Abstract:
A bra for compression stabilizing the breast mass against motion relative to the torso includes a closed cell foam layer having a front, back, sides, and shoulder straps in a pattern to approximately match the contours of a female user&#39;s torso. A first fabric layer adjacent to the inner surface of the cell foam layer adjacent to the user&#39;s skin, substantially matching the pattern of the closed cell foam fabric layer, provides moisture wicking and comfort. A portion of the closed cell foam fabric layer extends below the breast line and encircles the torso to add motion stabilizing support to the breasts.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to women&#39;s apparel. More specifically, the present invention is drawn to a bra for providing compression support to stabilize the breast mass relative to the torso, which is particularly advantageous during physical activity, and/or to counter the strain effect of gravity. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The breast area has a mobile center of gravity that is offset relative to the upper torso as a whole. The breast may be regarded as a weighted appendage that the body compensates for by adjusting posture and movement to prevent injury. During physical activity, trauma (“injury”) to the breast, such as strained tissue or muscle, may occur during abrupt vertical and horizontal motion, such as during jumping or running. The trauma may be temporary (e.g., soreness), or chronic (e.g., permanent damage to breast tissue). Even when a user is not engaged in activity, gravity is capable of causing strain damage, especially if the breasts are large. 
         [0003]    Therefore, a bra adapted to provide breast stabilization support, whether during physical activity, or due solely to the effects of gravity, is beneficial. 
         [0004]    Implants may lead to greater risk of trauma during physical activity. Implants (in particular silicone implants) may be denser than natural breast tissue and therefore heavier, which can place strain on the skin and breast matter surrounding the implant. Implants are also foreign objects having some mobility, placed either above or underneath the pectoral muscle. Because implants commonly have a structural resiliency greater than human breast tissue, implants can cause a faster breakdown in surrounding breast tissue (e.g., muscles, skin, fat, ligaments, tendons). Therefore, supporting and stabilizing the implants and surrounding tissue against the strain of motion relative to the torso is beneficial. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Disclosed is a bra, worn to provide stabilizing support during physical activity, such as while engaging in sports, by addressing the breast mass from the point of view of weight management in relation to the torso. The disclosed bra effectively incorporates the breast area by compression with the torso as a single structural entity, effectively eliminating or reducing breast mobility relative to the torso that can result in discomfort and/or trauma. 
         [0006]    The bra is made using a material layer selected to provide strength for firm stabilizing support during physical exertion. Specifically, the material layer employed is a closed cell foam, which is a material not currently used in bras for support, stability or weight induced motion management. By manufacturing the material to control, for example, foam cell size, elastic stiffness, contouring and thickness, a combination of structural support, stiffness, and elasticity may be obtained that provides for comfort, support and reduced motion induced trauma. Additionally, because the material layer is a closed cell foam, and therefore waterproof, the material layer may have distributed through-hole perforations added to enable body moisture to escape from the skin to the layer outer surface, and also providing air breathability to the skin. 
         [0007]    An example of closed cell foam material is neoprene. Closed cell neoprene fabric is waterproof and has found application in aquatic body wetsuits. Similar to the wetsuit, the disclosed stabilizing bra provides consistent contouring compression. When properly fitted initially, the neoprene foam fabric of the stabilizing bra conforms to the individual&#39;s shape, resulting in a customized fit. Because neoprene foam is a closed cell, fast recovery foam, it has a long lifetime against break down or loss of elasticity from wear and pressure. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment, one or more neoprene foam panels contour wrap around the upper torso and over the shoulder of the user, then connect in one centralized area, for example, at the front, back, or sides. This not only results in a stabilizing hugging structure of the breast area, but eliminates disproportionate pressure on the shoulders, back, shoulder blades, and area under the bust. Otherwise, poorly or unsupported breast tissue (especially in large breasts) is often found to be the cause of back and shoulder strain, which can be aggravated by physical activity. By distributing the forces generated by breast motion during physical activity over the upper torso area, breast motion is better synchronized with torso motion, and the stress per unit of torso body surface area is reduced. 
         [0009]    A closure system for closing the bra includes a vertical zipper and slide in the back region. In an open position, donning the bra is made easier. The zipper preferentially closes from top to bottom, thereby completing the compression and stabilization of the breasts with respect to the torso upon closure. The closure system may be placed at other locations, such as the front or sides, for example. An extension affixed to the zipper slide enables convenient reach to open and close the zipper for ease of donning and removal of the bra. 
         [0010]    The bra includes a lowered hammock in the front portion to utilize more torso “real estate” to stabilize the breast area. The fabric area both below and above the breasts are extended over the torso surface to provide for compression stabilization of the breast mass center of gravity both closer to the torso and, optionally, compression of the breast mass lower on the torso. The compression acts to stabilize against motion relative to the torso by distribution of compression support over a large body area. In an embodiment, compression downward in the lowered hammock lowers the overall center of gravity of upper body mass distribution. This overall compression toward the torso, and larger torso contact area (both back and front), reduces a disproportionate amount of pressure and stress to the shoulders, back and upper chest that would otherwise occur with a briefer bra covering less torso area. 
         [0011]    A size determining measurement includes taking a bustline measurement so that the circumference of the bra is substantially the same as the circumference of the user as measured around the user&#39;s bustline with the breasts circumferentially compressed to a user selected compression. 
         [0012]    The bra disclosed may be customized and tailored, for example, by contouring the cut of the closed cell foam material at the sides, rear or shoulders by darting and selective cut-outs that are sewn together. The neoprene closed cell foam fabric may also be formed in a shaped sheet to achieve contour. For example, such customization is particularly useful to address the needs of women with a range of breast and torso sizes, and more particularly with large breasts and small frame torsos. 
         [0013]    Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a support bra which is adapted to stabilize breast motion relative to the torso by compression during movement. 
         [0014]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a support bra which is adapted to stabilize breast motion relative to the torso by compression during physical activity. 
         [0015]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a bra which is devoid of any extraneous rigid or semi-rigid breast supporting structure, such as, for example, an underwire. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0016]    For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  shows a front perspective view of a support bra in accordance with the disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  shows a rear perspective view of the support bra of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  shows a front perspective view of a support bra fabricated from several panels in accordance with the disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  shows a rear perspective view of the support bra of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    In an embodiment as shown in a front perspective view in  FIG. 1  and in a back perspective view in  FIG. 2 , a bra  100  worn by a user may include a single piece of fabric cut to provide a front  105 , sides  110 , shoulder straps  120  and a back  125 . A cut-out top hole  130  in the cut fabric provides for placement of the finished bra over the head and over the shoulders of the user, and cut-out arm holes  135  on both sides  110  for insertion of the arms therethrough, where portions of the fabric between the top hole  130  and each of the arm holes  135  form the shoulder straps  120  that overlay the user&#39;s shoulders. 
         [0022]    The bra  100  may be donned by pulling over the user&#39;s head through the top hole  130  and inserting the user&#39;s arms through the arm holes  135 . 
         [0023]    A closure system may be included in the bra  100 . For example, the back  125  may be closed by bringing together and securing edges of two ends  140  of the back  125  extending from each side by a securement device, such as, for example, a zipper  150  and slider  165 , a plurality of hook/eyeloop pairs (not shown), Velcro™, or the like. In an open position of the zipper  150 , donning and removing the bra is made easier. In an embodiment using a zipper  150  or zipper-like means of closure, an extension  160  (e.g., string, strap, or the like) may be added to the slider  165  to make an opening and closing manipulation of the zipper  150  and slider  165  easier for the user. Closure of the zipper  150  may be achieved by movement of the slider  165  from top to bottom or, alternatively, from bottom to top. Preferably, closure by top to bottom motion of the slider  165  enables a smooth compression of the breast against the torso. 
         [0024]    Alternatively, the securement device may be placed elsewhere, for example, at one or more of the sides  110 , the front  105 , or the like. Alternatively, the bra  100  may not have a securement device (e.g., no zipper  150 /slider  165 ), and is donned without additional means for closure. 
         [0025]    The back  120  may further be sewn to a back edge  155  of the fabric forming and surrounding the top hole  130  to form a seam, thus completing a halter structure that provides support and compressive stability both vertically by elastic stress over the shoulders, and horizontally, by elastic stress from the user&#39;s front, around the sides under the arms to the user&#39;s back. 
         [0026]    The front  105 , sides  110  and back  125  of the bra  100  include an extended band  170  below the breast line to contact a portion of the torso. Thus, the bra makes use of an additional portion of the torso to provide firmness of contact to the body over a larger torso area via the extended band  170  in order to compressively stabilize the breasts in relation to the torso. The front  105  includes a hammock above the extended band  170  to provide space for compression of the breast in a downward direction on the torso. 
         [0027]    The fabric may comprise neoprene, or an equivalent closed cell foam fabric with mechanical properties selected to have suitable elastic strength to provide compressive support to breast tissue, at least partially or substantially immobilizing the breasts relative to the torso during physical movement. Thus, the breasts and torso are contained to behave substantially as a single structure during physical motion to reduce strain and possible trauma to breast tissue, including breasts containing implants. 
         [0028]    The neoprene (or equivalent fabric) may be oversheathed, sewn, bonded or laminated on an inner surface facing the user&#39;s body, exterior surface, or both, with a “breathable” fabric to wick moisture (such as perspiration) during physical activity. The breathable fabric may or may not be elastic, and may or may not further contribute to compression stabilization of the breasts. A function of the oversheath fabric includes providing skin contact comfort and moisture breathability (wicking). Exemplary inner and outer oversheath material may include nylon lycra, Spandex™, cotton, blends of these materials, or the like, which have suitable stretch and wicking properties. 
         [0029]    All cut edges and seams of the fabric of the bra  100  may be finished for cosmetic appearance and to prevent unraveling and/or fraying at the fabric edges. 
         [0030]    In an embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a bra  200 , including front panel  205 , sides  210 , back  225  and shoulder straps  220 , may be made in more than one piece and sewn together, or otherwise joined. For example, in one embodiment, the front  205  and shoulder straps  220  may be formed from a first piece of closed cell foam fabric, where the top hole  230  is cut for placing the user&#39;s head therethrough, and the sides  210 , and back  225  may be cut from another piece of closed cell foam fabric, to be joined at the sides to the first piece, and at the back-side of the bra  200  with a zipper  250  and slider  265 , a plurality of hook/eyeloop pairs (not shown) or the like (as described above with reference to the bra  100 ), joined to the back edge  255  of the portion of bra  200  completing the shoulder straps  220 , thereby also forming the arm holes  235  for placing the user&#39;s arm&#39;s therethrough. Other ways of apportioning the fabric among a plurality of separate parts that are then sewn or otherwise joined together are within the spirit of the disclosure. Additionally, the breathable oversheath fabric may be cut to match and assembled with the patterns of the plurality of parts of the closed cell foam fabric pieces. 
         [0031]    Like the bra  100 , the front  205 , sides  210  and back  225  of the bra  200  include an extended band  270  below the breast line to contact a portion of the torso. Also, an extension  260 , or the like, may be added to the slider  265  to make opening and closing manipulation of the zipper  250  easier for the user. 
         [0032]    Bras  100 ,  200  may be customized and tailored, for example, by contouring the cut of the closed cell foam layer material at the sides, rear or shoulders by darting and/or selective cut-outs that are sewn or joined together at the cut-out edges. An example of darting  185 ,  285  on bras  100  and  200  is illustrated in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , where the darting is effected on the closed cell foam layer material only, and not the inner or outer oversheath fabric. 
         [0033]    It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 
         [0034]    Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the embodiments of the present disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. For example, materials with elastic and tensile properties superior to lycra may be utilized. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.