Abstract:
A breast binder gown has an elasticized breast binder top worn about the torso for support and application of pressure to the breasts of a wearer, and a skirt dependent from the binder top. The skirt in conjunction with the binder top provide a practical and comfortable one piece outer garment for maternity and post surgical wear.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to breast binders of the type used for breast support and compression in maternity and post-surgical applications and more particularly is directed to a breast binder gown having a breast binder top of elasticized fabric which encompasses the torso of the wearer and a skirt wrap suspended from the binder top to make a gown.  
         [0002]     Lebovic U.S. Pat. No. 6,309,369 discloses a surgical breast binder for application of pressure to the wound area of a patient who has undergone a mastectomy or other type of chest surgery. Lebovic however fails to recognize the broader application of breast binders made of elasticized, breathable fabric, to other applications and uses such as for maternity wear, and also fails to provide a breast binder as an integral part of skirted garments such as gowns.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention is directed to a breast binder gown having a breast binder top with a main body portion sized for encompassing the torso of a person wearing the gown. The main body portion is made of elasticized breast binder material featuring rows of gathering, elastic stitching (also known as shirring) extending substantially throughout the entire length and width of the main body portion for application of evenly distributed pressure to the wearer&#39;s torso. The main body portion is generally elongated with an inner side facing the torso of the wearer, an opposite outer side, two opposing upper and lower binder edges, and two opposing binder ends, and has a breast binder fastener system attached to the two opposing binder ends for fastening the main body portion about the wearer&#39;s torso. A skirt portion comprising skirt material is attached along one of the binder edges to make a waist seam, the skirt material also having a hem below the waist seam and two opposite skirt edges extending between the waist seam and the hem. The skirt portion may be generally rectangular and is preferably substantially larger than the breast binder top portion. A skirt fastener system may be attached to at least one of the opposite skirt edges for securing the skirt portion as a closed wrap around the lower body of the person wearing the breast binder gown.  
         [0004]     Optionally, one or more shoulder straps can be attached to the binder top to more securely hold up the binder top on the wearer&#39;s torso.  
         [0005]     The breast binder material is preferably breathable, and may be substantially inelastic, or only somewhat elastic, in an initial flat condition of the material prior to application of the elastic stitching for gathering of the breast binder material in the aforementioned rows of gathering.  
         [0006]     The breast binder fastener system may include one or more hook and loop fasteners near the opposing binder ends, and the skirt fastener system may take the form of tie ribbons attached to the opposite skirt edges. In another form of the invention the breast binder fastener system and the skirt fastener system each comprises one or more hook and loop fasteners.  
         [0007]     The binder fastener system is preferably attached to the opposing ends of the main body portion. When the binder is applied to the torso, the elasticized main body portion is wrapped around the chest of the user and secured by means of the binder fastener system. The opposing ends of the elasticized main body portion can form a closure located at any point about the torso of the user. The closure can be either at the front or adjacent one side of the user&#39;s body, which provides more convenient access to the closure by the wearer. However, the binder can also be closed at the back of the wearer&#39;s body.  
         [0008]     The binder fastener system preferably includes a hook and loop fastener. This fastener permits a range of adjustability to provide a desired degree of support and comfort. Typically, the hook and loop fastener is attached at the binder ends of the main body portion such that one part of the fastener (e.g., the hook portion) is attached at one end on the inner side of the main body portion and the other part (e.g., the loop portion) is attached at the other end on the outer side of the elasticized main body portion. When the breast binder is applied to the torso, the main body portion is pulled and stretched about the torso so that the inner side of one end of the elasticized main body portion overlaps the outer side of the other end of the elasticized main body portion, allowing the hook and loop portions to overlap and engage each other. The degree of overlap is adjustable by the wearer to achieve the desired degree of support and comfort. At least part of the skirt material is stretchable with the breast binder portion about the body of the wearer, and the skirt material may be provided with elastic gatherings to make the skirt portion stretchable with the breast binder portion. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a breast binder gown in accordance with the present invention, shown laid flat with the inner side facing up but with the upper right corner turned inward to expose one of the hook or loop fasteners on the outer side of the binder top; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the breast binder gown of  FIG. 1  as typically worn. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0011]     A presently preferred embodiment of the breast binder gown of the present invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the accompanying drawings. The breast binder gown, generally designated by numeral  10 , has a breast binder top  12  which includes an elasticized main body portion  14  of generally elongated rectangular shape when laid flat, as in  FIG. 1 . Although the elasticized main body portion  14  is shown as being generally rectangular in shape, it may be formed in a variety of other shapes. As long as it is sized and shaped to encompass the torso of a user while providing adequate support and pressure, the binder top  12  may be of a variety of shapes.  
         [0012]     The elasticized main body portion  14  is made of a breathable material. At least a portion of the breathable material is elasticized using gathering, elastic stitching (often referred to as shirring). In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , this stitching is preferably in the form of a plurality of rows  15 . The breathable material may or may not be elastic (i.e., stretchable) prior to being elasticized by the gathering stitches. Preferably, it is substantially inelastic material prior to being elasticized. As used herein, “elasticizing” the material means that elasticity and stretchability are imparted to the material as a result of the gathers formed by the gathering, elastic stitching.  
         [0013]     As used herein, a breathable material permits passage of air through it, such as from the surrounding atmosphere to the skin of the wearer. As used herein, a substantially inelastic material is one that does not stretch a significant amount beyond its normal (nonelasticized) size. That is, although there may be some small amount of stretch in the inelastic material prior to it being elasticized, preferably it does not stretch significantly, particularly in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion  14 . Such substantially inelastic material is used in preferred embodiments of the breast binder top of the gown of this invention.  
         [0014]     A wide variety of materials can provide breathability. For example, cotton, gauze, flannel, muslin, polyester, and blends thereof can be used. Preferred fabrics are those that are washable. If desired, the fabrics chosen can have various prints or designs to provide an attractive looking binder top. Various widths of fabric may be used, and preferably the fabric is at least about 18-24 inches (about 45-61 centimeters) wide, such that the main body portion  14  can be made out of one length of fabric. It should be understood, however, that the main body portion  14  can include a plurality of panels of fabric sewn together.  
         [0015]     A presently preferred embodiment of the elasticized main body portion  14  has a generally rectangular shape with opposing upper and lower edges  16  and  18 , respectively, which are parallel to the longitudinal or horizontal axis of the main body portion  14 , an inner side  20  which faces the wearer of the gown  10 , an outer side  22 , and two opposing binder ends, shown as a first end  24  and a second end  26 . Typically, the elasticized main body portion  14  is made from a single layer of material, although it may be preferable to use two or more layers of material in order to provide greater support. The different layers are typically arranged so that they overlap and are fastened together, e.g., by sewing, along their perimeters, thereby providing a lined main body portion, for example.  
         [0016]     Regardless of the specific shape of the elasticized main body portion  14 , its length (i.e., the dimension from the first end  24  to the second end  26 ) is less than the circumference of the user&#39;s torso, but can be stretched to be equal to or greater than the circumference of the user&#39;s torso. Preferably, the elasticized main body portion  14  can be stretched by at least about 30% of its length, and often by as much as about 100%. Thus, the length of the breathable material prior to being elasticized (and hence, gathered) is greater than the circumference of the user&#39;s torso. The binder can be made in a variety of sizes (e.g., small, medium, large), each size accommodating a range of different chest dimensions. Typically, the length of the material after being elasticized is about 23 inches (58 cm) for an extra small size, about 25 inches (64 cm) for a small size, about 27 inches (69 cm) for a medium size, and about 29 inches (74 cm) for a large size.  
         [0017]     The gathering, elastic stitching imparts stretchability to the main body portion  14  of the breast binder top  12 . Thus, the main body portion  14  becomes elasticized such that it is stretchable and conformable to the torso of the wearer. This enables easy adjustment of the binder to properly fit around the wearer&#39;s torso and ensures that gentle but firm pressure is applied. Significantly, this method of imparting elasticity or stretchability to the binder allows for the application of gentle pressure that typically does not restrict a wearer&#39;s respiration.  
         [0018]     In the preferred embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , rows  14  of gathering, elastic stitching, which are each shown to be continuous, are generally parallel to the opposing upper and lower edges  16  and  18 , and are generally equally spaced apart (e.g., about 1 cm apart). This configuration is not a necessary requirement, as long as the main body portion  14  can be stretched to conform to a user&#39;s torso. Preferably, the stitching allows for the main body portion  14  to be stretched and returned substantially (and often completely) to its original shape under the recovery force of the elastic stitching after being stretched. Thus, the gathering, elastic stitching can be in the form of intersecting rows, random stitching forming lines of loops, circles, and the like, or a regular array of stitching in the form of various shapes. The lines or rows of stitching may be continuous or discontinuous, and may be formed from a variety of lengths of stitches. In particularly preferred embodiments, the elasticized main body portion  14  has gathering, elastic stitching substantially uniformly distributed over the entire surface of the material forming the main body portion  14 . It should be understood however, that only a portion (e.g., at least about 50%) of the main body portion need to include gathering, elastic stitching for sufficient stretch. This elasticized stitching (shirring) can be imparted to the breathable material using well known techniques. As an example of how random shirring is applied to fabric, see Ruddy, American Sewing Guild Notions, January 1997.  
         [0019]     The breast binder gown  10  also has a skirt portion  30  made of skirt material  32  which has an upper or waist edge  34 , a lower or hem edge  36 , and two opposite skirt side edges  38 ,  40 . As seen in  FIG. 1  the skirt portion  30  is attached along its waist edge  34  to the lower edge  18  of the binder top  12  to make a waist seam  42  for the binder gown  10 . The length of the skirt portion  30  between the waist seam and the hem  36  can be of any desired length to make short, knee length, full length or any other skirt length for the binder gown  10 . The skirt material  32  does not have to be the same as the binder material of the main body portion  14 . The skirt material  32  may be chosen for esthetic appeal and fashion, and may be any desired material, whether elastic or inelastic, and of any preferred weight.  
         [0020]     The width of the skirt portion  30  between side edges  38 ,  40  is greater than the length of the binder top (measured between binder ends  24 ,  26 ) as seen in  FIG. 1  by an excess skirt width  44  which allows a generous overlap of one side edge of the skirt over the other side edge when the skirt is wrapped about the lower body of the wearer as in  FIG. 2 . The skirt material  32  is gathered with elastic gatherings  48  at least along the waist seam  42  to allow the upper edge  34  skirt portion  30  to stretch with the binder top  12  when the latter is stretched about the wearer&#39;s torso.  
         [0021]     As seen in  FIG. 2  the binder gown  10  has a pair of shoulder straps  46  which support the gown  10  on the body of the wearer and hold up the binder top  12  on the torso. Each shoulder strap  46  is attached at one end  46   a  to the binder top  12  and free at its opposite end. A strap fastener  46   b , which may be of conventional design, is attached at or near the upper edge  16  of the binder top  12  at an appropriate location for holding the free end of the strap length when the strap length  46   a  is laid over the shoulder of the wearer. The strap length may be fixed to the front of the binder top  12  (when worn on the user&#39;s torso) and the strap fastener  46   b  is then located on the back of the binder top. Alternatively, strap  46   a  may be fixed to the back of the binder top and strap fastener  46   b  fixed to the front of the binder top  12 . Preferably the strap fastener  46   b  allows adjustment of the strap length so that the binder top can be supported at a desired height on the wearer&#39;s torso. Alternatively, a single neck strap (not shown in the drawings) may be provided, attached at two points along the upper edge  16  of the binder top  12  so that the strap can loop around the back of the wearer&#39;s neck in a manner well known in the art.  
         [0022]     The breast binder gown  10  of  FIG. 1  is configured so that the binder top  12  closes at the front of a wearer&#39;s torso. The vertical closure  50  of the binder top  12  is seen in  FIG. 2  between shoulder straps  46 . The binder fastening system used to form the closure preferably includes a hook and loop fastener such as are available under the trademark VELCRO. Alternatively, or additionally, other conventional fasteners may also be used, such as snaps, tabs, ties, zippers, hook-and-eyes, etc. The fastening system is preferably attached at the ends of the main body portion. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , which is a plan view of the binder laid open with the inner side  20  facing upward on the page, a strip of hook material  50   a , preferably about 3-4 centimeters wide, is provided at the first end  24  along the height of the inner side  20  of the elasticized main body portion  14  and a strip of loop material  50   b , preferably about 3-4 centimeters wide, is provided at the second end  26  on the outer side  22  of the elasticized main body portion  14 .  
         [0023]     Although  FIG. 1  shows a preferred configuration of a hook and loop fastener, the hook and loop material may be cut in other configurations. For example, on the inner side  20  of the elasticized main body portion  14  at the first end  24  can be provided one or more horizontal strips or tabs of hook material positioned vertically that cooperate with the loop material  50   b  to secure the binder  10  closed. As another example, a strip of loop material, preferably about 3-4 centimeters wide, may be provided along the height of the inner side  20  of the elasticized main body portion  14  at the first end  24 . On the outer side  22  of the elasticized main body portion  14  at the second end  26  may be provided two or more spaced apart strips of hook material, preferably about 3-4 centimeters wide, running along the height of the elasticized main body portion  14 .  
         [0024]     The skirt fastener system of binder gown  10  in a presently preferred embodiment includes two tie ribbons  52  attached at appropriate locations along the waist seam  42  of gown  10 . The tie ribbons are tied to each other, as in a bow knot  54  or the like, to hold the wrapped skirt closed about the lower body of the wearer, as shown in  FIG. 2 . Other kinds of fasteners or retainers, including hook and loop fasteners of the type used with binder portion  12 , may be substituted for the tie ribbons  52  for holding closed the skirt wrap.  
         [0025]     The complete disclosures of the patents, patent documents, and publications cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety as if each were individually incorporated. While a preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated for purposes of clarity and example, various changes, substitutions and modifications to the described embodiments will become apparent to those having only ordinary skill in the art without thereby departing from the scope and spirit of this invention, which is defined by the following claims.