Patent Publication Number: US-2019174840-A1

Title: Bra

Description:
PRIORITY 
     Claim Priority to Provisional Patent Application 
     This application is a non-provisional utility patent application claiming priority to previously filed provisional patent application titled “BRA” and having application No. 62/596,614 and filed on Dec. 8, 2017. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The bra described and depicted herein relates to a support garment. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     For decades now, the bra has been developed to provide a basic level of support to breasts during every day activities. More recently, sports bras have been developed to provide support and minimize the movement of breasts during physical activity. Control of motion of the breasts during activity is important, as it reduces pain and injury to the breast tissue. Two primary approaches have been taken to accomplish this, the compression-type approach and the encapsulation-type approach. These approaches aim to minimize movement of the breasts either by compressing the breast to the chest of the wearer by a compression fabric or by encapsulating the breast in a molded cup and supporting each breast individually, respectively. 
     The inevitable goal of any sports bra is to comfortably reduce, resist, and/or restrict multi-directional breast displacement, including side-to-side (horizontal) movement, up-and-down (vertical) movement, and forwards-backwards movement. However, no existing version of the sports bra comfortably prevents movement of the breasts in all directions during physical activity. Furthermore, current bras are still severely inadequate for large breasted women. Therefore, a need exists for a bra capable of comfortably restricting breast movement during physical activity of all varieties. 
     SUMMARY 
     The brassiere (referred to herein as “bra”) described herein includes a garment designed to provide breast restriction and support to women of all breast size, but particularly women with large breasts. This disclosure often refers to “breast” to indicate the support provided to each breast, but, whether referred to in the plural or singular form, this disclosure should be understood to mean one or more of the wearer&#39;s breasts. Similarly, this disclosure is applicable for wearers who have either one or two breasts and, for wearers having two breasts, the bra disclosed herein can accommodate breasts that are the same or different sizes from one another. 
     One aspect of the bra is to provide compression and support of breast tissue during physical activities in which the breasts are likely to experience some degree of movement, such as bounce during running. The bra is also designed to prevent discomfort and tissue tearing that may occur during high-impact activities. Generally, the purpose of the bra is to provide support to the breasts during any activity, but most notably physical activity; thus, the bra can also be referred to as a “sports bra.” Physical activity can include, but is not limited to, running, jumping, jogging, or walking, as well as sports activities like yoga, soccer, volleyball, softball, tennis, golf, ultimate frisbee, swimming, horseback riding, biking, etc. 
     Another aspect of the bra is to provide stretch of the material without loss of support to the user. More particularly, the bra can include one or more stretch zones specifically designed to accommodate breasts of all shapes and sizes and to accommodate activity movement in all directions. The stretch zones can be accomplished by incorporating one-way stretch, two-way stretch, or non-stretch fabrics. 
     Another aspect of the bra includes interior support straps to further prevent movement of the breast during physical activity. Most notably, an upper strap can be positioned about the top portion of the breast to restrict both upward movement and forwards/backwards movement. Similarly, a lower strap can be positioned about the lower portion of the breast to restrict downward movement and forwards/backwards movement. 
     Additional aspects of the bra can include methods of making and using the bra in accordance with the foregoing aspects. It should also be noted that the bra further encompasses the various possible combinations of the aspects and features disclosed herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate various exemplary implementations and are part of the specification. The illustrated implementations are proffered for purpose of example, not for purpose of limitation. 
         FIG. 1  depicts a perspective front view of the bra, as discussed and described herein. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a back-side view of the bra, as discussed and described herein. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a front-side view of the bra, as discussed and described herein. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a close-up view of the wing portion of the bra, as discussed and described herein. 
         FIG. 5A  depicts a perspective front view of the bra having a cut-out to show the interior of the bra, as discussed and described herein. 
         FIG. 5B  depicts a cross-sectional view of the cup of the bra about the breast of the wearer, as discussed and described herein. 
         FIG. 6  depicts a perspective front view of the bra worn by a wearer, as discussed and described herein. 
         FIG. 7  depicts a perspective side view of the bra worn by a wearer, as discussed and described herein. 
         FIG. 8  depicts a rear-side view of the bra worn by a wearer, as discussed and described herein. 
         FIG. 9  depicts another rear-side view of the bra worn by the wearer, as discussed and described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The bra disclosed herein can include one or more internal bands to restrict the movement of the wearer&#39;s breasts. More particularly, the bra can include an outer layer and an inner layer that are connected, most often sewn together, and one or more internal bands which are disposed between the outer and inner layers. The internal bands are configured to extend across the breast horizontally. The upper band is configured to extend from at least the outside edge of one cup to the outside edge of the other, and at a position such that when the bra is being worn, the upper band provides a downward force to the upper part of the breast; generally, above the nipple. The lower band is configured to extend from at least the outside edge of one cup to the outside edge of the other, and at a position such that when the bra is warn, the lower band provides an upward force to the lower part of the breast; generally, below the nipple. 
     The inner layer of the bra can be the layer that comes into contact with the wearer&#39;s skin and the outer layer of the bra can be the outer most layer of the bra when it is worn. Each of the outer and inner layers of the bra can include one or more panels, including the cup panels, the chest panel, the shoulder strap panel, the wing panel, or any combination thereof. 
     To providing an adequate description, the bra is shown in two configurations. The first configuration is the “worn configuration”, which depicts the bra as if it is being worn by a person or mannequin—with the shoulder straps extending over the shoulders and connected to the appropriate wing straps about the person&#39;s back. The second configuration is the “flat configuration,” which depicts the bra as if it were laid out flat on a table. 
       FIG. 1  depicts a front perspective view of the bra  100  in the worn configuration. The bra can include two cups  102 , two shoulder straps  104 , an under-bust band  106 , an upper internal band  112 , a lower internal band  114 , or any combination thereof. 
     The bra can include a chest section  103  that generally refers to the material covering the wearer&#39;s chest, or front torso. The chest section  103  includes the cups  102 . The shoulder straps  104  are attached to and extend upwardly from the chest section  103 , and the wing sections  110  are attached to and extend from the right and left sides of the chest section. In one or more embodiments, the bra, or at least the chest section  103  (including the cups  102 ) of the bra, can include one or more layers. In a preferred embodiment, the bra can include at least two layers, an outer layer and an inner layer, of material sewn together about one or more seams; for example, about a peripheral seam. The space or void formed between the outer and inner layers can be referred to as the “interior” or “interior space” of the bra. 
       FIG. 2  depicts the inside surface of the bra  100  and  FIG. 3  depicts the outside surface of the bra  100 , both shown in the flat configuration. The features seen from this view include at least a chest section  103 , the one or more cups  102 , the shoulder straps  104 , the receiver straps  108 , the wing sections  110 , center back faster components  118   a ,  118   b , shoulder strap fastener components, the under-bust band  106 , and the upper internal band  112 . 
     The upper internal band  112  can be disposed between the outer and inner layers of the bra  100  and extend from the interior of the bra  100 . In at least one embodiment, the upper internal band  112  can be a piece of material passing through the interior of the bra such that a first end of the upper internal band  112  extends from the first side of the bra  100  and a second end of the upper internal band  112  extends from a second side of the bra  100 . Extending from the interior of the bra can include coming out from a slit or hole at or near a seam A 1  and A 2  at or near the wing section  110  on the left and/or right side of the bra, such that the user can grasp the band directly. By extending the band through such a slit on either side, the wearer is given more control and ability to manipulate the length of band  112  for preferred compression. This exposure of the band  112  allows the wearer to manipulate and position the band  112  for purposes of comfort and support. The position of the one or more slits can vary. As shown, a slit can be positioned about the seam A 1  and A 2  between the wing section  110  and the central, or front, section of the bra. In at least one embodiment, the center of the upper internal band  112  (as shown in  FIG. 5A ) can be sewn or tacked into place (via stitching to the inside and/or outside layer of the bra) to prevent the upper internal band  112  from coming out of the bra or sliding around the wearer unnecessarily. 
     Though not shown, the lower internal band  114 , similar to the upper internal band  112  described herein, can also or alternatively be a piece of material passing through the interior of the bra such that a first end of the lower internal band  114  extends from the first side of the bra  100  and a second end of the lower internal band  114  extends from a second side of the bra  100 . In one or more embodiments, the center of the lower internal band  114  can be sewn or tacked into place, via stitching to the inside and/or outside layer of the bra or by stitching  114  to the bra closure,  118   a  and  118   b , to prevent the lower internal band  112  from corning out of the bra or sliding out of position. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a close-up back side view of the left-wing section  110  (the right wing being a mirror image thereof), and the upper internal band  112  extending from the interior of the bra  100 . The gap or slit can be disposed about a seam A connecting the outer and inner layers of the bra  100  so that the upper internal band  112  can extend out from the interior of the bra  100 . Said gap can occur on the right and left side of the bra  100  so that the right and left ends of the upper internal band  112  can extend out from the interior of the bra  100 . 
     The upper internal band  112  can be made of a stretchable material (i.e., elastic) and configured to reach around the torso of and attach about the back side of the wearer. As such, the upper internal band  112  provides support to the breast that is independent of the support provided by the rest of the bra  100 . More specifically, the upper internal band  112  that extends through the cup region  102  can engage the breasts and provide a downward force and/or upward resistance to the breast(s). This downward force can reduce or eliminate the upward motion of the breast, most notably during physical activity. Upward motion of the breast can be caused by up and down motion of the breast (most common during activities such as running or jumping). The upper internal band  112  also engages the breast and thereby also reduces side to side motion of the breast as well as front to back movement. 
     The lower internal band  114  can be made of a stretchable material (i.e., elastic) and configured to reach around the torso of and attach about the back side of the wearer. As such, the lower internal band  114  provides support to the breast that is independent of the support provided by the rest of the bra  100 . More specifically, the lower internal band  114  that extends through the cup region can engage the breasts and provide an upward force and/or downward resistance to the breast(s). This upward force can reduce or eliminate the downward motion of the breast, most notably during physical activity. Downward motion of the breast can be caused by up and down motion of the breast (most common during activities such as running or jumping) or simply by downward force caused by the weight of the breast. The lower internal band  114 , by its design, engages the breast and thereby also reduces side to side motion of the breast during activities such as tennis and golf The compression that it provides also reduces front to back motion common in activities involving bending or moving forward such as step aerobics, rowing, or running. 
       FIG. 5A  depicts a front perspective view of the bra with a cut-out showing the position of the internal bands  112 ,  114 . The upper internal band  112  extends across an upper portion of both cups  102  and reaches around to the wing section on each side. The lower internal band  114  is shown traversing the lower portion of each cup  102  and reaching around to the back side of the wearer. The lower portion of the cup(s)  102  generally correspond to, or otherwise generally engage, the lower portion of the wearer&#39;s breast(s). Similarly, the upper portion of the cup(s)  102  generally correspond to, or otherwise generally engage, the upper portion of the wearer&#39;s breast(s). 
       FIG. 5B  depicts an exploded, cross-sectional view of the bra  100  in the worn configuration. The features shown in  FIG. 5B  include the wearer&#39;s breast  200 , the inner layer  130  of the bra, the internal bands  112 ,  114 , and the outer layer  132  of the bra. Both of the inner layer  130  and the outer layer  132  can individually be made of one or more layers of material. The primary purpose of distinguishing the inner and outer layers  130 ,  132  is to identify the internal space created therebetween. The internal space, as disclosed herein, houses at least the central portions of the upper and lower internal bands  112 ,  114 . In at least one alternative embodiment, one or more additional layers (in addition to the inner and outer layers  130 ,  132 ) can be included and two or more internal spaces can be created as a result. The upper and lower internal bands  112 ,  114  can be about the same width or can vary from one another in width. 
       FIGS. 6-9  depict the bra in the worn configuration.  FIG. 6  depicts a front perspective view of a person wearing the bra  100 ,  FIG. 7  depicts a side perspective view of a person wearing the bra  100 , and  FIGS. 8 and 9  depict a rear perspective view of a person wearing the bra  100 . The bra  100  can generally fit around the upper torso area of the wearer and be secured into place by one or more fasteners. The shoulder straps  104  are attached to the chest section  103  of the bra, generally above the cups  102 , and are disposed over the shoulders of the wearer. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the wing sections  110  extend around the side of the wearer under the arm and have receiver straps  108  attached to and extending upward therefrom. The shoulder straps  104  connect to the corresponding shoulder strap receivers  108 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , one or more hooks  124  disposed on a distal end of the shoulder strap receiver  108  can be configured to connect to a corresponding loop  122  disposed on a distal end of the shoulder strap  104 . In at least one embodiment, the distal end of the shoulder strap can include one or more loops at varying positions (i.e. tighten or loosen) so that the wearer can adjust the shoulder strap to fit comfortably. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the upper internal band  112  can be connected about the back of the wearer by one or more fastener components. Most commonly, the fastener components include one or more hooks  126   b  about the first end of the upper internal band  112  and one or more corresponding eyelets  126   a  about the second end of the upper internal band  112 . To connect the ends of the upper internal band  112 , the wearer can dispose the one or more hooks  126   b  into the corresponding eyelets  126   a.    
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , once the upper internal band  112  is fastened together, the wearer can then fasten the back fastener  118  of the bra  100 . The back fastener components  118   a ,  118   b  can be disposed about the distal end of the wing section  100  on which they are attached; the distal end of the wing section being the end furthest away from the end that is attached to the chest section  103  of the bra. The back fastener  118  can include one or more hooks  118   b  and one or more corresponding eyelets  118   a . The hooks  118   a  of the back fastener can be inserted into the one or more corresponding eyelets  118   a  at a position such that the band is stretched and/or wrapped around the wearer such that the band is comfortable for the wearer. Depending on the support needed by the wearer, the wearer can tighten or loosen the band by selecting a differed fastened position for the back fastener. As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the back fastener  118  can lay over, or on the outside of, the upper internal band  112  to provide a more comfortable fit and aesthetically pleasing appearance. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the outer and inner layers of the bra can each be made of a combination of one or more panels. The panels can be sewn together, or otherwise connected, to form the outer and inner layers. Each panel can be altered in size and shape so that the bra as a whole is tailored to fit a wearer of a particular bust or chest size. For example, the panel surrounding the breast cups can be enlarged to accommodate different size wearers. The cups  102  can also be sized up or down depending on the breast size of the wearer. 
     The inner layer can include one or more panels, including the cup panels  102 , the chest panel, the shoulder strap panel, or a combination thereof. The inner layer can be made of a material well suited to interact with the wearer&#39;s skin. For example, the inner layer can include a material that does not chafe the wearer&#39;s skin during physical activity, especially when the material and/or skin becomes wet (i.e., when the wearer is sweating). Appropriate material can include, but is not limited to, microfiber, warp knitted fabric, or other fabrics capable of stretching in two or more directions and/or wicking moisture away from the skin. The inner layer can be made of a Nylon/Spandex mixture. For example, the fabric of the inner layer can be a composition of nylon and spandex (i.e., LYCREA, ELASPAN, ROICA, CREORA, DORLASTAN, LINEL, ESPA). 
     The material of the cups can be configured to encapsulate the breast and provide support to the base of the breast. For the cup panel of the inner layer of the bra, the material may be specially selected to so as provide greater comfort and reduced chafing to the sensitive skin of the breasts and the wearer&#39;s nipples. For example, the fabric of the cups may range from 50 to 350 gsm (grams per square meter). In another example, the fabric can be a 75/25 Nylon/Spandex microfiber having a lighter weight than the other material of the bra (i.e., 75-85 gsm). The outer layer can be made of any of the materials described herein, including those referred to in the description of the inner layer. 
     The material of the portion of the bra surrounding the cups, referred to as the chest panel, can be made of a material capable of no stretch, two-way stretch, four-way stretch, or a combination thereof. Two-way stretch material can include material capable of stretching in the horizontal direction but not in the vertical direction, or material capable of stretching in the vertical direction but not the horizontal direction. Four-way stretch material can include material capable of stretching in the horizontal direction as well as the vertical direction. 
     The material of the portion of the bra surrounding the cups can include a polyester/spandex composite material. For example, this material can include a 94/6 polyester/Spandex material having a two-way vertical stretch. This portion of the bra can include a material having a weight ranging from about 100 gsm to about 500 gsm, about 200 gsm to about 400 gsm, or about 300 gsm. 
     In one or more embodiments, the outer and/or inner layers of the bra can each be made of one or more layers connected by appropriate connection means, including gluing, laminating, welding, stitching, or a combination thereof. As such, the layering of different fabrics in selected orientations can result in added support and reduction of breast movement during activity. The bra comfortably reduces, resists, and/or restricts multi-directional breast displacement, including side-to-side (horizontal) movement, up-and-down (vertical) movement, and forwards-backwards movement. 
     The bra can also be used as a garment to provide compression and support to the breasts of those who have recently undergone breast reductions, breast augmentations, or reconstructive surgery on their breasts due to breast cancer or other conditions. Because it encapsulates the breasts via seams rather than via underwire and provides compression and coverage over the whole breast area, the bra may prove effective for therapeutic use. 
     Testing 
     A wide variety of sports bras are currently available offering differing levels of support. As women select sports bras they attempt to balance a need for support, comfort, and aesthetics. The amount of support a woman desires depends on the size of her breasts and the type of activity she is completing. A comparative study of 5 currently available sports bras was completed. The goal was to see relative differences in breast motion during a single jump motion to quantify the relative differences in support each bra provided. 
     The purpose was to compare breast movement while wearing five different sports bras currently on the market. For set up, a white grid board with a 1-inch grid was used as a background. A yardstick was attached to the grid board to provide a ¼-inch measurement reference. A bright light was aimed at the test area for filming. The camera used was an iPhone 6S, and it was set to video recording at slow-motion speed of 240 frames per second. The camera was attached to a tripod and placed a consistent distance from the white grid board in such a way that the yardstick and test environment were in the center of the frame. 
     To determine the ability to measure position, velocity, and acceleration, the motion of a falling tennis ball was captured on video during a 30-inch fall and the acceleration due to gravity was calculated. This was repeated about 5 times. Acceleration due to gravity was calculated based on the ball&#39;s position in each frame. Position of the tennis ball in each frame was calculated using two different methods: one using Kinovea motion analysis software, and the second was selecting ball position in ¼ in increments from individual frames of the videos. Changing position data was then converted to velocity and acceleration by graphing the data in Excel and doing a best fit curve, as shown in Graph 1. Acceleration of Gravity in Imperial Units: 1 ag=1 g=32.174 ft/s2=386.1 in/s2=22 mph/s. The calibration results came within 3% consistently which was determined to be acceptable, as comparably shown in Table 1. 

 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Goal 
                 32.174 
               
               
                   
                 Measured (15.86*2) 
                 31.72 
               
               
                   
                 Difference 
                 0.454 
               
               
                   
                 Error % 
                 1.4% 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Bounce Tests Using the Sports Bras 
     To isolate bounce of the breast, the position of the tip of the breast was measured in relation to the position of the shoulder. The subject completed a standing jump in each bra. The motion of the shoulder was used to ensure a similar height jump was completed in each bra. During the jump the motion of the tip of the breast relative to the shoulder was used to quantify the amount of breast bounce. In each test, two fiducials were placed on the subject. The first fiducial was placed on the sports bra at the tip of the breast—the point on the breast furthest removed from the body. The second fiducial was placed on the upper arm, on the skin over the right humeral head. The humeral head can be felt easily on the subject. 
     The bounce tests were done using a single subject, a 40 year old woman with size 32H breasts. The subject donned each of the five sports bras one at a time and 3-4 slow-motion videos were taken of jumps in each sports bra. For each test, the subject had the two fiducials placed on her person and she jumped in the test environment with an approximately 45 degree bend in her knees at an average jump height of 25 inches. She was instructed to land each jump with straight legs so that no shock would be absorbed by the bend in her knees. 
     Once all five sports bras&#39; bounce tests were complete, data was extracted from the videos using the Kinovea software. The software outputted data into Excel spreadsheets of the position of each fiducial per film frame which were used to create graphical representations of this data in Graph 2. The bra disclosed herein is referred to as the Siggie Lodoen Sports Bra. The other sports bras tested, (Sports Bra 1-4) are sports bras already on the market and available for consumer purchasing. Sports Bra 1 is the Lululemon Purple 3122 (Lululemon All Sport Bra®), Sports Bra 2 is the Lululemon Black 3126 (Lululemon Enlite®), Sports Bra 3 is the Panache greyish lilac 3127 (Panache Underwire®), Sports Bra 4 is the Enell black 3132 (Enell Sport®). 

 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Results 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Sports  
                 Sports  
                 Sports  
                 Sports  
                 Siggie 
               
               
                   
                 Bra 
                 Bra 
                 Bra 
                 Bra 
                 Lodoen 
               
               
                   
                 1 
                 2 
                 3 
                 4 
                 Sports Bra 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Max of breast fiducial  
                 2.12 
                 0.85 
                 0.76 
                 0.41 
                 0 
               
               
                 relative to shoulder  
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 fiducial (once bouncing, 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 in inches) 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Min of breast fiducial  
                 −2.16 
                 −2.08 
                 −1.68 
                 −2.69 
                 −2.18 
               
               
                 relative to shoulder  
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 fiducial (once bouncing, 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 in inches) 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Inches of in motion  
                 4.28 
                 2.93 
                 2.44 
                 3.1 
                 2.18 
               
               
                 breast bounce 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As shown in Graph 2 and Table 2, the Siggie Lodoen Sports Bra reduces the motion of the breast during a bounce (or jump) more than any other bra tested. Sports Bra 1 allowed the breast to move a total of 4.28 inches during the test, Sports Bra 2 allowed the breast to move a total of 2.93 inches during the test, Sports Bra 3 allowed the breast to move a total of 2.44 inches during the test, Sports Bra 4 allowed the breast to move a total of 3.1 inches during the test. The Siggie Lodoen Sports bra showed the greatest restriction of the breast, allowing the breast to move a total of 2.18 inches during the test. The Siggie Lodoen Sports Bra therefor comfortably reduces, resists, and/or restricts at least the up-and-down (vertical) movement of the breast. 
     Although the present bra has been described with respect to specific details, it is not intended that such details be regarded as limitations on the scope of the bra. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous alternative arrangements that, while not shown or described herein, embody the principles of the bra and thus are within its spirit and scope.