Breast protector and assembly

A breast protector and assembly are provided. The breast protector comprises a retention cup constructed of a semi-rigid material and formed into a demi-teardrop shape which approximates the natural shape of an unsupported female breast. The retention cup can have padding permanently or removably attached to an inner surface of the retention cup. A breast protector assembly comprises two retention cups fitted into a retention cup sleeve composed of a semi-elastic material in the shape of a tube. The retention cup assembly is sized so that the retention cups fit securely within the tube. The retention cup assembly can fit within the cups of an ordinary brassiere, being held thereby against the body of the wearer. Alternately, the retention cup assembly can be sewn into the brassiere.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to chest protectors in general and more specifically 
to breast protectors for cushioning mammary tissue from shocks associated 
with outdoor and athletic events.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Shown in FIG. 2 is a demi-teardrop shaped breast protector constructed in 
accordance with the present invention. The breast protector comprises a 
retention cup generally designated herein with the reference numeral 10. 
The retention cup 10 comprises a sidewall defining a generally 
demi-teardrop shaped cavity; the sidewall having an outer surface 12, an 
inner surface 16, and a periphery 14. 
Shown in FIG. 1, is a perspective view of a teardrop 2 suspended in free 
space. The teardrop 2 comprises a neck 3 and a body 4. The teardrop 2 has 
an axis 5 which extends vertically through the teardrop 2 such that the 
teardrop 2 is symmetrical about the axis 5 at any points on the teardrop 2 
bisected by a plane perpendicular to the axis 5. As shown in FIG. 1, the 
plane 6, which is parallel to the axis 5, defines a section 8 which 
includes a portion of the neck 3 and the body 4 of the teardrop 2. The 
section 8 comprises a shape which is known herein as a "demi-teardrop 
shape". The demi-teardrop shape of section 8 approximately defines the 
shape of an unsupported human female breast. 
FIG. 3 shows a side cut away view of the retention cup 10 shown in FIG. 2. 
The retention cup 10 comprises a sidewall having an outer surface 12, an 
inner surface 16, and a periphery 14, the periphery 14, in a preferred 
embodiment of the invention, comprising a curved lip. The retention cup 10 
generally defines a demi-teardrop shape, and encloses a generally 
demi-teardrop shape cavity 18. As shown in FIG. 3, a preferred embodiment 
of the retention cup 10 will include a periphery 14 having a curved lip, 
the curved lip acting to reduce the possibility of abrasion. 
FIG. 4 is a cut away side view of the retention cup 10 shown in FIG. 3, 
showing a human female breast 22 disposed therein. A surface of the breast 
22 is generally adjacent the inner surface 16 of the retention cup 10. As 
shown in FIG. 4, the periphery 14 of the retention cup 10 is disposed a 
distance 20 away from a torso 24, when the breast 22 is disposed within 
the retention cup 10. The distance 20 is significant to the operation of 
the invention, because when a shock is applied to the breast 22, as from a 
blow, the backward movement of the breast 22 tends to cushion the blow, 
thereby allowing the breast 22 to act as a "shock absorber". Additionally, 
the distance 20 prohibits the retention cup 10 from wearing or chafing 
against the torso 24. 
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the retention cup 10 is 
constructed of a plastic comprising approximately seventy five percent 
polyethylene and twenty five percent of a thermoplastic elastomer. In 
another embodiment, the retention cup 10 is constructed of dense rubber or 
foam. 
FIG. 5 shows a retention cup 10a, constructed similarly to the retention 
cup 10 shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, but having a padding 25a disposed 
adjacent an inner surface 16a of the retention cup 10a. The padding 25a 
can be permanently attached to the inner surface 16a of the retention cup 
10a, or it may be detachably connected to the inner surface 16a of the 
retention cup 10a, so that the padding 24a can be removed from the inner 
surface 16a as, for example, to launder the padding 25a. 
FIG. 6 shows a side view of retention cup 10b constructed in accordance 
with the present invention. The retention cup 10b has an outer surface 
12b, and further has a plurality of holes piercing the sidewall of the cup 
10b, one of the holes being shown and designated by the numeral 26b. The 
holes penetrate the outer surface 12b and extend into the interior of the 
retention cup 10b. The retention cups 10, 10a or 10b can be fitted 
directly into the support cups of a brassier which is thereafter donned by 
a wearer, the retention cups 10, 10a or 10b acting to protect the breasts 
of the wearer, while presenting a natural, unconfined appearance. 
FIG. 7 shows a retention cup sleeve 30. The retention cup sleeve 30 
comprises a continuous sidewall 32 defining an annular space having a 
first opening end 34 and a second opening end 36. The continuous sidewall 
32 is composed of a semi-elastic material. In a preferred embodiment, the 
continuous sidewall 32 comprises a cloth material of fifty percent cotton, 
fifty percent polyester mix. The retention cup sleeve 30 is sized to 
permit the insertion of retention cups 10 into the annular space by way of 
the first opening end 34 and the second opening end 36, such that the 
retention cups 10 are held essentially immovable within the retention cup 
sleeve 30. The fit of the retention cups 10 within the retention cup 
sleeve 30 requires that the material of the retention cup sleeve 30 
stretched slightly, thereby, when retention cups 10 are inserted therein, 
securing the retention cups 10. 
Shown in FIG. 8 is the retention cup sleeve 30 shown in FIG. 8, with two 
retention cups 10 disposed in the annular space 34 thereof. In this 
embodiment of the invention, each of the retention cups 10, disposed 
within a portion of the sleeve 30, is subsequently fitted into the support 
cups of a brassiere. The brassiere can then be worn, with the retention 
cups 10 fitted within the retention cup sleeve 30 providing protection to 
the wearer against shocks to the breasts, while at the same time, 
providing a generally natural and unconfined appearance. 
Shown in FIG. 9 is another embodiment of the retention cup sleeve, 
designated by the numeral 30a. The sleeve 30a includes a sidewall 32a 
defining an annular space having a first opening end 34a and a second 
opening end 36a. The first and second opening ends 34a and 36a are 
circumferentially contained by flexible restriction members, such as an 
elastic band, so that the diameter of the opening ends 34a or 34a, in a 
relaxed condition, is generally smaller than the diameter of the annular 
space. Additionally, the sidewall is pierced by a first notch 38a and a 
second notch 40a. 
Shown in FIG. 10 is the retention cup sleeve 30a with two retention cups 10 
disposed therein. The opening ends 34a and 36a, when stretched into an 
expanded condition, permit the ingress of the cups 10 into the annular 
space of the sleeve 30a. The first and second notches 38a and 40a operate 
to restrict the lateral movement of the cups 10 within the sleeve 30a. 
In operation, the cups 10, disposed within a portion of the sleeve 30a, are 
fitted into the support cups of a brassiere. The brassiere can then be 
worn, with the cups 10 fitted within the sleeve 30a providing protection 
to the wearer against shocks to the breasts. Alternatively, the sleeves 30 
and 30a shown in FIGS. 7 and 9 can be sewn into or otherwise connected to 
the brassiere such that the ends 32 and 34, or 32a and 34a respectively, 
are free to accept retention cups 10. 
Changes may be made in the construction and the operation of the various 
components, elements and assemblies described herein and changes may be 
made in the steps or the sequence of steps of the methods described herein 
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in 
the following claims.