Abstract: A brassiere physically adapted for use during vigorous exercise is disclosed. The brassiere comprises an underlying support layer that supports the breasts and a resilient overlying motion-restraining layer configured for restricting breast movement. Each of the layers is independently-supported by an associated pair of straps. The brassiere substantially reduces motion that would otherwise be imparted to the breasts during vigorous exercise.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a bra for the support and compression of the breasts of a woman suffering from post-partum breast engorgement, enlargement, or other conditions of the breasts. The bra includes a front panel connected to a back panel forming a garment. The garment is separable and includes connectors at the separation. The connectors are selectively connectable to provide an adjustable girth size of the garment. Variation in the girth size provides adjustable compression. The present invention also concerns warm or cold compresses in combination with a bra for the support and compression of breasts.

Abstract: A post surgical brassiere characterized by a torso encircling support band modified to gently secure the brassiere to the torso with minimal discomfort. At least three vertical bones are integrated into the band at strategic locations about its circumference to divide the band into four separate regions. Two such regions lay situate around the back and sides of the wearer while the remaining two regions overly the wearer's front midriff area. Each region is elasticized, but with varying degrees of stretch ability. As the two opposite ends of the brassiere's adjustment straps are drawn together for fastening, the resulting stretch of the support band will occur predominantly in the back and side regions where tension against the wearer will be greatest, leaving the two frontal regions relatively loose fitting.

Abstract: A woman's garment effectively restrains uncontrolled movement of one or both breast implants, natural breasts, or breast prostheses, without any external readily visible means of support by pulling taut a pair of drawstrings that effectively draws one or both pockets for receiving the implants, natural breasts, or prostheses tightly against the wearer's chest.

Abstract: A post-operative brassiere for use by female patients following cardio-thoracic surgery is disclosed. The post-operative brassiere includes a first breast support cup and a second breast support cup being interconnected by a support strap which is worn about the neck and shoulders of the wearer so as to form an open gap between the first and second breast support cups over the area of the wearer's sternum whereon a surgical incision is located. The conventional torso encircling straps which overlie the sternum in brassieres of the prior art are eliminated. The post-operative brassiere allows access to the incision for routine examination and nursing care while providing adequate support to the wearer's breasts. In one embodiment the breast support cups include elastic panels disposed about the peripheral edges thereof to secure the same in position.

Abstract: A post-operative open heart surgery brassiere in which a roll of padding material is sewn to the bottom edge of each cup. The padding roll has sufficient thickness to lift the connecting material or closure between the two cups above the surface of the chest, such that no portion of the brassiere touches the surgical wound. The brassiere is preferably formed with a front closure for ease of use and wide and/or padded straps for comfort. Additional padding material may be formed on the underside of the front closure in order to lessen the pain associated with any accidental contact between the closure and the wound, such as during bending or stretching.

Abstract: A bandage for use to apply pressure to the wound area of a patient who has undergone a mastectomy includes a main body panel formed from a fabric that is non-elastic and breathable. The bandage is secured adjacent the side of the body of the patient to avoid the formation of a seam adjacent the wound area, yet allow application and removal of the bandage by the patient without assistance and with minimal pain and discomfort. An elastic member enables adjustment of the bandage for proper fit around the torso of the patient and ensures the application of adequate pressure. The bandage is configured so that the material that contacts the person's skin is non-elastic and breathable for increased comfort.

Abstract: The present invention provides a post-surgical, drainage accomodating, compression dressing and garment intended to be worn by a man or woman after chest wall surgery to cover and compress at least one surgical incision site on the upper torso. The dressing is formed at least in part by deformable elastomeric material for the generation of compression forces over the surgical incision and over the surrounding upper torso areas. This improved garment provides for the presence of a surgical drain for the collection of fluids, the drain extending from the surgical incision site into the external ambient environment; and can also provide a support for a drainage collection bulb which is often present as part of the surgical drainage system.

Abstract: A brassiere comprising two cups, a back band and an adjuster having a pair of male plug and female socket halves to interconnect the two cups for providing a front adjustment. The socket defines a longitudinal passage and has a side wall formed therein with an opening which is defined by two parallel corrugated inner side walls. The plug includes a plate dimensioned to move freely along the passage in the socket and a central tongue split from an inner end of the plate, resiliently deformable with respect to the plate and terminated with a barb-like head. The barb-like head is engageable with the corrugated inner side walls of the socket so that the plug can be locked at any of a plurality of positions with respect to the socket.

Abstract: A moisture managing brassiere for sports wear and general wear includes a front portion, a back portion connected to the front portion, and a pair of shoulder straps connected respectively at one end to the front portion and at respective opposite ends to the back portion. The brassiere is constructed of a composite stretch fabric including an inner fabric layer, and intermediate fabric layer, and an outer shell fabric layer. The inner fabric layer is constructed of hydrophobic moisture wicking fibers for residing in skin contact during garment wear. The intermediate fabric layer resides adjacent to the inner fabric layer for receiving, dispersing, and transporting moisture outwardly away from the inner fabric layer. The outer fabric layer resides adjacent to the intermediate fabric layer for receiving and dispersing moisture wicked outwardly from the inner and intermediate fabric layers.

Abstract: A double-closure clasp for maternity, mastectomy or like garments, the clasp comprising a housing member and a pair of clip members slidably insertable in the housing; the housing being unitarily molded from plastic material and comprising a substantially flat base wall, opposed side walls and an upper wall defining a pair of adjacent apertures therethrough, the side walls, base wall and upper wall defining a pair of guideways terminating in transverse open entry slots in the housing through which the clip members are inserted. The clip members each including a substantially flat body defining a fenestration therein, and a resilient tongue extension having one end thereof integral with the body and disposed at an angle relative thereto, the tongue extension being disposed to move into and out of the fenestration, the body further including means for attachment to a portion of the garment.

Abstract: A garment for use by a patient after surgery for breast removal which alleviates post-operative pain and discomfort and facilitates normal activities during the recovery period. A padded vest-like garment is adapted for applying comforting pressure to the sites of removal of breast and other tissues and for holding pain relieving packages. A detachable arm support provides further comfort in a similar manner.

Abstract: A reversible mastectomy brassiere which may be worn soon after surgery is disclosed with the primary purpose of this brassiere concept being to provide a mastectomy brassiere which may position a prosthesis on the left breast, or when said brassiere is completely reversed, to position a prosthesis on the right breast of the mastectomy patient. This design further includes front fasteners which function equally well irrespective of the side on which the brassiere is worn. The brassiere will provide adequate coverage for the patient soon after surgery, without the necessity of an expensive and time consuming special fitting. The second important aspect of this design is its continuous unbroken and smooth appearance when worn becuase the brassiere configuration and all outer edges have no apparent sewing or standard finishing of any kind on the outer surface of the brassiere.

Abstract: A therapeutic chest dressing for breasts having implants including a chest encircling, flexible band provided with front flaps whereby the band is disposed against the back of a person and the front flaps overlap and fasten to each other. A chest encircling strip is attached to the flexible band for preventing movement or distortion of the implants for breasts received in the flexible band.

Abstract: A brassiere for handicapped people provides detachable and adjustable fabric fastening pads to temporarily hold the two halves together, and finger loops for those who cannot grip. The brassiere has a front opening with an overlapping portion joined to one brassiere cup which overlaps an underlapping portion joined to the other cup. Detachable and adjustable fabric fastening pads or the like are provided on the underside of the overlapping portion to engage with one or more corresponding support pads on the top surface of the underlapping portion. Fabric loops for fingers are provided attached to the overlapping and underlapping portions to avoid a person having to grip the edges of the two portions.

Abstract: A brassiere which is particularly suitable for use during sporting activities or for persons in postsurgical rehabilitation. The bra has a front panel of non-stretch material, such as a cotton/polyester blend, and a back panel of stretch material, such as a nylon/lycra blend. A drawstring is provided through the front panel to allow the wearer to mold the front panel to provide the desired degree of breast support and comfort. Straps having one end connected to the front panel and another end connected to the back panel may be provided. The straps are preferably formed of a non-stretch material and include a length-adjustment device. Either the front panel or the back panel may be divided into two portions to allow the wearer to put on the brassiere without raising their arms above their head. The two portions of the panel which are divided can be fastened by a variety of known fastening means.

Abstract: A balance type minute lengthenable adjuster able to be applied to caps, breast cups, etc., comprising an adjusting band, a buckle, a band pincher, two rings and two bands. One end of the adjusting band is tied with the buckle and then goes orderly through the right ring, the left ring, the band pincher, the buckle, and finally the band pincher once again. The adjusting band is pinched immovable between a positioning flap and a short tube of the band pincher. The positioned flap is able to be pivotally turned up or down to pinch immovable the adjusting band between itself and the short tube after the length of the adjusting band has been adjusted between the two rings.

Abstract: A brassiere for handicapped people provides detachable and adjustable fabric fastening pads to temporarily hold the two halves together, and finger loops fopr those who cannot grip. The brassiere has a front opening with an overlapping portion joined to one brassiere cup which overlaps an underlapping portion joined to the other cup. Detachable and adjustable fabric fastening pads are provided on the underside of the overlapping portion to engage with support pads on the top surface of the underlapping portion. Fabric loops for fingers are provided attached to the overlapping and underlapping portions to avoid a person having to grip the edges of the two portions.

Abstract: A nursing brassiere is disclosed having a frontal section comprised of partially overlapping frontal portions each adapted to cover one side of a wearer's chest area. The frontal portions are connected to a lower band that fits around the wearer and has inner and outer overlapping members which are normally held together but are separable. Each frontal portion is attached to one overlapping band member so that it can be separately displaced by the wearer to facilitate nursing.

Abstract: The sports bra comprises two front panel sections with each front panel section being a mirror image of the other and including a main body portion and an upwardly extending wide strap forming portion and a rear panel section including a body portion and two upwardly extending wide strap forming portions. The body portion of the rear panel section is attached on each side edge thereof to one of the main body portions of one of the front panel sections and the upper ends of each strap forming portion are attached to the upper end of one of the strap forming portions of one of the front panel sections. The rear panel section includes two elastic strap reinforcing bands which extend from the upper end of one of the strap forming portions angularly downwardly to the opposite side edge of the rear panel section to form cross strap members. The sports bra has arm holes and a neck hole which are defined between the areas of joining of the front and rear panel sections.

Abstract: A surgical brassiere for reducing stress along a mid-sternal incisional line of a female patient following cardio-thoracic surgery includes a pair of bust support cups positioned over the breasts of the patient so as to form an exposed gap over the area of the patient's sternum. A ventilated panel is secured over the gap to provide protection to the mid-sternal incision and can be unsecured as required for purposes of routine examination or nursing care. A pair of inner straps, detachably secured across the gap between the bust support cups, assure that support continues to be provided while the ventilated panel is thus unsecured. To increase patient comfort, the brassiere further includes relatively wide, padded shoulder straps, and a flexible backstrap assembly, including a pair of criss-crossed flexible elastic straps provides additional support to further promote post-operative recovery.

Abstract: A garment is set forth which includes an outer flexible skin to cover at least the torso and stretchable breast supports beneath the outer skin to overlay the breasts. Tendons are attached to the breast supports and are adjustably pulled to stretch the supports over the breasts to press, hold and support the breasts against the body.

Abstract: A racer back style front-opening brassiere having front sections adapted to be releasably secured together and a pair of back band assemblies secured to each other and to the front sections and having upwardly projection portions secured to shoulder straps in a crossed manner. The front sections are releasably secured together by discrete, spaced, and first and second closure means.