Patent ID: 8123588

Claim:
A brassiere comprising: (i) a first cup for supporting a first breast of a wearer; (ii) a second cup for supporting a second breast of the wearer; (iii) a first strap attached to the first cup for passing over a first shoulder of the wearer, the first strap comprising an elastic material surrounded by a sleeve that is in frictional contact with the elastic material, the sleeve extending over a majority of a length of the first strap; and (iv) a second strap attached to the second cup for passing over a second shoulder of the wearer, the second strap comprising an elastic material surrounded by a sleeve that is in frictional contact with the elastic material, the sleeve extending over a majority of a length of the second strap, wherein the second strap is configured to pass across a wearer's back for attachment to the first cup to distribute the breast load; wherein the frictional contact between the sleeves and the elastic materials is such as to provide damping means arranged so as to damp movement of at least one of the straps and the cups caused by movement of a breast.