Breast support garment and breast support panel

Abstract

A breast support garment that includes two breast cups defining a breast cup area for each breast of a wearer. Each breast cup has a lower periphery positioned generally below the breast of the wearer, a side periphery extending upward from the lower periphery to an apex of the cup, a bridge approach area, and a neckline periphery extending between the bridge approach area and the apex. A frame that is positioned against the breast of the wearer and located around at least a portion of the breast cup. A bridge part of the frame is arranged to bridge the two breast cups to connect the two breast cups together. A portion at least at the lower periphery of the frame is fixed on each breast cup and extends therefrom below the lower periphery. Each breast cup further comprises a support panel.

1 . A breast support garment comprising
 a. two breast cups to define a breast cup region for each breast of a wearer and each having a lower periphery to locate generally below a breast of a wearer and a side periphery extending upwardly from the lower periphery to the apex of the cup, a bridge proximate region and a neckline periphery extending between the bridge proximate region and apex,   b. a frame to locate against the chest of the wearer and about at least part of the breast cups and provided to bridge between the two breast cups at a bridge of the frame connecting the two breast cups together, the frame affixed to each breast cup at least at the lower periphery and extending therefrom below the lower periphery,   c. for each breast cup, a support panel comprising a primary panel secured to and supported by the frame at least below the lower periphery of the breast cup and a shelf panel, hingingly engaged to the primary panel, the shelf panel encroaching the breast cup region to provide a shelf for part of a breast of the wearer to receive upward support from the shelf, wherein the shelf panel is hingingly engaged to the primary panel by a hinge line defined by a line of weakness between the shelf panel and the primary panel.   
     
     
         2 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the primary panel of the support panel is secured to the frame in a manner parallel to the frame at where it is located. 
     
     
         3 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the primary panel is adhered to the frame. 
     
     
         4 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the primary panel is captured to the frame. 
     
     
         5 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the primary panel is stitched to the frame. 
     
     
         6 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the primary panel is adhered and stitched to the frame. 
     
     
         7 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the primary panel is captured to the outside of the frame. 
     
     
         8 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the primary panel is captured to the inside of the frame. 
     
     
         9 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the primary panel is captured between two layers of fabric that at least in part define the frame. 
     
     
         10 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the support panel is of a unitary construction. 
     
     
         11 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the shelf panel in use projects in a posterior direction from the primary panel when the garment is in use. 
     
     
         12 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the shelf panel in use projects in an upward and posterior direction from the primary panel when the garment is in use. 
     
     
         13 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the shelf panel is hingingly engaged to the primary panel at the hinge line located between the shelf panel and the primary panel. 
     
     
         14 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the hinge line is parallel at least part of the lower periphery of the breast cup. 
     
     
         15 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the hinge line is parallel at least part of the lower periphery and side periphery of the breast cup. 
     
     
         16 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the hinge line is parallel and at at least part of the lower periphery of the breast cup. 
     
     
         17 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the hinge line is parallel and at at least part of the lower periphery and side periphery of the breast cup. 
     
     
         18 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the hinge line has two terminal ends at least one terminal end not located at a perimeter of the support panel so that the shelf panel connects to the primary panel not across a part of the hinge line at said at least one terminal end. 
     
     
         19 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the hinge line has two terminal ends, each terminal end not located at a perimeter of the support panel so that the shelf panel connects to the primary panel not across a part of the hinge line at said terminal ends. 
     
     
         20 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 18  wherein part of the primary panel at least at the terminal end of the hinge line closer to the apex, also encroaches the breast cup region. 
     
     
         21 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the support panel comprises an upper elongate peripheral edge and a lower elongate peripheral edge and wherein the hinge line is located between the upper elongate peripheral edge and a lower elongate peripheral edge and substantially and along at least part of the lower periphery of the breast cup region. 
     
     
         22 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the support panel comprises an upper elongate peripheral edge and a lower elongate peripheral edge and wherein the hinge line is located extending between the upper elongate peripheral edge and a lower elongate peripheral edge and substantially along at least part of the lower periphery and side periphery of the breast cup region. 
     
     
         23 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the hinge line has two terminal ends that are each located between the upper elongate peripheral edge and the lower elongate peripheral edge. 
     
     
         24 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the upper elongate peripheral edge is continuously curved. 
     
     
         25 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the lower elongate peripheral edge is continuously curved. 
     
     
         26 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the hinge line is continuously curved. 
     
     
         27 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the hinge line is parallel the upper elongate peripheral edge. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the line of weakness is a reduction in thickness of the support panel. 
     
     
         30 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the line of weakness is separation of the shelf panel and the primary panel. 
     
     
         31 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the support panel is of a contoured thickness. 
     
     
         32 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the support panel has a first face side to be proximate more the body of the user and a second face side presented in use facing away from the body of the user, the second face side being of a contoured profile. 
     
     
         33 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 33  wherein the first face side is not profiled. 
     
     
         34 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 33  wherein the first face side is made of a flat configuration. 
     
     
         35 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the support panel is of a thinner thickness at the upper elongate peripheral edge and lower elongate peripheral edge that intermediate of the upper elongate peripheral edge and lower elongate peripheral edge. 
     
     
         36 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 35  wherein the hinge line extends at a constant thickness region of the primary panel. 
     
     
         37 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 35  wherein the hinge line traverses over a variation of thickness of the primary panel. 
     
     
         38 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the support panel is provided for both left and right side breast cup regions. 
     
     
         39 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the support panel is provided for each beast cup and extends from the bridge region towards the apex of each breast cup. 
     
     
         40 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the support panel is provided for each beast cup and extends from the bridge region to the apex of each breast cup. 
     
     
         41 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the hinge line is at least 5 cm long. 
     
     
         42 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the hinge line is at least 10 cm long. 
     
     
         43 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the hinge line is of a shape to cause the shelf panel to cradle the region of the breast bearing on the shelf panel. 
     
     
         44 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the support panel is made of a composite material comprising a ceramic and silicone. 
     
     
         45 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the support panel is of a material and/or of a configuration that is able to bend. 
     
     
         46 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the two breast cups are connected directly to each other at their bridge proximate region. 
     
     
         47 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the two breast cups are connected indirectly to each other at their bridge proximate region by the frame. 
     
     
         48 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the breast cups are made from at least one panel. 
     
     
         49 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the breast cups are made from at least one panel comprising of a fabric material. 
     
     
         50 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the frame is attached or integrally formed with a chest strap of the garment. 
     
     
         51 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  that is a brassiere. 
     
     
         52 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  that is a camisole. 
     
     
         53 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  being one selected from (a) a brassiere, a camisole, a sports brassiere, a swimsuit, and a bikini top. 
     
     
         54 . The breast support garment as claimed in  claim 1  that does not include an underwire. 
     
     
         55 . A breast support panel for incorporation with a breast support garment that includes a breast cup for each breast of a wearer of the garment bounded by lower periphery and a lateral side periphery of the breast cup, the breast supporting panel comprising:
 a primary panel secured to the at least one panel extending away from a said breast cup at the lower and lateral side periphery of said breast cup, the primary panel having (i) an upper and inner edge to located at and commensurate the lower and lateral side periphery of the cup and   a shelf panel extending from the primary panel in a hinged relationship thereto into a said breast cup to hinge relative to said primary panel about a hinge line that is commensurate with at least part of the lower periphery of the breast cup, wherein the hinge line is defined by a line of weakness between the shelf panel and the primary panel.   
     
     
         56 . A breast support garment defining a breast cup region for each breast of a wearer and each having a lower periphery to locate generally below a breast of a wearer and a side periphery extending upwardly from the lower periphery towards the apex of the cup, wherein the garment further comprises:
 a. a frame to locate about the chest of the wearer and about at least part of the breast cups, the frame extending downwardly from each breast cup,   b. for each breast cup, a support panel comprising a primary panel secured to and supported by the frame at least below the lower periphery of the breast cup and a shelf panel, hingingly engaged to the primary panel, the shelf panel encroaching the breast cup region to provide a shelf for part of a breast of the wearer to receive upward support from the shelf, wherein the shelf panel is hingingly engaged to the primary panel by a hinge line defined by a line of weakness between the shelf panel and the primary panel.