Abstract: A brassiere includes bra cups holding a wearer's breasts. A shaping foam layer is sandwiched between outer and inner layers of each bra cup and extends from a lower to an upper edge of each cup. A support shelf assembly spans across a lower portion of each bra cup and includes a support component located proximate the lower edge of the cups, a non-stretch stabilizer fabric layer spanning between both cups and along a full length of the support component, and a supportive foam layer spanning between both cups and along the support component. The inner, outer, shaping foam, stabilizer fabric, and supportive foam layers span across a center gore that connects the bra cups to form a front panel of the brassiere. The support shelf assembly is molded between the inner layer and the shaping foam layer and is an embedded, integral part of the front panel.

Abstract: A brassiere includes bra cups holding a wearer's breasts. A shaping foam layer is sandwiched between outer and inner layers of each bra cup and extends from a lower to an upper edge of each cup. A support shelf assembly spans across a lower portion of each bra cup and includes a support component located proximate the lower edge of the cups, a non-stretch stabilizer fabric layer spanning between both cups and along a full length of the support component, and a supportive foam layer spanning between both cups and along the support component. The inner, outer, shaping foam, stabilizer fabric, and supportive foam layers span across a center gore that connects the bra cups to form a front panel of the brassiere. The support shelf assembly is molded between the inner layer and the shaping foam layer and is an embedded, integral part of the front panel.

Abstract: A brassiere includes bra cups holding a wearer's breasts. A shaping foam layer is sandwiched between outer and inner layers of each bra cup and extends from a lower to an upper edge of each cup. A support shelf assembly spans across a lower portion of each bra cup and includes a support component located proximate the lower edge of the cups, a non-stretch stabilizer fabric layer spanning between both cups and along a full length of the support component, and a supportive foam layer spanning between both cups and along the support component. The inner, outer, shaping foam, stabilizer fabric, and supportive foam layers span across a center gore that connects the bra cups to form a front panel of the brassiere. The support shelf assembly is molded between the inner layer and the shaping foam layer and is an embedded, integral part of the front panel.

Abstract: A front panel for a sports bra has an interior liner layer having a back face contacting a wearer's skin, and an exterior shell layer having a back face facing a front face of the interior liner layer and coupled to the interior liner layer. A film layer is located between the front face of the interior liner layer and the back face of the exterior shell layer. The film layer becomes stiffer as a frequency of movement of a wearer's breasts increases, thereby absorbing forces caused by the movement of the wearer's breasts. A method for constructing a sports bra front panel with a thermally-induced shape memory polymer that exhibits viscoelastic properties when at body temperature and stiffens to absorb between about 0.015 N and about 0.03 N of force at frequencies of breast movement of between about 6 Hz and about 15 Hz is also disclosed.

Abstract: A brassiere includes bra cups holding a wearer's breasts. A shaping foam layer is sandwiched between outer and inner layers of each bra cup and extends from a lower to an upper edge of each cup. A support shelf assembly spans across a lower portion of each bra cup and includes a support component located proximate the lower edge of the cups, a non-stretch stabilizer fabric layer spanning between both cups and along a full length of the support component, and a supportive foam layer spanning between both cups and along the support component. The inner, outer, shaping foam, stabilizer fabric, and supportive foam layers span across a center gore that connects the bra cups to form a front panel of the brassiere. The support shelf assembly is molded between the inner layer and the shaping foam layer and is an embedded, integral part of the front panel.

Abstract: A front-close bra comprises a fabric back panel. A left inner bra cup and a right inner bra cup are coupled to the back panel. A left outer front panel is coupled to the left side of the back panel and is configured to cover the left inner bra cup. A right outer front panel is coupled to the right side of the back panel and is configured to cover the right inner bra cup. An inner closure couples a right side of the left inner bra cup to a left side of the right inner bra cup. An outer closure couples one of a right side of the left outer front panel and a left side of the right outer front panel to another area of the bra so as to hold the respective outer front panel in place over the respective inner bra cup that it covers.

Abstract: A front panel for a sports bra has an interior liner layer having a back face contacting a wearer's skin, and an exterior shell layer having a back face facing a front face of the interior liner layer and coupled to the interior liner layer. A film layer is located between the front face of the interior liner layer and the back face of the exterior shell layer. The film layer becomes stiffer as a frequency of movement of a wearer's breasts increases, thereby absorbing forces caused by the movement of the wearer's breasts. A method for constructing a sports bra front panel with a thermally-induced shape memory polymer that exhibits viscoelastic properties when at body temperature and stiffens to absorb between about 0.015 N and about 0.03 N of force at frequencies of breast movement of between about 6 Hz and about 15 Hz is also disclosed.

Abstract: A front-close bra comprises a fabric back panel. A left inner bra cup and a right inner bra cup are coupled to the back panel. A left outer front panel is coupled to the left side of the back panel and is configured to cover the left inner bra cup. A right outer front panel is coupled to the right side of the back panel and is configured to cover the right inner bra cup. An inner closure couples a right side of the left inner bra cup to a left side of the right inner bra cup. An outer closure couples one of a right side of the left outer front panel and a left side of the right outer front panel to another area of the bra so as to hold the respective outer front panel in place over the respective inner bra cup that it covers.