Brassiere with pocket element

Abstract

A brassiere with a pocket element is disclosed. The brassiere includes a left cup and a right cup formed of a fabric material dimensioned to contain a breast of a wearer. A pocket is formed by a pocket panel attached within at least one of the left cup and the right cup. A pocket opening extends along the top edge of the pocket and provides access to an interior compartment of the pocket. The pocket is configured to contain small personal items, such as an identification card, a credit card, currency, and the like. The pocket panel protects the sensitive skin areas of the wearer's breast from germs and bacteria that may be carried by the small personal items.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A brassiere, comprising:
 a left cup and a right cup formed of a fabric material dimensioned to contain a breast of a wearer, each of the left cup and the right cup having, a top edge, a bottom edge, a medial edge and a lateral edge, the medial edge oriented along a medial centerline of a wearer's torso between the breasts, and the lateral edge oriented along a lateral side of the wearer's torso, when worn,   a bridge element interconnecting the medial edge of each of the left cup and the right cup;   a lateral support band interconnecting the lateral edge of each of the left cup and the right cup, the lateral support band dimensioned to extend around the wearer's torso; and   a pocket formed by a pocket panel attached within at least one of the left cup and the right cup, a pocket opening extends along the top edge, the pocket opening provides access to an interior compartment of the pocket.   
     
     
         2 . The brassiere of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pocket closure extending along the top edge, the pocket closure operable to selectively open or close the pocket opening.   
     
     
         3 . The brassiere of  claim 2 , wherein the pocket panel overlays a majority of an inner face of the at least one of the left cup and the right cup. 
     
     
         4 . The brassiere of  claim 3 , wherein the pocket closure further comprises a cooperating fastener. 
     
     
         5 . The brassiere of  claim 4 , wherein the cooperating fastener is a zipper. 
     
     
         6 . The brassiere of  claim 5 , wherein the pocket is provided in each of the left cup and the right cup. 
     
     
         7 . A brassiere cup, comprising:
 a cup having, a top edge, a bottom edge, a medial edge and a lateral edge, the cup formed of a fabric material dimensioned to contain a breast of a wearer,   a pocket panel attached to an inner surface of the cup, the pocket panel defining a pocket opening that extends along the top edge of the cup, the pocket opening providing access to an interior compartment of the pocket between the pocket panel and the cup.   
     
     
         8 . The brassiere cup of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a pocket closure extending along the top edge of the cup and a corresponding top edge of the pocket panel, the pocket closure operable to selectively open or close the pocket opening.   
     
     
         9 . The brassiere cup of  claim 8 , wherein the pocket panel overlays a majority of the inner surface of the cup. 
     
     
         10 . The brassiere cup of  claim 9 , wherein the pocket closure further comprises a cooperating fastener. 
     
     
         11 . The brassiere cup of  claim 10 , wherein the cooperating fastener is a zipper.