Abstract:
A lifting and shaping system for a bra is disclosed. The system uses lift platforms shaped to fit into the cups of the bra and formed from thin material such as plastic. The lift platforms are attached to the bra toward the center of the bra. Adjustable sliding anchors are located on the shoulder straps of the bra and have a connector attached to each of them. The other end of the connectors are attached to a respective lift platform. As a sliding anchor is moved up and down a bra strap, it pulls or lowers the connector which raises and lowers the lift platform in the breast cup. This adjusts the amount of lift given in supporting the breasts. The paths of the connectors are constrained by guide loops attached to the bra which provides smoother operation. Flexible shaping members distribute the lift of the lift platforms and maintain the natural shape of the breasts as they are lifted. Smoothing shields ease the movement of the lift platforms and connectors within the cloth confines of the breast cups. The flexible shaping members may also perform some of the functions of a smoothing shield. The moving elements of the lift system are covered by pliant flexible material such as various cloths.

Description:
RELATED U.S. APPLICATION DATA  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional application 60/579,566, filed on Jun. 14, 2004. This application relates to an adjustable lift bra and system. The entire disclosure contained in U.S. provisional application 60/579,566, including the attachments thereto are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to brassieres, or bras. Specifically, this invention relates to a bra which both lifts and pushes out the breasts for an improved visual presentation while also being adjustable in the degree of push-out and lift, and comfortable to the wearer.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Bras are a common article of clothing worn by women to support and shape their breasts. Of course, the predominant element of bras are the breast cups. The other elements of the bra are essentially present to locate and support the breast cups. These elements may include a chest band to which the breast cups are attached, and shoulder straps stretching from the breast cups, over the shoulders to the back of the chest band. Alternatively, a bra may be structured to where the breast cups, again the predominant feature, are integral to the support structure of the bra where a back band is attached to each breast cup and proceeds to the back while a center panel joins the breast cups at the center, and the previously mentioned shoulder straps pass from the breast cups over the shoulders to the back bands in the back. In this case the breast cups are themselves part of the chest band. Whether a bra has a single chest band or separate bands running from the breast cups to the back, the bra frequently has a clasp in it for greater ease in dressing. The clasp may be in the back or in the front between the cups. Adjusting buckles associated with the band and the two straps provide adjustments for different body sizes as wells as some adjustment for breast size. While bras themselves are an article of clothing, other types of women&#39;s clothing may perform the function of bras and therefore have some, or all, of the elements of the structure of bras, which is to say they will have breast cups and supporting and positioning elements for the breast cups incorporated into the garment. So, while the preferred embodiments discussed later may reference bras, the lift system of the present invention can be applied to any women&#39;s garment with breast cups, and any women&#39;s garment having breast cups could incorporate the system.  
         [0004]     As a matter of cosmetic enhancement, it is sometimes desired to lift the breasts up and push them forward from the body. As a matter of comfort, it is preferred that this be accomplished without excessively squeezing, or otherwise unnaturally constricting the breasts. Various methods are used to accomplish this lift and push-out. Among them are wire frames around the cups, padding in the cups, and additional straps to lift the cups with some variations pulling the cups towards each other.  
         [0005]     The history of the brassiere, most commonly know as the bra, reveals that its form and purpose have been shaped by the current fashion trend. Along with the many changes to this female undergarment comes a debate over who should be credited with the creation of the modem bra. Few disagree that the bra dates as far back as 2,500 BC, when Minoan women on the Greek island of Crete wore a garment similar to a bra, which lifted their busts out of their clothes, leaving them exposed. The custom of ancient Greek and Roman women, to minimize bust size, completely reversed the Minoan trend. To minimize their chest size, these women strapped bands over their busts to rein them in.  
         [0006]     The debate over the true inventor of the modern bra has not been entirely resolved. A gentleman named Hoag Levins spent a great deal of time in the U.S. Patent Office doing research for a book and concluded that Marie Tucek obtained a patent for the first brassiere in 1893. She named her invention the “breast supporter,” because it had separate pockets for each, straps that went over the shoulders, and hook-and-eye fasteners in the back. Unfortunately, Marie never marketed her invention, which very much resembled the modem bra.  
         [0007]     In 1913, Mary Phelps Jacob, a.k.a. Caresse Crosby, a New York socialite who is credited with inventing the first modem bra, invented it out of necessity. The undergarment at that time consisted of a corset stiffened by whaleback bones, that would simply ruin the appearance of Mary&#39;s new gown. She enlisted the help of her French maid, Marie, and together they fashioned a backless brassiere from two handkerchiefs, ribbon and cord.  
         [0008]     The bra, not Mary, was the belle of the ball, and Mary began sewing bras for her friends and family. When she received a request for a bra from a stranger, who enclosed money for the undergarment, dollar signs flashed in her eyes. Mary grabbed her sketches and headed straight for the U.S. Patent Office. The Office granted the patent for the “Backless Brassiere” to Mary in November 1914. After making several hundred bras, and selling few, Mary closed the doors to her young business. She sold her rights to the brassiere to the Connecticut based Warner Brothers Corset Company for $1,500.  
         [0009]     Since Mary&#39;s basic bra arrived on the scene, people have adjusted its design many times. Ida Rosenthal, an immigrant from Russia, together with her husband, William, founded a company called Maidenform. She felt strongly that all women did not fit into the same bust size category and painstakingly grouped women into different categories (cup sizes) and engineered bras to fit females throughout all phases of life (from puberty to maturity).  
         [0010]     Fashion trends have changed but the prevalent goal of the bra over the years is to construct an article that will lift and shape the breasts and hold them somewhat securely. Generally speaking, it is desired to raise the lift of the breasts to create an appearance of larger, firmer and fuller breasts. In addition, for fashion purposes, it is often desired to enhance “cleavage” by pushing the breasts closer to each other. However, even though bras have been available for many years and featured a variety of forms, modem bras remain inadequate in achieving fashion and appearance goals while still being comfortable. This is because most conventional bras lift and shape the breasts, but do so in a way that actually compresses them against the woman&#39;s chest. Accordingly, although they may be higher and better shaped, comfort is compromised. In addition, while lift and cleavage may be enhanced in a conventional bra, the breasts may actually be reduced in size or projection from a profile perspective due to the compression of the bra. What is needed is a bra apparatus which provides an improvement for the breasts in all three desired fields of movement; namely lifting the breasts, orienting them closer together for cleavage enhancement and projecting them forward away from the chest.  
         [0011]     In addition to projection, most conventional bras are inadequate because they feature two cups that cannot be independently adjusted to an adequate degree. For most women, the two breasts are not identical in size and for some the difference is more pronounced due to nature or due to injury. Accordingly, it may be desired to lift and shape one breast more than the other. In a conventional bra, the only means of providing such adjustment is to adjust the shoulder strap which has the affect of loosening or tightening the apparatus. What is needed is a means of adjusting the lift of one or both breasts independently, without the need for adjusting the shoulder straps.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
       [0012]     A search of prior patents reveals numerous patented bras for supporting and shaping breasts for cosmetic as well as medical reasons. U.S. Pat. No. 2,621,328 by Duchnofskey is for an appliance intended to attach to a bra to improve the capabilities of the bra. The invention uses breast support elements mounted on a band that attaches to the bra. This band is of a length corresponding to the width of the frontal portion of the bra running across the chest of the wearer. The band is positioned below the breasts and attaches to the bra at several points including at the ends of the band and in the middle of the chest between the breasts. The band is attached with securing elements fixed to the bra which may be part of the bra when sold or attached to a bra after purchase. The support elements have flat tabs which fit into receiving pockets on the band. The receiving pockets are aligned with the centers of the bra cups. The support elements, which may be formed of any suitably stiff material, generally have a half-cup shape to support the breasts on their underneath side and the tabs are at essentially ninety degrees to the body of the support elements, so that the support elements are held extending away from the chest band and the body of the wearer. The band attaches to the bra and locates the pockets. The pockets hold and locate the tabs which support and position the support members. The cup portion of the support members can be padded for comfort or additional lifting of the breasts.  
         [0013]     U.S. Pat. No. 2,468,106, by Polk et al., also claims a support that is attached to a bra to provide lift and shape to the breasts. The support is made of plastic or other resilient, shapable material and may be a single piece or have an individual piece per each breast. The single piece support has laterally directed tabs at each end at the lower corners with a downwardly directed tab at its middle. The two piece supports only have horizontally directed tabs at the lower corners The tabs insert through loops on the bra to hold the support within the bra. The upper portions of the support may be anchored to the bra with ribbons that pass through the supports. The supports have slits in them to allow the ribbons to pass through the supports, and the ends of the ribbon are sewn or otherwise attached to the bra to anchor the supports. Generally, the lower portions of the support are shaped to conform to the body, while the upper portions are shaped to support, lift, and shape the breasts.  
         [0014]     U.S. Pat. No. 2,915,067 by Bracht uses a stiffening element incorporated directly into the lower portion of the bra cups. The stiffening element is made of relatively stiff resiliently flexible non-stretchable plastic and is cut in a pattern to provide flexibility in one direction but stiffness in another. In particular, the stiffening element is cut to allow it to curve beneath the breast while retaining a stiffer supporting capability as the element extends away from the body of the wearer. The stiffening element is adhesively sandwiched between two layers of relatively thin, spongy material and the resulting composite element is sewn into the bra cups in a fashion that constrains the composite element in the shape of the lower portion of the bra cup. The stiffening element in the preferred embodiment consists of several tines in parallel with each other and connected by a least one band of material running cross ways to the tines. The tines are longest at the center where they align with the center of the breast and shorter at the edges of the group. The bands of material running cross ways to the tines are flexible enough to allow the curving of the element to shape the breast, while the tines are numerous enough to provide stiffness along their length to support the breast.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     The present invention is a lift and push-out system for a bra or other garment having breast cups or pockets accommodating the breasts. The lift system works within the breast cups of the garment with the means for adjusting the lift system extending outside of the breast cups in some embodiments. In those embodiments, the means for adjusting the lift system extends up straps rising up from the breast cups to which they are attached.  
         [0016]     The lift system of the present invention has two core elements, each effective in their own right and capable of supplying the desired lift. However, combining the two elements achieves synergy and the preferred embodiment comprises both these elements. These core elements are a lift platform and a flexible shaping member.  
         [0017]     A lift platform is located within each breast cup. The lift platform of the preferred embodiment is an elongated member and has a curved shape to conform to the lower portion of the breast cup. The lift platform may be highly flexible, resilient approaching rigid, or somewhere in between. If it is desired that the lift platform be resilient, the material from which the lift platform is made determines the thickness required for the lift platform to have the resiliency desired for that embodiment. More flexible lift platforms may be as flexible as the flexible shaping member. The shape and location of the lifting platform puts the platform in the lower section of the breast cup where the lift platform supports the breast from beneath. The lift platform is open to the top portions of the breast cup to allow the breast to freely fill the upper portion of the breast cup and any other garment present.  
         [0018]     The mechanics of lift entail attaching one end of the lift platform to the breast cup and attaching a connecting member to the other end of the lift platform. Moving the connecting member lifts the end of the lift platform, suspending the lift platform between the connecting member and where the lift platform attaches in the breast cup, and changes the amount of lift given to the breast. The particular location where the lifting platform attaches to the breast cup determines the direction of lift. In the preferred embodiment, the connecting member is an elongated member with an anchor element attached to the end opposite to the end where the lift platform attaches to the connecting member, and the connecting member extends outside the breast cup, where the anchor element attaches to a strap, or somewhere else on the garment.  
         [0019]     The flexible shaping member, in the preferred embodiment, is also a thin member like the lift platform, but it is oriented in the breast cup more towards the side of the wearer and has a larger surface area. The flexible shaping member is located within the breast cup, and in the initial “at rest” position, the flexible shaping member lines a portion of the inside surface of the breast cup from the upper corner near the shoulder, down that side to the underside of the breast, and on to near the center of the chest. In that position the flexible shaping member supports the lower and outside areas of the breast. In the preferred embodiment, the flexible shaping member is attached to the breast cup in the area of the upper corner near the shoulder.  
         [0020]     When actuated to lift the breast, the flexible shaping member is flexed from its “at rest” position upwards and toward the center of the chest. The flexible shaping member lifts the breast up and towards the center as well as projects it forward from the body. This accentuates the cleavage and increases the apparent size of the breast. The section of the flexible shaping member along the side prevents the breast from bulging out the side of the bra while the breast is lifted.  
         [0021]     There are several methods of actuating the flexible shaping member. In the preferred embodiment, it is a narrower lift platform, fixed at one end to the breast cup, that lifts and alters the flex of the flexible shaping member. Other embodiments might use a more flexible lift platform. The combination of the lift platform and flexible shaping member achieves a definite synergism.  
         [0022]     In a preferred embodiment, the motion of the lift platform is controlled by a second connecting member. The second connecting member attaches at one end to the bottom of the bra cup and its other end attaches to the lift platform. As the first connecting member is moved, it causes the lift platform to suspend upward from the point where it attaches to the breast cup. The second connecting member constrains this motion to keep the lift platform near the body of the wearer. This ensures the platform provides lift to the breast and does not merely traverse up along the breast away from the body without lifting the breast.  
         [0023]     In another embodiment, a horizontal stabilizer and guide are associated with each lift platform to limit the horizontal displacement of the lift platforms. The horizontal stabilizer is a tab fixed to the lift platform and directed downward. The horizontal guide is a small flat pocket fixed to the lower edge of the breast cup or an under-wire and shaped for receiving the horizontal stabilizer. The horizontal guide limits the amount of horizontal travel of the horizontal stabilizer and this limits the amount of horizontal travel of the lift platforms as they are adjusted to different levels of lift. By this method, the lift platforms are kept closer to the body of the wearer and kept from pulling up along the breast.  
         [0024]     As discussed above, the method and device of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages inherent in prior art methods and devices. In that respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
         [0025]     Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this invention is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit of the present invention.  
         [0026]     Furthermore, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially including the practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, nor is it intended to be limiting to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0027]     Additional utility and features of the invention will become more fully apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following drawings, which illustrate the primary features of the preferred embodiment and numerous alternative embodiments.  
         [0028]      FIG. 1  shows the bra of the present invention being worn.  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the lift system from the internal side of the breast cup.  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  shows the uncovered preferred embodiment of the lift system in an “at rest” position.  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a side view cutaway of the lift system and breast in an “at rest” position.  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  shows the uncovered preferred embodiment of the lift system in a lifted position.  
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is a side view cutaway of the lift system and breast in a lifted position.  
         [0034]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the lift system from the internal side of the breast cup.  
         [0035]      FIG. 8  shows the uncovered alternative embodiment of the lift system in an at rest position.  
         [0036]      FIG. 9  shows the uncovered alternative embodiment of the lift system in a lifted position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0037]     The detailed description below is for preferred embodiments and is intended to explain the current invention. It is to be understood that a variety of other arrangements are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The lift system of the present invention functions upon the structure of any garment having breast cups. The description of preferred embodiments below focuses on bras having the lift system. However, it should be understood that any garment fitting the female figure closely enough to have breast cups could incorporate the lift system or have the lift system built into it. In the descriptions that follow below, where appropriate, the same numbers may be used in different illustrations.  
         [0038]      FIG. 1  shows a bra  10  having the lift system of the current invention being worn. To general outward appearance, the bra looks essentially the same as a bra without the lift system. However, the present invention allows the amount of lift of the bra to be adjusted generally independent of any adjustment allowed by the shoulder straps with each side of the bra being capable of independent adjustment. The bra in  FIG. 1  illustrates a common configuration of a typical bra which includes: a chest band  20  that wraps around the torso; breast cups  30  attached to the front of the chest band, or incorporated into the front of the chest band; shoulder straps  40 , which attach to the breast cups  30 , pass over the shoulders, and attach to chest band  20  in the back, and; for some bras  10 , an under-wire  50  that is incorporated into the bra  10  at the junction of the chest band  20  and breast cups  30  and which partially encircle the breasts on the bottom side. Breast cups  30  may be made of more than one layer with some of those layers possibly made of a thicker padding material, or thicker padding material may be inserted between layers. Also, some layers, such as a padding layer, may extend over only a portion of breast cup  30  as it is not necessary that all layers cover the same area. The rest of the figures, as can best be seem in  FIG. 3 , show another common configuration of bras which includes: back bands  25 , which connect at the back of a wearer and extend around the torso toward the front; breast cups  30  to which the back bands  25  attach; shoulder straps  40 , which attach to the breast cups  30 , pass over the shoulders, and attach to back bands  25  at the back of the wearer; a central panel  35  that connects the breast cups  30  at the front of the wearer, and; for some bras  10 , an under-wire  50  that is incorporated into the bra  10  at the lower periphery of the breast cups  30  and which partially encircle the breasts on the bottom side. The latter configuration utilizes the breast cups  35  as elements integral to the structure of bra  10 . This configuration can also have multiple and partial layers of material in breast cups  30 . The method of lift of the present invention works with both these configurations as well as others and generally lifts the breasts toward each other and upward and away from the body. This avoids undesired compression of the breasts while providing lift and projection from the body of the wearer.  
         [0039]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the lift system from the internal side of breast cup  30 , while  FIG. 3  shows the elements nested into breast cup  30  in an “at rest” position, but without any covering material. Referring to both  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , one of the main lifting elements of the system is lift platform  60 , which is attached to bra  10  toward the center of bra  10  at point  70 . To lift the breast, lift platform  60  suspends from point  70 , up and away from the bottom of breast cup  30  near under-wire  50 . This displaces the breast generally from lower in breast cup  30  to higher in breast cup  30  as well as away from the wearer&#39;s body and toward the center of the chest.  
         [0040]     Connector  80  is attached to lift platform  60  at the free moving end of lift platform  60  and it is the means by which lift platform  60  is suspended to create the lift. Connector  80 , in the preferred embodiment, performs its function under a tensile load and therefore may be constructed of light, flexible material such as nylon strand or tether. Connector  80  passes from lift platform  60  up breast cup  30  to shoulder strap  40  where it travels along shoulder strap  40  until it attaches to sliding anchor  90  mounted on shoulder strap  40 . Sliding anchor  90  is also visible in  FIG. 1 . Sliding anchor  90  is adjustable to different positions along shoulder strap  40  but is capable of holding its position once manually placed. In the preferred embodiment, sliding anchor  90  has teeth formed in it and it is these teeth which protrude into shoulder strap  40  to maintain the position of the sliding anchor  90 , connector  80 , and lift platform  60 .  
         [0041]     The path of connector  80  is constrained by guide loops  100  which are flattened loops attached to breast cup  30  and shoulder strap  40 . These guide loops  100  keep connector  80  aligned with shoulder strap  90 , define its path, and keep it from becoming tangled. Connector  80  may be located between layers if there are multiple layers, and guides  100  may attach to more than one layer, especially where some layers do not cover the exact same area of breast cup  30 . It is even possible that connector  90  could pass from one side of a layer through an aperture in the layer to the other side of the layer. In this case the aperture itself may act as a guide.  
         [0042]     As stated above, lift platform  60  is fixed to breast cup  30  at point  70  from which it suspends when moved by connector  80 . If lift platform  60  is of the more resilient type, it performs somewhat like a lever to lift the breast with the fulcrum of the lever being at point  70 . In this case, lift platform  60  is constructed resilient enough to lift the breast in this way, with the particular material used determining how thick lift platform  60  needs to be. However, lift platform  60  need not be rigid and may be constructed of highly flexible material. In that case lift platform  60  performs like a sling, suspended at its ends and supporting a load in between. The surface area of lift platform  60  may also vary greatly depending on the size of breast cup  30  and whether lift is desired more than projection from the body, or the reverse. The shape of lift platform  60  is influenced by where point  70  is located in breast cup  30 , the structural configuration of the bra, or garment, and other factors, such as the preferred change in the breast position as just mentioned. Lift platform  60  could be located between layers of a multilayer breast cup with point  70  being on an exterior or non-exterior layer, either one. Alternative embodiments may even utilize a lift platform that is thin and flexible, similar to flexible shaping member  160 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6  illustrate profile views of the lift system and breast  120 . To provide the most desirable effect when it lifts, lift platform  60  should remain close to the body  110  of the wearer as it lifts, rather than move along the contour of breast  120 . Lift platform  60  may be seen in its “at rest” position relative to body  110  in  FIG. 4  and in its lifted position relative to body  110  in  FIG. 6 . Returning to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the path of lift platform  60  is controlled and defined by lift guide  130 . Lift guide  130  causes lift platform  60  to stay close to the body  110  as lift platform  60  is actuated by connector  80 . This ensures that the motion of lift platform  60  provides lift and does not merely slide up along breast  120 . In the preferred embodiment lift guide  130  works under a tensile load and therefore may be constructed from nylon strand or similar flexible material and will be a tensile member having two ends. A first end  140  of lift guide  130  is attached to lift platform  60  and a second end  150  is anchored to bra  10  at the bottom of cup  30  near under-wire  50 , or if bra  10  has the general structure shown in  FIG. 1 , near chest band  20 . As connector  80  elevates lift platform  60 , lift guide  130  limits the degree of freedom lift platform  60  has to move away from body  110 . In  FIG. 3  lift guide  130  is slack and somewhat coiled, while  FIG. 5  shows lift guide  130  taut and restraining lift platform  60 . This provides the desired lift for more of breast  120  as shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0044]     Turning now to flexible shaping member  160  of the preferred embodiment, it can be most easily seen in  FIG. 2 , the exploded view of the preferred embodiment, as well as  FIG. 7 , the exploded view of another embodiment. As shown in these figures, cover layer  200  covers flexible shaping member  160  and keeps it from making direct contact with the wearer. As shown in  FIG. 3 , as well as corresponding  FIG. 8 , flexible shaping member  160  lays into the outside area, as opposed to the central area, of breast cup  30 . Flexible shaping member  160  is held in location at its upper corner where it extends toward shoulder strap  90 . This leaves a great deal of flexible shaping member  160  free to flex and lift. In the preferred embodiment, flexible shaping member  160  is made of thin plastic sheeting of a thickness making it highly flexible, but retaining the ability to support and lift breast  120 . It is possible that another class of material other than plastic may be used. Despite its thinness and flexibility, when actuated, flexible shaping member  160  is capable of displacing the breast from lower in breast cup  30 , upwardly and centrally, to also project from the body. Because of its flexibility, flexible shaping member  160  forms to the breast as it lifts it, and thus preserves a natural shape. The location of flexible shaping member  160  in the outside area of breast cup  30  prevents the breast from bulging unnaturally out the side of breast cup  30 . In the preferred embodiment, it is lift platform  60  that actuates flexible shaping member  160 , while flexible shaping member  160  facilitates the movement of lift platform  60  within the cloth confines of breast cup  30  and further broadens and distributes the lifting effect of lift platform  60 . Due to its also performing the functions of facilitating the motion of lift platform  60  and distributing the lifting effect, flexible shaping member  160  may also be thought of as a smoothing shield similar to smoothing shield  170  discussed below. However, flexible shaping member  160  would be performing the smoothing functions between lift platform  60  and the wearer of the garment.  
         [0045]     Smoothing shield  170  is located on the side of lift platform  60  facing away from the wearer between lift platform  60  and cup panel  190 . It&#39;s location in relation to the other elements of the lift system can best be seen in  FIG. 2 , while its location within the breast cup can best be seen in  FIG. 3 . Smoothing shield  170  performs at least two functions. Similarly to flexible shaping member  160 , smoothing shield  170  eases the movement of lift platform  60  through a pliant cloth environment. In addition to that, smoothing shield  170  maintains a smooth outer surface on cup  30  and prevents lift platform  60  from distorting the cosmetic appearance. This is particularly important at the moving end of lift platform  60  where connector  80  attaches, and as can be seen in  FIG. 3  of the preferred embodiment, smoothing shield  170  is located in the area where the moving end of lift platform  60  travels. Smoothing shield  170  may be anchored at any location that does not hinder lift platform  60 , and lift guide  130 , and smoothing shield  170  may also have more than one layer of material between it and the outer most layer of cup panel  190 .  
         [0046]     Now, the location and function of the individual elements having been described, their interaction in the preferred embodiment will briefly be described. When being worn, and before lift is actuated, lift platform  60  is located along the bottom arc of breast cup  30 . The end of lift platform  60  that is near the center of the chest is fixed to breast cup  30  at point  70 . The other end of lift platform  60 , near the side of the chest, has connector  80  attached to it. Smoothing shield  170  is located at that end of the lift platform  60  and is on the opposite side of lift platform  60  from the wearer. Flexible shaping member  160  covers a good part of breast cup  30  toward the side of the chest. Looking at  FIG. 4 , it can be seen that, in the un-lifted position, flexible shaping member  160  conforms to breast  120  and is pressed out into breast cup  30  by breast  120 . Connector  80  runs from where it is attached to lift platform  60  up across breast cup  30 , and up shoulder strap  40 , where it terminates at sliding anchor  90  on shoulder strap  40 . To actuate lift, sliding anchor  90  is adjusted further up on shoulder strap  40  where teeth on sliding anchor  90  maintain it by protruding into shoulder strap  40 . Connector  80  is moved with slider anchor  90  and pulls upward on lift platform  60  which suspends from point  70 . As lift platform  60  moves upward, it lifts flexible shaping member  160 , and they have sliding contact with each other as they both lift breast  120  up, towards the center of the wearer&#39;s chest and away from the wearer&#39;s body. Lift guide  130  controls the motion of lift platform  60 , keeping lift platform  60  close to the body of the wearer, ensuring that the system elements lift breast  120  instead of merely adjusting over the surface of breast  120 . Smoothing shield  170  facilitates the motion of lift platform  60  and prevents it from distorting the outward appearance of breast cup  30 .  
         [0047]     Generally, the working elements of the lift system will be surrounded by layers of pliant flexible material, or cloth, such as cup panel  190  and cover layer  200  shown in  FIG. 2 . Layers of pliant flexible material may also be interspersed between the working elements of the lift system, particularly if an interspersed layer does not cover the entire area of breast cup  30 . These layers may prevent connector  80  from becoming tangled with the other elements and will also smooth the outward appearance of the lift system. In particular, multiple layers of material may form the outermost cup panel  190  covering the outermost elements of the lift system to enhance the natural look of the lifted breast  120 .  
         [0048]      FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 8 , and  FIG. 9  feature an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 8  shows the embodiment in an “at rest” position, while  FIG. 9  shows the embodiment in a lifted position. The differences between this embodiment and the preferred embodiment described above relate to how connector  80  is guided and how the horizontal displacement of lift platform  60  is controlled.  
         [0049]     In  FIG. 7 , connector  80  passes through connector tube  180 . Connector tube  180  is a tubular sleeve made of pliant flexible material such as a cloth or fabric and can be attached at places along its length to bra  10 . Connector tube  180  can be seen in  FIG. 8  sewn along shoulder strap  40  on down into the upper outside corner of breast cup  30  to prescribe the path of connector  80 . Connector tube  180  may be seen in  FIG. 9  as well.  
         [0050]     The alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 8 , and  FIG. 9  utilizes stabilizer tab  210  and stabilizer guide  220  to control the motion of lift platform  60  as it lifts. Stabilizer tab  210  is a tab attached to lift platform  60  and directed essentially vertically downward from the edge of lift platform  60  nearest the wearer. Attached to the bottom edge of breast cup  30  is stabilizer guide  220 , which is shaped with a pocket or channel into which stabilizer tab  210  inserts. As shown in  FIG. 8 , when lift platform  60  is in an at rest position, stabilizer tab  210  inserts more fully into stabilizer guide  220 . In the lifted position of  FIG. 9 , stabilizer tab  210  is partially drawn from stabilizer guide  220 . The continued engagement of stabilizer tab  210  in stabilizer guide  220  keeps lift platform  60  closer to the body  110  of the wearer instead of sliding upward on breast  120 . The effect of this is shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6 . Flexible shaping member  160  distributes the lift to more of breast  120 .  
         [0051]     Stabilizer tab  210  is most likely an integral part of lift platform  60  and made of the same material as lift platform  60  but may also be a different material. This may be accomplished, for example, by inserting a metallic stabilizer tab  210  into the mold used to mold lift platform  60  from its material of flexibly resilient plastic. Similarly, stabilizer guide  220  may be fixed to cup  30  in various ways or may, in the alternative, be incorporated into a structural member such as under wire  50 .  
         [0052]     Having provided detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment and an alternative embodiment, it should be noted that there are many ways to vary the elements of these embodiments and remain within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The connector tube  180  need not be exclusive to the alternative embodiment and may used in conjunction with the guide loops  100  of the preferred embodiment or even replace entirely guide loops  100 . Similarly guide loops  100  may be used in the alternative embodiment of  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 8 , and  FIG. 9 . In addition to those changes, means of limiting the horizontal displacement of lift platform  60  may also be varied. The dynamic interaction of lift platform  60  and flexible shaping member  160  and/or smoothing shield  170  may be used for this purpose. This may be accomplished by limiting or constraining the relative motion between these elements. As an example, if lift platform  60  and flexible shaping member  160  may only move relative to each other in a direction along the length of lift platform  60  or along their edges, flexible shaping member  160  will keep lift platform  60  from sliding up breast  120 . Additionally, lift platform  60 , flexible shaping member  160 , and smoothing shield  170 , may all be constructed of more than one piece and still accomplish their respective purposes. It should be obvious from this that there are numerous embodiments subsumed in the present invention and the scope of this invention should not be limited by the discussion of the embodiments above.