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[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/095,250 filed Jun. 10, 1998, titled “Brassiere”, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,498 issued Jan. 2, 2001.
[0002] None
[0003] The invention relates generally to brassieres. In particular, the invention relates to brassieres having mechanisms to restrict inertial movement of a wearer's breasts while providing breast access for nursing.
[0004] Variations in the form and intended functions of brassieres are as old as the garment itself. Some historians assert that as early as 2500 B.C., Minoan women on the Greek isle of Crete employed a bra-like garment that lifted their bare breasts out of their clothing. Years later, ancient Roman and Greek women took the opposite approach, strapping on a garment resembling a breast band to reduce their bust size.
[0005] The modem concept of a brassiere can be traced to the latter part of the nineteenth century. U.S. Pat. No. 494,397 to Tucek is directed to a brassiere having a “cup-and-strap” configuration that forms the basis of brassiere construction today. Since I that time, countless brassieres have been designed to perform a plethora of functions. The patent literature alone gives testimony to the creative energy has been applied in this area, resulting in garments variously intended to emphasize, minimize, augment, support or protect the breasts of the wearer. Brassieres have even been designed to provide a braless appearance.
[0006] More recently, the increased participation of women in strenuous athletic and outdoor activity has given rise to the need for brassieres that reduce the amount of inertial movement, or “bounce”, of the breasts during such activities. As women athletes such as equestrians, snowmobilers, and mountain bikers will attest, such inertial movement frequently results in discomfort, soreness, and pain, and may even cause more serious tissue damage in severe cases.
[0007] There are many examples of the so-called “sports bras” that have been designed to address these problems. U.S. Pat. No. 4,289,137 to Dell et al. is directed to a brassiere that is made from a combination of Lycra Spandex and POWERKNIT, a material made of 20% Lycra Spandex and 80% nylon. The brassiere is intended to allow downward movement of the breasts while restricting upward movement. U.S. Pat. No. 4,292,975 to Champion et al. shows a brassiere having adjustable shoulder straps and a compression seam running horizontally over the nipple portion of the breast. U.S. Pat. No. 4,325,378 to Wilkinson is directed to a brassiere in which a band member or horizontal flaps are cinched beneath the breasts to compress the breasts inwardly and toward one another. U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,227 to Michels employs a horizontal binding mechanism similar to that in the Wilkinson patent. In addition, the Michels patent provides adjustable shoulder straps to accommodate different bust sizes.
[0008] As can be seen from these patents, the problem of breast support during athletic activities has been the object of a high degree of inventive activity. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, none of these known brassieres provides effective restraint against inertial movement of the breast in multiple directions. Each of these known brassieres either expressly or inherently permits relatively unrestricted inertial movement of the breast in one or more directions.
[0009] In a parallel development, brassieres for nursing mothers are also well known. Such brassieres typically provide a selectively detachable or openable cover portion that is normally secured in a position covering the breast of the wearer. The cover portion can be opened to allow access to the breast for nursing, then replaced in covering position when nursing has been completed.
[0010] The importance of athletic activity for women becomes even more pronounced during nursing, as the benefits to both mother and baby are well-known. Unfortunately, little attention has been paid in the field of brassiere design to addressing the problems associated with reducing the amount of inertial movement while also accommodating the needs of nursing mothers.
[0011] It can be seen from the foregoing that the need exists for a simple, comfortable brassiere that will restrict inertial movement of the breasts in multiple directions while also accommodating the needs of nursing mothers.
[0012] The present invention provides an athletic brassiere that allows for freedom of action with adequate support and widely variable, easy adjustment for persons engaged in a variety of strenuous athletic activities. The present invention achieves these and other objects by providing a brassiere including a pair of shoulder straps and a pair of cup members located generally below the shoulder straps. Each of the cup members includes an inner contact layer substantially completely covering the breast of a wearer, and an outer compression layer slidably disposed in covering relation to the inner contact layer. An adjustment and securing assembly is disposed between each outer compression layer and its corresponding shoulder strap, the adjustment and securing assembly being adapted and constructed to adjustably secure the outer compression layer to the shoulder strap. Attachment of the outer compression layers to the shoulder straps lifts and compresses the breasts of the wearer to reduce the potential for inertial movement of the breasts both outwardly and downwardly. A nursing access mechanism is provided on the inner contact layer and the outer compression layer. The nursing access mechanism is adapted and constructed to provide selective access to the breast of a wearer without removing the brassiere.
[0013] The inner contact layers of the brassiere can be configured to include a cover portion adapted and constructed to cover a lower portion of the wearers breast, along with a downward compression portion disposed generally above the cover portion. The downward compression portion is adapted and constructed to exert a downwardly-acting force on the respective breasts of the wearer. Thus, in combination with the inward and upward forces exerted by the outer compression layer, the brassiere restricts inertial movement of the breasts in every possible direction.
[0014] In an embodiment, the cover portions of the inner contact layers can be fabricated from a resilient material such as LYCRA spandex, and the downward compression portions are fabricated from a material, such as POWERKNIT, having less resilience than the material from which the cover portions are fabricated. The adjustment and securing assembly can include hook and loop fasteners. Hook elements of the hook and loop fasteners can be provided on the outer compression layer, and loop elements of the hook and loop fasteners can be provided on the shoulder straps. This will allow infinite adjustment of the outer compression member to permit the wearer to select the amount of lift and compression based on such variables as breast sensitivity and degree of activity. The outer compression layer can include a body portion overlying the inner contact layer, and a tab portion extending upwardly from the body portion to a point overlying the shoulder strap. In this construction, the hook elements of the hook and loop fasteners can be provided on the tab portion of the outer compression layer. A fastening element, such as a zipper, can be provided between the respective cup members to allow the wearer to more easily put on and take off the brassiere.
[0015] The nursing access mechanism can include a fastening mechanism securing the outer compression layer. The fastening mechanism is adapted and constructed to permit deployment of the outer compression layer between a covering position and a nursing position. The fastening mechanism can be provided as a selectively detachable fastener, such as a hook-and-loop fastener.
[0016] The nursing access mechanism can include an access mechanism provided on the inner contact layer. The access mechanism is adapted and constructed to overlay the breast of the wearer when the outer compression layer is in a covering position, and to facilitate access to the breast of the wearer sufficient to permit nursing when the outer compression layer is in a nursing position. The access mechanism of the nursing access mechanism can be provided as an overlapping material arrangement.
[0017] A method for reducing inertial movement of a wearer's breasts in a brassiere including a pair of cup members and a pair of shoulder straps is also provided. The method includes the steps of exerting a first force on the wearer's breasts sufficient to reduce upward inertial movement of the wearer's breasts, while simultaneously exerting a second force on the wearer's breasts sufficient to reduce outward and downward inertial movement of the wearer's breasts, while also providing selective nursing access to the breast of a wearer without removing the brassiere
[0018] The features of the invention believed to be patentable are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
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[0026] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, exemplary embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as illustrative of the principles of the invention and not intended to limit the invention to the exemplary embodiments shown and described.
[0027] Turning now to
[0028] As can be seen in
[0029] The inner contact layer
[0030]
[0031] The brassiere
[0032] Operation of the brassiere
[0033] It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that the particular materials and components set forth above are for illustrative purposes. For example, while it has been set forth that the downward compression portion
[0034] Thus it is apparent that in accordance with the present invention, an apparatus that fully satisfies the objectives, aims, and advantages achievable in accordance with the principles of the present invention is set forth in the above exemplary embodiments. While the invention has been described in conjunction with these exemplary embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, permutations, and variations will become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended that all such alternatives, modifications, permutations, and variations to the exemplary embodiments can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.