Abstract:
An apparatus comprising a first cup and a second cup. The first cup may comprise (i) an inner shell selected from a number of available cup sizes and (ii) an outer shell selected from a number of available cup sizes. The inner shell of the first cup and the outer shell of the first cup may be shaped from a first solid piece of flexible material. The second cup may comprise (i) an inner shell selected from the number of available cup sizes and (ii) an outer shell selected from the number of available cup sizes. The inner shell of the second cup and the outer shell of the second cup may be shaped from a second solid piece of flexible material. The inner shell of the first cup and the inner shell of the second cup may be different cup sizes and the outer shell of the first cup and the outer shell of the second cup may be the same cup size.

Description:
[0001]    This is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 11/776,224, filed Jul. 11, 2007. 
         [0002]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/909,020, filed Mar. 30, 2007, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to bra garments generally, and, more particularly, to a bra and/or bra pad to provide the appearance of symmetry to asymmetrical breasts. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Most or all women have some degree of breast asymmetry (i.e., un-even breasts). Even if a woman has breasts with cup sizes that differ by less than a half-cup size, such a difference can be noticeable. While many women suffer from natural breast abnormalities, other women have disfigured breasts as a result of the treatment for breast cancer or other breast surgeries. According to World Health Organization, over 1.2 million women will be diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide, many of whom will need to have a lumpectomy. According to the American Cancer Society approximately 1 out of 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. alone. 
         [0005]    Uneven breasts have undesirable effects that can impact daily life, sexuality and confidence of affected women. While most or all women have some degree of breast asymmetry, many are suffering from abnormalities and deformities caused by a lumpectomy, a tuberous breast, Poland Syndrome or Congenital Micromastia. A lumpectomy is the surgical removal of a tumor, normally as a treatment for breast cancer. A tuberous breast occurs when the breast is narrow instead of round from the top to bottom, resembling a tube shape. Often, the areola are puffy and protrude, making the breast look abnormal. The Poland Syndrome is a birth defect characterized by underdevelopment or absence of the chest muscle. Congenital Micromastia is a medical term for a condition commonly known as small breasts. 
         [0006]    According to the Population Reference Bureau 2005 report, there were a total of 3,209,000,000 women in the world. The total lingerie market in 2003 amounted to $29.5 billion. Bras accounted for a significant amount of total lingerie sales. Sales of lingerie are expected to increase to 31.6 billion by the year 2012. The average woman in the developed world owns a number of bras. However, there are no bras that both (i) fit abnormally shaped breasts and (ii) cause both breasts to appear to be even. 
         [0007]    It would be desirable to make a bra and/or bra pad that provides the appearance of symmetry to asymmetrical breasts. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention concerns an apparatus comprising a first cup and a second cup. The first cup may comprise (i) an inner shell selected from a number of available cup sizes and (ii) an outer shell selected from a number of available cup sizes. The inner shell of the first cup and the outer shell of the first cup may be shaped from a first solid piece of flexible material. The second cup may comprise (i) an inner shell selected from the number of available cup sizes and (ii) an outer shell selected from the number of available cup sizes. The inner shell of the second cup and the outer shell of the second cup may be shaped from a second solid piece of flexible material. The inner shell of the first cup and the inner shell of the second cup may be different cup sizes and the outer shell of the first cup and the outer shell of the second cup may be the same cup size. 
         [0009]    The objects, features and advantages of the present invention include implementing a bra and/or bra pad that may (i) provide the appearance of symmetry to asymmetrical breasts, (ii) provide padding to a smaller of the first cup or the second cup such that the first cup and the second cup have an equal outside size, (iii) provide gel to fill the void in the smaller cup, (iv) provide removable padding/gel pads and/or (v) provide gel pads that may be individually filled to a desired fullness. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims and drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an example of a bra in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 2   a - b  are diagrams illustrating outside views of a bra pad in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a cross sectional view of a bra pad in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 4   a - b  are diagrams illustrating views of an insert of a bra in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a size enhancement embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating a two-piece embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating a three-piece embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a diagram of system  100  is shown in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The system  100  may be implemented as a bra, a sports bra, a brassier, a bikini top, a camisole, or other lingerie top. The system  100  generally comprises a cup  102  and a cup  104 . The cup  102  and the cup  104  generally have the outer appearance of typical bra cups. In the example shown, the cup  104  may be implemented as a standard bra cup without enhancements. The cup  102  may be implemented as a bra cup with enhancements in accordance with the present invention. The cup  102  may be implemented to accommodate a different sized breast than a breast accommodated by the cup  104 . 
         [0019]    The cup  102  generally comprises a portion  106  and a portion  108 . The portion  106  may be implemented as a pad. The portion  108  may be implemented as an enhanced portion. The portion  108  may be referred to as a cookie. The portion  108  may be filled with air, gel, foam gel, whipped gel, silicone, whipped silicone, saline or other types of non-solid substances and/or materials. The portion  106  may be formed using a solid piece of a flexible material, such as a piece of foam, a multi-ply foam piece, or other similar materials. The cup  102  may have a pre-formed outer shell  110 . The cup  104  may have a pre-formed outer shell  112 . The outer shell  110  and the outer shell  112  may be formed to have the same outer shape and/or dimensions. The cup  102  may have an inner shell  114 . The cup  104  may have an inner shell  116 . The inner shell  114  and the inner shell  116  may be different sizes and/or shapes. The cup  102  may contain the pad portion  106 , the cookie portion  108  and/or other filling materials to fill the void between the inner cup  114  and the outer cup  110 . In one example, the pad portion  106 , the cookie portion  108  and/or other filling materials may be fused to the cup  102 . However, other ways to connect the pad portion  106 , the cookie portion  108 , and/or the other filling materials may be implemented to meet the design criteria of a particular implementation. For example, glue and/or other suitable adhesives may be used. In general, the inner cup  114  may be formed to have a shape that accommodates a small or misshapen breast. The cup  102  may give a breast that is smaller than the other larger breast the appearance of symmetry when compared with the larger breast. The cup  102  may compensate for issues arising from surgery, birth defects and/or any other disfigurement. 
         [0020]    In general, the cookie portion  108  may sit on or within the pad portion  106 . The cookie portion  108  may be used to cause the breast to be pushed upward and over toward a center cleavage area, as shown by an arrow  128 . Such enhancement may give the appearance of fullness, symmetry and a desirable shape to the breasts. Such enhancement may provide evenness to the appearance of the cleavage area, as shown by an arrow  128 . 
         [0021]    The bra  100  may also include a strap  118   a  and a strap  118   b . The straps  118   a  and  118   b  may be connected together by a connecting device  120   a  and a connecting device  120   b . The connecting devices  120   a  and  120   b  may be removably connected. The connecting devices  120   a  and  120   b  may be implemented as different sized clasps, rings, straps and/or any other appropriate connecting devices. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 2   a , a side view of the cup  102  is shown. Referring to  FIG. 2   b , a front view of the cup  102  is shown. In one example, the cup  102  may be designed specifically to compensate for breast asymmetry and/or deformities as the result of surgery or birth defects. The present invention may be used to enhance one or both breasts. The cup  102  in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  illustrates various views of the pre-formed outer shell  110 . The outer shell  110  may be designed to consistently maintain the shape and/or appearance of well formed and/or even breasts. In one example, the outer shell  110  may be consistent with the measurements of standard cup sizes (e.g., A, B, C, D, etc.). 
         [0023]    The pad portion  106  and the cookie portion  108  may be made of foam or other substance such as whipped foam, gel, silicone, whipped silicone or other filler. Combinations of such materials may also be implemented. The cookie portion  108  may aid in filling or conforming to particular breast asymmetries. The pad portion  106  may fill a void between the outer shell  110  and the inner shell  114 . The inner shell  114  may be created by the pad portion  106 . The inner shell  114  may be consistent with a standard cup size (e.g., A, B, C, D, etc.) The void may be filled with padding, gel, one or more gel pads, removable pads, fill tubes, a combination of such materials, and/or any other materials. In one example, the pad portion  106  may be fused (or secured) directly onto the inside of the outer shell  110 . While fusing has been described, various processes and/or adhesives may be used to meet the design criteria of a particular implementation. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a cross sectional view of the cup  102  is shown. The inner shell  114  may be formed by the pad portion  106 . A breast  200  is shown within the inner shell  114 . The cookie portion  108  may have a variety of shapes and/or sizes. In the example shown, the cookie portion  108  has a generally tear-dropped shape. However, other shapes may be implemented to meet the design criteria of a particular implementation. For example, the cookie portion  108  may run the length of the bottom portion  130  of the pad portion  106 . In one example, the cookie portion  108  may have a protrusion  124 . The protrusion  124  may be located near a portion of the cup  102  that would normally sit near the under arm (e.g., towards the inside portion  132  of the pad portion  106 ). In one example, the cookie portion  108  may be built into the thickest part of the pad portion  106 , along the bottom portion  130 . In one example, the protrusion  124  may be the same thickness as the bottom portion  130 . The protrusion  124  may gradually become thinner, or may taper down towards the upper edge  134 . In one example, an additional pad  126  may be implemented. The pad  126  may be located between the inner shell  114  and the outer shell  110 . The pad  126  may be made from a flexible material, such as a gel, foam gel, saline, or other types of non-solid substances and/or materials. 
         [0025]    A cookie portion  108  may aid in providing the appearance of a full, symmetrical and/or desirable shape to the breast  200 . The pad portion  106  may provide a cavity  136  where the breast  200  fits. The pad portion  106  may take the shape of a smaller and/or irregularly shaped breast  200 . The cookie portion  108  and/or the pad portion  106  may fill in voids caused by surgery, birth defects and/or other deformities. 
         [0026]    In one implementation, a number of pre-formed cups  102  may be formed having a range of thicknesses and/or sizes of inner shell  114 . Each of the sizes of the cups  102  may be designed to build up a smaller, misshapen, and/or irregularly shaped breast  200  to have the appearance of a similarly sized and/or shaped larger breast. The thicknesses and/or sizes of the cup  102  may be designed to a variety of ranges of thickness of size of the inner shell  114 . For example, a breast having a size B-cup may be designed to have an outward appearance of a breast having a size C-cup. While a B-cup to a C-cup has been described, a variety of sized breast differences or irregularities, including variations in shape, and/or other deformities may be implemented. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 4   a , an outside view of the cup  102  is shown. Referring to  FIG. 4   b , an alternate inside view of the cup  102  is shown. The cup  102  may be formed having a range of thicknesses. In one example, the pad portion  106  may be thicker at the bottom section of the cup  102 . The pad portion  106  may run the length of the bottom up to the top side near the under arm. In one example, the pad portion  106  may gradually become thinner going into the top, inside section of the cup  102 . The pad portion  106  normally forms the inner shell  114 . In one example, the thickest part of the pad portion  106  may be the cookie portion  108 . The cookie portion  108  may run along the entire bottom of the cup. In one example, the cookie portion  108  may start from just under the arm. The cookie portion  108  may have a small, rounded protrusion  124  going inward towards the inside of the cup  102 . The cookie portion  108  may then run along the bottom of the cup  102  in a crescent shape design. The cookie portion  108  may also provide evenness to the cleavage area, as shown by an arrow  128 . The cookie portion  108  may provide symmetry to the appearance of the outer shell  110 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a bra  100 ′ is shown illustrating an alternate embodiment of the present invention. In addition to the pad portion  106  and the cookie portion  108 , an additional pad portion  106 ′ and an additional cookie portion  108 ′ may be implemented. The pad portion  106 ′ and the cookie portion  108 ′ may enhance the breast without a deformity. A cup  102 ′ may implement the pad portion  106 ′ near the bottom portion  130 ′ of the cup  102 ′. The thickest part of the pad portion  106 ′ may be implemented as the cookie portion  108 ′. The cookie portion  108 ′ may run along the entire bottom of the cup  102 ′. The cookie portion  108 ′ may start from just under the arm. The cookie portion  108 ′ may have a small rounded protrusion  124 ′ near the inside of the cup  102 ′. The cookie portion  108 ′ may then run along the bottom of the cup  102 ′. The cookie portion  108 ′ may have, in one example, a crescent shape design. The crescent shape of the cookie portion  108 ′ may push the breast upward and over towards the cleavage area, as shown by an arrow  128 . 
         [0029]    The cup  102 ′ may be designed to hold a breast that is not misshapen and/or undersized. The cup  102 ′ may contain enough padding in pad portion  106 ′ to increase the size of the larger breast. Similar to the cup  102 , the cup  102 ′ may have an outer shell  110 ′ that may be larger than the inner shell  114 ′. The cup  102  may contain enough padding in pad portion  106  to increase the appearance of the size of the smaller breast  200  to match the enhanced size of the larger breast. The outer shell  110  may appear to be the same size as the outer shell  110 ′. 
         [0030]    The straps  118   a  and  118   b  may connect in the back via connecting devices  120   a  and  120   b . The straps  138   a  and  138   b  may connect to the bra  100 ′ via connecting devices  142   a  and  142   b . The connecting devices  142   a  and  142   b  may connect to the connecting device  140   a  and the connecting device  140   b , respectively. The straps  138   a  and  138   b  may be easily removable and/or replaceable with alternative straps. For example, the straps  138   a - 138   b  may be replaced with a particular color and/or design that may accent a particular wardrobe. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a bra  100 ″ is shown illustrating an alternate embodiment of the present invention. The bra  100 ″ may be implemented as a two-piece design. In one example, the bra  100 ″ may be implemented as a kit. The bra  100 ″ may be designed as two pieces. The bra  100 ″ may be implemented as having a cup  102  and a cup  104 . The cup  102  and the cup  104  may vary in thickness. The cup  104  may also be implemented similar to the cup  102 ′ of  FIG. 5 . A device  122  may be implemented towards a front portion of the bra  100 ″. The device  122  may be used to connect the cup  102  and the cup  104 . The device  122  may be implemented to provide a removable connection. The device  122  may be implemented as various sized clasps, rings, straps, and/or any other suitable connecting devices. 
         [0032]    The device  122  may be implemented to adjust the cup  102  and the cup  104  to a specific comfort level. For example, the connecting device  122  may be adjusted to provide enhancement to the cleavage to accommodate particular needs and/or desires. The connectors  120   a  and  120   b  may connect the strap  118   a  to the strap  118   b . The connectors  120   a  and  120   b  may be implemented as connectors similar to the device  122 . 
         [0033]    When assembled, the bra  100 ″ may give the appearance of symmetry to otherwise asymmetrical breasts. The outer shell  110  may appear larger than the actual size of the breast being enhanced. The pad portion  106  and the cookie portion  108  may provide extra enhancement to the cup  102 . The device  122  may provide an adjustment to the cleavage area, as shown by an arrow  128 . The device  122  may allow adjustments to a particular level of comfort. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a bra  100 ′″ is shown illustrating a alternate embodiment of the present invention. The bra  100 ′″ may be implemented as a three-piece design. In one example, the bra  100 ′″ may be implemented as a kit. The bra  100 ′″ may be designed as three pieces. The bra  100 ′″ may include the cup  102 , the cup  104 , and a back strap  118 ′. The back strap  118 ′ may be implemented separately from the cup  102  and the cup  104 . The back strap  118 ′ may be connectable to the cup  102  and to the cup  104 . The cup  104  may also be implemented similar to the cup  102 ′ of  FIG. 5 . The cups  102  and  104  may connect to the strap  118 ′ through the connection devices  120   a ′,  120   b ′,  120   c ′ and  120   d ′. The connection devices  120   a ′,  120   b ′,  120   c ′ and  120   d ′ may be adjustable to allow optimal comfort. The connector devices  120   c ′ and  120   d ′ (on either side of the cup  102  and the cup  104 ) may be sewn and/or otherwise attached to the cup  102  and the cup  104  to allow connection to the strap  118 ′. The connector devices  120   a ′ and  120   b ′ (on either side of the strap  118 ′) may be sewn to the strap  118 ′. This may allow a user to have a variety of options when adjusting the size of the strap  118 ′ to a desired comfort level. For example, a user may adjust the strap  118 ′ to work as a size 34 band size. The strap  118 ′ may later be adjusted to work as a size 36 band size. The device  122  may be implemented to connect the cup  102  and the cup  104 . The strap  118 ′ may include a connecting device  140   a ′ and a connecting device  140   b ′. The strap  138   a ′ may include a connecting device  142   a ′. The strap  138   b ′ may include a connecting device  142   b ′. While the connecting device  140   a ′ and the connecting device  140   b ′ are shown as loops, other connectors such as claps, rings, etc. may be implemented. The connecting devices  142   a ′ and  142   b ′ may connect to the connecting devices  140   a ′, and  140   b′.    
         [0035]    The bra  100 ′″ may give the user a customized fit. The pad portion  106  and the cookie portion  108  may be implemented and adjusted to conform to a breast without changing the appearance of the outer shell  110 . The outer shell  110  normally maintains a shape substantially consistent with the outer shell  112 . The bra  100 ′″ may provide a variety of adjustments. For example, the bra  100 ′″ may provide adjustment from (i) asymmetrical to symmetrical, (ii) smaller to larger, (iii) a small amount of cleavage to a large amount of cleavage, and/or (iv) a tighter band support to a looser band support. The various adjustments may be made to accommodate the needs and/or desires of a user. 
         [0036]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that variations in form and details of the preferred embodiments such as, but not limited to, modifications, equivalents and substitutions for components and/or additions to components of the specifically described embodiments of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Persons who possess such skill will also recognize that the foregoing description is merely illustrative and not intended to limit any of the ensuing claims to any particular narrow interpretation of form and details.