Field of the Invention The invention relates to a support and delivery platform for the decolietage and breasts of a woman.

Background to the Invention The term "decolietage" is used in this specification to refer to the upper frontal part of a woman's torso, comprising her neck, shoulders and chest, including the cleavage between her breasts, that is exposed by a relatively low neckline, although it is appreciated that the term, as well as the term "decollete", is also used from time to time in the prior art to refer to the neckline of a woman's clothing, particularly a relatively low-cut neckline that reveals or emphasizes a woman's cleavage, such as with bail gowns, evening gowns, leotards, lingerie, sportswear and swimsu ^' rts.

In this regard, it is acknowledged that the tern "decolietage" as used herein in itself does not prescribe or define the extent of exposure of a woman's upper torso, as such extent is typically dictated by current fashions, aesthetics, social norms and the intended occasion when a garment would be worn. It is further acknowledged that while necklines and neckline styles have varied in Western societies and that a revealed decolietage might be regarded as aesthetic and/or an expression of femininity, such necklines, styles and revelation in other societies might be considered provocative, shocking and even distasteful. The object of this specification is however not to discuss the use of such necklines and neckline styles or to expressed an opinion on the morality of such revelations, but simply to identify the specific part of a woman's torso for purposes of describing the invention as disclosed herein.

The formation of natural lines and wrinkles on the decolietage is believed to be caused at least partially by sleeping on one's side, due to puckering of the skin, aging, sun damage and smoking.

The use of cosmetic formulations, skin craft and physical support to limit and even reduce the formation of lines and wrinkles in the decoiletage is well known.

More particularly, cosmetic formulations such as wrinkle creams, soft tissue fillers, skin resurfacing, laser resurfacing and so-called Botox™, a preparation of botulinum neurotoxin, better known as a muscle relaxant and injected typically into facial muscles for cosmetic purposes, are all known and commercially available forms of treatment of lines and wrinkles in the decoiletage.

Similarly, suitable physical sleep supports, such as a so-called steep bra, a chest or pillow pad and a breast pillow, aimed at helping to reduce chest wrinkles comfortably during sleep, particularly due to side sleeping, are also freely available. A sleeping bra is typically a relatively thin, nursing type bra with no underwire for supporting the breasts during sleeping. A chest or pillow pad, substantially as disclosed in US Patent Application 08/608,462, is a heart shaped pad of a polyfoam material, covered with nylon, and attachable during sleeping or cosmetic preparation to the decoiletage by a reusable medical-grade pressure sensitive adhesive, is used for deterring skin folding and, thus, wrinkle forming, during sleeping. A breast pillow is typically a stub, generally cylindrical member, slightly inwardly curved axially and commonly made from a relatively light material such as hypo-allergenic fiberfi!! with a body-contoured, ergonomic shape to provide the required softness and configuration when placed between a woman's breasts during sleep, to smooth out existing decoiletage lines and wrinkles effectively and to prevent new lines and wrinkles from forming during puckering of the skin. The pillow bra is designed to stay in place so as not to disturb a sleeper.

A related issue is sleep difficulty or sleep disruption, due to breast tenderness, friction, irritation or discomfort, a common complaint of particularly side sleepers, pregnant or nursing women and surgery patients after breast augmentation, reduction and mastectomy, and even cardiac surgery, typically resulting from a lack of adequate breast support. Sleep difficulty or sleep disruption, due to breast tenderness, friction, irritation or discomfort, is commonly addressed with physical sleep supports. During resting or sleep, a sleep support is used to separate and support a woman's breasts and to eliminate any pressure, tugging or discomfort generated from her breasts.

A shortcoming of the above treatments, supports and related products is however their inability to combine the benefits of physical skin and breast support, the application and delivery of cosmetic formulations, the promotion of the occlusion process at the covered skin area and, preferably, the non-use of adhesives to limit and reduce the formation of lines and wrinkles in the decolietage. Object of the Invention it is accordingly an object of the present invention to combined physical support to a woman's decolietage and breasts and the resultant skin occlusion to deliver topical cosmeceuticai benefit to the supported skin areas.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a decolietage and breast support and delivery platform comprising a flexible, substantially triangular planar body, of a silicone gel based material, the body thickening towards one corner to provide a substantially ftsh-taii shaped configuration, with one stub, substantially cylindrical corner and an opposed, substantially planar side, extending into two, substantially similar planar corners, the body being suitably dimensioned and configured to enable the thickened corner to nestle and provide support between a person's breasts while the two opposed planar corners extend outwardly therefrom to cover a substantial part of the person's decolietage.

The thickened corner may be dimensioned and configured to offer support to preselected breast implants, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and natural C, D, DD and larger cup breasts.

The silicone gel material may be of a soft, durable, washable, reusable, self-adhesive and surgical quality to ensure adhesion without the use of a medical-grade adhesive and occlusion of the covered skin area. The silicone gel material may comprise of a medical-grade, biocompatible silicone and polytetrafiuoroethylene (PTFE) blend. Alternatively, the silicone gel material may be attachable to the skin by means of a reusable, medical-grade, pressure sensitive adhesive. Preferably, the adhesive may comprise of an unsupported transfer adhesive layer, a double-coated adhesive tape or a single-coated adhesive tape. The triangular planar body may be coated, alternatively, impregnated, with preselected active pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical or cosmetic active ingredients to act as a delivery platform for the ingredients during the use thereof, thereby enhancing the occlusion process at the covered skin area. The ingredients may include a skin moisturizer or a decongestant.

More preferably, the active ingredients may comprise of preselected, hydrophilic, hydrophobic and amphiphiilc compounds, entrapped in micro- and/or nano-size pheroid carriers for delivering the ingredients to the covered skin area. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a sleep bra arrangement with at least one chest securing member and two breast cups, the arrangement being characterised in having a stub, substantially cylindrical cushion beatable between the cups and a substantially planar body, of a silicone gel based material, the body being suitably dimensioned, configured and locatabie on the chest of a person to cover at least part of the person's decodetage.

The cushion may be dimensioned and configured to offer support to preselected breast implants, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and natural C, D, DD and larger cup breasts.

The planar body may be triangularly shaped and suitably dimensioned, configured and locatabie on the chest of a woman to enable two planar corners to extend outwardly to cover a substantial part of the woman's decol!etage with a third opposed comer extendable towards a woman's breasts.

The cushion and the planar body may be integrally formed to provide a triangular, substantially fish-tail shaped configuration, with one stub, substantially cylindrical thickened corner defining the cushion and an opposed, substantially planar side, extending into two, substantially similar planar corners, the configuration being suitably dimensioned and configured to enable the thickened corner to nestle and provide support between a woman's breasts while the two opposed planar corners extend outwardly therefrom to cover the woman's decolietage.

The silicone gel material may be of a soft, durable, washable, reusable, self-adhesive and surgical quality to ensure adhesion, without the use of a medical-grade adhesive, and occlusion of the covered skin area. The silicone gel material may comprise of a medical-grade, biocompatible silicone and poiytetraftuoroethylene (PTFE) blend. Alternatively, the silicone gel material may be attachable to the skin by means of a reusable, medical-grade, pressure sensitive adhesive Preferably, the adhesive may comprise of an unsupported transfer adhesive layer, a double-coated adhesive tape or a single-coated adhesive tape.

The triangular planar body may be coated, alternatively, impregnated, with preselected active pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical or cosmetic active ingredients to act as a delivery platform for the ingredients during the use thereof, thereby enhancing the occlusion process at the covered skin area. The active ingredients may comprise of preselected, hydrophilic, hydrophobic and amphiphiiic compounds, entrapped in micro- and/or nano-size pheroid carriers for delivering the ingredients to the covered skin area. The ingredients may include a skin moisturizer or a decongestant.

The at least one chest securing member may comprise of a conventional shoulder harness, alternatively, a conventional strapless harness, secured, alternatively, securabie to the two breast cups, the breast pillow and the at least one planar body.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a sleep bra arrangement with at least one chest securing member and two breast cups, the arrangement being characterised in having a substantially planar body, of a silicone gel based material, the body being suitably dimensioned, configured and locatable on the chest of a person to cover at least part of the person's decoiletage.

The sleep bra arrangement may include a stub, substantially cylindrical cushion, locatable between the cups and dimensioned and configured to offer support to preselected breast implants, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and natural C, 0, DD and larger cup breasts.

The planar body may be triangularly shaped and suitably dimensioned, configured and locatable on the chest of a woman to enable two planar comers to extend outwardly to cover a substantial part of the woman's decoiletage with a third opposed corner extendable towards a woman's breasts.

The cushion and the planar body may be integrally formed to provide a triangular, substantially fish-tail shaped configuration, with one stub, substantially cylindrical thickened corner defining the cushion and an opposed, substantially planar side, extending into two, substantially similar planar corners, the configuration being suitably dimensioned and configured to enable the thickened corner to nestle and provide support between a woman's breasts while the two opposed planar corners extend outwardly therefrom to cover the woman's decolletage.

The silicone gel materia! may be of a soft, durable, washable, reusable, self-adhesive and surgical quality to ensure adhesion, without the use of a medical-grade adhesive, and occlusion of the covered skin area. The silicone gel material may comprise of a medical-grade, biocompatible silicone and po!ytetraf!uoroethyiene (PTFE) blend.

Alternatively, the silicone gel material may be attachable to the skin by means of a reusable, medical-grade, pressure sensitive adhesive. Preferably, the adhesive may comprise of an unsupported transfer adhesive layer, a double-coated adhesive tape or a single-coated adhesive tape.

The triangular planar body may be coated, alternatively, impregnated, with preselected active pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical or cosmetic active ingredients to act as a delivery platform for the ingredients during the use thereof, thereby enhancing the occlusion process at the covered skin area. The active ingredients may comprise of preselected, hydrophiiic, hydrophobic and amphiphilic compounds, entrapped in micro- and/or nano-size pheroid carriers for delivering the ingredients to the covered skin area. The ingredients may include a skin moisturizer or a decongestant.

The at least one chest securing member may comprise of a conventional shoulder harness, alternatively, a conventional strapless harness, secured, alternatively, securabie to the two breast cups, the breast pillow and the at least one planar body.

Detailed Description of the Invention A preferred embodiment of the invention shall now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a triangular planar body with a substantially fish-tail shaped configuration in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is an illustration of a sleep bra in accordance with the invention and incorporating the planar body as illustrated in Figure 1.

A decolletage and breast support and delivery platform in accordance with the invention and as illustrated in Figure 1 comprising a flexible, substantially triangular planar body 1 , of a silicone gel based material, the body thickening towards one corner 2 to provide a substantially fish-tail shaped configuration, with one stub, substantially cylindrical comer and an opposed, substantially planar side S, extending into two, substantially similar planar corners 3 and 4, the body being suitably dimensioned and configured to enable the thickened corner to nestle and provide support between a woman's breasts (not shown) while the two opposed planar corners extend outwardly therefrom to cover a substantial part of the woman's decolletage (not shown).

The thickened corner 2 is dimensioned and configured to offer support to preselected breast implants, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and natural C, D, DD and larger cup breasts.

The silicone gel material is of a soft, durable, washable, reusable, self-adhesive and surgical quality to ensure adhesion without the use of a medical-grade adhesive and occlusion of the covered skin area. The silicone gel material is of a medical-grade, biocompatible silicone and polytetrafluoroethyiene (PTFE) blend.

Alternatively, the body 1 could be attachable to the skin (not shown) by means of a reusable, medical-grade, pressure sensitive adhesive (not shown). The adhesive (not shown) could comprise of an unsupported transfer adhesive layer (not shown), a double-coated adhesive tape (not shown) or a single-coated adhesive tape (not shown).

It is envisaged that the body 1 could be coated, alternatively, impregnated, with preselected active pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical or cosmetic active ingredients (not shown) to act as a delivery platform for the ingredients during the use thereof, thereby enhancing the occlusion process at the covered skin area (not shown). The ingredients could include a skin moisturizer or a decongestant.

It is further envisaged that the active ingredients (not shown) could comprise of preselected, hydrophiiic, hydrophobic and amphophilic compounds, entrapped in micro- and/or nano-size pheroid carriers (not shown) for delivering the ingredients to the covered skin area (not shown). A sleep bra arrangement 10 in accordance with the invention and as illustrated in Figure 2 comprises of chest securing members in the form of two shoulder straps 11 and a torso band 16, two breast cups 15 and comfortable lace-like panels 13, the arrangement being characterised in having a stub, substantially cylindrical cushion (not shown), substantially configured as the one stub, substantially cylindrical corner 2 in Figure 1 , !ocatab!e in a pocket 14 between the cups, and a substantially planar body 12, of a silicone gel based materia!, the body being suitably dimensioned, configured and tocatabie on the chest of a woman 17 to cover at least part of the woman's decolletage. The cushion (not shown) is dimensioned and configured to offer support to preselected breast implants, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and natural C, D, DD and larger cup breasts.

The planar body 12 is triangularly shaped and suitably dimensioned, configured and locatable on the chest of the woman 17 to enable two planar corners 12 a and 12b to extend outwardly to cover a substantia! part of the woman's decolletage with a third opposed corner 12c extendable towards a woman's cleavage.

The cushion (not shown) and the planar body 12 is integrally formed, as illustrated in Figure 1, to provide the triangular, substantially fish-tail shaped configuration, with the one stub. substantially cylindrical thickened corner 2 defining the cushion and the opposed, substantially planar side 5, extending into the two, substantially similar pianar corners 3 and 4, the configuration being suitably dimensioned and configured to enable the thickened corner to nestle and provide support between a woman's breasts while the two opposed pianar corners extend outwardly therefrom to cover the woman's decolletage. it is envisaged that the sleep bra 10 could comprise of a conventional strapless harness (not shown), secured, alternatively, securabie to two breast cups (not shown), a breast pillow (not shown) and at least one planar body (not shown) in accordance with the invention. It is further envisaged that a sleep bra arrangement in accordance with the invention (not shown) could comprise of at least one chest securing member (not shown) and two breast cups (not shown), the arrangement being characterised in having a substantially planar body (not shown), of a silicone gel based material, and being suitably dimensioned, configured and beatable on the chest of a woman to cover at least part of the woman's decolletage, offering support to preselected breast implants, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and natural smaller cup breasts. it will be appreciated that many variations in detail are possible without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the Inventions as defined in the consistory statements, as described in the specific embodiment hereinabove and/or as defined in the claims hereinafter.