Breast prosthesis with stiffening ribs

The invention relates to a breast prosthesis consisting of an elastic material with a convex outer surface connected by means of an annular rim surface facing the body to a concave inside surface, stiffening ribs being provided on the concave inside surface which are radial with respect to the center.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
A breast prosthesis of this kind is known for instance from the German 
Gebrauchsmuster 1 739 612. The elastic materials presently used for breast 
prosthesises are of approximately the same density as the human flesh. 
Nevertheless it has been found that such breast prosthesises are too heavy 
to give the bearer the feeling of a balanced weight. Furthermore there is 
frequently chafing of the breast scar. Therefore breast prosthesises have 
been provided with a cavity on the side facing the body. This lightens the 
weight of the prosthesis and reduces chafing. However this also creates a 
new problem, namely that it is easy to compress the prosthesis. To stiffen 
such prosthesises, the cited German Gebrauchsmuster 1 739 612 provides 
stiffening ribs on the concave inside surface which are radial with 
respect to the center. 
Thereby however the cavity is subdivided into several chambers and it has 
been observed that even following slight compression, for instance when 
dancing, the breast prosthesis together with at least a few clamps is 
sucked against the body. As regards breast prosthesises lacking stiffening 
ribs in the cavity, there is less danger of this happening because the rim 
of the breast prosthesis deforms more easily and therefore air can get 
into this cavity. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is one object of the invention therefore to further develop a breast 
prosthesis of the initially discussed kind, for which the danger of 
suction is eliminated or at least extensively reduced. 
The invention solves this problem in that the stiffening ribs terminate 
before reaching the center and/or in that at least some of them project 
beyond the rim surface or are recessed with respect to it. 
The term stiffening ribs in the sense of the present invention covers all 
lengthwise bosses or elevations extending over a substantial part of the 
concave inside surface of the breast prosthesis. 
As regards the embodiments for which the stiffening ribs pointing radially 
toward the center and terminating before reaching it and/or being recessed 
from the rim surface, only a single chamber is present underneath the 
breast prosthesis, said chamber being less stiff than if the stiffening 
ribs went all the way to the center and would reach the level of the rim 
surfaces, whereby several chambers would be formed. The peripheral rim of 
the breast prosthesis accordingly does everywhere tightly touch the body 
of the wearer, and accordingly the air can again enter the chamber 
following a compression of the prosthesis, which will then rise again. 
As regards the embodiment comprising projections extending beyond the rim 
surface, there will always be the tendency of slightly lifting the breast 
prosthesis from the body, whereby air can reach underneath the prosthesis 
following its compression, and the prosthesis may lift again without there 
being suction. 
Obviously it is also possible to let the stiffening ribs projecting beyond 
the rim surface terminate before they reach the center. 
The breast prosthesis of the invention consist preferably of silicone 
rubber known per se, and it may be surrounded--again in manner known per 
se--by an elastic plastic sheet, especially a foil of polyurethane (not 
shown). 
The basic concept of the present invention can be applied to breast 
prosthesis of all kinds. Included in particular are round breast 
prosthesises, furthermore prosthesises with a side flap to compensate for 
amputations reaching as far as the region of the arm can be adapted to 
this invention.

The breast prosthesises of FIGS. 1-3 comprises a cup 1A having an outer 
convex surface 1 and a concave inner surface 3 connected by an annular rim 
surface 2 facing the body of the wearer. Three stiffening ribs 4 project 
from the concave inner surface. The stiffening ribs 4 are provided with 
extensions 5 projecting beyond the rim surface 2. The stiffening ribs 4 
terminate before reaching the center of a cavity formed by the concave 
inside surface 3, so that this cavity is not subdivided into several 
chambers. 
The breast prosthesis per FIGS. 4-6 comprises a cup having an outer convex 
surface 10 and an inside concave surface 13 connected by an annular rim 
surface 12 facing the body of the wearer. Three stiffening ribs 14 project 
from the concave inside surface. The stiffening ribs 14 are recessed with 
respect to the rim surface 12, so that the cavity formed by the concave 
inside surface 13 is not subdivided into several chambers. 
From the foregoing, it is seen that the devices of this invention will 
accomplish at least all of the stated objectives.