembled superposed arrangement of upper, intermediate, and lower fabric strips 32, 34 and 42 are urged in a machine direction 52 in processing relation past a rotary fusing or welding means 54 and past a rotary cutting means 56, the former producing side weld lines 58, and the latter removing from the assembly the opposite selvages 48 at the site of the weld lines 58 which, in practice has been found to be free of fraying or any other fiber manifestation detracting from a neat finished appearance in a cut and seal line 60 at the side locations of the shoulder strap 30. The resulting approximately 1 inch wide brassiere shoulder strap 30 is thus without a telltale seam but also with finished side edges 60. Optionally use can be made of a fusible web adhesive 62 commercially available from Spunfab/Keuschel Associates of Cayuga Park, Ohio to increase the bonding together of the FIG. 3 shoulder strap assemblage.

[0016] While the brassiere shoulder strap herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the detail of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.