Breast pad for athletic sports brassieres

Abstract

A breast pad for a sports brassiere includes at least one resilient cushioning layer having an inwardly curving shell shape that includes a receiving space for receiving a breast. The cushioning layer has a contour cross section with a thickness increasing towards a central portion of the curving shell shape and is dimensioned to substantially cover a lower portion of the breast below the nipple, a central portion of the breast, and an upper portion of the breast above the nipple. In further alternative embodiments, the breast pads may be placed in a specifically designed sports bra with at least one pocket or alternatively, the breast pads can be sewn into a conventional sports bra.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A breast pad for being placed inside a sports brassiere and adjacent a wearer, said pad comprising: 
 at least one resilient cushioning layer having an inwardly curving shell shape that is provided with a receiving space for receiving a breast, said cushioning layer having a contoured cross section with a thickness increasing toward a central portion of the curving shell shape, said cushioning layer dimensioned to substantially cover a lower portion of the breast below the nipple, a central portion of the breast, and an upper portion of the breast above the nipple.    
     
     
         2 . The breast pad of  claim 1 , further comprising an inner layer of flexible material attached to said cushioning layer and configured to fit around the breast.  
     
     
         3 . The breast pad of  claim 2 , wherein said inner layer comprises an absorbent material.  
     
     
         4 . The breast pad of  claim 1 , wherein said cushioning layer is tear drop shaped when viewed from the front as worn.  
     
     
         5 . The breast pad of  claim 1 , wherein said cushioning layer comprises foam selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, rubber and PVC.  
     
     
         6 . The breast pad of  claim 1 , wherein said cushioning layer comprises an upper and a lower portion tapered in thickness from a largest thickness adjacent said central portion of said cushioning layer.  
     
     
         7 . The breast pad of  claim 6 , wherein edges of said upper and said lower portions of said cushioning layer have a thickness of around 1 to 5 mm and said central portion has a thickness of around 6 to 25 mm.  
     
     
         8 . A support garment comprising: 
 a sports brassiere; and    a breast pad comprising at least one resilient cushioning layer positioned between a wearer's breast and said sports brassiere when said sports brassiere is worn, said cushioning layer having an inwardly curving shell shape that is provided with a receiving space for receiving a breast, said cushioning layer having a contoured cross section with a thickness increasing toward a central portion of the curving shell shape, said cushioning layer dimensioned to substantially cover a lower portion of the breast below the nipple, a central portion of the breast, and an upper portion of the breast above the nipple.    
     
     
         9 . The support garment of  claim 8 , wherein said brassiere comprises at least one pocket into which said breast pad is disposed.  
     
     
         10 . The support garment of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one cushioning layer is sewn into the sports brassiere.  
     
     
         11 . The support garment of  claim 8 , further comprising an absorbent inner layer of flexible material attached to said cushioning layer and configured to fit around the breast.  
     
     
         12 . The support garment of  claim 8 , wherein said breast pad is tear drop shaped when viewed from the front as worn.  
     
     
         13 . The support garment of  claim 8 , wherein said cushioning layer comprises foam selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, rubber and PVC.  
     
     
         14 . The support garment of  claim 8 , wherein said cushioning layer comprises an upper and a lower portion tapered in thickness from a largest thickness adjacent said central portion of said cushioning layer.  
     
     
         15 . A method of providing padding in a sports bra, said method comprising: 
 inserting breast pads into a sports brassiere on a wearer, the breast pads each comprising: 
 at least one resilient cushioning layer having an inwardly curving shell shape that is provided with a receiving space for receiving a breast, the cushioning layer having a contoured cross section with a thickness increasing toward a central portion of the curving shell shape, the cushioning layer dimensioned to substantially cover a lower portion of the breast below the nipple, a central portion of the breast, and an upper portion of the breast above the nipple.  
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein inserting breast pads into an sports brassiere further comprises inserting the breast pads into a pocket of the sports brassiere.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein inserting breast pads into an sports brassiere further comprises sewing the breast pads to the sports brassiere.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the breast pad is tear drop shaped when viewed as worn from the front.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the cushioning layer comprises foam selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, rubber and PVC.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the cushioning layer comprises an upper and a lower portion tapered in thickness from a largest thickness adjacent the central portion of the cushioning layer.