Sports brassiere for nursing

Abstract

A brassiere includes a pair of shoulder straps and a pair of cup members located generally below the shoulder straps. Each of the cup members includes an inner contact layer substantially completely covering the breast of a wearer, and an outer compression layer slidably disposed in covering relation to the inner contact layer. An adjustment and securing assembly is disposed between each outer compression layer and its corresponding shoulder strap. The adjustment and securing assembly, which may be provided as a hook-and loop fastener system, is adapted and constructed to adjustably secure the outer compression layer to the shoulder strap. Attachment of the outer compression layers to the shoulder straps lifts and compresses the breasts of the wearer to reduce the potential for inertial movement of the breasts both outwardly and downwardly.

1 . A brassiere comprising the following: 
 a pair of shoulder straps;    a pair of cup members located generally below the shoulder straps, each of the cups including an inner contact layer covering the breast of a wearer and a unitary outer compression layer slidably disposed in covering relation to the inner contact layer, the outer compression layer being substantially coextensive with the inner contact layer;    an adjustment assembly disposed between each outer compression layer and its corresponding shoulder strap, the securing assembly being adapted and constructed to adjustably secure the outer compression layer to the shoulder strap; and    a nursing access mechanism provided on the inner contact layer and the outer compression layer, the nursing access mechanism adapted and constructed to provide selective access to the breast of a wearer without removing the brassiere;    whereby attachment of the outer compression layers to the shoulder straps lifts and compresses the breasts of the wearer to reduce the potential for inertial movement of the breasts.    
     
     
         2 . A brassiere according to    claim 1   , wherein each of the inner contact layers comprises the following: 
 a cover portion adapted and constructed to cover a lower portion of the wearer's breast; and    a downward compression portion disposed generally above the cover portion,    the downward compression portion being adapted and constructed to exert a downwardly-acting force on the respective breasts of the wearer.    
     
     
         3 . A brassiere according to    claim 2   , wherein the cover portions are fabricated from a resilient material, and the downward compression portions are fabricated from a material having less resilience than the material from which the cover portions are fabricated.  
     
     
         4 . A brassiere according to    claim 3   , wherein the cover portions are fabricated from LYCRA, and the downward compression portions are fabricated from POWERKNIT.  
     
     
         5 . A brassiere according to    claim 1   , wherein the adjustment assembly comprises hook and loop fasteners.  
     
     
         6 . A brassiere according to    claim 5   , wherein hook elements of the hook and loop fasteners are disposed on the outer compression layer, and loop elements of the hook and loop fasteners are disposed on the shoulder straps.  
     
     
         7 . A brassiere according to    claim 6   , wherein the outer compression layer comprises the following: 
 a body portion overlying the inner contact layer; and    a tab portion extending upwardly from the body portion to a point overlying the shoulder strap;    wherein the hook elements of the hook and loop fasteners are disposed on the tab portion of the outer compression layer.    
     
     
         8 . A brassiere according to    claim 1   , further comprising a fastening element between the respective cup members.  
     
     
         9 . A brassiere according to    claim 8   , wherein the fastening element comprises a zipper.  
     
     
         10 . A brassiere according to    claim 1   , wherein the nursing access mechanism comprises the following: 
 a fastening mechanism securing the outer compression layer, the fastening mechanism being adapted and constructed to permit deployment of the outer compression layer between a covering position and a nursing position; and    an access mechanism provided on the inner contact layer, the access mechanism being adapted and constructed to overlay the breast of the wearer when the outer compression layer is in a covering position, and to facilitate access to the breast of the wearer sufficient to permit nursing when the outer compression layer is in a nursing position.    
     
     
         11 . A brassiere according to    claim 10   , wherein the fastening mechanism of the nursing access mechanism comprises a selectively detachable fastener.  
     
     
         12 . A brassiere according to    claim 11   , wherein the fastening mechanism of the nursing access mechanism comprises a hook-and-loop fastener.  
     
     
         13 . A brassiere according to    claim 10   , wherein the access mechanism of the nursing access mechanism comprises overlapping material.  
     
     
         14 . In a brassiere including a pair of cup members, each of which includes an inner contact layer, and a pair of shoulder straps, an inertial movement reduction mechanism comprising the following: 
 downward compression means, forming portions of the respective inner contact layer of the cups, for exerting a downward force on the wearer's breasts sufficient to reduce upward inertial movement of the wearer's breast, the downward compression means being fabricated from a material differing from that of the remainder of the inner contact layers of the cups;    upward and inward compression means, adjustably attached to the shoulder straps, for exerting an upward and inward force on the wearer's breasts sufficient to reduce outward and downward inertial movement of the wearer's breasts; and    nursing access means, provided on the downward compression means and the upward and inward compression means, for providing selective access to the breast of a wearer without removing the brassiere.    
     
     
         15 . In a brassiere including a pair of cup members and a pair of shoulder straps, a method for reducing inertial movement of a wearer's breasts, the method comprising the following steps: 
 exerting a downward force on the wearer's breasts sufficient to reduce upward inertial movement of the wearer's breast;    simultaneously exerting an upward and inward force over the entire frontal area of the wearer's breasts sufficient to reduce outward and downward inertial movement of the wearer's breasts; and    providing selective nursing access to the breast of a wearer without removing the brassiere.    
     
     
         16 . A method according to    claim 15   , wherein the step of providing selective nursing access comprises providing selectively and cooperatively movable mechanisms for exerting a downward force on the wearer's breasts and for simultaneously exerting an upward and inward force over the entire frontal area of the wearer's breasts.