Abstract:
A bra is described in this patent application which can be used by women after they undergo breast enhancement or reconstruction surgery. The bra is both functional and, relative to the prior art, stylish, and allows women to comfortably transition to a traditional bra and from recovery-related clothing to traditional women&#39;s clothes. The invention is easy to put on and take off, and provides superior support without sacrificing comfort or appearance. Because the bra is both seamless and has a fabric-backed front zipper, it is easy to put on and take off. It is also a long line bra to avoid typical incision sites.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional No. 62/165,122, filed May 21, 2015, the contents of which are included by reference, and a copy of which is attached to this application. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT: This invention was not federally sponsored. 
       [0002]    INVENTOR: Marla Hope Caprow-D′Avanzo 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the invention 
         [0004]    This invention relates to the general field of post-surgical women&#39;s garments, and more specifically toward a bra designed to allow women to easily put it on and transition to wearing a traditional bra and traditional clothes following breast surgery. To this end, a seamless compression bra is provided which can support and define post-breast surgery breasts in a manner superior to the prior art. The bra is useful for women who have undergone breast enhancement and reconstructive surgery, lumpectomies, had mastopexies (lifts), or undergone other cosmetic surgery on their breasts. 
         [0005]    One of the more traumatizing operations a woman may have to go through is a lumpectomy or mastectomy. After she has partial, one or both breasts removed, a woman often elects to have breast reconstruction surgery—either immediately after this surgery or at a later date. Although a reconstructed breast may never have the look or feel of a natural breast, many women find that they feel better about their self-image and have more self-confidence with reconstructed breasts. 
         [0006]    There are several methods by which breasts are reconstructed. Breast implants, similar to those used in breast enhancement operations, are sometimes used. Other women elect to use natural tissue flaps or fat transfer and sometimes these methods are combined. 
         [0007]    No matter how a woman decides to have her breasts reconstructed, the operation itself is a serious one and involves significant cutting and stitching of bodily tissue. As opposed to sutures on, for example an arm wound, sutures on a breast are more “stressed” as the breast is a weighted object and therefore places continual stress on the sutures; especially with new implants. As a result, a woman&#39;s post-reconstruction surgery bra should be supportive to minimize the discomfort she has to undergo as the sutures heal. It should also have compression to help reduce the swelling and enhance the shape. 
         [0008]    Many women also opt for mastopexies (lifts) or other breast-related cosmetic surgery such as implants. As with breast enhancement or reconstruction, a woman will feel considerable discomfort after surgery, as she too has incision sites and other sore points. Thus, no matter what type of breast surgery a woman has, her need for comfortable clothing is a constant. A woman&#39;s breast region can also be impacted by cardiothoracic surgery and require a transitional bra during her convalescence. 
         [0009]    The most important post-surgical item of clothing for a woman who has undergone any type of breast surgery is a bra. The bra supports the breast and, ideally, prevents the weight of the breast from pulling too much on the sutures and areas of tenderness where the breast was reconstructed, lifted, or otherwise surgically changed. The ideal post-surgery bra would stretch to offer a range of sizes in one bra, be seamless; offering comfort, lightweight, with compression fabric to provide continuous support while reducing swelling, easy to put on and take off, and be as attractive as possible to provide a woman comfort in a difficult time and allow her to wear her typical wardrobe with a variety of necklines. 
         [0010]    While this goal would be ideal, the prior art does not provide a bra which adequately addresses these criteria. 
         [0011]    For example, there are a plethora of “sports bras” which provide some support, but are difficult to put on and take off, as the normally have to be stretched above a woman&#39;s head. Women who have recently undergone breast enhancement or reconstruction surgery, mastopexies (lifts), or any other kind of breast surgery are in no condition to be moving their arms over their heads and wiggling in and out of a sports bra. In addition, many sports bras are bulky and come with a “racer back”, which may prove unsightly with a woman&#39;s dressier tops. (All sports bras do not offer the same compression and many women may not know what type is best for them to wear post-surgery). 
         [0012]    Other bras, specifically designed for post-reconstruction surgery situations, come with zippers, which avoids the discomfort—and in many cases, impossibility—of pulling a bra off over a woman&#39;s head. However, the prior art does not provide such a bra where the zipper is buffered against direct skin contact (without molded cups). This bra is designed as a long line style to avoid typical incision sites. Thus the prior art has created a need for a bra that is easy to put on and take off, and is gentle on the skin. 
         [0013]    There are also other bras with molded cups, but these are uncomfortable as forcing a post-surgery breast into a fixed, sometimes hard cup is neither comfortable nor conducive to allowing the breast to change in shape and size while healing. After breast reconstruction surgery, for example, most breasts initially swell up and then shrink back down as they heal. So, it is desirable to use some sort of compression fabric that more gently guides a post-surgery breast rather the restricting it in a set cone. The knitted support provided by this invention also allows for shape definition with no seams to rub incisions. Also, in the field of breast reconstruction, surgeries may be in phases and both breasts may not be the same cup size. 
         [0014]    Thus there has existed a long-felt need for a seamless bra, with a strategically covered zipper, made from compression fabric, that provides support without causing discomfort, that is both attractive and functional. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The current invention provides just such a solution by having a bra that is easy to take off because of its zipper. It is comfortable, as the zipper (with the attached shield or placket and garage) is strategically located to protect the user&#39;s skin from the zipper and to avoid the sensitive parts of a post-surgery breast. Additional comfort comes from the compression fabric and the knit ribbing under the breasts that provides support without entrapping the post-surgery breast in any hard container, such as a traditional bra cup. Because this is a long line style with a rib knit stitch under the breasts and a rib knit band at the bottom edge, the compression fabric that covers the breasts is well supported without the need of hard cups, wires or seams. In terms of emotionally assisting the woman in her recovery, the bra is designed to fit under a woman&#39;s traditional clothes with various necklines and be attractive at the same time, thereby allowing her to feel as though she is getting back to normal as expeditiously as possible. 
         [0016]    It is a principal object of the invention to provide a comfortable, attractive post-surgical bra for a woman who has had breast surgery. 
         [0017]    It is another object of the invention to provide a bra with a zipper for easy putting on and removal where the zipper is both shielded from the skin and located conveniently in the front, away from the traditional incision sites, sutures, typically found in breast surgeries. 
         [0018]    Another object of the invention is to provide a post-surgery bra made from compression fabric that is lightweight and comfortable. 
         [0019]    It is a final object of this invention to provide an attractive bra for a woman who has undergone breast surgery that fits under most traditional tops. 
         [0020]    A particular embodiment of the current disclosure provides for a post-breast surgery transitional bra comprising a left portion, a right portion, and a back section; where the left portion and right portion each comprises a breast support section and a definition section, where the left portion and right portion each comprises a fastener, where the fastener of the left portion mates with the fastener of the right portion, where the breast support section is adjacent to the definition section, where the breast support section and definition section of each portion are adjacent to the back section, where the definition section of each portion comprises a first knit pattern, where the breast support section of each portion comprises a second knit pattern, where the first knit pattern has a tightness, where the second knit pattern has a tightness, where the first knit pattern has a tighter knit pattern than the second knit pattern, and where the definition section helps define the shape of and provides support for the breast support section. 
         [0021]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the entire body and straps are made of 1×1 alternate stitch, and the bra is manufactured through a process by which the front and back of the fabric is knitted in a tubular manner. However, the body of the bra is engineered such that different knits, ribs or textures are located in different portions of the garment to offer a higher or lower compression (as in the shape definition area). 
         [0022]    For example, in the Rib knit band from which the waist band is made contains added elastic in the band to offer a higher compression in the band. A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention calls for Spandex that is  70  denier fiber throughout the body and hem, with a composition of 90% Nylon, 10% Spandex. 
         [0023]    The bra further comprises two should straps, where one shoulder strap connects the back section to the left portion, and where the other shoulder strap connects the back section to the right portion. The two shoulder straps comprise a third knit pattern, where the third knit pattern has a tightness that is different than the tightness of the first knit pattern and the second knit pattern. The stitch at the shoulder seam is referred to as a “Flat Lock” stitch, which benefits the wearer of the bra as it feels like there is no seam there (seams are often a course of discomfort). 
         [0024]    The fasteners of the left portion and the right portion together form a zipper, where the zipper has a lower terminus, an upper terminus, and a length, where the length extends from the lower terminus to the upper terminus. The bra further comprises a garage, where the garage is proximate to the lower terminus. The garage is secured to the definition section of the right portion. The garage covers the lower terminus of the zipper. The garage is triangular in shape. The bra further comprises a placket, where the placket extends along the length of the zipper. The placket is secured to the right portion. The width of the placket is one inch, or alternatively, the width is greater than one and one-half inches and the width is less than two inches. The length of the placket is greater than the length of the zipper, or more particularly, the placket is at least one-quarter of one inch greater than the length of the zipper, or more particularly, the placket is at least one inch greater than the length of the zipper. The bra further comprises a bottom band, where the bottom band extends along the bottom of the left portion, along the bottom of the back section, and then along the bottom of the right portion. The band comprises a third knit pattern, where the third knit pattern has a tightness that is different than the tightness of the first knit pattern and the second knit pattern. The bottom band has a width, where the width of the bottom band is between one inch and two inches, inclusive, or alternatively, the width of the bottom band is between one inch and four inches, inclusive. 
         [0025]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. The features listed herein and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0026]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 1  is a front, perspective view of a post-surgical bra showing my new design. 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a post-surgical bra. 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is a back view of a post-surgical bra. 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is a right-side view of a post-surgical bra. 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is a left-side view of a post-surgical bra. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]    Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with the references made to the drawings below. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed upon clearly illustrating the components of the present invention. Moreover, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts through the several views in the drawings. 
       REFERENCE NUMBERS 
       [0033]      1 . Shoulder strap 
         [0034]      2 . Breast support section (compression knit front)—provides support and aids in reducing swelling) 
         [0035]      3 . Bottom band, which is a rib knit band that, optionally can contain two layers with one layer folded over the other and secured through sewing. It is also contemplated that the bottom band could be knitted though a knit pattern that provided additional strength and support to the rest of the bra and keeps the bra from riding up into the incision areas. 
         [0036]      4 . Protective garage front that provides comfort at as the zipper could press against skin at the lower edge and prevents chaffing. 
         [0037]      5 . Zipper 
         [0038]      6 . Definition section. Rib knit for shape definition without the need for seams or wires. 
         [0039]      7 . Compression knit back section. 
         [0040]      8 . Protective shield or placket. 
         [0041]      FIG. 1  is a front, perspective view of a post-surgical bra showing my new design. The bra has shoulder straps  1 , like a sports bra, but here the similarities diverge. The invention has a fastener such as a zipper  5  that has two mating halves, in the front of the bra to make it easy for women to put on and take off the bra. The zipper alleviates the current problem faced by women who try to use sport bras and find it unreasonably painful or in some cases impossible to pull the bra over their heads or step into the bra and pull it up their body over their hips. With some women, the hips are physically too large to allow for a bra to be pulled over, particularly for a woman who has just had breast surgery. A front zipper is also easier to put on and less painful to use than a traditional bra that attaches by clasps in the back portion. The zipper separates the front part of the bra into a left portion and a right portion. 
         [0042]    Because the functionality of the bra is based to a great extent on the different knit patterns, it is contemplated that different knit patterns could be used to provide different characteristics to the different components of the bra. For example, the portion of the bra supporting the breasts might be made from a soft, relaxed but compressive knit pattern that would allow for easy expansion and contraction, while the bottom band might be made from a much tighter knit that didn&#39;t expand very much at all relative to the other knits. Even the shoulder straps could be made from a different knit pattern that would provide a balance between comfort on the skin and adequate support for the other parts of the bra. 
         [0043]    The bra is made from compression fabric that has been knit in multiple stitch patterns, similar to how a sock is made with different weaves on the foot, heel and ankle portion. At the bottom of the bra is a bottom band  3 , which keeps the garment in place at the lower edge and keeps it from riding up on the user. Because the bottom band has to be strong, several methods of making it are envisioned. First, a stronger knit could be used, thereby creating a band that would more securely support the invention from the bottom. Second, one or more layers could be folded over on themselves and secured with sewing or another means of securement. Particular embodiments provide for the band comprising two or three layers. 
         [0044]    Just above the bottom band  3  is a definition section  6 , that helps to define the shape of the bust and support the breast support section  2 , which is a compression knit front that provides support and helps to reduce swelling. Thus, the breast support  2  section is adjacent to the definition section  6 . It is important to note that the breast support section, being made from compression fabric, provides the necessary support without being saddled with the problems associated with traditional bras, such as hard, potentially painful cup sections that do not expand and contract as the body heals, or wires/seams which could irritate incision areas. The compression fabric also accommodates potential differing sizes of the two breasts. 
         [0045]    The length of the bottom band is of particular importance. The breast section of the bra has support from four different areas. First, the compression fabric expands and contracts around the breast(s) as they initially swell after surgery and then shrink down to a more normal size. Second, the shoulder straps provide support from the top of the bra. Third, the definition section provides support similar to that from an underwire, without the discomfort and inability to expand and contract that an underwire would create. Fourth, the long line style with a bottom band provides support from the bottom, and is located well away from incisions and any tender areas. 
         [0046]    The invention also provides a soft, lightweight strip of material that covers the entire backside of the zipper and houses the front side of the bottom of the zipper. To protect the woman from the zipper  5 , there is a front bottom section  4  called a garage and a back section  8  called a placket. The garage, or front section,  4  provides a shield over the bottom of the zipper, preventing the zipper box from “digging” into the skin at the lower edge of the garment. The back section or placket,  8  provides a layer of fabric between the zipper and the skin of the woman. The strip is wrapped under the intersection of the zipper, such that a single strip of material can be used. 
         [0047]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a post-surgical bra illustrating again the key features of the invention. 
         [0048]      FIG. 3  is a back view of a post-surgical bra. This illustration shows how the compression knit back section  7  connects the two front panels. 
         [0049]      FIG. 4  is a right-side view of a post-surgical bra and  FIG. 5  is a left-side view of a post-surgical bra. The side views show how the definition section  6  is made from a different knit pattern as the breast support section  2 , and provides support for the breast section of a woman. Because the bra is made of compression fabric knitted in more than one pattern, the rib knit stitch pattern of the definition section  6  provides support under the more expandable knitting pattern found in the breast support section  2 . 
         [0050]    It should be understood that while the preferred embodiments of the invention are described in some detail herein, the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations and changes thereto are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof, which claims I regard as my invention. 
         [0051]    All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and other countries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all other copyright rights whatsoever are reserved.