Foundation garments – Breast or chest – e.g. – brassieres – Separable at front center
Utility Patent
1998-06-10
2001-01-02
Hale, Gloria M. (Department: 3741)
Foundation garments
Breast or chest, e.g., brassieres
Separable at front center
C450S030000, C450S001000
Utility Patent
active
06168498
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
None
STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
None
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to brassieres. In particular, the invention relates to brassieres having mechanisms to restrict inertial movement of a wearer's breasts.
2. Description of Related Art
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.
The modern 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
SUMMARY
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.
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 wearer's 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.
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.
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.
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:
REFERENCES:
patent: 2493179 (1950-01-01), Wittenberg
patent: 3628539 (1971-12-01), Fredricks
patent: 3908670 (1975-09-01), Dubin
patent: 4816005 (1989-03-01), Braaten
Burkhart Anne K.
Burkhart Patrick N.
Burkhart & Burkhart
Hale Gloria M.
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