Patent Publication Number: US-2010120329-A1

Title: Brassiere

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to relates to brassieres. More particularly, the present invention relates to a brassiere with a memory foam support system for large breasted women. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There are numerous brassieres that make small busted women look and feel bigger by adding padding and inserts, which push the breast up and create cleavage. Alternatively, there are brassieres that minimize the bust of large breasted women to make them appear smaller. A minimizer bra pushes the breasts into the body and under the arms creating absolutely no cleavage for the wearer. 
     The use of underwire elements for shaping and supporting the lower periphery of brassiere or bra cups has long been known in the art. The drawbacks associated with conventional underwire frames are that they can wear through the material of a brassiere over time and cause damage to the clothing of the wearer, they must be individually shaped to comfortably correspond to the extent of the wearer&#39;s bust, they are relatively stiff, they may cause discomfort, and a lack of adaptability to the needs of various users. 
     For large breasted women wearing a conventional bra is often uncomfortable. A tight strap is put around the rib cage and fastened under the breasts. Straps are attached and then placed over the shoulders. Gravity pulls the breasts down and the straps pull the bra up. The straps dig into the shoulders of the wearer from the heavy weight of the breasts. This causes constant readjustment of the garment. The weight of large breasts may be unbalancing and may cause neck and back pain and headaches. 
     In light of the foregoing, there is a need for a brassiere for women with large breasts that is comfortable to wear, resilient, and adequately supports the breasts of the wearer. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is a goal of the present invention to provide a brassiere that overcomes the above noted drawbacks. 
     It is another goal of the present invention to provide a brassiere with a cushioned support platform that provides improved comfort, support, and feminine allure. 
     It is still another goal of the present invention to provide a brassiere with a cushioned support platform that avoids having a thick appearance and/or a stiff, rigid feel. 
     It is yet another goal of the present invention to provide a cushioned support platform that may be used in a number of different sized brassieres. 
     It is a further goal of the present invention to provide a cushioned support platform that may be conveniently assembled in the brassiere. 
     These and other advantages of the present invention are achieved by inserting shaped memory foam into the bottom of the cups of the brassiere. Memory foam is polyurethane with additional chemicals that increase its viscosity and density. It is often referred to as visco-elastic polyurethane foam. In some formulations, it is firmer when cooler. Higher density memory foam reacts to body heat, allowing it to mould to a warm human body in a few minutes. A lower density memory foam is pressure-sensitive and moulds quickly to the shape of the body. 
     The memory foam is covered in a fabric that wicks moisture away from the body. The fabric may be made of synthetics, such as polyester, polypropylene, natural fabrics, such as wool and silk, or they may be blends of natural and synthetic fabric. 
     The memory foam provides a platform that supports and holds the breasts in a natural position which relieves stress on the straps and pain from the shoulders and back of the wearer. The memory foam conforms to the shape of the wearer&#39;s breast as the weight of the breasts compresses the foam. The straps of the brassiere rest on the shoulders and stay there. The brassiere is made from fabric that stretches in only one direction. Representative fabrics include, but are not limited to, spandex and elastane. This allows for controlled movement in the desired direction. 
     The brassiere is made with as few as three pieces of fabric, a front closure device and two pieces of shaped memory foam. The fabric does not need hemming on the edges which makes for a smoother silhouette across the back and shoulders of the wearer. The upper cup of the bra will be made of foam ply. The cups of the brassiere hold the foam in place under the breasts of the wearer. 
     The wearer slips their arms into the bra and closes it at the front of the bust using the front closure device. Each breast is lifted, one at a time, and placed into one of the cups and onto the covered shaped memory foam such that the foam is positioned under the breast. The memory foam acts as a shelf or platform upon which the breast rests. The memory foam does not add any bulk to the shape of the cup. Gravity and the weight of the breasts compress the memory foam and hold them comfortably in an uplifted, natural position. The memory foam platform or shelf bears the weight which in the past has been borne by the shoulders. 
     The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and not to limit the scope of the inventive subject matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention description below refers to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the brassiere of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a horizontal front close up view of the shaped memory foam of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2B  is a vertical front close up view of the shaped memory foam of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a wearer with no brassiere illustrating the breast in its natural position. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a wearer with the shaped memory foam positioned under the breast. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a wearer illustrating the brassiere of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings and, in particular,  FIG. 1 , there is provided a brassiere according to the present invention, generally represented by reference numeral  10 . Brassiere  10  has a body with a pair of breast cups  12 , a pair of memory foam inserts  11 , one insert of each pair being positioned in the bottom of each breast cup  12 , and a torso encircling panel  14  with two ends, each end connected to an outer edge of breast cup  12 . Brassiere  10  also has a pair of shoulder straps  13 , each connected to a different breast cup  12  and torso encircling panel  14 . Closure device (not shown) is positioned between the breast cups. 
     Torso encircling panel  14  is made from fabric that stretches in only one direction. Representative fabrics include, but are not limited to, spandex, elastane, natural rubber/latex/nylon fabric, or any other material known in the art. This allows for controlled movement in the desired direction. 
     Breast cups  12  may be formed by methods commonly known in the art such as by molding, stretch molding, cutting and sewing, or circularly knitting. Breast cups  12  may be made from cotton, nylon, one or more elastic or inelastic yarns, or any other material known in the art. The upper part of breast cup  12  will be made of foam ply. 
     The closure device is formed from a suitable resilient material, such as a thermoplastic or a metal, and is durable and capable of repeated usage. The closure device may be one or more hook and loop fasteners, one or more buttons, one or more hook and eye fasteners, one or more clasps, one or more magnets, a zipper, or any other closure device known in the art. The closure device allows the wearer to selectively open and selectively close the brassiere  10  in a comfortable manner without any abrasions or uncomfortable sensation. 
     When brassiere  10  is being worn, the wearer slips their arms into the shoulder straps  13 . Each breast is lifted, one at a time, and placed into one of the cups and onto the covered shaped memory foam insert  11  such that foam insert  11  is positioned under the breast. The wearer will pull the ends of torso encircling panel  14  together so that they are in contact with one another. The wearer then closes brassiere  10  at the front of the bust using the closure device. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrates the shaped memory foam insert  11  in a horizontal and vertical position respectively. Memory foam insert  11  is approximately 10½ inches in length. The wide end of memory foam insert  11  is positioned toward the back of the wearer, while the tapered end of memory foam insert  11  is positioned toward the center of the chest. 
     Memory foam is polyurethane with additional chemicals that increase its viscosity and density. It is often referred to as visco-elastic polyurethane foam. In some formulations, it is firmer when cooler. Higher density memory foam reacts to body heat, allowing it to mould to a warm human body in a few minutes. A lower density memory foam is pressure-sensitive and moulds quickly to the shape of the body. The memory foam insert is covered in a fabric (not shown) that wicks moisture away from the body. The fabric may be made of synthetics, such as polyester, polypropylene, natural fabrics, such as wool and silk, or they may be blends of natural and synthetic fabric. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of a wearer with no brassiere illustrating the breast in its natural position. Women with large breasts suffer with severe pain, deteriorating posture, and are at risk for spinal deformity and other repetitive stress injuries to the shoulders and upper extremities due to their proportionately large breasts. These problems result from changes in the normal anatomical structure caused by the excess weight on the chest and weak muscular support. Very large breasts not only can cause a reduction in the normal curve of the upper and mid-back region but will potentially also cause severe low back pain. When the upper vertebrae of the spine are altered, the lower vertebrae then assume more stress. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of a wearer with memory foam insert  11  positioned under the breast. Memory foam insert  11  provides a platform that supports and holds the breasts in a natural position. The memory foam conforms to the shape of the wearer&#39;s breast. Gravity and the weight of the breasts compress memory foam insert  11  and holds the breasts comfortably in an uplifted position. Memory foam insert  11  bears the weight which in the past has been borne by the shoulders. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of a wearer illustrating the brassiere. The positioning of memory foam insert  11  in the bottom of cup  12  provides a platform that supports the breasts and relieves stress on straps  13  and pain from the shoulders and back of the wearer. Straps  13  of brassiere  10  rest on the shoulders of the wearer and stay there. Cups  12  of brassiere  10  hold memory foam insert  11  in place under the breasts of the wearer. 
     The foregoing has been a detailed description of illustrative embodiments of the invention. Various modifications and additions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope if this invention. Each of the various embodiments described above may be combined with other described embodiments in order to provide multiple features. Furthermore, while the foregoing describes a number of separate embodiments of the apparatus and method of the present invention, what has been described herein is merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Accordingly, this description is meant to be taken only by way of example, and not to otherwise limit the scope of this invention.