Brassieres

Abstract

A brassiere includes two cups, a bridge that connects the two cups, and a wing attached to a side of each of the cups, where at least one of the cups comprises an outer layer including a first material defining an outer contour, an outer perimeter, an outer depth, and an outer volume; and an inner layer including a second material defining an inner contour, an inner perimeter, inner depth, and an inner volume, wherein the second material is flexible and stretchable, where the inner layer is attached to the outer layer by the inner perimeter, the inner depth is smaller than the outer depth, and wherein the inner volume is less than outer volume.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A brassiere comprising:
 two cups, a bridge that connects the two cups, and a wing attached to a side of each of the cups, wherein:   at least one of the cups comprises:   an outer layer comprising a first material defining an outer contour, an outer perimeter, an outer depth, and an outer volume; and   an inner layer comprising a second material defining an inner contour, an inner perimeter, an inner depth, and an inner volume, wherein the second material is flexible and stretchable,   wherein the inner layer is attached to the outer layer by the inner perimeter, the inner depth is smaller than the outer depth, and wherein the inner volume is less than outer volume.   
     
     
         2 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the second material is capable of maintaining the outer contour shape. 
     
     
         3 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises spandex, nylon, Tactel, polyester, acrylic, cotton, viscose, rayon, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises a knitted fabric. 
     
     
         5 . The brassiere of  claim 4 , wherein the second material comprises single jersey, double jersey, or interlock jersey. 
     
     
         6 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the inner contour shape is a teardrop shape. 
     
     
         7 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the inner contour shape is an ovoid shape. 
     
     
         8 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the inner contour shape is round. 
     
     
         9 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the inner contour shape and the outer contour shape are the same. 
     
     
         10 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer forms an outer cup and the inner layer forms an inner cup, and wherein the outer cup is shaped to give an appearance of a natural breast and the inner cup is constructed to conform to an implant breast. 
     
     
         11 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the inner volume is about 75% or less of the outer volume. 
     
     
         12 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the inner volume is about 70% or less of the outer volume. 
     
     
         13 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the inner volume is about 65% or less of the outer volume. 
     
     
         14 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the inner volume is about 60% or less of the outer volume. 
     
     
         15 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the inner volume is smaller than the outer volume by about 10% or greater. 
     
     
         16 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the inner volume is at least 25% smaller than the outer volume when the inner volume is at rest, and wherein the inner volume is 0 to 20% smaller than the outer volume when the brassiere is worn by a user. 
     
     
         17 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises a material that is capable of conforming to a shape of a user's breast. 
     
     
         18 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises a material that is capable of conforming to a shape of a breast implant used in breast reconstruction. 
     
     
         19 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises a material that is capable of conforming to a shape of a breast implant placed under chest muscle. 
     
     
         20 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein the outer cup is sized according to standard brassiere sizing. 
     
     
         21 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein each wing has a minimum width of between 1.5 and 3 inches. 
     
     
         22 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein each wing is constructed to cover mastectomy scars. 
     
     
         23 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein each of the wings has an underarm width that is greater than the width at the end of the swing. 
     
     
         24 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , wherein each wing comprises a closure mechanism. 
     
     
         25 . A brassiere cup comprising:
 (a) an outer layer comprising a first material defining an outer contour, an outer perimeter, an outer depth, and an outer volume; and   (b) an inner layer comprising a second material defining an inner contour, an inner perimeter, inner depth, and an inner volume, wherein the second material is flexible and stretchable;   wherein the inner layer is attached to the outer layer by the inner perimeter, the inner depth is smaller than the outer depth, and wherein the inner volume is less than outer volume.