Abstract:
A support garment adapted to be worn by a patient following breast surgery. The garment comprises front and rear panels and a compression pad mounted on the inner surface of the front panel confronting the cleavage area of the user. Each panel has upper extensions defining shoulder straps having means for detachably securing them in overlapping relation to snugly fit the user and midriff band portions adjacent the lower edge of the front and rear panels having means for snugly fitting the garment at the midriff area of the user. These elements combine to support the compression pad in pressure applying relation with the cleavage area of the user.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/644,846 filed Jan. 18, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to support garments designed to be worn during the recovery stages following breast surgery. The support garment of the present invention is characterized by unique and novel features of construction and arrangement to support the muscles and tissues disturbed during the surgery in a predetermined manner to produce the proper cleavage between the breast implants.  
       DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART  
       [0003]     Garments of this general type are not new per se. However, none show the unique support arrangement of the present invention which supports the muscles and tissue in the cleavage area to restore proper cleavage between breast implants. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,444 issued Oct. 13, 1998 for a POST SURGICAL BRASSIERE the focus and feature of the invention is a specifically designed midriff support band having adjustable means to provide more comfort in the midriff region and prevent downward movement of breast tissue below the breast. More specifically, the band has tension adjusting means to compensate for swelling experienced by patients in the post operative recovery period.  
         [0004]     The midriff support gently secures the brassiere to the torso with minimal discomfort. The reduction in constriction is attributable to provision of a plurality of spaced vertical bones at strategic locations along the length of the band dividing the band into regions which are elasticized. Thus, as adjustment straps are drawn together for fastening, the stretch of the support band will occur predominantly in the back and side sections where tension will be greatest leaving the frontal regions relatively loose fitting. Thus, the primary object of this patent is comfort to the wearer&#39;s midriff region by the novel band design. The patent is devoid of any disclosure of a support system for restoring the cleavage area between breast implants.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,586 issued Jun. 11, 2002 for POST SURGICAL BRA, is also of interest to the extent that it is directed to a brassiere for augmented breasts. The feature of this patent is aimed at comfort and does not incorporate any breast supporting structure such as elastic panels and underwires. This patent is likewise devoid of any teaching or suggestion of a support garment having a compression pad for selectively applying predetermined pressure in the cleavage area to aide in shaping the breast area in this region.  
         [0006]     The design patents listed below are of interest to the extent that they disclose bras in this field but clearly do not teach the structural details and functional advantages of the present invention:  
                                               Furlong   MASTECTOMY   Dec. 10, 2002   U.S. Pat. No. D466,673S           BRA PORTION       Swanger   THERAPEUTIC   Aug. 21, 2001   U.S. Pat. No. D446,629           BRA                  
 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The support garment of the present invention is designed generally for two medical conditions, breast augmentation or breast augmentation complications and breast reconstruction following a mastectomy.  
         [0008]     In the case of breast augmentation surgery, which can result in a condition known as symmastia (also known as uniboob, bread loafing, etc), the muscles and tissues are damaged and the implants do not remain in their designated surgical position. A remedial surgical procedure is required to repair the symmastia. The tissues and muscles in the cleavage area must then be held securely in place until the tissues and muscles have healed.  
         [0009]     Symmastia happens when the chest muscles are cut during the breast augmentation surgery. To repair the area, the surgeon needs to reattach the muscle with permanent and/or semi-permanent sutures. During the healing process, support of the area is greatly enhanced with the wearing of the support garment of the present invention while scar tissue forms.  
         [0010]     In the case of breast cancer, one or both breasts are surgically removed in a procedure known as a mastectomy. Sometimes an inflatable implant may be used for cosmetic reasons, which is gradually filled to produce the desired breast shape and size over a period of many months. It has been found that the tissues and muscles damaged in the surgical procedure, particularly in the cleavage area between the breasts, needs to grow and be shaped during the post surgical recovery period and, in some instances, regenerate in a manner which leaves a clear cleavage definition. Like the healing process for symmastia, support of the area is greatly enhanced with the wearing of the support garment of the present invention while scar tissue forms for mastectomy patients as well.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     In view of the above, the objective of the present invention is to provide a medical garment that provides secure chest support characterized by unique and novel features of design, construction and operation for use by patients during the recovery period following breast surgery to aide in shaping the breast area as well as supporting the muscles and tissues. More specifically, the garment of the present invention provides support of the cleavage area by selectively applying predetermined and surgeon recommended pressure on the repaired cleavage tissues and muscles. In one form of the invention, an elongated “non-roll elastic compression pad which can be mounted permanently on the inside of the front panel of the support garment and is of a predetermined configuration and shape to compress the muscles and tissues in the cleavage area during the healing process. The compression pad can be constructed in a manner which permits it to be mounted permanently or removed. In addition, it can be interchanged with a variety of covered compression foam pads. More specifically, the compression pads are preferably made of a plastic foam material and have variable thickness and width so that the proper size can be used to provide the optimum compression as determined by the patient&#39;s surgeon without adding undue weight. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the compression pad is a truncated trapezoidal cross section with slanted side walls that function as a shaping surface during the recovery period. In the preferred arrangement, the thickness of the pad is also variable to better control the desired pressure as determined by the surgeon. It also may be selectively varied if warranted by the surgeon depending on the physical attributes of the patient.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     These and other objects of the present invention and the various features and details thereof are hereinafter more fully set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein;  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of the support garment in accordance with the present design and new invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 1   a  is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines  1   a - 1   a  of  FIG. 1  showing the compression pad mounted in the inside face of the front panel of the garment;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the support garment showing the interior compression pad in place;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a back elevational view of the support garment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  shows the cover for the compression made of flexible soft material for housing the compression pad;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the compression pad assembly; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 5B  is an end elevational view of the compression pad assembly as viewed along lines  5 B- 5 B of  FIG. 5A ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of another embodiment of support garment in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 .  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]     Referring now to the drawings and particularly  FIGS. 1-5  thereof, there is illustrated a first embodiment of support garment embodying the invention generally designated by the numeral  10 . The novel and unique feature of the invention is its specific design for medical remedial purposes to maintain and secure the cleavage area by utilizing a “thong” design which holds a compression pad in place and under pressure in the patient&#39;s cleavage area during the healing process following surgery.  
         [0023]     Considering the support garment, the assembly consists essentially of three (3) components, a front panel ( 12 ), a rear panel or back panel ( 14 ) and a compression pad assembly ( 16 ). The front panel ( 12 ) is generally of an “X” shaped configuration comprising a front midriff band portion ( 20 ) which partially encircles the user across the front of the body below the breast area and under the having terminal end portions ( 22 ) with a “hook and loop” fastener  23  on the outer face of the front band portion  20 . The fabric does not cover any part of the breast itself but supports the inner area of the cleavage and lower area under the breast. Within the front panel  12  is a built in “Y” support  25 . Three (3) rows of one inch wide non-rolled elastic are sewn together for strength and then attached to the lower “Y” of the support garment. For added support and shaping, various inserts of foam are then pushed through the sleeve of the lower “Y” to custom fit the garment for each patient&#39;s post surgery needs. The front panel ( 12 ) “V” neck design along with the wide lower band  20  creates a harness effect on the patient which allows continuous pressure and support on the center of the chest wall. The front panel  12  is a “Y” with two upward extending vertical arms  52  forming a sharp V from the apex  53  at the top of the vertical section of the “Y” and continuing down the vertical to the bottom which is terminated with two horizontal and opposing extending arms  20  and  22 . These triangularly shaped portion  50  having straps  52  extending from the apex  53  of the panel outwardly to define a “V” configuration. The outer face of the terminal ends  22  of the front band portion  20  are provided with “hook and loop” hooks  24  so that the band can be snugly fitted around the midriff of a user and engaged around the body in the manner shown.  
         [0024]     The rear panel ( 14 ) has a full coverage back portion including two midriff bands  42 ,  44  which is necessary to give total support of the “Y” shaped configuration of the front panel  12 . The rear panel  14  extends upwardly from the rear midriff band  40  of a generally rectangular shape. The rear panel  14  has a midriff band portion  40  which includes terminal end portions  42  with a “hook and loop” fastener  44  on the inner face of the end portions  42  to permit secure attachment with the terminal end portions  22  of the front panel  12  (see  FIG. 2 ). Shoulder straps  46  extend from the corners of the back portion  14 , each strap length extends over the shoulders of the wearer to the front of the chest as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0025]     The front and rear shoulder straps ( 52 ,  46 ) are designed to be locked in an overlapping fashion by a “hook and loop” fastener. The straps ( 52 ,  46 ) are designed to be easily adjustable by the wearer to provide a snug yet comfortable fit. The terminal ends of the straps ( 52 ,  46 ) are stitched at a plurality of spaced selected locations ( 55 ) so that the wearer can easily trim them if the overlap is too great without affecting the garments integrity. The sides of the triangular front panel  12  are gently curved as at ( 56 ) to conform generally to the actual breast shape.  
         [0026]     The assembly also includes an elongated compression pad assembly ( 16 ) (cloth over plastic foam) which is illustrated in  FIG. 5B  and is of a trapezoidal cross section to define upwardly converging sides ( 62 ,  62 ) as shown in  FIG. 5B . The larger bottom face  16   a  has the hook and loop fastener  70  to secure the pad to the inside of the front panel. The smaller face  16   b  confronts and engages the cleavage area when the garment is in place. The compression pad is constructed of plastic foam in the present instance that is inserted in a cloth material tube  68  shown in  FIG. 4  to make the assembly in  FIG. 5B .  
         [0027]     This pad with the cloth overlay or tube may be sewn permanently to the inner side of the front panel of the support garment or it may be made to be removable and interchangeable as with the following descriptions. The base ( 64 )  FIG. 5B  of the pad assembly ( 16 ) mounts to a “hook and loop” fastener ( 70 ) so that the pad may be removably mounted inside of the front panel in the position shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . The pad is of a predetermined length (L) to span the cleavage area between the breasts and is designed to press against the muscles and tissues in the cleavage area during the healing process. The removable pad can also be constructed in a variety of widths to better aid in the healing process to allow for various wearer size considerations. The width can be varied as determined by the wearer comfort and/or recommendation of the surgeon.  
         [0028]     There is shown in  FIGS. 6-7  a modified version of support garment in accordance with the present invention. The basic components are generally the same as in the principal embodiment described above and therefore numeral designations for this embodiment are as used in the protective garment shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5  inclusive but in the hundred series. Thus, the support garment generally designated by the numeral  100  comprises front and rear panels  112 ,  114  each having front and rear shoulder straps  152 ,  146 , midriff bands  120 , and  122  which are detachably secured in overlapping relation to press the compression pad  116  with a predetermined pressure in the region of the cleavage area when worn. The shoulder straps and midriff bands are selectively adjustably to vary the pressure in the manner described above. Further, the shoulder straps and midriff bands can be provided with indicia such as numbers and letters at the stitch locations  55  (see  FIGS. 1 and 6 ) so that the user can maintain generally the same pressure applying relation from one use to the next. The indicia also are helpful in making slight adjustments to increase or decrease the pressure from time to time.  
         [0029]     In accordance with this version of the support garment, the pressure pad  116  which is also of generally trapezoidal shape is permanently held in place on the inside surface of the front panel  112  by a housing  82  made of cloth which can be sewn in place so that the compression pad  116  overlies the cleavage area of the user.  
         [0030]     Even though particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention and changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the attached claims.