Multi-purpose therapeutic brassiere

Abstract

A multi-purpose brassiere for selectively applying heat and cold to substantially the entire breast area of an individual including a pair bodies having outer and inner layer of material connected together to form an internal pocket. A conventional ceramic material is inserted into the pocket to apply heat or cold to substantially the over and above breast area. Mechanical fasteners removably secure an opening between the layers of material to insert and remove the ceramic material.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates in general to women's wearing apparel and more particularly, to a therapeutic brassiere capable applying heat or cold to the breast area of a woman.

2. Summary of the Prior Art

During various activities of a woman and physical conditions, it is desirable for comfort, pain relief and well being, that heat or cold be applied to the breast area. A typical brassiere only is present for comfort and aesthetic reasons and has no thermal capability. However, a woman may experience significant pain and discomfort due to disgorgement of the breasts associated with breast feeding, surgery or other well known causes. In the case of nursing the application of heat to the breasts may be highly soothing, beneficial for comfort and contribute to the production of more milk. In other cases of swelling, the presence of a cold pack can also be satisfying and comfortable. Further, during physical exercise the size of breasts may be reduced, a result that may not desirable to many women. The application of a cold temperature to the breasts while working out may contribute to the maintenance of the size of the breast as well for comfort. The presence of heat or cold on the breast area is desirable in many situations and health conditions.

Attempts have been made in the past to a temperature/applying capability in a brassiere to either provide warmth or cold to an individual. Some of the prior techniques of incorporating a thermal applying function in a brassiere rely on relatively complicated methods attempting to circulate warm or cold fluid through the structure of the brassiere. Such fluid circulating systems are impractical, uncomfortable for the user, and are relatively expensive. Other prior art designs of brassieres have not completely satisfactory in transferring heat and/or cold over the entire breast area as is desirable. It is therefore desirable in the prior art to provide a therapeutic brassiere capable of effectively optimizing the application of heat or cold to substantially the entire breast area of a women.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of this invention to provide a multi-purpose brassiere capable of applying heat or cold to the breasts of a woman in an effective manner. The brassiere herein disclosed comfortably supports the breast and includes an internal thermal storing material that can selectively apply heat or cold as desired over relatively long periods of time. The thermal sensitive material of the brassiere is removeably secured within the body of the brassiere in proximity to the entire breast area to encompass both breasts with beneficial heat or cold as needed and extends above the breast for relief in that area. The brassiere of the invention is asethically pleasing to wear, is easy to facilitate its thermal effect and relatively economical in cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the therapeutic brassiere of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 2, of the mounting of the temperature sensitive material in the therapeutic brassiere of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing the mounting of the temperature sensitive material in the therapeutic brassiere of FIG. 1; and

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1-3, there is illustrated the multi-purpose therapeutic brassiere of the invention, generally designated by reference numeral 2. The brassiere 2 includes a pair of generally concave bodies 4 forming cups for encompassing the breasts of a woman. The bodies 4 each include an internal layer 6 of a soft material, such as cotton and the like, for contacting the skin in surrounding relationship to a respective breast. A generally concave outer layer 8 of a fabric material overlays the internal layer 6 and forms an internal pocket 10 (FIG. 3) for receiving in removable relationship a conventional light weight ceramic material 12, such as, for example, sold under the registered trademark Thermal Ceramix. The edge portions 6a and 8a are sewn together as a permanent connection by threads 14. The ceramic material is capable of being heated in a microwave and the like.

The internal pocket 10 substantially surrounds the breast area of the woman and the ceramic material 12 is sized and shaped to the pocket in a generally concave configuration and also surrounds substantially the entire breast supported by each of the bodies 4. The shapes of bodies 4 are generally tear shaped to provide an upper extension 13 in communication with the pocket 10 for receiving the ceramic material 12 to provide heat/cold above the breast. The ceramic material 12 may also be formed in other flexible shapes capable of assuming the concave shape of body 4 when inserted in internal pocket 10. The ceramic material 12 is removable through separable edge portions 16a and 16a of the internal layer 6 and outer layer 8 for forming opening (not shown) through which the ceramic material 12 may be removed or inserted in the internal pockets 10 of bodies 4. As stated previously, the ceramic material 12 is produced from well known ceramic material that is capable of retaining heat or cold after respectively being heated or chilled by an external thermal source (not shown). Other available material capable of retaining heat/cold may be used in connection with the invention, such as, for example, gel packs and the like. The separable edges 14a, 14b may be removably secured together to retain the ceramic material 12 by mechanical fasteners (not shown), such as, for example, Velcro, snaps, buttons, hooks and the like.

The pair of bodies 4 is retained together by connecting strap 20. A pair of torso straps 22 is sewn at one end 24 to a respective one of the bodies 4 and has a free end 26 that may be secured together by conventional fasteners 28 for securing the brassiere 2 to the body of an individual. Shoulder straps 30 may also be provided for further support of the brassiere 2.

Claims

1. A multi-purpose brassiere for selectively applying heat and cold to substantially the breast area of an individual comprising

a body for forming a cup for encompassing the breast of an individual,

said body having an internal concave layer and outer concave layer for forming an internal pocket, said internal concave layer and said outer layer having edge portions being secured together,

said body further having separable edge portions for forming a separable opening,

a ceramic material being removably positioned in said internal pocket,

said ceramic material thermal having forming a concave shape within said internal pocket for surrounding substantially the entire breast area of the individual, said body being generally tear drop shape to provide an extension above the breast, said extension area further receiving said ceramic material.

2. The multi-purpose brassiere according to claim 1 wherein said separable edge portions are selectively secured by mechanical fasteners.