Patent ID: 12245644

Corresponding reference characters may indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present embodiments.

While the features described herein may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to be limiting to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject matter as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Accordingly, to advance at least the aforementioned deficiencies in the art, described herein are support garments and more particularly breast support garments that provide comfort, functional support, and therapeutic effect. In addition, the present garments are designed to be attractive and vogue, with positive affirmation. The present garment configurations are produced sustainably with methods and materials to minimize cost and adverse effects to the wearer and on the environment, while evolving to incorporate advancements in fiber, yarn and fabric performance. These include seamless knitting technologies and minimizing cut and sew methods. The present garment configurations also may include materials to shield the user from various types of radiation, and provide heeling and comforting materials such as anti-septics, anti-microbials, water wicking, and anti-burn/itch.

Shown inFIGS.1-16are two exemplary embodiments of the present support garments as described herein. Garment20(FIGS.1-8) and alternate embodiment20i(FIGS.9-16) can be worn by a person22and may have arm openings24, head opening28, under bust band portion30, cup portions32, shoulder straps34, seam edges36, medial back portions38(SeeFIG.6) which may be made of a looser or different construction to allow more air ventilation, upper back strap40, lower back strap42. Support garment may also have cup ruching (or pleating)26and side pleating or ruching44which is designed to support breasts. The band portion30may be up to twice the thickness of the portion of the garment adjacent to the band portion. It is noted that panels38represent one potential embodiment but that many other looser knit panels, designs and configurations are possible within the scope of the present invention. Portion39of garment20,20iis configured to provide an additional under breast support and may also be formed of a breathable fabric.

The fabric support garments20,20imay be made from a small, fine, flexible fabric, fiber, cloth or textile that can be smooth, pleated, ruched or textured, unscented or scented (such as therapeutic, lavender, chamomile, tea tree), one or more colors, solid or printed, accomplished through yarns, knitting, manufacturing processes, 3-D printing, weaving, and/or various garment printing techniques (such as color or pattern) and coating.

Middle breast region (e.g., cup32) construction may provide extra coverage for comfort and concealment of the breast nipples, without requiring the use of bra pads or padding used in sports and other bras. This will be accomplished through knitting construction techniques, including use of yarn, fabric, and knitting stitches. Such construction may include an increased thickness in the cup region that is 50-200 percent thicker (preferably 100-200 percent thicker) than the other regions of support garment20,20i, surrounding the cup region32. In one approach, the two cup regions are positioned above the band to receive the user's breasts, the cup regions being 100-200 percent thicker at a portion of the cup configured for placement of the user's nipple and tapering to a garment body thickness as the taper extends away from the nipple portion.

Arm openings24, band30and neck opening28are configured to provide convenient ease of entry. For example, the neck opening28may be configured to be about 200 or 400 percent greater than or 2 to 4 times greater than the diameter of an average user22's neck (e.g., using an average neck diameter of 4-6 inches). The arm openings24may be configured to be about 50 to 100 percent greater than the diameter of an average user22's arms at the bicep (e.g., using an average bicep diameter of 3 to 5 inches). These configurations minimize friction against breast region and/or use of the arm and achieved by various materials such as yarn, fabric, knitting stitches and the like. These materials may provide for stretch and recovery/elasticity (e.g., the ability of an object or material to resume its normal shape after being stretched or compressed) of between 50-200 percent elasticity (i.e., the material may be stretched to 50-300 percent greater than its normal size). This elasticity allows a wearer to pull on the support garment overhead or to step into the garment. Elastic fibers may include such fibers as elastane fibers, polyether-polyurea copolymer material, and those sold under the tradenames LYRCA and SPANDEX. The elasticity may be achieved by elastic fibers comprising elastane or polyether-polyurea copolymer material in the range of 20-100 percent of total composition volume. In one embodiment, the composition of garment20,20imay comprise 10-30% polyamide and about 5-20% elastane.

Garment20,20imay be formed of material that is comfortable against the wearer's skin while providing support. Materials may include but is not limited to hypoallergenic yarns, fiber or other material made from elastane fibers, polyether-polyurea copolymer material, satin, silk, microtexture material, polyamide, acrylic, microfiber, linen, cotton, bamboo fiber fabric (bamboo viscose), hemp, flax, neoprene and combinations thereof. The materials may include a ribbed microtexture material. In one embodiment, the composition of garment20,20imaterial may comprise about 40-80 percent bamboo viscose.

The garment may have an optional front closure to further facilitate ease of use and placement. Such closures and fasteners may include zippers46(SeeFIG.3), buttons, hook and loop fasteners, magnets, combinations thereof and the like. It is noted that the closures may be applied to the front, the back and the front and the back.

The construction of garment20,20iis configured to alleviate pain or pressure in sensitive areas, including but not limited to the breast region, under arm, and incisions in the breast region. This is achieved through garment design (including higher neckline and underarm), knitting technique around sensitive spots, including surgery incisions, breast nipples, lymph nodes, and neckline). The neck opening as shown is configured to extend up to the user's clavicular region48(i.e., near the clavicle bone).

The present garments20,20imay have a single body layer, although a second layer or pocket may be added. The second layer may be formed for soothing comfort such as an inner layer of silk or satin.

Middle area50of garment20,20i(See e.g.,FIGS.1and3) is configured to separate each breast region while maintaining contact directly or closely with the skin achieved through knitting construction, padding, cushions.

Band30is the bottom area of garment20,20iis configured to be seamless, provides support and lift, and eliminates skin-on-skin contact, particularly for large, heavy breast regions achieved through knitting construction, padding, cushions.

In some embodiments of garment20,20imay have a functional trim edge36around the top edge or the garment (the neck and arm holes), although other knitting or finishing techniques may be used.

Materials are selected for garment20,20ito optimize breathability or cool feeling material to keep the breast regions dry and cool. This may be accomplished through knitting construction, fabric or yarn selection. Care is taken for the cups not to compress the breast area.

The present embodiments are an advance in the art. For example, while many leisure or comfort bras on the market focus on softness, many contain narrow or thin straps or provide lower neckline (including deep V neck, scoop neck, providing exposure of portions of the breast region.

The present embodiments may contain additional breast nipple protection or coverage through knitting construction, additional bra layer or other mechanism attached to the bra. This is to minimize chafing, nipple prominence visible to others, and irritation. It is noted that the additional nipple protection referenced herein may be applied to not only the present embodiments, but is configured to be applied to any such support garments.

In some embodiments support garment20,20imay be formed of material that contains a healing effect such as, but not limited to, aloe, anti-bacterial or antimicrobial and may also include but is not limited to polyester, polyester-vinyl composites, vinyl, acrylics, linen (which may add an additional antimicrobial effect), merino wool, and hemp or anti-moisture including moisture wicking or breathable fabrics including but not limited to polyester, polypropylene, merino wool, wool, nylon, micromodal and bamboo. This may also be achieved through yarn selection or coating or finishing processes.

Shoulder straps are integral with the body layer of the support garment of the same material. This leverages modern knitting technology capability and differs from many leisure bras that have thin bra straps attached typically through cut and sew methods.

Support garment20,20iconstruction may be configured to leverage knitting technologies that minimize cut and sew techniques. This reduces/eliminates offcuts thrown away during production of such garments. Seamless construction using 3-D printing, sewing, circular knitting, flat knitting, and bonding techniques, with no side seams or bottom seams, although minimal cut and sewing may be used.

Other materials and considerations for the present embodiments are presented. Such considerations may include forming the garment of material(s) that contain cooling, anti-itching or anti-burning ointments, properties, or effect. In some embodiments, the garment materials may include properties that repels ointments, gels, lotions or other topical treatment products. In some embodiments, the garment materials may include anti-radiation or other protective attributes, to reduce exposure to radio frequency (RF) radiation, electric and magnetic fields (EMFs), ultraviolet radiation. This can be achieved through various methods, including but not limited to conductive textiles, yarns, coating and finishing techniques or garment construction. In short, of the above may be achieved through yarn containing or coated or impregnated with these specified properties, coating or finishing techniques or other aids incorporated into the fabric.

For example, breathable fabrics may include various combinations of cotton, polyester, nylon, rayon, linen, silk, micromodal, merino wool, chambray, and those sold under the name GORETEX. Moisture wicking materials may include various combinations of polyester, polypropylene, merino wool, wool, nylon, micromodal or bamboo. Cooling, anti-itch and anti-burn materials may be hydrocortisone anti-itch cooling gels. Topical ointments, creams and antiseptics may also be coated on the garment materials. EMF and radiation protective materials may include EMF shielding silver fabric, yarn or materials; conductive CuNi cloth, material or yarn.

According to one approach, a support garment of any type, including the present embodiments may be impregnated or coated in materials selected for properties selected from the group: cooling, anti-burning and anti-itch, anti-radiation, anti-radio frequency (RF) radiation blocking, electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) blocking, ultraviolet radiation blocking, and combinations thereof. In a non-limiting example, in one approach the garment material may include an EMF blocking and radiation blocking material, yarn or composite. By way of a non-limiting example, in one approach the EMF blocking and radiation blocking material, yarn or composite may have 2-15 percent by total composition weight silver fiber and 2-15 percent total composition weight hydrocortisone anti-itch cooling gel coatings.

While the embodiments have been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, the present embodiments attempt to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Throughout this specification and the drawings and figures associated with this specification, numerical labels of previously shown or discussed features may be reused in another drawing figure to indicate similar features.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

20support garment22person24arm opening26cup pleating/ruching28head opening30under bust band portion32cup portions34shoulder straps36seam edges38back portion ventilation panels39torso support band40upper back strap42lower back strap44side pleating/ruching46front closure48clavicular region50middle area between cups