Abstrict A soft fabric bra with a center breast support pad to be worn by
a woman while sleeping that is structured to support an upper breast,
with the woman sleeping on her side, to prevent the upper breast
from sagging and thereby prevent the formation of wrinkles in the
skin of the upper chest of the woman.
Claims What is claimed is:
1. A breast supporting brassiere to prevent wrinkles on the breasts
and the chest skin between the breasts of a wearer while a wearer
sleeps on their side and wherein when the wearer is positioned on
their side one breast is in an upper position and the other breast
lies thereunder in a lower position, the brassiere comprising: a
soft fabric brassiere comprising a body encircling portion with
a pair of curved front portions for supporting the breasts of a
woman and a centrally located retainer means positioned between
the curved front portions adapted to retain the breast support pad
therebetween; and a breast support pad adapted for being positioned
between the breasts of the wearer, the support pad comprising a
firm body having a vertical section with a thick midsection, a back
surface adapted for conforming to the chest surface between the
breasts of the wearer and a concave curved cavity on each side of
the vertical section adapted for supporting either breast of the
wearer while on their side to prevent the breast in the upper position
from hanging down toward the breast in the lower position and thereby
preventing wrinkling of the skin on the chest of the wearer between
the breasts.
2. The bra of claim 1 wherein the retainer means comprises a pocket.
3. The bra of claim 2 wherein the pocket is formed by stitching
a sheet of material to the bra between the curved front portions.
4. The bra of claim 3 wherein the sheet of material is formed of
soft fabric larger than the support pad and the sheet of material
is stitched to an inside surface of the front of the brassiere between
the support pad and the skin of the woman.
5. The bra of claim 1 wherein the support pad is formed of a firm
material molded to conform to the shape of the breast area between
the breasts.
6. The bra of claim 5 wherein the support pad is formed of molded
dense foam material.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to sleeping brassieres and in particular
to a bra worn while sleeping that is structured to reduce the formation
of wrinkles in the upper chest of women who sleep on their sides,
which bra has a center insert of a firm resilient material fit within
a soft fabric bra.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When women sleep on their sides, the breast on the upper side tends
to hang down toward the lower breast causing wrinkles to form in
the skin in the center of the chest, just above and between their
breasts. Brassieres for supporting the breasts are well known, such
brassieres are generally designed primarily to support the breasts
when the wearer is standing. However, such prior art devices have
not been entirely successful in separating the breasts to prevent
the wrinkle that forms in between the breasts when the wearer is
lying on her side during sleep.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5897422 issued Apr. 27 1999 to McGee,
provides a sleeping brassiere that has a pair of shoulder supports,
which extend to a back support. The sleeping brassiere also has
a back support that extends from the back toward the front of the
wearer, a portion encircling the wearer and a pair of cup-shaped
breast supports. Each of the breast supports has a generally crescent-shaped
portion curving generally around the outside and top of the wearer's
breast. The crescent-shaped portion has an upper end adjoining the
shoulder supports and a lower end adjoining the portion of said
back support encircling the wearer at a position generally between
and below the breasts of the wearer when the brassiere is worn.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5083555 issued Jan. 28 1992 to Lewis,
shows an apparatus suitable for reducing and preventing skin deformation
in proximity to the breasts of a human female when worn between
said breasts, which includes a shaped deformable resilient central
support member that has a first end and a second end. A removable
outer casing encompasses the shaped central support member, the
casing has a first casing end adjacent the first support member
end and a second casing end adjacent the second support member end.
A first closure means is positioned at the first casing end and
a second closure means is positioned at the second casing end, the
closure means being adapted for enclosing the first and second support
member ends within the outer casing. A securing means is on the
outer casing between the first and second casing ends, the securing
means being adapted for securing the apparatus to the torso of a
human female and between the breasts of the female to reduce and
eliminate skin wrinkling.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5961986 issued Oct. 5 1999 to Killen,
claims a preferred embodiment of an anti-wrinkling apparatus that
employs a substrate with an adhesive for securing the apparatus
to the user's skin for deterring skin folding and, thus, wrinkles.
In another aspect of the present invention, the substrate has a
substantially heart shape. In a further aspect of the present invention,
the apparatus does not have a preformed shape and is flat prior
to use. In yet another aspect of the present invention, the anti-wrinkling
device of the present invention is applied between the breasts.
In still another aspect of the present invention anti-wrinkling
apparatus, multiple stacked adhesive and liner layers, as well as
a substrate layer, are provided for allowing repeated application
and removal.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6102772 issued Apr. 15 2000 to Fernandez,
describes an anti-wrinkle brassiere that is specially designed for
night use and as an element for preventing inter-mammary wrinkles.
It also has a protection element for the back and the dorsal vertebra
and it prevents back pain. It has a front portion that covers the
intermammary zone and two oblique straps, which are joined to the
extended back portion, that prevent the inner sides of the breasts
from touching. The straps only cover the shoulder part and form
lateral arches, which deviate from the line marked by the day brassiere,
for a good lymphatic drainage. It remains fastened to the skin and
its inferior border is located a few centimeters under those found
on conventional brassieres.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5807160 issued Sep. 15 1998 to Wehmeyer,
discloses a cleavage-wrinkle protector that is constructed of satin
or similar lingerie-type fabric and stuffed with polyester fiberfill.
The protector includes stretch lace neck and torso straps. The protector
is approximately 6-1/2 inches long and 2-1/2 inches side. The protector
is designed to be worn between the woman's breast while sleeping
to protect the cleavage skin from folding when she lies on her side.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 3746007 issued Jul. 17 1973 to Hand,
indicates a ladies sleeping garment that has the elements of a supportive
brassiere therein. The garment will support and mold the breast
even when the wearer is in an unusual sleeping position.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 1891871 issued Dec. 20 1932 to Donnet,
puts forth a brassiere with a resilient, stiff and bent strip with
rounded edges that is centrally located, which is adapted as a separating
member between the breasts.
What is needed is a bra for sleeping which supports the breasts
with the woman sleeping on her side to prevent the upper breast
from tending to hang down toward the lower breast and thereby prevent
wrinkles in the skin in the center of the upper chest.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a bra for sleeping
with a center breast support, positioned between the breasts, which
supports the breasts with the woman sleeping on her side to prevent
the upper breast from tending to hang down toward the lower breast
and thereby prevent wrinkles in the skin in the center of the upper
chest.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bra for
sleeping that is comfortable and is not exceedingly tight.
One more object of the present invention is to provide a bra for
sleeping that is economical and easy to manufacture.
In brief, a sleeping bra that supports an upper breast of a woman
sleeping on her side and thereby prevents wrinkles forming in the
skin of the upper chest. The sleeping bra has a breast support pad
positioned between the breasts of the woman. The support pad comprises
a firm body that has a vertical section with a thick midsection
and a back surface that conforms to the chest structure of the woman
between the breasts. The support pad also has a concave curved cavity
or cup on each side of the vertical section that supports either
breast of the woman with the breast in an upper position when the
woman is sleeping on her side and prevents the breast in the upper
position from hanging down toward the lower breast, thereby preventing
wrinkling of the skin on the chest of the woman between the breasts.
The support pad is formed of a molded firm material, such as a molded
dense foam material, to conform to the shape of the chest and breasts
between the breasts.
The bra for sleeping also comprises a soft fabric bra with a body
encircling portion with a pair of cups for supporting the breasts
of a woman and a centrally located pocket for holding the support
pad. The pocket is formed by stitching a sheet of material to the
inside of the bra between the cups, thereby forming a barrier between
the support pad and the skin of the woman.
An advantage of the present invention is that it prevents wrinkles
that form in the skin of the cleavage area of the chest.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it is comfortable.
An additional advantage of the present invention is that it is
affordable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other details of my invention will be described in connection
with the accompanying drawings, which are finished only by way of
illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which
drawings:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the center insert of the bra
of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the center insert of FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the back of the center insert
of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view partially broken away showing the
bra of the present invention with the center insert in place and
showing a piece of soft fabric sewn onto the inside of the bra to
retain the insert in place.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
In FIG. 4 a bra 20 for sleeping supports an upper breast of a
woman sleeping on her side and thereby prevents wrinkles forming
in the skin of the upper chest. The bra 20 comprises a breast support
pad 21 as shown in FIGS. 1-4 positioned between the breasts of
a woman. The support pad 21 comprises a firm body with a thick midsection
28 as shown in FIG. 1. The support pad 21 further comprises a back
surface 22 which conforms to the chest structure of the woman between
the breasts. The support pad also has a concave curved cavity 23
or cup, shown in FIGS. 1-3 on each side that supports either breast
of the woman with the breast in an upper position when the woman
is sleeping on her side and prevents the breast in the upper position
from hanging down toward the lower breast, thereby preventing wrinkling
of the skin on the chest of the woman between the breasts. The support
pad 21 is formed of a molded firm material, such as a molded dense
foam material, to conform to the shape of the chest and breasts
between the breasts.
In FIG. 4 the bra for sleeping 20 also comprises a soft fabric
bra 27 with a body encircling portion with a pair of curved front
portions 29 for supporting the breasts of a woman and a centrally
located retainer means positioned between the curved front portions
29 for retaining the breast support pad 21 therebetween. The retainer
means comprises a pocket, which is formed by stitching a sheet of
material 26 to the bra 27 between the curved front portions 29.
The sheet of material 26 is formed of soft fabric larger than the
support pad 21 and is stitched to a backside of the bra 27 thereby
forming a barrier between the support pad 21 and the skin of the
woman.
It is understood that the preceding description is given merely
by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and
that various modifications may be made thereto without departing
from the spirit of the invention as claimed.
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