Patent ID: 7615027

Claim:
A support for an area of a body, comprising: (a) a flexible, elastically stretchable framework comprising an integrally molded network of interconnected, elastomeric segments, said framework including (i) left and right sides comprising first and second exterior lateral segments and top and bottom sides comprising first and second exterior transverse segments, which left, right, bottom and top sides collectively define a perimeter of the framework, (ii) first, second, third, and fourth interior, mutually exclusive subsets of transverse segments, each of which extends between and interconnects the left and right sides of the perimeter of the framework, (iii) first and second interior, mutually exclusive subsets of lateral segments, each of which extends between and interconnects the top side of the perimeter of the framework and the second interior subset of transverse segments, and each of which intersects and interconnects the first interior subset of transverse segments, and (iv) third and fourth interior, mutually exclusive subsets of lateral segments, each of which extends between and interconnects the bottom side of the perimeter of the framework and the second interior subset of transverse segments, and each of which intersects and interconnects the third and fourth interior subsets of transverse segments, (v) wherein each subset of segments comprises one or more segments; (b) a garment configured for wearing proximate the area of the body; and (c) a fastening mechanism adapted to removably fasten directly to said garment for securing said framework in abutment with the area of the body, wherein said fastening mechanism is connected to and applies tension proximate said left and right sides of said framework when tensioned and fastened to said garment such that said framework is expanded and tensioned in its abutment with the area of the body.