BREAST SUPPORT GARMENT AND BREAST SUPPORT PANEL

Abstract

A breast support garment that includes two breast cups defining a breast cup area for each breast of a wearer. Each breast cup has a lower periphery positioned generally below the breast of the wearer, a side periphery extending upward from the lower periphery to an apex of the cup, a bridge approach area, and a neckline periphery extending between the bridge approach area and the apex. A frame that is positioned against the breast of the wearer and located around at least a portion of the breast cup. A bridge part of the frame is arranged to bridge the two breast cups to connect the two breast cups together. A portion at least at the lower periphery of the frame is fixed on each breast cup and extends therefrom below the lower periphery. Each breast cup further comprises a support panel.

Claims

1. A breast support garment comprising a. two breast cups to define a breast cup region for each breast of a wearer and each having a lower periphery to locate generally below a breast of a wearer and a side periphery extending upwardly from the lower periphery to the apex of the cup, a bridge proximate region and a neckline periphery extending between the bridge proximate region and apex, b. a frame to locate against the chest of the wearer and about at least part of the breast cups and provided to bridge between the two breast cups at a bridge of the frame connecting the two breast cups together, the frame affixed to each breast cup at least at the lower periphery and extending therefrom below the lower periphery, c. for each breast cup, a support panel comprising a primary panel secured to and supported by the frame at least below the lower periphery of the breast cup and a shelf panel, hingingly engaged to the primary panel, the shelf panel encroaching the breast cup region to provide a shelf for part of a breast of the wearer to receive upward support from the shelf, wherein the shelf panel is hingingly engaged to the primary panel by a hinge line defined by a line of weakness between the shelf panel and the primary panel.

2. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the primary panel of the support panel is secured to the frame in a manner parallel to the frame at where it is located.

3. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the primary panel is adhered to the frame.

4. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the primary panel is captured to the frame.

5. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the primary panel is stitched to the frame.

6. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the primary panel is adhered and stitched to the frame.

7. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the primary panel is captured to the outside of the frame.

8. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the primary panel is captured to the inside of the frame.

9. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the primary panel is captured between two layers of fabric that at least in part define the frame.

10. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support panel is of a unitary construction.

11. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shelf panel in use projects in a posterior direction from the primary panel when the garment is in use.

12. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shelf panel in use projects in an upward and posterior direction from the primary panel when the garment is in use.

13. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shelf panel is hingingly engaged to the primary panel at the hinge line located between the shelf panel and the primary panel.

14. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 13 wherein the hinge line is parallel at least part of the lower periphery of the breast cup.

15. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 13 wherein the hinge line is parallel at least part of the lower periphery and side periphery of the breast cup.

16. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 13 wherein the hinge line is parallel and at at least part of the lower periphery of the breast cup.

17. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 13 wherein the hinge line is parallel and at at least part of the lower periphery and side periphery of the breast cup.

18. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 13 wherein the hinge line has two terminal ends at least one terminal end not located at a perimeter of the support panel so that the shelf panel connects to the primary panel not across a part of the hinge line at said at least one terminal end.

19. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 13 wherein the hinge line has two terminal ends, each terminal end not located at a perimeter of the support panel so that the shelf panel connects to the primary panel not across a part of the hinge line at said terminal ends.

20. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 18 wherein part of the primary panel at least at the terminal end of the hinge line closer to the apex, also encroaches the breast cup region.

21. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support panel comprises an upper elongate peripheral edge and a lower elongate peripheral edge and wherein the hinge line is located between the upper elongate peripheral edge and a lower elongate peripheral edge and substantially and along at least part of the lower periphery of the breast cup region.

22. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support panel comprises an upper elongate peripheral edge and a lower elongate peripheral edge and wherein the hinge line is located extending between the upper elongate peripheral edge and a lower elongate peripheral edge and substantially along at least part of the lower periphery and side periphery of the breast cup region.

23. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 22 wherein the hinge line has two terminal ends that are each located between the upper elongate peripheral edge and the lower elongate peripheral edge.

24. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 22 wherein the upper elongate peripheral edge is continuously curved.

25. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 22 wherein the lower elongate peripheral edge is continuously curved.

26. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 22 wherein the hinge line is continuously curved.

27. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 22 wherein the hinge line is parallel the upper elongate peripheral edge.

28. (canceled)

29. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the line of weakness is a reduction in thickness of the support panel.

30. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the line of weakness is separation of the shelf panel and the primary panel.

31. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support panel is of a contoured thickness.

32. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support panel has a first face side to be proximate more the body of the user and a second face side presented in use facing away from the body of the user, the second face side being of a contoured profile.

33. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 33 wherein the first face side is not profiled.

34. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 33 wherein the first face side is made of a flat configuration.

35. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 22 wherein the support panel is of a thinner thickness at the upper elongate peripheral edge and lower elongate peripheral edge that intermediate of the upper elongate peripheral edge and lower elongate peripheral edge.

36. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 35 wherein the hinge line extends at a constant thickness region of the primary panel.

37. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 35 wherein the hinge line traverses over a variation of thickness of the primary panel.

38. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support panel is provided for both left and right side breast cup regions.

39. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support panel is provided for each beast cup and extends from the bridge region towards the apex of each breast cup.

40. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support panel is provided for each beast cup and extends from the bridge region to the apex of each breast cup.

41. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hinge line is at least 5 cm long.

42. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hinge line is at least 10 cm long.

43. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hinge line is of a shape to cause the shelf panel to cradle the region of the breast bearing on the shelf panel.

44. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support panel is made of a composite material comprising a ceramic and silicone.

45. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support panel is of a material and/or of a configuration that is able to bend.

46. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the two breast cups are connected directly to each other at their bridge proximate region.

47. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the two breast cups are connected indirectly to each other at their bridge proximate region by the frame.

48. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the breast cups are made from at least one panel.

49. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the breast cups are made from at least one panel comprising of a fabric material.

50. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frame is attached or integrally formed with a chest strap of the garment.

51. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 that is a brassiere.

52. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 that is a camisole.

53. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 being one selected from (a) a brassiere, a camisole, a sports brassiere, a swimsuit, and a bikini top.

54. The breast support garment as claimed in claim 1 that does not include an underwire.

55. A breast support panel for incorporation with a breast support garment that includes a breast cup for each breast of a wearer of the garment bounded by lower periphery and a lateral side periphery of the breast cup, the breast supporting panel comprising: a primary panel secured to the at least one panel extending away from a said breast cup at the lower and lateral side periphery of said breast cup, the primary panel having (i) an upper and inner edge to located at and commensurate the lower and lateral side periphery of the cup and a shelf panel extending from the primary panel in a hinged relationship thereto into a said breast cup to hinge relative to said primary panel about a hinge line that is commensurate with at least part of the lower periphery of the breast cup, wherein the hinge line is defined by a line of weakness between the shelf panel and the primary panel.

56. A breast support garment defining a breast cup region for each breast of a wearer and each having a lower periphery to locate generally below a breast of a wearer and a side periphery extending upwardly from the lower periphery towards the apex of the cup, wherein the garment further comprises: a. a frame to locate about the chest of the wearer and about at least part of the breast cups, the frame extending downwardly from each breast cup, b. for each breast cup, a support panel comprising a primary panel secured to and supported by the frame at least below the lower periphery of the breast cup and a shelf panel, hingingly engaged to the primary panel, the shelf panel encroaching the breast cup region to provide a shelf for part of a breast of the wearer to receive upward support from the shelf, wherein the shelf panel is hingingly engaged to the primary panel by a hinge line defined by a line of weakness between the shelf panel and the primary panel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0075] A preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

[0076] FIG. 1 is a front view of a bra,

[0077] FIG. 2 is a side view of an alternative configuration of a bra,

[0078] FIG. 3A shows the support panel only for illustrative purposes in use,

[0079] FIG. 3B is a close up view of FIG. 3A,

[0080] FIG. 4A is a front view of a support panel as herein described,

[0081] FIG. 4B is a cross section through section A-A of FIG. 4A,

[0082] FIG. 4C is a sectional view through section A-A where the shelf panel has hinged,

[0083] FIG. 5 is a front view of a support panel,

[0084] FIG. 6 shows the support panel of FIG. 5 in use in a bra,

[0085] FIG. 7 is a front view of an alternative shaped support panel,

[0086] FIG. 8 shows the support panel of FIG. 7 in use in a bra,

[0087] FIG. 9 is front view of an alternative support panel,

[0088] FIG. 10 shows the alternative support panel of FIG. 9 in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0089] With reference to FIG. 1 there is shown an example of a breast support garment for implementing the present invention. The breast support garment in FIG. 1 is shown in the form of a bra 1. In general it comprises of two breast cups 3 and 4 each defining a breast cup region 5 and 6 each for receiving a breast of a wearer.

[0090] In the example shown, each breast cup comprises generally of a lower periphery 7 and a side periphery 8 that extends from the lower periphery upwards towards an apex region 9 of the cup. The lower periphery generally extends from a bridge proximate region 10 to the side periphery. The lower periphery and side periphery may be clearly distinguishable from each other due to a sharp bend in the shape at the juncture of the lower periphery and side periphery, or not.

[0091] Each breast cup may also include a neckline periphery 11 that extends between the bridge proximate region 10 and the apex 9. Each breast cup may be directly connected to each other at the bridge region or alternatively via a frame 12 and as for example seen in FIG. 1.

[0092] In some embodiments of the breast support garment, there may not be a discernible neck line of the breast cups because the garment may for example be a camisole or other garment that incorporates breast support of a kind as herein described.

[0093] The bra as seen in FIG. 1, preferably comprises of a frame 12. The frame is located about at least part of the breast cups. The frame is able to locate against the chest of the wearer and helps provide support for the cups, to hold them in a relative disposition and to secure the bra around the torso of the wearer. The frame 12 generally extends below each of the breast cups and may also extend at the side periphery of each breast cup as seen in FIG. 1. In a camisole format of the present invention, the frame may be or form part of the general body of the camisole and may not be as snug fitting around the torso of the wearer as compared to a bra format.

[0094] As seen in FIG. 1, the frame 12 may be integrally formed to or to be part of the chest bands 14 that extends around the torso of the wearer. The chest band 14 may have terminal ends 15A and 15B that each include mutually engageable clasps 16 and 17 respectively to connect the terminal ends together and thereby hold the frame/chest band about the body of the wearer. The frame 12 may be of a relative inelastic construction and helps provide support and structure for the breast cups 3 and 4. The frame may be secured or engaged to each of the breast cups at the lower periphery 7 and preferably at least some of the side periphery 8 of the breast cups.

[0095] The present invention may also be executed as a camisole or swimsuit where the frame is instead part of or integral and indistinguishable a larger garment.

[0096] The frame may be made from at least one layer of fabric material. The frame is generally disposed to extend from and downwardly of the breast cups 5 and 6.

[0097] The frame, when in use, and with the chest band clasps engaged to locate the frame about the body of the wearer, helps to press the frame against the skin of the wearer so that the breast cups are held in position and allow good support to be provided by the bra to the wearer's breasts.

[0098] As seen in FIG. 1, at the apex of the cups shoulder straps 18 may be provided. The shoulder straps 18 extend from the apex and to the frame 12 at or adjacent the terminal ends 15A and 15B. The shoulder straps may have provision for adjustment of their lengths.

[0099] The breast support garment also incorporates a support panel 30. The support panel 30 is provided for each breast cup. The support panel 30 may be provided as a discrete support panel for each breast cup or in the preferred form a single support panel is provided for both breast cups that preferably extends across the bridge region 10 as seen in FIG. 2.

[0100] The support panel 30 is located generally below each of the breast cup regions 5 and 6. Part of the support panel also encroaches onto the breast cup regions 5 and 6.

[0101] The support panel 30 preferably includes a primary panel 31 and a shelf panel 32. The primary panel 31 is provided to remain substantially parallel with the frame 12 of the bra whereas the shelf panel 32 extends onto the breast cup region of each breast cup of the bra. The shelf panel hence is located in the breast support zone of a breast cup and the primary panel is located outside of the breast support zone, to the side and/or below the breast support zone. This can be seen in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B more clearly. The primary panel 31 preferably remains substantially parallel to the frame at where it is provided and supported preferably in a secured manner that will hereinafter be described. The shelf panel 32 encroaches and extends into the breast cup region in a manner to a breast to bear against and in a preferred form to provide vertical support to at least the lower parts and preferably also the side parts of the breast.

[0102] The shelf panel is preferably hingingly engaged to the primary panel so as to allow for it to conform to the curved shape of the breast cup at where it is located.

[0103] In the preferred form the shelf panel and the primary panel are substantially separated at a hinge line that may be defined by a line of weakness 33 of the support panel and that is substantially commensurate with the periphery of the breast cup at where it is located.

[0104] In a preferred form the hinge line or line of weakness 33 is located at least at the lower periphery 7 of the breast cup, but may also be provided at the side periphery 8 of the breast cup as can be seen in FIG. 2.

[0105] With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B there is shown an example of a support panel 30 that can be incorporated as part of a bra or other breast support garment of the present invention. The support panel 30 is preferably made from a material, hereinafter described, that is preferably of a varying thickness between its peripheral edge or edges. The panel 30 may comprise of an upper elongated peripheral edge 35 and a lower elongated peripheral edge 36. The lower elongate peripheral edge 36 extends at least in part substantially parallel to and adjacent or at the lower peripheral edge 80 of the frame 12.

[0106] The support panel 30 is preferably of a varying thickness as can be seen in FIG. 4B. On FIG. 4A, notional contour lines 86 are shown to help illustrate the varying thickness of the support panel 30. In the preferred form at the upper and lower elongate peripheral edges 35 and 36 the support panel 30 is preferably of negligible thickness whereas intermediate of such peripheral edges the support panel is thicker and is provided with a gradual thickness change. The thickness of the support panel may hence go from 0 mm thick at part or all of its periphery to approximately 1.5-2 mm thick at its thickest region.

[0107] The support panel is preferably made so as to have a flat inside surface 87 and a contoured outside surface 88. The inside surface 87 is preferably the first face side of the support panel and is to be proximate more the body of the user whereas the outside surface 88 is preferably the second face side and presented in use facing away from the body of the user. The first face side 87 when the support panel is incorporated with other components of the brassier of the present invention will remain substantially parallel and commensurate with the shape of the frame 12 save for part of the support panel at where the shelf panel is provided. The support panel is preferably incorporated with the rest of the components of the bra by either being adhered to an inside or outside face of the frame 12 or incorporated between layers of the frame 12. The primary panel in such a situation is located to remain parallel with the frame 12 whereas the shelf panel 32 is located on to part of a breast cup of the bra. The shelf panel 32 may be adhered to the outside of the cup or may be incorporated with inside layers that define the cup or it may be located on the inside or outside of the breast cup.

[0108] The shelf panel 32 is separated from the primary panel 31 by the hinge line 33. The hinge line 33 is preferably defined by a line of weakness as can be seen in FIG. 4B the thickness of the support panel 30 is reduced to define the hinge line 33.

[0109] In the preferred form material from the support panel 30 is cut away from the outside surface 88 to create a channel that extends towards the inside surface 87. It preferably does not extend all the way to the inside surface 87 so that some thickness at the region 41, being the bottom of the hinge, remains. The shelf panel 32 is hence able to pivot relative to the primary panel 31 along with the bottom of the channel of the cut away region at region 41 as shown in FIG. 4B. FIG. 4C shows the shelf panel 32 in a rotated condition relative to the primary panel 31 when compared to it shown in FIG. 4B. The cut away region may be wedge shaped when the support panel is in its lay-flat condition as seen in FIG. 4B. This creates a limited range of rotation of the hinge. When reached the self panel experiences increased resistance to further rotation relative to the primary panel thereby causing strong support to be provided to the wearers breast. But being of an elastic material the shelf panel of the support panel may provide some give to forces experienced when the limit of rotation is reached by elastically stretching and/or bending.

[0110] The support panel preferably has a curved hinge-line 33 that preferably generally follows the curve of the lower and/or side periphery of the breast cup it is associated with.

[0111] FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of a support panel 30 of a slightly different shape to that shown in FIG. 4A. It is showing a support panel akin to that shown in FIG. 2 but only for one side of the bra. As can be seen at the bridge region 95 of the support panel 30, the support panel may be connected to or integrally formed with a like support panel for the other cup of the bra.

[0112] The hinge-line 33 has a first terminal end 96 and a second terminal end 97. The hinge-line 33 extends generally in the direction of the upper elongate peripheral edge 35 of the support panel 30. The first terminal end 96 is more proximate or will be placed more proximally the apex of the bra and is preferably hence higher than the second terminal end 97 of the hinge-line 33.

[0113] Both first and second terminal ends 96 and 97 are not at a peripheral edge of the support panel 30 such as the upper elongate peripheral edge 35 or the lower elongate peripheral edge 36 but terminate within the body of the support panel 30. This means that the shelf panel 32 merges with the primary panel 31 at regions proximate the first and second terminal ends 96 and 97. This together with the curved nature of the hinge-line 33 and the selection of material of the support panel 31 create a sling or cradling effect provided by the shelf panel 32 for providing upward and also optionally inward support of the breasts of the wearer. The shelf panel 32 hence helps support breasts from sagging and provide uplift yet is still flexible enough to allow for some compliance to the shape of the breast to occur. This helps provide support for breasts while also ensuring comfort for the wearer.

[0114] The first terminal end may be more proximate the upper elongate peripheral edge than the second terminal end. Or alternatively, the second terminal end may be more proximate the upper elongate peripheral edge than the first second terminal end.

[0115] A variation of a support panel 30 is shown in FIG. 7 where two hinge-lines 33A and 33B are provided. The hinge-line 33B is provided to provide a similar ability of compliance in support to the breast or skin tissue of the wearer at or towards the apex of cup of the brassier. With reference to FIG. 7 the upper hinge-line 33B can allow for movement or bust shape to be accommodated within this region also. For example, if a person wearing a bra is playing tennis, for instance, if a right-handed wearer swings a tennis racket in an anti-clockwise direction the second hinge-line 33B allows for the hinge-panel 32B to move relative to primary panel 31B thereby preventing or reducing friction or scratching between the wearer's skin and the inner side of the shoulder strap at where or approximately where the second hinge-line 33B is provided.

[0116] FIG. 8 shows a support panel 30 incorporated in a sports bra style breast support garment.

[0117] FIG. 9 illustrates there are further variations of a support panel 30 having a hinge-line 33 that is substantially parallel to the upper elongate peripheral edge 35 of the support panel 30.

[0118] FIG. 10 illustrates a camisole style garment 100 that has incorporated therewith a support panel 30 of a kind that is herein being described. In this configuration of garment the frame may be considered the or incorporated as part of the material of the garment below the breast cups.

[0119] The support panel as herein described is preferably made of a material that has hardness characteristic yet is able to elastically stretch and bend. The support panel may comprise of a composition of a ceramic and a silicone material. The ceramic provides a degree of hardness whilst the silicone provides stretchiness and flexibility for the support panel. The nature of the support panel is that it is preferably more resistant to bending than the cup construction and frame construction.

[0120] The support panel is preferably enclosed within layers of the bra or garment and where the support panel is located. The bra may comprise of breast cups of several layers of material and so may the frame. The support panel may be captured between such layers so as to be obscured from sight. Adhesive and/or a dedicated pocket may be provided for capturing and securing the support panel in this manner.

[0121] The support panel may first me located in a pocket defined by a material such as a fabric material for ease of handling during manufacture of the brassier. The support panel of the present invention is able to replace convention components for providing support structure to a brassier such as a metal underwire, plastic underwire or moulded material.

[0122] The usual remaining components of a brassier can be affixed to the pocketed support panel such as the cups for aesthetic outer fabric, comfortable inner fabric which is in direct contact with the bust of the wearer, should straps, under bands, wing bands, hooks and eye closures, etc.

[0123] Due to the hinging nature of the shelf panel relative to the primary panel the support panel is able to provide comfortable and sufficient support compliance to fit a number of different bust sizes and shapes. Due to the hardness properties of the ceramic in the material of the panel good bust support is achieved. Due to the stretchiness and flexibility of the silicone in the material in combination with the hinging aspects, flexibility to fit different bust shapes and sizes plus wearing comfort can be achieved.

[0124] The stretchiness of the material of the support panel is substantially higher along the elongate direction in a direction natural thereto. This allows support against the weight of the bust whilst allowing stretchiness in the elongate direction. As the bust moves, for example during sport or exercise, the shelf panel is able to move to some extent with the bust yet allowing for robust support of the bust to be maintained.

[0125] It is an option for the support panel to be perforated so as to help with breathability and for reducing weight in the bra. However, by providing perforations the strength of the bust support may be reduced.