“[…] brassieres (primarily strapless brassieres and but also those with straps), dresses, swimsuits, socks, tops and other articles of clothing (or the like) have a tendency to fall down or off […]”
– explains a new (Aug 2016) US patent. The novel methodology for holding them up makes use of intermolecular electrostatic attractive forces known as Van Der Waals forces, which are provided by specially constructed silicone patches with microscopic hair-like structures known as setae (analogous to those found on geckos’ feet).
The invention is assigned to Kellie K apparel LLC, and is currently marketed as GeckTeck™ See: US patent 9,402,424, ‘Brassiere’ awarded to inventor Dr. Anthony Roy of Los Angeles, California. Here he is, along with colleague Dr. Jessica Pfeilsticker who explains the technological aspects of the invention.
Also see: The 2009 Ig Nobel Public Health Prize: Awarded to Dr. Elena N. Bodnar, Raphael C. Lee, and Sandra Marijan of Chicago, Illinois, USA, for inventing a brassiere that, in an emergency, can be quickly converted into a pair of protective face masks, one for the brassiere wearer and one to be given to some needy bystander.