Patent Publication Number: US-2021186125-A1

Title: Supportive undergarment and sports bra system

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/950,332, filed Dec. 19, 2019, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is generally directed toward an undergarment configured to restrain upward movement of the wearer&#39;s breast while the wearer engages in various physical activities, such as athletics or horseback riding, that might otherwise subject the wearer to discomfort to due excessive bodily movement. The supportive undergarment is configured to be worn in conjunction with, but remain independent from, a conventional bra, such as a sports bra. 
     Description of the Prior Art 
     Conventional bras are constructed to provide support to the wearer&#39;s breasts and help achieve a desired aesthetic appearance. As the woman&#39;s breast size increases, more support is required to achieve these objectives. Some bras, particularly those configured for women with larger bust sizes, comprise an underwire to provide cantilevered support for the wearer&#39;s breasts. Underwire bras can provide adequate support to the underside of the breast and restrain downward movement of the breast tissue during physical activities. Conventional bras may also comprise fabrics configured to restrain lateral movement of breast tissue. However, conventional bras generally do not provide much in the way of support that will restrain upward movement of the wearer&#39;s breast tissue. This further leads to the problem of downward movement of the breast tissue, from an elevated position due to unrestrained upward movement, thereby causing the breasts to “slam” down into the cantilevered bra support. 
     Sports bras were developed to provide compressive support for the wearer&#39;s breast and to inhibit breast movement during physical activities that might otherwise be uncomfortable for the wearer. Sports bras may also be constructed with an underwire to provide enhanced support restraining downward movement of the breast. However, for those with larger bust sizes, the compressive support provided for the upper margins of the breasts is generally inadequate as the wearer can still be subject to considerable discomfort when engaging in physical activities. The end result is that the motion of the breast tissue does not match up with the motion of the rest of the body, which can result in discomfort for the wearer. 
     To compensate, some women resort to wearing more than one sports bra at a time. However, while such can provide improved support, often such added support is merely redundant of the cantilevered and compressive support and fails to address upward movement of the breast tissue. Thus, this work around is still insufficient to prevent wearer discomfort and can actually cause the wearer some discomfort by providing double support in areas that do not require it and causing over-compression of the ribcage making breathing uncomfortable during exercise. 
     U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0098940 is directed toward a pressure-distributing undergarment that redirects momentum related to a wearer&#39;s accelerating movements. However, this undergarment is constructed as a single piece through a three-dimensional knitting process. While such a process allows for an undergarment with minimal seams and finishing, there is no adjustability to the amount of compression provided to specific portions of the wearer&#39;s breasts. Thus, what may be sufficient support for one type of activity could be insufficient for another type of activity. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,191 is directed toward jogging support garments for the upper female anatomy. While embodiments described in the &#39;191 patent may permit some degree of compression adjustability, when worn by a woman with a large bust, to achieve the necessary compressive force to minimize breast tissue movement, the wearer&#39;s entire rib case is compressed which can affect the wearer&#39;s ability to breathe comfortably. 
     Therefore, a need exists in the art for a supportive undergarment that overcomes these shortcoming of convention bras and is capable of providing adequate support for the upper portions of the wearer&#39;s breasts and restrains the upward movement of the breast tissue during physical activities. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide an undergarment that is configured to support to the upper margins of the wearer&#39;s breasts and restrain upward movement of breast tissue during physical activities. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a supportive undergarment comprising a front portion, a back portion, a lower band, at least one anchor member, and a pair of support strap sections. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a supportive undergarment comprising a front portion having a pair of breast-receiving sections configured to overlie at least a portion of a wearer&#39;s breasts, and a back portion configured to overlie the wearer&#39;s back. A lower band is attached to the front and back portions at a lower margin thereof. The lower band is positioned beneath the pair of breast-receiving sections and configured to circumscribe at least a portion of the wearer&#39;s rib cage. At least one anchor member is attached to the lower band at a location that is in between the pair of breast-receiving sections. The undergarment further comprises a pair of support strap sections, each of which have a fixed end that is secured to the front portion. The pair of the support strap sections are connectable to the at least one anchor member under tension. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a system for restraining movement of breast tissue. The system comprises a bra having a pair of cups that are configured to provide support to the lateral sides and undersides of a wearer&#39;s breasts and restrain lateral and downward movement thereof, and a supportive undergarment that is substantially independent of and configured to overlie or underlie the bra. The supportive undergarment is configured to restrain upward movement of the wearer&#39;s breasts and comprises a front portion having a pair of breast-receiving sections configured to overlie at least a portion of the wearer&#39;s breasts, a lower band attached to the front portion at a lower margin thereof and positioned beneath the pair of breast-receiving sections, and at least one anchor member attached to the lower band at a location that is in between the pair of breast-receiving sections. The supportive undergarment further comprises a pair of support strap sections, each of which has a fixed end that is secured to the front portion. The pair of support strap sections are connectable to the at least one anchor member under tension. 
     In still another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of restraining movement of breast tissue. The method comprises donning a supportive undergarment over or underneath a bra. The supportive undergarment comprises a front portion having two breast-receiving sections, and a lower band attached to the front portion and positioned below the two breast-receiving sections. The supportive undergarment further comprises at least one anchor member attached to the lower band at a location that is in between the two breast-receiving sections, and a pair of supportive strap sections. Each of the supportive strap sections has a fixed end secured to the front portion. The fixed ends are attached to the front portion at opposed outboard margins thereof and above the breast-receiving sections. The supportive strap sections are extended over the upper portions of the wearer&#39;s breasts. The supportive strap sections are anchored to the at least one anchor member while the supportive strap sections are under tension thereby providing compression to the upper portions of the wearer&#39;s breasts. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a supportive undergarment according to the present invention being worn in conjunction with a conventional sports bra; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the supportive undergarment of  FIG. 1 , with the supportive straps unsecured; 
         FIG. 3  is a back view of the supportive undergarment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is front perspective view of the supportive undergarment of  FIG. 1  with the supportive straps being inserted through respective anchor members; 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the supportive undergarment of  FIG. 1  with the supportive straps being placed under tension and ready for the strap free ends to be fastened to the strap proximate the strap fixed ends; 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the free ends of the supportive straps are fastened atop the supportive undergarment lower band; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the supportive undergarment of  FIG. 6  with the supportive straps unsecured; 
         FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of the supportive undergarment of  FIG. 6  with one of the supportive straps secured to the lower band; and 
         FIG. 9  is a further embodiment of the present invention in which the supportive straps extending across the upper margin of the wearer&#39;s breasts are anchored to the supportive undergarment&#39;s lower band using a single fastener. 
     
    
    
     While the drawings do not necessarily provide exact dimensions or tolerances for the illustrated components or structures, the drawings are to scale with respect to the relationships between the components of the structures illustrated in the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now to the Figures, and in particular to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a supportive undergarment made in accordance with the concepts of the present invention  10  is illustrated. Undergarment  10  generally comprises a front portion  12  adapted to be worn over the wearer&#39;s chest, and a back portion  14  adapted to be worn over the wearer&#39;s back. The front and back portions cooperatively define a pair of shoulder straps  16  configured to be worn over the wearer&#39;s shoulders. It is noted that front and back portions  12 ,  14  may be formed from separate sheets of fabric that are stitched together, or the portions may comprise a single woven piece of fabric and the portions comprise sections of the single woven piece that are configured to overlie front and back portions of the wearer&#39;s body. It is further noted that neither the front nor back portions  12 , 14  must comprise a single, solid piece of fabric. Rather, it is within the scope of the present invention for either the front or back portions to be formed of various strips, straps (e.g., braided straps), cords or other structures that are commonly used in the garment industry. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the front portion  12  comprises breast-receiving sections  18 ,  20  that are configured to overlie at least a portion of the wearer&#39;s breasts. In certain embodiments, sections  18 ,  20  may comprise cutouts that are defined by respective margins  22 ,  24 . Margins  22 ,  24  may comprise fabric bands  25  that have been sewn to front panel  12  to prevent fraying of the fabric from which front panel  12  is comprised and/or to provide for the wearer&#39;s comfort. However, it is within the scope of the present invention for the breast-receiving sections  18 ,  20  to comprise fabric panels configured to cover the portions of wearer&#39;s breasts received in sections  18 ,  20 . A lower band  26  is attached to the front and back portions at a lower margin  28  thereof. In certain embodiments, the lower band  26  may be sewn into or underneath the front and back portions  12 ,  14  so that the band material does not directly contact the wearer&#39;s body. Lower band  26  is positioned beneath breast-receiving sections  18 ,  20  and is configured to circumscribe at least a portion of the wearer&#39;s rib cage. Preferably, lower band  26  is constructed from a material having a relatively high tensile strength when compared to the material from which most front and back portions  12 ,  14  is comprised. As described in greater detail below, lower band  26  is configured to receive and distribute to the wearer&#39;s body various tensile forces acting within undergarment  10 . In preferred embodiments, lower band comprises a mildly stretchable, elastic material. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in certain embodiments undergarment  10  may comprise a closeable slit  30  formed at an interface between the front and back portions  12 ,  14 , which permits easier donning and removal of undergarment  10 . As illustrated, slit  30  can be closed with a zipper  32 , although any fastener system known in the art, such as hook and eye fasteners, snap or button fasteners, and hook and loop fasteners, can be used. 
     Undergarment  10  also comprises a pair of elongate supportive strap sections  34 ,  36  that comprise fixed ends  38 ,  40  and free ends  42 ,  44 , respectively. Fixed ends  38 ,  40  are secured to front portion  12 , preferably in the upper region thereof, and most preferably at shoulder straps  16 . In preferred embodiments, fixed ends  38  and  40  are attached to front portion outboard edges  46 ,  48  and lengthwise across shoulder strap lateral margins  50 ,  52 , respectively. In certain embodiments, supportive strap sections,  34 ,  36  are tapered so that their widths narrow as free ends  42 ,  44  are approached, although this need not always be the case. In certain embodiments, the elongate support strap sections  34 ,  36  comprise a material that has a higher tensile strength than that of the material from which front and back portions  12 ,  14  are formed. Supportive strap sections  34 ,  36  may be formed from a single strip of fabric, or they may comprise several straps, braided straps, cords, or other similar structures. 
     Undergarment  10  further comprises at least one, and preferably two, anchor members  54 ,  56 . Anchor members  54 ,  56  preferably are attached to the lower band  26  at locations between the breast-receiving sections  18 ,  20 . As such, anchor members  54 ,  56  are configured to overlie the wearer&#39;s xiphoid process when the undergarment is being worn. As illustrated, each anchor member  54 ,  56  comprises a pair of D-rings  58 ; however, other types of fasteners could be used and still achieve the same objective. Each of the support strap sections  34 ,  36  are connectable to a respective anchor member, as explained below. Anchor members  54 ,  56  permit the support strap sections  34 ,  36  to be placed in tension thereby providing compressive support to the portion of the wearer&#39;s breasts that underlie upper front portion sections  60 ,  62 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the right support strap section  34  (from the wearer&#39;s perspective) is configured to be connected to left anchor member  58  by inserting the strap section  34  through the pair of D-rings  58 . Once inserted through the D-rings, the strap section  34  can be placed under the desired amount of tension, corresponding to the physical activity the wearer is contemplating, by pulling free end  42  taut. Once placed under tension, free end  42  is then fastened to a section of support strap section  34  (See  FIG. 1 ) while maintaining the tension within the strap section. As illustrated, free end  42  and fixed end  38  may be equipped with hook and loop fastener material  64 ,  66 , although any type of fastener known to those of skill in the art can be used. The wearer&#39;s left support strap section  36  is then connected to right anchor member  54  in a manner like that described above for strap section  34 . Once attached to anchor member  54  under the desired tension, free end  44  can be secured to an area of strap section  36  with hook and loop fastening material  68 ,  70 . It is preferred that the free end  42 ,  44  of each support strap section be configured to fasten to its respective support strap section at a location that is above a respective breast-receiving section  18 ,  20 . In such embodiments, the point of attachment of free ends  42 ,  44  may overlie upper front portion sections  60 ,  62 . Alternatively, the point of attachment of free ends  42 ,  44  may overlie fixed ends  38 ,  40  and/or shoulder straps  16 . 
     Because the tension applied to strap sections  34 ,  36  is distributed to lower band  26  via anchor members  54 ,  56 , lower band  26  may comprise a segment of reinforcing material in that portion of the band underlying the anchor members. Preferably, the reinforcing material is configured to add extra strength to the lower band  26  and prevent excessive and undesirable deformation of the band in this region. 
     In the embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , back portion  14  may be configured to cover a large portion of the wearer&#39;s upper back. As explained in greater detail below, undergarment  10  is configured to be worn over a conventional bra, especially a sports bra, and back portion may be adapted to cover substantially all of the bra material overlying the wearer&#39;s back and shoulders. By configuring back portion  14  in this manner, the forces acting upon undergarment  10 , and back portion  14  in particular, can be distributed over a greater surface area thereby avoiding excessive compounding of forces acting upon the wearer&#39;s back by the underlying bra, which may cause discomfort for the wearer. Likewise, it is preferable for lower band  26  to be configured so that it circumscribes the wearer&#39;s torso at a position that is below (inferior to) the lower margin of the underlying bra, and especially below any underwires associated with the bra cups. In these embodiments, it is desirable to minimize unnecessary duplication or compounding of breast-supporting forces, which could be uncomfortable for the wearer. It is noted, however, that back portion  14  need not cover a large region of or contiguous areas of the wearer&#39;s back. It is within the scope of the present invention for back portion  14  to comprise strips of fabric, braided straps, cords, or other structures that permit back portion  14  to have a fanciful design. In addition, undergarment  10  may be configured to be worn underneath a conventional bra. 
     In certain embodiments, the front portion  12  and the back portion  14  may be made from a nylon and spandex blend of material. In certain embodiments, the material may comprise at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, or 80%, but less than 95%, 90%, 85%, or 80% nylon. In certain embodiments, the material may comprise at least 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20%, but less than 40%, 35%, 30%, or 25% spandex. In one embodiment, the fabric comprises a 72%/28% blend of nylon/spandex. It is noted that it is within the scope of the present invention for other types of fabric to be used in the construction of front portion  12  and back portion  14 . Exemplary materials include those comprising neoprene, aramid fibers, and other natural and synthetic fibers. Support strap sections  34 ,  36  can be made of similar materials as can be used to construct the front and back portions  12 ,  14 . However, as mentioned previously, it is preferred that the materials from which support strap sections  34 ,  36  are constructed have higher tensile strengths than the front and back portions  12 ,  14 . 
     The supportive undergarment  10  preferably comprises one component of a system for restraining movement of breast tissue. As mentioned previously, undergarment  10  is configured to be worn over, or in certain embodiments underneath, a conventional bra, especially an underwire-containing sports bra. An exemplary system  72  is depicted in  FIG. 1 . A bra  74  comprising a pair of cups  76 ,  78  is worn against the wearer&#39;s body and provides support to the lateral sides and undersides of the wearer&#39;s breasts. The bra  74  is configured to restrain lateral and downward movement of the wearer&#39;s breasts during physical activity. Supportive undergarment  10  is configured to be worn over bra  74  and, preferably, is independent therefrom. By “independent” it is meant that undergarment  10  and bra  74  are not fastened or secured to each other. Undergarment  10  and bra  74  are configured to restrain different directions of breast tissue movement. In order to provide the best support, the forces acting upon each article should not be transmitted to the other as this could interfere with the function of each article. For example, undergarment  10  is configured to provide a compressive force to the breast tissue in a generally downward (i.e., inferior) direction, and bra  74  is configured to provide cantilevered support to the underside of the breast (i.e., in a generally upward or superior direction). If undergarment  10  and bra  74  are not independent of each other, these directionally opposite forces would be distributed across both articles thereby affecting each article&#39;s ability to function as designed. While less preferred, it is within the scope of the present invention for undergarment  10  and bra  74  to be connected in some limited manner. However, such connections should be provided in a manner that is least likely to interfere with the function of each article and still permit substantial independent movement of the undergarment and bra. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , breast-receiving sections  18 ,  20  overlie the bra cups  76 ,  78  and, when sections  18 ,  20  comprise cutouts, permit the cups to extend therethrough. Since bra  74  preferably restrains downward and lateral (side-to-side) breast movement, in certain embodiments front panel  12  provides less support to the lateral and medial sides and undersides of the wearer&#39;s breasts than does bra  74 . This feature permits front portion  12  to be constructed from a more stretchable material and reduces the likelihood of creating pressure points on the wearer&#39;s body through the compounding of breast-supporting forces. 
     Certain bras, like underwire-containing bra  74 , are configured to impart desired aesthetic qualities to the wearer&#39;s breasts, giving the breast a certain shape. Because undergarment  10  only restrains the upward movement of the wearer&#39;s breast tissue, undergarment  10  preferably does not interfere with the bra&#39;s functionality in this regard and does not alter the shape given to the wearer&#39;s breasts by the bra. 
     In use, the wearer dons supportive undergarment  10  over bra  74 . However, as described above, it is within the scope of the present invention for undergarment  10  to be worn underneath bra  74 . Preferably, lower band  26  is positioned below the cups of bra  74 , and if underwires are present, lower band  26  ought to be worn below and not on top (or directly under) of the underwires. The wearer then extends one of the supportive strap sections  34  over the upper portion of one of the wearer&#39;s breasts toward anchor member  56 , and the other supportive strap section  36  toward anchor member  54 . Each of the supportive strap sections  34 ,  36  is attached to its respective anchor member  56 ,  54 . In particular, free end  42  is passed through D-rings  58  of anchor member  56 , and free end  44  is passed through D-rings  58  of anchor member  54 . The wearer then pulls on each strap section  34 ,  36  to apply a tensile force that compresses the upper portions of the wearer&#39;s breasts (i.e., the upper breast root). The anchor members  54 ,  56  function to maintain the tensile force within the strap sections  34 ,  36  even though the wearer is no longer actively pulling on the straps and to transfer those forces into the lower band  26 . The free ends  42 ,  44  of each strap section are fastened onto a section of the respective strap section, preferably at a location above the breast-receiving sections  18 ,  20 . The fasteners  64 - 70  help maintain the tension within strap sections  34 ,  36  by keeping the strap section and anchor member connection from loosening. The compression applied to the upper breast root by strap section  34 ,  36  arrests upward movement of the wearer&#39;s breast tissue while the wearer is engaged in physical activity. Bra  74  provides cantilevered support to the underside of the wearer&#39;s breasts thereby restraining downward breast movement. In addition, bra  74  may be configured to restrain lateral breast motion by providing support to the lateral and medial sides of the wearer&#39;s breasts. 
       FIGS. 6-8  depict another embodiment of a supportive undergarment  110  made in accordance with the present invention. This embodiment is similar to that illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5  in many respects, and for expediency, only the differences between the embodiments are discussed below. Common elements between the two embodiments bear the same reference numbers. In this embodiment, the support strap sections  34 ,  36  are secured to the lower band  26  rather than being secured to themselves at a location that is above breast receiving sections  18 ,  20 . Undergarment  110  is equipped with a pair of hooks  80  located in a similar position as D-rings  58  from the previous embodiment. Each supportive strap section is passed through a respective hook  80 , which is located opposite the side of the fixed end  38 ,  40  of the strap section, and then fastened to lower band  26  underneath a respective breast receiving section  18 ,  20  using, for example, a hook fastener material  82 ,  84 . Thus, in use, the wearer anchors the supportive strap sections  34 ,  36  to the lower band  26  at two locations (i.e., hooks  80  and fastener  82 ), while placing the strap sections in tension to provide a compressive force to the wearer&#39;s upper breast. By anchoring the strap sections in these locations, the tendency for the lower band to ride up the wearer&#39;s torso is lessened and a more secure, comfortable fit for garment  110  is provided. 
     As illustrated, supportive undergarment  110  is worn over a conventional bra  72 . However, it is within the scope of the present invention for undergarment  110  to be worn underneath bra  72  up against the wearer&#39;s skin. In addition, breast-receiving sections  18 ,  20  may comprise fabric panels or cutouts (as illustrated). 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a further embodiment of a supportive undergarment  210  made in accordance with the present invention. Undergarment  210  is similar in many respects to undergarments  10 ,  110  described above. Therefore, for the sake of expedience, only the relevant differences between the embodiments are discussed below. Undergarment  210  comprises supportive strap sections  234 ,  236  that are configured to restrain upward movement of the wearer&#39;s breasts much like strap sections  34 ,  36  described above. However, instead of each strap section comprising a free end that is independently connectable to an anchor member, strap sections  234 ,  236  are connectable to a common anchor member  254  via a common strap segment  242 . As illustrated, anchor member  254  comprises a buckle  256  into which a latch  258  may be inserted. One or both of buckle  256  and latch  258  may be adjustable so that the amount of tension placed upon strap sections  234 ,  236  can be varied according to the wearer&#39;s preferences. Alternatively anchor member  254  may comprise a hook similar to hook  80  illustrated in  FIGS. 6-8 , and the distal end of strap segment  242  may comprise a loop, which can be fixed or adjustable. 
     In certain embodiments, supportive undergarment  210  may be configured to be worn underneath a conventional bra  74 . In such embodiments, it is preferable for breast-receiving sections  18 ,  20  to comprise a fabric panel, although this need not always be the case and breast-receiving sections  18 ,  20  may also comprise cutouts. Supportive undergarment  210  may also be configured to be worn over a conventional bra  74  like the above-described embodiments.