Abstract: The brassiere has a bendable support member disposed therein and a stiffer shock-absorbing resilient member attached to the support member and the brassiere. A woman's breast bends the support member outwardly along the bendable line to a first position and the shock-absorbing resilient member is extended from a rest position to a first extended position and a lower end of the brassiere is pressed against the body. The breast then applies a load on the support member and to bend the support member further outwardly from the first position to a second position and the resilient member is extended from the first extended position to a second extended position. The member and the support member provide a pulling force that is greater than the load of the breast an d the support member is then bent inwardly past the first position and the resilient member is retracted.

Abstract: Bosom-support garments such as brassieres reduce lymph flow interference by providing a pattern of alternating higher and lower skin-compression areas which are configured to follow the direction of the lymph pathways in the various sectors of the breast, side, and/or back areas of the wearer. Preferably the areas of lower skin compression do not actually touch the skin, and the width of and spacing of the pattern may be varied at different areas of the garment to accommodate the comfort of the wearer and to optimize the flow of lymph. The pattern may be defined by elongated ribs of relatively higher density material formed through weaving, compression molding, or other appropriate processes. Such ribs preferably extend generally away from the nipple area of the breast so that the pattern corresponds to lymph drainage pathways leading to the axillary or subclavicular nodes, to an intercostal space, or to a plurality or all of the above.

Abstract: A garment having the combined appearance of a brassiere and a camisole is provided with a camisole top, the brassiere function of the garment being provided by non-stretchable shoulder straps that extend across the interior of the breast cups, and, which are securely connected with the brassiere frames, the shoulder straps extending on a diagonal of the breast cups, portions of the breast cups being reinforced to provide for the support of the weight of the breast.

Abstract: A brassiere construction has breast cups provided with a central diagonally extending panel that is stretchable in vertical directions, and which is non-stretchable in horizontal directions, thus to accommodate different volumes of breast tissue falling within a determined range of volumes.