Patent Publication Number: US-10786017-B2

Title: Post-surgical support brassiere

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/153,323 filed May 12, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,993,037, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/160,162, filed May 12, 2015, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     a. Technical Field 
     The instant disclosure relates to articles of clothing, including brassieres, and in particular, the instant disclosure relates to a post-surgical support brassiere, along with other brassieres, that can be adjusted for more or less support purposes. 
     b. Background Art 
     A brassiere or bra is an undergarment configured and designed to support a woman&#39;s breasts. Although seemingly simple in design, a brassiere is much more complicated and a typical brassiere design may have over 20 individual parts, including bands, hooks, cups, lining, and straps. Many mass-produced brassieres are manufactured to fit a standard sized woman, and the design assumes that both of the woman&#39;s breasts are equally sized and symmetrical in shape. 
     Support brassieres typically utilize underwire support structures located beneath the inframammary skinfold of the breasts at the juncture of women&#39;s breasts and her front thoracic torso to shape and support the breasts. 
     However, known brassieres may not adequately support the breasts in the appropriate position for post-surgical or general support needs. Accordingly, known brassieres may not allow for optimum surgical outcomes. For example, known brassieres may not properly prevent symastia, may not properly prevent dislocation of tissue or implants, and may not properly define the width of breast cleavage for post-surgical healing in the proper position. 
     As such there is a need for a brassiere that improves upon known brassieres, including post-surgical brassieres, by providing improved definition of the width of breast cleavage, improved prevention of inferior lateral dislocation of breast tissue or implants, improved definition of the lateral edge of the breast, and improved prevention of symastia following an implant procedure, among other benefits. 
     The foregoing is intended only to illustrate the present technical field and background art and should not be taken as a limitation or disavowal of claim scope. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the present disclosure, an improved apparatus and method is disclosed for an article of clothing, such as a brassiere, for use as a post-surgical support brassiere, or any other brassiere, that can be adjusted for additional support purposes, as necessary. 
     An exemplary embodiment of article of clothing, such as a brassiere, may include a cup, a band configured to secure the cup to the body of a wearer of the article of clothing, and a rigid arcuate element having a lateral end and a central end and coupled to the cup so as to support the cup. The rigid arcuate element may be disposed under the cup so as to be adjustable relative to the cup, wherein the lateral end of the rigid arcuate element is adjustable so as to alter the tension applied to the body by the central end. 
     A brassiere according to the present disclosure may improve upon known brassieres, including post-surgical brassieres, by providing improved definition of the width of breast cleavage, improved prevention of inferior lateral dislocation of breast tissue or implants, improved definition of the lateral edge of the breast, and improved prevention of symastia following an implant procedure, among other benefits. 
     Additional objectives and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art after reading the specification in light of the drawing figures, however, the spirit and scope of the present invention should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic front view of an exemplary embodiment of a brassiere according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic front view of an exemplary embodiment of a brassiere according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a brassiere according to the present disclosure, disposed on a human model. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the brassiere of  FIG. 3 , with an adjustable arcuate element disposed in a first position. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the brassiere of  FIG. 3 , with the adjustable arcuate element disposed in a second position. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the brassiere of  FIG. 3 , with the adjustable arcuate element disposed in a third position. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a brassiere according to the present disclosure and having a monolithic dual-arc rigid arcuate element in a first position. 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of the brassiere of  FIG. 7  with the monolithic dual-arc rigid arcuate element in a second position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As stated herein, the objective of the present disclosure is to provide a detailed description of an apparatus and methods for an article of clothing, such as a brassiere, for use as a post-surgical support brassiere, or any other brassiere, that can be adjusted for additional support purposes, as necessary. As such, in the foregoing discussion, and in particular, the description of the preferred embodiment herein, is intended only to illustrate and explain these objectives and should not be taken as a disavowal of claim scope. 
     Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the same or similar features in the various views,  FIGS. 1 and 2  are schematic front views of an exemplary embodiment of a brassiere  10  according to the present disclosure. The brassiere  10  may find use after a surgical procedure, such as a breast augmentation or reduction. Of course, the brassiere  10  is not limited to post-surgical use; instead, a brassiere  10  according to the present disclosure may find use in everyday wear for certain individuals and in certain embodiments. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the brassiere  10  may include an elastic body or envelope  12  extending laterally and including two lateral bands  14   1 ,  14   2 , two cups  16   1 ,  16   2  (which may be referred to herein collectively as the cups  16  or individually as a cup  16 ), two or more shoulder straps (four such shoulder straps  18   1 ,  18   2 ,  18   3 ,  18   4  are illustrated in  FIG. 2 , which may be referred to herein collectively as the straps  18  or individually as a strap  18 ) and two arcuate rigid elements  20   1 ,  20   2  (illustrated partially and in phantom in  FIG. 2  and which may be referred to herein collectively as the rigid arcuate elements  20  or individually as a rigid arcuate element  20 ). In addition, a plurality of complementary hooks  22  and loops  24  or other fasteners may be provided on the bands  14   1 ,  14   2  for securing the brassiere  10  to the body of the wearer, as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     The straps may include two or more sets of straps  18  extending straight vertically or in a diagonal (e.g., such that two diagonal straps  18  cross each other, such as straps  18   2 ,  18   3  of  FIG. 2 ) configuration. The straps  18  may be adjustable with conventional adjustable sliders. The straps may compress the midline of the chest so as to increase the depth of cleavage and reduce or eliminate symastia, but may not compress the upper inner pole of the breast, in an embodiment. 
     The elastic envelope  12  may be configured to adjustably encircle a wearer&#39;s torso and may support the cups  16  and the rigid arcuate elements  20 . The elastic envelope  12  may be coupled with the straps  18  so as to be vertically supported by the straps  18 . Numerous coupling points may be provided on the elastic envelope for optionally attaching the straps  18  to different points on the elastic envelope  12 , or for removing one or more straps  18  entirely. 
     In an embodiment, the elastic envelope  12  may include one or more pockets for receiving a rigid arcuate element and for maintaining the position of the rigid arcuate element with respect to a cup  16  so that the rigid arcuate element  20  may support the cup  16 . For example, in an embodiment, the elastic envelope  12  may include a pocket under each cup  16 . In an embodiment, the elastic envelope  12  may include a single continuous pocket extending under or about both cups  16  to receive a single monolithic rigid element having two arcuate portions. 
     One, two, or more rigid arcuate elements  20  may be provided to support the cups  16  and to properly position and shape the breasts, in an embodiment. For example, the rigid arcuate elements  20  may be configured to properly position and shape the breasts for post-surgical recovery. Each rigid arcuate element  20  may be configured for insertion into a pocket provided in the elastic envelope  12 , in an embodiment. Additionally or alternatively, a rigid arcuate element  20  may be configured to be coupled to the elastic envelope  12  in some other fashion. A rigid arcuate element  20  may comprise a metallic or polymer wire, bar, or similar structure, in an embodiment. 
     Each rigid arcuate element  20  may be coupled with the elastic envelope  12  in such a fashion as to be adjustable relative to the envelope  12 , to the cups  16 , and/or to the wearer&#39;s body. For example, each rigid arcuate element  20  may be configured for adjustment to one of two or more positions, with the different positions providing different levels of support, different shapes for the breasts, different positions for the breasts, etc. Such adjustment is illustrated in and described with respect to  FIGS. 3-8  for two separate embodiments of a rigid arcuate element. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a brassiere  10  according to the present disclosure, disposed on a human model.  FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary rigid arcuate element  20  in the form of a metallic wire having a central end  26  terminating in the wearer&#39;s breastplate and a lateral end  28  extending to the wearer&#39;s side. The rigid arcuate element extends below the cup in a pocket  30  provided by the elastic envelope  12 . The rigid arcuate element  20  may be rotatable within the pocket  30 , such that rotatable adjustment of the rigid arcuate element  20  causes the central end  26  of the rigid arcuate element  20  to move towards or away from the wearer&#39;s breastplate or, if the central end  26  is in contact with the wearer, to increase or decrease the amount of pressure applied to the wearer&#39;s breastplate by the central end  26  of the rigid arcuate element  20 . 
     This adjustment may provide varying amounts of projection, upper pole fullness, and areola projection, in an embodiment. The lateral end  28  of the rigid arcuate element  20  may be secured to the elastic envelope  12  at a desired position with one or more fasteners (not shown), in an embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , an interface layer  32  may be provided adjacent to and between the rigid arcuate element  20  and the wearer&#39;s body. The interface layer  32  may comprise a lateral end  38  and a central end  36  that correspond with the lateral end  28  and the central end  26  of the rigid arcuate element  20 , in an embodiment. The interface layer  32  may be provided between the elastic envelope  12  and the wearer&#39;s body, in an embodiment. Additionally or alternatively, the interface layer  32  may be provided between the rigid arcuate element  20  and the elastic envelope  12 , in an embodiment. 
     Similar to the rigid arcuate element  20  described herein in association with  FIGS. 3-6 , in an embodiment, two separate interface layers  32  may be provided, one associated with each cup  16 . Such separate interface  32  layers may separately apply pressure to the breastplate of the wearer depending on the rotatable adjustment of each rigid arcuate element  20 , if the rigid arcuate elements  20  are separate and adjusted differently relative to each other. 
     Further, the two interface layers  32  described above may be connected at their respective central ends  36  to create a single continuous, monolithic interface layer. Regardless of separate or continuous configuration, the interface layer may be or may include a firm material, such as Kevlar™ or a similar metallic material, or may be or include a fabric or other textile, in an embodiment. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the brassiere  10  of  FIG. 3 , with the arcuate element  20  disposed in a first position.  FIG. 5  is a side view of the brassiere  10  with the arcuate element  20  disposed in a second position.  FIG. 6  is a side view of the brassiere  10  with the adjustable arcuate element  20  disposed in a third position. The three different positions illustrated in  FIGS. 4, 5, and 6  are achieved through rotation of the arcuate element  20  within the pocket  30 . 
     The lateral portion  28  of the rigid arcuate element  20  (i.e., the portion visible in  FIGS. 4-6 ) may provide improved prevention of inferior lateral dislocation of tissue or an implant. The lateral portion  28  of the rigid arcuate element  20  may additionally define the lateral edge of the breast and create an axillary hollow. 
     The three different positions illustrated in  FIGS. 4, 5, and 6  may provide three different amounts of pressure of the central end  26  of the arcuate element  20  (not shown in  FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 ) on the wearer&#39;s breastbone, as well as three different positions for preventing lateral displacement of tissue or an implant. The present disclosure is not limited to the three positions as shown and disclosed herein as the preferred embodiment, but may include more or less positions, as necessary, and can also be continuously variable, as opposed to specific locations. 
     In an embodiment, two separate rigid arcuate elements  20   1 ,  20   2  may be provided, one associated with each cup  16 . Such separate rigid arcuate elements  20   1 ,  20   2  may be separately adjustable, in an embodiment, and may separately apply pressure to the breastplate of the wearer. The rigid arcuate elements  20   1 ,  20   2  (i.e., the center end portions  26  of each) may be adjusted relative to each other to define a desired cleavage and central separation. 
       FIG. 7  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a brassiere  10  according to the present disclosure and having a continuous, monolithic dual-arc rigid arcuate element  20   d  in a first position. A single rigid arcuate element  20   1  is also illustrated in  FIG. 7  for comparison.  FIG. 8  is a front view of the brassiere  10  of  FIG. 7  with the monolithic dual-arc rigid arcuate element  20   d  in a second position. The monolithic rigid element  20   d  may function similarly to the separate rigid arcuate elements  20   1 ,  20   2  described above, but may allow for only a single position common to both breasts. 
     The central portion  26   d  of the monolithic rigid element may include a junction of two arcuate portions  34   1 ,  34   2 , which central portion  26   d  may apply variable pressure to the wearer&#39;s breastplate (with a position of greater pressure illustrated in  FIG. 8 ). The central portion  26   d  of the dual-arc rigid arcuate element  20   d  may define a separation between the two arcuate portions  34   1 ,  34   2 , which separation may be adjustable, as also shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
     Reference throughout the specification to “various embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “one embodiment,” or “an embodiment”, or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in various embodiments,” “in some embodiments,” “in one embodiment,” or “in an embodiment”, or the like, in places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
     Further, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Thus, the particular features, structures, or characteristics illustrated or described in connection with one embodiment may be combined, in whole or in part, with the features structures, or characteristics of one or more other embodiments without limitation given that such combination is not illogical or non-functional. Although numerous embodiments of this invention have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. 
     All directional references (e.g., plus, minus, upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader&#39;s understanding of the present disclosure, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the any aspect of the disclosure. 
     As used herein, the phrased “configured to,” “configured for,” and similar phrases indicate that the subject device, apparatus, or system is designed and/or constructed (e.g., through appropriate hardware, software, and/or components) to fulfill one or more specific object purposes, not that the subject device, apparatus, or system is merely capable of performing the object purpose. Joinder references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and the like) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 
     Any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in whole or in part, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein is incorporated herein only to the extent that the incorporated materials does not conflict with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth in this disclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth herein will only be incorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between that incorporated material and the existing disclosure material.