Breast support garment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11284647-B2
Application number	US-201916657203-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 18, 2019
Priority date	Mar 12, 2019
Publication date	Mar 29, 2022
Grant date	Mar 29, 2022

Abstract

This invention relates to a breast support garment for use in active environments, where the wearer of such garment is engaged in an activity that results in accelerating movements. In some preferred embodiments, these garments may be athletic or sports bras that redirect momentum related to a wearer's accelerating movements, for example, during exercise.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A breast support garment comprising:
a front panel configured to cover at least a portion of a wearer's chest;
a back panel configured to cover a portion of a wearer's back;
a pair of straps configured to extend from the front panel across a wearer's shoulder to the back panel;
a reinforcing frame comprising:
a front reinforcing structure connected to the front panel and defining two breast areas, the front reinforcing structure comprising:
a back reinforcing structure connected to the pair of straps, and
a central reinforcing element with two crisscrossing legs configured to extend from a chest region of a first breast area to an under-breast region of a second breast area, thus separating the first breast area from the second breast area,
wherein the front reinforcing structure is configured to support breast tissue directly around a root of each breast area;

a strap adjustment system comprising:
coupling elements coupled to an end of each of the pair of straps; and
receiving elements facing coupling elements and attached to a part of the front panel or the second panel in proximity to the strap end with a coupling element,
wherein the coupling element is configured to engage the receiving element to secure the strap; and

a cover panel attached to the breast support garment in proximity to the strap adjustment system and configured to hide the strap adjustment system,
wherein the cover panel is configured to form a pocket with an opening over the strap adjustment system.

2. The breast support garment according to claim 1 , wherein the central reinforcing element is configured to provide a direct linear connection between the breast areas and the pair of straps diagonally with respect to the breast areas, and therefore is configured to support breast tissue directly around a root of each breast of the wearer.

3. The breast support garment according to claim 1 , wherein the front reinforcing structure is configured to conform wearer's breast shape.

4. The breast support garment according to claim 1 , wherein the front reinforcing structure is a single piece with a pre-defined structural property.

5. The breast support garment according to claim 1 , wherein the front reinforcing structure comprises a modular structure, wherein the modular structure comprises a chest module, a base module, and a lateral module.

6. The breast support garment according to claim 5 , wherein at least one of the modules of the front reinforcing structure has a structural property that is different than a structural property of the other modules.

7. The breast support garment according to claim 5 , wherein at least one of the modules of the front reinforcing structure is configured to extend into a portion of the two breast areas and comprises a gradual reinforcing profile, wherein a support value of such gradual reinforcing profile decreases as it extends into the breast areas.

8. The breast support garment according to claim 5 , wherein at least one of the modules of the front reinforcing structure is comprised of a number of sub-modules, wherein at least one of the sub-modules has a structural property different than the other sub-modules.

9. The breast support garment according to claim 1 , wherein the front reinforcing structure further comprises at least one superior/inferior control band configured to dampen breast acceleration in a vertical direction.

10. The breast support garment according to claim 1 , wherein the back reinforcing structure has a modular structure comprising a number of modules and wherein at least one of such modules has a structural property that is different from that of the other modules.

11. The breast support garment according to claim 1 , wherein the front reinforcing structure has a first structural property providing a first amount of support and the back reinforcing structure has a second structural property providing a second amount of support, the first amount of support being greater than the second amount of support.

12. The breast support garment according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing frame is integrated with the garment.

13. The breast support garment according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing frame is made of an adhesive and/or a material selected from a group of a mesh fabric, a knit fabric, a low Poisson's ratio fabric, a woven fabric and a non-woven fabric.

14. The breast support garment according to claim 1 , wherein the front panel further comprises an outer layer and an inner layer, the inner layer facing the wearer's chest, the front reinforcing structure being positioned between the inner and the outer layer.

15. The breast support garment according to claim 14 further comprising a first reinforcing adhesive positioned between the outer layer and the front reinforcing structure and a second reinforcing adhesive positioned between the inner layer and the front reinforcing structure, the first reinforcing adhesive used to bond the front reinforcing structure to the outer layer and second reinforcing adhesive being used to bond the front reinforcing structure to the inner layer.

16. The breast support garment according to claim 14 , wherein at least one of the outer or the inner layer having a modular structure having a first module that is configured to match a shape of the front reinforcing structure, and wherein the front reinforcing structure is a reinforcing adhesive.

17. The breast support garment according to claim 16 , wherein the first module comprises a gradual reinforcing profile wherein a support value of the gradual reinforcing profile decreases as it extends into the breast areas.

18. The breast support garment according to claim 16 , wherein the at least one of the outer or the inner layer is knitted, wherein the first module is knitted with a different yarn or stitch type than the other modules of such modular structure.

19. The breast support garment according to claim 14 , wherein at least one of the outer or the inner layer is molded to form two breast cups, the front reinforcing structure following the contours of each breast cup.

20. The breast support garment according to claim 14 , wherein both the outer and the inner layer are molded to form two breast cups.

21. The breast support garment according to claim 14 , wherein at least one of the outer or the inner layer comprises a flat panel.

22. The breast support garment according to claim 14 , wherein both the outer and the inner layer comprise flat panels.

23. The breast support garment according to claim 14 , further comprising a first reinforcing adhesive positioned between the outer layer and the front reinforcing structure to bond the front reinforcing structure to the outer layer, the inner layer being bonded to the outer layer at an edge perimeter of the front panel.

24. The breast support garment according to claim 14 , further comprising a second reinforcing adhesive positioned between the inner layer and the front reinforcing structure to bond the front reinforcing structure to the inner layer, the inner layer being bonded to the outer layer at an edge perimeter of the front panel.

25. The breast support garment according to claim 14 , wherein the front reinforcing structure is connected to an outer surface of the outer layer.

Assignees

• Lululemon Athletica Canada Inc

Inventors

• Blecha Joseph Simon
• Barnes Kristen Elizabeth
• Croll Jessica Lee
• Rothert Jillian Lindsay
• Makowsky John
• Hammond Connor Alexander
• Buckeridge Erica Margaret
• Boudreau-Béland Nadine
• Howard Krystal Lindsey
• Quay Simon
• Manesh Ariana Budner
• Tan Aislinn
• Glazier Rebecca

Classifications

• A41C3/0021 Primary

  with suspension construction for the breasts · CPC title

• A41C3/12

  Component parts · CPC title

• A41C3/0057 Primary

  for sport activities · CPC title