Bra for Women

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a bra. More particularly, this invention relates to a bra construction. Still more particularly, this invention relates to a bra construction suitable for women prior to surgery.

BACKGROUND ART

The following references to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not intended to be, and are not to be construed as, statements or admissions of common general knowledge in the art. In particular, the following prior art discussion does not relate to what is commonly or well known by the person skilled in the art, but assists in the understanding of the inventive step of the present invention of which the identification of pertinent prior art proposals is but one part.

Women contemplating breast augmentation surgery can indicate to the surgeon the target breast size. However, there is a need for women contemplating breast surgery to gain some insight into the consequences of such surgery before committing to a particular size or shape. Some patients return for a second round of surgery to adjust their size or shape having experienced the consequences of the earlier surgery.

An object of the present invention is to ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative thereto.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

The invention according to one or more aspects is as defined in the independent claims. Some optional and/or preferred features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims. Applicant considers that it would be advantageous for women contemplating breast augmentation surgery to experience a simulation of having different shaped and/or or larger breasts. Applicant determined that the simulation could involve boosting a bra with artificial implants, whereby to give a realistic model of the breast size and shape after the surgery was completed.

Accordingly, in one aspect the invention provides: a bra construction comprising a pair of cups, at least one of the cups having at least one receptacle for the reception of at least one augmentation device of predetermined shape, size and weight, wherein the augmentation device is adapted to simulate for a wearer a changed breast shape, increased size or increased weight of the wearer's breast.

The augmentation device may be attached to the outside of the cup, for example by hook and loop (e.g. Velcro ^1M ) connection, double-sided tape or the like. Alternatively, the receptacle may be in the form of a compartment, pouch or pocket adapted to receive the augmentation device that is in the form of an insert to the receptacle. The insert may be in the form of an implant.

The implant may simulate the shape, size, weight, structure and/or consistency of the implants normally used in breast augmentation surgery. The augmentation device may take the form of a silicon implant or other implant used in breast augmentation surgery. The in breast augmentation surgery may be made from other materials not used in breast surgery, such as polymeric material. The augmentation device may comprise a bag. The bag may be made of woven material or fabric.

Preferably, the augmentation device is adapted to give a realistic simulation of the sensation of augmented breasts by being comfortable, pliable and contoured to accommodate the wearer's form on the internal, concave side of the augmentation device.

The augmentation device may comprise a pair of predominantly spaced wall surfaces defining central body portion. The spaced wall surfaces may include an internal concave wall and an external convex wall. The internal wall may be adapted to closely follow the contours of the wearer's breast. The wall surfaces may be made from a resiliently deformable skin or film.

The central body or contents of the bag may include particulate material, such as soft gel particles. The central body or contents of the bag may include convex plastic foam inserts, or a gel or polymeric material adapted to maintain integrity with regard to its predetermined shape. Alternatively, the central body of the augmentation device may be malleable to be better adapted to conform to the contours of a variety or range of wearers. The predetermined shape, size and weight of the augmentation device may involve providing a kit having a plurality of augmentation devices consisting of a range of different shapes, sizes and weights.

Preferably, the receptacle is a pocket adapted to centralise the augmentation device on the cup with a view to centralising the augmentation device over the wearer's breast when the bra worn.

The pocket may have an inner fabric layer and an outer fabric layer. The pocket may have an opening at the cup edge. The opening may be sealable by closure. The closure may be a reusable strip tape, a Ziplock™ closure, buttons, studs, a zip or other suitable seal. Preferably, the opening is unsealed and is oriented at the upper side of the cup to ensure that the augmentation device remains in the pocket under force of gravity. The opening may be adjacent, closest to or facing the shoulder. The pocket may be superimposed upon the breast cup so that when worn the skin contacts the inner fabric layer.

Preferably the outer fabric layer is a double layer. The pocket is preferably equal to or slightly smaller in area relative to the cup.

The cups and pockets may be made of stretch knit synthetic fabric.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

1. The surgeon has an accurate model of desired breast size and the patent can try on her existing clothes to check the new fit. 2. The pockets accommodate different sorts of implants, namely bags of particulate material and convex plastic foam inserts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention may be better understood from the following non-limiting description of preferred embodiments, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic rear view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 ; Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 ;

Figure 4 is a schematic side sectional view of an augmentation device according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 ; and

Figure 5 is a schematic front view of the augmentation device shown in Fig. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, a bra construction is showing having back straps 2 and adjustable straps 4 that are similar to straps commonly used in the construction of a standard shaped bra. The straps 2,4 may be marginally elastic and may also be adapted to hold the bra to the wearer under tension.

The bra includes a bra cup panel 6 comprising a pair of cups 6. The panel 6 is defined by a top seam 8, a bottom seam 10 and side seams 12. Top seam 8 is reinforced to give strength form and structure to the bra and may follow a shallow curve or a contoured V-shape extending between a pair of spaced ends of the adjustable strap 4.

The cups 6 each include a pocket 14, 16. Each pocket 14, 16 is made as a separate assembly and then joined to the cup panel 6. The pockets 14,16 may be attached to the exterior side of the panel 6. Alternatively and advantageously, the pockets 14,16 are attached to the interior side of the panel to be more closely associated in fit to the wearer's breasts in use. This may assist in providing a more accurate simulation of the predetermined or target breast size, shape and weight contemplated by the wearer. The pockets 14,16 are made from a tube of fabric closed by edge seam 18 and cup seam 20 to give them structural integrity. The seams 18,20 join at an upper central on the panel 6. The two cup seams 20, the two side seams 12 and the centre seam 22 are reinforced by elastic, semi-rigid or flexible strips enclosed in tubes of material defined by the seams 12,18,20. The strips may be made from a variety of suitable materials, including plastic or wooden strips, wire, or metal straps. The areas 24, 26 beside the cups are padded for comfort, to give support and to support the pockets and their contents in an elevated and/or centralised position on the cups of panel 6.

The augmentation device is in the form of an implant insert 17 comprising inner 13 and outer walls 11, defining a central body 19. The contents of the insert include soft gel capsules that fill the insert bag 17 and thereby maintain integrity of form, whilst permitting some malleability to permit adjustment of shape to conform to the wearer's shape. However, other inserts 17 may be used that comprise unitary foam

constructions or other plastic bodies that hold their form and a selected because of that property allowing the wearer to experience a simulation of an implant having that shape, size and weight.

The preferred assembly of the bra construction is made from knitted synthetic fabric. A pocket opening 28, 30 is provided on each other side of the pocket 14,16. The pair of implants 17 are inserted in the respective pockets 14,16 in order to simulate in the wearer an increase the bust size. The pockets 14,16 are superimposed on the cups 6 thereby creating three layers of fabric, an internal layer 32 corresponding to the inner layer of the pocket 14,16, an outer layer of the pocket and the outer layer 36 of the panel 6. The implants 17 therefore sit symmetrically and centrally over the two central breast points 5,7. The inner layer 32 touches the skin when worn. The outer layer 34 of the pocket 14,16 lies within the panel 6 layer 36. A seam 38a,b on each side of the bra defines the boundary of the pocketsl4,l 6. The seam boundaries 38a,b centralise the inserted pads 17 when fitted in the bra construction. The seam boundary 38a may be a relatively linear peripheral edge of the pocket 16. The seam boundary 38b may be a relatively curved peripheral edge or may otherwise be non-linear. The pocket 14,16 assembly of the bra construction is sewn to the cup panel 6 by stitch line 40, stitch lines 42 at the side seams and centre stitch line 44.

The illustrations, photographs and drawings, if any, form part of the disclosure of this specification as does the description, illustrations, photographs and drawings of any associated provisional or parent specification or of any priority document, if any, all of which are imported hereinto as part of the record hereof.

Throughout the specification and claims the word "comprise" and its derivatives are intended to have an inclusive rather than exclusive meaning unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise. That is, the word "comprise" and its derivatives will be taken to indicate the inclusion of not only the listed components, steps or features that it directly references, but also other components, steps or features not specifically listed, unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise.

In the present specification, terms such as "apparatus", "means", "device" and

"member" may refer to singular or plural items and are terms intended to refer to a set of properties, functions or characteristics performed by one or more items or components having one or more parts. It is envisaged that where an "apparatus", "means", "device" or "member" or similar term is described as being a unitary object, then a functionally equivalent object having multiple components is considered to fall within the scope of the term, and similarly, where an "apparatus", "assembly", "means", "device" or "member" is described as having multiple components, a functionally equivalent but unitary object is also considered to fall within the scope of the term, unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise.

Orientational terms used in the specification and claims such as vertical, horizontal, top, bottom, upper and lower are to be interpreted as relational and are based on the premise that the component, item, article, apparatus, device or instrument will usually be considered in a particular orientation which will be apparent from the context.

Finally it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements or parts without departing from the spirit and ambit of the invention.