Abstract:
A brassiere having breast support sections formed of a highly supportive elastic fabric, a lower section to which the breast support sections are attached, and micro-elastic straps which extend over the shoulders and cross in the back of a wearer, and which have termini in the front of the wearer to be fastened thereat.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLIATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority of Provisional Patent Application 60/621,827 filed Oct. 25, 2004 and of Provisional Patent Application 60/719,645 filed Sep. 22, 2005, both in the name of Dawn Tonsor. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to the field of brassieres which may be worn as garments or under garments, and more particularly to a brassiere which has straps arranged to cross in the back and fasten in the front.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The history of the brassiere began in the third quarter of the nineteenth century. Some brassieres lifted breasts that had become pendulous, while others raised firm breasts. Before brassieres were invented, corsets performed such functions, but they pushed from below instead of lifting from above.  
         [0004]     Opportunities for new fashions emerged with the early breast supporter-brassiere. Brassieres presented myriad possibilities for shaping, from early 1900s monobosoms to the torpedoes of the late 1940s and early 1950s. Variable shaping by darts, seams, gathering, bias cuts, and gussets, not to mention elastic materials and wiring, allowed brassieres to keep up with changes in the silhouette of women&#39;s clothing, thereby enhancing the many fashions introduced during the twentieth century.  
         [0005]     Between 1919 and the 1929 stock market crash, the brassiere began to evolve toward its present-day form. Most evident was the establishment of cups, with fixed or adjustable contours, as a standard component of the brassiere design. As early as 1924, brassieres had medical proponents, too—doctors who merely cautioned against tight brassieres that pulled the breasts down against the chest wall.  
         [0006]     Brassieres must do more than fit a multitude of bodies, however. They must accommodate the same body as it changes through the monthly cycle and through the life cycle. They must provide for movement of the torso and arms in many directions without chafing or binding and without slipping out of position. As if that were not enough, brassieres must retain their own structure through multiple wearing and launderings; must not adorade in contact with clothing; must remain, as a rule, inconspicuous beneath the outer clothing while harmonizing with the desired silhouette; and must be priced to sell to many customers. Hundreds of attempts have been made to design the ideal breast supporter.  
         [0007]     There was no single inventor of the undergarment we know as the brassiere. The breast supporters patented in the 1860s and 1870s were almost certainly not the first such garments to be worn, but they provided a response to fashion that continued and diversified. Outerwear styles routinely established the direction for changes in brassieres. From boyish flatness to torpedo to plunge and sportif chic—where the fashion goes, brassieres are likely to follow. Health issues drove the initial development of the brassiere, and health has never disappeared as an influence on design, though fashion has become dominant. For most women there is no medical reason to wear a brassiere. It is a matter of personal choice. There is no one brassiere for those who do feel the need for one, just as there is no one lifestyle for all women. Today, the brassiere is tied not to breast size, but to age and taste in clothing.  
         [0008]     There is a downside to lifting from above as a brassiere does. The weight of a heavy breast pulling on the neck can cause diminished blood flow to the head and headaches may occur. The effects of weight and gravity also affect posture. When one lifts the weight of the breast off the rib cage by shortening the bra strap, then either the back of the bra rides up or painful grooves in the shoulders result. U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,538, issued May 30, 2000, to Alleyne, discloses a sports bra which has front panel sections joined to a common back portion. Each panel section defines a seamless cup. An elasticized bottom edge connects the front and back portions and includes a front VELCRO® closure. Alleyne specifically calls for “minimal compression” thus providing little, if any, support directly.  
         [0009]     The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems described above.  
       OBJECT AND ADVANTAGES  
       [0010]     Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are to provide one or more of the following: 
        a) Straps long enough to cross in the back and fasten in the front.     b) Breast support sections made of an elastic material that is about 70 to 85% NYLON® and the remainder SPANDEX®.     c) Straps made of a micro-elastic material and/or a micro-elastic rim at lateral sides of breast support sections and integral therewith.     d) Anterior and posterior upper body support for the wearer.     e) A combination of a brassiere and a back brace which properly supports the weight of the breast taking some of the weight off of the ligaments, allows the mass to adhere to the chest wall, takes the weight off of the lower back by compression, displaces pressure off the shoulders and back, and generally A wider back panel of the brassiere for precluding the brassiere from riding up the wearer&#39;s back. The wider back panel also anchors the base of the brassiere to more properly support the weight of the breast. The wider back panel of the brassiere provides an added advantage of greater lower back support.     f) A front body closure arranged to allow for the support of the weight of the breasts on the shoulders to be augmented by support caused by wrapping the brassiere around the body. The front closure also allows for easy attachment and/or adjustment by the wearer.     g) An attractive brassiere which may also be used as an outer garment or swim top, or integrated into a garment or swim suit.     h) A brassiere having no underwires thereby providing a medical advantage for women with breast implants, or a mastectomy.        
 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     According to the present invention there is provided a brassiere having breast support sections and straps which cross in the back of a wearer and extend to the front of the wearer for fastening.  
         [0020]     According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a brassiere which provides support for both the breasts and the back of a wearer. In one embodiment, a wide back panel, specially designed rear body straps that cross over each other, and a front section closure located below the breasts, provides for a customized, comfortable, upper body support system.  
         [0021]     In accordance with the present invention there is provided a brassiere having a pair of breast support sections formed of a highly supportive body-engaging elastic fabric substantially throughout their entirety and having no underwires or other support means for the breasts other than an equalized compression provided by the elastic fabric; the breast support sections having upper and lower ends; the brassiere having a lower section to which the lower ends of the breast support sections are attached; a pair of micro-elastic straps, each strap being attached to the upper end of the respective breast support section; and the micro-elastic straps being constructed and arranged for extending over the shoulders of a wearer, crossing at mid-back of the wearer, and extending to termini at the front center of the wearer; and a fastener at said termini to fasten the same together.  
         [0022]     In accordance with another aspect there is provided a brassiere formed of a highly supportive body-engaging elastic fabric substantially throughout it&#39;s entirety, and having no underwires or other support means for the breasts other than an equalized compression provided by the elastic fabric; the brassiere having a relatively wide back panel across the back of a wearer and providing lower back support, the lower back panel also extending across the front of the wearer and preventing the fabric from riding up on the wearer; a pair of breast support sections attached to the lower back panel; a pair of straps each attached at the top of the respective breast support section; said straps extending over the shoulders of the wearer, crossing at mid-back of the wearer at a location above the lower panel, and extending to termini at the front of the wearer and at a location below her breasts, a fastener at said termini to fasten the same together.  
         [0023]     Each of said breast support sections advantageously conforms to the wearer&#39;s cup size and shape even if the size or shape of each breast of the wearer is different.  
         [0024]     A visually, aesthetically, appealing combination of a brassiere and back brace support has been created to wrap the torso in a manner aiding in total upper body support to the wearer. A multi-directional, uniform stretch material is used throughout, and the center front closure aids in comfort and the tasks of adjusting the shoulder straps and rear torso bands of the brassiere. A wrap around strap design aids the general tasks of putting on and removing the garment.  
         [0025]     Specific designs and constructions embodying the invention will be hereinafter described with other features thereof. The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein the best-known embodiments are shown and wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the several views. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0026]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a support brassiere as seen from the front of a wearer;  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the support brassiere of  FIG. 1  as seen from the back;  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of an alternate preferred embodiment where the front closure is independently positioned;  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternate preferred embodiment of a support brassiere as seen from the front of a wearer;  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the support brassiere of  FIG. 11  as seen from the back;  
         [0031]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of one-half of the support brassiere of  FIGS. 1-4 , the other half being a mirror image thereof;  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0032]     While the following description uses the term brassiere or bra, it should be understood that such terms are not limited to undergarments, but are intended to include outer garments and/or swim tops and the like.  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated the support brassiere of the present invention which is generally referred to by the numeral  10 . The support brassiere comprises a relatively wide lower panel  17  preferably in the range of one to three inches in width, and two front panel sections  12 ,  14  are configured to define seamless cups; however, it should be understood that formed cups could be used in another embodiment. Widths up to about five inches or more may be utilized, depending upon the size and needs of a user. The support brassiere has relatively wide shoulder straps  16 ,  18  which are advantageously in the range of two to five times wider than ordinary bra straps and are comprised of a highly body engaging micro elastic. As seen in  FIG. 2  the straps also cross over each other at  21  at the back to form a V-shaped back neck portion. The straps  16 ,  18  then extend over panel  17 , as shown at  17   a , and on to the front of the wearer, as shown in  FIG. 1 . Ends of the straps  16 ′,  18 ′ are then connected front mid-center of the torso and below the breasts of the wearer via a fastener shown at  20 . It should be understood that any comfortable fastener may be used for the connection; however, the arrangement advantageously should be adjustable. As seen in  FIG. 3 , straps  16  and  18  may fasten at the front at a location beneath panel  17 .  
         [0034]     The support brassiere  10  is preferably formed from a multi-directional stretchable material to provide support for both the back and breast of the wearer. Suitable materials include LYCRA blends, advantageously one sold under the trademark TACTEL, or a stretchable fabric sold under the trademark MIRATEX. Another advantageous suitable material may be used which is sold under the trademark PEACH SKIN or PERELA. Preferably a NYLON/LYCRA blend is utilized, with the LYCRA content in the range of about 30%-15% and the nylon being 70%-85%. It is understood that SPANDEX is the same as LYCRA; therefore, the use of either term herein or in the claims should be understood to include the other. The material, when used in the unique crossing pattern described above, not only provides support for the breasts but comfort for the back. The relatively wide straps  16 ,  18  and the back crossing shown at  21 , provide ultimate comfort while easing the spinal area most adversely affected by forces transferred from the bra. The straps extend over the wide  17 , to reinforce the basic support provided by that panel. This arrangement is especially useful for women who are pregnant, who have larger breasts, who have had breast implants, or who have chronic back problems which are aggravated by wearing a brassiere.  
         [0035]      FIG. 4 , shows a second embodiment of a support brassiere which is generally referred to by the numeral  110 . The support brassiere comprises a relatively wide lower panel  117  preferably in the range of one to three inches in width, and two front panel sections  112 ,  114  are configured to define seamless cups; however, it should be understood that formed cups could be used in another embodiment. A single formed cup also may be used if needed by the wearer. Widths up to about five inches or more may be utilized, depending upon the size and needs of a user. The support brassiere may have the option to close at center  119 , advantageously hook-and-eye options will provide more support for user at closure site. The support brassiere has relatively wide shoulder straps  116 ,  118  which are advantageously in the range of two to five times wider than ordinary bra straps and are comprised of a highly body engaging micro-elastic. As seen in  FIG. 5  the straps also cross over each other at  121  at the back to form a V-shaped back neck portion. The straps  116 ,  118  then extend over panel  117 , as shown at  117   a , and on to the front of the wearer, the same as shown in  FIG. 1 . Ends of the straps  116 ′,  118 ′ are then connected front mid-center of the torso and below the breasts of the wearer via a fastener shown at  120 . It should be understood that any comfortable fastener or tie may be used for the connection; however, the arrangement advantageously should be adjustable.  
         [0036]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of one-half of the support brassiere  110 . In this view, fastener  120  is conveniently formed of VELCRO. Hook-and-eye fasteners, clasps and ties are other examples of convenient fasteners.  
         [0037]     The support brassiere  110  is preferably formed from a multi-directional stretchable material to provide support for both the back and breast of the wearer. Suitable materials include LYCRA blends, advantageously one sold under the trademark TACTEL, or a stretchable fabric sold under the trademark MIRATEX. Another advantageous stretch material may be used which is sold under the trademark PEACH SKIN or PERELA. Preferably a cotton/LYCRA blend is utilized, with the LYCRA content in the range of about 30%-15% and the nylon being 70%-85%. The material, when used in the unique crossing pattern described above, not only provides support for the breasts but also for the back; thereby providing a combination breast support and back brace. The relatively wide straps  116 ,  118  and the back crossing shown at  121 , provide ultimate comfort while adding support to the spinal area most adversely affected by forces transferred from the bra. The straps extend over the wide back panel  117   a , to reinforce the basic support provided by that panel. This arrangement is especially useful for women who are pregnant, who have larger breasts, who have had breast implants, or who have chronic back problems which are aggravated by wearing a brassiere.  
         [0038]     The micro-elastic material used in straps,  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  116 ,  117 , and  118 , is a very soft elastic material; however, its elasticity is less than the elasticity of the NYLON/LYCRA/SPANDEX blend used for the breast support. It is plush and soft to the touch and when used for the borders at the lateral edges of the breast support section, it holds the sections down close to the skin. When used for the straps  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  116 ,  117 , and  118 , the softness allows for maximum comfort.  
         [0039]     It is now deemed apparent that there have been described preferred embodiments of the brassiere and the steps of donning the brassiere. The invention should not be limited to the specific embodiment and steps described, but variations may be made there from without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.