Abstract: Aspects herein are directed to a support garment that includes a number of features configured to provide a high level of support to a wearer's breasts while being comfortable to wear. The support garment includes a Y-shaped layer affixed to an inner surface of a front portion of the support garment that helps to limit upward movement of a wearer's breasts. The support garment also includes foam pads having a uniform thickness and a plurality of apertures located at side portions of the support garment and configured to limit lateral movement of the wearer's breasts. The support garment also includes an underband that is zoned to be breathable and permeable at a front center of the underband while still providing support to an under portion of the wearer's breasts.

Abstract: A chest wall adapter apparatus for supporting a user's breasts includes a right section and a left section, wherein the right section and the left section are contiguous on a front side of the apparatus. The apparatus also includes an inwardly extending convex portion located between the right section and the left section, wherein the inwardly extending convex portion is configured to lie against the chest wall of the user between the breasts; a horizontally extending and upwardly angled right shelf configured to extend along the right section and follow a contour along an underside of a right breast of the user; and a horizontally extending and upwardly angled left shelf configured to extend along the left section and follow a contour along an underside of the left breast of the user.

Abstract: Articles of athletic garments, particularly sports bra and methods of treating the athletic garments with a shear thickening fluid (STF) are disclosed. The athletic garment comprises a STF treated fabric. The STF treated fabric in contact with the wearer's body part restricts movement of the body part when the shear stress exceeds the shear stress threshold value and stretches and conforms to the wearer's body part when the shear stress is less than the shear stress threshold value. The STF treatment method may include immersing the untreated fabric in a diluted STF bath, metering an amount of the fluid on the fabric, and removing the diluent from the treated fabric.

Abstract: The brassiere with adjustable spacing between cups includes an elastic band adapted for releasable mounting about a user's torso and a pair of shoulder straps secured thereto. A pair of fabric cups are secured to the elastic band for supporting the user's breasts. A lower portion of each cup has a channel defined therein and an open end. Each end of an elongate, flexible support wire or member is slidably disposed within a respective one of the channels. Additionally, a pair of flaps are respectively secured to the pair of fabric cups. Each of the flaps has a free end for selective positioning adjacent a respective open end of each of the channels. The free ends may be secured together such that when the flaps are secured, the support wire allows the spacing between the cups to decrease, thus providing additional inward and upward support for the user's breasts.

Abstract: An upper torso garment and a lower torso garment each comprising a respective torso encircling band. The band includes an inner layer and an outer layer with each layer having a first series of courses. The first series of courses defined by a first, covered elastomeric, yarn and a second, low friction, yarn. The first and second yarns are knit such that the second yarn is float platted with the first yarn.

Abstract: A breast band includes a resilient, elastic band that, in some embodiments, is covered by a soft, moisture absorbent fabric, and also includes an adjustable closure as well as two axilla-accommodating regions or two nascent axilla-accommodating regions.

Abstract: A lactation suppression garment includes a breast coverage section and a wrap section to support and apply a highly adjustable compressive force against a wearer's breast to provide perfect fit and alleviate swelling and pain and other discomforts associated with the lactation suppression process

Abstract: The bra comprises a breast containment zone defined by two breast cups engaged to a perimeter element. The perimeter element has a base and two peripheral sides extending from each side of the base, forming a “U” shape that extends about each breast cup. A chest band is engaged to and extends bilaterally away from each breast cup, to encompass the torso of a wearer. The chest band has a lower elongate zone to apply a first force to said perimeter element at the base of the perimeter element, and an upper elongate zone to apply a second force adjacent each breast cup to said perimeter element at the each peripheral side of the perimeter element and at a distance away from said base of the perimeter element.

Abstract: A support structure for a bra includes a two-ply structural support layer having an m-shaped ply of compression fabric, forming left and right openings along a bottom aspect of the m-shaped ply, and a w-shaped ply of compression fabric, forming left and right openings along a top aspect of the w-shaped ply. The m- and w-shaped plies are joined together such that the left and right openings of each ply overlap to form left and right pockets for accommodating at least a portion of a wearer's left and right breasts. The support structure encapsulates and separates the breasts. When joined with straps of a sports bra or top, the two-ply structural support layer provides sling-type support of the breasts. Compressive fabric of the bra or top compresses the breasts to a wearer's chest; thus, a bra or top incorporating the support structure provides three-way support via encapsulation, suspension and compression.

Abstract: An open front undergarment having a form that allows the back of the garment to be closed and the front of the garment to be completely open and free from clasps, fabric or fasteners in the front between the cups. The open front undergarment includes a brassiere having an underwire and an overwire to form a frame, a rear band, a pair of cups extending from opposite ends of the rear band a cover material and a slip-resistant band. The underwire runs through the lower perimeter of a lower portion of the brassiere and the overwire runs through the upper perimeter. The underwire and overwire can be formed of a metal or a metal coated with plastic. The frame can also be formed of a single ductile member. The brassiere also includes a flexure region at the rear band to allow for flexure of the back and torso of the wearer.

Abstract: An athletic brassiere with breast band, having the general form of a brassiere, for use when engaging in vigorous physical exercise or activities, such as running, tennis, and the like. An embodiment comprises an inner liner and outer panel, an internal breast band sleeve, and a breast band slidably retained within the sleeve. The breast band has a fastener enabling the breast band length to be adjusted; the breast band is adjustable vertically and horizontally. Embodiments hold the breasts down with the breast band slidably retained within the garment, providing support and protecting the wearer from discomfort or injury from excessive upward and downward breast movement. The breast band alleviates upward and downward movement of the breasts and does not cinch, flatten or compress the wearer's breasts against the chest wall, nor lift and bold the breasts. The garment is attractive and can be worn alone or under another garment.

Abstract: A breast support garment including a band of elastic material dimensioned to form a shelf beneath a user's breasts. The sides of the band are shaped to extend from the front chest portion to a rear back portion and to meet at the back. The support garment has a two side shoulder straps each connected to said band of material from the front in vertical alignment with a user's shoulder and connected to said band of material from the rear in vertical alignment with the user's shoulder. This support garment may include a unitary underpant portion.

Abstract: The claimed invention is directed to brassieres that offer extra support for large women. The brassieres include an inner bra band and an outer bra band.

Abstract: The claimed invention is directed to brassieres that offer extra support for large women. The brassieres include an inner bra band and an outer bra band.

Abstract: The front weight support system/garment/bra supports front weight substantially on a wearer's upper back, above the shoulder blades and below the cervical vertebrae of the neck. Weight is supported underneath by the front enclosure 3a which is extended to the wearer's shoulder-tops by opposite side front straps 3a and 11a , which secure to opposite side edges of the yoke 2a. The yoke restrains the front weight rearwardly and upwardly against the wearer's upper back. The downward end of the yoke is leveraged down by spine strap 7a, vertically adjustably secured to the rear of circumferential body band 9a by single adjuster 10a. The enclosure is secured to the front of the body band to keep the enclosure from moving forward off the weight. The yoke is positioned off the back of the wearer's neck by its shape, rigidity, and/or with an attached spine strap. Laterally rigid rod 88a in yoke can hold the front straps laterally apart and off the sides of the wearer's neck.

Abstract: A bra barrier device (16) comprising a flexible, substantially flat absorptive protective band (18) worn on an abdomen (20) of a woman's body (22). A top edge (24) of the band (18) extends under the breasts (26) and a lower border (28) at the cups (30) of a bra (32), so as to prevent dermal irritation and lesions caused by heat, moisture and chaffing associated with use of the bra (32).

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 process for promoting bonding between a person such as a working mother and an infant or young child is disclosed. A garment is worn in contact with the skin of the person to whom bonding is to be promoted, such as in contact with a person's torso. The garment is comprised of a material which absorbs odor from the body. A fastening mechanism (24) attaches the garment to the body for a time sufficient to retain the odor. The worn garment is attached to a garment support (50) with the fastening mechanism sufficiently close to the infant so that the infant may smell the retained odor for a time sufficient to promote bonding.

Abstract: An inner bust control portion of a swimsuit includes an elasticized fabric band that completely encircles the chest. A stretchy elastic horizontal strip is attached at its upper margin, and another at its lower margin, so that the band is pulled up against the chest. Two vertical elastic strips, one at the side of each breast extends from upper to lower horizontal elastic strips. At least one midline vertical elastic strip separates the breasts so that pockets are formed within the fabric band bounded by the elastic strips. The upper margin of the inner bust control portion is attached to the upper margin of the outer fabric of the swimsuit. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the midline vertical elastic strip or strips are replaced by a drawstring.

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 therepeutic brassiere for supporting breast implants includes breast receiving cups. Each of the cups is formed from a section of body engaging fabric joined together at a common seam. A chest encircling band is joined to the lower marginal edges of the cups for affixing the brassiere to the chest of a wearer. An elastic strip of material, attached to both the upper marginal edges of the cups and to the chest encircling band prevents movement or distortion of the breast implants.

Abstract: A sleeveless bodice type athletic support garment structured of a multi-layered rectangular front and back panel, two length adjustable shoulder straps, a neck opening, two arm apertures, and two openable side seams attachable with hook and loop fasteners to allow size adjustability. The garment is made of a resilient material capable of dissipating heat and perspiration. The interior of the front panel is affixed with a flat rectangular elastic panel to support and stabilize a woman's breasts against her chest. The athletic support garment is especially directed for use by large breasted women who require additional support during strenuous or active sports. The support garment can be worn in place of a bra, over existing clothing or even as an outer garment.